Sparda began walking up the stairs to the royal castle in Canterlot. Along side him was his wife Eva, and his two little sons Dante, and Vergil. Both are only about six years old at the time, and both full of hope, and love for the future.Dante wore a little red shirt, that always seemed to match his personality, along with some shorts and his mothers amulet around his neck. Vergil wearing a matching blue shirt with black shorts and his father's amulet around his neck. Sparda wearing his normal purple attire, and Eva standing by his side with her red sweat-jacket and black shirt inside, her blond hair almost like silk Once they reached the front door Dante eagerly jumped at the doorbell to ring it, Sparda quickly beat him to the punch, leaving a small Dante to stand a pout. Eva quickly cheered him up with a pat on the head and a loving smile. After a few seconds a servant answered the door, and spoke "Good evening," He said. "The King and Queen shall see you all now for your, 'Play Date'" Eva smiled and said "Oh, good! Our boys have been eager to meet the princesses." Dante butted in "Are they really ponies?! Real, talking, PONIES?!" His heart full of wonder and joy as Vergil spoke. "Of course, Dante. You're talking to a 'talking pony', you know?" Dante laughed sheepishly as a sweat drop ran down the back of his head. Sparda laughed a bit at this, seeing his son act so cute made him smile. Eva just smiled as well at seeing her son be so silly.
All four of them walked into the throne room of King Helios and Queen Kantara. They both saw Sparda and his family and beamed, the King stood and said "Sparda!" in a very cheerful voice at seeing his old friend once again. Sparda smiled and walked up to him, giving him a hoof/handshake, being he is human and Helios a pony, but still they were both good friends all the same, as were Kantara and Eva. Eva greeted Kantara with a hug and a smile. Helios spoke up "Allow me to introduce our daughters," Just as he spoke, two little fillies appearing to be the same age as Dante and Vergil, but a bit bigger then the two little white haired boys. They both trotted up to Sparda, one had a blue, pink, and green flowing mane with a matching tail and a white coat and spoke saying "It is a pleasure to meet you mister Sparda, my name is Celestia." The other looked up at him with the same regal demeanor as Vergil and said "Good evening, Sir Sparda, thy name is Luna" Sparda looked up from the two fillies to their father and said "Now allow me to introduce you to our sons." Dante walked up first with the same glowing friendly demeanor as Celestia and said "Hey there! My name's Dante! What's yours?" Celestia smiled happily and said "Celestia." She giggled "Your name is funny, Dante!" she then giggled even more at saying his name. Dante just laughed "Celestia ain't no better of a name." They both began to laugh uncontrollably at each other and smiled happily. Vergil then walked up to Luna and said "My name is Vergil, and you are?" Luna spoke "Thy name is Luna, fair Vergil." Vergil turned his attention to the chess board and said "Do either of you play chess?" Luna saw his liking towards chess from the gleam in his eye and smiled saying "Why yes, I enjoy it very much!" Vergil cracked a smile, him beating Dante all the time at chess really bored him. Dante was never good at anything mind related compared to Vergil.
Eva looked at them and said "Now play nice you four. We don't need anyone getting hurt." Kantara nodded "Yes, dears. Do not hurt yourselves, alright?" The four looked up and nodded. As they did the King and Queen walked away with the Sparda and Eva into the kitchen for tea and drinks. Dante looked up towards Celestia and said "Wanna go play outside? We can go explore!" Celestia giggled "That sounds really fun!" They both ran off outside in a fit of happiness and laughter. Vergil just sighed at them "That Dante...he's an idiot!" Luna nodded. "I can see why, he's willing to jump into unknown territory so quickly...not very smart." Vergil turned to face the chess board "Shall we begin?" Luna nodded, smiling. Then followed after him "Yes, we shall"
Dante ran through the courtyard, looking at all of it then turned his attention to Celestia and said "Wow! You get to live here?? That's so cool!!" Celestia smiled "Not really, it gets boring here. Daddy won't let us leave so I really have no friends..." Dante smiled and said "I'll be your friend!" Celestia turned to him with her eyes wide in excitement and smiled "You mean it?" Dante nodded "Yup! From here on out we'll be the best of friends! Got it?" Celestia nodded and smiled brighter then ever "Yes, I do...Dante" Dante just smiled and said "Can I call you 'Celes'? It's easier to remember." Celestia stopped for a second, mulling over that nickname and then nodded "Sure, I kind of like that nickname! hmm...what do I call you?" Dante stopped and thought hard. Celestia spoke up "What about...'Dan'?" Dante stopped "Dan? Y'know...I'm OK with that!" He smiled at her, and she smiled back. There was a deep connection between the two of them, like a powerful bond of friendship or maybe even something deeper between them that had been planted right there, at that very moment. They both felt it and couldn't help but smile at each other. Dante broke the silence and said "Alright, Celes, let's go exploring! You lead the way!" Celestia nodded and began trotting off, her face getting playfully serious as if she where an explorer, and Dante as her faithful partner. Dante followed behind with a smirk on his face, from the thought of how fun it maybe.
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End of chapter 1.
As Celestia and Dante walked off for their adventure, Vergil and Luna began their chess game. Vergil looked ever so serious as he moved his pawn into play, Luna made an odd move and pushed her pawn forward as well. Both played in science until Vergil spoke as he moves his knight "So, tell me, dear princess. What is it like living in the castle?" Luna stopped and pondered and said "Very dull, we haven't seen the outside world, nor have we seen a creature as you." She moved her pawn into position and took out one of Vergil's pawns. Vergil took little care in seeing his pawn get killed. He then spoke again. "So, what do you do in your spare time?" He moved his knight forward again and placed it in perfect position to kill her king. "check." Luna quickly dispatched the knight with her queen and said "We practice our magic, play chess, watch the stars, and the rest of the time...sit in boredom, and wish we could go and visit other ponies." Vergil took this opportunity to kill off her queen with his rook "sounds dull." Luna nodded in agreement and she finished off his rook with her own knight. She smiled and said "It is nice to get such lovely company as you now and then." Vergil looked at her questioningly as he moved his pawn closer to the edge on Luna's side. She didn't even bother with it and moved her pawn in position to kill her king and said "check" Vergil's eyes widened as he looked down to see he had no way of dispatching the pawn, he looked around the board frantically but all his troops were either dead, or out of range. Luna smirked and said "Correction, check mate." Vergil sighed in defeat. "I have never lost before..." Luna smiled and said "You should be more kind to your pawns, Vergil, they can sometimes have big payoffs." Vergil nodded and said "At least I got defeated by a worthy opponent. I commend you." Luna smiled. "At least you are a good sport about it. Daddy always throws a tiny fit when I win." She giggled "It's funny." Vergil laughed and looked at her. "I do so hope we stay friends like this...true friendship is hard to come by" Luna looked at him quizzically. "It is?" Vergil nodded "I have never had a friend actually...the closest thing I have is my little twin brother Dante..." He paused at the mentioning of his name and looked outside "I wonder what Celestia and Dante are up to?" Luna looked over his shoulder, wondering herself. "I do hope they are alright...the forest is dangerous"
As Celestia walked into the forest behind the castle, Dante was right by her side, viewing everything around him. He saw Celestia just as a ray of sunshine came into view behind her head, he could see her beautiful eyes, and noticed her mane and stopped for a second and gawked. Celestia saw this and looked at him "Danny? What's the matter?" Dante stopped and shook his head. "N-nothing..." He noticed the name change and looked at her "Danny?" Celestia giggled "I honestly think Danny or Tony is better. Dan was just a spur of the moment kind of thought, though it is still cute, somewhat." Dante blinked and smiled. He didn't know why he gawked at her, but he just kept following her until Celestia stopped them and said "Danny, look!" She pointed her hoof to a bush, Dante poked his head in to see 3 timberwolf puppies all bundled up, and playing. He stared and whispered "What are these things, Celes?" She smiled, standing right by him and said "Timberwolves...only pups though. Aren't they cute?" Dante nodded then stopped "Wait...pups?" Celestia looked at him, raising an eyebrow questioningly and spoke "Yes, why?" Dante looked over to her and stood up, taking his head out of the bushes and said "Well...don't pups usually have mothers?" Celestia stopped for a second and looked around "Yes, they do...these pups are only a week old at least...where is the mother?" Dante looked around nervously "Could she be close by?" Celestia's eyes widened "Oh dear...I certainly hope not." Dante looked at her "Why...?" Celestia said "Well...timberwolves are extremely dangerous...the mothers are the worst, protecting their young." Dante looked around frantically "Could she attack us..?" Just as he spoke he saw two glowing yellow eyes behind Celestia and without hesitation he grabbed her and threw her to the side shouting "Look out!!" The timberwolf mother lunged forward just as Dante moved, only barley scratching his back. the timberwolf landed in attack position, growling fiercely. Dante didn't even think before he threw himself in front of Celestia in a defensive position, having both his arms spread out wide, putting himself dead in front of a full grown, mother, timberwolf. Protecting Celestia as she lay on the ground, starring up at Dante in awe. She had never seen anyone defend her like he did. He didn't even care for his own life and willingly held himself against the wolf. Dante stared down into the wolf's eyes not giving an inch or showing a single sign of fear, the wolf growled deeply at Dante and inched closer, looking as if it were ready to kill him and Celestia. Dante saw what it was intending to do, and something inside him came forth. His eyes turned from ice blue to blood red and let out a low demonic growl, the wolf's ears suddenly fell back as she began to back away slowly. Dante inched closer, growling even more fiercely then she had. The wolf turned tail and ran for her pups, grabbed them and took off. Dante's eyes turned normal as he stumbled back and fall onto his butt. Celestia looked at him, taken aback by his sudden act of courageousness. "D-Dante...you saved me." Dante just smiled through tired eyes "It was nothing, Celes." He got up and held out a helping hand to her "It's what true friends are for, you know?" She placed her hoof in his hand and stood up with his help, then said "I...I think that's enough exploring for one day, let's go home, and play some games." Dante nodded. "Sounds like fun!"
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End of Chapter 2