Chapter 4: We Were At War
After trekking through the forest and fighting off some more trapweeds, monsters and more of those ape-creatures, Twilight and Spike finally had Canterlot in sight and started making their way towards the Royal Castle. At least they were until the sound of flapping wings was heard as suddenly out of nowhere a large black shadow flew over them and a loud monster horse-like whinny was heard! The sound caused Twilight and Spike to freeze in surprise and terror, and slowly look at each other before doing the smartest thing in this situation.
"WHAAAAAHHH!" Spike screamed as he and Twilight ran as fast as they could in fright to get away from the sound.
"Aaaaaaaaahhhhhh!" Twilight screamed as she ran while Spike flew around in sporadic circles.
"Deep breaths Spike old boy! Think of your happy place!" Spike said to himself as he and Twilight ducked for cover.
Once they were sure they were safe and the sound was gone, Twilight and Spike hid behind a building and took a breather from what just happened. "What in Equestria was that?" Twilight asked, still frightened from the sound.
Spike made a nervous laugh, "I don't know. But I'm going this way, to the castle and far from it," He said, pointing to the castle before the two ran towards the castle…
"Which brings us to the moment when Twilight's Journey really began. When she and I finally met again, for the very first time. Oh, it's a long story…,"
After Twilight and Spike have arrived in the castle, they soon found Celestia, a tall white Alicorn mare with lovely violet eyes, a colorful mane and tail blowing in a non-existence wind, wearing golden regalia with cut amethyst crystal on her collar and crown, and her cutie mark of a golden sun, and her sister Luna, a short cornflower blue Alicorn mare with a lighter blue mane and teal colored eyes, silver glitter slippers and a black tiara on her head with a matching black chest plate with a white crescent moon that matched her cutie mark, and a crescent moon atop a black splodge that was meant to act as the black night sky.
Having never seen the royal sisters in person, Twilight and Spike were aghast at their appearance, "And I thought you're a weird looking pony, holy moly," Spike commented to Twilight as she looked at the two alicorns before them.
Celestia and Luna were shocked and surprised by what they saw in front of them.
"You're, you're alive," Celestia breathed out in shock, before her expression turned to sorrow, "But it's too late…too late," Celestia said, bowing her head down and shaking it in defeat.
Twilight was confused from what Celestia said, "Too late? Too late for what, Celestia? What's going on? Do you know me? Where do I come from? Wh-What are you? What are we? WHAT AM I?!" Twilight asked, frantically wanting some answers.
"You mean you don't know?" Luna asked the purple mare.
"Does it sound like she knows?" Spike asked sarcastically.
"You're one of us, my little pony, an alicorn," Celestia told them, "When you were just a little filly, it was our job to protect you,".
"…It was all of our job to protect all of you," Luna added quietly.
"All of our? Are there others like us?" Twilight asked in confusion.
"Others? There were," Celestia answered, "There were 8 of us…Guardians that is. And we all have only one job, to ensure that everycreature were safe from all harm and protect the new generation of Alicorns,".
"It was the Year Of The Alicorn after all and our very survival depended on that generation," Luna went on before hers and Celestia's expression turned to sadness.
"But now our Temple and Nursery are now gone…Overrun by…," Celestia said with her eyes closed.
"Wait, Temple? What Temple? Can you show us? Can we see it? Where I came from? I mean…," Twilight asked, wondering if the two princesses can take her and Spike to this temple.
"I'm sorry, but I'm afraid we can't. Who knows what occupies the Temple now or what states it's in or if it even exists anymore. You don't understand after they came for you…," Celestia explained, shaking her head in fear.
"They?" Twilight raised a brow, "Who's they? And why did they come for me?" She asked, wondering why and who was coming for her.
"Because there was a prophecy that spoke of an Alicorn Warrior. An Alicorn said to unite all creatures of Equestria together as one. But is only born once every ten generations…," Luna replied as she and Celestia showed Twilight and Spike the picture of an Alicorn resembling Twilight standing at the balcony of a castle overlooking the land and the horizon.
"You," Luna pointed to a shocked Twilight
"Whooaaa, hold on, so Twilight is the Alicorn Warrior? Ehehe, I think you got your ponies mixed up because that's a bit of a stretch," Spike laughed it off, expressing his skepticism.
"Twilight is it?" Celestia said as she looked at the young alicorn, "Well, Twilight, I will assure you that Luna and I are telling you the truth,".
"You see, when The Dark Armies heard that you were the Alicorn Warrior, they attacked the temple one night attempting to destroy you and killing the rest of us. They nearly succeeded and laid siege in the other parts of Equestria," Luna explained the story to Twilight and Spike who had their eyes widened from all the actions.
"We were at war…," Luna and Celestia said in unison as a flashback of their story begins...
( Flashback Begins )
The flashback shows a map of ancient Equestria with red X's that show enemy territory. These territories show an army of Warrior Alicorns in their suits of armor ready for battle. In front of the army are, Celestia and Luna, who are standing right next to the flag with a symbol of the elements looking at their enemies with anger and determination. On the other side of the battlefield was the Dark Army made up of Ape-like creatures, led by a tall lanky looking one holding a staff.
"For many years, we fought all over Equestria to free the other kingdoms from the forces of the Dark Master who was determined to prevent these prophecies from coming true," Luna said explaining the story.
The two armies collided and the war began. Celestia, and Luna were using their magic to blast every dark creature away from them while the other Alicorn Guardians used their elemental powers such as Fire, Air, Water, Nature, Electricity, and Earth to burn, wash, blow, tangle, electrify, and crush any enemy before them.
"The other Guardians, Luna and I lead our small but valiant forces against our ruthless and devious foes. But as we begin to turn the tides…," Celestia narrated.
( Back at the Present )
"...Slash came," Luna said with a hint of anger and defeat in her voice.
"Slash?" Twilight asked, raising a brow.
"Yes Slash," Celestia said as she remembered the horrifying appearance of the stallion who ended all of their hopes…
(Back in The Flashback)
"Slash was…is a monstrous, horrific, ferocious, black Alicorn Stallion who fills the skies with terror and an unstoppable force of nature," Celestia explained while describing Slash's magic.
In the flashback, Slash's appearance was masked in shadows as his eyes glowed yellow and his horn sparked with dark magic.
( Back at the Present )
"Okay, you had me at ferocious, listen. Sounds like that giant thing that was chasing us, Twilight," Spike told his sister in fear.
"Yes, he still searches for us…," Luna said as she continues telling the story as the flashback continues...
( Back In The Flashback )
"And years ago, Celestia and I watched as Slash plucked our brothers and sisters from the battlefields. Like so many ripe grapes from a vine," Luna said.
In the flashback, the two Alicorn Princesses found themselves chained and surrounded by their enemies as they watched their friends being carried away from the battlefields in their own chains by Slash as he blew fire into the battlefields.
"Without them, all cost is lost…," Celestia said.
( Back In The Present )
"Only we managed to escape," Celestia took over, recalling, how she and her sister were the only ones to slip free of the Dark Army.
"Not that it matters, Slash now rules almost all of Equestria, this place is one of the very that is left untouched by his tyranny…," Luna replied with a look of hopelessness.
"And Luna and I just remain here in Canterlot all alone, wondering what might have happened to our guardian brothers and sisters, what else we might have done, and what if we're the last Alicorns to be alive," Celestia said as she and Luna felt loneliness, fear, sadness, guilt, and loss of hope for failing their friends and family many years ago.
"Wow, now that sounds fun, I wanna hang out with these two," Spike commented after hearing the story.
"Yeah, but Celestia why have you and Luna given up? I just found out that I'm an Alicorn Warrior and you tell me all is lost? That I have no family or home left? I've come way too far to give up now. I wanna see where I come from!" Twilight said, shaking her head.
Spike got in front of her and waved his claws, "Whoa, whoa, whoa! Twilight, weren't you not listening to them! They were talking about evil Alicorns, War, and horrible…This all points to really nasty stuff, alright. Are we even in the same page, here?" He said, telling her that what she was thinking was crazy.
"The young dragon is right, Twilight. It's not as simple as that. It's true the prophecies spoke of the Alicorn Warrior destined to put a stamp upon this age…," Celestia said.
"...But the prophecy didn't foretell the devastation that surrounds us now," Luna finished, telling her that what she was about to face would be very difficult.
Twilight however was unmoved, "Maybe you're right. But I'm willing to try. I want to take the first step,".
"So, you're actually gonna go along with these crazy mares?" Spike asked, hoping Twilight was joking.
"Very well, Twilight. We'll go, you deserve to see your beginning…," Celestia said as she stood up.
"...Before it all ends," Luna finished as the royal sister stepped off their thrones.
"Am I the only dragon sane here?!" Spike asked as Twilight followed the two older alicorns, "They're telling us we're doomed here, and that's when I go 'AH! Maybe we should go back to Ponyville with the flowers and the fun stuff'," Spike complained as he and Twilight followed the royal sisters through a secret passageway in the throne room.
Their destination, the hidden Temple of the Alicorns.