//------------------------------//
// Dreams 
// Story: Afraid of the Light 
// by BiniBean 
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Chapter One: Dreams

The unicorn Celestia roamed fields, the new fields of Equestria—a new nation. The unicorn with a pink mane and white coat smiled as the sun rose above the horizon. Slowly, being important as the sunrise had been taking longer to do as the years went on. As the sun rose higher in the sky and its warmth spread across the valley, blanketing her and the fields in a warm hug, she smiled.

The cold months had dragged on before the tribes found Equestria. Having to flee their homes in a chance of desperate survival was risky, but thanks to the three tribe leaders and their second in command, they found a new home. A safer home. A home to form friendships and family.

All that was left of her family was Luna, her younger sister. Her mother and Father had perished in the winter due to a sickness that overwhelmed most of the unicorn population. Celestia had pushed down the grief as much as she could, of course, she missed them, but frankly, the matters of keeping Luna safe and finding a way to survive were always her top priority. 

Now that she was safe, she had all the time in the world to reflect on her loss. On her mistakes.

Celestia didn't want to ruin the moment of peace, the first moment of quiet she had felt for years. She preferred to reflect on the future, and on how to improve. Maybe she was running from her emotions? She didn't exactly care if she did. Crying about ponies dead months ago would not help her now. Nor bring them back to the living.

She took deep breaths to concentrate on something else, grasping for something else to occupy her mind. So she focused on the sun, the constant. She focused on its beautiful light and how it could make anything better. The sun was like a friend almost.

She considered her life so far, recently she had been 'discovered' by Starswirl the bearded due to her magic ability. She did not have a cutie mark like other ponies her age but Starswirl said she had the potential to do wonderful things. She did have a dream of being a scholar of magic. She wanted to research magic. Discover new spells. Perhaps be as powerful as Starswirl himself one day.

Celestia scoffed at herself with a small smile at how ridiculous she was being. Be as powerful as Starswirl? That was almost blasphemy. 

"Tia? TIA!"

She turned her head slightly to barely be able to see her sister Luna galloping towards her from the distance, hopping over rocks and dodging holes in the ground.

"Tia!" Luna shouted again and her pace faltered and she slowed to a stumbled slower gallop as she took deep breaths of growing exhaustion. "T-Tia, g-get over here. Y-you airhead."

Celestia's expression fell to annoyance and confusion when she raised an eyebrow and trotted quickly over to her sister, who came to a stop to frantically try to take in deep breathes from possibly running a far distance as Celestia did tend to wander far away from the newly established village.

"Airhead? That's not a nice way to greet your sister. Good morning by the way. Nice to see you are finally up." Celestia replied as Luna took a moment to lean against her to regain her strength.

"Some of us don't want to wake up in the dead of night to wander to some boring field to watch the sunrise for the hundredth time. Coommmee onnn-" Luna promptly complained before bitting the tip of Celestia's mane and began tugging in the direction of the town. "Starswirl wants to see us- come on, I want breakfast! I want to go see my friends at some point today and certainly don't want to spend that time waiting for you and your lonely self!"

Celestia gave a chuckle before lighting her horn with golden magic and tugging her hair back out of Luna's grip before taking the lead on the travel home.

"Being alone is fun, Luna. It gives me time to think and study. But, I am happy you have friends. Believe me, I don't want to keep you from them. I suppose I am a little hungry." Celestia replied. Luna gave a bright smile and was soon trotting beside her, each of them discussing their plans for the future and how their day would progress.

As they moved through the beautiful land, full of stories to come, Celestia was happy. She was happy with her life. Happy with her plans for the future. She was going to be a scholar of magic. She was sure her life was on track. She didn’t consider for a moment, that one year later, it would all come crumbling down before she had even time to process what took place.