After being saved from the Dursleys, the live of Harry Potetr changes drasticly. Only when he starts his studies at Hogwarts, his life begins to take a slow turn towards normal. The only question is, how do you define normal?
Harry Potter is a lonly child who isn't treated verry kindly by the relatives he is living with. He Wishes for nothing more then a friend, or someone that is willing to be even more to him. Luckily for him, the spirits of the elements of harmony already knew of that a long time ago and set events into motion that will change his destiny forever.
I have read many HP/MLP Crossovers and realized one thing. In all of them Harry either ended up as a unicorn, a pegasus, or a changling, sometimes even as an alicorn, but never as an earth pony or a Thestral. Now, I think it's about time to fix this.
After a very long time, the mare imprisoned on the moon was finally able to patrol the dreamscape again, taking care of the favorite of her royal duties again. It took her a long time, 200 years to be precise, to regain the strength necessary for this, but now she is eager to start again. Still, when she enters the realm of dreams again, she notices immediately that something isn’t quite right. She wouldn’t go so far as to call it wrong, just a tad different then when she entered it for the last time.
However, she decides to push these thoughts aside, and to focus on the task at hoof. While she is on the search for dreams in need of her attention, she ignores most of them. Dismissing them as harmless, or worse, things she doesn’t want to interfere with.
Only when she enters the first true nightmare, does she understand why this realm feels different, these aren’t her ponies dreams. No, these are some weird bipedaled creatures with a distinct lack of fur, cloven hooves, and no tail to cover their private parts. Still, even if these aren’t her beloved ponies, they shouldn’t have to suffer during their time of rest.
Without much to do, and a lot of time to kill, she spends almost every moment in the dream realm, helping all of the humans in need and learning quite a lot about this violent, but nonetheless fascinating species.
The most notable aspect of this species is certainly their separation between magical and non-magical folk, with the former being driven into hiding by the actions of religious fanatics, something she was all too familiar with. She saw how over time, the distaste for them grew in the magical community, and while most only take preparations to defend themselves should the need arise, some of them demand retribution.
So it doesn’t come as a surprise to her, that one day those demandes become too strong to be ignored and wizards gather around one powerful man, who plans to lead them out of hiding to fulfill their desire. However, his plans are thwarted by an equally powerful opponent.
The following peace doesn’t last long and a new evil takes his place. The hypocrite Tom Vorlost Riddle, or more commonly known as Lord Voldemort, is possessed by the idea to clean the wizarding world from those that aren’t ‘pure’.
Once more she witnesses the rise and fall of another tyrant. Still, unlike Grindelwald, this one isn’t really dead. No, he used extremely dark magic to create seven powerful artifacts. While he is still somehow alive, he doesn't possess a body of his own. Unable to do anything else he is forced to wait until he is strong enough to take command of his followers once more.
However, unknown by himself he created an eighth artifact when he tried and failed to kill a child. Curious about what this young orphan has to endure, Princess Luna studies the dreams of the young human colt Voldemort tried to kill. While they don't stand out from all of the other dreams at first, it saddens her just how much darker they turn with each passing day. At first she doesn’t interfere with them, but when the nightmares get so strong that she can’t simply end them anymore, she decides to take a more active role in ensuring the child's well-being..
Unlike usual, he didn’t just have a bad day, no, today was much worse. He really believed that when he had to go back to school, he would finally be safe from his cousin. Sadly this isn’t the case. No, Dudley and his goons already cornered him at recess and beat him up, simply because they had been bored.
While he called for help, his classmates either didn’t care or they were too afraid of Dudley and his gang. Expecting the worst, should they be foolish enough to help him. Either way, he came home with a new set of bruises, only to get yelled at by his uncle for being late once more, who purposefully ignored his slight limp.
However, once he had prepared dinner and cleaned everything afterwards, without being allowed to actually eat anything, he was left to his own devices for an hour before he was locked into his room once more.
Unable to do anything else, he went to bed early, hoping that he could get some more sleep than usual. Sadly, this proved to be more difficult than he expected, due to the loud noises coming from the living room. When he finally fell asleep, something odd happened shortly after his usual nightmares began.
His cousin was holding him against a wall with his left hand, while pulling his right hand back in preparation to deliver yet another blow, when he heard someone shout, “BEGONE FOUL BEASTS!” Much to his surprise, it worked, causing Dudley, his goons, and everyone else that had been watching to vanish into thin air.
Since it took him a moment to comprehend what just happened, it doesn’t come as a surprise, when he only notices that something is approaching him once it stands directly in front of him. Taken completely off guard, he stumbles back in fright and falls on his backside, which forces him to look up and right into the eyes of this winged, black, unicorn.
“I am sorry young one, I didn’t want to scare you,” the horse-like creature says much to the boy’s amazement, who didn’t expect this creature could talk. On the other hand, someone had just shouted something and its voice sounded incredibly similar to the one he just heard.
“It’s okay,” he replies after a few moments, now having noticeably calmed down, once he realized that this creature doesn’t bear any ill will towards him. “But, who are you?”
“I? I am just somepony that thinks that a colt that already has a hard life in his waking hours, doesn’t deserve to have one in his dreams as well,” she answers. While he understands what she is saying, it confuses him slightly to be called a colt, but In truth, he doesn’t mind this at all. “Now, how about we do something fun instead?”
Even if her proposal comes unexpectedly, he doesn’t decline it. Never had someone asked him to do something fun, well expect Dudley of course, but their definition of ‘fun’ differs to the extreme. Unable to come with anything of his own, he asks this creature for suggestions, knowing that it can’t be worse than his usual nightmares.
“Let’s go flying,” she answers immediately, sounding so sincere, that he actually believes her. It leaves no doubt that she is truly planning this, but there is still one big problem.
“How? I don’t have wings.” The young boy voices his thoughts in confusion, curious how she plans to solve this problem.
“This is a dream Harry, here you can be whatever you want to. Just focus on it and we can make it happen.” The mare replies confidently, knowing that the human colt will be able to fly, if he truly desires this.
Slowly the dream begins to change, but unsatisfied with the slow progress, she uses a bit of her own magic to assist Harry in his endeavour. Where they used to be in a dark schoolhouse corridor earlier, they quickly find themself in a vast open mountain range. While she expected something along this line, she certainly didn’t expect him to choose the form he did. Where a young human boy stood only moments before, there is now a green Bat-Pony with a two-toned blue mane, tail, and a green coat, in his place.
“This feels weird,” he replies, closely inspecting his new appearance. He gives a few careful flaps with his new wings before turning his attention to the now significant larger mare. “So, how does this work?”
A short instruction later, the two are up in the air, flying for all its worth. They play various different games before Harry lands on a hilltop, quickly followed by who he now knows as Luna.
“That was great, can we do this again someday, Luna?” He asks her, laying in the soft grass, taking a bite of the sandwich, that had been in a conveniently placed basket. For once, he is content with the world and he tells himself that this may just be a dream, but it’s a great one.
“Of course, Harry,” the mare replies happily, glad that the colt enjoyed the time they spent together as much as she did.
From that moment on, they spend almost every night together and a great friendship forms between these two, until everything changes one day.
01 A Summer Sun Celebration with an unexpected twist
It had been a very hectic day in Ponyville with quite a few unusual things happening, but that doesn’t come as much of a surprise as somepony may think. After all, it isn’t everyday that a small town like Ponyville has to prepare to host one of the most important celebrations in Equestria. The Summer Sun Celebration to be exact.
From the many things happening on this day, one sticks out. Three hours after sunrise, a young unicorn mare from Canterlot arrived via chariot, tasked with ensuring that everything runs smoothly. While she usually only cares about her studies, and the occasional task assigned by her mentor, she has a self-appointed mission today.
Now, hours after she ensured that indeed everything is in order, everypony is assembled in the town hall, eagerly waiting for the arrival of their sovereign. The mayor of this town holds a short speech to praise their princess, before the curtain on the balcony is pulled back. But where there is supposed to stand a white alicorn, much to the shock of everypony, there is simply nothing.
Worried murmurs are heard everywhere, but the crowd falls into silence when a blue mist begins to flow into the room from an open window next to the balcony. Once the mist is gone, a black alicorn with bat-like wings, a white crescent moon as cutie mark, and clad in impressive silver armor, stands in the middle of the balcony.
“Oh my beloved subjects, it has been so long since I had the pleasure to be with anypony.” The mare said delighted to be finally away from the moon. Sadly, the reaction of the gathered ponies was far away from what she had hoped.
“What did you do to our Princess?” a cyan pegasus asks aggressively. Wouldn’t it be for a strong earth pony holding her by her tail, she surely would be right in the face of the unexpected guest.
“Which one?” the alicorn replies much to the surprise of everypony.
“Well, Princess Celestia of course. Why should Princess Mi Amore Cadenza ever be here?” A white unicorn replies, not expecting the mysterious alicorn to look at her in shock. After all, she intended the question to be a mere joke. True, there once was Princess Platinum, but said pony passed away a long time ago.
“I don’t know what game you are playing here, Nightmare Moon, but I won’t allow you to bring eternal night tor Equestria!” a purple unicorn in the middle of the crowd shouts angrily, gaining the attention of everypony around her.
Dumbfounded, the yet to be named alicorn looks down at the crowd. “Wait, are you serious,” she asks several moments later, only to break out in uncontrolled laughter, when the purple unicorn confirms this.
Unable to control herself, she rolls around laughing on the balcony, only to roll over the railing, landing very uncomfortably on the floor. Her undignified way down from the balcony helps her to get herself back under control.
Once she is standing on all of her four hooves again, she addresses the hilarious unicorn. “First of all, such foolishness would only lead to the end of all life. And second, I am Princess Luna, not whatever my backstabbing sister came up with.”
“However, as nice as it is to see that my sister didn’t lead Equestria into complete ruin, there is some important business I have to take care of immediately.” With that, the self-appointed princess makes her way towards the town hall’s exit, but pauses for a moment to say one more thing, before vanishing into the night. “Before I forget it, you’ll probably find my sister in the crystal mines under Mount Canterhorn, that's where her favorite hiding spot used to be.”
It’s a sad alicorn that walks out of the town hall, taking to the sky only moments later, hearing the start of multiple conversations. Truly, that is not how she expected her return to Equestria to be, but it’s still better than what her sister could have done.
At least, due to the hostile welcome she received, she has no regrets for what she is about to do. In silence she thinks about all the spells she may need to cast, should Harmony deny her request. As she flies over the Everfree forest, she is shocked beyond belief when she sees what these once beautiful woods have become.
Still, that isn’t the worst discovery she will make this day. When she spots the beloved castle she and her sister grew up in lying in ruins, she is unable to hold her tears back anymore. She cries for all it’s worth, debating for a short moment with herself, if she should turn around and give Celestia a piece of her mind, but ultimately decides against it. Only the knowledge that there is a colt in need of her help keeps her on course.
Once she landed in front of her old home, she paused for several moments before she walked into it. She takes a quick look in the old throne room before she makes her way into the tower her private chambers were located in.
When she enters said room, she is surprised to see that the room looks the same as the day she left. With a happy look upon her face, she opens her heavily enchanted personal vault and picks up a good amount of gems and many bits, stuffing them into her old saddlebags.
After picking up some very personal items, she gives the room a once over, making sure that she forgot nothing when her gaze comes to a stop at her desk. After debating with herself for a short moment, she sat down and wrote a short letter to her sister before leaving the room again.
She searches the entire castle for the old artifacts they defeated Discord with, the very ones her treacherous sister turned against her, but without success. Unable to find them, she makes her way into the cave the Tree of Harmony is located in.
A sigh of relief escapes her when she finds the Elements of Harmony exactly where they took them from, such a long time ago. It takes her only a few more steps until she stands directly in front of the Tree of Harmony. She kneels down in front of it before voicing her request. “Spirits of Harmony, please lend me your strength once more. There is a young colt that needs my help and I am unsure that my magic is strong enough to reach him on my own.”
Nothing happens for quite some time and the alicorn is considering if she should just get up to leave and try plan B, when she feels a hoof touching her chin, lifting it up. “Of course we will help you Luna. But you need to know that Harry is important to his world. Even if his fate isn’t written in stone yet, he can’t leave that world for too long before the evil there is defeated for good.”
“Thank you, thank you all,” she replies gratefully to the six spirits in front of her, not having expected her request to actually be granted. Not after how she and her sister endangered the harmony in Equestria a thousand years ago.
“From the moment you touch our roots with your hooves, the three of you will be able to change your appearance and travel between Earth and Equestria at will.” The six spirits say in unison before vanishing as suddenly as they appeared only moments before.
Luna ponders for a few moments why the spirits said that three would gain the ability to travel between dimensions, but dismisses it as unimportant for now, quite certain that it doesn’t involve her sister.
Just as instructed, she carefully places her right forehoof on one of the many roots, unaware how the powerful magic she gains is felt for a short moment by everypony in Equestria.
She holds it there for several seconds before she teleports to a park on earth, close to her young friend's home. However, she is unaware that her arrival on earth has ensured that another young boy will have a very special dream tonight, granting him new abilities which he will keep secret for quite some time.
Fifteen minutes earlier:
A white alicorn is lying comfortably on a cushion in her old hideout beneath Canterlot, drinking tea. She is waiting patiently for a sign that her faithful student has ended the old conflict with her sister for good, when a letter suddenly appears, landing directly in front of her.
While she is confident that Twilight was successful, this isn’t quite the sign she had been expecting. Nonetheless she picks the piece of parchment up with her magic, only to gasp in shock at the sight of Luna’s seal. She can only stare in disbelief at the accursed thing, wondering what went wrong in Ponyville.
After a few moments curiosity gets the better of her and she opens it, curious about its content, only for color to drain from her face, which itself is quite a remarkable feat due to her wite coat.
Dear sister,
I don’t know what plans you had for my future, but I can happily say that all of them failed.
When we had our last fight a millennium ago, and I was mere inches away from victory, you attempted to force your will upon me with the Elements of Harmony. Still both of us know that this didn’t work as you cheating cake obsessed maniac intended.
However, nothing of this matters anymore, since I will leave Equestria within the next hour.
Under different circumstances I would tell you how much I hope that you enjoy your solitude, but I honestly don't care anymore. But don’t think that you get rid of me that easily. I will return one day and there is nothing you can do against this. For now, I have far more important things to take care of.
However, I think you should know that I forgave you a long time ago.
Your loving sister, Luna
P.s.: Attempting to bring endless night??? You honestly couldn't come up with a better excuse for my long absence? That is just disappointing.
Unwilling to believe what is written on that piece of parchment, she reads the letter two more times, but much to her shock, she hasn’t misread a single word. She lost her sister a millennium ago through her own foolishness, and now, only a few hours after she was freed, she already wants to leave again?
Whatever possessed her to do this, she can’t let it happen, not again. Deeply regretting what she did all those years ago, she teleports directly to Ponyville, hoping that she can get some answers there.
Upon her arrival she immediately makes her way to the town hall, expecting most ponies to be in there. Those expectations prove to be correct, but unlike she had hoped, many of the ponies there are arguing.
Once the citizens of the town realized that they weren’t alone anymore, they turn around. Upon seeing the solar alicorn, they blurted out just how relieved they were, now knowing that she is safe. In a cacophony of different voices they bombard her with a multitude of questions regarding a certain black alicorn.
Black? Luna's coat used to be blue. She thinks about that for a moment, wondering how this happened. She comes to the conclusion that Luna may have never reversed the color changing spell, she used to prank her sister a few days before their fight.
She gives the gathered ponies some time to calm down before she clears her throat, silencing them immediately. “Are you sure the visiting alicorn had a black coat and not a midnight blue one?”
“Yes, your highness,” one of the many ponies in the crowd replies before hastily adding, “she looked very worried and told us that she had something important to take care of before she left in a rush.”
She thanks the pony that just proved that she didn’t mishear earlier, wondering why her sister didn’t change back to her normal coat color. Luna knew how much she despises this color, or was this exactly why?
“Do any of you know in which direction she went,” she asked the assembled ponies, keeping on the mask of the calm ruler, while in truth, she has trouble keeping her emotions in check.
“She was heading towards the Everfree Forest.” Once more, she thanks the pony that answered her question before she leaves the building, taking off in the direction of her old home.
Fully aware that she has no time to spare, she flies faster than she has done in a very long time. She is so focused on her task that she barely registers the cone forming around her. Flying gets harder every moment, and she is tempted to slow down but with how little time she has, she puts all her strength into her wings and powers through that cone.
While the ponies in Ponyville notice the beautiful expanding ring of flames, she doesn’t care that she broke the sound barrier for the first time in over twelve hundred years, she is far too much in a hurry, to pay attention to such little things.
However, even with the power boost of the solar blast, she still isn’t fast enough. Less than a minute after that, she feels a mighty surge of magic coming from the Tree of Harmony. Instantly, she realizes that she has lost her sister yet again.
Nonetheless, she continues her flight towards the source of the magic she felt, hoping that against all odds, she can find a way to her sister and maybe convince her to come back home.
Vernon Dursley was having a great day. Not only had he finished his work for the day much earlier than expected, but his business meeting also showed great results, far better than he hoped. If everything continues to run as good as it is, he will make the biggest deal of his career next week. This would definitely lead to a promotion. Sadly, his luck wouldn’t last.
When the doorbell rang, he considered ignoring it for a short moment before deciding that he should see what else the day had in store for him.
However, all color drained from his face as he opened the door, realizing immediately that his luck had run out. On the welcome mat to his home stood two police officers flanking a man wearing a cheap grey suit.
“Mister Dursley, may we enter?” one of the two police officers asks him. Knowing that this isn’t really a question, he allows them to enter, not wanting to give his neighbors any gossip by causing a scene on the doorstep.
“How can I help you fine gentlemen,” he asks shortly after closing the door behind his unexpected guests, showing them the way to the living room, hoping that this won’t be about what he feared it could be about.
“Mister Dursley, my name is Mister Stein, and I’m with Children’s Services. We have received reports that a child, one Harry James Potter, has suffered abuse and neglect at this address.” Vernon began to deny knowing the boy only to have Mr Stein interrupt him, “We have already verified this address with Harry's school. It would be best for your case if you were to tell the truth.”
Seeing the looks of the officers, he reluctantly directed them to the small compartment beneath the stairs while saying the boy was in his room.
It was clear by the reaction of the three gentlemen that he was indeed in a lot of trouble. More so, when they saw the child’s condition. A fresh black eye that he’d come home with, along with a number of poorly treated scratches and bruises. One of the officers excused himself to retrieve a first aid kit from their car.
The boy looked confused as he awoke, seeing a police officer and a man he’d never seen before looking him and his room over. “Harry James Potter?” When the boy confirmed it, Mr Stein introduced himself and told him a concerned party had informed them of Harry's situation. When asked, he elaborated that they would bring him to the hospital for treatment, and then arrange for a new foster home for him.
Harry gathered his stuff and followed the man out to one of the waiting cars nervously, leaving Mister Dursley with the officers. Surprisingly, someone was waiting for him in the passenger seat. Instinctually he knew who it was, “Luna? Is it really you?”
She smiled and nodded, “I told you I will keep you safe.” Stepping out of the car she swept him up in a hug.
“What will happen now,” he asks worriedly after several moments of silence, not loosening his grip around the woman’s neck.
“Well, after we get you checked out, I thought it would be a good idea to get something to eat before I show you our new home.” To no one's surprise, Harry accepts her proposal without a second thought.
“Mom, how have you been able to get everything arranged so fast?” the young boy asks while stepping into their new home for the first time. Also, it is the first time in his life being truly satisfied with a meal. While it wasn't much, a double cheeseburger with fries was more than he ever got from his relatives in a single meal.
“Being able to communicate with others during their dreams has many advantages, one of them being that you aren’t bound to business hours.” she replies with a smug grin, following him inside.
“And how could you afford all this?” he continued questioning, gesturing at everything around them. What he sees must have cost a small fortune, especially if she set everything up in the short time she hadn't visited him in his dreams.
“Let’s just say that there are some things that are far more common in Equestria than here.” she answers with a smug grin, knowing that there is nothing able to stop her from taking advantage of this, except some moral boundaries. True, she still has plenty of gems safely stored in a bank, but she sees them more as an emergency measure than spending money. Relying on them too much would only raise questions. Questions she rather not answer.
After answering a few more questions, Luna gives Harry a tour of the house, ending at his room, which is surprisingly empty. “I thought it would only be fair if you choose your own furnishings when we go shopping tomorrow.”
“But where will I sleep tonight,” he asks surprised, still gobsmacked by everything that happened during the last few hours.
“How about we turn that one dream where my favorite little bat is sleeping cuddled up with her mother into a reality?” Excited by the sheer thought of this becoming real, Harry doesn’t notice Luna’s slight slip up. No, instead he focuses on all the things Luna told him about the Elements of Harmony, and the explanation on how he could turn into a pony in the real world. True, he could have done this for quite a while but he was too scared of how the Dursleys would react, should they ever find out about this ability .
“Before you change, you need to remember that some of the changes are going to be permanent,” Luna interrupts him, making him lose his concentration.
“What do you mean,” he asks the one person he had been calling mother in his dreams for quite some time. While he is slightly confused, he already has a good guess what this could be about. He would be a true fool to believe that she wouldn’t have noticed.
“Do you really think I haven’t noticed that you never changed into a colt?” she replies with a smile, causing the young boy's cheeks to turn a bright red as his guess is confirmed.
“I don’t care. A change that results in one less thing reminding me of my life with the Dursleys is a good change, even if it's something fundamental like that,” he replies confidently, not surprising Luna in the slightest with his answer. Those decisions had been made a long time ago and if she would have anything against it, she would have made herself known a long time ago. No, she just wanted to make sure that Harry is aware of the finality of his actions.
With that out of the way, she watches happily as he changes into a pony for the first time in the waking world. “You look as adorable as ever,” she replies, complimenting her new daughter before she also changes into a pony.
Much to the young filly’s surprise, Luna picks her up by the neck and carries her in her own room, where she gently drops her on the bed before laying down next to her. As promised only a minute ago, she pulls the filly close to her and gently lays a wing over her. “I doubt I should continue to call you Harry anymore. This name certainly doesn’t fit a girl, nor a filly,” she states matter-of-factly, looking her foal in the eyes before asking if she has any ideas of her own.
“How about Nightrose?” is her quick reply, eager to get rid of one more thing that reminds her of the time she was trapped with the Dursleys.
“That sounds lovely,” Luna confirms that she thinks of it as a good idea only moments later before she decides to add a little something to that. “How about Rose or Rosie for short?”
Once these decisions are made, they talk for a bit more before the renamed Nightrose falls asleep. As much as Luna wants to join her, she has too much to think about. Most importantly, how could she make the changes of Rose's name and gender official without drawing unwanted attention. It is with a heavy sigh that she realizes, this won't work without bribing one or two people. While she had planned to never do this again, it looks like this one time there is no way around it.
Somewhere in London, in a very well hidden building, unnoticed by the many wizards and witches working there, documents changed, some disappeared, some new ones were created.
True, self updating paperwork may have it’s benefits, but not immediately becoming aware of important changes can be a major drawback for those involved with said documents.
A week has passed since the Summer Sun Celebration took an unexpected twist and Princess Mi Amore Cadenza is extremely worried by now. While her beloved aunt continued to raise the sun and moon regularly, even if not always on time, she hadn’t returned to Canterlot yet.
That is the exact reason why she had put Raven Inkwell, Princess Celestia’s personal aid in charge of everything until both of them return to Canterlot. While Miss Inkwell wasn’t pleased with this decision, she complied reluctantly.
Ponyville had been her first stop, and as much as she enjoyed meeting Twilight again, the mare wasn’t as much of a help as she had hoped. The only thing Twilight was able to tell her was that Princess Celestia had followed a mysterious black alicorn in the Everfree Forest.
Without further ado she made her way into the Everfree Forest as well. While it didn’t take her too long to find the ruins of an old castle in the forest, a detailed search of the castle ended empty-hoofed.
Annoyed by her lack of success, she decided to take a short break on one of the castle’s balconies. However, she had barely set a hoof on the balcony when it collapsed under her weight.
Taken completely off guard by this, she falls down and crashes hard on the ground of a gorge that just had to be there. Once she gets up again, she takes a look around and is surprised to spot a set of stairs on one end, while the other end leads into a cave. After a short moment of consideration which way to follow, she slowly walks into the cave, wondering how she could have missed that earlier.
Barely five minutes in she finds her aunt, standing right in front of a crystal tree, horn aglow and surrounded by mountains of used parchment. "Auntie, what are you doing here? Everypony is worried sick about you."
"Why should they Cadence, I have not been gone that long," the white alicorn replies instantly, not really paying attention, still focused on her task, whatever it might be.
"I think a week without any word from you is long enough for everypony to start worrying.” Cadence replies, while looking over her aunt's shoulder, trying to make out what her aunt is currently working on.
"It is that long already? It certainly didn't feel that long," the solar alicorn replies once more, surprise evident in her voice.
"Yes, it is. Some of the nobles are already trying to take advantage of your long absence. Raven has so far kept them from doing anything rash, but there’s only so long that she can delay them.” The hint of annoyance in this statement alone is enough for her to convince Celestia of the truth. “You really should come back and take a break from your research. Even if it’s just a day or two, to put the nobles back into their place. “
Much to the Princess of Love’s surprise, the solar alicorn picks up, picks a small stack of papers up in her magic and incinerates the rest before she walks to the cave’s exit. “Then let's not dawdle anymore. I think I have learnt everything I can here and my studies can continue back home over a nice cup of tea.
Celestia then explains to the pink alicorn why she had been down here, examining this tree and where that alicorn from the Summer Sun Celebration went. Much to Cadence's surprise, Princess Celestia breaks out into a fit of laughter, when she replies that it ‘Sounds easy enough.’
“Tell me Cadence, what do you know about dimensional travel?” Celestia responds sternly. A short look at her aunt's face makes it clear to Cadence how important this is to Celestia. It also makes Cadence realize that she has to deal with the nobles far more in the future than she is comfortable with, should her gut feeling be correct.
Three months have passed since Rose was freed from her horrible life with the Dursley's and after a process of healing, her daughter is for the first time content with her lot in life.
Luna however isn't. While money isn't an issue for them, she never expected to be so bored, after everything had been arranged. True, there is plenty to do raising a child, but nothing so challenging as when she used to pick up her sister’s slack.
Still, she wouldn't change it for anything in the world, unimportant if in this world or Equestria. And while she begins to miss her sister again, she is in no rush to visit her. Still, for now she just wants to finish the current chapter in her book before she starts to prepare lunch. True, she could easily hire a cook, but she enjoys it far too much to do so.
However, her plans for the day are thwarted when she hears the annoying sound of the doorbell. She takes a look at the clock over the fireplace before she gets up with a heavy sigh, knowing that it’s far too early for Rose to come back from school.
On her way over there she can only wonder who it could be at this time. It's definitely not the mailman, since he came by an hour ago. However, once she opens the door she freezes in shock upon realizing just who is visiting her so early in the day. Truly, nothing could have prepared her for that so she does the only reasonable thing. “Tia, what the fuck are you doing here?”
"Luna, can I come in please?" The mare turned woman asks pleadingly, desperation evident in her voice.
It may be a bit reluctant, but she still leads her sister into the living room, already having a guess why she is here. If she is right, it would definitely not be a topic you should discuss on your front porch. "If you are here to convince me to come with you to Equestria, the answer is no."
The owner of the house asks her guest, not pleased in the slightest by the prospect to return to that place. True, Equestria used to be her home, but it has changed so much from the last time she was there that she highly doubts that she could ever feel at home there again. When her sister confirms her guess is correct, it is easy for her to say no.
"What, why?" Celestia replies in absolute shock, never having expected to be denied just like that.
"I can't. I have responsibilities here that I can't just drop out of a whim. Also, it isn't a decision I can make alone," Luna replies, enjoying the look of confusion on her face that comes from the second part of her answer.
"Take a look around the house and you will understand. Once you are done, come into the kitchen and we can talk. For now, I have a meal to prepare." While they both go their separate ways, Luna can only wonder how her sister will react when she finds her niece's room.
When Luna asked me to take a look around the house, I was indeed curious about how my sister lives. A lot of the things I expected my sister to have, I did indeed find around the house. However, the room I entered only moments ago isn’t one of those.
I wonder if Luna did take up foal sitting like Cadence, but a closer look around the room suggests something different. Unlike in Cadence’s room, there aren’t pictures of all the different foals she foalsat, instead they are all focused on one.
Besides, there had been pictures of this human foal in other rooms as well. Slowly, I get an inkling to what exactly is going on here and just how much of an impact this would have on Equestria, if I don’t return with one, but two new princesses accompanying me.
It would also explain what Luna meant when she said that “it isn’t a decision I can make alone.”
I inspect this room once more very thoroughly, but the only other thing I notice now is a framed adoption certificate, confirming what I already suspected. While I am curious about how it came to this, it also makes me wonder if Luna is still single or if she is engaged in any way.
As I meet up with Luna again, I immediately begin to ask away, hoping that I get at least some of my questions answered. What I get in response is a long story, in which I learn many terrible things. Things I never imagined somepony could do to another. After all, Luna didn’t just simply tell me about her daughter, but she also gave me a quick summary of this world's history in the last 800 years.
All those things from the crusades, the witch hunts, the mass enslavement of the African people, the Death Eaters, and the Nazis made ponies like Sombra look like a foal throwing a tantrum.
With all that knowledge, I have to fight the urge to grab her, and immediately drag her home by her tail. Even if I know that she would never forgive me for this. Besides, I don’t know if she can come back here on her own. No, if I want her to leave this place behind for good, I need to convince her, which will be very complicated. Still, I have to ask her. “Luna, will you return home with me?”
“Permanently? Not any time soon, but maybe Rose and I will visit you during the summer holidays, how does that sound to you?”
“It’s a start.” I reply to my sister's rebuttal, which also gives me a great idea. Why focus on my sister? I am sure that if I can convince Nightrose to stay, Luna would stay as well. Also, I want to have a look at this dark mark on Rose’s head Luna told me about. Maybe we could use the Elements of Harmony to get rid of it.
True, I took them back to the tree after I foolishly attacked my sister with them, but would they still accept me as their bearer? I can only hope so. If not, the consequences could be fatal, should a new threat arise.
“Tia, how did you even manage to come here? The Spirit of the Elements mentioned a third person with Rose’s and my ability, but I can’t imagine that to be you.”
I freeze in absolute horror at her question, having hoped to avoid it for much longer. “I may have convinced a certain draconequus, that helping me is wiser than drawing my ire.”
“How?” Luna asks surprised, not having believed something like that to be possible.
“When he broke free out of his stony prison, I threatened to resurrect his mother, should he not behave.”
Seven long weeks. Seven long weeks have passed since the devices observing Harry Potter stopped working without warning. At first he simply thought that they broke, so he examined and tried to fix them, but whatever he tried, nothing worked. It was two weeks after that day when he finally accepted that it had nothing to do with his creation, but something must have happened to the boy.
He personally visited the Dursley’s residence, only to get an unwelcome surprise. If those muggles living there are to believed, the Dursleys got arrested for child abuse and neglect a few months ago. He questioned a few of their neighbors, but despite informing him that there was something about them in the local newspaper a while ago. He didn’t learn anything useful.
He thought about the situation for a few moments, considering if he should directly go to the Ministry of Magic Archives, or if he should head to the office of the local newspaper and look into their archives first.
He went with the second option and after paying an expensive fee, he learned quite a few interesting things. Obviously, the accusations regarding the Dursleys were correct and they had been indeed arrested. While Dudley had been placed with a foster family, it said nothing about Harry. However, there is a short comment at the end of an article, that the second child in their care had been adopted by someone who wishes to stay anonymous.
While this is indeed interesting, he didn’t get all the information he had been looking for. So it is with a heavy sigh that he leaves the building and he makes his way into a dark alley. From where he aparates directly to the Ministry of Magic, hopefully, unseen by any muggles.
The moment he arrives at the ministry, he is quick to make his way towards the Archives, hoping that he is finally able to get some of his questions answered. Sadly, what he learned there raised only more questions. Truly, the records can’t be right. If they are to be believed, Lily and James never gave birth to a boy, but a girl with the name Nightrose.
After their death, the Guardianship changed to Petunia and Vernon Dursley before around a few months ago said girl got adopted by a Miss Luna Eveningstar. He decided to have a look at this mysterious lady as well, only to gasp in shock at what he learned.
If the documents are to be believed, this woman is older than the school he is headmaster of. It also says that she is princess in a land with the unusual name Equestria, some place he had never heard of before. The latter he is willing to believe, but the former is hard to accept. There's just no way that a person he has never heard of before is twice, if not even thrice as old as his friend Nicolas Flamel.
With all of his resources he could use without gaining too much attention spent, there is only one artifact that could tell him the truth. He aparated back to Hogwarts and went directly to the book of administration. However, as he opened it and skipped through the pages of what would be the year Harry Potter is supposed to enter Hogwarts, he got the biggest surprise of them all. Not only has Harry's name indeed been replaced by that of Nightrose Eveningstar, but there had also been a few additions with unusual names as well.
Still, this was two weeks ago, and just this morning his devices started working again. Informing him about what he still believes to be "Harry's" current location. And now he is standing in front of a large house, you could almost say a mansion, on the outskirts of Swindon, waiting for the door to open, so he can solve this mystery.
“Good evening Professor Dumbledore, how can I help you?” A black haired woman, looking like she is in her mid thirties asks, looking warily at him.
“If you are Miss Luna Eveningstar, then I would like to talk with you. Otherwise, I may have just wasted both of our time.” He asks in response, wondering how she already knows who he is, but dismisses it as nothing important.
“In that case we may just move this to the parlor. I hope you agree that that would be a much better place to hold a conversation.” The large woman lets him enter her house and leads him directly into a comfortable furnished room, not willing to delay this any longer than necessary.
“Now, what earned me the pleasure of your visit,” she asked the elderly man once they sat down for some tea and cake. He on the other hand decides to sample his tea first before he settles on a course of action. True, he had hoped to speak with the boy/girl first, whatever she/he prefers, but he has to work with what he gets.
“I came here to tell you why Harry Potter must return to the Dursleys as…”, is as far as he comes before he suddenly finds himself on the floor, a pair of hooves pressing him down quite forcefully.
“Did you truly just say that Harry shall return to those abominations?” The creature standing atop him asks, its voice full of anger and hatred. If it wasn’t for the green coated body and the blue mane, he would believe that one of the Thestral's at Hogwarts decided to go on a little trip.
“Now I will ask you one question and you will answer truthfully, am I clear?” it addresses him, not giving him the chance to answer the first question. He is curious why this creature atop him is so interested in the boy's wellbeing. While he gets an inkling that there is more to it than you would guess on the first look, he quickly agrees to its demand.
“Are you the one responsible that Harry had to live with the Dursleys for so long,” it asks him coldly, sending shivers down his spine. He considers lying to it for a moment, but decides against it, rightfully believing that this creature would be more upset about the lie than the actual truth.
“Yes, I made sure he arrived there safely,” he admits his involvement. Showing at least a flicker of self-preservation instinct when he wisely withholds the information about Minerva's concern regarding that family. Still, it doesn’t save him from five broken ribs as the creature rears up and slams it’s hooves into his chest.
“Rose, stop!” The woman yells, and much to his surprise, he is saved from another attack by it, allowing him to bring some air back into his lungs. “Now, turn back!” She continues her orders, and much to his surprise it takes not even a second before a young girl stands at the same spot, that thing stood before.
Normally he would be amazed by this instant transformation, asking her to repeat it so he can learn more about how it worked, but there is something else that gets his full attention. The girl has a scar on her forehead. A scar that looks suspiciously similar to a scar he saw on a boy’s forehead many years ago, allowing only one conclusion.
The information he gained two weeks ago is indeed accurate. Somehow, young Harry managed to turn himself into a girl, mastering a kind of transformation he has never seen before. However, that is something he has to think more of later. With how the girl reacted to his suggestion to go back to the Dursleys, there is no chance he can convince her to agree with it. So, how can he ensure Lily and James’ child’s safety from now on without drawing their ire?
When he gets up again many moments later with his thoughts back under control, he notices that Rose has joined Miss Eveningstar on the large couch she had been seated on before Rose’s outburst. He also notices that the armchair he sat in is standing upright again and from the gestures Miss Eveningstar is making, she wants him to sit down. “I believe we have gotten off on the wrong foot. If you allow me, I would like to explain why I decided to place Harry with the Dursleys.”
“That is the best idea you have had since arriving here, professor,” Miss Eveningstar replies in an annoyed voice and he has to agree with her. Would he have approached the matter more carefully, maybe he wouldn’t be in so much pain from his broken ribs right now.
“In May 1980 I was at a job interview, when the woman I met made a prophecy regarding a child born at the end of July. Proclaiming that the one with the power to defeat the dark lord was born on the last day of July.” Looking at Nightrose, “Believing that this would be you, Voldemort killed your parents before he tried and failed to kill you.”
“Upset about the supposed death of their leader due to the hands of a child, many of his followers wanted, and still want revenge, and are searching for you. Never would they have imagined that a young wizard with the ability to defeat their master would be living with a pair of Muggles.”
“People without the ability to see and use magic,” he adds a few moments later upon seeing their confused expression at the term Muggle. While Rose sounds genuinely surprised at that, he notices that his explanation of both, the word Muggle, and the information he just revealed, doesn’t have the same effect on Miss Eveningstar. Making him suspect that she isn’t as uninformed as he believed her to be.
“If this is true, why them and not another family,” Rose replies after letting this information sink in, not sounding pleased at what she considers an oversight in his plans.
“True, this might have worked, but I hadn’t done so for two reasons. That I never expected your Miss Dursley to treat you so poorly should be obvious. However, the second reason is far more important. When your mother sacrificed herself to protect you, very old, powerful magic got invoked, which protected you from Voldemort's curse.
And while this magic is still protecting you to this day, it comes with a price. To sustain it, you must either live with someone having magic, even if it’s barely noticeable, or in a very loving environment. Believing that Petunia fulfilled both requirements, it seemed like the best option at that time. I may know just how much she despises magic, but that doesn’t change the fact that she is a Squib.” Professor Dumbledor finishes his explanation before either of them is able to voice any protest about her aunt fulfilling both factors.
“Thank you Professor, this has indeed been very enlightening.” Miss Eveningstar says after several moments of silence, definitely not pleased at all with what he just told them. “But from your own words, I suspect that Voldemort isn’t as dead as many believe.”
It’s with a heavy sigh that he admits that she is correct before he tells them about his suspicions and his search for the Horcruxes. Sadly, he doesn’t know how many Voldemort made and that except for one, he doesn’t know where he could have hidden them.
It’s then that Rose leaves the room, with the excuse that she still has to take care of her homework. “Make sure you are done before we leave,” Miss Eveningstar reprimands the girl before turning her focus back on her guest. “As interesting as your theories about the Horcruxes are, you avoided telling us what happened to Voldemort’s followers once he was defeated?”
“Some went to Askaban, but many of them got free under the excuse that the Imperious Curse forced them to commit all these despicable acts. It is more than flimsy, but no one ever bothered to look further into it. What’s even worse, most of the accused still hold important positions in the Wizengamot.”
It takes him some more time to explain what Azkaban and the Wizengamot are, but the more he tells her, the more he gets the feeling that he just made a terrible mistake. Cold shivers run down his spine when she announces with a predatory grin, “I may have to converse with my sister about this first, but dabbling in politics again could prove to be fun.”
In a not so far away dimension, a certain Draconequus ensures he is well stocked in popcorn, eagerly anticipating the chaos his two favorite princesses will unleash on the wizarding world.
I am frightened, hoping that mom knows what she and Auntie Celestia are doing.
I understand that they need to do something, once mom confirmed what her sister told us, but I certainly don't like it. Their description of what they plan to do didn't help to calm my nerves either. In fact, it had the entirely opposite effect.
There is just no thing that makes, "and then we shoot a rainbow colored laser beam at you," sound good. To be honest, it scared me far more than when they explained to me, why this is necessary in the first place.
According to them, I have a parasite living in the scar on my head, who is slowly feeding on my magic. Auntie Celestia says that its presence won't influence me for at least twenty years. That it could take on a spiritual form in maybe fifty years, and another fifty years before the parasite in it would be strong enough to create its own body.
At least, that's the case without any outside interference. Should someone, or somepony, decide to help this parasite, it could get its own body any moment.
Since neither of them nor Canterlot’s top mages, have any idea how it would affect me should this parasite forcefully be freed by an outside force, they want to play it safe and remove it.
That is exactly why I am currently spending time with my new, and favorite, cousin, waiting for mom and Auntie Celestia to return from wherever these "Elements of Harmony" are hidden.
With all these things going through my head, it is surprisingly hard to focus on my current task at hoof, making it even harder for me to find her. Now, where did Cadence hide? I mean such a big pink pony can't be that hard to find.
Or at least she shouldn't. Especially after we agreed that she isn't allowed to use magic to alter her appearance, or to turn invisible. Again.
Having searched most of the castle, and the entire gardens, I realized my mistake. Just like me, Cadence has wings! And since we never limited the hiding area to something ground bound, she could be hiding in even more places. Including the castle's roof, and the countless clouds.
It takes me only a few moments and I am up in the sky, rapidly gaining altitude. At least what counts as rapidly for an inexperienced flier like me.
After a thorough search of the castle's roof, which turns up empty of course, I turn my attention towards the clouds, methodically checking them. Only leaving those out that are brought in by the weather team.
When I finally spot her, I decide that she needs to be punished, for expanding the search area like this without even telling me. I land behind her, careful not to make any sound while sneaking up on the unsuspecting alicorn.
This may not be an easy feat, but I still manage to get into position unnoticed. And after a final moment of calm, I blow a raspberry in her wing-joint.
Or at least that was the plan. Instead she turns around, grabs hold of me and presses me into the cloud, a devilish smirk on her face. "Did you really believe you could sneak up on me like this?"
"Cady, this isn't what it looks like," I plead futility, as I realize all too soon when she blows a raspberry on my tummy before assaulting me with her wings. Her feathers make quick work and it doesn't take long for her to turn me into a giggling mess.
Two alicorns watch in amusement at what is playing out in front of them, certainly not having expected this from when they returned from their old home.
"Shall we let them have their moment," the white one asks, slightly tired from the longer than expected journey.
"No Tia, I have a better idea," the second alicorn replies with a devious smirk on her face. While skeptical at first, Princess Celestia's face lights up, certainly liking the plan her sister came up with.
I don't know how long Cadence kept her attack up, but it was certainly long enough to exhaust me.
"How dare thou to attack our daughter in such a manner," I hear mom shouting, causing the two of us to turn around. Coming face to face with mom, Cadence quickly shuffles back a few paces before her hooves get locked in position when they are engulfed in mom's magical aura.
While she tries to find a way out of the trouble she is in, trying to break mom's magical hold, she fails to notice the third alicorn Princess landing behind her.
Auntie Tia looks briefly to me, a devious smirk on her face before focusing her attention on the distracted alicorn of love.
Unlike me, she manages to sneak upon Cadence, succeeding where I failed earlier, making the youngest of the three alicorns squeak in discomfort as she blows a raspberry into Cadence's wing-joint.
After they allowed her a short moment to recover from the unexpected attack, Mom once more addresses Cadence, while Auntie Celestia flies up to a different cloud, only a few meters above our position.
"Cadence, I don't want to see you doing something like that to my daughter again," before, with a bright grin on her face she turns towards me. "This is my job after all."
Realizing far too late what she is up to, mom easily pins me to the cloud with her magic, robbing me of any chance to escape her. Approaching me with her wings raised threateningly, I am able to get a short glance at Cadence, ending up in a similar position, courtesy to an impressive dive bomb tackle Aunty Celestia pulls of before mom goes to work on me.
"Boss shouldn't we go back to work," one of the weather ponies, relaxing on a cloud asks, concerned about getting the rainstorm set up in time, and not ending up late for his date. Again.
"Thunder, if you want, you can go and tell them to get moving," the mare in charge of the weather team replies. "I certainly wouldn’t."
While she normally would never consider slacking off, or extending her lunch break like that, these are special circumstances.
No, she certainly won't interfere, not when seeing Princes Celestia clearly enjoying herself for the first time. Considering the fact that she worked right under Princess Celestia's muzzle for over thirty years now, this isn't without merit.
Her mind made up, she turns her focus back to her team, crushing everypony's will to disturb the royals with her next argument. "Come on guys, Donuts Joe is calling. My treat."
She waits for the cheers to ebb down and the first ponies to take off before approaching Thunder." You can leave early today. Just make that filly happy."
""I haven't had so much fun in ages," Auntie Tia announces happily as we walk into one of the more private parts of Canterlot Castle. Well Mom, Cadence, and Auntie Celestia do so, while mom carries me on her back. After all the fun we had, I struggle to stay awake.
"That's great Auntie," my cousin replies, not sounding particularly happy. "But did you really have to team up on me like that?"
"Yes," mom and Celestia reply in perfect sync before bursting out in wild laughter, making Cadence groan in annoyance. Clearly, there is more like this in store for her in the not so far off future.
"Didn't we come here for a reason," she asks in an attempt to turn the attention away from her.
"You mean besides tea and cake," the solar alicorn asks, unstrapping her saddle bags and setting them on the ground before unloading them.
"Are those the things you have been talking about," I ask at the sight of the six different crystals that are carefully placed on the coffee table. "They don't look like much."
"You shouldn't let their appearance fool you, Rose. They may look harmless, but they are quite the powerful artifacts."
"Let me guess, you want to use them on me immediately," I ask worried, suddenly being far more awake than just a second ago. Quickly I jump down from mom's back, trying to make my escape.
"Please don't make this harder than it has to be," Mom says when I am already halfway to the door, using her magic to seal every possible exit from the room at the same time.
"But I don't want to be turned to stone," I blurt out my biggest fear of what might happen, should something go wrong with these elements.
Before I even realize what's going on, the crystals begin to glow, and a spiritual pony materializes, approaching me slowly. "Don't worry little one," it whispers, "no harm will come to you."
"However, that thing in your scar has to go," the spirit declares harshly, in an entirely different voice before switching to its calm and soothing tone again."
"I know you are scared of this, and this is okay. Everypony is afraid of something, but I know that you can be very brave as well. Please be brave for us," the spirit finishes before disappearing into thin air again.
I look over to these six crystals before turning my attention back to my family, and while I am still scared, I can't forget the words the spirit said. "Do it," I say to them, my fear momentarily forgotten.
If what mom told me is true, the spiritual pony that said all of this, was one of those that gave mom the power to help me. Without their help, I would still be living with my so-called relatives.
So with them having helped me already so much, it isn't hard for me to put my trust into them. After all, they promised that no harm would come to me.
Not wasting any time, Mom and Celestia raise the crystals and they begin to circle around them, getting faster and faster with every turn around them.
At some point I can't make out the crystals themselves anymore, only a rainbow colored ring surrounding them.
When the crystals, or elements achieve, what I assume to be their top speed, a strand of light separates itself before hitting me.
However, unlike what I have been told, it isn't done after ten seconds, and something completely unexpected happens.
Much to all our surprise, Cadence's horn suddenly begins to glow in her blue aura and a beam is fired into my direction.
However, halfway to me the magical beam from Cadence's horn, and the rainbow powered laser beam met. Unlike what Auntie Celestia told me about magic, these two beams don't neutralize themselves, but instead intermix with each other, creating an entirely new form of magic in the process.
But as interesting as this may be, it still leaves me at the receiving end of a spell. An entirely different spell, that for some reason is now wrapping me in some kind of cocon.
At first, I don't feel anything, just floating there in the middle of my new, "hopefully temporary," home, but at some point, something is pulling on my forehead. Right where my scar is.
Unlike expected, it doesn't hurt. It just feels strange.
How much time passes until everything has been pulled out is something I can't tell, only that when it's done the cocoon around me breaks apart immediately.
I need a few moments to get my bearings back, only realizing where I am, when I spot the others. While Mom and Princess Celestia are fine, except for the shocked expression on their faces, Cadence is shaking, gasping for air.
I am so lost in thought, wondering what has happened while I was trapped in that magical cocoon, that only when I feel somepony tapping at my leg, I realize that there are now five ponies in the room.
Looking down, I spot a unicorn, seemingly being one head smaller than me, looking up at me. "Are you my mommy," the most adorable colt I have ever seen asks me, his eyes full of wonder.
Of course I deny this, but when I see him deflate, all the previous joy leaving his eyes, I point towards where Mom, and Auntie Celestia help a completely exhausted Cadence up, saying "she is."
Instantly his formerly deflated ears perk up again, and his eyes are filled with joy before he turns around and races towards those three.
