//------------------------------//
// Chapter 1 - The Regal Sisters 
// Story: The Beginning 
// by Newman2007 
//------------------------------//

           "Once upon a time, there were two alicorn sisters who ruled Equestria. One would raise the sun everyday and lower it to make way for her younger sister's beautiful night. For many centuries, this harmony was kept and everything was peaceful.
"One day, the younger sister became jealous of her older sister. The ponies would relish and play in her sister's day, but slept through her brilliant night. A strange feeling came to the young princess. She decided not to lower the moon to make way for yet another beautiful day. The younger sister vowed to shroud the land with eternal night forever. 
"The older sister tried to reason with her younger sister, but it was no use. The young princess' mind was tormented with jealousy and hatred. She was transformed into a being of complete hatred and jealousy. The creature she became was called Nightmare Moon."
"Nightmare Moon?" Aure asked in a small voice. "I think mother told me stories about her when I was a filly, but I can't seem to remember any details."
"Anyway, the older sister created the Elements of Harmony to help imprison her sister in the moon. The younger sister was sent there for a thousand years. In her younger sister's absence, the older sister raised the sun during the day and lowered it for the moon at night everyday alone. A thousand years later, the day of the summer solstice no more than four hundred years ago, the stars in the sky helped Nightmare Moon escape from imprisonment. The younger sister was still the same evil pony that she had been when she was imprisoned. She invaded the Summer Solstice celebration and announced that she was to shroud the land of Equestria in eternal night and no pony could stop her from achieving that goal. Everyone in the room was completely flabbergasted. The only pony in the room that was not confused, was your mother. She knew exactly what was happening, which lead to some speculation among her new friends. Twilight rushed home to find out a way to stop Nightmare Moon only to find that her friends had followed her home to question her. Twilight explained to them that she had read about the prophecy about Nightmare Moon's return and tried to warn the princess, but she claimed to have it all under control. The six friends sent off to the Everfree Forest-"
"The Everfree forest? But isn't that place really scary? Gosh, mother would never let me near that place, nor do I want to," Aure said. Skyfall waited silently for Aure to finish, only slightly annoyed. "Sorry, continue." Skyfall cleared his throat and continued.
"The older sister needed six ponies to fulfill the purpose of the Elements of Harmony. Twilight Sparkle, your mother, was one of these courageous ponies-."
"Wait," Aure interrupted, "my mother was one of the Elements of Harmony?" A bit more of annoyance came. He hated being interrupted. 
"Your mother never told you?"
"No, never." Her expression was serious. It was strange that one of the most powerful unicorns of all time and the queen of Equestria had never once mentioned to her only daughter about her past. She shifted uncomfortably in her chair. Skyfall walked over to his beloved chair and sat down contemplating why Twilight had not told Aure about her past. He shook his head and began again.
"Well now you know. She was the smartest, bravest and most courageous pony I have ever had the pleasure of meeting. She and her five determined friends used the elements to peal away the hatred and jealousy that had engulfed the younger sister. The elder sister came to the ponies and thanked them for freeing her younger sister from the evil spirit that took over. Later that evening, the sisters returned to the castle and spent time together for the first time in a thousand years. Their conversations were all over the place with unfinished arguments and awkward silences. In the end, they forgave one another and moved on with their lives. Several months later, after her coronation, your mother-"
"Sir!" A guard waiting outside the door threw the door open with tremendous force. He looked like he had seen a ghost. Skyfall's anger was rising from frustration, while Aure turned towards the guard, shocked by his entrance. 
"What is it now?" Skyfall rolled his eyes and waited for the guards answer.
"The Queen has returned!"