This is a story for all those who would listen. It is about the mistakes that I have made, regrets caused by jealousy, and loss of somepony dear to a lot of ponies. This is a story that my sister has tried to hide for so long because she hates that I was more liked, feared and respected than her. I am Lightning Storm, the former Princess of War and of Storms, and this is my story.
A land far from Equestria, 500 B.N. (Before Nightmare)
On a mountain there was a castle that housed the only known alicorns in existence. The castle could only be described as a place of wonder. There was currently four standing towers and one under construction. Each tower made of a different mineral. One made of finely shaped amethyst; the second made of the strongest stone; the third made of the brightest quarts; the fourth was made of pure sapphire; finally the incomplete fifth was made of the darkest obsidian. Each tower held the room of an alicorn, the color set to match one of their own. In the purple tower you could find King Galic and his Queen Terris; in the stone you could find the oldest of their children Void Star; in the white tower was the second Celestia; in the sapphire tower you could find me the third child, Lightning Storm; the obsidian tower will house the last of our powerful family our sister Luna. A wall connected our towers together and hides the central building and guards barracks of our home.
It was a dark night when the first tragedy happened. My father anted to go on patrol around the out side of the castle walls with the guards thinking that he would be fine, that nothing was stronger than a single member of our family. He was wrong. During the patrol a band of dragons, griffons, and Minotaur attacked the castle. None of the staff or my family was ready. The first thing I remember happening that night was being woke up by my personal night guards yelling "We are under attack!" I thought that they were doing a drill of some kind so I ignored them, that is until a large void dragon smashed its head through my bedroom's wall killing the guards in my room.
Being only a teen at the time I hid hoping for the attack to end soon, only it did not. I wish I would have stayed hidden in my room, but fate is a cruel mistress. Not long after I hid myself did a group of griffons start to search my room, "Hurry and find the Storm Princess before the rest of the family wakes. The father is dead so we are a little safer but he alone killed more than a quarter of our forces I hope we won't have to see what happens when the rest of the family is together." the largest of the griffons hissed to his team as he past my closet on the far end of my room.
I made the mistake of looking down and saw one of my closest friends, whom I requested be on the night shift to protect me, dead. Next to him was his lucky lance, he always said so long as he had that lance nothing bad would ever happen to me. I took a deep breath and picked it up hoping to be able to escape the griffons and get to my mother, brother, and sisters before it was to late. As soon as I touched the lance my lightning bolt cutie mark shined like the day I got it, and of course the griffons seen the light. Not giving them a chance to react I charged the one closest to me bringing the blade of the lance down on his head cutting his skull open. I turned just in time to bring the lance up to stop on of the griffons from using his claws to kill me. I blasted him with a raw blast of telekinetic force launching him into another one of the griffons sending them out the hole the dragon made.
The large griffon who was giving orders just a moment ago smiled at me, "You couldn't just lie down and die could you?" sarcasm. Really, "Just put the weapon down and I promise to make this painless."
I charged the large griffon not wanting to give him what he wanted, "I will not quit. I will have revenge you monster!" I brought the lance down on him only for him to use one of his talons to stop it.
"Listen here missy, you cannot defeat us. Your family will die tonight, the time of the Alicorn rule ends here. He brought his other talon up and punch me in the jaw snapping it. I let out a cry of pain as my vision blurred with tears, but I did not stop. I kept going at him only to have more of my bones broken each time, "It is over. You cannot fight any more. Your crippled now. Your time in this world is over."
I could hear him getting closer, slowly. It was like he wanted to draw out my suffering. Suddenly I head the door to my room burst open and a blinding light filled my room "You will not harm my SISTER!!!!" I heard Celestia yell out as the griffon was wining about the light. Then there was a snap and then silence.
I heard the distinct sound of Celestia's golden shoes approaching me as a sudden pain filled my body as bones re-positioned themselves and healed. The pain lasted for a short time but it was immense. When my jaw was healed and I could see again I looked at Celestia, her normally pink mane and tail were currently flowing fire, and her white coat shined with the radiance of the sun, "Sister thank you. I would not have lasted much longer without you."
"Worry not, mother, brother, and our younger sister are together." Celestia looks at the hole left by the dragon, "What is with dragons and leaving holes in towers?"
I laugh a little at Celestia's comment, "I don't know but they sure like to try and capture princesses.
Throne Room
"Mother, I think they are realizing that they can't win." Void Star said as he decapitated one of the many fleeing Minotaur.
Queen Terris looks up from Luna to look at her oldest child, "Don't be so confident, my son, this is only the beginning I can feel it." As Terris finished her sentence a large black and gray dragon landed before the trio of alicorns, "As I said this is only the beginning."
"Queen Terris," the dragon spoke in a deep gravely voice, "you and your family shall no longer rule us. You will no longer stop those of us that wish to rule their own way and not be part of your 'Nation of Peace'. Some of us just crave combat while others just want to see your family removed from the throne and allow the different races to go their own way, and form new nations."
Queen Terris's horn lit in an earthly brown color as Void Star was pulled away from the dragon, "I will not allow you beast to ruin the peace and prosperity that I have erected from the chaos that once ruled our land. Since my family has taken the throne and formed this nation there has been nothing but success in medicine, technology, and many other things; and you would just throw those things away just for some greed that plagues most all of the world." Terris approached the dragon that was easily five times her size, "I would rather die than see my subjects suffer because of you brutes."
The dragon smiled, "That can be arranged," the large dragon lifted his front leg and with unreal speed swept his claws over Terris cutting her body into pieces. "Now then," he looked at Void and smiled, "Will you make the same mistake as her or will you stand down and give up your position?"
I burst through the doors to the throne room, followed by Celestia, as the dragon finishes his question, "MOTHER!" I screamed when I saw her body in front of the dragon. I go to run forward only to be stopped by Celestia, "Why are you stopping me?" I growled.
"Calm yourself sister or you will meet the same fate as she did." Celestia spoke calmly but solemnly as she too looked at our mothers corpse.
I wish my brother would have heard our sister's words because no sooner did she finish that sentence did he charge forward to attack the dragon only for it to swat him like a fly, "You fool. What makes you think you can stop me if neither your mother nor father survived a single hit from me?"
"Because I am the void!" my brother yelled as he became a cloud of purplish-black mist.
"You fool. I consume void energy." the dragon took a deep breath in as Void's mist cloud got close to his mouth, "Thanks for the meal you idiot." The dragon looked at Luna and started to approach her as she cries, "Now what to do with you before I eat the rest of your family?"
At this point I forced Celestia away and charged the dragon, not noticing the weapons of the fell guards and Minotaur rise in my magic, I leapt into the air and screamed a banshee's scream as I launch all the gathered weapons at the dragon. All it could do was turn and look at me as the variety of weapons pierced his skull. I felt a sudden drain of energy as the dragon cried out in pain stunning all in the general area, "Stormy" was all I heard as I blacked out.
The Next Morning
I awoke to silence on the cold blood covered throne room floor. I looked around trying to see if my sisters were near me. All I saw other than dead bodies and scattered weapons was a note on my mother's golden throne. It read:
Dear Lightning Storm,
I have taken Luna and what remained of our stuff. I left your things there for you to sort through and leave for your own journey. Some rumors have been spreading about this place called Equestria, so I thought it wise to travel there and help as best as I can and hopefully raise Luna to be a good pony.
I bet your wondering why I did not bring you with us. Well that is because to put it simply, you are to dangerous to be around Luna while she is being raised. I do not want her to loathe war and bloodshed as our father did. So I left you at our old ruined home to find your own way.
I wish it did not have to be like this but after seeing you completely loose control like that I could not bear to have you around Luna and that happen and for her to get hurt. So please forgive me, and do not blame Luna. This is not her fault.
Your sister,
Celestia
All I could do was cry after reading the letter, "Why?" I said quietly to myself, "Why!?" I steadily got louder to the point of me actually doing damage to the wall in front of me.
So it has been 1500 years since I left my home and lost contact with my sisters. News had came from this Equestria that there was a fallout between two alicorn sisters ending with one being trapped on the moon. I truly wish that I could have been there, because maybe just maybe the whole event might have never happened. Other than that I have just stayed hidden in dangerous areas so nobody finds me. Sadly I am compassionate, so when I saw this foal abandoned on the side of the road I had to do something. I caused a small storm around the foal so that I could retrieve the poor thing without being seen. I waited for a couple weeks to see if anypony would come and look for the little colt but nothing.
This was a couple weeks ago. I have stayed near where I found him just in case but nothing, so I gave him a name.
1000A.N. (After Nightmare)
Dinok Druniik wobbles into the makeshift room that I made for us, "Mamma?"
I smile at the little bat pony, "Yes, mamma. How would you like to go on a trip Dinok.?"
He starts to bounce like a maniac at the mention of a trip, "Twip! Twip!"
"Ok, I'll take that as a yes. We have a long ways to travel ok." I love that little guys enthusiasm.
One hour later
"Ready?" I ask the happy bat pony on my back.
"Weady!" Dinok replied in an energetic voice.
"Ok" I prepare myself for the long flight from the dragon lands to this Equestria. As I take to the sky I say, "I'm coming Celestia you better be ready because it is time we talked again." Leaving a trail of blue lightning in my wake I rocket towards my sister's new home.
Equestria, Canterlot Castle Throne room
"Now, Luna, things have changed in the last thousand years." Celestia spoke while she sat on her throne.
"We understand sister." Luna quietly responded sitting next to her sisters throne.
Celestia looked at her sister, "Luna the royal we is no longer used."
"Sorry it will take time to get used to that."
As Luna finished her sentence a guard ran into the throne room, "Princess Celestia, there has been sightings of a blue lightning trail throughout the dragon lands and it is heading this way."
Celestia's face became one of complete shock, "I did not think she would be so obvious."
Both the guard and Luna look at Celestia and say in unison, "What do you mean?"
Celestia sighed, "You will see soon, if she is as fast as she used to be."
Dragon lands
As I flew over the dragon lands I saw numerous large dragons fighting over land, hordes, and the occasional dragoness. I also noticed the occasional Pegasus in golden armor. The odd thing is that they tried to stay hidden from me but they failed, but another thing is that on there armor I thought I saw a replica of Celestia's cutie mark. I don't know if I am seeing things or if she has ordered some ponies to watch me. I wonder if she is prepared for me to visit her though because I have been away for sometime.
Equestria, Canterlot Mountain.
It is night and I have been traveling for a couple of days. I have finally reached the capital of Equestria, and it appears as though Celestia still has a love for white buildings and gold accents. Dinok is fast asleep on my back and drooling. The city looks beautiful at night I have to say that much but I worry that things will go down hill soon. Since I got to the mountain about twenty minutes ago, I have seen a few guard patrols. I think Celestia has given me a challenge before we even said hello to each other how rood.
As another patrol passed I over heard one of the guards say, "I don't see why the Princess is in such a panic over some random pony." I laughed a little at that response. The question is should I make this easy for them or just surprise Celestia at breakfast.
The next morning in the royal dinning room.
I sat on the large white chair that I assumed was Celestia's and waited. I did not have to wait long for the large double doors to open and a small group of guards to enter, I smiled, "Now sister you know that these ponies can't harm you or me so why do you insist on a guard escort."
All I could do was laugh as she stood there with her jaw hanging open, "How? What? When?"
"Sister close your jaw it is unbecoming of you." I managed to say seriously, "You should greet me like family not some crazy pony that just broke into your home."
One of the guards just stared at me, "Princess what does she mean 'greet her like family?'"
"Leave us at once I will handle this." Celestia ordered the guards all of whom saluted and left the room, "So I was right to assume you were coming to see me."
"Let me stop you there. I came here to see Luna not you. You hurt me, by leaving me alone for the past 1500 years. The only good thing that came from that whole ordeal was this little guy right here," I lifted Dinok into the air as he slept, "He was abandoned in the dragon lands, and thankfully I found him before a dragon did because I would have hated for this little guy to have died because he was abandoned."
"I am sorry to hear that, but I did what I thought was right at the time. After the ponies here started to see me and Luna as there leaders I started to regret the decision I made that night. I was scared, cold, and worried about how well you could control yourself. That was why I made that decision sister. So I will ask you one more time please forgive me and let us complete our family." Celestia pleaded poorly.
"You see sister I spent many nights crying myself to sleep because of what you did. A few words will not make me forgive you. You will have to earn forgiveness for how you wronged me." I spoke in an icy tone, "Now where shall I find my other sister, last I heard she was sent to the moon for a thousand years and just recently returned to us?"
"She should be coming here shortly, but she is short tempered just like our father, a trait both of you inherited from him."
As Celestia finished the doors opened once more and a white unicorn with a blonde mane and tail strolled into the dinning hall, "Auntie why are all the guards a mess? It is unfitting for them to be in such a state. Why in this state they probably couldn't stop a single peasant from entering the castle." the unicorn's head was held high so he probably did not see me staring him down because of how loud he was speaking while my adopted son was asleep on the chair next to me.
Dinok Druniik started to whimper as he woke, so I quickly picked him up and started to rock him so that he would not start to cry, "You insolent buffoon," I snapped, "Why are you so loud there is a sleeping foal in here."
"Who are you and why are you in Aunt Celestia's chair? I demand that you move this instant!" the brat said not quieting his voice any.
Dinok woke with an ear piercing screech, "You idiot!" Celestia used her magic to dampen the sound of Dinok's screech to prevent damage to her and my hearing, but not the twat's hearing.
All I could do is laugh as blood started to stream from his ear, only his left ear though. Luna broke the room's door as she entered with a furious expression. She looked at the fool and shook her head, "You imp what did you do to make that bat pony foal cry?"
The twit just looked at her like he had no idea what was going on, "A what?" he cocked his head to the side.
Luna's horn glows as she picks the twit up and launches him out the dinning hall, "Now then where is the little foal at?"
I smile as I lift Dinok
Luna looks at me, "And who are thou? None have informed me of a visitor."
I shook my head, "Celestia….. Why did you not inform our sister of our family's once glorious past, or of who I am?"
"Because it was that past that drove us apart! You were in the middle of the whole thing that is why you were never mentioned!" Celestia snapped.
"It only drove us apart because you allowed it to." I responded calmly, "Luna, Celestia has not told you of our past so it seems that I must do so, but first I will put little Dinok back to sleep."
In Luna's personal study. (Celestia is not the only one with these things)
When I finished explaining the fall of our parents and brother Luna spoke up, "So that is why we have never heard of or read about our father or mother."
"Yes Luna, that is why. That is also why you did not know about me or our brother. Me more or less is because Celestia was scared that I would influence you to be more violent but from what I heard that happened anyways." Luna looked to the ground of her deep midnight blue study, "I meant nothing by that, you were not happy things like that happen. That is a curse of an alicorn, sister, we were born with it and so were our parents and brother."
Luna eyes my 'small' bag of belongings, "You are not telling me everything Storm." her gaze shifts to me, "What are you keeping a secret? Tell me I wish to know."
I sigh, "Do you promise not to tell Celestia? She will not be pleased to see what I retrieved from the beast that ended our family all those years ago." she nodded, "Very well then." I opened my bag and pulled out a glass orb filled with void gas, "The dragon did not have time to digest him, but his physical body was destroyed."
Luna gasped, "So that is our brother?"
I nodded, "Sadly yes, I have been searching for a way to restore his body but I have had no success in the terms of no cruelty. The only way I have found was a blood magic ritual that requires one Pegasus, earth pony, and a unicorn. Sadly the three ponies used are killed in the process."
"That’s horrible!" she gasped.
I nodded, "That is why I will be leaving soon. I shall leave Dinok with you and Celestia while I am gone. He is not to receive any pampering what so ever."
Luna closed her eyes and bowed her head, "I will see to it that your wishes are carried out."
"If I come back and my little colt has been spoiled both you and Celestia will be held responsible, no matter which one of you does it do you understand?" I looked at Luna as she raised her head, "And Luna it is good to see that you a fine mare just like me and our mother." I teleported out of the study with the globe of my brothers essence and disappeared to look for some victims.
I look at the dark purple alicorn standing next to me, "Brother I think it is time that we return to our sisters so that they can see you."
He nods.
Ponyville School House: Just after School
Cheerilee, packs her saddlebags as a thestral (bat pony) colt, who is much larger than other colts his age, approches her, "Is something wrong Dinok?"
He shakes his head, "No ma'am I just wanted to ask if there was any way for you to teach me without any of the other foals around. I have issues paying attention with them around."
"Well that is quite a surprising question saying that you live in the castle with Princess Twilight. Couldn't you ask her to help you with your school work?"
Dinok swiftly shakes his head, "She scares me when it comes to school work."
"I see......"
Canterlot Castle Throne Room
The main doors to the throne room open as Luna walks in followed by a small group of her guards, "Sister it is worrying that there has been no sightings of her since she left Dinok with us. I don't fear the worst about her, I fear for our little ponies." Luna stops in the middle of the throne room as Celestia looks up from a scroll.
Celestia takes a deep breathe, "I agree Luna, but unless we know where she is at the is nothing we can do. I hope she does not see us sending Dinok to Ponyville to spend time in school with other foals and to learn skills from the elements as pampering him."
A small group of both solar and lunar guards, "Princesses there has been reports from the north about two fast moving pegasi one of which has the lightning trail."
"Two? Who would she be traveling with and why the north?" Celestia questioned worried for everyone.
Ponyville Castle
A small purple and green dragon opens the door for Dinok and called out, "Twilight he's back!"
The thestral looked at Spike, "Did I do something wrong or does she just worry?"
"I don't know dude but I would prepare for a lecture just incase."
Dinok nodded and started for the throne room. Along the way he started to think about his family. Both Luna and Celestia are his aunts but who is his mother and father. Every time he brought up the subject everypony just changed the subject. Not even his current caretaker Twilight Sparkle knows who his parents are. As he opened the throne room door a purple magic picked the thestral up and placed him in front of the lavender alicorn of friendship, "Dinok…." was all she said at first. She looked sad but glad at the same time which confused Dinok a great deal, "I got word from your aunts. They said that soon your mother would be back. They said something about having another family member was accompanying her back to Canterlot."
"Why do you look so sad Ms. Twilight?" Dinok turned his head slighty to the side.
"I got so used to having you here, I just don't want you to leave just yet. School is not over yet, you have made many friends since you got here, and there is still so much me and my friends can teach you."
Canterlot Castle Courtyard
In the castle courtyard, guards moved slowly watching everything. Their normally stern faces show slight amounts of fear towards whatever has their princess worried. "Sister do you really think she will be getting here this soon? We only recently learned of her movement toward us." Luna spoke quietly not certain of her sister's choice of action. "You are scaring your guards with how you are acting. They probably feel like something is about to attack us, and yet you do not try and comfort them."
Celestia sighs, "Luna they have every right to feel like we are about to be attacked; our sister has never truly been the violent type but she was never a inoccent flower either. I worry that she might turn on me and in turn you turn on her which will drive our already distant family farther away. But to be honest I do not fear what she will do, I fear for what the unknown pony raveling with her will do." Celestia looks at the clear sky above the castle grounds as a letter sent by dragon fire materializes in front of her.
Dear Princess Celestia,
I have gathered all of Dinok's belongings and await word of his mothers arrival home. I would like to suggest that she finds a way to keep him in school here in Ponyville, because there is a lot of foals both older and younger than him that look to him for comfort. I don't know whether it is because of how much larger he is than other foals or just the fact that he is so nice to all of them. Cheerilee was not happy to hear about him leaving town because since he got here one a lot of the teasing stopped and two all of her students grades went up. Also it will probably hurt him to be taken away from those he started to call friends like the CMC, Dinky Doo, Pina, and Button Mash. I know that he would be able to visit but just the thought of not having my friends around hurts, and I grew up without them. Him on the other hoof grew up with them so imagin what it will do to him.
Your Fateful Student and Fellow Princess,
Twilight Sparkle
Celestia looked at the ground, "Why must she be right."
Luna walked closer to her sister, "What do you mean by that Tia. Who is always right?"
"Twilight that’s who. She brought up a good point in this letter. We can't just pull Dinok away from Ponyville. He has friends there, he has a life that is his own there. I don't know what todo because Storm might not be willing to live in that pleasant little town."
As if on que storm clouds started to form around the castle. Lightning was flashing in the sky as the local weather team tried to tame the storm. The wind started to pick up as two figures appeared in the sky separate from the weather team, who have almost given up on the storm. The two figures started flying towards the place where Celestia and Luna were standing. As they moved closer it started to feel like the castle entered the eye of the storm as everything became calm. Celestia flinched slightly when she realized who was causing the storm, Lightning Storm. Matters were made worse when she realized that flying next to Storm was a large dark purple (almost black) alicorn with a mane that seemed to be made of stars. As the two touched the ground Celestia went to speak but she was knocked back by a telekinetic blast from Storm, "I have no desire to speak with any other than my son." Storm snapped.
In a deepish voice the dark colored alicorn spoke, "Sister at least let them welcome us before you get cruel. I have been stuck in an orb for a long time. I for one would like to speak to my younger sisters." the stallion smiled at Celestia who was being helped up by Luna.
Celestia glared at the pair, "You think you can just show up, launch me into the air, and make demands! This is my castle and you will treat me as such." she shifted her gaze slightly to focus on the stallion, "And you! I don't care who you think you are, but my brother is dead. I watched him get eaten by that dragon all those years ago. Guards! Arrest them!"
Ponyville Train station
Twilights jaw fell as she watched the storm form above Canterlot, "Dinok we need to hurry. I know you don't like to teleport but this is an emergency," Twilight's horn started to glow brightly as she focused.
Dinok just looked at the alicorn in shock.
Canterlot Air Space
"Sister why must you do this!" Luna called out to Celestia only to be ignored. Suddenly a bright purple flash caught Luna's gaze, "Twilight thank the maker you are here."
Twilight looked worryingly at Luna, "What is happening?" Dinok hid the best he could behind Twilight not feeling safe anyplace else.
"Celestia lost her temper because of our other sister."
"Other sister? I thought it was just you two. The last of the alicorns until me and Cadence showed up."
"I thought that too until a little after my return. I found Lightning Storm, my other sister, in Celestia's breakfest chair."
Twilight facehooved, "Then why did none of us know about her?"
"Celestia feared the repeat of the night our parents died if Storm would have been around."
Celestia slammed into the ground not to far from them creating a small crater. Before Celestia could stand back up a gray and blue blur slammed into her, "Face it Celestia, you cannot beat me. Stand down and I will stop this, but if you try to attack me again I will put you out of camition. I won't kill you because your family but I tire of this." there was the sound of caughing coming from the crater as Storm walked out of it, "I'm sorry you had to see that Luna. Now could you please have your guard retrieve our brother from whatever cell Tia stuck him in." Luna nods and trots away from the group. Storm turns her attention to Twilight, "Hello there."
Twilight just stood still for a moment before she could speak, "H..hello?"
"Don't be scared. I was simply defending myself from me sister who is mad for no reason." Storm said with a smile as she wiped a little blood from her face.
"Wh…who are you?" Twilight asked, slightly afraid of the alicorn in front of her.
"My name is Lightning Storm, once the Princess of Storms. I think I shall take the title of Princess of War until the world is truly at peace again."
"Why do you want to be that. I don't really know you but you can't just like to fight so much that you are willing to be the princess of war. I mean I don't think that anypo-" Twilight was cut off as Storm shoved her hoof into her mouth.
"Let me stop you there. I don't know how it started but I don't ever want to hear you say everypony every again in that context because, lets face it, there are violent races all over the planet. So until all are under one banner of peace like when my parents ruled, there will always be war." Storm removed her hoof from Twilights mouth, now you may continue."
"Well as I was saying; I don't see why anyone would want to be known for war." Storm hummed inoccently to herself, only to be silenced by a foal's hoof poking her leg, "Dinok don't do that. She is dangerous."
Storm look at the thestral foal and smiled, "Dinok! My dear son you have grown!" Storm picked up Dinok in a hug and fell onto her back.
Dinok looked utterly confused by the grey alicorn's actions, but smiled non-the less, "Mom?" he asked still unsure.
"Yes, my son I am thee mother." as the two conversed an hugged a medical team moved to help Celestia and Luna returned with the other alicorn.
Twilight looked at the large stallion walking next to Luna, "Twilight, please stop staring at my brother. It is unbecoming of you dear." Luna said teasingly. Twilight could only blush and close her mouth.
"Sister please don't tease the poor mare. I am handsome after all. Am I not?" he said jokingly.
A small rock hit the stallion in the head, "Void Star! Be quiet before I seal your lips with magic." Storm snapped as she let Dinok go, so they could stand.
"Sisters, brother, and Twilight, now that there is five alicorns, not including Princess Cadence, that live here in Equestria we will need to divide our stable nation into equal rulings so there is no issues regarding power." Celestia said as she slowly limped over to the group.
Storm turned her head to Celestia, "I am taking control of the military, and no you cannot stop me." Storm smiled, "We have proven this already, but I will need a place to properly train the troops to combat any of our possible enemies."
"I will not argue with you sister for I am just starting to recover from our last disagreement. Twilight I would like you to take up control of Equestria's education board, Luna and I will stay as we are and raise and lower the sun and moon, and brother what would you do?"
Void Star moved closer to Twilight and smiled, "Well from the looks of the small town not to far from here, there is a castle and every castle has a princess and should have a form of guard for said princess. So I shall guard this little princess." he draped his wing over Twilight making her jump from the sudden contact, "Don't worry I won't do anything she does not want me to do. I will be at her command."
Celestia looked at the group before her and smiled, "This will be the beginning of Equestria's golden time."
"I think it is time that the restoration of the Everfree castle is started. I mean Storm you will need a place to train the soldiers right?" Celestia said as she walked next to Lightning Storm towards the castle armory.
"The Everfree castle?" Storm asked as Celestia opened the armory door.
"That is were me and Luna lived when we first formed Equestria. After Luna's fall I could not bear to stay there so I had a palace constructed up here and made it the new throne of Equestria. I had never bothered to keep the wilderness under control after I left that forest. There used to be many towns in there but most were abandoned not long after I move to here. With no ponies living there any longer, the forest became violent and unsafe for most."
Storm stopped as she looked at a long black lance, that was so black it appeared to be sucking light into it, "Sister, what is this weapon?"
Celestia looked at her sister, "That weapon was not created as such, it is the anchor for a spell that shall end when it is need. As for why it sucks in light, I created it using energy from the sun. So to sustain the spell it absorbs light." she stops before a hole in the wall and sticks her horn in. There is the sound of spells discharging and locks releasing could be heard before the wall slid in and apart revealing an unexpected sight. Strange objects on pedestals with a mural on the back wall.
"Sister is that what I think it is?" Storm asked warily.
"The prophecy. Yes that is it." Celestia walks closer to it and puts her hoof against the mural, "The one that foretold the fall of our parents and their once great kingdom, but there was another section of it that I found before the nightmare incident. It shows two warriors from another world coming to our aid in the darkest point of Equestria's life. Based on the prophecy I was able to make a spell that displaces the warriors that will be coming and when the spell runs out of power they will appear." Storm looks at the lance then back to her sister, "That is the energy catalyst for the spell."
"Do you know anything about these "warriors" other than that they are from another world?" Storm asks.
"Only that they will appear in a flying metal machine."
"Well I'd rather not take help from mysterious beings with a good reason to do so. If this was all you wanted to show me, then can we move on to the matter of making your old castle usable again."
"Lets." Celestia closed the hole and started to move back towards the rooms exit, "Let us move to a more comfortable seating area first sister." Storm nodded in agreement and followed Celestia out the room.
-----
Twilight Sparkle walks through the castle halls followed by a very quiet Dinok, and Void Star, "So what can you tell me about your family Void?" Twilight asks.
"Well from what I can see Celestia has literally left the whole of Equestria in the dark when it comes to the rest of her family besides Luna. So where would you like me to begin?"
"For starters has Storm always been that violent towards others?"
Void stopped to think, "No she was never like this before now. I think she started being like this when the rebellion attacked our castle all those years ago." he quickly catches up to the pair ahead of him, She used to value life much like Celestia, but I think watching our mother be killed and then me getting eaten right after broke something inside of her."
"Well that might have done something, but what I want to know is why she calls her self the Alicorn of War and Storms."
"She used too be just the Alicorn of Storms. Yet again I think this has to do with the who rebellion thing."
Dinok looks at Twilight and Void, "Is she really my mother? I mean she said that she was and Aunt Luna said that she was, but you are say that she just enjoys violence. Aunt Luna never said that she liked violence."
"She used to despise violence, but now I'm not sure little one." Void pats Dinok on the head with his wing as he finishes.
"Will I have to leave Ponyville?"
"No I don't think you will. Do you like it there?"
"Yes I do Uncle Void. All my friends are there."
"Good answer. Now if only we could remind your mother of the importance of friends."
"What do you mean 'reminded'? I did not think you could forget something like that." Twilight asked causing Void's ears to drop.
"At one time she had friends. Many friends, but almost all were guardsmen before our home was attacked. Most if not all were killed in that battle, but the one that pushed her away farthest was her best friend Emerald Lance, whom owned an emerald lance. From what I could get her to tell me she saw his dead body not long after the attack began, and the griffons were searching her room for her."
"Wow. Just wow. What kind of monsters do that to others. I mean I know they were not happy with you family, but to hunt you all like animals. That is wrong."
"Well they were under the command of a void dragon. He was very much a cruel being. Thank fully Lightning managed to kill him."
------
"King Rauth. He is asking for a vessel to call a body."
"Very well. Give him one close to the size of the remains we found at the castle so he can finish his mission."
-----
"Celestia is there any abandoned towns near the old castle that could be used as housing for any farmers and such that wish to help with feeding the guard while they are training?" Storm asked looking at a newer map of the Everfree forest.
"There was Hoofington, but that town just vanished one day. Anyone who looked for it went missing also." Celestia levitated a quill and ink towards the map, "It was around here." she put an X towards the west of the castle, "Good luck if you try to find it, but if you want I can give you the location of some other ones. Ones that are not missing some how."
"No Hoofington is in a perfect place for what I need it for. It is just the matter of finding it."
"Are you sure about this? I have no clue as to why it vanished no one does. For all we know the Fates themselves hide the place."
"I am sure." I looked out the window on the other side of the room, "There is many things in this world that you know nothing of. One of which is that there is a dragon who is proclaiming himself as the king of his kind. Killing any who challenge him. He is backed by all the races that were in the rebellion."
Celestia moved closer and put her hoof on Storm's shoulder, "That is no reason for you to rush getting the guard retrained for actual war."
Storm shrugged Celestia's hoof off her shoulder, "Sister you did not see and hear what they were doing to any ponies that they could capture. They are trying to learn about you and Luna. They are even after Cadence and Twilight, and soon me and Void also. They want to finish what was started all those years ago. The extinction of the alicorn race."
"Storm how do you know of this?" Celestia asked not sure if she wanted the answer or not.
"I killed and tortured the bastards myself after I freed ponies from them. Most killed themselves with nearby weapons before I could question them. The few that did not sang like birds after a little while." a tear slowly trailed down Storm's face, "Help me Celestia." she cried, "I'm broken. I have been for a long time. That is why I sent Dinok here, so that he would be raised under a good influence." more tears started to appear as she continued, "I went to dark places after you took Luna and left. I resorted to violence for everything. I forgot how to love and how to let others get close to me. There is blood from millions on my hooves. I want to be how I used to be. I want to be that sweet mare that I once was, but I need someponies help."
Before she could continue Celestia embraced her in a loving hug, "It will be alright Storm." Celestia spoke with a soothing tone, "I want you to focus on the good things that you have done. Like taking care of Dinok for the time that you did."
"Sister is there someplace that I can rest, preferably in solitude." Storm said quietly.
"You can rest but not alone. Letting somepony help you when you need it is the first step to getting better."
Storm sigh in defeat because she was not emotionally stable enough to have an argument without it becoming a trip to the infirmary for one of them, "At least make sure that they are not loud."
"I will. In fact I know just the pony to help you."
"Princess Celestia You asked to see me?" Fluttershy asked from behind her mane.
"Yes I did Fluttershy. You see I have a pony who needs help. She is broken far to badly for me to help her myself, but I was hoping your kind and gentle nature could help her. She is currently sleeping in my room. I would recommend that we wait for her to wake up before you meet her, because lets just say the way that she is broke does not agree with surprises. So what do you say Fluttershy, will you help her?"
"Yes, I will. I mean if she wants it."
"Yes she does. Even if she does not show it she is a lot like you. At one time all she wanted to do was sit in the garden with the animals, but that time passed long ago. She wants to be like that again, so she asked for me to help her."
A guard opened the side door to the throne room, "Princess Celestia, Ms. Storm is asking for you, and she is crying."
"Let us go Fluttershy. I think it is time that you and Lightning Storm meet."
----
"Ms. Twilight why did Aunt Celestia ask for you to go and get Ms. Fluttershy for her?" Dinok asked looking over the top of his school book.
"She did not say. Just that it was an emergency. I am worried about your mom though. I have not seen her since Celestia and her went to talk in private, and when Celestia came to speak with me earlier she had tear stains in her coat."
Dinok looked at Twilight with wide eyes then dropped his book and shot out of the room in the direction of the throne room.
----
"So let me get this right Blaze." one of the guards outside of the throne room said, "That freak thunderstorm, that none of the weather ponies could control, was caused by an alicorn that is related to the Princesses. Said alicorn then beat Princess Celestia to a pulp in the courtyard and now she is an emotional mess in Princess Celestia's bed chambers. What in Tartarus are you smoking, because I want some."
"I am not smoking anything that is what is happening. Where have you been the past two days?"
Dinok came sliding around the corner just not colliding with the wall, but charging straight into Blaze nocking him down, "Where is Aunt Celestia?"
"Her bed chambers Dinok."
"Thank you." Dinok kicked off at full speed kicking Blaze in the face on accident.
----
"Let me go inside first and talk to her Fluttershy." Celestia opened the door and went inside. Fluttershy couldn't help but look inside when she had a chance. To her surprise the pony that she saw inside was easily the same size as Celestia. She also saw the long horn on her head. She started to back away from the large white door slowly. Fluttershy only got about two feet farther away from the door when it opened again, "You can come inside now Fluttershy. She is ready to meet you."
"Oh… Ok." Fluttershy walked through the open door. The room was not at all what she was expecting. It was plain for the most part other than a large bookcase and a mirror with a small dresser underneath it. What she saw when she looked at the bed made her want to turn and run but Celestia closed the door. In the bed was a large alicorn who obviously just stopped crying for some reason or another. The alicorn's body was still except for the expansion of their lungs, "He…..Hello."
The alicorn turned her head and forced a smile, "Hello there." she croaked with a hors voice, "You must be Fluttershy. My sister said that you could help me to some extent. I am grateful for the fact that you are willing to help a monster like me." when she finished tears started to fall down her face.
Fluttershy shot to the bed with surprising speed, and hugged Storm, "It's going to be alright. No pony here thinks that you are a monster. You just need someponies help to get back on your hooves."
There was a large thump against the door. Then the door opened to reveal a distraught thestral colt, "Mama!" he yelled as he jumped into the bed with Storm.
Storm smiled as she used her wing to pull her adopted son closer, "Hi Dinok. I thought that you were with Ms. Twilight and your Uncle Void."
"I wanted to be with you. Since no pony had seen you in a while other than Aunt Celestia, and Ms. Twilight said that when Aunt Celestia asked her to get Ms. Fluttershy she had tear stains in her coat so I wanted to find you."
"So you know Fluttershy here?" Dinok looked at Fluttershy and nodded, "Where is your Uncle?" Storm asked with worry, because she just noticed that he said nothing of him being with them after they left from the courtyard.
"He said that he was going to check out how society has changed since he last had a body." Storm looked at Celestia with only worry in her eyes. Celestia nodded and left the room.
"Dinok, if there is one pony you should never take after it is your uncle. You will learn why once you get to truly know him. Now tell me have you been a good boy?"
He nodded his head, "Just ask Ms. Fluttershy. When I'm not in school or helping my friends with something I am helping her and the rest of Ms. Twilight's friends with little thinks to teach me the value of having true friends. All the ponies in Ponyville are real nice except for Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon, but from what the rest of my friends have told me that they are being nicer than usual because they are scared of me."
"Why are they scared of you?"
"Me and Cloudy Sky think that it is because of my size."
"Who is Cloudy Sky?"
"She is the first friend I made in Ponyville. Her parents are busy most of the time so she spends her time alone a lot. She is always scared that somepony will take her away from the few ponies that are nice to her."
"I would like to meet this Cloudy Sky. Where is Ponyville?"
Fluttershy answered this question, "It is the small town that you can see from the castle towers."
"So that is were Celestia sent you to be raised." Dinok nodded, "Why don't you go and ask Ms. Twilight to take you home to see Cloudy Sky, and tell Sky that your mom is a Princess and that I want to meat her. Nothing else."
"Ok. Love you mama." Dinok kissed Storm's cheek and ran out the room.
After a few minutes of silence Storm broke down and cried, "How can he be so happy about me being his mother!? I was never there. He grew up without me because of my selfishness." before she could continue Fluttershy silenced her with a hoof.
"If you put so much effort to make yourself seem fine for his sake then you do love him. He has the right to love you even though you were not there before. You are here now, and that is what matters. Nothing else."
"At least he is happy. That is the important thing. I don't think he would have been happy if I would have stayed."
"Why do you say that?"
"Because I could only fake reactions for so long. Eventually he would learn that I truly am a monster, and before you stop me again to say that I am not I want you to know why Celestia did not bring me here with her and Luna. When our mother was killed our home was under attack from various races that once belonged to our old kingdom. Me and Celestia had just entered the throne room and saw my mother and brother standing in between a dragon and Luna. This is before Luna could even walk by the way. I saw the dragon just slice through my mothers body like it was nothing. My brother used his ability to become one with the void to try and subdue the dragon and end the conflict but as he was about to attack the dragon ate him. That was the last straw, I lost it. I grabbed every single weapon in the room. Thousands of them and turned the dragon into, well something that was not a dragon any more." Fluttershy just looked at her. The sadness in her eyes would have poisoned and killed a changeling if they tried to use it as food, "That was only the first horrible thing I did. I also slaughtered any remaining forces from the rebellion." Storm's eyes started to water again, "Even the ones who surrendered themselves saying that they were sorry."
"I'm sorry. I want to help you, but first you must come to peace with what you did. If not then you will suffer from horrid nightmares for an unknown amount of time."
"There is more. Before I found Dinok and started to raise him for the short time that I did. I had stumbled across some terrible things. The dragons are uniting and they want war. A war that will remove the existence of the alicorns. I'm sorry that you came here only for me to say this, but with what is coming I would rather wait to get better. I will need to be a cold hearted killed for what I will have to do to insure the safety of all Equestrian citizens. I will annihilate the dragons. If at all possible I will not mobilize the guard. I would rather only sacrifice my life."
Fluttershy smacked Storm causing the larger mare to recoil, "Don't be selfish! Think of what permanently loosing you would do to Dinok. He would be destroyed. You are his mother no one could replace that." now Fluttershy was crying.
"Fluttersh-" Storm went to speak but silenced herself as Fluttershy ran out the room crying, "What did I just do……"
Dinok walked down the street towards Cloudy Sky's home, "I home she is home. I need somepony to talk to." he said to no one in particular. Most of the ponies he passed wave to him and he waved back. The only ones who did not tell him hi were Diamond Tiara and her shadow Silver Spoon, but he did not mind. He always thought about what the other foals told him about how they used to act like they were better than every other foal in school just because Diamond Tiara's parents are rich. He stopped out side of a smallish home on the outer reaches of town and knocks.
He did not have to wait long until the door opens to reveal and purple unicorn with long cyan, blue, and purple mane, "Oh hi Dinok, where were you today, since you were not at school?" she said with a slight bit of anger.
"I was in Canterlot. Ms. Twilight brought me up there yesterday. She got a letter from my Aunt Celestia that my mom was going to be back soon."
"Was she?"
"Yep. I told her about things here in Ponyville. I even told her about you. She said that she wants to meet you. She also wanted me to tell you that she is a Princess."
"A Princess wants to meet me. I don't understand. I am just an ordinary foal."
"Can I come inside please? My legs are getting tired."
"Sure lets go to my room." Dinok followed her through the house.
Her room was the color of the twilight sky. It was doted with little painted on stars, "Where are your parents? I don't want you to get in trouble for having friends over without permission."
"My dad is in Canterlot, and my mom is at a music rehearsal. So she won't be home for another couple of hours." she puts some pillows down so that they could sit, "Sorry about the cramped area."
"It's ok. I just need somepony to talk to, and you were the first one I thought of."
"What do you need to talk about?"
Dinok just looked at Sky for a moment, "Yesterday I watched my mother slam my Aunt Celestia into the ground, and today I heard her call herself a monster for some reason. I wish I did not have the hearing capabilities of a bat." Dinok stops and turns to face Sky's door, "Somepony is at the door. Do you want me to come with you to answer it?"
"Yes please." the two go back into the front room of the house and open the door only to see a Pegasus in golden armor on the other side.
"Ms. Cloudy Sky?" Sky nodded, "I am afraid that I have to ask you to come with me to Canterlot. Something has happened with your mother and she won't be coming home. I am to take you to stay with your father."
Cloudy started to sob, "I don't want to go."
"I am sorry but you have to."
She started to back away, "I don't wanna go!" she yelled as tears filled her vision.
Dinok looked at the state that Cloudy was in and pulled her into a hug. When the guard started to approached the two Dinok let Cloudy go and got in between the guard and Cloudy, "Go back home, and I will take her to her father."
Dinok barred his teeth, but kept his canines hidden, and spread his wings trying to block the guard's path to his friend. The guard kept getting closer and Dinok started to growl.
It scared the guard enough to make him jump back, "Ok kid if you are not going to move I will move you myself."
When the guard went to grab him, Dinok bit the guard's leg and used the small amount of momentum the guard ha to through him to the side into the couch. Dinok turn and pulled Cloudy onto his back and he ran. Outside more guards were waiting. A crowd had formed on the outside of the scene. The guard that Dinok threw into the couch limped into the door way behind the two.
"You have no ware to go you little monster."
Dinok barred his teeth again this time he did not hide his canines causing the ponies in the crowd to run away, "You will not take her!" he growled.
"We have orders to do so. So we can and will take her." one of the other guards said.
"Just try it" he growled as he put her down and stood protectively over Cloudy's crying form.
One of the guards took his challenge and charged him. Relying on pure instincts Dinok dropped down as low as he could when the guard went to jump on him, and at the last moment Dinok shot up and head butted the guard's exposed underbelly. Not long after the first guard hit the ground two of the others charged him, "I am sorry that you will see me do this Cloudy." Dinok said just loud enough for Cloudy to hear. When the guards got close enough Dinok bit down on the little bit of exposed skin on the guard's neck and used the momentum from the guard's charge to though him into the other that was charging him. Dinok turned to the guard that knocked on the door, "Do you want to try again?"
The guard shook his head. Dinok pick Cloudy back up and took off into the air and headed for Twilight's castle, specifically the balcony for his room.
----
"Sgt. Shield I sent some of the guard to retrieve your daughter but it appears that she has a juvenile protector. He defeated the four guards I sent. Two of them need stiches the other two have severe bruising on some spots of their bodies."
"Why did you tell me this Captain?"
"Because from what some ponies said he was extremely gentle with her, and the fact that she was refusing to come here to stay with you."
"There is only one reason that she would not come. She felt threatened by the fact that you sent guards there to retrieve her. Why did you not call for me?"
"Because you were on guard duty. The only reason we told you that you wife passed away from lung failure is because it is required by the guard code. Now you have two choices. You can stay here and continue to be a guard or you can go home to you daughter and never come back. Which will it be? Choose wisely because you get you money from this not for being a father."
"I… I… I will stay, but I would like a few hours to calm my nerves sir."
----
"Dinok! Open this door!" Twilight yelled from the hall, "I will teleport into there if you don't open the door now!" there was a bright flash by the door and Twilight appeared in Dinok's room. It was pretty plain other than a small collection of bookcases, a desk with enough ink and quills to last him two weeks, a small mirror that was almost never used, and his bed. On Dinok's bed Cloudy was still crying and Dinok was sitting there next to her glaring at Twilight for some reason.
When Twilight went to approach the bed he growled at her, "Are you going to try and take her away too? I won't let anypony take her."
"Dinok I just want to know why Applejack, Rainbow Dash, and Rarity said that you just tore through some royal guards."
"They tried to force Cloudy to go with them. I wouldn't let them. I won't let anypony."
"Dinok you're scaring me." Twilight backed up and unlocked the door only to receive another growl from Dinok.
Suddenly the sound of crackling sound of thunder shot through the air twice, and the sky got dark. Cloudy started to whimper as if she was in pain causing Dinok to move closer to her, "I won't let anyone hurt her. I dare somepony to try. They will end up like the ones who tried to take her."
"DINOK!!!!!!" his name being yelled for all to here did not pull his attention from the possible threat in front of him. Until the owner of the voice landed on the balcony and the lightning outside intensified, "WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO SAY FOR YOURSELF?!" Storm yelled at him in the Royal Canterlot voice causing Cloudy to whimper even more. Dinok glared at his mother. Not caring what will happen to him he stood over Cloudy and barred his teeth at her, "You listen to me right now You wil-" she was cut off as Dinok lunged at her. He moved like an animal trying to protect what was his. With her not expecting this Storm did not have the chance to brace for her son's charge and they both went over the rail. Almost immediately Dinok bit into his mother's leg and started to spin, and just before they hit the ground he let go and flew back to Cloudy's side.
Twilight looked at him with horror when she saw the blood dripping from his face. She immediately teleported to Canterlot to find Luna.
-----
"Sister what was that noise?" Luna asked a very worried Celestia.
"Well Luna, that is what happens when Storm goes all out in the speed department. She pretty much becomes a lightning bolt. I just don't know what is going on."
A sudden burst of light appeared as Twilight teleported into the throne room, "Luna I need you to come with me."
"Why?"
"It's Dinok. He is acting like an animal. He just pushed Storm out of a window. I think he bit her because he has blood dripping from his mouth."
Luna looked at Twilight in shock, "We need to leave now!"
----
When Twilight and Luna appeared in Dinok's room they saw him nuzzling Cloudy's sobbing form trying to comfort her. He turned to face them and growled, "You will not take her!"
"Twilight. Leave the room and do not come back in until I say so." Twilight left the room slowly not wanting to startle Dinok. Luna smiled. She knew how to fix the situation, but she did not want to do this to her own nephew. She charged him and as he went to retaliate she teleported behind him and kicked him into the wall, "Dinok talk to me I don't want to go any farther than this." all she got was a growl and he shot towards him. Luna frowned as she side stepped as brought her hoof down on his back. He recovered faster than Luna expected and bit her foreleg. She ignored the pain and slammed him into the ground causing one of his wings break. He did not let go so Luna spun quickly and stopped and the momentum forced Dinok to release and he hit the other wall breaking his other wing.
Dinok stayed down this time. He started to whimper and cry from pain. Luna walked over to him and picked him up, "Aunt Luna what happened to me?"
"Tell me what you remember first ok."
"I remember being at Cloudy's house when some guards said something about her mom and that she had to go to Canterlot to stay with her dad, but Cloudy did not want to go. When the guard tried to force her to go with them I stood between them and barred my teeth careful to hide my canines. He went to force me out the way and I threw him into the couch. I took Cloudy outside were the rest of the guards were and then I felt that they were threatening my best friend's safety and everything went red."
"Just as I feared. You were protecting what you felt was yours. All thestrals have this issue at one point or another."
"P…p….p…Princess Luna." Cloudy bowed as best she could.
"No need for formalities child. You are very dear to my nephew here so you are not required to do that stuff. At least that is how I see it. How much of what I just said to Dinok did you hear?"
"All of it," she said as she slowly made her way over to Dinok.
"Then you know how much you mean to him." Cloudy nodded, "Are you surprised by this?"
"Not really. I was always there for him when he couldn't take everything that was happening around him."
"What do you mean?"
"When he just has a mental break down. One time he got depressed because his mom was not here and just needed a shoulder to cry on."
"Come. Let us take him to the hospital. I fear that I have broke both his wings."
It has been a couple of years since I lost myself to the urge to protect my closest friend. My mother has once again grown distant after she found the town of Hoofington and began training the guard. Uncle has kept true to his word that he would protect Ms. Twilight. The Dragons have made their intentions known to all after the attempted assassination of Ms. Twilight. That was last year. Every major city has been fortified to be safe. Even though I have shown that I do not intend to harm anypony most still see me as a threat. Cloudy Sky's dad understands why I did what I did but he wants me to stay away from her and since he told me and her that she has become unstable at the best of moments. I am fairing a bit better than she is but I am still not fairing that well. Today there is supposed to be a town assembly. Why I don't know no pony does.
------
Dinok walks outside of his room inside of Twilight's Castle, and walks towards the castle entrance, "Why must ponies be so stubborn. Ms. Twilight why do you insist on me going to this assembly? Most ponies are scared of me."
"So that they can see what the one you were guarding that day has to say about you. Her father has been keeping her feelings from everypony. She came to me and asked for me to do this. She needs the town to see the truth." Twilight said from behind Dinok startling him a little.
Dinok stopped and faced Twilight, "What is there to say? She is scared of me, and everypony knows it!" he snapped and continue walking.
"She knows that you have been writing songs by the way." Dinok stopped, "I gave her copies of them to see if any would work for what she has to say. That is why you are going."
"Stay out of my room and never touch my stuff again!" Dinok growled, "She was never meant to see any of that. Those songs are what I wrote to keep myself from going mad. They kept me occupied so I would not think about her ok."
"I….I'm sorry. I didn't know."
"Ya, you didn't." Dinok started to walk away with a single tear running down his face.
"Dinok. Wait please. Let me explain." Twilight pleaded.
"You have explained enough. Now stay away from me until I am in a better mood. You know what happens when I loose my temper." Dinok responded as he exited the castle.
Twilight collapsed and started to sob.
-----
Dinok walked through the streets and ponies were moving closer to the sides of the roads to get away from the thestral. The only pony that did not avoid him was the other thestral that his Aunt Luna stationed here to watch over him, "Hello Ms. Night how are you?"
"Haven't I told you to either call me Summer or Night? I do not want you to call me Ms. because it makes me feel old, and I am not old." the large thestral mare was a dark shade of gray that some called black with a midnight blue mane that has a dark red stripe through it.
"I'm sorry. It's just that Ms. Twilight is getting on my nerves."
"What is she doing?"
"Not doing. What she did. She gave something to somepony. They were never supposed to see or hear the songs that I wrote to occupy myself, and Twilight gave her a copy of all of them!"
"Does that have something to do with this mysterious town assembly and the stage in the middle of town that Vinyl is putting her equipment on?"
"Yes and we need to hurry, because I do not want her to do something and make other ponies hate her too. I can live with it. She can not."
"Lets get going then." Dinok nodded and the pair started to gallop to the town center.
----
"Vinyl do you think he is coming?" Cloudy asked nervously.
"Look kid. He is coming. I don't hate that colt for what he did for a reason. He cares more about others than himself. That is why he fought those guards. You were in some form of pain and he was stopping them from causing you anymore." the DJ said as she plugged in the final speaker cable.
"So you're saying that he will come so he does not hurt my feelings."
"Pretty much." Vinyl looked up from her equipment and faced towards Twilights castle, "And it looks like he came through for you. I'll be right back" Vinyl hopped off the stage and walked towards the two galloping thestrals, "Hey you to. Don't even try to stop her."
Dinok and Summer slide to a stop so they don't run into Vinyl, "She can't do this. I couldn't bare for her to be pushed away because she is trying to stick up for me."
"She is hurting more than you know already. Her father left her because she wanted to do this. She is already alone. No pony is trying help her either. Other than me that is. By the way she wanted you to be the one to use this." Vinyl levitated a wireless headset over to Dinok, "This is a prototype, but it works."
"Why does she want me to have this?"
"You will know when it is time to use it. I have to go finish final preparations for the show. Won't be long before the rest of the town gets here so go get you a spot closish to the stage." Vinyl went back to the stage.
"Ok that is interesting. So are you going to do what she is asking?" Summer asked.
"I will. Only because her father left her. I will not turn my back on her. Ever." the duo moved towards the stage that now had a curtain blocking the backstage area.
-----
Mayor Mare was on the stage talking about Dinok's little incident and the fact that he was protecting Cloudy and so father. After a while she went quiet and looked over the crowd and lingered on Dinok for a moment, "Now let me welcome little Cloudy Sky to the stage."
Ponies in the crowd started to mumble to each other as the curtain split revealing Cloudy holding a microphone in her magic. She nodded to the side of the stage towards Vinyl and the music started.
It Dinok a moment to realize what she was singing and readied himself. When the moment came he launched himself into the air and started to sing with Cloudy. The crowd gasped at the sudden addition to the show. A few ponies started to leave, but the rest started to cheer as Dinok landed next to Cloudy. The two locked eyes and smiled as they sung. Their voices mixing together perfectly for the song. When it was time Dinok moved closer to the edge of the stage for his little moment with the lead. As soon as it was over he used his wings to propel himself back beside Cloudy to finish the song.
"I hope that the fact of Dinok placing himself in danger just for my happiness puts somethings right. I just hope that he can forgive me for not refusing to listen to my dad about him sooner." Cloudy looks at Dinok and smiles.
Dinok smiles and walks closer to her, "I forgive you." he then kisses her on the cheek, "And I will talk to my mother about your fathers actions. She will not be happy with him. He put you in pain, and she cannot stand parents who do that to their foals. Especially the ones in her guard."
"Thank you Dinok." Cloudy leaned in and whispered something into Dinok's ear. He nodded as she pulled away, "I think that one more song should be played today. This is for Dinok to sing so I will not be joining him there, but I will be joining him with this." Cloudy levitated an instrument that had six stings on it, "This is one of Vinyl's toy that she has been making. It's called a guitar and this song did not sound right without out it. Ask her if you want to know more about it."
Dinok removed the headset and grabbed the mic with his wing, "I'm ready when you are." with a nod Vinyl turned up Cloudy's guitar Channel, and the song began.
"But ma'am or you really going to believe what that delinquent says? He is a menis." Crimson complained.
"Silence you idiot before you make things worse for yourself. That is my son your talking about after all. As for why I am believing him. I have talked to the therapist that you have been sending your daughter to for her depression, and you know what I was told." Storm spoke calmly.
"Wh….what were you told?"
"I was told what the cause of her depression was. It was being forced to stay away from Dinok. Dinok was her means of relief from the stress of everything for her. He would always listen to her when no one else would. He always made time for her if she needed to talk to him. I don't know about you but isn't that what your job is supposed to be?"
"I am never home ma'am."
"Before that was the case, but now I have you living at home so that you can do that and you are not."
"I try but she won't let me."
"That is not what Cloudy said. I asked her about you. She said that for a while you scolded her for even being friends with my son. Then when you stopped that you barely talked to her at all. What do you have to say for yourself?"
"That she is lying."
"No you are lying Crimson. I put a lie detecting spell on you when we started this conversation, I wouldn't need it anyway because I was also told by some of the towns ponies that you threatened top hurt them if they helped your daughter when you kicked her out, because she could not bare to see Dinok looked at in anger anymore." Storm powered down her spell and placed her cup of water down next to her throne, "You are charged with the endangerment of your fellow ponies, and any foal care laws that you broke. You are discharged from the guard and will be taken to Canterlot for a trial. I would stay quiet if I was you. Everything you say will be used against you in court. Guards take him away."
The two guards by the door walked over and grabbed Crimson, "You are a disgrace to all in this uniform." one of the guards said coldly.
As the guards were leaving the throne room Dinok and Cloudy came in, "Thank you for doing this mother." Dinok said with a happy tone.
"No it is I who should be thanking you my son. I do not want any guards in my army who do not care for those that they are supposed to love like they should. Ponies like that are a weakness." Storm shifted her gaze to Cloudy, "How are you holding up dear?"
"I've been better, but I am happy know that I can be with him again." Cloudy nuzzled Dinok's neck when she finished.
"That is good to hear." she shifted her attention back to Dinok, "Now Dinok why have I been getting reports from my guards about you wanting them to teach you to fight?"
Dinok straightened up his body and stood tall, "Because I want to be on the battlefield with you if the situation with the dragons becomes war." he said with a straight face.
"The fact that you can say that with a straight face worries me Dinok, but I will not allow you to fight the dragons. You have a mare that needs you now. Stay with her and make her happy."
Cloudy blushed slightly at Storms words, "But mother I want to fight to protect her. So that we can have a future together."
"Noble reasons to fight, but tell me what will happen to her if you fall in combat. Who would watch over her, and keep her happy?" Storm asked.
"I don't know." Dinok dropped his head slightly.
Suddenly screaming started on the outside of the throne room, and the sound of guards running with full equipment could also be heard, "What is happening out there?" Storm asked right before the doors to the throne room burst open.
"The dragons are attacking Princess. We need your help. They are killing everyone foals included." a guard said tiredly.
"Get a message to the rest of the Alicorns. We may need them." Storm stood up and her horn light causing a set of electric blue plate armor to appear on her body, "Dinok I want you to get Cloudy out of here and don't look back."
"Yes mother." the three ran out the throne room. Dinok took Cloudy one direction while Storm went in the opposite direction towards the battle.
Letting out a battle cry she filled the sky with storm clouds signifying her troupes that she has joined the battle. She charged her horn ready to call down lightning on any who threaten her ponies. Jumping out the window she saw her first target and fired. The dragon screamed in agony as it fell from the sky. Storm picked up the spear of one of her fallen soldiers, briefly thanking him for his serves. She ran towards the nearest dragon who was currently engaged with a dozen guards, who were only managing to keep it busy. Storm jumped in the air and charged the spear with electricity and stabbed it into the dragons skull killing it instantly, "Go find the unicorns. No team is to be without at least one, and remember that dragons hate lightning."
"Yes ma'am" the guards ran off towards the groups of unicorns to tell them their orders.
Storm turned just in time to see one thing that sent shivers down her spine. In the sky was a large black dragon. There was only one time that she has ever saw a black dragon and he was dead, "Where did they find this monstrosity?" Storm started to fly up towards the black dragon until a familiar sounding scream came from near the castle. A dragon had Dinok and Cloudy cornered, and there was flames flowing throw the sides of its mouth. Storm changed directions and started on a collision course with the dragon. Right before she reach the dragon it showered Dinok and Cloudy in flames. Storm screamed so loud that all fighting stopped. From above she could hear laughing, "You thought you could defend those you love by sending them away. Just like your father."
"You monster." Storm whispered.
"What was that I couldn't hear you." the dragon mocked.
"YOU MONSTER!!!!" she yelled this time nocking over a few trees.
Before she could get into the air to fight him three alicorns flew in from Ponyville, "Well it is time for me to be leaving. Have fun burying the two kids." the dragon laughed as he flew away followed by those that were under his command.
Storm rushed over to were Dinok and Cloudy were. What she saw made her heart sink. Dinok's slightly charred body sat over Cloudy's protectively. To Storm's surprise Cloudy shifted and started to cough, but there was no sign of Dinok moving. Not caring if it would work or not Storm started to poor her magic into Dinok's body. All of her effort was going to getting him to survive. While she was distracted Celestia, Luna, and Void all landed in a half circle around her, "Sister he is gone. No pony can survive a direct blast from dragon fire." Celestia said earning her a glare from Storm whose horn's glow only intensified as she tried harder.
"Celestia is right. Even though thestrals are stronger than solar ponies they still cannot survive something like this. Let him go." Luna said.
Void did not speak. He just walked over to Storm's side and punched her in the jaw as hard as he could sending her flying into the castle wall, "He is gone and you can't change it."
"D…Di…Dinok." Cloudy weakly said. When she opened her eyes she realized that the dragon's fire sis not kill her, but when she looked up she started to cry, "Dinok! No, wake up! You can't be gone!" she hugged his stiff charred body letting her tears land on him.
None noticed that as the tears touch his body they glowed briefly and was immediately absorbed by his body. After a while Luna moved over to Cloudy and pulled her off of Dinok's body, "Come dear Cloudy. Lets get you cleaned up."
Cloudy began to scream, "No I don't want to go! I want to stay with him!"
Cloudy awoke in a white plain alone except for Dinok's charred body, "Where am I?" she asks to the nothingness not expecting an answer.
"You are in the Passing Realm. A place spirits go before they are judged." a motherly voice spoke from all around her.
"Did I die also?"
"No you did not die, and neither did he." a mysterious wind enveloped Dinok's body, "Me and my husband are looking for replacements. You and little Dinok here are the perfect candidates for this."
"Who are you?" Cloudy asked.
When the wind released Dinok's body it appeared to be fully healed, and holding him was a tall white alicorn, who was much taller than Celestia, that had a brown mane and tail, "I was known as Queen Terris before I was killed by the dragon that is currently leading the army of the dragons. Now I just go by Terris." beside her another alicorn this one black with a flowing black mane with what looked like a galaxy inside it, "This is my husband. Former King Galic. We have chosen you two for your ability to stick together and know the right thing to do. The deciding action for you two was how Dinok reacted to the dragon about to breath fire on you. He could have flown away, but his desire to keep you safe regardless of what happened to him drove him to shield you with his body."
"What are you saying?"
"What my wife is saying is that you two with receive the mantles of Earth and the Galaxy itself. I chose Dinok to take Galaxy, and my wife chose you to watch over your planet with Earth." Galic said with a deep voice.
"These two mantles are meant to stay side by side. Galaxy protecting Earth and Earth protecting all others. It is a cycle that got put on hold for over two thousand years. It is time for it to continue. Dinok's body was destroyed. You were the one that gave it the magic it needed to come here to be reborn. Something only one with true love for another can do." Terris explained.
"We can send you back how you are but Dinok will not be able to return, but if you take this gift you and Dinok will be tied to one another. He would be able to return with you, but you will both be alpha alicorns. Something that is a rare gift even among alicorns. Lightning Storm and Void Star are both beta alicorns along with Twilight Sparkle and Mi Amore Cadeza. There are currently only two alphas and they are Celestia and Luna." Galic finished.
"I will take your gift if it means that Dinok will come back with me."
"We thought you would make that choice." Galic and Terris said in unison as their horns started to glow and every thing went white again.
-----
"Sister there bodies are gone what does this mean?" Luna asked as she passed near where Dinok and Cloudy disappeared.
"Well I don't see how that is possible Luna. Nothing could make two bodies disappear without a trace. If they would have teleported we wou-" Celestia was cut off as a blinding white light flashed and her jaw dropped, "Luna, Void, and Storm, are you three seeing what I am seeing?"
Storm did not answer she only ran up and pick Dinok up in a bone crushing hug, "Your alive!"
"What happened? My head is killing me." Dinok said weakly.
Luna gasped behind Storm, "Sister look at his head."
Storm pushed Dinok away just enough to see the dark horn sticking out of his head, "How did you get a horn Dinok?"
"What are you talking about mother?" Dinok responded as he put a hoof on his newly acuired horn.
"I think I can help with that." Cloudy said calmly but obviously in discomfort because of the wings on her back, "Two alicorns in another realm pulled us both to them, and gave me a choice. To return here a normal foal like I was before and let Dinok die or accept the gift of Earth and become an alicorn myself while Dinok would get the gift of the Galaxy."
"Child do you know the names of the two you saw?" Void asked as he looked at the young alicorn.
"The mare said their names were Terris and Galic."
"So they were still watching over the ones they used to rule. Why did they choose you two, if you don't mind me asking?" Celestia said from next to Luna.
"Terris said that Dinok shielding me from the dragon fire was the last thing they needed to see before they made their decision. Something about how Galaxy protects Earth and Earth protects all others."
All the guards in the area raised their weapons as a changeling and dragon limped over a hill next to Ponyville, "Go get Prince Dinok, Princess Sky, and, Princess Storm." Cpt. Blaze ordered and one of his men saluted and ran towards the castle.
"Please, help us…" the changeling said before passing out. Immediately followed by the serpent like dark blue wingless dragon.
----
"I say we hear them out then decide whether or not if they can be trusted mother. All the wounds on the dragon's body look like she was attacked by another dragon, and the changeling has wounds from weapons that are known to be used by the griffons." Dinok said standing between his mother and the two resting bodies of the towns new arrivals.
"I don't care. They should not be allowed anyplace other than the dungeon. Both of their races are enemies with Equestria." Storm snapped back.
Dinok closed the distance between him and his mother and slapped her on the muzzle, "Did you even listen to yourself just now?" he growled slightly, "You are being races right now." Dinok motioned for two guards to come closer, "I want you two to take my mother to another spot in the castle and tell the two outside that only me and Princess Sky are allowed into this room until further notice." the two guards saluted and lead a grumbling storm out of the room, "I hate how this is. I just want to go someplace and scream but I can't, because I am the one in charge of this who thing. Ever since I was scorched by that dragon to save Sky, I sold myself to servitude."
"Well I don't know about that." Sky said as she walked into the room, "You did not have to become a prince and I did not have to be a princess. We could have just helped end this and then watch over everyone from a distance together." Sky nuzzled Dinok's neck and then gave him a kiss on the cheek.
"You are aware of the changeling on the bed right over there aren’t you?"
"Yes, but the poor thing is probably poisoned because of all the hate your mother was sending out. I only want for her to feel better so I can speak to her mare to mare." Sky responded sweetly as she moved closer to the changeling, "You poor thing. I bet all you did was try and protect some innocent ponies from the griffons, and the little dragoness was just trying to help you." Sky rubbed the changeling's side in a comforting manor.
"There is more than that. Most dragons follow those stronger than them in an attempt to survive. If the dragoness was helping the changeling then she was either raised with ponies or she was raised by one of the hives that are near Equestria." Dinok said as he eyed the dragoness.
"Uh….." the changeling tried to lift her head but was to weak to do so.
"Don't try and move dear you are hurt. Just try and open your eyes for me." Sky said like a mother to her child.
The changeling opened her eyes and to everypony's surprise they were not the usual blueish color. They were red, "Wh…where am I?" she said weakly.
"You are in Ponyville." Dinok said with his usual stern voice causing the changeling to flinch then wince in pain. Before Dinok could continue Sky punched his shoulder, "Ow. I deserved that." he said in a now more gentle tone, "To be specific you are in Princess Twilight Sparkle's Castle. We brought you and your friend here when you collapsed at the edge of town."
"Zmey …." the changeling said quietly as she forced her body to work and lifted her head, "Zmey …"
Slowly she tried to slide out of the bed, but was sloped with magic, "You need to stay in bed. Your friend is fine." Sky said softly.
"They are more than just friends Sky. Look at how she is looking at her." Dinok stated.
"How can you tell, that is what their relationship is by how she is looking at her?"
"Because that is how you looked at me when you thought I was not looking at you." Dinok's horn was covered by a dark blue as he started to move the dragoness and her bed next to the changeling, "I hope this is better for you."
The changeling looked toward Dinok and smiled. She slowly slid herself close enough to be able to touch the dragon, "Zmey . I'm sorry." she whispered.
"Would you mind telling us your name?" Sky asked softly.
"I am Cleveska Vulntar, and this is Spokoynyy Zmey." Cleveska said quietly.
"I am Cloudy Sky, and mister tall dark and scary is Dinok Druniik." Sky said with a smile before she started to giggle.
"If I may ask, why are you white with red eyes?" Dinok asked.
Sky slapped Dinok harder than last time, "She needs her rest. Once she is up and moving then you can ask your questions, but until then leave her be."
Dinok hung his head, "Fine. I will let her rest, but I want to know what happened to them and who they are beyond just their names."
----
Zmey was out for three days and in that time Cleveska managed to get enough love for her to be able to move around some. While she was walking back to Zmey's bed, Cleveska saw Zmey open her eyes some, "Zmey!" she yelled as she ran to the dragoness's side, "I have been so worried about you."
Zmey smiled, "Must you be so loud? I have a ubiytsa headache."
When she finished her sentence the door opened and Sky walked in, "I see our little dragoness finally woke up from her nap." she joked, "Cleveska could you go and get Dinok for me? I would like to talk to Ms. Spokoynyy alone for a bit."
"If she does not mind, and I do not have to go near the gray hate box that Dinok calls his mother." Cleveska said with a bit of disgust at the thought of Storm.
"The guards are following an order from me and Dinok. They should keep her away from you." Sky said with a reassuring smile.
"It is fine Cleveska. I would like some time to talk with an alicorn myself. " Zmey said calmly.
"If that is want you want." Cleveska walked out the room.
"How long was I out alicorn?"
"For close to four days, three since Cleveska woke up. Now what is a dragon doing this close to Equestria's Capital?"
"Me and Cleveska have come from a boarder town with a warning. Our home was under attack from the dragon army when we left."
"Wait you mean you live as an Equestrian citizen." Sky said slightly confused.
"More or less. I am not officially a citizen and neither is Cleveska, but we are accepted in the town that we came from. I don't know if it is there anymore or if the dragons destroyed it, and if they did I feel bad for them." Zmey chuckled a little despite the pain she was feeling.
"Why do you feel bad for them?"
"My dad. He is… Well lets just say he knows of Celestia's parents and their kingdom. He waits for it to return so he can redeem himself for failing his job long ago. He never spoke in detail."
The door opened and Storm walked in, "Did you say your father knows of my parent's kingdom, and that he failed long ago?" Zmey nodded, "It can't be him. I searched for him so that I wouldn't be alone."
"Do you know her father?" Sky asked.
"That depends. Is his name Radetel?" Zmey nodded, "I can't believe that he managed to hide for so long. He is absolutely massive even by dragon standards."
"There is a reason he is the guardian of our town. Him and the local hive is the only means of protection we had."
----
"Radetel, the invaders are fleeing from the town." a stallion with a black coat and a fiery mane and tail said.
A large almost black dark green dragon turned to face the much smaller pony, "I see. Any word from my daughter and her herd?"
"Only Lance has returned. He said that they were separated when they tried to sneak off to one of Equestria's castles."
"Well let us hope that they are successful. In the mean time prepare the Black Star for launch. I want all able body ponies, changelings, and everyone else that can help taught to fight. We are joining the Equestrians in war."
"Princess Mi Amor Cadenza! There is a large group of dragons headed this way!" one of the crystal guards yelled as he ran into the throne room.
"Rally the guards and intercept them. If things start to look grim I will evacuate the citizens." the pink alicorn ordered calmly.
"Yes ma'am." the guard saluted and ran to rally the troops.
Cadenza turned to face her scribe, "Send word to my aunts in Canterlot. We need help."
----
Two guards ran into the throne room, one solar unicorn and a thestral, "Princesses!" the unicorn said out of breath.
"The dragons are attacking the Crystal Empire, and Princess Mi Amor Cadenza request assistance." the thestral mare finished off.
For a second the half the room became extremely hot and the other grew some ice, "Send word to Commander Storm tell her to bring the newly crowned prince and princess here. Also have her bring Princess Twilight Sparkle." both Luna and Celestia said in unison.
"Yes Princesses." the unicorn guard left the room in a hurry.
"Night Blossom I want you to go to the armory and retrieve one of each type of weapon including that weapon." Luna said coldly.
"Yes Mistress." the thestral mare left the room at a more of a calm pace than her solar counterpart.
"Sister did you just tell her to go and get that weapon? That blade has not seen combat since our father was alive." Celestia said.
"None have been able to pick it up let alone use it without something surrounding it since our father was alive, but I have a good feeling that one Prince might take a liking to it."
"I will let this continue then. Only because there is a chance he could." the door opened and a dark purple alicorn stallion walked in followed by Twilight, Dinok, Sky, a blue dragon, and a white changeling princess/overseer.
"What is it you called us for sisters?" Void asked.
Celestia stood up, "The dragons are attacking the Crystal Empire, and Cadence called for our help. So we are sending the best help we can." she looked at the door as a few guards walked in behind Night Blossom, "Us. The seven of us are going to go to the Crystal Empire and assist Cadence in the defense of her Empire. Luna had Night Blossom here retrieve weapons from our personal armory just for this occasion."
Storm's eyes followed the one weapon that was cover by a piece of clothe, "Sister is that what I think it is?" Celestia nodded, "You realize only father was capable of using that weapon."
"Well we have a new Prince with our father's magic so we are hoping this will work. We could use the Harbinger in combat against these monsters." Celestia said calmly.
"What are you two talking about?" Dinok asked bluntly, "And what is the Harbinger?"
"The Harbinger is the weapon inside of the rap, but none of us can even touch the thing that is why we raped it like we did." Celestia spoke calmly as she moved the bundle to Dinok, "We believe that you can use this weapon because you have a connection to our father."
"So you want me to try and use the weapon then?" both Luna and Celestia nodded, "What are we waiting for then? Ponies are in danger." Dinok used his magic to rip the clothe off the weapon and pick it up. The weapon is a tall black scythe that has no blade, "Where is the blade?"
"The blade is magic. You have to will the bade into existence." Celestia said.
"So all I have to do is want the blade to appear and it will?"
"Pretty much. Now for you Sky I think a weapon made for a distance will help you, but whether or not you want to make your own, or use one of the ones we have here is up to you."
"I think that I will make my own." Sky said sheepishly.
"Sister I have a special weapon for you." Celestia pulled an emerald lance out of the pile of weapons and handed it to her, "This is the lance you used that night so long ago. There has been reports of a pony that shares his name. We think that our friend Lance had one child before he was killed and that the child and its mother fled."
"Thank you sister, for retrieving this." Storm said as a tear ran down her face.
"Void I had two custom short hilt katana made for you." Celestia said as she gave her brother two sheathed blades.
"I will use them well sister." Void said with a slight bow.
"Twilight, as much I wish you could join us on the field of battle you cannot. Your mission is to find Cadence and help her protect the citizens. That is the main priority today. The Empire could fall but I want those ponies to survive."
"Yes Celestia."
Luna stepped forward, "Let us be off!"
----
"Cadence! It is time to leave!" Shinning Armor yelled as he was struggling to keep both the shield protecting him and Cadence and the one protecting the train of evacuees up.
Cadence charged her horn, "Drop our shield and focus on protecting the citizens!" Shinning nodded and dropped their shield. As one of the dragons charged them Cadence let go off a blast of pure telekinetic force sending it flying the other way.
Before any other dragon could charge a loud deafening roar sounded threw the area as a massive airship being pulled by possibly the largest dragon anyone has seen ever became visible. The dragons shifted their attention to the ship forgetting about Cadence and Shinning Armor. There were bright flashes as hundreds of magical bolts fired down hitting the dragon army. Those that did not react fast enough were killed and those that were fast enough were injured, but they continued to fight, "Cease this nonsense and join us." a booming voice bellowed from the ship. A small number of dragons stopped and knelt in submission while others charged the ship.
Before the ship could fire another volley of magical bolts there was numerous booms from the sound barrier breaking a distance away. Trails of fire, ice, lightning, emerald, dark purple, violet, and darkness could be seen approaching quickly. Suddenly the trail of darkness disappeared and several of the charging dragons heads fell from their bodies. The dark purple trail raced towards the closest living hostile dragon and the flash of two blades cut threw the dragons chest. The fire and ice trails worked in unison with each other, freezing the wings of the dragon right before it was roasted by the other. The lightning trail shot like an arrow throw the bodies of the dragons killing them on the spot. The emerald one landed on the ground and started launching pieces of earth at the remaining hostile dragons. The violet one flew straight at Cadence and Shinning Armor.
"Cadence!" Twilight yelled as she tackled the alicorn of love, "Are you all right?"
"I'm fine Twilight but the Empire is not. We lost all the guards, and not even half the population escaped." Cadence said with a saddened tone.
"I'm sorry we were not here sooner."
"It is fine Twili." Shinning said as he picked his sister up off of Cadence, "But we have to have a word with one very large dragon." he looked up at the large dragon that was still in the air.
Dinok was the first of the alicorn combatants to land next to the small group, "That should be all the hostile dragons."
Cadence looked at the thestral alicorn and then back to Twilight, "Who is this Twilight?"
"'I am Prince Dinok. I hold the power of the galaxy itself and I am also the protector of Princess Cloudy Sky the guardian of Earth." Dinok said with a slight amount of pride.
Twilight looked at Dinok and gasped, "Dinok you got your cutie mark finally."
Dinok looked at his flank and sure enough he saw a galaxy with a skull in the center, "Well it seems that I did." Dinok faced Shinning Armor, "The large dragon up there is not your enemy. He is an ancient friend of my mother and her siblings."
"And who is your mother exactly?" Storm and Void landed flanking Dinok as soon as Shinning finished his question.
"That would be me." Storm stepped forward, "I am sister to both Luna and Celestia, Commander of the Equestrian military, and the Princess of Storms."
"Why should I beli-" Twilight stuffed her hoof into her brother's mouth before he could finish.
"Trust me she is." Twilight said flatly, "And just for a reference. She destroyed Celestia in a one on one fight the day I met her."
When Twilight pulled her hoof from her brother's mouth both his and Cadence's jaws dropped, "Ok. I will take your word Twili."
The large dragon started to descend and landed a ways away also setting the massive ship down, "Storm, Celestia, Void! I know you three are here. I recognize those flight trails." the dragon bellowed.
Storm took off for the large dragon and yelled, "Radetel!" she slammed into his leg and tried to hug it, "I missed you so much!"
"And I you little one." he responded gently as if talking to a child.
"Hello Radetel. It is good to see you again." Void said having glided over from Dinok's side.
"Void! Not sleeping with random mares again I hope."
"Na decided to try out a stallion this time." he said without any show of joking until both him and Radetel started laughing, "But in all seriousness I have not."
"Good lad. Saying that most ponies nowadays are probably decedents of yours anyway."
"Come on I didn't sleep around that much did I."
"Yes, yes you did."
Celestia and Luna land side by side next to their brother, "Radetel I am glad you are still alright and on our side." Celestia said calmly.
"I am glad that you are alright. It was my job to protect you and your family, but I failed when it mattered most." he looked over Luna and smiled, "Little Luna is not so little any more. You have grown into quiet the mare my dear."
Luna blushed slightly at the complement, "Thank you. It has been a long time since someone complemented my appearance."
"Tell me Celestia did my daughter make it to you at Canterlot, or to one of the other castles in Equestria?"
"She made it to Ponyville's castle. Her and Ms. Cleveska were treated for injuries they sustained on the way there. They are on their way here as we speak actually."
A black Pegasus with an emerald colored mane and tail flew down from the massive ship behind Radetel, "Radetel why have we landed? We need to get to the Princesses."
"Easy Lance. The Princesses came to us." Radetel said calmly.
"They did?" Lance looked at the alicorns in front of the massive dragon. Then he looked at the one still hugging his leg, "Storm….." he whispered.
"What was that Lance?"
"Nothing Radetel. I just saw a ghost that’s all."
Storm finally let go of Radetel's leg and looked at Lance, "You look just like him."
"Look just like who?" Lance asked.
"A friend that I lost a long time ago." Storm responded sadly.
"Oh….." Lance looked at Storm closely then shook his head, "Why do I keep getting these visions every time I look at you?"
"What kind of visions?"
"Almost like memories, because you look like a young teen in most."
Storm looked at Radetel, "Where did you find him?"
"Not far from the castle ruins. Why?" Radetel said.
"Because, this is not one of Lance's decedents that just share his name. I think this is actually him."
"How could it be him sister? He died in your room that night. We both saw his body impaled on the ground." Celestia reasoned.
"Dinok died too, but there was greater plans for him so he was brought back. How do we know something similar didn't happen to him!" Storm took off towards Canterlot causing multiple storm clouds to form on top of her as she flew.
Dinok had just walked over as his mother flew away, "Aunt Celestia why did mom leave like that?"
"Because she couldn't accept the truth Dinok. That’s why." Celestia said with anger evident in her voice.
"Let us not continue this conversation now. We are all a little emotional." Radetel said, "Let use go to your capital and speak before the coming battle against the would be dragon king."
Screams could be heard all throughout Canterlot as Radetel approached the city with the Black Star behind him. In the city were the eight alicorns who have gathered to fight the dragon army. Celestia was preparing to calm the restlessness in the city, "Ponies of Canterlot!" the screaming stopped,"The dragon approaching the city is not hostile. He comes from the a border town, and is an old friend of my family. In that ship he is pulling is ponies and changelings all of which were displaced by the dragon onslaught. He disowned his people to help so please give him a chance." Celestia walked back inside off of her balcony, "Hopefully that will keep them in check while we get things ready to assault the dragon's stronghold."
A guard approached Celestia slowly, "Princess there is reports of a massive force of dragons heading this way."
There was a massive explosion outside and Celestia ran outside only to see the the balloon of the Black Star in flames and Radetel struggling to keep it in the air as swarms of changelings flew off the ship and we're grabbing it in their magic. Pegasie were taking flight with unicorns in their hooves both evacuating foals and helping lift the ship. Celestia shot into the air and enveloped the ship in her golden magic and grabbed the ponies and changelings that were falling from the rapped exation from holding the massive ship, "Celestia take the ship to the ground. I have business to attend to." Radetel growled as the harness fell off his back and Celestia lowered the ship into the largest drydock they had. With a powerful flap of his massive wings Radetel flew towards the mass of dragons heading this way.
"Guards," Celestia barked, "move all civilians to Ponyville immediately. I am initiating Martial Law."
"Yes Princess." the guards went to work.
"Please let us be ready." Celestia whispered.
Four trails flew across the sky. Black, emerald, dark purple and lightning. The final battle had begun. ----
Radetel was being over run by the dragon hoard and was taking crippling blows to his wings and legs, but being sworn to protect the alicorn family and their people he kept going until finally his wings could no longer take tye beating and he fell. The four approaching alicorns screamed in rage as Radetel fell helpless to save him as they too were swarmed by the dragons. They faught out of rage and the desire to keep others safe from the monsters that threaten their homes. There was a deafening scream as hundreds of ponies and changelings charged the dragons who were land bound leaving the ones in the air to the alicorns. A single Pegasus flew up to Storm and faught back to back with her, "Storm I remember who I really am now. I remember you and the fun times we had so long ago." he said just loud enough for Storm to hear him.
"I knew you would." was all she said as they continued to fight. There was a scream that had not been heard in decades causing all to stop and look at the falling form of Cloudy Sky. Dinok screamed as he rushed down to catch her. The dragons took this as a small victory and faught with renewed vigor.
Dinok shot the retreat flare into the air with his horn but he never moved. All he did was float in place holding Cloudy as the dragons surrounded them.