//------------------------------// // Chapter 1 // Story: We're the Foals Who Lived // by Maddie Koester //------------------------------// As Princess Celestia set the sun, and Princess Luna raised the moon, every pony in Equestria was celebrating. All but a few, for there was tragic loss leading to this celebration. Princess Twilight was pacing outside Friendship Castle. She was waiting for Princess Celestia, who had some important matters to discuss. Then all the lights on the street turned into small luminescent orbs and flew into the darkness. Twilight could just make out a figure in the darkness: Princess Celestia. "I see you got my letter," Princess Celestia said. "Yes, what is it that you wanted to discuss?" Twilight asked, "I'll get to that in a moment, my dear. But why aren't you celebrating? I must have passed a dozen parties on my way here," Celestia smiled. "But is it too soon? Is she really gone, Celestia?" Twilight inquired. "It certainly seems so," said Celestia. "We have much to be thankful for. Would you care for a lemon drop?" "No, thank you," said Twilight coldly. "The last time I was offered a 'lemon drop' it was a fire candy Pinkie Pie gave me. As I say, even if You-Know-Who has gone -" "My dearest Twilight, surely a sensible pony like yourself can call her by her name? All this 'You- Know-Who' nonsense - for nine years I have been trying to persuade ponies, and magical creatures alike, a to call her by her proper name: Queen Chrysalis." said Celestia. Princess Twilight flinched, but Celestia, who was unsticking two lemon drops, seemed not to notice. "It all gets so confusing if we keep saying 'You-Know-Who.' I have never seen any reason to be frightened of saying Chrysalis's name." Celestia continued. "I know you haven't, said Twilight, sounding half exasperated, half admiring. "But you're different. Every pony knows you're the only one You-Know - oh, all right, Queen Chrysalis, was frightened of." "You flatter me," said Princess Celestia calmly. "Queen Chrysalis had powers I will never have." "Only because you're too - well - noble to use them." Twilight responded. "Thank you, Twilight," Celestia responded. "But about the rumors? Do you know what every pony's saying? About why she's disappeared? About what finally stopped her?" Twilight questioned. It seemed that the purple alicorn had reached the point she was most anxious to discuss. It was plain that whatever 'every pony' was saying, she was not going to believe it until Princess Celestia told her it was true. Celestia, however, was choosing another lemon drop and did not answer. "What they're saying, is that last night Queen Chrysalis turned up in Sire's Hollow. She went to find the Glimmers. The rumor is that Sunburst and Starlight Glimmer are - are -" Twilight choked, as her eyes swelled with tears. "dead," Princess Celestia bowed her head. Twilight gasped, falling into Celestia's hooves and bursting into tears. "Starlight and Sunburst... I can't believe it... I didn't want to believe it..." Twilight cried even harder. "Shh... I know, Twilight... I know what it feels like to lose some pony you care about," Celestia said heavily, her eyes glistening with tears. "That's not all." Twilight's voice trembled as she went on. "They're saying she tried to kill their foals, Morning Shine and Eclipse. But - she couldn't. She couldn't kill those two, innocent, foals. No pony knows why, or how, but they're saying that when she couldn't kill Morning Shine and Eclipse Glimmer, Queen Chrysalis's power somehow broke - and that's why she's gone." Princess Celestia nodded glumly. "It's -it's true?" faltered Princess Twilight. "After all she's done... all the creatures she's killed... she couldn't kill two foals? It's just astounding... of all the things to stop her... but how in the name of Celest - er you - did Morning Shine and Eclipse survive?" "We can only guess, and my guess is the love that Sunburst and Starlight Glimmer gave off in protecting their foals created a forced field around them. And when Queen Chrysalis attempted to kill Morning Shine and Eclipse, the force field emitted a force of love so powerful that it eradicated Chrysalis from existence-" Celestia started. Twilight gave her mentor a perplexed look. "But we may never know," Twilight finished. Princess Twilight conjured a lace handkerchief and dabbed at her eyes. Princess Celestia sniffed as she took a golden watch and examined it. "Spike's late. I suppose he told you he too received a letter from me, but not every detail?" Celestia questioned. "Yes," said Twilight. "And I don't suppose you're going to tell me why you're here, of all places?" "I am having Spike bring Morning Shine and Eclipse here. As they have no family left, I am making you their legal guardian." Celestia said. "What?!" Twilight squeaked, panicked. "But I can't- Why me?! There has to be some pony-" "Twilight," Celestia said firmly. "I have full faith in you. And it's what's best for them. But you have to promise me that you will tell them everything when they are older." "But-" Twilight began. "It would be enough to turn any the foals' head. Famous before they can walk and talk! Famous for something they won't even remember! Can't you see how much better off they'll be, growing up away from all that until they're ready to take it?" Celestia stated. Princess Twilight opened her mouth, changed her mind, swallowed, and then said, "Yes - yes, you're right, of course." The silence was broken by the gentle flapping a dragon's wings. Spike landed with a small thump, caring two small bundles of blankets in his arms. "Spike," said Princess Celestia, sounding relieved. "At last. No problems were there?" "No, Princess- the house was almost destroyed, I got them out of there before every pony could start swarming around. They fell asleep as we were flying over Neighagra Falls." Spike stated. Both princesses bent forward over the two bundles, and just visible were two foals, a two year old filly and a newborn colt. The filly, Morning Shine, was a light orange unicorn with cream colored 'socks' on her hooves and diamond on her forehead. She also had a deep lavender mane. And the colt, Eclipse, had was a light purple unicorn who also had cream colored 'socks' and a 'mask' around his muzzle. Like his sister he also had a deep lavender mane, but with turquoise stripes. "Give them here, Spike," Twilight said calmly, as she carefully levitated the two foals. "Could I - could I say good-bye to them?" asked Spike. He bent his head over Morning Shine and Eclipse and gave them both a kiss. Then, suddenly, Spike let out a ginormous, loud roar. "Shh!" hissed Princess Celestia, "you'll wake the foals!" "S-s-sorry," sobbed Spike, taking out a large, spotted handkerchief and burying his face in it. "But I c-c-can't stand it - Sunburst and Starlight dead - and poor little Morning Shine and Eclipse without getting to know there parents-" "Yes, it's all very sad, but get a grip on yourself, Spike," Princess Celestia whispered, patting Spike gingerly on the arm. Twilight opened the doors to Friendship Castle and carrying the two sleeping foals inside. "Well, I best be off," Princess Celestia said, returning the light to the street lamps. "There will be a lot of parties I will be needing to attend to," "Good luck, Twi," Spike whispered, as Twilight shut the doors behind her. Morning Shine and Eclipse had no idea what would happen next in there lives. They fell asleep not knowing they were special, not knowing they were famous, not knowing at this very moment ponies all over Equestria cheering: "To Morning Shine and Eclipse Glimmer - The Foals Who Lived!"