Prince Artemis and Prince Solaris call themselves brothers. But long before they were brothers they were many other things to each other. When Dusk Shine gets a chance to hear a little bit of their history, he is eager to discover more.
Enjoy a small romp through prehistory, almost Ancient Greece, not-quite Rome, and sort-of Byzantium. Props to the folks at r/badhistory for Byzantium in particular, without them I never would have thought to set the latter portions of the story there. Props also to my other half and occasional editor Jordanis, who let me throw a few ideas at him, and without whom I never would have linked Prince Artemis's banishment with the fall of the Holy Roman Empire.
P.S. Cover art is an oil painting by me!
Also set in the Brotherhood universe:
Immortal Blood
What Comes Between Day and Night (NSFW)
Instanbull was Coltstantinople,
Now it's Istanbull, not Coltstantinople.
Been a long time gone, Coltstantinople,
Now it's Bovine delight on a moonlit night.
Every mare in Coltstantinople
Lives in Istanbull, not Coltstantinople.
So if you've a date in Coltstantinople,
She'll be waiting in Istanbull.
Even old New Yoke was once New Amster-dam.
Why they changed it I can't say,
Ponies just liked it better that way
So take me back to Coltstantinople.
No, you can't go back to Coltstantinople.
Been a long time gone, Coltstantinople.
Why did Coltstantiople go far?
That's something only known to Minotaurs!
That was a little bit different. I can't wait to read the next one.
3907479 Thank you!
That is an interesting headcannon.
3920111 Thanks! I'm having a lot of fun with this setting, honestly.
I just have to say this one thing, ARTEMIS IS A GIRL!!!! Oh my god! Why does nobody know that the Greek goddess of the moon is named Artemis! It would make some sense if the original person who thought up the name didn't know this at the time, but why!? JUST WHY!?
Also why is he named Solaris and not just Helios if they were going towards Greek mythology!? 
3920994 Artemis is also a boy's name.
And it's the fandom accepted name for R63 Luna. I'm quite aware of the goddess, but in this world there are no greek gods, only the pony brothers.
If I were doing a full Greek pantheon, with ALL the other greek gods, I would of course have done things differently. But this isn't meant to be exactly like our world, any more than it's meant to be exactly like the original Equestria.
3920999 Okay I guess I can calm down now but I'm still ticked off...
3921009 Can I ask why it makes you angry? I wouldn't have thought that just a name would be a reason to downvote a story. (Or are you not responding to my author's note about that?)
3921020 Oh you thought I would down vote just because of a name?
...I may be angry but not enough to actually dislike! 
You seem to be holding up the story very well I don't wanna ruin it! 
3921036 Well, this thing already has the most downvotes of any of my stories, and some of the others have thousands of views while this doesn't even have a hundred yet: So I had to wonder if it wasn't getting downvoted by somebody for some kind of weird reason, since I don't know how else to explain it. It's not like I suddenly forgot how to write!
3920994 The name has gotten more exposure recently as a male name because of the Artemis Fowl books, too. Blame Eoin Colfer.
3927075 'kay, guess I have to go beat him senseless for not knowing of it's greek origin.
Why is it always Dusk Shine
Can't writers be more creative than that?
3946389 Why is it always Twilight Sparkle, let's just re-name all the characters! (Or in other words is there a reason I should reinvent the wheel?)
3946389
...because that's his name? Why are you always Anyne? Can't you be more creative than that and change your name every time you post a comment?
3947519 Everyone names him Dusk Shine, why not think of a different name for her genderbend form instead of repeating the same one
3948504
Why would anyone want to change his name? Having a consistent name makes it easy for people to know who you are talking about.
3948779 I give up
That was interesting. I would like a chapter on the day after, so see how Dusk is coping with everything.
3961601 I'm working on a sequel that will get more into the actual shipping and relationship and so on. But it'll probably be a while, I have a ton of writing on my plate just now.
3961636 How long do you think it will be before the first chapter of the sequel is published?
3961648 I honestly have no idea whatsoever. Since Spark to Light a Candle is still not quite done after three years of slow progress, (and that apparently really bugs some people) I've kind of stopped posting things that I haven't finished all the way through, just so I don't drive people crazy. I do have the first chapter of the sequel written, but I don't want to post it until the whole thing is finished, and that could take a week or another three years, it's hard to say.
3961670 I don't like the idea of waiting 3 years. I get it, but you can't say you have a sequel and then not release it for a bit. It is big problem. By the way, nice job with the painting.
3961711 Thank you.
However, if you think my not writing things to suit your schedule is a "big problem" you probably shouldn't follow me. I write for fun.
I am not paid to write. I write when I feel like it, and when I don't feel like it, I don't. If you think there's something wrong with that, we're not going to get along terribly well. 
3961719 I agree with you with the need to write for fun, not profit. A story looses all value when the writer writes for profits. It's like the bad sequels at the movie theater. Best of luck writing and finishing up your stories.
3961736 I'm glad you agree.
And really it's not likely to be three years. But as they say, "under-promise and over-deliver". I'd rather say it'll be a long time and get it done soon, than say it'll be done soon and then take a long time.
3961750 True. I have been waiting for "A whisper in the winds" for a long time. Then the author updates, saying he is going to finish the story, but he doesn't want to post any of the other sequels he originally thought out, because he feel that because Shinning is Twilights brother and since he started writing in the first season where no one knew about shinning armor, and his Twilight is an only child, it got me a bit mad. You can't say "I thought of a sequel, but not going to publish it." That is just doesn't work.
3961768 Well, I can understand your frustraion, but personally I think the thing one really "can't" do is tell an author what to write. If you want to see the story so bad, you should write it yourself.
You stupid ponies! @#$@%#! Are thefirewarde and I the only person who have read the Artemis Fowl series!?!?!?!!
Think you meant "As did the peace that followed.
3999833 So I did! Fixed.
"every single thing that had happened-"
Think you missed a word there.
3999859 Thanks again! Also fixed.
Think you accidentally put a comma where a period should go between these two sentences.
3999966 And thanks again. Also fixed again. Even with an editor, it seems like something always goes unnoticed.
Alright, read the whole story. And I have to say, my thoughts went like this.
To be honest, the M/M threw me off since I kinda had a hint of it from chapter 1, but it still was like a slow realization. Not going to lie, it made it challenging for me to read. Not because the story was bad or anything, but just because the concept of that makes me a little squeamish. I have nothing against it. It's just reading about it with a imagination that likes to create scenes in detail makes it well... yeah.
Onto my thoughts on the story however, I really really liked it
The whole concept you have for the two alicorns is just great and not something I have seen. Then again, there is still so much that I need to read so it may already exist. But nonetheless I loved it. I really enjoyed watching the mentality of the two changing throughout the ages, constantly shifting their views on the worlds as they begin to discover and explore themselves and each other, along with their place in the world and its ponies. Their lives slowly became humbled as they learned. And I thought the brief flash backs on these various moments that always held the hint undertone of Artemis always on the short end was absolutely great. I just wish there was more because I liked it so much
And this line,
To me, that is just absolute gold. Loved it.
4000022 I think this is the best comment I've ever gotten. (OMG somebody who has noticed and appreciated all the little details, yay!) I do see your point about Dusk as an alicorn. I have it tagged with alicorn Twilight, but not everyone looks at the tags, of course. I might tweak it a little to make that more clear early on.
Thanks again, for the lovely feedback and for the editing.
I loved this story for how right it felt. Amazing work and I loved all the scenes.
4263415 Thank you!
It's always delightful when somebody likes one of my less-appreciated works.
4263949 No problem. I feel that it could easily be the same story of Luna and Celestia, which is why I find it works so right. And of course, I couldn't help but love all the sweet scenes as the two brothers tease Dusk.
https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=istanbul+not+constantinople+lyrics+tiny+toons&&view=detail&mid=B03F6DB4FFFF473ACCE9B03F6DB4FFFF473ACCE9&FORM=VRDGAR
I hate to sound like an idiot, but what does NSFW stand for?
8921828
Not Safe For Work. It means something with adult/sexual content of some kind, which most people would be unable to view at their workplace.
8922008
OK. I used to work at a company that watched for stuff like that. You would think the "M" rating would be a dead give-away to readers, though.