Chapter 3: Not so funny, Now is it?
It was shortly after the sun went down and the moon rose into the sky, stars littering the blackness of the night’s sky. That’s when Thunder Flash noticed the lights eradiating from Ponyville Square. Curious he flew down to see what was happening. Landing amongst the crowds of ponies he watched as Princess Luna stepped up in front of the crowd. “Hello everypony,” she began, “I would like to thank you all for showing up, and I would like to inform you of something,” she looked around the crowd, “but my sister already told you all that she and I are at war. I’m not going to tell you this big story, or try to exaggerate the truth. I will tell you, however, that it is time for a new leader in Equestria, and is not going to include Celestia.” She finished with such sureness in her voice. “Upon my say of the NLR I will ask you all one thing. Will you join me?” She finished her speech and everypony in the crowd was quiet. This continued on for moments until a familiar voice from earlier broke the silence.
“I will.” The figure floated over to the princess and turned around, revealing herself as Rainbow Dash.
“I guess I should, I mean why not?” The happy voice said as the Pink pony walked up showing herself as Pinkie Pie. That’s when Thunder Flash noticed, this was all real. And Luna was right, there needs to be a new leader of Equestria, and it’s going to be him.
“I will.” The pegasus said and flew over to Luna landing next to her, followed by a hundred others.
“Good,” The princess began, “and time is of the essence so I will begin with your roles.”
…..
“I can’t believe that pegasus!” Grandore began, marching down corridors. On his way to his old tower in Canterlot, followed by Archmane. “First he laughs in Celestia’s face, then turns on her! Who does he think he is!” Grandore exclaimed, grabbing the nearest thing, which was a chair to the table of one of the outdoor cafés, and threw it at the café’s wall, breaking the chair in multiple places. Sighing, he took some bits and slid it through the door’s mail slot, and continued walking. “Oh, that’s the funniest thing I ever heard, ha-ha,” Grandore said, making a horrible impression of the pegasus as they found the tower’s door and began going up the steps. “I mean seriously, Archmane, who does he think he is!?
“He’s a colt in the time of war.” Archmane said, closing his eyes as they made their way up the stairs, “and this war is a horrible time for a colt. This will be when brothers fight brothers, husbands against wives, father against son, mother against daughter.” The grim sounding in Archmane’s voice was like a blizzard, cold and harsh. “I want this war to end as soon as possible, too.” He finished as they reached the top of the tower and Grandore opened the door, revealing large room with one large window, multiple bookshelves, a desk with quill, parchment, and ink, and a bunk bed.
“Well this is new,” Grandore said looking at the bunk bed. “I guess Celestia had this put in when we arrived, take whatever bunk you want, I might not be getting much sleep anyways.” Grandore walked over to the desk, using his telekinesis to move the chair out, he sat down and levitated the quill, began writing.
“The first thing you do when we get back to you home town, write? Are you serious?” Archmane said, walking up to the desk, then sliding to the side, he looked through the window.
“The window opens onto a balcony.” Grandore mentioned with ease as he wrote. Levitating a book over to him every ten or twenty minutes. Archmane walked out onto the balcony and stared out over Canterlot, he continued to stare over the city when a knock came to the door. “Come in!” Grandore said like he had said it for a thousand years, and Twilight walked in.
“Grandore?” Twilight asked and Grandore put down the quill and stood, turning to the lavender pony.
“Twilight, is something wrong?” Grandore said, noticing the sadness in her face, Archmane refusing to turn grunted and looked at her.
“You hate this war already, Twilight.” He said, revealing no emotion. “That, and you never told Spike you were leaving.”
“Yes, I hate this war, Yes, I forgot to tell Spike I was leaving. I just wish this war was over and I didn’t have to fight against my friends.” She said, “knowing Spike, he’ll find his way here, or Celestia will teleport him.”
“Well, I could do it for you, if you want?” Grandore said, his horn already glowing, anticipating her response. With a flash of green Spike stood in the room with them.
“Twilight! What’s going on? Why weren’t you home?” Spike was ready to ask Twilight a million questions.
“Spike, Celestia and Luna are at war. And we joined Celestia. This is Grandore and Archmane.” She motioned to the Unicorns and then Spike looked at her.
“We? But that doesn’t make sense! I saw Applejack and Pinkie Pie earlier and Rainbow was clearing the skies while Fluttershy was helping a cat that was stuck in a tree!” Spike said.
“Rarity and I joined. We just found out that Pinkie and Rainbowdash joined Princess Luna.” She said, the pain clearly showing. Spike just sighed and stood there.
“Where are you staying Twilight?” Grandore said looking at her, “are you staying at your old place? That large library of yours?”
“Yes, actually I am, I think we should be going.” She said, motioning for spike to follow her. “Goodnight Grandore, and good luck with your squad, we all could us a little light in these dark, dark days.” Grandore closed the door behind her and then looked to Archmane, who had turned around and was leaning against the frame of the window, looking at Grandore.
“Did I ever tell you how you have the ability to shapeshift, or see possible the future?” Grandore said, sitting on the bottom bunk of the beds. Archmane only shook his head. “You can do those things because your family is a long line of Alicorns. Not related to Celestia, but were very important of the old Royal Courts. I used to work with them, we were good friends, now that I think of it.” He said, Archmane looked on curiously, as he always did when his parents were brought up. “You can’t see this because its blocked, not physically, but magically, in your mind. You parent’s didn’t want you to find out until I thought it was time, so I told you.” He finished, waiting for a response.
“Why don’t I look like one then?” Archmane said.
“Because, unlike Celestia’s family, the alicorns in your family weren’t original, somewhere in your family tree are two ponies, one was once the wisest of unicorns, Starseeker. The other was the ultimate pegasi, Wind Weaver. These two ponies were phenomenal ponies, but their children, all three, were Alicorns. One went on to travel the worlds beyond this one, she was named Galaxy Walker. She disappeared, and has not reappeared. The other, went on to travel into this one, to find out its secrets. He was named Ground Shaker. He died in a massive cave in somewhere far from here. The final one though, went on to live with a family. His children had children, but they weren’t alicorns. He was named Time Watcher. For he looked into the future, and found out that the alicorn gene skips a generation. He also came to the conclusion that those who didn’t receive the alicorn appearance, gained some form of strength from alicorn nature, all including the height. Some had speed, others strength, and in your case, the powerful magic.” Grandore let the story sink in and then looked at Archmane, “Get some sleep, we need to be up early to observe the trainings.” Grandore walked to the desk and went to writing while Archmane laid on the bed and went to sleep.