Chapter 16
Chapter 16
___________________________________________________________
“There are other Alicorns out there! There are other Alicorns out there!”
I’m pacing back and forth in my room, my nerves beyond anything I’ve ever felt, even the time I almost died in that swamp when I first got to Equestria.
It’s been three weeks since I was sick and Pinkie dropped the biggest bombshell since learning Alicorns can basically be made as easily as a cake if you know how, this bombshell literally linking to that one.
There are other Alicorns in Equestria other than the princesses and myself.
I’d always thought those jokes about background Alicorns were literally just those, jokes, but, apparently not.
Now, I’m wishing I’d paid more attention to when people in the fandom brought them up, because I can’t remember a single one of the ponies who seemed like an animation error in the show, but was clearly just us the viewers being able to see something the characters in the show couldn’t.
Now, you’re probably wondering why, if it’s been three weeks, nothing’s happened so far.
That’s because Cadance, quite wisely in my opinion, has opted not to tell a single soul about the huge paradigm shift to this world’s reality Pinkie Pie just casually dropped on us as normally as if she’d been talking about the weather.
We’d already agreed that, if word ever got out that you can just make an Alicorn, there’d be chaos to a level even Discord has agreed would be bad.
Imagine the further chaos upon it being announced there are already Celestia doesn’t know how many Alicorns just hiding amongst the populace.
And that’s the concerning part: They’re hiding.
Why are they hiding? Do they just want to avoid becoming royalty?
As somepony who had to accept becoming royalty in order to protect herself thanks to my body’s previous occupant’s actions against Equestria, I guess I could understand that perspective.
If I could’ve, I’d have gladly just found somewhere to live out my pony life in peace, maybe the Apple Family Farm?
But, the fact the Elements of Harmony didn’t take away my Alicornhood means I’m stuck being royalty, whether I like it or not… despite the fact Luna and Celestia are allowed to simply abdicate the throne to Twilight and retire.
Is it an age thing? Are you only allowed to do that if you’re over a thousand years old?
Then again, could it be fear?
As far as everypony is aware publicly, being an Alicorn is something only possibly from accomplishing a great feat or having a special purpose (the latter likely how some view me, seeing as they know my body used to be a Pegasus but didn’t change after the Elements zapped me).
So, it could be possible that anypony who randomly created the events that turned them into an Alicorn, not knowing the how of it, felt they’d accidentally broken some special Alicorn taboo and went into hiding.
Any unicorn who became an Alicorn is easy enough to explain. Most unicorns, regardless of their power level, are aware of Illusion Spells and have likely been using them since they, from their perspective, ascended.
The pegasi and Earth Ponies are another story. They must’ve done their best to hide their Alicornhood before finding a way to teach themselves, not only how to actually use their magic, but to cast an Illusion Spell to hide the parts of them they wished none to see.
Just how many ponies are out there right now, living in fear, thinking they’ve done something wrong when they’re not at fault at all?
Or, we could be dealing with the absolute worst case scenario: an uprising.
How do we know ponies don’t think of themselves better than others?
Yes, a vast majorty of Equestria has proven able to accept other races, despite a former severe racist like Neighsay having been in control of the schooling for the last Celestia knows how many years, but, it’s also known there are some who don’t have such open minds.
Throughout the show, especially the final season, it was made evident that there are ponies who view us as above every other race (likely not helped by the fact it is a pair of ponies who control the celestial bodies that govern day and night).
And, knowing how easily Cozy and co were able to turn ponies not just against the other races, but each other, it’s not hard to imagine such ponies are out there.
Granted, those ponies being able to create the specific conditions to turn oneself into an Alicorn is highly unlikely… but not beyond possibility.
Yes, Sombra is a case where, as the Unicorn King in the early hours of Celestia and Luna’s rein, the circumstances were heavily in his favour, giving him plenty of access to figure it all out… but, I can’t ignore the possibility somepony else could figure it out by accident.
“Princess Autum?”
“YAH!” I cry out in alarm, leaping up and clinging to the ceiling,
After taking a few seconds to calm myself, I glance down to see a pair of guards, both yellow, looking up at me in slight confusion.
Shaking my head, I drop from the ceiling and glide down in front of them.
“Is… everything alright, Your Highness?” the guard on the left asks.
I scowl.
He wilts, and stammers, “I-I mean Autum.”
I sigh, before pouting. At least that pulled me a little more to my senses. “Nothing’s wrong. Well, I mean, something is wrong, but, it’s an Alicorn thing. Nothing you need concern yourself with.”
The guards glance at each other, the left speaking. “Do you need Princess Cadance’s advice on the matter? Or, since she’s almost finished helping Maresberry in the library, we could get Princess Twilight?”
I sigh again, shaking my head. “No. It’s fine. I can deal with it myself.”
The guards do not hide the fact they can tell that’s a bold-face lie.
Cadance has been handling the news we’ve a bunch of unknown Alicorns just hiding out in society perfectly fine, with the pose and regality one would expect from an Alicorn princess.
Flurry? Well, she’s a baby. A smarter than average baby, but, still, just a baby. She don’t understand squat about what Pinkie revealed and why it’s such a big deal.
And ain’t no way I was going to try explaining it to her.
Does make me feel bad that she’s felt bad she can’t stop me feeling anxious.
Seriously, I’m starting to wonder if that foal’s special talent is going to be related to therapy in some way, with how much she does to keep my mentality in check.
Me, on the other hoof? I’ve been an absolute nervous wreck
Shaking my head again, I look to the guards. “So, to what do I have the pleasure, gentlemen?”
The two bow. “Prince Shining Armour wishes to speak with you… Autum,” I can tell they catch themselves right at the end.
Cocking an eyebrow, I shrug and follow them out, them escorting me… towards the palace entrance?
Shining Armour is waiting for as by the door, five guards standing with him.
“Autum, good, you came,” the unicorn prince says as the two guards with me salute him.
I cock my head. “Shining, what’s going on?”
Shining sighs. “With the repairs to Canterlot Castle almost complete, Princess Celestia and Princess Luna wish to speak with you in person.”
I do not change my expression. “So… are they coming here or…?”
I mean, the official event to announce me is to coincide with Twilight’s coronation as Equestria Head Princess, so, it makes sense, but… something just feels weird, here and I can’t place it.
And, yes, I know, Head Princess isn’t a real thing, but how else am I supposed to describe it?
She’s being given Celestia and Luna’s roles (minus the Dream Walking part, Luna has said she’ll keep doing that, but on a smaller scale) as the princess everypony will look to for the big stuff regarding Equestria at large.
Yes, when it comes to the Empire, ponies do come to Cadance directly, but, otherwise, it’s going to be Twilight handling everything Luna and Celestia used to do.
Shining nods in answer to my unfinished question. “It took finagling with their schedules, but, yeah. They’re both waiting for you in the Meeting Room.”
I can’t help rolling my eyes.
Leave it to Shining Armour to let a name his little sister made off the fly when she first came to the Empire to stick for a room.
I follow him and the guards until we reach the room, at least six Royal Guards from Canterlot standing either side of the door, where I enter alone.
The two tallest Alicorns at sitting at the table, a cup of tea in front of each of them.
They look up as I enter and the door closes behind me.
I sit down at the table and wait for them to speak first.
“So, Princess Autum,” Luna speaks first, “how well are you adapting to living in our world?”
I frown for a moment, thinking it over, before shrugging. “Probably better than could be expected, given the circumstances, though I’ll chock that up mostly to my spending most of my time here, in the Empire, where ponies treat me fine.”
I snort.
“Something amusing?” Celestia asks.
I shake my head. “It’s nothing. Just remembering how it took Cadance and Shining Armour several weeks to convince the Crystal Ponies I wasn’t a secret love child they’d had before coming to rule here.”
There’s a pause, before Luna snorts as well.
“Luna!” her sister chides.
“S-sorry, sister,” Luna manges through her giggles, “but, young Autum is right. It is quite an amusing idea.”
I laugh. “Tell me about it. The logical loops some of them jumped through to try and explain how it could be the case despite the fact the two were barely married over a month before the Empire showed up, meaning I’d have technically been born out of wedlock, when Shining and Cadance were barely ready to leave high school and then panicking because they thought they’d offended them by even suggesting they’d have done that?”
Luna and I both have a good laugh at the absurdity.
Our mirth, however, is cut short by a loud clearly of Celestia’s throat.
Luna takes a moment to calm herself, while I’ve gone a bit ridged.
That kind of clearly of the throat is only reserved for when you’ve done something you shouldn’t have.
What could I possibly have done wrong now?
Wait. Did Celestia find out about that time I exploited the loophole in the conditions of my being in the Empire and went to Ponyville?
I inwardly deadpan.
Did Flash Sentry rat me out, bringing up my talking to Cheese Legs and Tirek’s statue as I sign I was actually Cozy plotting a way to free them and start the conquest of Equestria anew?
“It is fitting you bring that up, as crudely as you did,” Celestia starts once Luna has calmed herself.
I… can’t help cocking my eyebrow at that.
“We would like to have had Cadance or Shining Armour here to discuss this with you,” Celestia continues, “however, as he has other duties to attend to right now, he had to leave as soon as he brought you to us.”
“And Cadance is busy with her courts right now, in part due to sorting out your current situation,” Luna adds.
Now I cock my head to the side. “Um… okay. Can… I please ask you two to elaborate there?”
Celestia nods. “Autum Moonstone, the Elements of Harmony choosing to let you keep your Alicornhood means there is something important you must do. A task the Elements have deemed you are to complete.”
“As to what that could be, we cannot even begin to speculate,” Luna takes over. “The Elements of Harmony do not always act as one would expect them to, so what they could have in store for you is a large unknown.”
I nod, sighing. “Yeah. Tell me something I don’t know.”
That was pretty obvious to me from the moment I found I still had my horn and Alicorn wings after the Rainbow Laser of Death washed over me.
I do my best not to think about it, though. For all I know, whatever the Elements have planned for me might not happen for several years, even decades.
After all, they imprisoned Luna on the moon for a thousand years instead of purifying her then and there, waiting instead for when Twilight and the others bonded to them.
The Tree of Harmony exerts its will through the power of the Elements, originally just the gemstone and now the living embodiments of them, so, what it knows is impossible to guess.
“However,” Celestia’s tone firms slightly, pulling me from my musings and making me nervous again, “there is a key problem with your being an Alicorn. You will need to be part of a royal family to be allowed to keep your title as a princess.”
At once, I frown. “Uh, come again?”
Luna sighs. “We are aware that you were one an adult, Autum, but, you are now a foal, a minor. As such, the law states you must be with a royal family due to you position as a future ruler of Equestria yourself.”
I snort angrily. “Well, if any of the noble family’s in Canterlot thinks I’ll join them, they can kiss my ass. I’m not going into a toxic household just to be used as a political weapon. Fuck that!”
I blink, then blush, wilting.
“Sorry.”
Celestia sighs. “Frankly, brash as your word choice was, we share the sentiment. Putting you in the care of any of the noble family to let you keep your title and prevent squabbling among them is much preferred to be avoided.”
“Especially with Princess Twilight taking the throne in a short while,” Luna adds on. “The nobility are going to be up in hooves for quite a while as is on that. Your being placed in any one of their family would just add to the fire, making it a nightmare for Princess Twilight to handle so early into her reign.”
“Can’t I just stay here and keep living with Cadance, Shining Armour and Flurry Heart like I have been all these months?” I ask sceptically. “Boring as the Empire can be at times, I’ve come to like living here and with them. I could never leave Flurry.”
Celestia nods. “It is very good to hear you say that, Autum. That was our plan as well.”
I backtrack. “Wait, wha?”
Luna nods. “Living with Cadance and Shining Armour. We also feel that is the best option.”
“But, I still need to be adopted into a royal family now, right, for the whole keeping my princess title thing? I don’t get what you mean?”
Luna frowns in confusion. “The news from the guard grapevines was not wrong. You are very distracted, lately. We would have thought one of your original age would’ve figured this out easily.”
I don’t know whether to be annoyed or more confused by Luna’s words.
“We plan on having Cadance and Shining Armour adopt you,” Celestia says.
My jaw drops. “Huh?!”
Celestia gives that knowing smile, the one she always gave to Twilight whenever Twilight had figured something out without realizing she’d figured it out. “Well, you are close to them now, aren’t you?”
“And you have become as close to our niece, Flurry Heart as any big sister, correct?” Luna chimes in. “Did you not just say you couldn’t bear to leave her?”
“I… well, yeah, I… That would make sense…” I fumble, my mouth and brain very much not working together.
Celestia holds up a hoof, giving me a reassuring smile. “Do not worry. We will speak with Cadance and Shining Armour about this as well. We have no plans on forcing this on you immediately.”
“However, it is necessary to ensure you have as little issues with the nobility as possible after our retirement,” Luna nods.
I just sit, trying to process everything and come up with the words to properly answer something so huge.
My musings are interrupted, however, by a loud popping sound accompanying a flash of golden light and a very familiar weight plopping onto my back.
I glance over my shoulder to see Flurry smiling back at me.
“What do you say, Flurry Heart?” Celestia asks in a cooing voice. “Do you want Autum to become your real sister?”
Flurry garbling eagerly, wrapping her tiny forelimbs around my neck and hugging me close. “Aw-dum!”
All our jaws drop.
Did… did she just say…?
I stare at the foal hugging me, before turning to meet the I’m assuming as equally shocked looks on Celestia on Luna.
Flurry started talking a little a while ago. I mean, I definitely know she can say “Mama” as she called it out to Cadance when Sombra was holding her hostage… but did she just say my…?
“Well… it… would seem Flurry’s mind is made up,” Luna says slowly after a few moments of stunned silence. “She doesn’t want you leaving either, Big Sister Autum.”
I give Luna a quick deadpan, before glancing back to Flurry, looking uncertainly at her.
“Is that true, Flurry? You really want me as your big sister, for real?”
She pulls back a bit to look at me blankly, before a huge smile spreads across her face and she rubs her cheeks against mine.
I try not to blush at the “Awws” from the two sisters.
After a moment, I sigh, nodding. “Okay. If Cadance and Shining want to adopt me into the family, I’m okay with that… just don’t expect me to start calling them Mum and Dad too soon. That would just feel weird to me.”
Celestia laughs. “I’m sure they’ll understand, Autum.”
“We shall see when the two of them are free so we may broach this matter with them,” Luna says as we all stand up and head for the door. “Preferably today, if possible,” she adds as the door opens.
Flurry apparently wants to go flying, because she leaps of my back and flies right out the door, startling the guards.
While a trio of Crystal Ponies rush off to catch the flying foal… my attention is drawn to three of the Royal Guard, all unicorns.
Two of them are white with two-tone blue hair and greenish-blue eyes, while the other is grey but the same otherwise.
I don’t know if it’s because I’ve been so anxious or what, but, I noticed something odd about the way they reacted upon Flurry popping out of the room like a shotgun.
It was their body posture.
There’s another unicorn guard there, another grey stallion. He reacted by leaning back and aiming his horn downward.
Now, once it was obvious the object that shot out the room was just Flurry, he’d relaxed.
However, it was the reaction of the other three unicorns that caught my eye.
There’s two white pegasi here too… and the unicorns’ reacted just like they did, while also reacting mostly like their fellow unicorn.
While they aimed their horns downward, they puffed out their chests like the pegasi guards had, their bodies positioning as if they had… wait a minute.
“Celestia, Luna?” I ask, keeping my eye on those three, while leaning my head back towards the sisters.
“Yes?” they answer at the same time.
“When the Changelings first invaded Canterlot, Twilight devised a spell that would dispel their illusions, but also effects any other Illusion Spells due to how potent she had to make it, yes?”
The confused looks answer my question before it’s even spoken.
“Yes,” Luna nods. “What are you going with this, Autum?”
“How did you know how many of your guards were confirmed not to be Changelings in disguise back then?” I ask, my question causing the three stallions to look at me with worry.
Celestia frowns, clearly trying to remember. “We had several guards whom had been present in the wedding hall and found outside bound in the Changelings’ sap going around, castling the dispelling, well, spell.” She blushes a little at her grammar flub.
“And, would any of the guards here just so happen to be among those who reported on those confirmed not Changelings?” I ask, the worried looks turning into slight panic, which I can tell Luna has picked up on.
“Yes,” the Night Princess says slowly, eyeing the three and pointing to the grey one. “Commander Strong Will reported a good number of the guard being confirmed not to be Changelings… including, if I’m right the two white unicorns either side of him.”
“Why are you suddenly so nervous, my little ponies?” Celestia asks, thankfully having picked up on the oddness too.
Thank god. I didn’t want to have to rope her into the stereotype several fans put her in, of somehow being a cunning genius and somehow completely oblivious.
“I already know, boys,” I say bluntly, causing their eyes to widen into pinpricks. “You’re not in trouble, you haven’t broken any sacred taboo or whatever. We just wanna know why you’re the way you are now.”
Luna, Celestia and the remains guards’ confusion is quickly turned into utter bewilderment as the three stallion look solemnly at each other, before lighting their horns and a shimmer passes over their bodies… a pair of wings appearance afterwards.
“Wh-what in Equestria?” Luna gaps. “Other Alicorns, and males, in our Royal Guard?!”
Celestia stares open-mouthed for a moment, before her heads snaps towards me. “How is this possible? What is the meaning of this, Autum?”
“A question or two I myself would like answered, Celestia?” I say, eyeing the three Alicorns as their fellow guards just stare at them in stunned shock. “You boys mind explaining how you pulled this off? Also,” I narrow my eyes, “do you know of anypony else whom we should know about?”
HAPPY NEW YEAR, EVERYONE!
Bet you weren't expecting an update first day of 2024, were you?
Well, after posting the last chapter and it's huge ramifications, i didn't want to sit on this too long, leaving it to whirl around in my head until a forgot half of it and fumbled the rest once i get it started, so, here we are.
Well, that escalated quickly, huh?
Simple family affair matter to HOLY SHIT, THERE'S ALICORNS IN THE ROYAL GUARD pretty fast, right?
I do have an over-arching planning for this, though. i'm not randomly deciding ponies are Alicorns for the fun of it.
there is an end goal in mind and not a "You get to be a princess! and You get to be a princess! And you get to be a prince! And you get to be a prince!" kinda thing.
As for why i chose to have those 3 guards be the first hidden Alicorns revealed, i felt they were the most natural to have be revealed instead of some others i know.
One, possibly two would've required Autum to have a reason to be down in Ponyville and, other than briefly checking in with the stoned Tirek and Cheese Legs, i couldn't think of any real reason for her to go there.
Yes, she could be visiting the Apples, but, other than those two reasons, i couldn't think of another, so shelfed those two reveals for later... possibly one during Twilight's coronation, since that'll be in Canterlot and so won't need an explanation for how Autum just coincidentally happened to go to Ponyville the same day as the Alicorn mare from Canterlot was there too?
Whom could i be referring to either way, you might be wondering?
Well, i spent the day before the last day of last year searching for info on background Alicorns and... let's just say i found one that's VERY interesting, especially given her closeness to another character.
I'll leave you to speculate the identity of the mare in question until i can next update this, which i have no clue as to when that will be 
.
So, what will Autum do with the info that there are three more Alicorns known of, all males too?
Will Cadance and Shining accept her as a member of the family?
WIll somepony who shouldn't be made aware of all the hidden Alicorns learn of the info... or already has?
You'll have to wait and see.
I defientely wouldn't be doing anything tomorow, as i'm going to a holiday activety my workplace is doing during the holidays before work starts up again in just under two weeks.
also, despite the fact Australia had THE coldest Christmas and end of year we've ever had as far back as i can remember, the weather over the next 4-5 days is at least going to be in the high 20s-low 30s and that kind of warm weather can kinda kill the writing groove, as i've stated before, so wanted to get this out before that weather hits so i'm not left sitting on this chapter until possibly Autum.
Anyway, hope you enjoyed this chapter and, til next time, stay safe and see you later everybody
Also LikedSimilarAuthor
- deadpansnarker · 35k words · 533 55 · 11k views
- dicerollball · 38k words · 316 17 · 5.8k views
- ShadowedKnight68 · 120k words · 479 42 · 15k views
- hmaf43 · 60k words · 663 61 · 11k views
- Carmine Craft · 27k words · 736 11 · 13k views
- Mister E-Nonymous · 57k words · 401 40 · 11k views
- Kind of Brony · 22k words · 649 28 · 5.4k views
- Autum Breeze · 19k words · 579 25 · 11k views
Stats
Page generated in 0.178 seconds
Total duration
937 users online
1,082,512 hits today, 1,960,719 yesterday
FIMFiction
My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic Fanfiction
Designed and coded by knighty & Xaquseg - © 2011-2024
Follow & Support Us
Support us
SubStar
Chat!
Discord
Follow us
Twitter
MLP: Friendship is Magic® - © 2024 Hasbro Inc.®
Fimfiction is in no way affiliated with or endorsed by Hasbro Inc.®
Happy new years also loved this chapter
Woah. Was not expecting that!
Also happy new years!
Probably, I mean just look at how much work it is
Happy New Year
Don't mean to criticize, but his feels a little... arbitrary, to me. Considering there was only one princess for a thousand years (and only two briefly before that) why would a law covering the prerequisites of potential new princesses exist? Not to mention, that Twilight herself wouldn't qualify (unless "sister-in-law to an adopted niece" is enough to qualify, but that feels like a stretch).
I've no issue with the direction it's leading the story in, but it feels like it could have just as easily been handled with a "Hey Autumn, we know you're an adult in mind, but you're still a foal in practise and legally in a weird limbo of no legal guardian. It'd make the bureaucracy a lot easier if you were adopted by the couple you're already living with, even if it's only on paper and you don't need to change your lifestyle or relationship with them ." Adding an extra law forcing the issue feels like overkill, but that's just me. Maybe the author has plans I'm unaware of that require this set-up to make sense later.
On the other hand, bonus alicorns! Here's hoping for my old favorite, Princess Erroria!
I know that Ruby Pinch kept switching from unicorn and Pegasus in the background in a few episodes but I always thought they were triplets.
Is Skyros gonna be canon?
A law made up just so you can get it torn down? We're down for that!
Looks like the Masquerade Protocol is broken. For better and worse.
Flurry knows too much, the little bundle of chaos.
AAAAAAAAH!
11787950
The thought can be darker - they also understand that if ability to ascend would be known, it can cause chaos. And it may cause appearance of challengers to the throne, even a rebellion.
I bet there is some "Secret Alicorns Society" right under their nose or "Alicorn Hunting group" to make sure no Alicorn appears in public, given that mind spell exists, they can cover the evidence easily, the possibilities are endless
this is impossible to have no more alicorn recorded in more than 1000 years when they are created that easily
Celestia: How did you know there are other alicorns, Autumn?
Autumn: Pinkie Pie gave me a hint.
Luna: ... somehow I am not surprised as I should be.
Celestia: Does Miss Pie also one as well!?
Autumn: No, she definitely said she is not an alicorn herself.
Celestia: Then, how-!?
Autumn: Don't ask, princess. I am dread at what might have been the real answer myself.
Unexpected is right. I especially didn't see this coming. What's got me worried is what would make Harmony ascend all these alicorns? Is something coming up that would require so many? That's terrifying.
Seriously, that's an understatement. There's no ease-in or build up to any of these big changes--hardly any finesse about character reaction either. You're just throwing ideas to the wall and speedrunning all the bestest evar things that can happen to former human turned newly minted princess.
It's more likely than you think.
I'd hope we would continue where the journey to ponyville left off. Like dealing with someone like Flash Sentry and relationship with the apples and cozy's family. Starswirl and Starlight's empathy training.
This hidden alicorn story arc is kind of a meh in comparison. It's too quick. Like, give it a few chapter of buildup before revealing the first hidden alicorn?
Hmmm...
Luna seemed happier than shocked, but maybe I was just reading that into it…
Looking forward to more, author!!
OHHHH BOY! spoilers
Jokes on you im the type of guy who DOESN'T care about spoilers because I stopped at S4! HA!
I should really start watching s4 huh
Авторы всегда любят выгладывать по 2-3 главы и уходить в запой на 2 годика?