A young colt is taken in to a new family, one where he is the love able black sheep. How so? His siblings are Celestia, Luna, and Discord.
It seems like so long ago... but I guess in a way it was. Days tend to blur when you are immortal. Entire generations gone in a blink, towns built and rise to become cities, empires, before inevitably falling... But Listen to me ramble, I don't think you came to hear me talk about the futility of most lives. As I was saying, It seems so long ago that My mother took me in, adopted me into her family with my other siblings. We were so happy, But like all good stories, something happened, something that became the catalyst for all future events and tore my new family apart.
My name is Ethereal Horizon, and this is the story of my broken family.
Twilight Sparkle stood along the road leading into Ponyville, sweat dripping down her forehead as the magical pressure was crushing even to her. Beside her stood her friends, the elements of harmony plus Starlight and Spike, all save the dragon uncomfortable with the feeling all of them were experiencing as they stood behind the young alicorn. Twilight reviewed what they know of the threat approaching. A report from Derpy the mailpony said that along this road, heading to town was a cloaked, tall pony that gave off a feeling of raw power. She was unable to tell the race as both it's head and body was hidden in the tattered cloak, only that it seemed to be following the road that lead to Ponyville. Standing there now, Twilight could tell that there was no exaggeration, what or whoever this pony was, they were powerful.
"Look! Over there!" shouted Rainbow Dash as she pointed a hoof towards the far hill. Over the hill climbed the pony Derpy had seen. Their gray cloak, tattered and worn flowed in the wind and revealed some more features to the group present. As the figure drew nearer. Twilight began to take note of the pony. They had the body structure of a male Pegasus, Pegasus ever grew to the size of Cadence. His fur (Twilight assuming to to be a stallion at this point), was a silver in color, a slight if dull sheen going across his coat while what little of his mane that could be seen was a deep green blue, just light enough not to be a sea-foam color. His eyes pierced through the hood, even at a distance and their power was not to be contended with. The color of said eyes were a Megenta pinkish purple, not unlike Rainbow's. There was no horn to be seen, but still, Twilight prepared for whatever this pony had come for. She was prepared to defend her home from this dangerous-
Suddenly the figure tripped on his own hooves, breaking what ever feeling had come over the group. He continued to tumble down the hill, Pinkie pie and Rainbow snickering before falling over laughing. "Oh sweet Celestia, this was the big threat? A pony who can trip on his own four hooves!" She said before falling over laughing as the stallion grunted before rising up. He looked at the group, pinkie and rainbow shutting up under the look of power he game them before he opened his mouth.
"Please do not use Celestia's name like that. All these years and I still don't know how that phrase came to be." He said, His voice even, easy going but with regal undertones, as one does who was raised with royalty, but didn't care for the politics. He looked at them all in turn, his eyes scanning them causing a few to shiver, admittedly for different reasons. "Now, please tell me there is a place here that sells food and let costumers use the bathroom?" He said, his eyes filled with a hopeful look, taking back all the ponies present, save for one.
"Yupperoony Mr. Totally-not-a-prince-in-hiding." Said the bubbly pink pony, suddenly appearing in front of the stallion who just smiled.
"Ah, a Earthpony Vatis. I thought your kind had all but been breed out." Said the figure, patting the happy ball of energy in front of him. "Its good to know a few still live."
"Whoa whoa wait, You mean you know about Pinkie's strange abilities? Just who are you?" Rainbow asked aggressively, the Stallion just smiling even as she pressed her snout against his own.
Before Rainbow could do more, she was dragged back by Applejack, the orange farmpony dragging her friend back by the tail. "Now now RD, Ah agree wit yeah, it is mighty suspicious, but that don't give yah the Right to be fightn' Somepony who's done notin' wrong."
"I must say, you do hold yourself with the grace of Royalty Mr... My dear I dont think we have even asked for your name!" The elegant Rarity said "My dear, may we have your name, if I may?" The stallion looked at the fashionista and her breath was caught in her throat.
"I guess it wouldn't hurt to tell you, as long as after I may use the restroom, I really must go." He said with a forced smile.
"My name is Ethereal Horizon, and I am.... A storyteller of sorts. However, before I say more, I hear a porcelain throne calling my name." Ethereal said, pulling off his hood, but keeping the cloak still on. He turned to Twilight and Starlight, as if sensing the questions bubbling in their eyes. "I will answer more questions later, perhaps I may even share my story. it's not often I get a alicorn and her student as a audience." He said, whispering something into Fluttershy's ear that made the scared mare seem to calm down, causing more eyes to raise before he followed Pinkie to Sugar Cube Corner, the rest of the girls plus Spike slowly following.
"He seems cool." Commented the dragon, getting a look from the other girls. "What?"
Ethereal sighed happily as he bit into a cupcake, the group surrounding him on both sides. "Come to hear the stories of a old Stallion?" He said with a grin, his eyes flashing in humor as the girls around him seemed practically brimming with questions. Only the young Drake seemed content, if interested in these tales Ethereal made mention of. "No, most of you came here for question." He smiled as they all nodded sheepishly. "Fine, but I will only answer one question each. The rest can be explained though my tales, if you all wish to stay around for them."
"As if they could be any more awesome than anything we have gone through." Rainbow Dash said boastfully.
"You'd be surprised, but I digress, Ask away." The gray Stallion said as he leaned back in his seat in a relaxed fashion.
Starlight raised her hoof, causing Ethereal to chuckle. "This isnt a classroom, feel free to just ask."
Starlight lowered her hoof sheepishly before clearing her throat. "I need to ask, what was that overwhelming pressure we all felt when you came here?"
Ethereal smiled at the question before opening his mouth to answer. "Simple really. That was me flexing my magic."
Twilight stood up in her seat. "That- that is impossible! Only a unicorn can control their inner magic enough to cast spells, let alone do what you've done! How did you do it?!" She said, her mane fraying slightly as the stallion's smirk never left his face.
"I used my wings as a foci instead of a unicorn's horn. Yes I am a pegasus, and that counted as your question." He said with a growing smirk as Twilight looked to be trying to wrap her head around the new information.
A shy voice tried to speak up. "Uh-um...May we see your wings?" Fluttershy asked, causing Ethereal to adopt a much more gentle smile.
"I promise young Flos that I will, but not now. Maybe when I begin my story, I will show you all, if just to prove what I say isnt fake." The shy mare smiled and nodded, content with the answer.
Applejack looked strait at the Strange stallion before asking. "Why did yah come here to ponyville? Where are yah headed?"
Ethereal chuckled "Technically two questions, but I'll answer then anyways. Ponyville is really just a stop along the way, But I'm headed to some family in Canterlot. My sisters and brother have been making stupid choices and I need to chew them out before they make more." Applejack nodded, not sensing any lies in what he had said, just that he was hiding some details. "Any other questions from the rest of you?"
Rarity cleared her throat before saying "Not to sound rude darling, but why ever are you wearing that ratty, dirty cloak?" She said with a slight hint of disgust towards the clothing.
Ethereal chuckled "This cloak has been with me since the beginning of my travels. The enchantments have failed a few times, causing it to tear a bit, but it has kept me warm during cold nights, shielded me from predators, and has kept my wings hidden for many years." He took a almost distant, happy look at the cloak, as if it were a old friend. "I won't part with it until the day it is no longer wearable." Rarity suddenly had a look of deep respect for the stallion in front of her, caring for a cloak much like her with her dresses as a smile played across the white mare's features.
Rainbow, having been surprisingly patient until now stared hard at the tall stallion. "Why do you need to hide your wings huh?" She said accusingly.
Her aggression amused Ethereal "Because if anyone sent a description of my wings, my family would instantly know my whereabouts, and I personally enjoy my privacy. Now I believe there is two who has not asked a question." He said, turning to Spike, surprising the drake. "Is there anything you wish to know little one?"
Spike looked down, thinking for a second before looking back up at Ethereal. "Why does your magic feel similar to Celestia and Luna?" He ask, shocking everypony at the table. Ethereal looked uncomfortable at the question as Spike pressed on. "Dragons have a unique sense to pick up on different ponies based off the feel of their magic, And yours felt familiar, like Celestia's and Luna's."
Ethereal sighed before looking the drake in the eyes. "I will explain that during my story if you stay to hear the tale. I am sorry but I can not answer that in any easy way without explaining the context." The table went quiet at that, once satisfied ponies now filled to the brim with new questions.
Before anymore could be said though, Pinkie looked darkly at Ethereal. "I have one question myself then, Mr. Horizon." she said as the rest of the table looked at the mare in fear. "Milk or Dark chocolate?" She asked in a dead serious voice before the stranger pony smiled.
"Why choose?"
This caused the Pink Party Pony to gasp and smile wide, hugging the stallion from across the table. "Welp, he's a good guy in my book!" She said much to the shock of those whose name was not Ethereal.
"Now then, I take it you are now all interested in my tale?" He asked the surrounding ponies who all turned to each other before giving a nod, causing Ethereal Horizon to smile. "Good, that means I may finally take off this old friend." He said, taking off his cloak and causing the others to gasp as he unfurled his wings, humor playing across his features. His wings were the size of Luna's, but seemed to not be made of feathers at all, but instead made of pure magic, his very wings seemingly containing the cosmos it's self as it gave off a prismatic effect.
"Let me tell you a story of a time before the Equestria you all now know and love. A story of a family, My family. I suppose I should now say my full title. My name is Ethereal Horizon, Child of Faust, Celestial Wing and Brother to Celestia, Luna and my brother Discord."
Now I'm sure you all have many, many questions, just as I'm sure you must think me disturbed, but please hear me out. maybe by the end of this day you will at least have food for thought. First however, I must take you back, to a time long before even your ancestors walked these lands. The day I was adopted into my family.
It would have been a day like any other. The ruling family, our god queen and her children all living their life, eating breakfast, laughing, keeping the youngest from tearing holes in reality because he didn't like peas, the normal. Well, it was until I showed up. You'll find that a constant in this story, everything normal until I show up, but where was I? Ah yes that's right.
So there they were, in the grand throne room in Castle Everfree. Faust sat on her throne, watching as her children played. Celestia and Luna running around laughing as a child draconequus chased his sisters around. The elder alicorn smiled softly at her children's antics until a loud bang came from the far side of the room. The children stopped playing before another bang rocked the doors of the room, causing the children to run over to their mother, hiding amidst her legs or behind her. Another blast and the door was thrown open a guard running in before yelling about something in the courtyard. Standing and walking swiftly, Faust confidently marched out the room and down to the courtyard, where she saw the source of the blasts. In the middle of the field, surrounded by many guards was a single sphere.
The sphere looked like a ball of prismatic lightning, sparking everywhere as the center, a swirling mass of multicolored stars, Pulsed and thrashed, as if in pain. The wind howled as it circled the sphere, Faust hearing a small voice cry. Please stop! It hurts, it hurts so much! Make the hurting stop! it said in the voice of a young colt. Faust gasped before recollecting herself, none of her guards seemingly hearing the voice. With a determined look, she simply walked forward, lightning striking all around her, but not one ever touching her. Please! I'm so alone, please... The voice spoke before the sound of heartrending sobbing, whatever it was this sphere was seemingly crying. Faust continued her path, walking closer and closer, until she looked directly as the mass of stars. Closer now, the mass looked to have the shape of a young, formless child curled up in a sobbing ball. I don't know what's going on! Why does it all hurt! Why was I left here alone!
Faust looked at the child before reaching out to the child with a hoof, tears of her own threatening to leak out of her eyes at the sight. "Shh, it's okay, you're not alone little one." She said as the mass raised its head to look at Faust. "You're not alone. I'm here, let me help." She said, taking another step forward as her leg burnt slightly from the lightning dancing around it. The colt looked at her, hesitated before sprinting into her legs to cry. Faust held the child close as the sphere slowly dissipated as if it was never there. "Shh, it's okay." She said as she rubbed the colts back, the Cosmos effect over him slowly vanishing to reveal the child beneath. A head of green-blue, almost sea-foam mane stuck out from the top of his head as his silver coat almost shined under the sun. He sniffed and opened his magenta eyes to look up at Faust, his wings being the one thing drawing her eyes. They stayed containing the stars themselves, sheeming with prismatic light as they appeared to be larger than they should on a normal Pegasus his apparent age.
"Tell me little one, do you have a name?" Faust asked the child, oblivious to the lost and confused guards surrounding them. The colt shook his head before sniffing, causing Faust to frown. It was apparent the child had no parents to speak of, but does she dare? The child is no Alicorn, despite the power displayed just mere moments ago hinting otherwise. If she was to take him in, would it be fair to her other children to watch this colt grow old while they remain relatively unaffected? Her thoughts were interupted however when the colt looked out into the distance in wonder, the morning sunshining across him as he stared off into the horizon, his ethereal wings flowing and shinning much like his coat, covering the courtyard in a prismatic light. The wing blew gently as everyone present swore they could hear... Chimes?
Everyone present felt a air of calm as the sounds played their course as Faust looked down, her foreleg rapidly healing before her eyes. And not just her, the guards present who had been struck no longer felt pain as their wounds sealed. Slowly however, the colt lowered his wings and the music faded with one last chime ringing out, echoing throughout the castle grounds before wobbling and falling over. With practiced grace, Faust caught the colt, her mind made up as she held him close. "I now know your name little one. Your name shall be Ethereal Horizon." She said as I smiled up at my mother.
As soon as I was rested enough to walk, she called out to the guards to return to their posts before leading me back to her throne where we were greeted by three very nervous children. "Mother, is it safe now?" Celestia said, taking leadership as usual. Her solid long, pink mane partly covered her face as Mother nodded with a smile.
"Yes my dawn, it's safe now, just a little something needing my help." Faust said as she gave me a caring look.
"Who's this momma?" A voice said from behind me, causing me to jump as the only known draconequus appeared from behind me.
I quickly ran to hide under Faust for a little Luna to block my way. "He doesn't look like a alicorn, so why does he feel like one?" She said as I tried to curl up into a ball.
"Luna! Discord! Stop scaring the poor colt and apoligise to your new brother!" She said, causing the two to droop their heads.
"We're sorry..." They said together in a way that, looking back, was kinda cute. This was before we all realized what she said as everyone of us, even Celestia turned to Faust.
"Wait, he's now our brother?" Said pink manes princess asked as Faust simply nodded.
"Does... Does that make you my momma?" I asked, the very first words I had spoken. They all looked at me as Faust smiled and nodded. I opened my mouth to say something else but the words failed me, emotion overwhelming my young heart before discord dived onto me.
"Yay! I finally have a brother! Oh we're going to have so much fun, you and I!" He said in an overjoyed voice, his paws wrapping around me in a hug.
Celestia.exe seemed to have crashed while Luna looked me over before shrugging, hugging me as well. "Well, at least your cute-oh! And soft!~" She said, snuggling me like a over-sized plushy.
As scared as I was, I couldn't help but smile, feeling loved as even mother walked behind us to join the hug. "Celestia, won't you join us?" Faust asked as she held out a wing.
"Come on Tia! He's soft and fluffy!" Luna said happily as she nuzzled me again.
"Come on Sunbutt!" Discord said with a giggle as Celestia finally snapped out of her trance before slowly walking over and hugging me.
Celestia whispered to Faust, thinking I couldn't hear. "Mom, he isn't a Alicorn He will grow older while we-"
"I know, Celestia, but he may defy all our expectations." Faust replied "And even so, even if what we fear happens, let us enjoy time while we have it."
I hid my hurt. I may have been young, but I knew what they meant. I didn't want to make anyone sad because of me. Faust seemingly sensed my mood as she smiled. "As much as I would love to spend the day like this, Ethereal here needs rest after the stunt he pulled today." She said as Luna and Discord groaned in disappointment. "Don't you go complaining, you can play with your brother later after he has fully recovered. Besides, I'm sure you all would love to earn ice cream later~" Faust said, brightening everypony's dace but my own, which had a look of confusion. "But only if you all let Ethereal rest, and you Ethereal stay in bed. Any questions?" I hesitated before raising my hoof.
"Uh-uhm....Wh-what's ice cream?" Causing everypony's jaw to drop in horror. Celestia even gained a determined look as she looked right into my eyes.
"You will stay in bed and you will earn that ice cream, or you will have never lived." She said in a dead serious tone as I just gulped in fear. Needless to say I went to bed that night with a brain freeze.
Ethereal chuckled at the memory as he looked outside to the setting sun. "Huh, didn't think it'd take that long. Oh well, we can continue tomorrow if you wish, but I'll only be staying a few days before heading to Canterlot." He said, getting up to leave before a few mares blocked his way.
"You arn't leaving here buster!" Twilight said, a scowl imprinted on her face. "You'd think I'd fall for that? I've read ever single book on the history of Equestria and your name has never come up. Plus I've lived with Princess Celestia and I know she never had a brother!"
Ethereal simply gave twilight a passive agressive stare as he growled out. "Kinda like you knew she didnt have a sister before Nightmare Moon? Or how about Crysalis? Or Tirek? Or even Sombra? Face it 'princess', Tia tells you between Jack and shit about our history, and censors the rest. Now, if you'll escuse me." Ethereal said before trying to walk pasted Twilight, to find a purple barrier blocking the door. "Let me out."
Twilight shook her head in anger. Ethereal sighed hotly before he snapped his wings open, shattering the alicorn-powered barrier much to everyponies shock. "Come back tomorrow if you want to hear more or don't. I'm not some villian trying to dominate or turn you to my side. I honestly could care less about titles and crowns. So I'd like it if I'm no longer treated like one. And Princess? if you still think I'm lying, ask your element of honesty friend over there first before assuming." He said before walking strait out the door and out of town.
"I'll go see where he's going." Rainbow Dash said, darting out the room before anyone could stop her. One by one all the girls left for the day until it was just Applejack and Twilight.
"So was he lying? Did he ever lie?" The purple pony asked the cowpony. Applejack just gave Twilight a somber look.
It didn't take long for Rainbow dash to catch up to the ancient stallion. There he was, trotting along with his cloak pulled tight, as if the earlier conversation never even happened. "Hold it right there!" The prismatic mare shouted as she landed in from of the stallion. "What the buck was that about huh? You expect us to just believe that crap and let you walk away?!"
"Yes."Ethereal said flatly, stunning the mare. "You believe the crap Celestia feeds you on the daily and don't go after her when it slips out, why should I expect a different result?"
"Why you-"
"I expected better of you all. An Angelica, a Prisma, a Vatis, a Alicorn, and the other two and yet none of you show a spine." Ethereal said in a disappointed tone. "None of you question your leader, your past, even what you are. A Earthpony defying reality, a Pegasus able to quell even the worst of creatures, Another Pegasus able to create rainbows to enhance their own speed, a unicorn acended, a Earthpony who has the power to know honesty, and a Unicorn who has a eye for detail, and none of you noticed the holes and lies placed before you. Why is it that Celestia would write her own sister and brothers out of history? Nightmare was just a children's story before she arrived. Discord might as well not exsisted until he broke free. And then there is me. I don't exist in any pages of history even though I was there for all of it. I was there at Faust's fall. I was there when Sombra was corrupted. I was there when Tirek broke free. I was there when the changelings were driven to endangerment. I was there when my sister gave into greef and became the Nightmare. And I was there when Celestia covered it all up, year after year, until everyone forgot about everything we had done, even forgot everything but our mother's name."
Rainbow stood still, almost frightened by all this stallion implied. "I have been a soldier in wars not my own. I have watched as mother's cried over their children's lifeless corpses. I have been stabbed, shot, burned, blasted, exploded, electrocuted, and tortured. I have gifted great gifts to this nation, nay, this world, and yet only a small handful know who I am, and only three of the six believe me, and the others are family that either try to forget or think I have died."
Ethereal sighed heavily. "But this is not your fault. You should not feel guilty for things out of your control, expecially when you are not to blame. I forget sometimes what it was like to wield Loyalty, that undying conviction, that eternal need to protect even if it doesn't truly need it or if it wrong."
At this, Rainbow looked up. "Wait, you once wielded the Element of Loyalty?" She asked, her voice having lost its edge.
"Yes, once. Then my loyalty was shaken. I could not be loyal to anyone but myself and a few others anymore, not after all that has happened." The silver stallion said with a soft sigh. "Good times those were. Good times."
"What were those things you called me and my friends? A Prisma, a Vatiz-"
"Vatis, and it saddens me more, to think that knowledge too is lost." Horizon stated. "There are more types of ponies besides the three tribes. Subspecies if you will. The Prisma are Pegasi who are blessed by the Wing, All of whom are known for the trails they leave behind them when in extreme speeds. Most noticeably when preforming what has been dived by the first as a Sonic Rainboom." Ethereal looked at the cyan pegasus's eyes, the matching eyes staring back at one another. "They were ponies whom I blessed back when that power was available to us.... The most potent being that of my bloodline...." He said, trailing off before turning around. "I will speak more of this later. For now know this- your achievements are still your own. Not every Prisma can preform the feats you do, infact most never achieve it. You are talented Rainbow Dash, and a far the best flyer of this day. Having a natural advantage does not lessen that one bit." He said before casually walking away, leaving the Rainbow mare in the streets with more to ponder and a different look on everything she had accomplished in her life.
At a tree just outside the town is where Ethereal stopped to rest. With a sigh he payed at it's base, and looked up in time to see the changing of the day, another blink and the stars were out. "I will see you soon Lulu and Discord. Meanwhile Celestia... I hope a thousand years of peace hasn't dulled your blade too much. Wouldn't be any fun if I beat you down after all these years without a fight."
Luna sighed as she looked out into the night sky, her sky. Her sister had forbade her to ever mention Discord's relationship with them. Indeed, after a trip to the library she found nothing of their history before the era of peace save for a few heartwarming tales. Nothing of their mother, nothing of Discord or herself... And no sign of Ethereal. Not even a legend or story like with discord and nightmare, nothing. Her brother might as well as not exsisted.
"Where are you, Little brother..." Luna sighed before steeling herself for her nightly duty. It was time to monitor the dream realm, and as it is she could already feel a powerful nightmare being made.
With a tired sigh, she casted her spell and soon was greeted by the familiar orbs of the dream world. Finding that nightmare would have been hard, had it not been so powerful. Like a beacon, Luna followed the trail only to be confused by the dream. No one alive should have knowledge of the old kingdom, yet there it was, the castle of her childhood standing like a sentry over a forest of old magics. Following the sound of laughter she was surprised by what she saw. There, in a clearing was her family. Her mother was there, sitting, watching as Celestia, Discord, herself and Ethereal all played and laughed like they used to. Back when the world was bright a pure, before... Before...
The the nightmare started. Ethereal ran up to Faust only for her to smile, and the scenery to change. The forest was on fire, blood soaked the floor and Faust laied there in Ethereal's arms, said Pegasus now covered in armor and scars. Faust's lifeless eyes opened to black pits. "It's your fault. You killed me."
"N-no, no I-I didnt-" Ethereal said, afraid.
"We were happy before you came. You brought the pain. You brought HIM."
"I-I'm Sorry!" He shouted only for a familiar golden glave to Pierce through him. "Celly?"
"Don't call me that, monster! You killed her! It is your fault she is dead you hear me?! Your fault." The mare shouted in a voice no one today would ever know.
"I'm sorry! I'm sorry! It's my fault! I'm sorry!" He cried, breaking down as he slumped over the weapon, snobbing.
"Enough." Luna said, making the dream fade away, leaving a broken Pegasus she though she would never see again. "Ethereal?"
One thousand, two hundred, fifty-seven years ago Three years post adoption
"Come on, wake up Lulu!" Ethereal said, laughing his musical laugh as he shook his older sister.
"Mhm... Five more hours..." Luna grumbled while she snuggled deeper into her blankets.
"Oh come on Luna, its already ten thirty, and you promised you'd play with me!" The colt grumbled, his look quite adorable to the alicorn of night.
"Oh fine..." Luna said with a yawn, throwing off the cover and causing he colt to giggle at his sister's bed head. Luna looked upset, but couldn't hold the frown before she joined the laughter. Her brother had that effect on ponies. It doesn't mater the situation, they remained loyal and always had a way of making life just a bit brighter. Luna fixed her mane. "Well then come on! What are we waiting for?" Luna said with a bright smile as the two giggled and laughed, running through the castle, heading for the doors and on a path for the forest. Their laughter filled the halls, and soon the streets of Castle Town. That is, until their path was stopped.
"Ooph! Sorry mister!" Luna said, the two having crashed into a strange looking pony with swirl black markings all over his gray fur. His ruby eyes looked down at them through his dark blue mane.
"Its okay little-" He said kindly before cutting off, seeing what filly and colt bumped into him, his eyes locking on Ethereal and causing a shiver to run up the colt's spine. "So, all that work was for nothing then. Pity." He sneered, the sudden shift in tone scaring the two children as they slowly backed up. "Now the, you two certainly saved me some time, I get to retrieve my weapon back, and take out one of you damned alicorns in one shot." He said, stomping as the black swirls on his body started to spread along the floor before spiking up, intent on stabbing the children.
"Luna!" Ethereal cried out as he threw himself in front of her, no fear in his eyes as they pierced through him, red drops flying out of his body. Luna looked in shock, followed by fear. "Run! Get mom, Discord, Celestia, anyone!" He said before his wings flashed brightly, and Luna found herself drifting away on a wind, the last thing she saw that of her little brother, the one that she was supposed to protect, staring down the stallion even as the spikes retracted and he fell to the floor.
Luna opened her eyes to find herself in the throne room. "MOMMY!" Luna yelled, running up to the throne where the queen lay, getting in her nap before the nobles pester her.
"Hm? Luna? What is it my little-"
"No time! Some weird stallion attacked Ethereal and I! Ethereal somehow teliported me back here, he is still out there!" Luna cries, running up and hugging her mother, tears in her eyes.
"What?!" Faust yelled, before she let the full force of her magic flow, any not of her family being floored from the power, the walls shaking and cracking. "Luna, take me to Ethereal! Celestia, Discord, stay here!" Faust yelled out, knowing her voice was heard as Luna ran out, her mother in tow, both hoping they are not too late.
Ethereal panted, glaring up at the stallion with the strange markings. "Oh, now that was a mistake. Now there is nothing to stop be from doing this." The stallion said as he threw some type of vial at Ethereal's feet. A sparkling mist sprang up, making Ethereal cough and cry out as his wings faded , nearly translucent and losing their luster as he fell.
"What are you doing?" Ethereal cried out as he fell over, weak.
"I already said, taking back what is mine." The stallion growled as he pressed his hoof to Ethereal's head, causing the colt to scream in pain as his body lost its physical appearance, turning slowly into the cosmos once more.
"Enough!" Blasted a loud voice, before a beam of raw alicorn power was fired at the stallion. Faust stood there, her eyes pulsating with power as she walked towards the now bleeding stallion, shadows knitting his wounds. "You dare harm my child, in my city..."
The stallion laughed darkly as he stood up from the rubble. "Your child? I'm sorry, I see no child, only my weapon." He said as shadows began to gather around him. Before he found fire a attack, Ethereal screamed as his power poured out at the stallion, dozens of miniture stars forming as they melted holes through the shadow man. The shadow left his body, fleeing for safety as the stallion screamed in fear before a final one put a hole through his head, ending his misery.
"That was my favorite puppet." The shadows growled as the cosmos that was asorbed flowed back into the screaming colt. "I will be back for my weapon Faust. Bet on it." The shadows spoke before vanishing, leaving only a shaking and crying colt, and his bewildered mother.
Present day: Dream Realm
Luna walked up to the stallion before her before bringing her hoof back and punching him, tears in her eyes. "Where have you been?! Tia didn't know, even discord couldn't find you!" She cried more as she hugged the stallion she just punched, sniffing and hickupping "I-I thought you were d-dead..." She sniffed as
Ethereal wrapped himself around his sister in a equally tight hug. "I'm sorry sister. I'm so, so sorry I scared you. But, I'm here now. I'm not leaving. There is just something I need to do first, and then I will be in canterlot before the end of the week."
"Truely? Oh!" She said, her tears now happy ones as she hugged the poor stallion tighter. "Oh discord and Tia will be so happy-"
"Actually Lulu, I need you to keep it hidden from them, expecially Tia. I have a long, probably painful talk to do with her, and it's better if she remains in the dark."
Luna frowned "Alright... But only if you tell me where you've been."
Ethereal smiled up at his older sister. "So, come to hear a story eh?"
