//------------------------------// // The Danger Grows // Story: Sisterly Bonds Run Deep // by Night--Mist //------------------------------// As the Princesses informed their subjects in the castle of the lineage of Twilight and Rainbow Dash. Some of the guards, who were mostly officers, knew already, as did a certain Captain of the Royal Guard and Alicorn of Love. Twilight wasn't the least bit surprised and thought it must have been hard for her 'brother' and foalsitter/cousin to have kept it secret. Once those who were unaware of the two mares lineage were brought up to speed, all five princesses, including Cadence, sat in the dining room to have a nice family meal. It was ironic that Rainbow and Twilight shared the same taste buds of a daisy-daffodil sandwich. As they took a bite of their meals, a thought entered Twilight's head. After she swallowed, Twilight asked, "Cele, er, mom, I know that you were looking out for us due to the fact of corrupt politics and and the threat of Nightmare Moon, but I have to ask, were there any other enemies or dangers that may have put Rainbow and I at even greater risk had our identities been made known when we were little?" Celestia was taken a bit off guard by this question, instantly clearing her throat after taking too big of a sip from her glass of cider (this is the non-alcoholic kind). "You know, you actually bring up a fine question my daughter. I really never thought of any outside threats that may have put at risk. I was so wrapped up with the fear of the politicians and Nightmare Moon's return, I didn't stop to think about that. I do know once we do make your true identities public, that danger will still lurk, but you are much older and have the means to defend yourselves against it. Still one danger, now that I think about it, is an age old enemy that fell into myth. You may have heard about the myth in your daily schooling. His name is," Celestia said before Luna cut in. "No sister, don't say his name, he was once a family member," Luna said. "Wow, wait, we have another relative?" Twilight asked in shock. "Yes, and even I dare not speak his name. Not many ponies know he actually exists anymore for we tried to erase any knowledge we could to make it so he was nothing more then myth. He used to have a different name, but the darkness consumed him so much we had to change it. He... he was once our brother," Luna said. "Wow, we have an uncle too, whoda thunk it?" Rainbow retorted. "What was his name? No more secrets, please?" Twilight pleaded. "Yes, this is even one story you didn't even inform me of, I think we have waited long enough that we should all know," Cadence said. Celestia sighed, "Sister, we've kept too many secrets hidden, and they have a point. I can't just leave them to wonder now that they know they're alicorns." "I know, but, it's just so hard to think about what he did," Luna said. "I know," Celestia said. "Okay, look, we won't have a mental breakdown on this one, cause it seems you definitely had a good reason to keep him secret, and same was true for us, even though we didn't take it to well, but we would like to know who he is," Twilight said. "Well, maybe we should take this up to our resting chambers. Too many ears around who don't need to know about this yet," Celestia said. They all nodded in agreement and soon finished their meals to head back to the princesses resting chambers. Once there, they laid down to listen in. "Alright. Now it pains me to say this, but your uncle's name is... Deimos, alicorn of Terror. Far before my sister fell to the darkness, or before Discords reign of chaos, he was subdued to the dark forces and before long was striking fear into every pony of the age. We knew we had to do something to stop him, but the fact that he was our brother made it all the more harder to go against him. It took every last amount of our care for the citizens of Equestria to convince us that we had to stop him. Using our combined strength in our magic, we were able to send him deep into Tarturus, closely guarded by our father, Terra. Our mother, Gaia was both relieved and saddened her own son had to be cast into the deep, but it was the only way we could stop him at the time. Had we been given more time to act, we could have saved him, and given him back his true form," Celestia said. "Wow, what was his other name, before he was taken by darkness?" Rainbow asked. "Tyr, alicorn of wisdom and courage. Before he turned to darkness, ponies would go to him for guidance when they needed it," Celestia said. "Back up for a moment, you said if you had more time you could have saved him from the darkness. How, exactly?" Twilight asked. "Our mother spoke of a force even more powerful then the elements of harmony. Though my sister and I were never able to find it after Discord had taken over," Luna said. "What was this force called?" Cadence asked. "It's known as the Amulets of Purity. They were forged by the great unicorn masters of old, and even our parents did not know where they resided. It is said they only reveal their powers if the ponies wearing them are to use their combined powers for ones of goodness. There are also many test ponies must pass in order to find the lair to obtain them. We tried to find it, but once Discord took over, our journey came to a halt," Celestia said. "Why didn't you try to find it after you stopped Discord?" Twilight asked. "We had talked about it for a while, but it seemed the citizens of Equestria needed us more then we thought and we took our place on the throne to watch over them," Celestia replied, sounding a bit uneasy. Twilight noticed this and asked, "Pri, horse feathers, mom, what has you so worked up? You seem on edge all of the sudden." "It's just a thought occured to me. The return of Nightmare Moon was not by chance. All though I am grateful to have my sister back, I feel an unforeseen force, aside from the stars aided her escape. I think that the force was our brother's own dark magic. This can only mean one thing. He's breaking free, and our father can only do so much," Celestia. "Well, looks like we need to help out our gramps," Rainbow said. "Too right cousin," Cadence said. Twilight giggled at the fact she called Rainbow cousin, even though it was true. Then another thought hit her and thinking before she spoke she then said, "Mom, you said Amulets of Purity. That means there is more then one." "Yes, and?" Celestia asked, wondering what her daugter was getting at. "Well, exactly how many are there?" Twilight asked. "I am not sure, that part of the legend remains a mystery, even for Luna and I. Our parents weren't even sure how many themselves. It is said that their location was somewhere far south of here. I know I have been to many far places, but that is one area I have not yet visited, nor has Luna. Why do you ask?" Celestia asked. "Well, if our uncle does break free, we can't be sure the Elements of Harmony will stop him. We may need the amulets," Twilight stated. "She does have a good point sister," Luna said. Celestia sighed, "I know, but I just got my daughters back, I don't want to let them go." Twilight replied, "Well, you might gain your brother back if we find the amulets." "Well, I can't have you girls go it alone," Celestia said. "I'll go with them," Cadence offered. "I was certain you would niece, but that's not what I meant," Celestia informed them. "Don't tell me we need the guards to come with us," Rainbow said. "No, they would only get in the way of this mission and hamper your progress, granted all of them are fine fighters," Celestia said. "Well then who?" Twilight said. "Your going to need a unicorn who is a master of forging items in the south. Ironically enough, that's where most live. every forger down there has been taught a certain language. A language the great unicorn masters of anctient time spoke. They will need to guide you through these obstacles, for the written language is foreign, even to me. They do speak the common tongue, but they are taught to translate the script. You will need to find one on your journey," Celestia said. "Okay, but what about Shining Armor? I know we aren't brother sister related, but I know for a fact, he will not let me or Cadence go without him," Twilight said. "Hard to argue with you there. I'll have to ask his second in command to take charge when you take off, but for now, we need to find a way to tell your friends in Ponyville about your new lineage, plus there's the need of unlocking your alicorn powers again. We'll come up with a plan and have you leave in two weeks. This way we can spend time together and get the word out about what has happened, plus some time to see your father. If all goes well, we can have this mission ready and complete within days after it starts," Celestia said. "Hopefully," Twilight and Rainbow said together. Soon the family got onto other subjects that needed their attention, such as the four other mares in Ponyville and how they needed it be known of what was happening.