//------------------------------//
// Chapter Seventeen 
// Story: When You Wish Upon a Star 
// by Nightshine_Eclipse 
//------------------------------//


"The Past is a good place to visit, but never a good place to stay, no matter how inviting it seems"



Everything went black...


The world around the little filly was black and dark. There was no light. The little filly spun in circles hoping to find something, or someone, that could help her understand or not feel like she was alone. What was going on? Where was she? Was she dead? What was happening? The filly's mind spun in circles, going crazier and crazier by the second, but then she heard something. A soft, soothing voice broke through the darkness.
My Star...
The little filly jumped in surprise from hearing the whisper. 
"Who-who's there?" she stuttered slightly.
"Don't be frightened, my child, it is I," the voice whispered in a soft and soothing tone.
"M-mother?" the filly again stuttered, shocked.
"Yes, child. It is I, your mother," the voice whispered, confirming what the little filly had said. "My dear, you've almost made it to the end of this journey, and I must warn you. While the tides turn and stars fall, there will be troubles that you must face. While fire ignites inside of your bones, let the light show you the way. Inside the old castle, a path of eight-pointed stars led your way. Let this continue as you continue your journey," the voice of the filly's mother warned. "Be brave, my starry one, be brave."
"I will try, mother, I will try to be brave! But what are you trying to tell me? Fire inside my bones? What am I supposed to be prepared for?" the little filly asked, quivering slightly.
"Be brave, my starry one," the voice whispered again.
"What am I supposed to be prepared for?!" the filly screamed.
The little filly didn't get an answer. Her head started to spin, faster and faster. She was getting dizzy. She could hear her mother whispering, Be brave, my starry one, over and over again. But it didn't sooth the dizziness.
Again, everything went black.


Her eyes shot open. 
Where was she? 
Who was she?	
Her attention was caught by the sound of coughing and chatter. Turning her gaze, she saw an elderly alicorn standing in a balcony, overlooking a crowd of others. The alicorn looked old and tired, but no weakness was shown through her body or words. Perking up her ears, she watched the alicorn began her speech.
"As it has happened, eons after eons, generations after generations, it is time that I pass on the role of Alisorn to my daughter. I have been the Alikorn for centuries, and as traditions pass, so do I. While I grow weak and old, my daughter thrives in youth and power," the elder Alicorn paused for a moment, then continued, "I say this beneath the sun and moon, before the gates of a world beyond. While the stars fall beneath the waves, let lightning rise over the sound. Let my power of day and night, transfer from one to another."
Once the elder Alicorn had said that line, a ray of light shot from her horn. Her head was thrown back and her wings spread, and the light started to lift the elder Alicorn off of the ground. The ponies on the ground watched in awe as the body of the Alisorn turned into a rainbow of light. Lasting for only a few moments in the sky, the rainbow of light soon shot out of the sky and onto another pony. The pony was a pegasus with a pure white coat and darker colored mane and tail. The rainbow of light lifted the pegasus off of the ground. Her wings were spread out and started to grow bigger. Her legs grew longer, her wings grew out, and even a horn grew out of her head. Once the light from the rainbow light diminished, a new pony, a new Alikorn, stood in pride.
Using her great wings, she flew up to the balcony and looked over the crowd of ponies.
"As my mother, Phoebe, may have died in body, she has not died in spirit. Her spirit shall live in me and help guide me to the right path. The sun and moon shall rise and fall, as shall the Alisorn in their time. With wisdom and courage, I will lead all of Equus to a better time. I say this now, the stars fall beneath the waves and the sweet sound of harmony fills the air. Sun's rays light the sky, while moon and stars guide the night. I shall be Equus' new Sun, Moon, and Stars," the new Alisorn swore to all of Equus.
Again, after the last words were spoken, everything went black.



It was midnight. Everypony was asleep. Everypony was asleep. Why does that sound unusual? Because it was unusual. The Alisorn, Leto, had cast a spell upon the castle. The Alikorn sat in the Nursery, staring at her babies. The firstborn was a pure white unicorn with a light pink mane and tail. Her second born, who was usually up during this time, was a darker blue pegasus with a lighter blue mane and tail. One of the sun, one of the moon. 
"Goodbye, my Sun and Moon," the Alikorn whispered before walking out of the Nursery. She sighed, closing the door. Making her way down the hall, she came to a stone wall. Using her magic, she pressed the symbol, making the stone wall become a doorway. The long, stone corridor gave the Alikorn time to think. Was she really doing this? Shaking her head, she pushed away any doubts. She knew she had to. 
She arrived at another stone wall, this time containing three carvings. Sun, Moon, Star. Pushing the symbols, again, the stone wall became a door. She entered the room where her dear sister was asleep. 
"Oh, Asteria, please forgive me," she whispered. "As it has happened, eons after eons, generations after generations, I pass on the role of Alisorn to my sister," the still barely new Alikorn paused for a moment, her gaze resting on the sleeping figure before her. She sighed, then continued, "I say this beneath the sun and moon, before the gates of a world beyond. While the stars fall beneath the waves, let lightning rise over the sound. Let my power of day and night, transfer from one to another."
A stream of light shot from Leto's horn, lighting up the room. Like when she had watched her mother turn over the power, her wings were drawn away from her sides, lifting her up. Her body was on fire, burning from the inside. But it did not hurt. In fact, it felt like somewhat nice. As she burned, her body turned to dust, but her spirit became a bright rainbow colored light. From in the air, it shot down onto the sleeping figure of Asteria. The rainbow light surged through the sleeping bat pony. Luckily, the one of night was asleep, for if she had been awake, pure agony would have torn through her body. 
As she slept, the rainbow light filled her body, turning her leathery bat wings into large, feathered wings. A horn of a unicorn was a replacement for her old one. Her once very dark colored pelt, became a few shades lighter, her mane and tail still streaked with different colors. The rainbow light diminished.
The sun rose, for the last time by the will of the Alisorn, Leto.


Asteria was awaken by a bright light shining in her eyes. Something felt off, like something bad had happened. Not wasting a single second, she raced out of her room towards were her nieces were asleep. Entering the room, she let out a sigh of relief. Both were in their beds, sound asleep. As she turned to leave, a voice spoke up behind her.
"Star, why did your wings change?" 
Asteria paused, eyes widened. She turned around to see a curious white unicorn. She spread her wings out and gasped. Her niece was right! Instead of her usual leathery, bat wings, she saw feathery, pegasus wings. She ran from the Nursery towards her sisters room. Barging in, she screamed. Leto was gone. Her eyes widened, for the millionth time that day. A neatly folded letter sat on the bedside table, her name written neatly on it. Grabbing it, she opened it.

Asteria-

I cannot explain why I had to leave. But you must believe me when I tell you this. It was never my destiny to be Alisorn; it was yours. Please, understand that this is all that I can tell you. I only ask that you raise my Sun and Moon. Celestia and Luna are destined for great things, I know they are. Please, understand. 

With Great Love,
Leto.



"Asteria? Why do you look so weak?" Leto's child of the Sun asked, worry evident in her voice.
"My students, my children, I wish I could explain everything to you, but I cannot do so. You must be brave, Sun and Moon. A time is coming, one where you both must stand tall, one where you will do so without me," the Alisorn replied.
"No! You can't leave us!" the smaller, lunar unicorn exclaimed.
"Oh, My Moon. I must, if this world is to become what it has to be. You and your sister are the key to getting the world back to harmony. To do this, for you both to see, I must go. But do not worry, I won't be gone forever," Asteria explained softly.
Tears started to swell in both the lunar and solar alicorns' eyes. They weren't ready to say goodbye their teacher, to their aunt, no, not their aunt, their mother.
"My children, do not fear what is to come," the Alisorn spoke, "You must understand your present, before you can comprehend your future."
"But Asteria, how are we suppose to do this on our own?" the smaller lunar child asked.
"You will find a way, I know you will," the Alisorn whispered.
"As it has happened, eons after eons, generations after generations, I pass on the role of Alisorn to my nieces," the Alikorn whispered, "I say this beneath the sun and moon, before the gates of a world beyond. While the stars fall beneath the waves, let lightning rise over the sound. Let my power of day and night, transfer from one to another and two."
The light that had once taken both her mother and her sister had began to take over her, as well. She welcomed the fire as it burned through her. 
Her vision faded, and everything went black.