Chapter 0+1: Lily’s Little Lightning Leap
Chapter 0+1: Lily’s Little Lightning Leap
(Location: Princess Celestia’s Sitting Room.
Time: 9 AM. Date: November 2nd, 991 CE.
Interviewers:
Interviewee: Princess Celestia
Subject: Lily’s visit to Equestria with her son in tow.
Other Notes: Footage pulled from past by an Alicorn-level temporal viewing spell using Princess Celestia’s story as a focuser.)
On her bed, Princess Celestia slumps on her front, red-eyed and grieving as her magic flickers while it holds up a book of pictures she is going through. On the spine of said book is scribbled in “Potter Family Album,” with her having just added a few photos this morning.
Interrupting her thoughts, and from over her shoulder, an elderly voice opens, stunning her, “Death is never easy, is it? It may not have been the happiest end…,”
“But, it led to you being able to give someone else their happy beginning…,” continues a young feminine voice as weight suddenly presses upon her back.
“And you can ensure he has a happy journey growing up and surviving the prophecy,” Finishes a strong adult feminine voice.
Princess Celestia finally manages to shake off her paralysis and looks around, spotting an _______ color brash Pegasus mare to her left with _______ colored hair split into 7 stripes, like a monochromatic rainbow. On her right lies a sorrowful unicorn mare with the same colored coat and a mane with two shades of that color, one being a stripe in the other. And, on her back lies a happy-sad earth pony filly sharing the coat color and one of the unicorn’s mane colors. “Who are you people, how did you get in here when I told my guards no visitors, and how do you know about that?”
Looking at each other, the three answer together. “We are the Storytellers. We gather stories before they fade to dust and go wherever we are needed.”
The Earth Pony filly with a big purple bow then gives a clumsy giggling curtsy on Princess Celestia’s back. “I enjoy Happy Beginnings in stories. I am Half-Light Dawn.”
The Pegasus Mare throws a few punches before striking an action pose while wearing a purple and gold flight suit. “I prefer exciting Happy Journeys. You won’t find a pegasus 20% cooler than me, Half-Light Noon, founder of the JourneyBolts.”
The elderly unicorn manages to give a creaky but proper bow while wearing a pointed wizard’s hat and cape. “I prefer stories to have Happy Endings. You won’t find a Unicorn archmagus more dedicated to that than me, Half-Light Dusk.”
Dawn then jumps off of Princess Celestia’s back and performs a forward somersault-twist to land, facing her in a more neutral pose. “You’re going to want to have a record of how he got his happy new start and Lily’s outing with you and him that gave him his new name.”
Noon turns her action pose into an acrobatic hoof stand, walking on just her arms and hooves to beside Dawn, where she drops down facing Princess Celestia. “If I had been there, I could have used my signature move to stop Voldemort from ending their journey. Still, this tale will help him keep his spirits bright on his own happy journey.”
Dusk just levitates herself so she’s standing beside her sisters before pulling out a quill and notebook from her cloak. “I know their death is very recent, and this will hurt, but think of the good times. Celebrate their life and know that in their own small way they got a Happy Ending. They took down the villain they had dedicated their lives to taking down and ensured Lightning got to live in a world unmarred by him.”
Dawn moves and gives Princess Celestia the biggest hugs her small body can, causing Princess Celestia to hug back reflexively. Still crying softly, Princess Celestia says, “I’ll… I’ll try but don’t blame me if I cry all over her. Now, where to begin….”
(Time: 9 AM August 1st, 1981 AD/990 Celestial Era.
Place: Princess Celestia’s Secret Garden.)
Princess Celestia sits impatiently tapping the ground while staring at the center piece of her garden, a silver-barked silver-leafed Moon Birch that also serves as what her friend and godson will exit from. “I hope they get here safely.”
Finally, a few minutes later, a leaf green pegasus with dark red hair comes out on two legs wearing clothes modified by a pony tailor to accommodate her wings and tail. On her front in a baby carrier sits a concealed Harry Potter, while on her back is a backpack. “You don’t want to know how hard it was to avoid the Death Eaters to get here, but it will be a nice second first birthday for him.”
Princess Celestia’s horn and the baby carrier both light up as she pulls Harry out of it, revealing a Pegasus with a coat the colors of the sunrise and a mane and tail of black hair with a forked yellow stripe running through both. “I think it will be…, and he’s adorable, Lily!”
Lily pauses in taking her backpack off to look at him briefly, causing her to coo softly. “You’re right, Celestia. He is just as adorable as a pegasus foal.”
Princess Celestia gently brings him close to her and looks him over with an experienced eye to ensure he is healthy. “Hypothetical question, but you’ve been over here long enough to know how we name our foals. What would you name him?”
Lily, by this point, has finally finished taking off her backpack and rummages about inside it. “Hmm… He kinda looks like a sunrise with his coat colors, and his mane looks like it has a bolt of lightning running through it. He’s also a pegasus which are known for weather-work. Lastly, I hope he grows up bringing others hope quickly. Even with him being one of two options for that terrible Prophecy, I feel he will. Over here, he shall be known as Lightning Sunrise, and since parentage follows a theme, I’d be Lightning Lily Gardener.”
Princess Celestia nods as she follows along, placing the renamed Lightning in her hair for him to play with. “All sound reasons Lily. Lightning it is, little guy. So, what’s been his favorite birthday present so far?”
Lily pulls out of her bag a toy broom and holds it up. “This gift from Sirius. He almost smashed up a vase Petunia got me riding about on it.”
Nodding back, Princess Celestia pulls out an animated stuffed blue alicorn from her saddlebags. “All I got him was this thing to cuddle with.” She then places it and a fidgeting Lightning back on the ground.
Lily watches Lightning toddle over to his broom on four legs at first before managing to take the last few unsteady steps bipedally. “He’ll love that; I’m sure once he’s done playing with the broom. It looks like it’ll bring him sweet dreams.”
Princess Celestia tears up at Lily’s last words. “I’m sure it will. I also see he’s walking bipedally. He’s the right age for it. I did actually have another gift for you.” She then pulls a sheet of paper out of her saddlebags. “An Equestrian Birth Certificate form for young Lightning…, and some info on a few families around here should the worst happen.”
Lily sits down at the little table set up and grabs a cup of tea on it, watching Lightning start to zoom around. “I suppose that is a valid question. Ok then, which families are you suggesting to adopt him?”
Princess Celestia shuffles her papers as she moves over to also sit at the table. “First, we have the House of the Sun. The family is from Sire’s Hollow, with the parents being scholar-mages in my court. The eldest child just got accepted last year into my school and is a brilliant spell-maker. The youngest is a bit of a troublemaker but I can still see light in her heart. Not many can hatch a phoenix at four years old to become my personal student.
“Secondly is the House of the Stars. The parents are stellar mages in my court. The eldest is rapidly rising through the ranks of the guard and has a talent for shield spells. Their youngest is showing promise and should easily make my school.
“Third is the Blueblood house. As a pro, they are quite rich, and Cadence is technically part of their house. As a con, well, besides her, they’re rich snobs if I do say so myself.
“Lastly is the Fancy household. They’re also rich and much nicer than the Bluebloods, but he’d be spoiled rotten by them.”
Lily mulls over it for a moment as she looks at Lightning again. “I think either of the first two are best. The Fancy family would be second choice, and the Bluebloods would be last.” She then pulls her wand out of a pocket and grabs the Birth Certificate forms to start signing them.
Princess Celestia nods in understanding as they spend the morning sipping tea and chatting about nothing. They then have an uneventful lunch of sandwiches before going shopping in Canterlot with Princess Celestia in disguise.
“And that is how the day ended, with me watching them step back through the portal…,” Princess Celestia trails off as she realizes she is speaking to no one, the Storyteller Sisters having vanished without a trace.
She spends a moment searching and finally finds a paper with writing on it. “Thanks for the history lesson. You shouldn’t see us again because Lightning has a bright story we want to tell. Signed, The Storyteller Sisters, Half-Light Dawn, Noon, and Dusk.”
Princess Celestia wonders aloud, “Just who are they, where did they go, and who funds the JourneyBolts?”
