For sometime now Princess Celestia been hiding the fact that she been dating her Personal guard
It 500 years later after Luna returns from her banishment to her moon, every since the incident Princess Celestia has wondered if she could have done more to prevent her little sister from turning. The simple answer is NO…..she did everything a big sister could have done to help her little sister. But it was not enough to keep her little sister from turning.
It month before Princess Celestia very special day in her long life her wedding day to her personal guard a noble unicorn knight-paladin named Lord Justice Silverlight, the Silverlight unicorn family has a long quiet noble and modest history of heroic champions defending the powerless in Equestria. But even a noble family like the Silverlight’s has dark secret best left in the past, for this dark secret has been in the making for thousand years.
Can Princess Celestia forgive the family that causes her so much sadness and aloneness? Will Princess Celestia’s follow her sadden heart or her loving heart that will lead her to brighter future?
Princess Celestia pic done by Jane Canvas on deviantart
It’s several months before the upcoming wedding of Princess Celestia, the ruler of Equestria, to her personal guard Sir Justice Silverlight. For some time now, rumors have been floating around Canterlot like leaves in the early morning breezes of something big. Most pony citizens have not taken notice of these rumors and let them be, until the surprise announcement of Princess Celestia’s upcoming wedding day. The rumor mills started turning about who this Sir Justice Silverlight was and how this stallion of unknown origins could get the most beloved ruler of Equestria’s affection. Most pony citizens leaned towards a very powerful charm spell cast on the mind of the Sun Princess or this stallion dug-up something that Princess Celestia didn’t want any pony to know. Angered about all these terrible rumors being spread about the stallion she truly loved, Princess Celestia set to work quelling all the rumors.
The admission from the Princess about the relationship between her and her personal guard extinguished most of the rumors being spun about the royal couple’s intent. In doing so, Celestia unknowingly, caused Sir Silverlight to leave Canterlot and his princess; making her wonder if she should have talk to him about it before doing it. But before leaving Canterlot he left a letter addressed to his Princess saying he will return once he sorts out his feelings for her. The thoughtfulness of this small act eases Celestia’s heart and allows her to continue to carry on without worrying that she just destroyed her happiness.
It’s been three months and Justice still has not returned to Canterlot and his beloved Princess, but Celestia is not worried that Justice will not return. Her heart tells her to be patient. It’s a huge decision to wed the ruler of all Equestria and she wants him to fully embrace his new role as Prince of Equestria.
That evening when Princess Celestia was about to turn in for the night, a mysterious messenger arrived from the family of Silverlight carrying a letter for her asking her to come to the Silverlight Stable by herself. Intrigued by the letter and the whole incident, Celestia headed to the Silverlight Stable in the Noble Ward of the City of Canterlot. The Silverlight stable is one of four estates designed in the old style of Canterlot.
When she arrived at the stable it was deathly quiet. Her golden horseshoes clicked loudly on the flagstone courtyard leading up to the main house of the second oldest building in Canterlot. Normally the Silverlight stable is very busy anytime of the day with family members coming back home from their assigned duties helping the Princesses run the government of Equestria. But this evening no pony guards patrolled the grounds of the stable. The only thing Celestia saw was a single pony wearing the amber colored royal guard armor of the soldiers assigned to guard the Silverlight Stable. A hood was over the guards head with a lantern floating next to it in a magic aura.
“Welcome your highness.” The hooded unicorn guard said bowing
“Good evening, why all the mysteriousness?” Celestia inquired looking the guard over a few times.
“This way your highness.” The hooded unicorn guard said, turning and walking down the path followed by her highness.
Celestia followed the hooded unicorn guard down a flagstone path that runs through the grounds of the stable with her horseshoes clicking along the path. Everywhere she can see other hooded guards of different species of ponies each carrying a lantern. A chill ran down Celestia’s back. At the front door of the main house the hooded unicorn guard climbed up the staircase and stopped, pointing over to an empty chest sitting next to the door with his hoof.
“Please your highness, remove your entire princess’s regalia and place them in that box your gold tiara, your collar and horseshoes. then I’ll let you into the house someone will be waiting for you inside, Your highness.” The hooded unicorn guard said, as Celestia nervously climbed up the staircase and began to float one item at a time into the box, till she was stripped of every piece of her regalia.
“Please tell me what is going on? I’m not good with surprises.” Celestia asked, her voice edged with tension as the lid of the chest closes with a creak and a loud wooden bang. That causes the normally brave Princess of the sun to lay on the ground covering her head with her front hoofs. As she begins to shudder, the guard she followed to the main door of the house has vanished leaving only the lantern on a hook.
“Hello, is there any pony around? please answer me.” Celestia calls as the front door slowly opens.
“Please do come in your highness for when you enter here, you are an Alicorn mare and not a princess because no princess can learn our secrets only a mare can.” A mysterious female voice calls from inside the house.
“I don’t understand! Please tell what’s going on!?” Celestia said puzzled as she sticks her head in. As she passes through the door, she find herself standing in a darken foyer of the Silverlight main house. She has come to the Silverlight home many times on business and private matters. Most recently this was on a private matter when Countess Ophelia Silverlight, Justice’s grandmother, invited her to afternoon tea in the garden at the estate. Celestia could hardly say no to her future in laws and could hardly pass up the chance to sample some of the finest tea in Equestria from the family’s own stock. The foyer of the main house is always well lit and warm, but this time no light lit-up. Standing near the center of the foyer was a pony wearing a hooded robe holding a single lantern which lit the small area around it.
“Thank you for coming ,Celestia what’s about to happen to you is for the good of Justice my first ,question to you Celestia is this. Can you forgive a family that has tried for generations to free themselves of guilt that caused your own family to turn on you and force you to do something that broke your heart for a thousand years?” Hooded unicorn mare inquired.
“Of course but, what do you mean by guilt? It was Luna’s choice. She alone decided to seek the power of darkness to take what didn’t belong to her.” Celestia explains as Unicorn mare lowers her head.
“No, your sister did have a choice if our patriarch didn’t get tricked by a shadow to break the seal. that our first matriarch set to hold the nightmare force. it would have never hunt for an Alicorn like your sister Luna and use her to help further it’s plan. that is our family guilt we caused your pain, forced you to banish your sister to her moon. I tell you this because you are about to become the wife to a member of the dark stained family. If you are willing to live with this stain knowing that the real pain was caused by us relit the lantern next to me with your magic or leave the way you came the door is open your choice your highness.” Unicorn mare said blowing out the flame in the lantern.
As Celestia sat in pitch black darkness of the foyer many emotions filled her head like, anger, confusing, bitterness, disgust, deep sadness and guilt. For a thousand years, she felt as if she failed as big sister to Luna, allowing her little sister to be taken over by the nightmare force and force her to banish her only family to her moon. With this revelation, the great princess Celestia comes to a crossroads. Does she forgive the family that hurt her and her sister or does she continue to carry her anger and bitterness towards the family that robbed her of her little sister’s love.
“Your family betrayed me! H-how-dare you deceive me like this! Do you know what you have done?! Not to me but my sister? All the pain and suffering we both had to endure. For a thousand years I was alone wondering how my sister was fairing! Not knowing when she would ever return to herself! Losing the love and respect from her subjects! Do you have any idea how painful it was for me to do that to my own little sister? (Begins to cry) I-I do-not-Why couldn’t you have told me sooner!” Celestia said in unimaginary pain knowing she was in love with the family who could have separated her and Luna forever.
“I-I gotta go!” Celestia said as tears streak her face running out of the manor grabbing the box with her magic containing her princess’s regalia along the way.
As Celestia leaves the manor, the light goes on in the foyer. Sitting next to the lantern was the heartbroken hooded unicorn mare. She used her magic to lower the hood of her cloak revealing the face of Baroness Shimmering Diamond Silverlight the matriarch of the Silverlight unicorn family and Sir Justice Silverlight’s own mother. A tear runs down her cheek as the hooded unicorn guard from the ground approaches her. He uses his magic to lower his hood revealing the face of Sir Justice Silverlight.
“I am sorry baby. I had high hopes that Celestia could have broken the curse on you.” Shimmering Diamond said sadden but loving as she wrapped her wings around her son in a caring hug.
“I did also, mother. but how can Celestia forgive us for what we did to her sister?” Justice comments sadden.
“He had no choice. The shadow promised him unlimited food to feed his family and the other families in the village. so he broke the seal for the shadow and he was rewarded by being cursed by Nightmare Overlord, his family slowly died because of the lack of food to eat that would have ended, our family line. If your grandfather didn’t survive to marry your grandmother.” Shimmering Diamond said mad but sadden.
Meanwhile back in the Canterlot Royal Palace a candelabra burn in the center of a small dining table. Sitting on one end of the table wearing a few choice pieces of jewelry, that’s not part of her princess’s regalia was Princess Luna.
It’s rare that she gets to put on her own personal jewelry, but for this special occasion a romantic dinner with her special somepony Luna forgoes her princess’s regalia, for a single dark purple young alicorn mare appearance. Sitting on the opposite side of the table nervously straightening his tie with his magic as beads of perspiration form on his forehead was Luna’s personal guard Sir Keith Sterling. This is the first time Sir Sterling has ever gone on a real date with anyone and the first time with a Princess. For the past few minutes, Sir Sterling has nervously chewed on the same piece of lettuce from his dinner salad.
“Oh, Sir Sterling! Thou is the worst dinner date. Coming from some pony who doesn’t go on to many dates or nothing at all that is bad we set this whole evening up for us to spend some quality time together as boyfriend and girlfriend away from our royal duties and not once have you said how beautiful we look!” Luna agitated as Keith’s ears drop upset with how the date was going.
He excuses himself from the table and walks off depressed toward the balcony to look at Luna’s moon in the starry night sky. Disappointed with how she, acted Luna ran after him and caught him on the balcony. His front hooves were on top the balustrade looking at her beautiful moon in the sky. Soon Luna joins him placing her front hooves on top the balustrade, before reaching over with one of her hoof and wraps her hoof around his in a loving gesture.
“Keith, thou is sorry, we didn’t mean to become upset at you, we just want this relationship, we have started to last. it’s not like many stallions are lining up to date the Princess of the night all the ponies still see me as the villain Nightmare Moon a fearsome image we have been unable to shake since we’ve been reformed.” Luna said disheartened as tears run down her cheek and splash on the ground,
“That’s not true Luna, not every pony sees you as Nightmare Moon. I see you as Princess Luna the princess of the night protector of the nights and dreams.” Keith said comforting as he wraps his hoof around Luna in a loving embrace as she begins to blush.
“I thank you, my love at least I have you one pony that sees the real Princess of the night and not Nightmare Moon.” Luna said loving as she kisses him on the cheek.
A moment later a messenger wearing the dark goldenrod colored royal guard armor of the Sterling warrior clan arrives carrying a letter from Baroness Jennifer Sterling, Keith’s mother and his clan matriarch.
To: My son Sir Keith Sterling Please forgive me, dear for sending this letter to you, while you are on your dinner date with Princess Luna. Her Majesty Queen Shimmering Diamond Silverlight has informed me that her Highness Princess Celestia Has refused to forgive what the Silverlight family has done to release the nightmare force on Equestria and hurting Princess Luna. As we know it was not the fault of the Silverlight patriarch he was trying to save the whole village from starving as to their good nature. So Her Majesty has given the Sterling clan the options of staying in Canterlot in the service of Princesses of Equestria or Leaving Canterlot with the Silverlight Royal family and helps rebuild our homeland of Dream Valley. So I have called an emergency clan meeting of the whole family order at the Sterling Stable to discuss the two options as normal whatever the majority of the family members decided will be the will of the whole family.
Your mother, Baroness Jennifer Sterling Matriarch of the Sterling Clan Grand Master Knight of the house of Sterling
With that, Keith sighs slowly and runs to the front gate of the Canterlot Royal Palace to leave, so he can get to the emergency family meeting at the Sterling stable his family’s home in Canterlot. A moment later a puzzled Princess Luna steps off the balcony into the hallway and looks around. Not seeing Keith anywhere Luna’s face becomes drawn wondering what she said this time to cause her special somepony to leave without telling her.
A depressed Princess Luna slowly makes her way back to her bed chamber on the second floor of the Royal Palace; her legs feel unusually heavy even though she is not wearing her four silver horseshoes on her hooves. At the door to her bed chamber a messenger arrives carrying a letter from which she hopes was from Keith.
To: Princess Luna I am sorry my love for leaving so suddenly from your company without telling you. Something has come up with my family duty to the Silverlight Royal Family that I must attend to as it could change my relationship with you and your sister Celestia. The outcome of this could change so this will be my last message to you my love. Your faithful guard Sir Keith Sterling Knight from the house of Sterling Personal Guard to Princess Luna
It’s a week later; a train from the Crystal Empire arrives at the Canterlot station carrying Princess Cadance after stopping in Ponyville to visit Princess Twilight Sparkle her, sister-in-law, for few a days before she had to return to her duties as the ruler of the Crystal City in the north. Princess Cadance disembarks her train car and walks toward the Silverlight stable with a grin on her snout. When she gets the chance, she stops by the Silverlight stable to visit her adopted family in Canterlot.
“Hello grandmother, I have come for a visit!?” Cadance yells walking into the foyer of the Silverlight stable main house, her gold horseshoes click loudly in the empty room. Sitting on a small table in front of her was a letter addressed to her. She floats the letter up and tears the end off.
To: My adopted granddaughter Princess Cadance,
If you found this letter I left on the table addressed to you my granddaughter, then you have discovered that the stable is now deserted. We are sorry that you found out this way that we have left Canterlot, maybe forever. An unforeseen incident has come up between the Silverlight family and her highness Princess Celestia. We knew of your visit to Princess Twilight your sister-in-law in Ponyville and how you come to visit us when you get a chance. So I left this letter for you, dear Cadance.
As for the incident, your aunt Princess Celestia didn’t pass the test of forgiveness. Fearing something might happen to our family after she found out that we unleashed the nightmare force on Equestria and it attacked her sister, we decide to leave and return to our homeland of Dream Valley and begin to rebuild it. When everything is stable in the rebuilding, I’ll send you a letter with directions to my homeland of Dream Valley. Till that time, you will always be in my heart my adopted Granddaughter Princess Cadance.
Your grandmother, Countess Ophelia Silverlight Royal Minister of the Kingdom of Dream valley Ex-noblemare of Equestria
Tears splash on the letter as Cadance rips up the letter with her magic. With resolve on her face, Cadance leaves the depressing Silverlight Stable and heads to the Canterlot Royal Palace to find out why her Aunt Celestia didn’t pass the Silverlight test of forgiveness. At the Royal Palace, Cadance finds an incurably sad Celestia with tears streaking down her face in the throne room alone without her royal advisors present.
“Auntie what happened to the Silverlight’s, their stable is empty?” Princess Cadance inquires as Celestia looks over her niece piercingly.
“What happened Cadance was another nightmare that I just awoke from (tears fell to the floor) and I must go.” Celestia answers Cadance more upset than angry as she walks into one of the empty side room beside the throne room of the palace.
As Princess Cadance watches Celestia leave the throne room and disappear into one of the side rooms, she spots a vexed Luna coming from the opposite side of the room. Something feels different about Luna but she can’t put her hoof on it. Then she realizes that Luna’s faithful guard Sir Keith Sterling is not with her. From talking with her adopted Sister Serena, she knows that Keith has started a relationship with Princess Luna like Justice and Celestia did. Something this Princess of love is very happy about.
“Greetings, your highness how are you?” Cadance said friendly as Luna takes no notice of her first question.
“Your highness, I am wondering do you know what happened to the Silverlight’s?…I went to their stable after arriving in Canterlot from Ponyville to visit…the stable was deserted with no sign of the family….Would you know any reason why the family would leave Canterlot ?” Cadance inquires wondering as the question caught Luna’s attention.
“That I do not know, Cadance.” Luna answers as she continues through the throne room toward the other side of the room.
“One minute…I am enjoying a dinner date with my special somepony….Then he gets up and leaves without telling me….then I receive a letter from him saying the outcome of a family meeting could change our relationship with him and my sister….this morning I walk over to the Sterling stable to talk to him and found it like you and the Silverlight stable, empty….his letter says it had to do with Celestia…..so I’m going to find out what she did to chase off my happiness.” Luna said bitterly as she goes from room to room searching for her sister Celestia.
She finds Celestia in the very last room lying on a rug. She’s weeping, looking at a picture of her and Justice at a beachside resort in Los Pegasus where he proposed to her.
“Sister! I demand to know what you did to the Sterling family! Why did they leave Canterlot?” Luna said bluntly as Celestia continues to cry before turning towards her and hugging her like she never did before.
“Oh sister, I’m so sorry….sorry for everything you’ve been through. If I had only known I would have never sent you to your moon.” Celestia apologizing as Luna looked a bit perplexed with the whole incident.
“What are thou talking about, sister?” Luna said irritated as Celestia let her go.
“Never sent me to the moon? So you would have allowed me to bring eternal night to Equestria and our ponies….What kind of Princess would allow that!....that’s beside the point…Why did the Sterling family leave Canterlot?….I finally found a pony that cared about me and he gets up and leaves without a word to me….he sent me a letter saying you have something to do with it….So what did you do to cause the Sterling’s to leave, sister?!” Luna said sharply pointing her hoof at Celestia.
‘The Sterling family left too. That’s easily answered that their loyalty is to the Silverlight royal family and would go if the royal family feels unwelcomed….but that still doesn’t answer why Celestia didn’t pass the test of forgiveness from everything Serena told me….Justice held high hopes to break his curse when he married Celestia.’ Cadance thought standing just outside the door leading into the room.
“The family did unspeakable things to us, Luna. Terrible things that I wished I had learned sooner! I will never forgive them for what they have done to us and to you, dear sister!” Celestia said dripping with spite, staring at the picture of Justice as she kissed Luna on her forehead and embraced her.
“Back then when you became Nightmare Moon I thought it was because you seek out the darkness on your own. But it was the Silverlight family who tried to use the power of darkness for their own selfish reason! If I had known that you were being manipulated I would have never banished you. I would have found another way. Can you forgive me little sister? I…I failed to protect you from the evil. You must understand why I could never marry into a family who lied and deceived me for centuries.” Celestia explains as her mouth crimps in annoyance. Luna and Cadance look at each other befuddle with what Celestia was saying, until they realized what she was talking about.
“Cadence, could Celestia be speaking of the Silverlight guilt….that one of their patriarch’s released the nightmare force upon Equestria transforming me into Nightmare Moon…?” Luna said at a complete loss looking at Cadence standing next to her.
“She must be talking about that Auntie.” Cadence commented at a complete loss too, looking back at Luna.
“Ok sister (pointing her hoof at Celestia)….What do you know about the Silverlight guilt, what did the family tell you?….I know a little about the guilt from Keith….tell me sister!?” Luna said sourly as she studies Celestia acutely.
“I was adopted by the Silverlight family as a daughter so I was told the full story by Grandmother herself, so I can fill in some of the details of the Silverlight guilt….” Cadence commented as she smiles.
“Start talking sister…!” Luna said gruffly still pointing her hoof at Celestia.
“I was told that the family made a pact with the darkness so they would have unlimited food stores at the cost of the rest of the village and their family would be protected. I also learned they were tricked by darkness and cursed by it. The family deserved it for making a pact with the darkness.” Celestia said self-righteously as her mood changed from angry to sadden upon running her hoof along the seam of her wonderful wedding gown that she will never wear.
“I really love Justice with all my heart, he always treats me like a regular mare and not an Alicorn or Princess of Equestria…..his family did the same. Everytime I set a hoof in the Silverlight stable I felt the love growing bigger and bigger toward me….I really wanted to marry him, not because I pity him, far from the truth, because he truly cares about me and I care about him….I don’t know why they came to my court in the first place and I don’t care….but ever since the Silverlight family appeared in my court out of nowhere I have never felt such joy anytime during my long life.” Celestia said confessing her true feeling about Sir Justice Silverlight, the stallion she truly loves with all her heart.
“I don’t know what to do, sister….have I made a huge mistake….did I just poison my one chance at true happiness ?” Celestia said wondering resting her forehead against the Alicorn form as tears ran down her snout and splash at her hoofs.
“But most importantly, have you forgiven what the Silverlight family did to us? Tell me?! Did I misunderstand the situation?” Celestia inquires keeping her forehead pressed against the alicorn form as tears continue to fall.
“Oh dear sister, you carry so many scars and most are self-inflicted….you did misunderstand what happened to the Silverlight family….Yes, the family did release the nightmare force on Equestria but not for the reasons you think….As for forgiving them, I have… along with forgiving myself….that family has done something wonderful to us, sister…Help us move on to a brighter future free of guilt and pain….If you just reach for it.” Luna said caring as she kisses Celestia on her cheek.
“As my knowledge of the Silverlight family’s past is a bit limited….would you please Cadence, tell Celestia what you know. (Cadence shakes her head)” Luna comments lying down on a second rug in the room, kicking her horseshoes off her hooves to be more comfortable.
“Let’s start with what the Silverlight’s are…..the Silverlight’s are the descendants of an ancient race of ponies known as dreamer ponies that lived in harmony in a small valley away from the fighting of the other three tribes….They could manipulate the forces of both Dream magic (AKA: light magic) and Nightmare magic (AKA: dark magic) with ease….this skill helps build their civilization…Over the years the dreamer started to become arrogant because no other ponies could manipulate the power of dream magic and nightmare magic like them, but with arrogance came control…A powerful dreamer unicorn used his magic to try to control the uncontrollable nightmare magic for his own deeds. This angered the nightmare magic which set in motion the fall of the dreamers.” Cadence explains taking a deep breath as she continued.
“War after war the dreamer ponies fell, till a lone dreamer unicorn mare was left. She used all her magic to seal the nightmare force in a cave deep in the valley. With that done, the unicorn mare turned and started to cry. Her Dream Valley and her home was no more. With nothing left in the valley for her, she left and found her way to a village. She lived out the rest of her life doing good as the only way to atone for what her ponies did. Soon, that same unicorn mare married a unicorn stallion that loved her and had many foals with him….So begins the Silverlight family line.” Cadence explains taking another deep breath as she continued.
“As each generation of Silverlight continued the work of their first matriarch, the family was happy and became known as the Paladins of light. Then, a second very bad winter hit…the cold killed all the food that the family grew on their land…..Because of the good nature of the patriarch and his family, they refused to take food from the other pony families that were suffering like them…After trying over and over again to grow food to feed his family, the patriarch became disheartened….Then the shadow appeared before the patriarch and offered to help him if he would break the magic seal their first matriarch placed on the cave.” Cadence explains taking a quick drink of water asked for by Celestia to a royal maid that enters the room.
“The first thing the shadow offered to the Patriarch was power to take what he wants….he said “no”….Next, he offer money to buy what he wants….he said “no” again…..Angered, the shadow offered him unlimited food. The patriarch thought about it and looked towards the village…If the food was unlimited, he could share it with the other pony families of the village to save not only his family, but their families as well…he said yes.” Cadence explains stopping all of sudden as Luna with a huge smile on her snout clicked her horseshoes back on.
“I promised the Silverlight’s that I would never tell anyone about the curse…If you want to know about the curse, you must become the wife to Justice for only his mate can face the curse together with him.” Cadence explains as Celestia’s face becomes a deepening shade of shame. Jumping to the wrong conclusion about the Silverlight unicorn family and most likely destroying her one chance of happiness.
“Now Celestia, you know about the Silverlight guilt….They made no pact with the darkness….the darkness was not going to protect them…..he did what we Princesses would gladly do, save not only his family, but all the families. You destroy not only my happiness …but yours as well….I would have been so proud of any foals that he gave you….because those foals would be the embodiment of what we Princesses stand for, hope for a better future in Equestria…..I hope you are happy….because I am not…..farewell sister.” Luna said indignantly as tears begin to stream down her cheeks.
“Luna! Wait!” Celestia called as Luna was already gone.
“Damn…this is the second time I hurt my sister….No more.” Celestia said mad at herself.
“Lieutenant!” Celestia yells as the royal guard appears, at the door.
“Yes, your highness!” the Lieutenant replies.
“Lieutenant, prepare my Chariot for flight! I need to catch up to my family before it’s too late…to fix what I broke!” Celestia commanding
In the courtyard of the Canterlot Royal Palace after talking with Cadence, Celestia boarded her chariot in the hopes she can catch up with the family she herself hurt. Celestia knows this is not going to be easy to fix, because for the second time since knowing Justice she had betrayed his trust in her. The first was when he was still just her guard. She took the word of an un-trustworthy stallion over her most trustworthy guard Justice and tosses him into the palace dungeon for weeks. After Justice was cleared he never again spoke to her, something she doesn’t want to repeat. Celestia knowing this time there’s no retry and she must do whatever it take to fix what she did.
‘I hope it’s not too late to fix what I broke. I’m sorry Justice….once again, you put so much trust into me and I turn around and betrayed it….but this time I am a big enough pony to own up to my own mistakes no matter what the cost…even if that cost is my one chance at true happiness with you and your family (a single tear runs down her cheek)’ Celestia thought scanning the horizon trying to find any sign of the general direction the Silverlight family went.
Meanwhile one mile from Celestia’s current location, a small plume of smoke rises from a large camp fire in the center of the Silverlight Royal Family campsite. Due to the large number of ponies that decided to follow it forced the lead group to stop periodically to wait for the rear groups to catch up before moving on.
In the main tent of the campsite sitting behind a small traveling desk doing some of her paperwork was a light blue older unicorn mare with a crimson red mane and tail. It was streaked with gray, wearing black rim glasses on her face. This unicorn mare was Countess Ophelia Silverlight, Justice’s Grandmother. A very intentional audible sigh draws Ophelia’s attention to her right side. She lifts her hoof up and chuckles into it as she floats her quill pen back into the ink bottle in one corner of her desk. She turns her body to her right lying on a rug in the tent. With her was Justice, who had a despairing look on his face.
“Grandson, you know you just have to ask me to stop, if you want to talk to me…there’s no need to get my attention that way…I will stop my work to talk to any of my grandchildren…It’s what a unicorn grandmother does.” Ophelia said in a kind voice but correcting as she uses her unicorn magic to straighten her glasses on her face.
“I know grandmother, but…….” Justice said, his voice trailing off as his face becomes drawn.
“You are thinking about that Alicorn Princess…. are you not?” Ophelia said as Justice shakes his head “yes”.
“I thought Celestia and I ment something to each other…..after everything she went through to start this relationship with me…..members of her own court trying to tell her it could hurt her reign and turn her ponies against her….me being a common royal guard, not knowing I have royal blood in my veins….it might not be Alicorn blood, but you don’t need to be an Alicorn to rule….you just need the heart to care about those you rule.” Justice explains as Ophelia smiles.
“What it really comes down to grandson, you are wondering why Celestia failed our test of forgiveness….after her sister Princess Luna passed and her niece Princess Cadance passed.” Ophelia explains as Justice shook his head again.
“Remember grandson, what I told you when you told me you started a relationship with that Alicorn Princess (Justice trying to remember) when the time comes that you want to marry that alicorn princess she will be a difficult pony to put through our family’s test of forgiveness… for eons she has carried so many scars and blames herself for the lost of her sister.” Ophelia explains as Justice’s heart just drops.
“Then what you are saying grandmother, there is no hope that Celestia will forgive us for what we did to Luna and the love we had was all a big lie.” Justice heartbroken as Ophelia walked over to him and hugs him, before placing a kiss on his forehead.
“I never said that grandson; if that Alicorn princess really loves you….she will come around and forgive us.” Ophelia said caring as Justice cheers-up a bit from the words of his Grandmother.
Two miles out from the campsite, Celestia spots a group of maybe five earth ponies all carrying things on their back heading south-east in the direction of the Macintosh hills and the Badlands. Celestia quickly orders her royal Pegasus guard teams to turn and head south-east and ahead of the earth pony group. In the distance, Celestia sees a plume of smoke rising from a large camp fire in the center of a campsite. She knows she was on the right track when her chariot and Pegasus team got buzzed by 10 Pegasus ponies wearing the gunmetal gray color armor of her Solar Guard unit.
The Solar Guard Pegasus ponies force Celestia’s chariot to land, on the ground. A white pegasi mare with a dark blue mane and tail with a light blue stripe wearing the polished gunmetal gray color armor approaches the chariot. Her front leg mounted a magic crossbow at the ready. Celestia knows this pegasi her name is Lady Anita Stormchaser. She’s an old foalfriend and most loyal to Justice and would follow him anywhere along with Sir Keith Sterling.
“Why have you come, Celestia? Have you not done enough damage to Justice are you trying to destroy him completely!” Anita says sharply poking the bolt tip into Celestia’s neck as Anita waits for Celestia’s answer. One of the new royal Pegasus guards pulling the chariot, flinches causing the other solar guard Pegasus ponies to ready their own leg mounted crossbows.
Celestia sighs in relief knowing what makes the Solar Guard unit the best in the Equestrian Royal Army is the coolness under combat pressure. If it were any other troops, this could have ended very badly and she wouldn’t get the chance to make-up with Justice and the Silverlight’s.
“Only one warning, Celestia! Tell your royal Pegasus guards not to move again! As of right now, we are not under the rule of Canterlot and Princess Celestia….we are under the rule of Queen Silverlight and the kingdom of Dream Valley….so once again, why have you come, Celestia?” Anita warning, holding her crossbow under Celestia chin.
“All of you don’t move…. No matter what happen to me.” Celestia orders as the royal Pegasus team holds absolutely still.
“I have come to right a wrong that I have done, I betrayed the one stallion’s heart, twice, that I truly loved and misjudged a whole family, blinded by my own guilt.” Celestia confessing as Anita lowers her crossbow and looks over her shoulder to the edge of the forest. In the shadow of the forest stands the pony in charge of the whole solar guard unit, a shake of the head tells Anita to continue what she’s doing.
“All right Celestia….Keep talking maybe….. I’ll let you and your team go unhurt ….Maybe?” Anita said warning as she gestures the rest of the unit to close ranks and keep Celestia’s Pegasus team still.
“I don’t know if it’s possible Lady Stormchaser, that you would allow me to speak to Prince Justice so this pony may apologize for her foolishness (removing her gold tiara with her magic and sets it on the ground at the hoofs of Anita.)” Celestia said hopeful, bowing down to the ground in a humble gesture.
“All I really want is my beloved stallion back in my life. You don’t know just how much it hurts to have betrayed the stallion who has given me nothing but unconditional love since I’ve known him….only to turn around and throw it back at him….by accusing him and his family of wrongdoing….which I now know is false….so please if you can find it in your heart Lady Stormchaser please take me to see my beloved Justice!…..I beg of you! Please! Please! Take me to Justice! So I may get him back before it’s too late!” Celestia said in tears as she slams her horseshoe clad hoof in the dirt over and over.
A moment later a dark blue leg with a black hoof reaches down under Celestia’s chin and gently lifts her head up. Looking into her light purple eyes were a pair of adoring sky blue eyes that belong to her beloved stallion, Justice.
“Are you truly sorry for what you did, Celestia?” Justice inquires,
“Indeed, I am Justice…I guess, I am not that prefect princess so many ponies think I am…I make mistakes….big mistakes….my biggest mistake was not lighting the lantern and learning the terrible secret your family must bear forever.” Celestia’s voice cracking as Justice floats Celestia’s gold tiara back on her head, before kissing her on her lips.
“As long, as I have a wife like you Celestia by my side…..the secret is not so hard to bear.” Justice comments lovingly as he smiles at her.
“Besides my dear Celestia,….I am still upset at you for thinking my family or I would ever intentionally hurt you or your sister….so you still have to pay the piper for your decision.” Justice said matter of fact.
“WHAT!” Celestia exclaimed
“Now come on Justice….I said, I am very sorry, is that not good enough? There’s no need for me to pay the piper…..I am so very sorry for that.” Celestia said nervously because Justice knows everything about her and he has so many options he can use against her that will not hurt her, but embarrass her.
“Justice! Can we talk about this?!” Celestia calls running after him before he figures out what he’s going to do to her.
“Mmmm…...maybe something to do with your supply of tea…I know how much you love your tea, dear Celestia.” Justice said scheming with a crafty smile.
“NNOOO! My tea is innocent….don’t touch my tea, Sir Silverlight that is an order from your Princess!” Celestia yells at Justice who’s still scheming.
It’s the afternoon of the wedding day of Princess Celestia to her personal guard Sir Justice Silverlight. The wedding ceremony has gone off without a hitch and the late afternoon wedding reception is in full swing. After the ceremonial first dance, the happy royal couple cut their wedding cake. They quickly rush off to the palace courtyard, the Princess waits in her wonderful wedding gown for her new husband to board the chariot so the royal newlywed couple can start their short honeymoon.
Celestia must return to Canterlot and her duties as the ruler of Equestria in the next few days, the duties of running the land of Equestria don’t feel all that bad as they did before now have a loving husband by her side. Justice climbs aboard the chariot and the newlywed couple head off to a small beach house owned by the Silverlight family near Los Pegasus to begin their honeymoon as husband and wife.
Its a few hours later, a robed Justice sits on the balcony of the beach house overlooking the beach. He drinks some warm tea to relax and watch the sunset as his wife Celestia starts to end this very special day of two ponies that found love in the Capital City of Equestria: Canterlot. As Justice watches the gorgeous sunset, his light blue eyes hide an inner anxiety, which his wife picked up on as she joins him on the balcony wearing her robe. She floats a tea cup over to herself from the nearby table and begins to sip it as she too watches the sunset.
“I can’t help but notice that something is troubling you my King.” Celestia exclaims as Justice’s face hardens.
“I have told you my love….I am not your king….I am your equal….so please stop calling me your king….everytime you call me that it makes me feel unsuited to love a Princess like you…My love, my beloved or even just Justice I am ok with that….I am no better than any other pony living in Equestria….so if you do love me please don’t call me your king…I am your husband Justice and you are my wife Celestia.” Justice snaps as it catches Celestia by surprised.
“As for troubling me….you are now my wife….so I must tell you of my curse…the curse placed on only the stallion line of the Silverlight family….when the Nightmare Overlord placed the curse on the patriarch he wanted us to suffer as he did sealed in the cave….So he forced us to remain balanced in both day magic and night magic…..if any of the two forces become unbalanced …bad things could happen…..worst of all if the night magic become more powerful than the day magic, I will transform into the Alicorn of Nightmares…he calls himself Dream Eater… Dream Eater seeks the power of the sun, the moon, love and friendship just like Tirek did…but unlike Tirek he need not drain it….Just simply steal it from the Princesses and add it to his own.” Justice explains calmly as Celestia kisses him on his cheek.
“As you said I am your wife….so it’s my responsibility to make sure you will remain balanced for as long as you remain alive….when I said I do, I ment it.” Celestia knowing, kissing him on his cheek again.
“Thank you, Ms Silverlight.” Justice thankful hugging his wife tightly.
“The next thing I must tell you my love….It will hurt you the most. Any foal that I give you that are colts will be cursed like me….but it’s worse for them. If they become unbalanced they will forfeit their life, I am so confident that it will not happen, because of Luna, she had faced the darkness and beat it. With her guidance our colt will grow-up to be a strong stallion ….a credit to his mother Celestia and his aunt Luna.” Justice explains as tears run down this cheek.
“I’m sorry I didn’t think calling you, my king, would upset you so. I apologize. As for our foals, let’s not focus on that right now. We can face that together at a later time when it comes up. (looking at the moon) If it wasn’t for Twilight and her friends, Luna and I may have never been brought back together.(looking back at Justice) I am wondering my dear Justice, what do you think of Twilight and her friends? Whenever I mentioned Twilight to Keith he doesn’t give me a direct answer….I’m asking you because Twilight may be the next ruler of Equestria.” Celestia comments as Justice’s face glazes with shock.
“What? (spiting his tea out of his mouth)” Justice exclaimed,
“And when that time comes, I want to know if your people would show her and her friends the same respect as you showed Luna and I,” Celestia inquiries as Justice floats a napkin up from the table and dries his mouth.
“That my dear, could become problematical. If we have foals of our own and you pass them over as the ruler of Equestria….for Princess Twilight Sparkle….as she might very well grow into the role of ruler….the mine set of the Silverlight foals will be hostile towards her and the land of Equestria….for placing a non-family member on the throne.” Justice said foreboding, sipping his tea.
“Twilight and her friends are an upstanding group of ponies…I have only known Princess Twilight for a short time….as my Solar guard squad and I have been busy running covert operations for Equestria….so I can’t say too much about it, my beloved. (rubbing the side of his snout along Celestia’s neck affectionately) Justice Comments
“As for Keith….his family and Anita both followed us from the Kingdom of Dream Valley when it fell….The Sterling clan are the most powerful warrior clan in Equestria at this time…as you can testify to, my beloved…as most of his family make-up a large part of your own personal military force, along with my specialized Solar guard unit (filling Celestia’s tea cup with more tea for her to drink)” Justice explains looking at the moon and lifting his hoofs up.
“So to answer your question, what does Keith think of Twilight?…I have no answer to give you my beloved….I am sorry if you thought I could give you a straight answer…The only one that can answer that is Keith himself.” Justice replies as he takes the last sip of tea from his cup.
“Well, young Sparkle is in love with Keith, but he’s in love with Luna. He doesn’t think of Twilight as a true Princess. But my love, I would be willing to spend some time with Sparkle! And while you’re doing that, I’ll figure out how to end your curse (Kissing his cheek).” Celestia said as she turns and begins to head back inside.
“I’m going to bed” Celestia explains as she stares adoringly at her husband still sitting on the balcony.
