//------------------------------// // Chapter 1: Midnight // Story: Child of Equestria // by RainbowDangerDash97 //------------------------------// I watch as I am transformed into the alicorn known to many as the "Fausticorn." My hands and legs sprout into hooves, and my body straightens until I am almost a thin straight line. As a blink of an eye, I am now again the mother of my five beloved children. Careful to keep out of sight, I trot towards Canterlot, with an invisibility spell. I feel the nightfall chill in the breeze as it sweeps in my ruffled mane. The voice of the singing reeds at the bank, the stars in the night sky...it is all heaven to me. I chuckle, as I glance up at the sky, the moon and the glittering stars. It seems Luna has finally conquered raising the moon and the stars. I start to wonder how my children were getting on without me to be there with them. It isn't long before I reach the castle of Canterlot. I am surprised, as I bump unintentionally into a magenta magic bauble-like shield. It surrounds the castle, and two strong hefty stallions stand guarding the already shielded entrance. "Who are you?" one of them asks, gruffly. My invisibility spell wards off, and they stare at me, open-eyed. "F-Faust..." one of them mutters. He shoots a look somewhere above him. In a matter of five seconds, an alicorn I do not recognize lands before me. Her navy-blue mane is starry and flowing. Her eyes are piercing and fierce, and her face is determined and serious. She gazes upon me, and she backs away, mixed emotions showing in her eyes and expression. "Tia! TIA!!!" she screams, ordering the guards to open the shield, and let her in. That name...so familiar. That was the name Luna used to call Celestia. But...this isn't Luna. From what I remember, Luna is an ambitious yet helpless little filly who dreams of things bigger than the creation of Equestria. This alicorn is fierce, rather snooty, and mischeivous, despite her cruel torment. I am let into the castle, but I am still bewildered by the magic spell protecting the outsides of the Royal Castle. Maybe some special ceremony is going on. Yet, I am still grateful that the whole of Equestria isn't destructed yet, due to my little Celestia's natural clumsiness. Before my eyes, I see her. My daughter. "Celestia...." I mutter. Suddenly, my eyes open wide. "It's - it's you!" Tears stream down my cheeks as I bow down to the Princess of the Sun. "Celestia, I missed you!" I look around, in wonder. "Where's the others?" "Arise, Mother," Celestia says, the words escaping her almost frozen mouth with the tone of sourness. "They have left me here, all except one. But even she, has left the light and fallen to darkness, though it is not I who has brought her back. Luna, I call thee!" The same alicorn appears, but she has the appearance of a filly scared out of her wits on NightMare Night. She steps beside Celestia, panting, and asking, "My sister, M-Mother...you..She's here!" This is quite unexpected, and Celestia raises a brow, in confusion. "You two have met?" I shake my head, but I still cannot hide the over-whelming happiness that overcomes me when I see my beloved children for the first time in a long long year. But I can hardly speak, as mixed emotions overcome me. Sorrow from learning that my children are still not together, joy to see them again, and confusion, wonder and shock that they have grown so quickly. Where was I when they grew up together? Oh, that's right. Back in my home in the real world, or else, being made to visit the Powerpuff Girls yearly, whether I have time to, or not. Even though it has only been two years in the real world, more than 2000 years have passed in Equestria. Without knowing it, I speak my thoughts out, accidentally saying them aloud, "You've...you've matured." "Of course, Mother," Celestia says, smiling. But her smile is conquered by a cold heartless face of a tyrant, the face that she never puts on unless she is depressed and/or sad. Luna consoles her, and turns to me, asking, "You - You finally visited us, Mother. You...you have no idea how much I...missed you." This enforces a timid little smile upon my face, but there is a tint of sadness hidden amongst my joy. "Where is Discord? Chrysallis? Nightmare Moon?" This is not a subject either sisters want to talk about. "The moon, Mother," Luna says, in a weak voice. "NightMare Moon resides where I was banished for a thousand years." This is news to me. THIS is how things are handled in Equestria? What happened to the love and tolerance? What happened to the sisterly and brotherly love that each sibling shared with each other? The pain I feel that instant sticks like a dagger in my heart. "Luna, how did you get banished? Did - did somepony as horrid as a hydra --" "No, Mother..." Celestia says, interrupting me, her head dropping with sorrow and shame. "I did." I cannot explain how I feel when she says that. This causes a tiny confusion, sorrow, pain, yet pride that Celestia has returned to the brave filly she used to be, and has the courage to say sorry. The adrenaline pulsing up and down my veins...the pain...the sorrow...I sigh, as I think of the earlier times. Revenge, anger, hatred...WHERE WAS I WHEN ALL OF THIS HAPPENED?! I press both of my hooves over my ears, and grit my teeth, trying my hardest not to lose it. They're not even excited I'm here. Luna, who has always been the sweet darling, either turns her back to me, or tells me all that has happened to her recently. Why am I not myself today? Where is the honest fun-loving exciting creative Lauren Faust I used to be? I sigh, and wipe the tears out of my eye. I turn to Celestia, and ask, "Do you have ANY idea where Discord is?" "Discord..." Celestia says. She seems to be holding back bitter tears. Yet they are bittersweet, as she mutters, "Turned to stone for his crimes..." This is even worse than I expect. I feel torn apart between two different ponies. The real me, and the depressed pony me. I'm standing in the middle, my arms dislocated and eyes derped. "Don't lose it..don't lose it...don't lose it!!!" I shout to myself, in my head. Luna trots up to me, and puts her hooves around me, whispering, "I'm so sorry, Mother. Big sister, you owe Mother an apology too." Celestia's kindly face darkens, as she hears the word "apology." She doesn't say anything, but remains silent. Of all the feelings I have left, this is the most heart-warming of them all. Despite all the harsh news I am being continuously killed by, I have learnt something that makes my whole life as the Fausticorn worthwhile. My eldest and youngest daughters both still have one personality trait that belongs to them when they were fillies. Luna's natural sweetness, and Celestia's arrogance. "It's fine..." I say, deep in thought. "Then at least tell me about Chrysallis. Please don't tell me she's --" I am interrupted by Luna, who has a less clear vision of the whole matter at hand. She tells me straightforwardly, "We...Mother, we don't know. Big sister, have you seen Chrysallis recently?" Her face, dropped and hanging low, Celestia shakes her head, and says, "Discord and NightMare Moon were defeated by the Mane Six, six ponies wielding the Elements of Harmony. But as for our young sister, Chrysallis. I...I don't know." I am instantly worried like all mothers are when they learn their child is missing. But what intrigues me more, is the Mane Six. The Elements of Harmony. When did all this happen? What am I missing living in the human world? Who are the Mane Six? "Alright, kids. Tell me, who are these "six ponies"?" This time, Celestia takes pride in explaining the story. "Mother, you musn't get mad. NightMare Moon rebelled, and now she gives a bad name to Luna, whose fault it is that made her this nasty. Discord...." She takes a brief pause as she remembers her fillyhood with her brother, her favourite sibling of the other five. She sighs, and continues, "He tried to turn the world into eternal chaos! We....we had no choice. Twilight Sparkle, my faithful student, together with her five friends, set off to defeat them with the Elements of Harmony..." At this, I can't help but smirk. So SOMEPONY has managed to use the Elements of Harmony after all. But I turn back to Celestia, maintaining the seriousness of the situation, and asking, "Who are they? Kids, I know this may be too much for all in one night, but may I...perchance...meet them? I am....intrigued. You know, kids, saving the world and adventures has always been my type, but here, in Equestria? It's both amusing and terrifying in the same way." Luna suddenly becomes her fierce self again, and she hisses, "No! They are busy, in Ponyville. Twilight Sparkle is studying, fair AppleJack is at work --" Celestia silences her sister with a hoof gesture, and Luna shrinks back, obediently. "I'm sorry for the loss of Discord, Chrysallis and NightMare Moon, Mother. I hope the Elements of Friendship will make up for them. Servants, please be so kind to fetch our Mother a letter and a quill." Two fragile mares nod, and they scramble off, at once. Nopony should mess around with the Fausticorn, the creator of Equestria. If Celestia, her daughter, can send somepony to the moon - then nopony pushes it pass her mother to do something even far more terrifying. They soon return, trembling, saying, "Yes, my Princess." "My dear student, Twilight Sparkle, I am sorry to announce that your studies have to be put aside for a matter of more superior importance. Luna and I were visited from somepony we used to know and love so well...somepony who was missing us as we missed her. It is almost certain that my deep secrets shall be given away, and I shall be nothing but a hollow stone wall. I -- (Luna) Twilight Sparkle, you are called for. Big sister Tia and I are expecting you as fast as you can possibly make it. Please, bring no more than six; thyself - yourself, fair AppleJack, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie. We shall explain the whole matter once you arrive. Be sure to bring the Elements of Harmony, which we have so kindly dropped into your care. Signed, Celestia and Luna"