//------------------------------//
// Flashback 1: A Time Long Forgotten 
// Story: Three Sisters 
// by Cryohawk 
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It was a clear day with the sun beaming down on a cozy little village with tiny cottages spread out through the clearing. The village was filled with earth ponies of all different sizes, some were on walls enjoying the beautiful nature that surrounded them while others were working on their fields. There were also foals running around and playing with their friends to their heart's content. 
One particular pair of foals stood out more than the others, with all of the foals being earth ponies, besides this one. This pair had, strangely, a unicorn filly playing with them. She had what would have been pure a white coat, if not for the patches of dirt that cling to her, a long and tangled pink mane and tail as well as piercing magenta eyes. The unicorn filly was running after a brown earth pony filly with a lighter mane and tail. The two were laughing and playing with youth energy.
“No matter how fast you run Marble! You won’t get away from me!” the white filly yelled, her voice filled with exaggerated annoyed glee. 
The unicorn chased after her friend, intent on making her pay for saying CAKE NOT being the best thing in existence!
“I will never admit that cake is better than donuts! All hail to the Mighty Donut! Down with the tyrannical Cake Queen Celestia!” the now-named Marble yelled as she pushed herself to get away from the mad queen. 
With Marble’s announcement of heresy, Cake Queen Celestia was filled with righteous fury and determination to catch this heretic by any means necessary, with this new sense of determination she pushed herself to the limit to get Marble. 
Unfortunately, for the foolish earth pony, she stumbled on a rock and tripped over herself which gave the mad queen enough time to rush forward and tackle Marble to the ground. 
As the two fillies slowed down from their roll, Celestia eventually came out on top, quite literally and figuratively, on Marble and as she looked down at the heretic a manic grin spread across her muzzle and a look of retribution flashed across her eyes. Marble meanwhile looked up at Celestia quite sheepishly with a nervous smile, her coat started to gleam with sweat from exhaustion and rising fear. She desperately tried to struggle out of Celestia’s hold.
“Maybe I w-was being a little harsh on cake. You w-wouldn't hurt your friend...right?” Marble whimpered as she looked like she wanted to phase through the ground.
“Why I would never hurt my friend?” Celestia said to her friend, her voice reflecting sadness and a feigned look of shock, which let Marble let out a premature sigh of relief. “I was just going to punish you and enlighten you to the truth,” Celestia finished as she dropped her mask and her maniac grin returned in full force, which quickly turned Marble’s relief into pure terror.
Before Marble could do anything Celestia commenced her ticklish attack on her friend. Marble’s unprepared defenses quickly fell at the consistent onslaught, not long after she was reduced to writhing around on the ground laughing hysterically while making half-hearted attempts at stopping the unicorn. After a few minutes, Celestia’s assault ended and the laughter slowly died down as Marble was able to get back her breathing. 
Celestia looked down at the mess that was her friend with a grin plastered on her muzzle and her snout held in the air.
“So my foolish Marble, do you now see why cake is the superior dessert?” Celestia asked her friend mockingly, challenging her to go against her ruling. Marble in response looked up at Celestia with a dazed look in her eyes and crawled over to her and bowed.
“Yes oh mighty Cake Queen, I now see the light!” The two fillies stayed like this for a few minutes before they couldn’t hold back anymore and fell over laughing. 
After they got a hold of themselves they got up and leaned against each other, as they enjoyed each other's presence on such a nice day.
Celestia was so happy to be with her best friend again, though she couldn’t help but think about her life and how she met Marble. As far back as she could remember she’s always lived in this little earth pony village, Graycolt. She still remembers the first time she went to the schoolhouse and how out of place she felt, being the only unicorn in the room. It was thanks to her now, best friend Marble who helped her make friends with all the other students and even helped her in class. Ever since then they've been stuck together. 
She also remembered all the times she and her parents would go down to the local bakery and if they were lucky they could have the gods sent that was cake. Celestia giggled at a particular memory of when she and her mother scarfed down THREE cakes in one sitting.
But out of all of those wonderful times, one memory stuck out more than the rest. Her personal favorite memory was when she got to meet her little sister, Luna for the first time. She still remembers when she first held Luna two years ago and when she looked at those brilliant cyan eyes, everytime she thinks about that moment it brings a smile to her face.
Celestia was jolted out of her memories when she felt a nudge come from her side, as she looked over she saw her best friend had a deadpan expression with narrowed eyes as she looked pointedly at her.
“You didn't hear a single thing I said, did you?” Marble said in a monotone voice. Celestia looked away sheepishly as she found the clouds in the sky very interesting.
“Hehe sorry. I guess I just got lost in thought. What were you saying?” Celestia somewhat mumbled as she looked over at Marble again. Marble rolled her eyes and asked again.
“I was asking how have you been? It’s been a while since we've last seen each other,” Marble repeated.
“Oh, well everything has been good. Luna’s birthday was three weeks ago and it was amazing. I still remember that adorable look on her face when I gave her the doll I made for her. She was so cute!” -Celestia practically squealed before she calmed down- “Besides that, well things have been a bit hectic the last week with my mom and dad trying to get everything ready.”
Before Marble could open her mouth to reply the two fillies heard a squeaky voice, as they looked toward the source of the sound they saw a blue blur quickly approaching. As Celestia squinted trying to make out what the blur was she realized that it was getting closer very quickly. When the blur was just a few feet away she was finally able to make out what the blur was saying.
“Tia mummy and daddy say they almost here, THEY ALMOST HERE!!” Celestia had in that split second realized that the blue blur was her sister before she was tackled with a surprising amount of force for a two-year-old filly unicorn and was sent back a few feet.
As Celestia tried to get her bearings she suddenly let out a gasp as the blue filly started to jump up and down on her barrel, which caused her to lose her breath. After a few seconds of the fillies unintentional torture, Celestia was finally able to concentrate enough to pick up her sister with her magic. 
Celestia sat there for a good minute trying to get her breathing back in order, while the blue filly which was covered in Celestia’s golden hue magic, floated there with a massive smile completely oblivious to what she did to her sister.
“Ohh Luna, what is it? And why did you just try to break my rib cage?” Celestia wheezed.
“TiamummyanddaddysaidtheyalmosthereandsomeanddaddycametogetyoubutIwassoexcitedbutdaddysaid“Youhavestaywithme”butIwassoexcitedIcouldn'twaitsoIranandranandrantellIfoundyouandwhenIfoundyouIwassoexcitedsoIranasfastasIcanandthenIhugyouandIcouldstayinplaceandI’MSOEXCITED!”
Celestia wasn't even sure if Luna was talking in equish throughout her “explanation” and it was safe to say that she didn't understand anything Luna said. 
With a sigh, Celestia sat down and looked over her beloved little sister for any injuries she may have gotten as Luna continued on her nonsensical rant. While Celestia looked her over she saw, with a frown, that Luna had gotten some sticks in her light blue mane and tail while her blue coat had some quickly drying mud stains in it. She was especially happy that there were no injuries on her little growing horn, that is one of the worst places a unicorn could get hurt as it could hamper their magic, sometimes permanently. 
Celestia shuttered at the idea of no longer being able to do magic, but before she could dwell on that idea she was mesmerized as she looked into those two wonderful cyan eyes that were filled with so much happiness and joy.
Celestia’s mind started to wander a bit again as she recalled how excited she was when she was told she was going to have a sibling. And all those times she would teach her magic or go to play in the forest together, all of these memories brought a smile to her face. 
Celestia was once again pulled out of her thoughts when she heard a familiar voice, as she looked behind Luna she saw none other than her father. Celestia's smile only grew when she saw her father with his brown coat, blue mane, and tail. She also saw his long narrow horn on his forehead, as well as his bushy beard that he loved to have on his face. Finally, she looked into those familiar bright red eyes that belonged to the best dad anypony could ask for.
“Luna, slow down. I’m not as fast as I once was *sigh*,” her father mumbled the last part. Celestia didn't hear the last part though as she ran over to her father, with Luna still in her magic grip, and gave him her best hug.
“Dad!” Celestia yelled as she nuzzled her father, which he gratefully returned. Celestia then looked up at her father “What are you two doing here? And what is Luna all excited about?”
“I’ll tell you only if you drop your sister,” Celestia blushed from embarrassment, she forgot she was still holding Luna, and let her sister down.
“Sorry,” Celestia mumbled, as she looked down in embarrassment. Though her shame didn't last long as she felt a hoof bring her chin up to look at her father's reassuring warm smile.
“Don’t worry my little sunflower, it’s alright,” Celestia’s smile returned in full force at her father's comment before he continued. 
“Now as for what got your sister so excited -” her father stopped which only made Celestia antsy “- well, it seems your new sibling is going to be coming soon” he finished with a cheeky smile as Celestia’s eyes widened.
“Yo-you mean that they are almost here?” Celestia asked as a big smile slowly engulfed her muzzle and her eyes widened to the size of saucers.
“Yes Celly, your new sibling is almost here. Now we need to hurry befo-” as fate would have it he would never be able to finish as he was cut off when Celestia squealed at a volume that no creature should be able to reach.
“OH MY GOD’S THERE ALMOST HERE! THERE ALMOST HERE! YES, YES, YES, YES, YES!!” Celestia screeched as she grabbed Luna and hugged her with all her might. She then looked at her sister, which still had a massive smile on her face, dead in the eyes before continuing. “LUNA, WE HAVE TO GO SEE THEM! LET’S GO HOME AND MEET OUR NEW SIBLING!” Celestia then put Luna on her back and sprinted in the direction of their home as fast as she could possibly go.
“Wha? Who?... Ugg! WAIT FOR ME YOU TWO!” He yelled before he also galloped after them, though at a much slower pace. 
With all the shock at learning of the arrival of their new sibling, everypony forgot about the earth pony that was sitting there still trying to process what just happened.
“I’ll just stay here...waiting...for you...yeah…” so Marble just sat there, very confused at what just happened a few moments ago.


-{<()>}-  

                   
Celestia galloped as fast as she could with her little sister’s hooves wrapped around her neck and both wearing a matching wide smile on each of their muzzles. Celestia’s only thought was getting home as fast as possible so she could finally meet her new sibling.
I can’t wait to see them! I can show them the wonderful world of sweets, we can all go on adventures, I CAN HELP TEACH THEM MAGIC as Celestia’s thoughts continued to go wild with all the possible things she could do with her new sibling, she almost didn't notice her house. As the two sisters neared their house, Celestia skidded to a stop and used her magic to open the door. Celestia quickly entered the room exhausted with her sister still on her back full of energy.
As the two entered the house, Celestia quickly shut the door behind her using her hind leg, while Luna jumped off her back. Celestia sat on her haunches while she tried to catch her breath, meanwhile, Luna started to excitedly gallop around the house looking for her mother and hopefully their new sibling. 
Celestia meanwhile sat in the entranceway trying to cool off and get rid of all the sweat that she had accumulated during her sprint, after around five minutes she got up to join her sister in her search. 
But before she could she heard the unmistakable sound of magic being used behind her, when she looked behind her she saw her father dragging himself inside. He was drenched in sweat, making him look like he just came out of a lake. There was also mud covering his legs and hooves. 
Celestia's eyes widened. She was shocked at the state that her father was in and quickly made her way to his side. Celestia was very worried about her father’s wellbeing.
“DAD are you alright!? What happened?” she pressed her body to his which allowed her father to lean against her for support.
“Nev-never run *gasp* that fast again *gasp* please!” her father grunted as he tried to keep himself up while breathing deeply. Celestia’s only response was a rather sheepish smile as she continued to try to help her father in any way. 
After a couple of minutes, her father was able to recuperate, and the two got up to try and look for Luna. They were surprised as suddenly barreling through a nearby hallway was that specific filly.
“Tia, I can’t find mummy anywh-DADDY! You here! You know where mummy is!” Luna yelled as she ran over to her father and nuzzled him, completely ignoring the fact of how sweaty he was.
“Well, my little nightshade. That’s because I put on a silence and lock charm on the door. So we don’t disturb the neighbors, -” their father said before he urged them both closer, which Celestia did a little reluctantly just now realizing how sweaty their father smelled. “- Now before we can go and see your mother, we are going to have to wait for a nice mare that is helping your mother to tell us that we can come in. Ok,” - To which the two sisters nodded in agreement -  “Also when we go past this door you are going to hear her sounding...uncomfortable, but everything is ok. Do you understand?” their father received another pair of nods from the siblings. 
After their acknowledgment, their father walked with the sisters to the outside of their parent’s room and their father lessened the strength of the charms. As soon as the charms were weakened on the door the two fillies could hear their mother screaming which caused them both too tense up. 
While Celestia had experienced this before, with Luna’s birth, it still caused her to worry for her mother. Celestia then felt her sister lean on her and hold one of her forelegs with her tiny hooves. As Celestia looked down at her sister she saw that Luna was shivering and looked very concerned.
“Tia, is mummy ok? she sounds like she hurt,” her sister said while looking up at her with big tear-filled eyes.
“It’s alright Lulu, just like dad said she is going to be alright. Mom is just...doing a really tiring exercise. It’s alright,” Celestia tried to reassure her sister and hugged her with her hooves for extra measure. Though there was a part of her that worried just as much about their mother. 
So the trio sat in the adjacent room and waited for any response from the apothecary and their mother, until.
“DAYBEAM GET YOUR FURRY HIDE IN HERE! RIGHT!! NOW!!” Celestia’s mother suddenly yelled from the other side of the door. 
As Celestia looked to where her father was he was shaking a lot and somehow he seemed like he was far wetter than he was a few minutes ago.
“We-well it loo-look like your mother wants me. I’ll...berightback!” The last part of what their father was going to say was cut off, as suddenly the door slammed open and he was yanked inside by their mother’s magic. 
The door just as quickly slammed shut, with no evidence that their father was there a moment ago beside a small pool of sweat. The two sisters sat there shocked and confused trying to understand what just happened before Luna looked up pointedly at Celestia. 
Celestia smiled sheepishly. “It’s a very tiring exercise,” Celestia finished lamely.
After...that the two fillies sat in the room in relative silence with the only noise being from their mother’s “exercise”, and so the two waited for what felt like hours. 
After Celestia finished playing twenty-four hoof skip with her sister she tried to think of other games that they could play to pass the time. Maybe we could play stone, parchment, and knife...no we already played that, maybe salmon say-no we did that too. Uggghh we've played everything, when is mother going to be done I’m runn- Celestia was suddenly kicked out of her thoughts when she heard the doors to her parent’s room open.
As Celestia looked over at the aforementioned doors she saw the apothecary that her father mentioned came out. As soon as she left the doorway Celestia and Luna ran up to the mare ready to bombard her with questions, but before they could even start the mare held up her hoof stopping both of them.
“I know that you two are worried about your parents, but everything is alright. You can come in now,'' as the mare finished she moved out the way allowing the two siblings to look into the room. 
As Celestia and Luna looked into the room they saw their father standing to the side of the bed which their mother was lying on, but what caught Celestia’s attention was the little bundle of cloth that her mother was holding and that was making foal noises. 
As the two walked inside, Celestia couldn't help but look at the state her mother was in. Her light purple almost pink coat glistened in sweat, her striped purple and pink mane were full of knots with some parts sticking to her fur and horn while her tail was hidden by the blanket that was over her. Finally, as Celestia looked into her mother’s dark blue eyes she saw that while she was extremely tired she also looked equally happy. When the two fully entered the room, Celestia overheard her parents talking.
“Selene, she's beautiful. Look she has a combination of our eye color,” her father whispered to her mother.
“Yes she does Day, she's a little bit of both of us,” her mother added before she looked up at the approaching Celestia and Luna. “Oh, there are my little sweethearts. Come over here you two, me and your father have somepony very special we would like you to meet,” now with their mother’s encouragement Celestia and her sister quickly made their way to the side of their mother’s bed. 
When Celestia reached the side of her mother she felt her sister jump on her back, likely to get a better view of their mother and the little bundle. Her father cleared his throat getting their undivided attention.
“Now as you two know, me and your mother named each of you ourselves with Celestia coming from me and Luna from your mother. Well, this time we have decided to do things a little differently,” her father stopped and looked at her mother to continue.
“Yes, instead this time we have come to a compromise. We would like for you to meet your new sister...Twilight,” her mother finished as she unwrapped the bundle a little so they could see their new sister. 
As Celestia looked at her new sister, with Luna looking around her and still on her back, she saw that her sister had a slightly darker tone of purple fur than her mother, her mane was dominated with dark blue with a stripe of pink and purple. What made Celestia particularly happy was a tiny stub on her forehead that would one day become a proud horn. As Celestia continued to look over her new sister, Twilight, the little filly slowly opened her eyes until she was looking at her. Celestia looked into her sister’s dark purple eyes and in response, the foal started to giggle and reached out to her, this caused Celestia’s already big smile to grow. 
There was only one thing that Celestia could think to say, and as Luna looked at her new sister in wonder on her back, Celestia said. 
“Hello, Twilight. I’m Celestia, your sister,” as she greeted Twilight a few joyful tears started to roll down her cheeks, Celestia decided that this was one of her favorite moments in her entire life.
              

-{<()>}-  


And so for the next seven months, Celestia and her family lived in relative peace, as much as you could get during a time where raiders were practically everywhere. 
Celestia decided to try and help her mother in raising and caring for Twilight, her newest sister. While Luna attempted to be more mature so she could act just like her big sister Celestia. It took no time for the three sisters to become inseparable, it wasn't uncommon to see what great adventures/disasters they would get into. But for Celestia, these were some of her best and most favored memories….before it all went wrong.
    

-{<()>}-  


High Queen Celestia of all Cakes sat at the round table of sisterly order with two of her fellow pony rulers. She wore her sponge cake regalia with its pink frosting highlighting exquisite details on the regalia. 
To the left of Queen Celestia sat one of her fellow sister rulers, Queen Luna of the Great Candy Cane Forest. She wore her royal blue and white-colored candy cane regalia with dark blue candy rocks decorating the candy cane. 
To her right sat the newly appointed Queen Twilight of the Cookie Clans. She had on her cookie peytral, while her crown had three long chocolate points with a cookie base. 
High Queen Celestia hammered down her cake mallet, which proceeded to splatter all over the table and caused cake to fly everywhere, to get her sister's attention.
“Now that the rulers of the sisterly order have been assembled to this very important meeting. I will start with the first problem that plagues our great land of Sweetopolis,” Celestia’s announcement caused both of her sisters to pay close attention. “Now my cake scouts have been looking into the disturbance at the Rock Candy Cliffs and we have come to the conclusion that a vile band of beetroot raiders has formed, calling themselves “The Beetrot”,” as Celestia said the word “beetroot” both of her fellow rulers faces twisted in disgust. 
This quickly changed for Queen Luna as her disgust quickly turned to anger as she slammed her forelegs on the table.
“This is unacceptable! We can not allow these beets” - Luna said the word as if it was acidic - “to continue to exist! I will personally bring a contingent of my best Candy Cane Rangers to hunt down this menace, once and for all!” Luna looked like she was about to say more, but was cut off as High Queen Celestia once again used the already abused cake mallet to get her fellow ruler under control.
“ORDER! Order! Queen Luna while I agree with you that this beetroot menace needs to be dealt with. I will have us be calm and orderly while handling this situation. Now, do you Queen Twilight have any comment with this newest development,” Celestia finished.
Queen Luna sat back on her throne, looked away from the rulers, and started to pout. Queen Twilight, meanwhile perked up at Celestia’s question.
“Well, while the Cookie Clans can’t send such a force as Queen Luna. I could send some of our best Cookie Shamans to help locate these beetroot vagabonds.” Queen Twilight offered. 
High Queen Celestia sat on her throne and pondered her fellow ruler's suggestion, but as she was about to come to a conclusion she was suddenly started when she heard a loud sound come from her side.
“CAW!” as Celestia looked over she saw a slightly larger than an average crow. For some reason, Celestia’s eyes almost seemed to be glued to the crow as it continued to caw and kraa at her. As she was about to tear her eyes away from the mysterious crow it said something that made her freeze. 
“CELESTIA!” The aforementioned pony quickly jerked her head back at the crow, but instead of the slightly larger-sized crow that she expected. Instead in front of her was a massive crow easily the size of a castle. 
Celestia started to panic as the now titanic crow continued to say her name like a broken record and as Celestia looked around for her sisters she realized that she was no longer in the chamber of sisterly order. Instead, an inky black abyss that stretched on as far as the eye could see. 
“CELESTIA GET UP!” Celestia quickly turned around to face the crow as something was different about the crow’s voice, it started to sound familiar. Then suddenly she realized who it was.
“Dad?” with Celestia’s realization the entire world started to ripple and evenly everything seemed to fade away. 
When Celestia started to get her senses back she felt somepony shaking her and the muffled voice of her father. She was very confused about why her father was shaking her. Did I sleep in school or maybe mom needs some help with Twilight? Her confusion didn't last long though as she was finally able to make out what her father was saying.
“CELESTIA, GET UP RIGHT NOW! WE DON’T HAVE MUCH TIME!” Celestia opened her eyes to see her father. 
Instead of his usual warm smile greeting her, instead, she was met with a very panicked look as he was drenched in sweat and he was looking from her to somewhere else. Before Celestia could ask her father what was wrong he suddenly pulled her up and brought her head to look at him. “CELESTIA, LISTEN TO ME! GET YOUR CLOAK AND SADDLEBAGS AND DON’T LEAVE THIS ROOM! OK!” Celestia was shocked. Her father never yelled at her and so in her shock, she didn’t immediately respond. “OK!” her father said more forcefully. This time Celestia quickly responded as she fearfully nodded. Right after her confirmation her father quickly galloped out of her room. 
Celestia meanwhile was still in a state of shock. After a few short moments, she started to get out of her bed, but suddenly she heard a loud explosion come from outside and at the same time her room was shortly covered with a menacing flash of orange.
When Celestia turned around to look through her window what she saw froze and horrified her. 
Outside she saw what could only be described as Tartarus itself; the home she had come to love was burning, from houses, trees, to...Celestia quickly looked away at the horrifying sight as her eyes desperately tried to latch onto something else. They landed on a foreign banner that was planted into the ground. Its emblem depicted what looked like a half-jagged sun and moon with the two sides making one celestial body, the sun side of the flag was bright orange with the moon side being a dull blue. 
As she was transfixed on the banner a figure walked past it, but they were no resident. They had on some kind of dark plated armor that covered their entire body. Their helmet encased their entire face with the only distortion that there was a pony underneath was a strip of hair that came out of a large slit on the top of the helmet, which allowed their hair to come out of. There was a thin horizontal slit for the visor that stretched to either side of the helmet which allowed the pony to see. 
The rest of their armor was a mixture of plate and chain mail, all entirely covering the pony in metal. As she looked down at their chest plate, what she saw only confirmed her worries, emblazoned on their chest was the same mixed sun/moon symbol. 
When she looked out for anymore she spotted other ponies with the same type of armor. Some of them were even pegasi with their wings being armored also, but instead of a normal muzzle piece they had on one with a sharpened edge, making it almost look like a beak, and at the end of each of their hooves were two sharp blades. 
There were also some unicorns, but apart from the addition of an armored horn, nothing else was different. 
They all were burning her home and...killing ponies. As Celestia’s eyes continued to roam through the carnage, her eyes dilated as she saw something different standing in one of the streets. 
There stood a large unicorn stallion. But instead of the near-black armor, the ponies had on him was a dull white. The armor also seemed to be more elegant and elaborate with multiple strange foreign designs etched throughout it, but what caught her attention and caused a large knot in her stomach were the dull almost glowing red eyes that came out of it. Celestia stared at those red eyes almost transfixed, suddenly the pon...creature turned his head and almost seemed to look right back at her. For a short time, she and the creature seemed to have a staring contest; she could have sworn that those eyes were filled with evil.
Celestia quickly ran out of bed, away from the window and the horrible scene outside. And so she laid there on the floor where she started to hyperventilate with tears streaming down her face. 
Before she could completely freak out she heard hoofsteps coming from behind her door. Afraid that they were the demons outside in pony form she quickly backpedaled in fear trying to squeeze herself into the corner of the room. Instead of those creatures standing in the doorway was her father with a scared cloaked Luna behind him, she had her saddlebags and the doll she made for her was sticking out a little in her saddlebags.
“CELESTIA, GET A CLOAK AND A SADDLEBAG NOW!” her father yelled. 
This allowed Celestia to temporarily block out what she saw outside and quickly grab her cloak and saddlebag. Her father took her saddlebag and prepared her saddlebag while Celestia put on her cloak. 
“COME WITH ME! WE HAVE TO SEE YOUR MOTHER! BOTH OF YOU!” As their father finished he turned around and started heading to her parent’s room, Celestia and Luna scampered after their father. 
It didn't take long for the trio to make it to her parent’s room and as they turned the corner Celestia saw her mother come out with a crying bundled up Twilight levitating in her magic. Once her mother noticed them she seemed relieved and brought Twilight into her hooves.
“Thank the gods that you two are alright. Come over here you two,” her mother said in a hushed tone. While Celestia and Luna listened to their mother and came closer, their father went back and galloped as fast as he could while he shouted over his shoulder.
“You two stay with your mother! I'm going to get the supplies!” not long after their father disappeared around the corner. As Celestia and Luna came up to their mother Luna quickly latched onto their mother’s leg and cried, their mother sat down on her haunches and put her free foreleg around the shivering form of her sister.
“There, there. Calm down. It's ok, I’m here. Shhhh,” their mother calmly consoled Luna while lightly nuzzling her. 
Celestia was also growing more worried as the sounds of fighting started to get closer, she subconsciously moved closer to her mother.
“M-mom, what are we going to do?” Celestia asked as her teeth chattered because she couldn't stop herself from shaking out of fear. 
Her mother brought her head up from Luna and started to nuzzle Celestia, which allowed her to stop shaking and be comforted by her mother’s presence. Unfortunately for Celestia that nuzzle ended far too soon for her liking, this forced her to look at her mother’s worried face.
“Celestia I need you to be brave for me, ok?” - to which Celestia nodded - “I need you to promise me you will stay with your sisters and protect them no matter what. Help them when they need you and be that wonderful young mare I know you always are,” tears started to go down Celestia’s cheeks as her mother continued and with a choked sob she nodded. 
Her mother smiled at this and nuzzled her again “I am so proud of you my little sunflower. Of all three of you,” they sat there and enjoyed each other's company. They were startled when they heard hoofsteps coming from the hall. 
Coming into view of the group was Celestia's father with her now stuffed saddlebag in his levitation.
“I’m back, I got all of the stuff you’ll need! Come over here Celestia let me put this on,” Celestia’s eyes widened at what her father said, she looked at her mother with a pained/terrified look.
“WHAT! You're not coming with us!” Celestia’s outburst caused her parents to cringe and for Luna to look up at her parents pleadingly. 
Her mother moved her free foreleg to Celestia’s shoulder while she looked at her with tear-filled eyes.
“Celestia, me and your father can’t come with you,” while she said this her father put on her saddlebag. Celestia didn't even notice. “We aren't nearly as fast as you and if we all try to leave it is far more likely that they'll notice us,” even as Celestia listened to her mother she couldn't accept that they were staying behind. 
Suddenly she heard her mother’s horn glow and before she could ask her what she was doing she felt a pair of hooves wrap around her. “I love you, Celestia. I love all of you and I wish -” her mother started to choke up as she sobbed “- I wish we could be with you. I wish we could see you three grow up into beautiful, strong, and wonderful mares that we know you three will be, but we can’t and I'm so sorry for that,” Celestia broke after hearing her mother, she couldn't hold back her tears and bawled into her mother. 
Not long after she felt more pairs of hooves. Celestia struggled to look around through her tear-stricken eyes she saw her father and sister quickly joining in, even her youngest sister Twilight tried to do her best in comforting her as she was being levitated by her mother.
“Just like your mother, I am so proud of the young mares you two have become. I am the proudest father that will ever live. I love all of you,” despite what has happened Celestia couldn't help but smile at her parent’s words. 
Unfortunately, for Celestia, this tender moment couldn't last as the family pulled apart. Before anypony could say anything more they suddenly heard a loud thump coming from the entranceway. Celestia’s parents looked at each other and in no time at all her father galloped to the door with his horn fiercely ablaze with magic and a cold hardened determination.
“Celestia, I need you to take Twilight,” this caught her attention as she looked over at her mother and levitated her now sleeping youngest sister in front of her. Celestia quickly took over her mother’s levitation and brought Twilight to her chest while she put a foreleg protectively over her. “Now Celestia, the spell I used on Twilight should keep her asleep for a few hours, but be careful. Now please listen, take the backdoor and run as fast as you can to the forest edge. Don’t stop, just run. If you can get to Klipstone, there should be a good inn you can stay at with the bits we gave you,” during her mother’s explanation Luna went over to her side. 
“Mom, please there has to be a way for all of us to get out of here,” Celestia pleaded to her mother, but before her mother could respond they heard a loud crash shortly followed by sounds of magic blasts.
“GO! I LOVE YOU THREE! RUN!” compelled by her mother’s order Celestia turned around, took a hold onto Luna’s hoof, and tightened her hold on her magic around Twilight while securely pushing her deep into her chest fur and ran out the door. 
She heard her mother gallop down the hall in the direction of the battle that was slowly consuming their home.
As Celestia exited her home there was black smoke slowly consuming the sky and roaring orange fires taking over her home and many others. The only sounds that she could hear were the screams, battle, and the roaring of fires. Celestia didn't notice any of this, the only goal in her mind was to get to the edge of the forest as fast as possible. Unfortunately because of Luna's smaller body, she was forced to cast another levitation spell and place her on her back, where Luna crouched down. 
As the three sisters continued to escape the hellscape that was now Graycolt they passed debris, bodies, and more of those sinister sun and moon flags. Celestia was forced to hide when one of the invaders would impede their path, but she would eventually be able to get by with her sisters. 
Celestia was unsure how long it took for them to escape the now ruins of her old home, maybe only a few minutes or hours she couldn't have known. But when she finally saw the edge of the forest she thought she was going to pass out from relief.
As Celestia went up the last incline to the forest’s edge she almost collapsed from exhaustion as all of her adrenaline that kept her going started to fade. 
Her once near pristine white coat was covered in sticky smut and ash from all of her accumulated sweat, her pink hair looked tan, her eyes were red with dark bags under them, and remnants of tear stains were on her face. Her sisters were not much better, though Twilight was probably the best with her being bundled up with them only being covered in a thin layer of ash. When Celestia regained her breath, she realized that Luna had jumped off her back. She swiftly pushed past her exhaustion and tried to look for her sister.
“Tia, our home,” Celestia barely heard her sister from behind her.
“Luna, come back here we hav…” Celestia started to say before she turned around and saw the horrible sight that had enthralled her sister. 
Down the hill were the burning remains of Graycolt, the entire village looked like one huge bonfire with its deceivingly soothing orange flames roaring high in the sky. From there she could see the invaders walking around the destroyed village like ants and the large black billowing columns of smoke that came from the fire which blocked out the stars and moon only leaving behind an inky black abyss in its wake. 
Celestia couldn't help but sit there and reminisce about all of those amazing memories that she had in that village. Like when she and her mother went to the bakery and she showed her the wonderful world of cake or when she and her sisters went to the park to play all of those pranks on the villagers. As the memories flooded into her mind she barely noticed streams of tears coming down her cheeks. Then the memory of their parents' sacrifice came, which caused her to double over and desperately hold Twilight close to her chest as she bawled.
“Find any more of those infidels! They may have tried going into the forest!” Celestia was interrupted from her grieving as she heard the horrible voice of one of those monsters. 

Celestia got up not bothering to wipe her tears and grabbed onto Luna’s hoof and ran into the forest. As she ran deep into the forest she brought Twilight closer while she looked into the sky. I love you, mom and dad. She looked down at Twilight and narrowed her eyes into slits while she looked forward again with a newfound determination. I promise I will protect you two...no matter what!