Prologue
A long, long time ago, the land Equestria was ruled by two princesses. The first, eldest, was named Celestial. Her mane a pale rose hue, streaked with the colours of springtime, her coat cloud white. She was warm, her most treasured element Kindness. She was the bringer of dawn, and she shone as brightly as the heavenly body she represented.
The second, young Lunar. She was born in a years' time after that of her sister. Her coat was the shade of midnight, and her mane baby blanket blue, eyes bright with starlight. Her favored element was Loyalty. She brought light to the dark with her moon, and had the voice of a lullaby.
They were Princess Celestia and Princess Luna, respectively.
A decade into their benevolent reign, Celestia and Luna attended the Summit of Gaia, a gathering of the highest leaders of each race living on their world. It was meant to be a peaceful time to forget whatever conflict they were facing, and as such any evil deed was forbidden. It was the worst summit there had ever been and perhaps the worst there shall ever be, for the Changling queen Graphtis brought a power of darkness with her. She cursed the young alicorn Celestial, remaking her into everything she wasn't. Bloodthirsty, merciless, sadistic.
Luna was forced to banish her sister with the very thing bonding them. She use the elements of Harmony to send her to the sun. She blamed herself for all of it, thinking if she had only paid more attention, her beloved sister would still be here. The elements separated from their connection with her, not because her sister was gone, but because Luna's soul was broken and she would not accept friendship into her heart.
She was crowned as only monarch of Equestria, Queen.
One thing led to another, and the planet was launched into a thousand year war not more than two years later. It began with only changlings and ponies, but the dragons soon sided with the changling hives. The crystal ponies died off while the Nocturnes thrived, all because of a single disaster. A trillion lives lost over one curse, and the weight of it all upon the Queen's shoulders.
A thousand years passed, and Celestia returned. However, the elements being no longer functional, she roamed free, cursed, teaming up with the opposing side of the war. Lunar, desperate to get away, accidentally open a portal to the Equestria we know. There she finally feels the glow of friendship again when she makes a multitude of new friends. The most faithful of these insist on getting her sister back to her, when she finally lets it slip that her world is warring.
The Operation Sunrise ensues, a search for the element bearers is set in motion. After many trials Celestia is cured of her curse and the war is finally over after so long. The ponies welcome the Dawn bringer back with open hooves and the heroes of the land are rewarded. Equestria is being rebuilt, a new world. Luna continues to visit the other side of the portal, now with Celestia coming occasionally.
But now that the fog had cleared, what is a Queen to do? A new kingdom, the meaning of true love, a sister with a guilty conscience, and alliances to be formed, all while trying to find herself again...
Tales of The Glass Palace- Equinox
By Amber flicker
Art by author
She stared at the reflection in the mirror. It was herself. But something didn't seem right, and she knew what it was, though she didn't want to admit it. It wasn't anything particularly drastic of a change to her appearance. It was only a new tiara. But it represented more than that. She looked back down at her old one, sitting right in front of her. It was created of silver, branching sections, with a crescent carved of moonstone set in, pale violet pearls dropping from the gemstone.
It was the one she'd had custom created after her sister's banishment, when she locked away her first. It represented her, in a way. Who she was, and who she still is. The new one represented somepony else. Whom she might become, but she isn't there yet.
Luna placed the new tiara down on her dresser and nestled her tiara in position. Right where it belongs.
...
Meanwhile, on the other side of the hall in the second set of chambers, Somepony stares at a different reflection. She was'nt looking at a tiara, and she's not admiring herself. She was wondering how to get through another day. Everypony had been welcoming and kind to her, but she knows she doesn't deserve it. She's a terrible pony. And they wanted her to rule over a kingdom? They expected her to? She's no ruler, not anymore. That's the role Luna has taken. She didn't know a thing about how everything worked now, or if she could be strong enough to put on a smile.
Celestia doesn't put her crown on. She is undeserving. She pulled her mane back from her face and locked it in place with a golden, sun-adorned comb.
...
"Tea?"
"Yes, tea. Is there something wrong?"
"No, no! It's just, we aren't used to making tea. The Queen usually drinks coffee- But! We have lots of tea." The servant stuttered, then ran off to get the tea, and Celestia just stared, confused. Luna used to drink tea all the time... Just another thing that's different.
"Sister?" She turned to see her sister in the doorway. She still looked sleepy, but awake enough to walk around, obviously. She had a cup of coffee in her telekinetic grip, a violet cup streaked with gold and orange. "The servants have taken good care of you, haven't they?" The question was spoken with a bit of worry.
"Oh y-yes, of course!" The sun princess responded. They had, of course. Luna seemed pleased with this answer. "They're just getting me some tea."
"Hmm, that's nice. When you've gotten that would you join me for breakfast..?" It wasn't a statement, she was requesting her to join, seeming unsure. She had no idea why.
"Of course I will!"
...
"...So you'll need to look over this list of candidates for your personal assistant." The Queen handed Celestia a sheet of paper with a list of names written in swirling letters. "A few of them are from the royal court, or are palace mages, and have offered themselves for the position and.. And... I'm sure you'll meet mine sometime, too-" There was a knock at the door, and a guard poked his head in. Luna nodded for him to proceed. He cleared his throat awkwardly, shuffling a bit. "Sometime today, please." She said impatiently.
"Your majesty, Lulamoon is asking you to 'Get your moonflank out here' -her words, not mine!" He added the last part quickly. She just sighed, looking at her sister apologetically.
"That would be her. You'll have to excuse me. You can ask for Nightlight if there's anyone on the list that you are wondering about. I should be back later." She walked- more like stomped out of the room, to talk to this 'Lulamoon' character, no doubt. Celestia looked down at the list, mumbling each name.
"Sunset Shimmer, Brights Brightly, Starbeam Twinkle, Tea Leaf, Lyra Heartstrings, Twilight Sparkle, Sil- Wait, Twilight Sparkle. Twi-Light Spar-Kle. Twiiiiliiiiight." She giggled, testing the way the name felt. She liked that name, it seemed... Right, somehow. Deciding that was as good a place to start as any, she went off to find Nightlight...
...
The moon queen tilted her head, looking at her palace. It didn't look like a palace, more like a metal fortress. It had to be that way, to protect her and anyone else in it. But now that the war was over, it needed redesigning, and today was the day she had to begin rebuilding. Anything she decided would have to be agreed to by Celestia, and the court would want to know about everything she did, but she was sure nopony would disagree with her, they rarely did. Was this abusing her position? Perhaps. She took a few steps to the side to see it from another angle, thinking. Then it occurred to her, she knew exactly what she wanted.
"Glass."
"...Excuse me?"
"I want to build the palace out of glass. Enchanted glass." She smiled, ignoring the incredulous look she was getting. It was perfect. It would shine in both sun and moonlight, and it represented the balance struggling to be perfected in the land at this point. Fragile, until completed. "Make it happen."
...
"-Sister of the late Shining Armour, Noble of the Sparkle family, Extreme magical talent, logically thinking and organized. Also my daughter." The blue stallion looked up at the pearl coloured alicorn. "If I may say so, your highness, a very good candidate." A brief flicker of a smile crossed his face. He was proud that his daughter caught the Princess' eye. She was thinking this pony sounded better and better.
"When can I meet her?"
"Whenever you want, Princess."
"As soon as possible. She's got the job."
...
"What if she doesn't like me?" Twilight asked him nervously. They were just outside the door, and she was doubting herself. "What if I'm not good enough? I might get fired! What if I-" Nightlight put a hoof over her muzzle to shut her up. She always did this.
"She'll love you, Twi. Stop worrying."
...
"What if she hates me? What if she's afraid of me? What if I can't make conversation? I-I don't think I can do this..." She paced around the room, her golden shoes clicking against the floor. She took a deep breath, trying to calm herself. She was a princess, she could do this. For pony's sake, Luna was acting older than her, with all her panic!
Nightlight entered the room, and a second later a smaller figure, a mare, followed. She was Lavender, with a sapphire coloured mane that reflected the cream yellow streak in her mane, and a bright magenta stripe beside that. It was cut an a straight style and smoothed down perfectly, not a hair out of place. She had dark violet eyes, and they clearly showed worry, even though she was smiling. Yes, Twilight Sparkle. We will get along well.