//------------------------------// // Prologue // Story: Starfall // by AuroraScribe //------------------------------// Spring has finally come and all around Equestria the last remnants of winter are now but a memory. In Canterlot, the royal garden is already green and full of life. Surrounding the palace, unique flowers known as starlight blossoms, a bulbous white flower that glows at night, have begun to bloom making the air smell like honey. Enticed by the sweet scent, Princess Luna walks gracefully to her balcony to enjoy the warm early morning sunlight. Fighting back a yawn, she lays down to look through the railing at the butterflies floating busily from flower to flower down below. She tries for a short time to count them all, but her eyes won't obey, the exhaustion of being awake through the night taking its toll. She laughs softly and whispers to herself, "Perhaps... we will count them tomorrow..." * * * * * * * * After a single knock, the large doors of Princess Luna's chambers swing open. Two royal guards, both gray unicorns dressed in gleaming gold armor, march through the doorway. Wasting no time, they take positions at each side of the door and stand at attention. "Luna?" Princess Celestia calls out as she steps inside. Taking a moment to nod to the guards, she begins looking around the massive room. The sounds of chirping guides her to the balcony where she finds her sister sound asleep with blue jays, robins, and a mix of other birds sitting on the railing watching over her. Smiling, she quietly returns to the guards and whispers, "Please inform the guests we'll need to meet later this evening." After a quick salute, the guards hastily exit the chambers, using their magic they close the large doors softly behind them. Celestia happily sighs. Intentional or not, her sister had given her a small reprieve from her royal duties. Walking softly, she moves slowly though the chambers once again to join her sister on the balcony. Since Luna's return, Celestia has gradually brought her sister into the politics of the kingdom, trying to not only reintroduce her to the duties brought on by being a princess of Equestria, but to also spend more time with one another. In her heart she fears neglect may have played a part in her sister's betrayal and it's something she's sworn to never let happen again. With that thought in mind, as Celestia walks through Luna's chambers she can't help but feel a pang of guilt. Even though they see each other on a daily basis, new artwork adorns almost every wall, much of which she has never seen. On one side, she’s painted an image of the moon glistening over a lake. On the adjacent wall a new image of ponies playing under star light and another of a friendly looking owl. Most striking, though, on the wall next to her bed is hundreds of painted cutie marks. "How long has this taken her? Are these all of ponies she's met?" Her thoughts creep into her voice as she takes a moment to inspect each. Right off she spots the diamond-like sparkles of her student, Twilight Sparkle, then the butterflies of Fluttershy, the lightning bolt of Rainbow Dash, the apples of Applejack, the balloons of Pinkie Pie, and the gems of Rarity, along with many others, even one that looks similar to... "We apologize, sister." Luna groggily says, interrupting Celestia's thoughts. "We fell asleep..." She pauses to brush the hair of her dark mane from her eyes as she yawns deeply. "It was a mistake to count the butterflies, we see that now. It will not happen again." Celestia smirks as her horn glows softly, the magic lifting her sister gently into the air and floating her over to the bed. "There's no need for an apology, the meeting was simply postponed. Go ahead and get some rest." "But... It was important, was it not?" Luna blinks heavily, a look of concern and sleepiness on her face. Celestia's magic gently pulls the covers around Luna. "Nothing that can't wait a little while longer." She whispers. Feeling better, Luna gives a warm smile then closes her eyes. Celestia watches her sister a long while as she passes back to sleep. "You've been lonely, haven't you?" Unaware of the tears starting to fill her eyes, she pauses to kiss her on the forehead then glances once again at the wall of cutie mark art. "But... At least it looks like you've been making friends-" Her voice fades to a whisper as she spots one cutie mark in particular. There, apart from the others, a bright blue star, very similar to Celestia's own cutie mark of the sun. Moving closer, she whispers, "Why... Would she paint this?" She gazes at it for a time, drifting into a daydream of a horrible war of years past. She blinks and the edges of the cutie mark begin to glow softly, the light growing stronger with each passing moment. Startled, Celestia backs away from the wall as the eerie light begins to fill the chambers. Behind her, she hears Luna hum a few notes of a very old hymn. Celestia shakes her head and turns to see Luna now sitting upright, glaring at her with golden eyes. "Did you think I had forgotten?" Luna says, but it's not her voice. "Did you think I'd never return?" Celestia steps back in disbelief and trips, spreading her wings as she tries to balance herself but still she tumbles, the sensation of falling seemingly endless... And then she lands. Celestia's eyes open and she gasps lightly, as if no air were in her lungs. Looking around, she finds herself at her sister's bedside, Luna tucked in and sleeping sweetly. "Was it all a dream?" She asks, keeping her voice low but half hoping Luna would actually tell her. The memory of her sister speaking with someone else's voice and of her unusual golden eyes makes her quickly reconsider, a cold chill running through her at the thought. She gets up and turns to look at the wall with the cutie marks. The blue star is there. ...Did you think I had forgotten? Did you think I'd never return?... The words linger, and suddenly she feels like she's falling once more. Steadying herself, her eyes move from the cutie mark of the blue star to those of friends, the spirits of the elements of harmony. * * * * * * * * Celestia paces in her own chambers, her mind racing. On her desk a feather pen flutters about on a piece of parchment magically writing a very important letter. Philomeena, the princess's phoenix pet, rests on a large perch watching her master intently. "I wish... I truly wish there was another way." Celestia looks at her pet as if she may give her another option. "But, there really isn't, is there?" She concludes solemnly. Trying not to sulk, she turns her attention to the parchment which magically rolls up then is wrapped closed with a bright pink and yellow ribbon adorned with the royal seal. Sighing deeply, she turns and walks slowly onto her balcony, placing a hoof on a cracked tile that she’s intentionally never had repaired, then looks skyward. The morning sunlight passes through her mane making it glow vivid shades of orange and red, the fiery appearance matching her mood. Her lips purse tightly, she knows this can't wait any longer. Philomeena lands on Celestia's shoulder, the newly written scroll clutched firmly in a claw. "Be swift." Celestia whispers, nodding lovingly to her pet. Philomeena rests her head against her master's neck then takes off in a fiery streak. She soars over the castle's courtyard, then beyond the majestic city of Canterlot, heading straight to a special library in a little town called Ponyville. "Twilight Sparkle, I've already asked too much of you and your friends... and now, I'm going to need your help more than ever.” Celestia sighs as she watches her pet vanish in the distance. “Please forgive me, my student."