//------------------------------// // The Story // Story: Celestia's Flare // by Spica //------------------------------// Lush green fields, sometimes showcasing colorful flowers blooming, other times populated by apple or orange trees,.-sometimes both at the same time- were left back as the train speeded through the Equestrian landscapes. Pinkie Pie and Twilight sat by the window, enjoying the outstanding views. Most of the times she went between Canterlot and Ponyville, she used pegasi-driven carriages, and though the sight from above could be as awe inspiring as this, the view from land offered such a different perspective that she wished she could take some time to go on a tour and take on such beauty by herself, in the company of her best friends. She wiped her forehead with a hoof and broke apart from her window; despite the wind that came through it at the speed the locomotive was moving, the warm kept its grip on the traveling ponies. Though keeping a wide grin on her face, and standing with her front legs on the window frame, Pinkie was strangely quiet. Besides her, Rarity occupied herself, working on the capes she had shown them earlier. At Twilight’s side, Spike had fallen asleep once again, his stomach rising and lowering in rhythm with his snores. Determined not to worry more than she should, at least for the moment, –Celestia knows she had had enough of that, though it had come to be of use recently, not without causing her a great deal of sadness first- she sat straight in her seat, looking at her unicorn friend at work. Rarity held the needle in her mouth, which obviously required a great deal of effort, but the white unicorn pulled if efficiently, albeit slowly. Feeling the look directed at her, Rarity lifted her head and smiled at her purple counterpart, leaving the needle in the table and lifting the cape for her to see. This one was composed by bright pink fabric, revealing the identity of its receiver. “How do you like them, dear? I’m almost done with Pinkie’s cape, and once I’m finished we can use them in Canterlot. The other ones will take some more time, but I’m sure the girls will understand.” Twilight gave back a smile. “You’re always the best one, Rarity.” “Oh, please, Twilight, you’re such a tease!” “No, I mean you’re always working on this or that design for us, even without magic, even in times where the business doesn’t go too well and you manage to make them marvelous. I admire you.” “Please, Twilight, it’s the least I could do for such wonderful friends as I’ve the luck to have. Besides, we all do our best, isn’t it right?” The white unicorn looked straight at her through her work glasses, her crystal blue eyes seemingly piercing into her, so much that she had to break their gaze and give a little nervous laughter. “Yes, you’re right, Rarity. But still, I commend your work.” Her friend seemed on the verge of saying something when Pinkie broke in, making the both jump at the unexpected, loud interruption “We’re almost there, we’re almost there. It’s time now to break the ‘We made it to Canterlot’ cupcakes. Because there’s no better end for a journey that delicious pastries!” The vivacious mare’s words snatched Spike away from his nap; the small dragon rubbed his eyes and looked around. “Shush, Pinkie, I was having a good rest here… Are we there yet?” Pinkie rummaged in her saddlebags and a small frown appeared on her face; it disappeared just as fast as she took the small sweets out and gave them out to her friends. “The chocolate cover melted a little, but they’re still Pinkielicious!” The pink earth pony licked her lips delighted, as Rarity decided to put away her work and enjoy the treat, followed by Twilight and Spike, who nibbled away the cupcake quickly, causing hill a small burp that earned him a glare from both unicorns and a giggle from the earth pony. “Hehe, sorry.” The train entered city proper at that moment and Twilight reflected in the two months that had gone past since the wedding. She had received a letter from Shining and Cadence a little more than a month ago, when the happily married coupled come back from their honey moon. They had chosen a small town by the sea, wanting to enjoy a break from royal and royal guard duties and enjoy on a simple manner. Making a note to look for her brother when she had the chance, she lowered her luggage from the stack; a few minutes later they had arrived to Canterlot’s train station. As they made it out of the train, a deep voice resounded right next to them. “Miss Twilight Sparkle!” The group, sans Pinkie, jumped and turned around at the unexpected call. A couple of dark colored pegasi guards stood before them, pulling a carriage; unlike the ones that were used to get to Ponyville, this was a land-base one. “We’ve been ordered by Princess Luna to receive you and your companions and escort you back to the Castle. If you get aboard the carriages, we’ll take you immediately.” “I thank you kindly, gentlecolts.” The three ponies and the small dragon climbed to the vehicle and the guards trotted off towards the palace. ------- As the vehicle crossed the city streets, they took on the sight. Life seemed to be following its normal course, with ponies, and the occasional griffin or donkey went around on business; everyone was obviously affected by the weather, though; juice vendors were making great sales that day. Up in the sky, the weather teams were pulling the same maneuver as the one back in Ponyville, setting up clouds to offer some cover from the blazing sun. After some blocks, the biggest issue was obvious: there was not a single grown up unicorn by the streets; only pegasi, earth ponies and fillies walked around. Twilight remembered the state Ponyville had been left behind by them; she hoped they would be able to solve this problem quickly and have it all come back to normal. The carriage advanced through the street that led towards palace, and as they grew nearer, it made itself apparent just where the majority of the city’s unicorn had gone to: an incredible big mass of ponies blocked the path to the castle’s gates. Both pegasi stopped at the end of the street, one of them turned back his head, signaling with his hoof towards a group of earth pony guards besides them. “They will take you through the multitude and into the castle, please follow them.” They thanked their carriers and the small guard assigned circled around them, pushing their way between the sea of distraught unicorns. Though no movements were made by the colorful crowd, all the stares were fixed into them. As they went past and reached the stairs before the gates, they looked to their sides and saw the chain of uniformed ponies standing on guard in front of the populace. Behind them, a white unicorn with a blue mane and tail and wearing a red vest was overseeing the barricades: Shining Armor was back on duty. They could not linger though, or approach, climbing up the stairs. The guards led them through the gates, into the Main Hall, and towards the Royal Chamber, knocking on the heavy wooden doors. “Miss Twilight Sparkle, protégé of Princess Celestia and her companions are here to see Princess Luna.” After this, the doors opened and they proceeded to find the Princess of the Night standing before them. “Greetings, everypony. It’s good to have you here finally.” “We’re glad to meet you, Princess Luna.” Twilight approached the royal pony and stood right before her. “If you may excuse my bluntness, now that we have arrived, can you explain what is going on?” Luna nodded. “I will do that just now, after that I need to go outside and address the group outside and then we’ll discuss what we shall do.” Prompted by the dark alicorn, they rounded her. After they were all in place, she spoke. “First, there is something you’ve got to understand about Celestia and me. We are ponies, but at the same time we aren’t.” Looks of confusion spread among the group; Twilight opened her mouth to talk, but was stopped by the raised hoof of Luna. “Let me tell you everything, and after my speech we may talk about what you have to say.” After confirming the silence of everypony around, she continued. “Since even before Equestria was founded and Discord ruled it, ponies have managed the land, using their abilities to control the seasons, help the animals, give the weather a push and all the things that are part of our civilization. That much is part of our natural order. However, consider the Sun and the Moon. Such powerful celestial entities are out of the range of what anypony could even imagine. They are the lamps that guide all life and help sustain and move the earth and the seas. How can such a thing be achieved? I will tell you, right now, just because it Is required for such an occasion; though my sister and I desire this fact to remain hidden, not desiring to alter a bit the way the citizens see us already. I’d like to believe we can trust in you four?” Twilight, Rarity, Pinkie and Spike looked at each other and then at the Princess, nodding. “This will be kept between us, Princess.” “I would never dream to betray your trust.” “Because betraying their trust is the fastest way to lose a friend FOREVER!” Pinkie proceeded to do her famous Pinkie Pie Promise, her eye ending full of cupcake. “You can count on us, Princess!” “Thank you, I needed to hear that.” With that, Luna lowered her head slightly and her horn shone brightly. Twilight and Rarity gasped loudly. In front of them appeared five figures: Discord, a herd of Windigos, the Sun, the Moon, and the land of Equestria. “Discord, the draconequus, is an incarnation of Chaos, bred for the purpose of keeping a counterpart to Harmony, in which ironically he helps to its balance. The Windigos are manifestations of hate, feeding off of it and proving that the power of friendship is one of the major forces ponykind can harness, and that we definitely need our friends and loved ones by our side.” The images of both monsters disappeared after the alicorn’s words. Luna’s horn glowed again brightly. From the Sun and the Moon, two big sparks of light were separated, which descended and made all the way down to Equestrian soil. Right after touching the ground, both luminous spheres erupted in an incandescent explosion which forced its observer’s eyes shut from the brightness, except from its caster. As the shining diminished, they opened their eyes and in front of them, two small fillies, both winged unicorns, stood before them, floating above the image of the Equestrian land that was being projected. The two ponies were unmistakable, though extremely young. Slowly, Celestia and Luna opened their eyes and they seemed to look towards them, or perhaps through them. In that moment, the vision vanished and the Luna present before them lifted her head, the glow in her horn fading. “My sister and I are ponyfications of the essence of the Great Lamps, come down to assist in the task of regulation; the gift that was granted down from heavens to Ponykind. We do not simply manipulate them; we come from them, are part of them and do our part to help the cycle continuing. However, being here, we are also like any pegasus, unicorn or earth pony walking down here. We are ponies, and as such, liable to the same rules, feelings, afflictions and all the wonderful things you are able to experience, be they good or bad. Though is indeed unusual for us to be ill in the same way that a normal pony is, it can happen, and it has happened. Celestia is struck down, gravely, I fear, and her illness has caused the Sun to erupt violently. Big flames and fire storms roar its surface. And these are what has caused interference with unicorn magic, preventing them from using it. Alone I am in here, b my nature as the Moon Guide, and I must add, presently charged with the Sun as well. Be as it might, I can only help the Sun through its course, I cannot counter what is happening now, nor can I block Celestia’s magic. Our only hope is to bring her back to health, so that these difficult times can be overcome and the peace to Equestria returns.” The face of the Night Princess was covered by shadows that prevented them from seeing her eyes. “If you excuse me for a moment, I shall address the crowd, informing them of the situation that is happening right now. For the moment, we are receiving the visits of the distressed unicorns, but with no doubt, soon ponies from everywhere will come inquiring about this climate and everything could reach major scales if it is not stopped soon.” With those words, Luna marched towards the balcony, while the other remained behind. Walls soon echoed with the might of her thundering voice. Twilight, Rarity, Pinkie and Spike could do nothing more but look at each other and wait silently for the Princess to finish her speech; the atmosphere weighted over them as if they were loaded with the Apple farm whole apple harvest.