//------------------------------// // ACT I // Story: Songbird // by FluxFeather //------------------------------// Doubtful it had stood until at last the long and bloody battle had ceased and ponies had come out triumphant against the changeling army. Their adversary was tough and hardened, but alas had failed in claiming the city of Canterlot. Rainius Songbird and Shining Armor were two close friends and they had fought together in this battle. As they were walking home they came upon three weird unicorns that were without a doubt sisters with a cauldron. "Who are you, weird sisters?" Asked Rainius. "All hail Rainius, mayor of Ponyville!" Said the sister on the left. "All hail Rainius, prince of redemption!" Said the one on the right. "All hail Rainius, king of Equestria!!" Chanted the middle one. Shining Armor turned to Rainius then back to the sisters. "Yeah right, and what will I be?" He remarked with a smirk. "You will get kings, but you won't be one," Said the middle sister. Shining Armor had no idea what she meant by that. "You shall give birth to a line of kings," The sister on the right said. "Though, you will not be one yourself," The sister on the left reminded him. And with that, they vanished into smoke along with their cauldron. Shining Armor turned to Rainius. "Well, that happened," He said. "C'mon, let's go home, ponies are waiting for us." When they got back to Ponyville, an earth pony ran up to them. "Rainius!!" The pony said. "What is it?" He asked. "Well, in the battle against the changeling army, the mayor of Ponyville, Mayor Mare was killed. And the village has decided to put you in charge as Mayor of Ponyville," The earth pony explained. Rainius turned to Shining Armor who looked at him in awe. "I've got to go tell Starlight!" He exclaimed before running off to his home. He all but kicked down the front door as he rushed in and nearly collided with a wall. "Starlight!! Starlight!!" "Hold your horses there, Rain," Starlight Glimmer Songbird said as she came downstairs. "Now, tell me what happened." Well,” Rainius began. "We were coming back to Ponyville when there were some weird ponies on the road, they stopped us and said I would be Mayor of Ponyville and King of Equestria and guess what happened when I just got back... I became Mayor of Ponyville!” Starlight took a moment to contemplate this new information. " Hmmm… king of Equestria you say?" She said. He nodded. "Interesting." "Um… where are you going with this?" Rainius asked her. "Well, Celestia should be visiting soon if you are now mayor, it is tradition for the new mayor to host an event for the princess," said Starlight. "Whadda say, we just…" She winked. "Starlight! No, you can't be suggesting what I think you're suggesting!!" Rainius exclaimed in shock. "Oh, I'm definitely suggesting what you're thinking I'm suggesting," She replied. "But I couldn't, she was my mentor, and my friend," He said. Starlight sighed. "Rainius, you gotta see the big picture here… if you become king, you'll be so much… cooler," She said as she struggled for a word. "I don't know, Starlight. It sounds risky," Rainius said. Trying to get her to see reason. Starlight put her right hoof to his mouth, silencing him. "C'mon Rain, do it! Are you a stallion or a mouse?!" She said. Rainius exhaled, sighing. "Fine, I'll do it, but we're gonna do it my way," He told her. She nodded, showing her agreement. A few days later, Princess Celestia was at the cake table when Flash Sentry, her most loyal guard, reminded her that she had an announcement to make. She tore her eyes away from the beautiful chocolate cake in front of her that she was eating and cleared her throat as it was a bit hoarse. "In light of Rainius's promotion as Mayor of Ponyville. I have seen it fit that I announce my protege who will go on to be the new ruler of Equestria!" She announced. 'This was it' Rainius thought as he was getting super anxious. "Now it will come as no surprise that the next in line to the throne will be one who has great strength in ruling so without further delay, the next ruler of Equestria will be… Princess Luna!!" Celestia said. Much to Rainius's surprise. "B… but," Rainius said. He couldn't believe it. Celestia sighed, she should have guessed Rainius wouldn’t have taken it as well as she hoped, oh well, at least she had this great cake and that's all that mattered to her. When Rainius and Starlight got home, Rainius was furious. "Ugh, Rainius!" Starlight shouted his name. "There is no way you'll become king after Luna! The only way is for you to kill Celestia, and now!" "Just lemme think!!" Rainius complained. "There has to be a way to fulfill the prophecy without murder!" Rainius, it'll be fine! Just go through with it!" Starlight begged. "You saying murder is fine does not give me much confidence in our future," Rainius said. "But because I love you, I'll do it." "That's the spirit! We'll do it tomorrow, but for now, let's go to bed." Starlight said as they both went to bed, not worried at all about what awaited them tomorrow.