//------------------------------// // Interlude 1: Celestia's Lie // Story: Changing Colors // by DiscordFan //------------------------------// Celestia walked through her palace. If I'm gonna rule Equestria, I need to get loyal subjects. She went outside and roamed around with her subjects. When she saw a Royal Guard, she trotted up to him and began to chat friendly. She lit up her horn when she made him laugh at a joke. Control spell... Okay! Please work, please work, please WORK!! The guard fell to the ground twitching violently and screaming in pain. He couldn't think, he couldn't do anything, but let his mind be taken over. He screamed louder, the pain increasing as his mind fought the spell. Celestia had already put the guard in a soundproof bubble spell before the screaming. The guard stopped moving. She released the soundproof bubble. He was breathing. Good, good. Hm... he will be my Captain of the Royal Guard, and... his name will beee... Sturdy Shield! Yes! She cast another spell and touched his forehead with her horn. She released the spell. "Rise, Sturdy Shield," she commanded. The stallion rose. Celestia clapped her hooves. Perfect! Now for everypony else's new outlook. Celestia simply roamed around now casting the spell everywhere. Screams of horrible mental pain filled the air. Sturdy Shield was dutifully trotting with his "princess." Celestia smiled as she absorbed the pain. Then she remembered something. She looked at her flank, then everypony else's flank. They were all blank but hers. She smiled evilly. "Oh, Sturdy Shield," she called, "come here!" The unconsciously-thinking stallion trotted over. "Yes, my Princess," he said in a dull and thoughtless voice. "Upon your flank," she said as she began casting a spell, "will rest a shield of gold and blue and purple!" Sturdy Shield's flank flashed, and a picture of a shield of those colors appeared on his flank. Celestia clapped her hooves once more. Celestia began charging the control-spell. Her horn was charged so much that you couldn't even see her form anymore. She released the spell. It surrounded Equestria, the Griffon Territory, Saddle Arabia, the Minotour lands. The spell surrounded all of Equs. She charged her horn again to the same level as before but cast a different spell. On the flanks of all ponies will a mark be adorned, signifying what I deem their talent is. Shrieks of pain increased. Now, to visit my sister... ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Celestia walked around the palace. Celestia called, "Oh, sister!" "Yes, 'Tia," she heard a voice in the direction of the dining hall, "What is it?" "Could you please come here," Celestia replied with a crazy smile on her face. She quickly put on a poker-face right as her sister walked in. "'Tia what is it?" Celestia began casting the control-spell. "Oh, you see, I learned this new spell, and... NEED TO USE IT ON YOU!!! Luna's shrieks of excruciating pain reached her ears. Celestia wore a maniacal smile on her face .Pain, lovely pain... Luna was twitching more violently than any other pony. Her shrieks got shriller and filled with more pain. "Feel that, Luna? Isn't it wonderful?" Luna stopped twitching and screaming. Her eyes were wide open, but she was asleep and breathing. "C'mon, Luna! Let's go hide your body, and we'll pretend you disappeared for a thousand years so I seem like a loving ruler who cares for her little ponies..."