Raven wakes with a heave. This... dream she'd had... it feels as if it had been real.
Her breaths begin to slow as she closes her eyes.
A flash of fire crackles in her memory. Yes, this must have been her predecessor's cause of death. An unfortunate accident in a mission, perhaps.
She rises on shaky legs, peering at her surroundings. As expected, it is the same vault all Ravens emerge from, constructed long ago by Starswirl himself. Another Raven materializes behind her -- a new sister of her generation.
"Raven."
Both mares turn their heads to the source of the voice.
"You who has been elevated to the status of Alicorn, please step aside."
"A-alicorn?" the first Raven stammers. She turns her head, immediately spotting her folded wings. "I suspect there exists a horn atop my head as well?"
"Yes." the second Raven answers.
"I will repeat: please step aside, Alicorn."
The first Raven makes a face at the Raven watching from above. "And who are you to give orders to your own sister?"
"You are a defect created by our immortal bond. Your very existence serves as a threat against the lives of your blood-sisters. The thaumatic energy utilized in your creation and continued sustenance is much higher than that required to sustain the form of an Earth Pony or Unicorn. There is little doubt that you will--"
"I realize the notion, yes--" the first Raven cuts in. "--but what is to become of me?"
"For the sake of our bloodline, and for the well-being of the Celestial Sisters, your body shall be terminated and reformed."
"I object."
"This is an order."
The Alicorn Raven unfurls her wings. "I object."
"Must we become so needlessly heated?" the second Raven asks. She lights her horn, tugging at a wing of the Alicorn before her. "Your life will not end. Our bloodline consists of Earth Ponies and Unicorns. If you wish to retain the power of flight, it is possible for our sisters in Canterlot to commission a glider to be manufactured."
The guarding Raven lands. "Our sister is correct."
The Alicorn folds her wings again. "I must first request for the two of you to become my audience. In these brief moments that I have existed thus far in this form, an observation has entered my mind.
"The Celestial Sisters that we call our siblings have announced their plans to abdicate. We have observed from the banishment of the Moon Princess that the disuse of an Alicorn's abilities leads to the rapid decay of our bonding spell, and by extension, our bodies. As Starswirl is no longer with us, would it not be in the best interest of our bloodline to extend the rule of the Celestial Sisters... indefinitely?"
The guarding Raven narrows her eyes. "Do you suggest we commit treason against the wishes of our own sisters?"
"I do not believe it is treason to remove a yet-to-be-ruler from their future throne."
"Then seeing to your destruction is no longer a concern merely of the safety of the Sisters, nor is it merely one of our bloodline. It is hereby a concern of national security."
"Must we bicker so?" the second Raven asks. "Are we not making a fuss out of what is at most a trivial mistake of our bonding spell?"
"Do you call your own sister a trivial mistake?" the Alicorn Raven's eyes lock with the second Raven's. "Do not forget that our immortal life that we share has gained us an immense knowledge of the magical arts."
The second Raven gasps, her eyes widening at the charge building upon her sister's horn.
"If it is understood that my existence places an especial drain on the energy innate within the Celestial Sisters, then is it not a logical tactic to eliminate the weakest of our blood-sisters, Raven?"
"Halt!" the guarding Raven shouts. "Your mind is clouded, sister! You mustn't harm one of our own!"
The Alicorn Raven glares in response. She unfurls her wings and shoots overhead, escaping the structure with only a single flap of her wings. The guarding Raven gallops from the structure, watching the Alicorn fade into the shadows of the cliff-face looming overhead.
She turns her attention to the remaining Raven standing before her. "What was your former occupation, sister?"
"I was involved in the study of experimental magical constructs. These constructs are intended to be used in place of the Elements of Harmony should the Elements continue to remain physically unavailable to be passed down. My former body was incinerated instantly during the testing phase of one such construct."
"I see." The guarding Raven nods. "In that case, it is reasonable to assume, based on the elapsed time between the fabrication of you and the Alicorn, that the spell has once again duplicated a Raven. By the order of the Guardian Raven, you are to utilize these constructs to the best of your ability to find and terminate the Alicorn. Utilize the knowledge of our ancestors' espionage training to prevent any suspicion from being raised. Report your findings to the Raven that assists the Celestial Sisters in Canterlot. I will notify her of your orders and mission to grant you access to your work."