"Mooooooom, Celestia won't play with me!" the dark blue filly whined, dashing into her parents room. Her mother looked up, a soft smile gracing her kind features at the sight of her youngest daughter.
"I'm sure she has her reasons, Luna dear," the Queen responded softly. Luna snuggled into her mother, peering up at her with large, puppy dog eyes. Luna always thought of her mother as beautiful. She had a long green mane that flowed and shimmered. Luna always hoped that someday her mane would become like that. Right now, however, she was distracted by thoughts of her sister shooing her away like a bug.
"She does not! She's just being a meanie!" Luna pouted, flopping her hindquarters to the floor.
"Now Luna, I'm sure your sister will play when she has time. Can't you find something to do by yourself?" a different, deeper voice came from the doorway Luna herself had entered just a minute ago. The filly looked up eagerly as her father trotted into the room. She looked more like him then her mother, what with the dark mane and fur. She jumped up and ran over to the King, slamming into his legs.
"Now, Luna, don't hurt your father," her mother teased gently, slowly following her daughter to greet her husband.
"Oh, Gaia, I think she broke my leg. I might not be able to make it to that banquet," Cronos groaned, collapsing to the floor in fake pain.
"Oh, really? I suppose you won't be able to have any blueberry tarts then. Such a shame," Gaia sighed.
"My my, would you look at that? I seem to be suddenly better!" the King replied in mock amazement.
"It's a miracle," the Queen said dryly. Annoyed at being ignored by her parents, Luna began hopping up and down in between them.
"Mom, when will I get my cutie mark?" Luna asked, pausing for a moment to peer at her blank flank. Gaia glanced over at her husband before responding.
"When you find out what makes you special, my little pony," Gaia said softly. Cronos trotted over to stand next to his wife and she leaned against him, letting out a sigh of contentment. Luna wrinkled her nose at the lovey dovey scene, but was soon distracted by the cutie marks on her parents flanks. Her mother had the entire world of Equestria and her father had an hourglass surrounded by stars.
"So what do yours mean? What makes you special?" Luna asked, curious. She saw her parents share a look before answering her question.
"We'll tell you someday, when you're older," her father said gently. Luna stuck out her tongue at him and was just about to retort when another voice interrupted them.
"There you are, Luna. When you ran off earlier I was worried you'd get into some sort of trouble," Celestia sounded more like Gaia, soft and gentle. Luna took after Cronos more, in her coloring and tone of voice.
"I don't need you to look after me Celestia. I'm not a baby," Luna said, turning her face away from her sister. Celestia rolled her eyes and trotted up to the trio standing there.
"Sure, that's why you came whining to Mom and Dad when I was too busy to play with you," Celestia replied sarcastically. Luna hmphed and stuck her tongue out at her sister.
"Not babyish at all."
"Mom, tell Celestia to stop calling me a baby!"
"Now, Celestia, be nicer to your sister."
"But she was the one whining about it! She came here to rat me out!"
"She just wanted to play with you," Cronos interjected, looking down at his daughter kindly. Celestia simply sighed, then turned to Luna with a look of defeat on her face.
"What do you wanna play?" the white filly asked with another sigh. Luna immediately perked up, bouncing towards the door. Celestia followed at a more sedate pace, a grudging look on her face.
"They are so much like you," Gaia murmured, watching her two daughters leave. The King and Queen turned away from the door and towards the window.
"Oh no, I definitely see more of you in them. Or at least Celestia," Cronos quietly responded. The two leaned against each other in silence for a moment before Cronos broke it.
"Shouldn't we tell them soon where we came from? They'll need to know," Cronos commented, almost absent mindedly as he stared out the window.
"Let's just wait a little bit longer. They don't need to bear that load just yet," Gaia answered quietly, worry filling her gentle eyes. Cronos looked over at his wife and nuzzled her shoulder.
"It will all be okay, I'm sure of it." Gaia smiled up at her husband and the two stood there in peaceful, companionable silence. Meanwhile, Luna was dashing through the hallways of the castle, followed by her slow moving sister. Several times the younger filly had to stop and wait for her older sibling.
"Will you hurry up Celestia? At this rate it'll be nighttime before we even make it outside," Luna huffed in annoyance.
"I thought you liked the night," Celestia replied, carefully keeping to the side of the hallway. Luna rolled her eyes at Celestia's caution.
"Yeah, but Mom always makes me go to bed. We'll have no time to play. Now come ON!" Luna shouted the last word in frustration. Celestia paused for a moment to glare at Luna, before starting to walk again. She picked up the pace slightly, but still stuck to the wall like glue. She knew that as oldest sibling she'd be the one to someday rule, but she just couldn't get used to the idea. To walk down the middle of these halls and have everyone bow out of her way? To know that she owned this place, that she was one and only Queen? She didn't think she could ever do that. Maybe she could just let Luna rule instead. Luna had the confidence, and the energy, to be Queen. Celestia was just sure that somehow a mistake had been made, and that she wasn't meant to be Queen.
"Finally," Luna groaned as they reached a door to a courtyard. She bounced through, squinting at the sunny sky. Celestia trotted through the doorway after Luna, luxuriating in the warmth the sun brought. Luna whirled on her sister, haunches up and grinning widely. Celestia sighed and rolled her eyes, fighting back a smile at her sisters playfulness.
"Okay, you be the the damsel is distress," Luna directed. Celestia just shook her head before putting a hoof to her forehead.
"Oh no, oh my! Ohhhhhh, will someone please help me!" Celestia wailed. Luna paused for a second to make a face at her sisters over the top acting before striking a heroic pose.
"I shall save you, Princess!" Luna thundered. Celestia held back a giggle, but kept playing along.
"Oh, but you could never defeat the ferocious dragon guarding me!" Celestia cried out in a high pitched voice.
"Where is this slimy creature? I'll tear it apart piece by piece!" Luna shouted, glaring around for her 'enemy'.
"Umm, I'd say r-right th-there!" Celestia gasped, dropping the falsetto, eyes widening. Luna stared at her sister for a moment before slowly turning.
"C-Celestia, what's that?" Luna asked, her voice a whisper. She was talking about the shadow circling the sky. Celestia grabbed her sister's shoulder with one hoof and dragged her back towards the doorway.
"Get inside now, Luna," Celestia directed, her voice hard. After a moment Luna turned and dashed inside, closely followed by Celestia.
"W-What do we do?" Luna gasped, pressing against her sister as a troop of Guards rushed by. Celestia looked down at her terrified sibling and spread a wing protectively over her.
"Let's go find Mom and Dad," Celestia murmured, trying to make her voice as soothing as possible. She began to slip down the halls, Luna sticking to her side and shaking like a leaf. As they walked Celestia kept murmuring to Luna, trying to keep her little sister calm.
"Celestia? Luna?" Celestia looked around as she heard various voices calling out their names. A Guard stopped next to the two sisters, having obviously been sent out to search for them.
"Come with me. Your parents wish for you to be escorted to a safe location," the Guard pony growled, his voice deep. But Celestia hesitated, glancing back to where she had heard her parents calling.
"What about Mom and Dad? Where are they going?" Celestia asked. The Guard glanced around as more ponies hurried by, panic obviously overtaking the castle.
"Your parents will be fine, now come along, Princesses," the Guard replied. Celestia turned away, however, and ran down the halls, pushing against the traffic. A loud roar echoed around the castle, followed by a scraping sound. Celestia glanced around to see Luna following her.
"Luna, you go with the Guard," Celestia ordered. Luna shot her sister a glare and shook her head stubbornly. Celestia let out a sigh, but another roar let her know that there was no time to argue. Celestia turned and continued pushing through the crowd. Instinctively she made her way towards the Throne Room. Another roar echoed around the castle, shaking the stone walls.
"T-there's a s-shortcut t-through there," Luna managed to stutter out, gesturing with a hoof towards a small servants corridor. Celestia glanced at her sister before shoving through the traffic to go through the corridor. It was deserted except for one or two servants rushing by. Celestia's and Luna's hoof steps echoed through the deserted hallway.
"How do you know this is a shortcut?" Celestia asked, trying to keep the silence from engulfing them.
"W-while you were s-studying I was ex-exploring," Luna replied, trotting ahead to show her sister which way to take in a fork. Suddenly another roar exploded through the tiny hallway, echoing and deafening the ponies. The two siblings glanced at each other in a panic before taking off in a full sprint, Luna taking the lead. Soon enough they reached a door. Sharing yet another panicked look, the two sisters hesitated. After a very long moment, during which they heard many grumbles from the other side of the door, Celestia pushed the door. It opened behind the thrones and Luna and Celestia peered through. The first thing they saw was their parents, standing side by side.
"Mom! Dad!" Luna gasped out, immediately dashing through the doorway.
"Luna, no!" Celestia cried, trying to stop her sister. Gaia and Cronos didn't seem to hear them, standing still and staring upwards. Luna froze in her tracks, following their line of sight. On the mountain just above the castle was a huge jet black dragon. Celestia screeched to a halt next to her sister, eyes wide as she stared at the dragon. It was so black it was like a vortex, swallowing all the light around it and it seemed to be talking to the King and Queen.
"You knew this day would come. You couldn't hide from Him forever," the dragon growled.
"You will not hurt these ponies. We will protect Equestria," Gaia replied, her voice strong. She and Cronos seemed to be glowing with an ethereal radiance.
"M-mom?" Luna cried out, her eyes wide with panic. This time they seemed to have heard her. Cronos and Gaia looked around, surprise and then panic in their eyes.
"You two shouldn't be here!" Cronos said. A very loud rumble came from the dragon, vibrating the floor of the Throne Room. He was laughing, although one couldn't tell by looking at his face. The features were as black as the rest of him, making his face a gaping mystery.
"Children? You have children? Oh, this is too good. He will be happy about this. Two daughters? They are pretty," the dragons voice was filled with mirth.
"Get out of here. Now," Cronos ordered his children, nearly growling at them. Luna stared up at her father, eyes filled with tears.
"Daddy! What's going on? Who is that?" Luna asked, stepping even closer.
"Luna-" Celestia started reproachfully.
"No! I want to know what's going on!" Luna yelled, stomping a hoof as the tears spilled over.
"As fun as this is, I must complete my mission now," the dragon interrupted. He struck at the castle, aiming at the two siblings.
"No!" Cronos yelled, jumping in front of the claw.
"Daddy!" Luna screamed. An explosion of light lit the room, making the dragon hiss and withdraw. Cronos was gone, leaving only Gaia, Luna, and Celestia standing there. Gaia seemed to be deflated, her shoulders down. The absence of her mate seemed to have sapped her strength. Celestia had tears running down her cheeks as she stood by her sister, spreading a wing over the young filly.
"Oh, Gaia, listen to your children cry. There's nothing you can do to help them," the dragon taunted. Gaia looked up, glaring at her attacker.
"You will not hurt them, Vortex. They, at least, will be safe," Gaia said, keeping her voice calm and level. She turned her back on Vortex and trotted to her two daughters. She bent her head to whisper to them.
"I will distract him and you two will run. You will get out of here and you will go somewhere safe," Gaia ordered the two, "I love you."
"Mom, what's happening? Who is this?" Celestia asked, finally speaking up. Gaia stared at her offspring, sadness in her eyes.
"Go see Cloudchaser, in Manehattan. She will make it all clear," Gaia replied. She gently touched her horn to Celestia's shoulders.
"Take care of your sister. I'm counting on you," Gaia murmured. Vortex let out another growl, impatience clearly getting the better of him.
"Stop your whispering! Nothing will save them, or you, Gaia," Vortex snarled, raising his claw once more. Gaia closed her eyes and a look of fierce concentration came over her. Her horn began to glow and she spread her vast wings, shielding the two terrified fillies. Her eyes snapped open and they were white, pure white. Cracks began to spread over her body, light shining from them and flood the room. Vortex hissed and spat, but could not reach through the light.
"Run, girls, run!" Gaia screamed. Tears streaming down her face, Celestia tugged Luna away from the scene and pushed her through the door.
"Mom! MOM!" Luna cried out, desperately trying to get back to her mother. Celestia turned to shut the door and caught a glimpse of her mother shattering into pieces and a ghostly image of her floating towards the heavens before. Celestia's horn glowed and the door slammed shut on the scene. She turned towards Luna, who was crying silently now.
"Where's the nearest exit?" Celestia asked, her voice firm. Luna simply shook her head, shoulders shaking and fear making her body freeze. Celestia stomped a hoof and stared angrily at her little sister.
"Luna! Mom wanted us to be safe. We have to go, now!" Luna nodded and turned away, leading her sister through the servants halls. She had spent most of her time back here, exploring hidden ways to spy on people and escape. Although the escaping back then had been from her teachers and chores. The two sisters walked in silence, shock making them numb. Their parents couldn't be gone. It was all a cruel joke someone had decided to play. Any moment now they'd hear their mother laughing at one of their fathers jokes, or their familiar voices calling out their names. Luna stopped in front of another door, this one smaller and made of stone.
"This leads to a path down the mountain, but after that I don't know," Luna muttered, horn glowing as the door opened. Celestia peered out to see a rocky path going straight for a few feet before abruptly dropping into a steep slope. She trotted out, keeping Luna back with a flick of her tail. She looked up and gasped, retreating quickly. Just above them was Vortex, staring into the castle. He seemed to be speaking to it's inhabitants.
"Greetings, Ponies. I am your new King, and this is the start of a new age. If you want to live, you will obey me! For this is the age of Darkness!" Vortex roared, letting out a horrid laugh. He spread his wings and a shadow fell over the castle. But it wasn't a shadow, it was more like a pool of darkness, and it seemed to be spreading. It overtook the suns weak rays, even as it fell to let the moon come up and stars come out. But these lights too were blown out, as easily as if they were a candle. Soon the heavens were completely black.
"Celestia?" Luna whispered, peering into the complete darkness. There were a few pinpoints of light coming from candles in the castle, but she couldn't see her hoof in front of her face. Suddenly a glowing came directly in front of her and she let out a sigh of relief. It was Celestia, lighting the way with her horn.
"Come on, Luna. We have to get out of here," Celestia directed, turning away from her sister and starting down the path. Luna paused to look back up at the castle. There as nothing left for her there, nothing at all.
"Goodbye." The whispered word was all that was left on the tiny ledge, filled with pain and confusion, but also determination. A determination to find this Cloudchaser and find their parents biggest secret.