King Nebulis paced back and forth down the hallway. The stars on his body glowed normally, shimmering and shining like always. His mane waved dark purple. His wings stuck tightly to his sides, but instead of feathers it seemed to waver and pulse. The cutie mark was a great star that glowed perfectly. A painting nearby caught his figure. But there was no time to admire the paintings of him or his wife. A small white unicorn ran up to him and asked him to sit down. Though the unicorn said it politely the larger stallion stilled glared at the small white unicorn. Nebulis sighed and looked back and the door and winced as he heard his wife scream again. They're first foal was being born as of now and his wife, Queen Galaxia, was none too happy about it. Though the ponies of their kingdom were excited and the couple was happy, that didn't mean it didn't hurt.
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A small white foal laid in it's mother's hooves. Galaxia looked at the foal and nuzzled the small alicorn warmly, the white foal was wrapped in a white blanket, the feeling of warmth and safety eased the little one to a deeper sleep. Nebulis stood over the two mares and kissed his wife. Galaxia's mane was straight, an uncommon sight. The ends were still a deep blue but as it came closer to her head it lightened to soft orange. She was almost pure white with the same orange on the tips of her body that would then turn into blue once more. The little foal had a creamy coat and pink hair. "What shall we name her?" Nebulis looked at the little foal and smiled. Galaxia looked up and said, "Celestia, for the sky."
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"Daddy! Daddy!" Celestia ran up to her father who looked over from the long table full of advisors and court officials. They looked at Nebulis with an unamused face.
An important meeting had been going on about the gates of Tartarus having to be closed again. He looked down at his daughter and excused himself for a moment. "Darling, now is not the time." Nebulis nudged Celestia towards the door with his hoof. "But- Daddy!" Celestia turned around and flared up her wings. "Mommy says she needed to talk to you!" Nebulis sighed again. "Tell her I shall speak with her after." He turned around and began walking back to his seat. "But she said now..." Celestia peeped out. Nebulis waved her off and resumed where he left off.
"What shall we do?" One advisor questioned.
"I suggest you go in and seal it off this time." Another advisor replied back.
Nebulis looked down at the ground and then got up. "Sir where are you doing?" and advisor called out as Nebulis opened the large doors. "If no pony will then I shall." The advisors were dumbstruck. The only idea that was came up with was going to used.
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Nebulis flew back as he raised the moon easily. The castle was on what would one day be Canterlot. But at this time it was known as Arcertareas. Two alicorns stood on the highest balcony. One was Celestia the other her annoyed mother Galaxia. Nebulis flew down quickly and cringed as Galaxia looked at him unamused. Galaxia and Nebulis argued and Celestia sat there listening.
"What do you mean!" Nebulis spat out
"I'm pretty sure I'd know or not is what I mean!" Galaxia spat back.
"That's what you said last time and nothing happened!" Nebulis walked after Galaxia into their chambers.
"That was short enough ago that it could still be true!" Galaxia slammed the door as Nebulis was about to say something.
Their muffled voices came through the thick door. Celestia sat in the cold night air scowling at the door. Celestia played with her pink mane and then flew around in circles. A few guards looked over at her then looked away. Celestia laid on the ground and pushed herself with her hind legs. Bored she eventually opened the door. Her parents were gone and Celestia grumbled. She stepped into her bed and slept peacefully. As moments passed Her parent's heads peaked through the door and looked at Celestia. "How do you think she'll handle it?" Galaxia whispered. Concern clearly shone through. Nebulis then walked in and sat at his daughter's bedside. He kissed Celestia goodnight and then slowly stepped into bed. Galaxia walked through as well and sung a lullaby to put Celestia back to sleep.
"Into the Sun and through The Moon,
I will love you,
My wings will be open to hold you close
and I will protect you
No harm shall come my little Sun
For I am here to keep you safe
And a warm smile will always grace your face."
Galaxia nuzzled her daughter then went to bed, the words of the song ringing through out her head. Celestia eased herself to sleep, but nightmares still plagued her. One specific one scared her most. The nightmare started out normal. A sunny day with her parents quickly turned terrifying when a black fog crept over the mountain castle. Celestia tried to tell them something, but they paid no heed. Like they were deaf. The black fog whisked her parents away, and a small blue alicorn stood where her parents sat before. It grinned wickedly and laughed at her, taunting her every move. Celestia tried to speak but no words came out. The small blue alicorn grew tall, It's mane began to wave a deep dark blue much like her parents. It's coat became black and it's eyes glowed a bright blue. Celestia screamed and ran, stretching out her tiny wings to gain speed. But to no avail. The tall alicorn's mane grabs her legs and she stumbled over herself. Unable to get up in time, Celestia turned around and everything went black. She woke up to see her mother rocking her back and forth, telling her it was ok, she was there. Nebulis was nowhere in sight, most likely busy with the court. Galaxia and Celestia walked out of the room to go to breakfast. Celestia stayed under her mother's wing. They walked down the hallways and as they passed a few ponies bowed and politely waved hello. Celestia smiled a bit and waved back, a few ponies made comments on her but they were not rude in the slightest. Galaxia stopped at the door to the dining area and pushed Celestia through the door.
"But Mommy what if the fog comes back!" Celestia whined.
"It won't come back, Promise." Galaxia reassured her daughter.
"Now. Go eat breakfast, have whatever you'd like." The young alicorn's mother walked off down the sunny hallway.
Celestia walked through the half open door.
She sat down at the long table alone. A chef came in and asked what she'd like then left. Celestia sighed and looked outside. It was a sunny day, the weather ponies had done a good job. But the lonely feeling unsettled Celestia. Though she could hear the clanking of armor and taps of hooves she felt the large stuffy room sucking up her air. Celestia's horn glowed yellow and a window opened, cool fresh air rushed in. Celestia perked up like a flower at this. She skipped back to her chair and waited patiently for breakfast. A chef came in and gave her a bowl of oats. Celestia thanked the chef and ate in silence.
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Galaxia and Nebulis shifted uncomfortably with the court. Though no pony was there besides the guards something unsettled them. The Sun and moon had been acting strange lately. The sun refusing to set at times without a little brute force and the moon shining brighter every single night. But the court was still uncomfortable. The storm outside raged on. The weather ponies were having a bit of trouble keeping the clouds in order, A grayish yellow pegasus flew onto one but was immediately thrown off by the angry cloud. This was quite odd for the clouds to act on their own. They had not done that since Ventus, A kirin that controlled the weather was alive. Though the thought the was quickly passed Nebulis's mind because he saw the kirin die at the claws of a RiMonstrum at the Tartarus Gates. The dark stallion sighed at got up to leave.
"My lord!" A pale grey unicorn burst through the door.
"What is it?" Nebulis walked up to the smaller stallion. His dark imposing figure frightened the already terrified unicorn.
"Something named Ventus just cracked the Gates of Tartarus open! He closed it but..." The unicorn trailed off
Nebulis stared at the unicorn then sighed and sprinted down the hall, only to jump out a window and fly off. Celestia ran to the broken window to see her father speed off to the Everfree Forest. Galaxia walked up to the window too, looked at Celestia then flew out herself. Though her parents were powerful, Ventus was also strong. If he was able to break the barrier that sealed Tartarus and also control the weather by himself, there was little chance Nebulis could do it alone.
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Nebulis neared the cave that sealed Tartarus from the world. A storm colored kirin with large feathered wings turned his head and smiled wickedly. His eyes a deep seated blood red. Galaxia flew closer and landed with Nebulis. They both glared angerly at the Ventus.
"Tartarus has changed you." Nebulis hissed out
"Ah yes. And for the better!" The kirin cried with joy.
"We've come to stop your madness and return you to which you came." Galaxia glanced over at the cave.
"Well then have fun with that." Ventus snickered
Nebulis shot a dark blue beam of light at the kirin, who flew out of the way. But just barely. Ventus's wide red eyes glowed dimly in the storm. Ventus created a small orb of light and it split until there were hundreds of them, created in seconds. The orbs flew everywhere, exploding on contact. Galaxia and Nebulis combined their power to make a barrier, but it was merely a shield. Nebulis and Galaxia felt confident, but it did not last. As they kept the spell up, and orb flew past unnoticed. It turned around and before Nebulis could completely turn, it hit him. The explosion sent Galaxia flying, she watched in terror as her husband flew like a rag doll into the air, going to fast to recover in time. Ventus sent up another spell and lightning struck him once more. His limp body returned to normal. The stars dissipated and his mane no longer flowed. His wings became feathers and he no longer glowed dimly. Shocked, Galaxia stood stiffly even when Ventus charged her. Ventus for a few moments felt victorious, but was proven wrong when Galaxia refused to move. Before he could jump back, a black tendril decapitated him. Galaxia charged a spell and the fragile cloak that covered the cave transformed into a large pair of doors. The cries and screeches of creatures came from behind it. Galaxia opened the door only to let off a burst of magic, destroying everything in it's path. Picking up the dead kirin, she threw it in with no remorse. "At one time I respected you. But now I see how your time in there has changed you into a beast." Galaxia muttered. She slammed the gate shut, sealing off the gates once more. She turned around to see Nebulis, mouth gaping open, back to normal, staring at her.
"You- I- Sorry...." Nebulis looked down and pawed the ground.
After a long embrace they flew home.
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Nebulis and Galaxia quickly recovered. Celestia though refused to leave their sides for weeks. To see a small white alicorn under one of their wings became a normal sight.
"Their daughter is too cute! I wonder why we don't see more of her though." A servant uttered to the warm air.
"She's probably in magic training." A servant replied back.
"No, Princess Celestia would be able to do a bit more magic. I've seen her around in the garden a few times and she rarely uses her magic." Another servant answered as they cleaned plates.
"I heard she talks to the plants." A chef walked past the three
"That's absurd, Ponies can't talk to plants." the first servant looked strangely at the chef
"She is an alicorn though..." the second one said with discomfort.
The servants nodded slowly, coming to the conclusion that it was simply "an alicorn thing".