The Grand Royal Palace in Canterlot is beautifully decorated for the coronation ceremony of Celestia's three foals to be crowned the three newest royalties in Equestria. As the fanfare dies down ponies, morphs begin to take their seats in the grand hall of the palace. As each aisle of chairs fills standing at the front of the room wearing her coronation gown and coronation crown was Princess Celestia Silverlight.
She is joined at the front of the room by her younger sister Princess Luna Silverlight also wearing her coronation gown and coronation crown. Along with Celestia and Luna was Princess Cadence Sparkle, the ruler of the Crystal Empire and her sister-in-law Princess Twilight Sparkle the ruler of the Friendship Kingdom. Both were wearing their coronation gowns and coronation crowns. Sitting in the very first aisle of chairs in front of the stage was Princess Aurora Silverlight (Celestia's oldest daughter) wearing a finely made coronation gown and coronation crown. On her light blue slender bare feet were gold high heel pumps.
Sitting next to her was Prince Somnus Silverlight (her brother and Celestia's only son) wearing the full dress uniform of the Equestria Military replacing the black beret on his head was a well-made coronation crown (similar to the design of Luna's coronation crown, she commissioned it for him). Sitting next to him was Princess Blueberry Swirl Silverlight (his younger sister and Celestia's younger daughter) wearing a finely made coronation gown and coronation crown. On her light blue slender bare feet were gold high heel pumps just like her older sister had.
Somnus chuckles under his breath, watching his Aunt Luna slip her dark blue large barefoot with red nail polish out of her silver high heel pump as she prefers comfortable dress sandals to pumps. But she really has no choice as it part of the outfit she must wear for coronation ceremony. Somnus give a startled gasp upon seeing his Aunt Luna stare right at him from her position on the stage, he forgot that he is bound to her. So she sense him laugh at her plight with her uncomfortable pumps. Before Luna could say something her sister Celestia step forward her heels clicking on the stage.
"Welcome Gentlecolts and mares to coronation ceremony of my own foals. As their mother, I am so proud of them. I wish their father was at my side to crown them, but alas, he had passed away. But I know he is watching over them as they become designated Equestria royalty. My babies, my blood, my heart. Ponies of Equestria, please welcome my Royal Foals!" Celestia exclaims as the royal foals stand up and walk up to the stage to receive the blessings of the other Princesses of Equestria. Before long, the coronation ceremony of the Royal Foals nears its conclusion as the foals return to their seats. Their mother once again steps forward.
"Gentlecolts and mares, I have one more announcement to make. I wish to designate my successor to the Throne of the Sun now. Went the time comes to step down from the Throne of the Sun, my successor will take over my royal duties." Celestia said as a surprise announcement from her blindsided, the other Princesses at the coronation ceremony.
Soon the other three princesses look toward Princess Aurora Silverlight, who was shocked like the rest about this surprise announcement from her own mother. The moment she spoke the name of her successor, 'Princess Twilight Sparkle' tears came to Aurora's eyes. She ran out of the Grand Hall humiliated followed by her brother and sister since she was born she was told by her mother that she would be her successor to the Throne of the Sun went she step down.
~A few hours later after the coronation ceremony that same day~
Sitting behind her desk in her and Luna's private offices was Princess Celestia she was hastily jotting down the transfer of power letter for Princess Twilight Sparkle. Pacing back and forth angrily in the same room was Princess Luna, still wearing her coronation gown and coronation crown along with her high heel pumps. Looking outside through a window in office was Princess Cadence Sparkle wearing her coronation gown and coronation crown along with her gold high heel pumps. Sitting on nearby sofa was Princess Twilight Sparkle wearing her coronation gown and coronation crown along with her gold high heel pumps.
"I am very sorry to say, Twilight. You are very unsuited to be Princess Celestia's successor to rule all of Equestria, your inexperience ruling a large kingdom will bring ruin to Equestria as a whole. The best choice for that role right now is Princess Aurora Silverlight. Celestia's own foal, not you." Princess Cadence comments harshly as Twilight's ears drop atop her head, feeling a bit betrayed by her sister-in-law.
"What are you thinking, sister? Building up Aurora hopes to succeed you as the ruler of the Sun throne? Then crush it in front of every pony at the ceremony! Did you forget Justice warning to you about doing this to your own daughter!" Luna said testily as she slams her foot on the ground.
"She will get over it," Celestia said nonchalantly and unfeeling as both Luna, and Cadence gasp at once.
"She will get over it!" Luna said indignantly as she turns on her heels and walks out of the office, heading towards Aurora's bedroom were the royal foals will most likely be.
~ A few moments later~
In Aurora's bedroom, several small objects zoom about the air surround by her dark blue magic aura breaking on the walls of her room. Watching the full display were Prince Somnus Silverlight and Princess Blueberry Swirl Silverlight, who were playing a few hands of cards. Luckily for them, their older sister has full control of her magic ability, or she could have hurt her siblings with her outbursts. As Aurora calms herself, she joins her siblings at the small table and gestures Somnus to deal her in.
"Feeling better, big sister?" Somnus inquiry as he deals the cards to her to begin the game.
"Why would mother do that to you, big sister?" Blueberry inquiry as she kicks her pumps off her feet and picks up the five cards she was dealt.
"I'll tell you, little sister. Because our beloved mother is cold and calculating Alicorn mare. I am more popular than her, and she can't stand it, her own daughter is outshining the great Princess of the Sun, Celestia Silverlight." Aurora said spitefully as she forcedly kicks her pumps off her feet and picks up the five cards she was dealt as her nostrils flares.
"Now, Aurora! You know our mother is not that type of mare!" Somnus said sharply as he takes a quick peep at his card he was dealt with. Before gestures Blueberry to toss out the cards, she doesn't want in her hand.
"Then tell me, Somnus! Why did mother do it?" Aurora inquiry hotly as she studies him critically.
Before he had to answer, Aurora's bedroom door is open and in entering their Aunt Luna. She saunters her way over to the small table along the way she drags a chair with her to the table and sits down. Before she gestures Somnus to deal her in. She can feel all the anger from Aurora directed toward her as she adjusts the cards in her hand to her liking. With that, Blueberry toss three cards from her hand onto the table, and Somnus deals her three new cards from the deck.
"Thy mother shouldn't have done that to you, Aurora. You have the right to be angry. But don't take it out on me. Like you, I am upset with this. Your mother knows not what she has opened by doing this." Luna explains as she tosses out two cards from her hand onto the table, and Somnus deals her two new cards from the deck.
"Auntie, are you going to try and stop us?" Aurora inquiry as she tosses out four cards from her hand onto the table, and Somnus deals her four new cards from the deck.
"You are a Princess of Equestria, Auntie," Somnus comments as he tosses one card from his hand onto the table, and he deals himself a new card from the deck.
"Yes, I am a Princess of Equestria, my royal duty dictate that I stop you. But right now I am a mare and your auntie, my duty is to me, and it dictates as much as it will hurt I must let this happen. You must head down your own path, my dear niece, to an uncertain outcome." Luna explains as she lays her card face down on the table and creates a rope.
She hands the rope to Somnus, who follow her over to Aurora's bed. Slowly Luna sits down on the ground next to the bed and presents her legs to Somnus. Who proceed to remove her pumps and toss away from her. He ties a length of rope around her ankles to keep her from chasing after then.
"Will that outcome lead you back to me, your mother and cousin, or will that outcome lead you to a dark place. That no pony has ever come back from. That I am uncertain of, all I am certain of is that you will pick the right path went it come, my dear niece." Luna explains as Somnus finish ties the rope around her arms and wings.
"I am sorry, my dear, Auntie," Aurora said, apologizing as Luna shook her head back and forth.
"No, Aurora don’t be sorry; you have more of your father's personality in you then you think. This is most likely what your father would have done." Luna explains (a single tear runs down her cheek) as Aurora takes a running start and takes to the skies heading out of the Canterlot Grand Royal Palace.
"Nephew, wait!" Luna calls as Somnus turns back toward her before using his winking ability to escape from the Canterlot Grand Royal Palace.
"Yes, Auntie?" Somnus said very politely as he kneels down in front of the bound Luna.
"Somnus, I have taught you much about night magic over all these many seasons. But there still much I need to teach you before you can master it like me. So please, my beloved nephew be very careful without me; you are open to the corruption. If you become corrupt, then you will become like her a pony lost to your mother and me." Luna said, her voice breaking as she rests her chin on his shoulder and rubs her cheek against his in an affectionate manner.
"Auntie, as you say, I have learned much from your teachings about night magic, and yes, their very high possibility of me becoming corrupted by the dark part of my heart. Because of that. I implore you not to get involved with this or come face to face with your living nightmare." Somnus said, pleading as Luna weeps, watching Somnus wink away.
"Goodbye, my dear nephew. May the blessing of the moon and the night protect you from yourself." Luna said, her voice wooden and distant as tears begin streaking her cheeks. A moment later, from the hallway, Aurora's bedroom door is open by Princess Cadence Sparkle, who follows Luna out of the office a few minutes later.
"Blueberry" Cadence calls as she walks over to her adopted aunt Luna and begins to untie her.
"Yes, your highness, What?" Blueberry inquiry
"Will you follow?" Cadence inquiry
"I will cousin, I am sorry. But you taught me never abandon your family no matter what the outcome is," Blueberry explains as she winks away to catch up to her older siblings.
Slowly Luna composes herself and gets to her feet; she walks over to retrieve her tossed pumps. Just as the doors into Aurora's bedroom burst open through the doors enters their mother, Celestia follows by a small squad of Royal palace guards to place her foals under house arrest to keep them from rebelling against her. As Luna walks pass her sister, she gives her a monstrous glare as her mouth crimps in annoyance.
"Where are they, sister?" Celestia inquiry as she unfazed with her sister's anger toward her.
"They are gone, sister, you brought this on yourself by embarrassing your own foal that way," Luna said coldly as she continues into the hallway, followed by Princess Cadence Sparkle.
"If that so, then I order the Throne of the Moon and Throne of Love to assist the Throne of the Sun and Throne of Friendship in this rebellion suppression operation against my own foals," Celestia asked bluntly as Luna's face flushes with indignation with the request from her sister.
"So my answer will be perfectly clear, sister. I will not deploy my forces to assist the Throne of the Sun or Throne of Friendship in this rebellion suppression operation. You are on your own." Luna said testily.
"What is your answer, Cadence?" Celestia said bluntly as she taps her foot impatiently on the ground in front of her.
"I will not deploy my forces to assist the Throne of the Sun or Throne of Friendship in this rebellion suppression operation. You are on your own." Cadence said sharply.
"Very well, sister and adoptive niece," Celestia said bitterly as she raised her hand.
"Guards! Arrest Princess Luna and Princess Cadence for disobeying a Royal order. Place them in the dungeon until further notice!" Celestia said ruthlessly as the Palace guard put their arms behind them back and cuff them.
"Auntie!" Cadence screams as they take the Princess of love to the dungeon.
"You will regret your decision, dear sister!" Luna said venomously as they take the Princess of the night to the dungeon.
~Later that evening~
In a 10 x 10 square chamber of the dungeon of the royal palace with an iron door, both Princess Luna and Princess Cadence sits in a wooden apparatus with opening big enough for the slender ankles and wrists of a female pony morph. To prevent them from removing the disruptor ring from their horns, Princess Celestia orders them to be locked in the stocks for their stay in the dungeon.
This order has subjected the poor Princess of Love Cadence Sparkle to unrelenting tickle attacks on her defenseless feet by the more fiendish Palace guards, as she wears her pumps barefooted. Only the bravest palace guards have tickled the unprotected feet of the Princess of Night Luna Silverlight. She has warned them beforehand that their no hiding who tickles her as their dreams with giving them away.
"How are you holding up, Cadence?" Luna asks as light laughing and Sobbing come from Princess Cadence after the latest tickle attack on her defenseless light pink feet.
"I can't take any more tickling on my feet, Auntie! If they tickle me again, I'll lose it." Cadence voice grows maniacal as tears begin streaking her cheeks.
"Cadence, please hold on. We will be rescued soon, I promise." Luna said reassuringly as an earth pony palace guard enters the room and headed straight to Cadence bare light pink feet to tickle them.
"You disgraceful Palace Guard! Why do you tickle the feet of the Princess of the Night and leave my adoptive niece Cadence alone!” Luna yells spitefully at the Palace Guard, who ignores Luna's anger and frustration.
Cadence frantically shakes her head back and forth as the guard slowly approaches her defenseless light pink feet. Her face becomes a mask of terror; the closer he comes knowing it only a matter of time that he will begin to tickle her feet mercilessly, and she passes out. She desperately tries to pull her feet out of the holes that hold her fast and is unable to. An inch from her defenseless sweaty feet, the guard suddenly slaps his hand on his neck as if something stung him. Slowly the guard withdrew his hand from his neck with a flinch being held between his fingers was a small dart.
In the next instance, the guard collapses in front of Cadence's light pink feet and begins snoring in the room. Cadence and Luna look at each other dumbfounded as the iron door into the room opens up and closes soon after without anyone entering. The clicking of heels on the stone floor of the chamber echoes loudly in the room. A moment later, Cadence's chuckles softly in response to the playful tickling of her light pink toes; she didn't mind the tickle of her toes. Because the touch was very gentle meant to get her attention and not hurt her.
"Are you ok, Cousin?" a stallion voices asked as the tickling of her toes has stopped.
Slowly Cadence turns her head toward the unseen pony talking to her, and her light purple eyes moist with joy upon seeing her cousin Prince Somnus Silverlight still wearing his full dress uniform from coronation ceremony appear before her.
"Thank you, cousin Somnus. I am fine now." Cadence said gratefully as Somnus release her from the stocks that held her. Slowly she gets to her feet and wraps her arms and wings around him to hug him.
"Is there something wrong, Somnus?" Cadence inquiry as she felt his muscles tighten went she hug him.
"I am sorry for tickling your toes cousin. But your light pink feet were too inviting to pass up." Somnus explained as Cadence walked to the front of the stock were the unconscious guard was. She lifts her foot up and grinded her heel into the guard back end.
"Don't be sorry, Somnus, unlike these despicable palace guards who tickle me just to embarrass me and break me. You tickle me because you love me. It one aspect of love that terrifies me as evidence by these guards, but you show this Princess of Love that went it done with love. It doesn't hurt the recipient." Cadence explains as she kisses Somnus on his cheek.
"Excuse me, Somnus and Cadence! If you are done having a moment! I am still trapped in this contraption! So now your cousin will allow you to tickle her feet went you like as long as you don't hurt her! End of story! Now get me out of this contraption this worse than being banished to my moon!" Luna bellows (mumbling to herself) as Cadence and Somnus quickly free Luna from the stocks.
Meanwhile, in a different part of the dungeon of the royal palace hidden by a very powerful illusionary wall in 8 by 8 square stone chambers chained to the wall of the room was the real Princess Celestia Silverlight, she was considerably weakened of her magic power.
The day before the anniversary of her beloved husband death, Celestia fell into deep sadness for some unknown reason. This allows Daybreaker Celestia's evil alter-ego to manifest in the real world as a living pony. But unlike her husband's alter-ego of Dream Eater, Daybreaker is not a separate entity onto itself. As long as the real Celestia magic power remains weaken Daybreaker can move around the real world as a living pony.
"Wakey-wakey (tapping the back of her hand on her cheek) my good side it time for your treatment. I'll let you pick what foot you want it on," Daybreaker said as Celestia's magenta eyes are slowly open.
"Neither you evil entity," Celestia said weakly as Daybreaker grabs hold of her left leg and place it on a short stone pedestal with a clamp. She positions her ankle in the clamp and closes it, forcing her foot to stand straight up with all her sole exposed.
"Why are you doing this to my beloved babies, Daybreaker? They have done nothing to you." Celestia asks as Daybreaker brings her hand toward Celestia's sensitive sole to begin the treatment to weaken her for another week.
"Believe it or not, Celestia, I was excited that you married; that meant if your husband angered you, I would come out. But those damn strong maternal instincts you have for those insufferable foals suppressed me. The more you wanted to be the best mother your foals could have. The weaker I became. If I didn’t come out right, then I would have faded away." Daybreaker said hotly as she begins to tickle her foot. Before long, the chamber is filled with Celestia's unrestrained laughter. This goes on for several hours until Celestia passes out from the treatment to weaken her magic power for another week.
~Back in 10 by 10 chamber~
"Auntie and cousin, don't put your pumps back on remain in your bare feet. It will be far easier to sneak you two out of the palace if you are barefooted." Somnus comment as Luna quickly removed her pumps, leaving her in her bare feet.
"Cousin, please, I don't like being barefooted it so embarrassing to admit, but it true. That why I am always wearing my gladiator sandals. It closes to being barefoot; I am willing to go. Please, cousin, don't make me stay in my bare feet." Cadence said, begging as tears streak her pink cheeks.
"Cousin, if I explain why I need you in your bare feet, will you do it?" Somnus asked concerned about his own cousin feeling as she shook her head.
"First off, Cousin, I never knew you didn't like being barefooted. But that answers so many questions about going to the beach went I was a colt and your unwillingness to remove your sandals in the sand (a loving smile form on her snout with those precious memories). But anyway, the reason I need you barefooted cousin. One my own ability, I can easier mask my own footsteps to move silently. But I can do that with you two if you are barefoot you are much quieter and can move silently." Somnus explains as Cadence agrees to remain barefooted for her cousin, even those she doesn't like being barefoot.
With that, Somnus slowly opens the iron door on the chamber; he sticks his head through the crack to scan the whole corridor for dungeon Palace Guards when none are found. He gestures his cousin and auntie to follow him into the corridor.
The only sound that can be heard was the very soft pitter-patter of the two mares' bare feet as they traverse over smooth worn stone of corridor. The group reaches a large open area of the dungeon full of dusty and cobweb-covered torture devices that haven't been used for eons. Sitting at a table at the foot of the staircase leading to main floors of the palace were two earth pony dungeon palace guards. They were discussing the latest superstar on the Canterlot hoof ball team.
"Please, cousin, don't hurt them. It, not their fault that there are following the orders of your mother." Cadence said softly concerned as she placed her hand on the small gun Somnus was drawing from his holster.
"(Kissing Cadence on her cheek) this gun is a dart gun with a very powerful sleep drug in it. The worst effects are the guards come to with a bad headache, cousin." Somnus explain as Cadence return the kiss on his cheek and remove her hand from the gun.
Somnus lift the gun and hold it level at the two earth pony dungeon palace guards sitting at the table. Their very soft pop from the dart gun sticks in the neck of a first earth pony and the effects are instant as he falls asleep. The second guard stumbles about the room, trying to reach the alarm button on the far wall to press it and alert the rest of the palace of the escape. But can't as he collapses unconscious to the floor soon after. Quickly Cadence takes a position at the stairs watching for any guards coming down to the dungeon, why Luna and Somnus drag the unconscious guards into the shadows to hide them from being seen by other Palace Guards that happen by.
With the two dungeon palace guards safely hidden in the shadows, the group ascended the stone staircase to the main floors of the palace; the satisfying plop-plop of mare’s bare feet on marble tiles of main floors was a welcome change. The group quickly ducks into a small room just as Daybreaker appears at the foot of the dungeon staircase, passing herself off as Princess Celestia Silverlight.
She undoubtedly upset with the two dungeon palace guards who are not at their post and show her displeasure by burning the table with her fire breath. She storms up the staircase and quickly put on the mask of benevolent Alicorn mare. Watching through a crack in the door was Somnus; his face showed visible relief that the mare that came up the stair from the dungeon was not his mother, Celestia.
"Auntie.That mare is not my mother." Somnus said, trying to convince his Aunt Luna that this Celestia is not her sister.
"Somnus, I know it hard for you to admit that your mother can be this cruel even to her own foal, but by denying it, you are making things worse," Luna explains as Somnus pulls away from her and stands in the corner weeping. A moment later, two pink feathery wings wrap around Somnus in a loving embrace.
"You don't believe me either cousin that the mare sitting on the Sun throne is not my mother.” Somnus said in a quavering voice as he begins to weep again.
"Of course, I believe you Somnus, for bucking sake, I have followed you this far, and you make me do something I would have never done in all my life you made me take my shoes off and walk barefooted," Cadence said consoling as Somnus turn around and hugged his cousin Cadence.
"If that case Somnus, then who is that mare pretending to be your mother? And where is your real mother?" Cadence proposes as Luna able to open one of the palace windows allowing the group to get out of the palace into the City of Canterlot.
Down in her cell after the latest treatment, the real Princess Celestia Silverlight was able to hold back just enough of her magic energy to send a simple message to her beloved foals through the special bond a mother has to her babies.
That simple message help. In the back alleys of Canterlot, Somnus watched his auntie and cousin gather together scrap pieces of fabric to fashion a pair of rudimentary shoes to protect their bare feet from the hazards of city life. Somnus was amazed that his auntie and cousin had these skills being that they are princesses as Luna and Cadence finish making their rudimentary shoes for themselves, Cadence chuckles.
"During a quiet season in the Crystal Empire, your father sent me a message asking me to join him at the camp in the Equestria forest since I need a break from the Crystal Empire; I took him up on the offer. I arrived a few days later, and he greets me as he normally does . He led me into a large command tent and asks me to sits down in a chair. Went I sat down, he proceeded to untie my boots and remove them follow by taking my socks off leave me barefooted. I was upset about it. but then he brought over a large pile of fabric scraps using my foot as a template he fashions a shoe for me to wear he gave me the same as amount of scrap and explains how to make a shoe before long I had a matching pair. He told me those are the only shoes I can wear." Cadence explains as Luna chuckled in response.
"Huh, Justice has always been sweet on Cadence; it was not the same for me. He did the same thing to me, took my boots and socks off leave me barefooted, I did mine it. but he gave me two hours to search for fabric scraps in the tent if I failed I would have to stay barefooted and in a forest with many think that can poke a barefoot pony it best to complete the task." Luna comments as the two princesses' finish making their shoes.
"Auntie and cousin, did father teach mother these skills like you?" Somnus inquiry as Luna and Cadence look at each other and laugh.
"After all this is over Somnus why do you ask your mother that question? On that day come speak to me first. I tell you how to get your mother to demonstrate her skill for you." Luna suggests as Somnus agreed after all this is over, and his real mother is back on the throne, he will talk to his aunt.
"With that done now what Somnus we can't keep hiding in the back alleys of Canterlot forever. Whatever that faker has done to your mother to keep her from responding to save her city, she will not last long." Luna comments as Somnus leans against a dumpster in the alley.
"Besides that, Somnus. We still have no idea where that faker stashed your real mother and if she is still alive until we find her. That faker on the throne by all accounts is your mother Princess Celestia Silverlight and the ruler of Equestria, which means she has the backing of all the Royal Army with the exception of your sister solar guard unit Royal Division. All the soldiers we been dodging up till now have been Royal Army Troops Nothing of them has been from your mother's elite protection unit Why?" Cadence inquiry as she reaches up and scratches her chin with her painted nails a few times.
"That easily answered , Cadence. To parlay a conflict of interest with the sitting Princess. Somnus's mother can't call up the Solar Guard Royal Division without her own daughter's approval. That goes for our own troops as well. That real reason that faker had us arrested and put in dungeon. I sense those unprovoked tickle attack on our vulnerable feet were planned to weaken our resolve. If this faker retained the real Celestia's memories, she knew that and use it." Luna explains as Cadence blink with surprise.
"So they were tried to break me, Auntie!" Cadence exclaimed with a quiver in her voice as a chill ran down her back with the thought.
"Yes, Cadence. Your army is second largest in Equestria next to the Royal Army." Luna explains as Cadence looks towards her cousin even more grateful of his impeccable timing to free her.
"I have only allowed one other stallion to call on me went every wanted that stallion was your father, Justice. So I am now granting you that privilege son of my Uncle Justice. No matter what it is, don't hesitate to call on The Princess of Love Cadence Sparkle; I will come to your aid. This Princess is forever in your debt." Cadence said obligated as she kneeled on the ground in front of Somnus, who gape in stunned silence.
"No, cousin! I don't wish to be the Master of Love. You are an independent mare that has her own feelings and thoughts. If I accept this privilege, I will strip you of who you are. My honor willn't allow that on you." Somnus said honorable as Cadence's light purple eyes moisten.
Because that was the exact same answer Somnus's father gave her went she offered the same privilege to him went she was forever in debt to him. With that answer, Justice and Cadence grew closer. It was tough for anyone in Canterlot to tell them apart as two of them were always together went she had Royal Business in Canterlot at the Grand Royal Palace. Cadence quickly gets to her feet and hug and kisses Somnus who reel with astonishment. A moment later, Cadence gently flicks Somnus' snout with her painted fingernail.
"What was that for cousin?" Somnus said sourly as Cadence flicked Somnus again on his snout.
"You didn't fully think out your plan for us, did you? You thought up to went we escape from the palace. but nothing after that point, cousin." Cadence said sharply, flicking his snout again.
"I say stop that, cousin in these back alleys, no one will hear you pleading for me to stop tickling your feet. I will not stop until you say you are sorry." Somnus said threatening as Somnus and Cadence begin a staring contest.
Sitting on a wooden barrel in the alleys watch the whole thing was Luna it brought back a lot of memories went Justice and Cadence went at it, went he didn't fully think out his plan. She hops off the barrel and walks up to the two of them, she lifts her fists up and strikes them on top their heads laying them flat, breaking up the fight.
"Now, you both behave yourself I know where we can go." Luna said as the two of them rub the bump on their heads that Luna gave them.
"Where?" They both said.
"The only independent city estate in Canterlot and Equestria. The Silverlight Stable. Your father's family estate. Went your real mother was on the throne to parlay a conflict of interest once again with the second most powerful family she marries into she granted them independence. As your great grandmother is vassal to your mother. Your mother can't interfere with their affairs." Luna explains
With that, the group using the back alleys of Canterlot makes their way to the noble ward the location of The Silverlight Stable. But that was their luck ends as they hit a solid wall as no back alleys enter into the ward. This forces the group to emerge onto the busy main streets of Canterlot. Before long, they are spotted by a Canterlot Royal Army pursuit unit, and they give chase. After Daybreaker discovered that Luna and Cadence escape from the palace dungeon, she deemed them traitors along with the Royal Foals. This allows the ponies to be terminated on sight; it also causes the loyal Solar Guard forces to Princess Aurora Silverlight to not support Princess Twilight as the next Sun Princess.
The same order cause Princess Luna troops and the small detachment of Crystal Empire troops loyal to Princess Cadence to not support Princess Twilight as the next Sun Princess. These three units are now confined to their barracks at the palace.
The soft but rapid fast paces pitter-patter of the two mares' bare feet on the cobblestone streets of Canterlot contrasts harshly against heavy booted feet of pursuit unit and the dress boots of Prince Somnus Silverlight as the group makes a dead run to the security checkpoint at the entrance of the Noble ward. Cadence recoil in horror as she watches the Canterlot Royal Army sentinels assigned to guard the checkpoint begin sealing the checkpoint to prevent them from entering the ward.
"Luna! Somnus! The guards are sealing the checkpoint!" Cadence screams
"Cadence lift off and get through! We will be right behind you!" Luna calls as the two Alicorns lift-off and zooms through the checkpoint surprise the guards as they have no way to stop them.
At that same time, Somnus slides on his knees under the barrier; by doing that maneuver, Somnus has lost pace with the two flying Alicorn mares. Luna give a startled gasp went she noticed Somnus was quickly missing pace with them. She quickly reversed her wings just enough to keep her aloft and dangle her feet within Somnus’s grasp. She looks back toward him.
"Somnus! Rip them off! And grab my feet! Let me help you up!" Luna calls as worried look appears on Somnus' face.
Soon Luna's face grows chalky with what she told him to do; not many ponies know that the Princess of the Night doesn't like showing her feet in public it one of her biggest fears. In private, she doesn't mind it because she only allows Somnus to view her barefooted as he is always with her.
"But Auntie, It in public," Somnus comments as he begins to reach up.
"I know, Somnus! You help Cadence overcome her fear of being barefooted! It my turn to show my feet in public. It the only way, do it!" Luna shouts as Somnus reaches up and rips the makeshift booties off Luna's dark blue bare feet with dark red nail polish for all to see.
Once Luna felt Somnus grab hold of her feet, she shot into the sky caused him to quickly stand-up, allowing him to regain pace with the flying Cadence. As Luna hung in the air for a little while, it was not all that bad, to show her feet in public. She is quickly snapped back to reality as several bullets whiz by her in the sky. She turns and flies straight back to the group to keep up with Somnus; she flies close to Somnus and kisses him on his cheek to thank him for help her overcome her fear.
"I have told you, Auntie your feet were perfect because you are Alicorn mare. Just like mother." Somnus comments as Luna kisses him on his cheek a second time.
In the distance, the group can make out the huge white stone gatehouse of the Silverlight stable that leads onto the estate, but unlike Royal Army sentinel at the ward checkpoint. The sentinels at the gate are cheering them on.
Once the group passes through the open gate, they collapse in front of the sandal-clad feet of an everlasting beautiful 6ft 11in morning blue color older unicorn mare with pink mane and tail. Her perfect equine figure was encased in an emerald green mid-calf length dress and gray strap sandals on her morning blue bare feet. This older unicorn mare was Countess Ophelia Silverlight, the Boss mare of Silverlight unicorn family.
"All right, boys! Give our regards to that Canterlot Royal Army pursuit unit!" Ophelia orders as she gestures the estate medical team to take these three to the infirmary to rest and recover before telling her what is going on.
~a few hours later~
After resting and recovering in the estate's infirmary for a few hours, Princess Luna Silverlight makes her way to her room in the main mansion house on the estate grounds. The Silverlight family has allowed her to maintain her own bedroom here at the estate with her own wardrobe. After taking a very long warm shower in her private bathroom, Luna slips on deep pink colored top of the knee-length dress. She pulls out a single deep drawer on her wardrobe and kneels down in front of it. Inside the drawer were numerous booties type pairs of shoes, this type of shoe cover her feet completely.
Suddenly Luna blink with surprise stuff in one corner of the drawer was pair of short silver-colored gladiator style sandals. She takes that pair of shoes and closes the drawer with her foot. As Luna sits down on her bed, she buckles her sandals on her feet. Before leaving her room for her meeting with Ophelia, she chuckles to herself think Somnus is going to love sees her in these sandals as he always tells her she has beautiful feet for an Alicorn mare.
It only takes her few minutes to reach Ophelia's home office in the main mansion home on the second floor. At the door, the Solar Guard Officer guarding the office opens the door for her and bows. Inside the office sitting behind her desk finish up some of her paperwork was Countess Ophelia she sets her pen down on the papers and look towards Luna.
"Now tell me, Your Highness. Why have my grandchildren been deemed traitors along with you and Cadence?" Ophelia said defensively more as a concerned unicorn Grandmother then a Noble mare of Equestria.
With that Luna relay all events up to went they arrive at the Silverlight Stable with a Canterlot Royal Army pursuit unit close on their tail. Suddenly the blood drains from Ophelia's face after she was told that her daughter-in-law Celestia has been replaced with a faker that looks just like her. As of this very moment, they have no idea where the real Celestia Silverlight is.
"I see, your highness that answers why there an increase in the number of Royal Army Scouts prowling around my stable of late. Oh, they think they are so very sneaky and haven't been noticed by my Solar Guard security units. But they have been." Ophelia comments as the door into her home office is opened by her own daughter.
Walking into the office was a dark blue extraordinary gorgeous 6ft 10in middle-aged unicorn mare with crimson red mane and tail. Her elegantly slender equine figure was encased in sapphire blue slightly below the knee-length dress and white huarache sandals on her dark blue bare feet. This middle-aged unicorn mare was Viscountess Shimmering Diamond Silverlight, the Grandmother of the Royal Foals.
"Yes, Shimmer?" Ophelia said as Shimmer bows to both Luna and her mother.
"Please forgive my intrusion; your Lady ship. But a nasty Royal Palace Envoy is demanding an audience with Countess Silverlight in the grand hall of the mansion house I have already informed him of the breach of protocol he ignored me and held back a rolled-up parchment he was holding in his hand." Shimmer said annoyed as Ophelia chuckled and then looked toward Luna who shook her head.
"Very well, your highness Shimmer, please stay with Luna till I get back, this shouldn't take too long I probably known what that rolled up parchment is. That faker is really pushing her to make-believe." Ophelia said it nonchalantly as she gets up from her desk and leaves the office.
"How is Somnus, your lady ship?" Luna inquiry as Shimmer leans against her mother's desk in front of Luna. Shimmer blink with surprise upon catching a glimpse of what kind of shoes Luna has on her feet.
"His two sisters were more worried about him went he went off to rescue you two without telling them of his mission. The three of them arrived together several hours earlier in their coronation outfits." Shimmer explains as Luna signs softly.
"Went did he find out?" Luna inquiry opening and closing her wings a few times on her back.
"A few seconds later, after one of our secretaries from the estate went to Royal Palace and witnessed your arrest with Cadence." Shimmer explains as the office doors fly open in step a very vexed Ophelia.
"What happened, mother?" Shimmer inquiry
"That damn faker is demanding that I give up our independence status and hand over you, Cadence and the Royal Foals for trial. I have no intention of doing that. I promised on my grandson grave that I will keep this family together no matter what. We are the Noble Silverlight Unicorn family? We fought against all the odds, no matter the strength. (Whipping her hand in the air pointing her finger toward the Grand Royal Palace in the distance) Shimmer gathers together our family and our retainers we have plans to make." Ophelia commands as Shimmer bows and runs out of the office to gather together the family and household staff.
"What are your plans, Your Lady ship?" Luna inquiry as a cunning smile forms on her snout.
"If that faker wants to take-on the Paladins of light, so be it. We will start a civil war with that fake Princess Celestia Silverlight and that Princess Twilight Sparkle. If we can distract that faker for some time. That should allow infiltration operative, Prince Somnus Silverlight, to search for their real missing mother. Why that going on Aurora, myself, you, Cadence, my two daughters, and her daughters will be in the field. But we can't do that till we spring both your troops from the palace." Ophelia explains as Luna had a huge smile on her snout.
"Don't worry about trying to spring my troops from the palace. Just get a message to my commanders. They will handle it themselves. Why you are at it get a message to Aurora's Solar Guard unit. We could use them in this Civil War against that faker have them free the Crystal Empire forces and have them team up with my troops to escape the palace, Your Ladyship." Luna explains as Ophelia agrees to her plan to get all the trap troops out of the palace.
~A few hours later after the meeting~
A single female equine morph with light blue feathered bird wings walks through the moonlit expansive estate garden of the Silverlight Stable attired in orange, red mid-knee-length dress and green strap sandals on her mid-sized bare feet with red nail polish. This female equine morph was Princess Aurora Silverlight. After the family meeting broke up Ophelia her great grandmother suggested that everyone spend the remainder of this evening with their most cherished. This suggestion broke Aurora's heart the most cherished to her was her mother Princess Celestia Silverlight the currently missing Sun Princess.
"Huh?" Aurora exclaims surprised as she notice a soft yellow glow emanates off the concrete path under a pile of falling leaves.
The longer blades of grass tickled Aurora's arches as she threaded through the soft green grass over to the pile of leaves. She stopped and crouches down in front of the pile of leaves. Using her five-fingered hand; she begins to brush a away the leaves revealing a small yellow glowing crystal that emanated a soft and warm light she could feel on her pelt. Tears come to her cobalt blue eyes as she brings her hand to her snout. She knows what this crystal is, and it breaks her heart more.
Slowly an old memory forms in Aurora's mind from long ago. This memory was her as four years old filly exploring the smaller palace garden of Grand Royal Palace in the Royal ward with her mother Celestia on one of her rare days off. She ran ahead of her mother on the path and encountered this same small crystal grown just off the path they were walking on. She reaches for it, and it felt like it burns her. She ran over to her mother with tears in her eyes tell her the crystal was evil and burn her. Celestia stopped and sat down on the ground so she would be at the same level as her daughter. She asks Aurora to show her, her hand. Went Celestia examined her small hand, it was unhurt. But to make it feel better; she kissed it and told her it will feel better in a moment.
"Mama, don't touch it. It will burn you." Aurora worried as Celestia reach for small crystal and touch it. She brought her hand back and showed Aurora she was unhurt by the crystal.
"No ordinary pony can touch this yellow crystal my beloved filly without being badly burned.But you are an exceptional little filly because you came from me the Sun Princess this yellow crystal is called 'a sunstone'. Only pony who is half Alicorn like you, Aurora can touch the crystal without being hurt." Celestia explains in a motherly voice as they continue on their walk in the garden.
~back to the present~
'A Sun Stone,That what mother called it she always told me as a filly if I touch it went I miss her. she will hear my thought deep in her heart. No matter where she is.' Aurora thought as she reaches for the sunstone and rests her hand on top of it. It felt so warm in her hand; she closed her eyes and concentrated.
In her small cell deep in the Grand Royal Palace dungeon, an unconscious and exhausted Princess Celestia Silverlight slumps forward after the latest treatment to keep her from regaining any of her strength. It has only been one treatment for today. Still, it feels like it been 7 months of unbearable tickling torture executed upon her quite large and sensitive white bare feet. For her evil alter-ego, know what part of her foot to target to drain away from her energy that much quicker and keep her meek and weak.
"Aurora, I can feel you.Please, my dear daughter, remain strong for your siblings. I am sorry I am unable to come to your help went you needed me again." Celestia said in hoarse voice as tears streak her cheeks.
Slowly an old memory forms in Celestia's mind from long ago. This memory was of Aurora as a five-year-old filly after she went to pick her up at the old Canterlot Kindergarten School a block down from the Grand Royal Palace. Celestia was normally to busy with her Royal Court sessions to go pick up her own daughter from the school and sends a royal maid to get her. But this day her daily royal court sessions end fairly early with no other meeting scheduled for today, she told the royal maid she will go get Aurora from School. Celestia took her time walking the block to the school to pick up Aurora. The parents of the other students glazed with shock went the tall and goddess gorgeous white Alicorn mare ruler of all of Equestria walk onto the school grounds.
Being the public figure, she stop and shook the hands of the parents that were present and talk to them for a little while. As she makes her way through the crowd of ponies, she spotted the crimson red mane with a pink strip of her filly with her back toward her playing with few other fillies. She whistles once get the attention of her filly, whose face lit-up with see her mother picking her up. Once Celestia retrieved her filly, she spread her wings and flew back to the palace. A few moments later, Celestia landed in the Palace courtyard. From their Celestia and Aurora head over to her private office as she had few reports to look over and read. After that, she will be free to spend the rest of the day with her filly, playing with her till dinner.
In the office, Celestia's set her filly down on the ground, and she walked over to a small castle play set with many equine morph small dolls dressed in royal clothing. Even those Aurora is technically an Equestria Princess (because of her mother); she enjoyed pretending to be one. This amuses her mother to no end as she was unable to do that went she was a filly. Satisfied that her filly was happily playing by herself, Celestia walked over to her desk and sat down to begin the last of her work for today.
A few minutes later, Aurora looks toward her mother, who was fully absorbed in her work, but she wants her to come to play with her. To get her to come and play with her a mischievous smile form on her snout. She gathered together several very ticklish feathers and quietly walked over to her mother's desk. The desk Celestia was sitting at has the front face removed as her legs were much longer than any given pony, and she hated banging her shins against it.
This left her legs and feet exposed out of the front of the desk. Patiently Aurora waited for her mother to stop swing her foot, went she did. She uses her dark blue magic aura to hold her golden sandal still as she worked on unbuckling the strap that held it to her mother's large white foot. A pleased smile form on the filly's snout went she saw through the opening her mother's white bare ankle. She leaned a little bit out so she can check if her mother felt her strap loose.
But her mother was oblivious, still reading and still signing her name to all the documents on her desk. With that, the little filly positioned her small hands under her mother's loose sandal and released the magic aura to fast on the backside of the shoe. The front side of the shoe tap underside of her mother's large toes causes her to blink with surprise trying to figure out where the tap came from, she shrugged her shoulders and went back to work.
Under the desk, Aurora held her breath till she heard her mother return to her writing. Carefully Aurora using her magic aura, gently eased the golden sandal off her mother's foot once it was cleared of her mother's foot. She released the magic aura on the shoe and caught it in her arms. Being a five-year-old filly, her mother's sandal felt quite heavy to hold because her mother has reasonably large feet for any given pony. She set the sandal down on the ground and turns her attention toward her mother's large bare white foot with dark red nail polish.
She cast a small dark blue bubble on the end of one of the feather and floated it toward her mother's foot. It slotted perfectly between her mother's big toe and second toe. She cast a second small dark blue bubble on the end of a second feather and floated it toward her mother's foot. She positions that feather between the intersection of the middle and arch of her foot. With a simple finger gesture, Aurora set off her spell to get her mother to play with her.
Slowly a smile begins to grow fast on Celestia's snout followed by sputters of female bubbly laughter; Celestia is beside herself in tickly misery. The tickling is so bad all she can do is endure it. Till she looks toward were her filly would be playing and didn't see her. She quickly put two and two together and realizes it not an evil pony trying to hurt her. It was her own filly tickling her; she tries to confirm her suspicion by look over the desk. But each ticklish stroke forces her to sits back down on her chair and release her bubbly laughter.
She scans the whole room look for anything that can help her and noticed a small hand mirror lying on a shelf. She floats the hand mirror over to herself and then floats it in front of her desk. She angles it down a bit, and as she thought, sitting in front of her desk was her filly. She managed to remove one of the golden sandals from her foot without her noticing. She angles the mirror till she could see her feet under the desk and gasp two feathers were stroking her bare right foot.
"Aurora Sol Silverlight!" Celestia called in her authoritative voice, causing her daughter to break her spell as the feathers floated to the ground, harmless.
"Miss Silverlight please come around my desk." Celestia said in almost lecturing tone of voice as her little filly with her ears drooping slowly walked around the desk.
"Yes, mama." Aurora's voice breaks as her mother slowly pulls herself out from behind the desk. She turns her chair toward Aurora and set her elbows on the armrest of the chair and placed her hands in front of her snout as if considering a punishment.
"You know you did a bad to me, Aurora (As she shook her head). You know mama doesn't like being tickled on her feet even by her own foal (Aurora shook her head as single tears run down her cheek). But you want me to stop my work and play with you. Is that right, Aurora?" Celestia said calmly as Aurora shook her head.
"Even though, I don't approve of your method to get me to play with you, Miss Silverlight. It had the desired effect." Celestia said motherly as she uncrossed her legs and reach down to unbuckle her remain sandal. She removed her shoes and padded barefooted holding Aurora's hand, to play with her.
~a week later still in Celestia's memory~
It a week later in the family room of the Grand Royal Palace, a barefooted Princess Celestia Silverlight sits on the floor playing the Princess and the Knight with her filly. After what happens before, Celestia makes sure she finishes all her paperwork before her daughter gets home from Kindergarten, so she can spend time playing with her before dinner.
"Sir Valiant Heart is here to rescue Princess Starlight!" Celestia said in her very best stallion's voice as she makes the small unicorn pony morph doll climb up the stairs to the throne room of the castle playset.
"You can't have her," Aurora said in her best evil stallion's voice as a Dark-colored small pegasi pony morph doll kicks Valiant Heart out the second-floor window. As he's falls, Celestia moves her fingers, allowing a pair of wings to spring out from his back. He flew back into the throne room and defeated the villain. A moment later Celestia owns Secretary Miss Inkwell walks into the family room and wave at Aurora, who return the wave with a smile.
"Excuse me, Your Highness. A certain arrogant stallion is demanding an audience with you." Miss Inkwell said, annoyed as spasm of irritation crosses Celestia's face with the demand.
"Oh, he did?! Did you tell him that I am unavailable at this time for any kind of audience?! Till court tomorrow morning, Miss Inkwell?" Celestia said as she watches Aurora walk over to her toy box and retrieves a few coloring books and the crayons. So they can color together for a little while.
"I did, Your Highness. He didn't care and told me to tell you to stop pretending to be a mother. your foal is not more important than him." Miss Inkwell said as Celestia's face flushing with indignation with the comment from the stallion.
~Return to the present in Celestia cell~
'Upon hearing that it angered me. No stallion or mare tells me my foals are less important than them. I told Aurora to begin without me as mama has to straighten something out. Went I got back, I would join her to color. She ran up to me and said: "I love you, mama." Little did I know that it would be the last words she says to me for three months?' Celestia thought as she begins to weep openly, soaking her bare feet.
'I return to the family room after dealing with that arrogant stallion. Only to find my little filly in a coma and evidence that her inherited alicorn magic overflowed her magic well. I flew as fast as I could to get my filly to the hospital. I handed my little filly over to the doctors, as time ticked away. A doctor walked up to me and told me my little filly may never come out of it; her mind is damaged. I lost it and told him I don't care how much it will cost, but please keep my filly alive. For the first two months, I flew back and forth from the Palace to the hospital to keep my filly company. At night I would read Aurora's favorite stories to her. As I was about to leave, I would kiss her on her cheek and promise to come the next night to read to her again.' Celestia thought as she sunk to her knees and started to cry harder.
'On the day I was going to let my filly go, so she wouldn't suffer any longer. She opens her eyes, and the first thing she asked: "Did she do something bad to me again?" I told her, "she did something so wonderful to me." Over the next few weeks, how fast Aurora recovered baffled the doctors at the hospital. As I finish signing all the release forms from the hospital, I return to her room and sit down on the bed. I grabbed hold of my filly and sat her down on my lap. I told her I have a present for her. She was excited to know what it was. I touched the end of her snout with my finger and said, "from this day forward, Aurora Sol Silverlight is my new Princess Apprentice, which means I am your magic teacher as well as your mother. I will teach you how to harness your full Alicorn magic. So one day, you will take over for me as the Ruler of Equestria.' Aurora was so excited that her mother would be teaching her magic. She grabs my hand and led me to the Canterlot Tower in the Grand Royal Palace, the nexus of powerful magic. To begin her first magic lesson with me.' Celestia thought as the door into her cell opens and in enters Daybreaker ready to administer this day treatment on her.
~That same morning-Silverlight stable infirmary~
Slowly the cobalt blue eyes of Aurora open up, and she finds herself staring into the fluorescent lights of Silverlight Stable infirmary. At first, she felt nothing below her knees till she suddenly begins to laugh. Someone was deliberately and methodically stroking the bottom of her foot. There was no malice behind the attempt; it seems that it was trying to bring her around. Slowly she sat up and saw with his head on the end of the bed asleep was Somnus, his single finger was moving up and down on the sole of her foot.
"Somnus! Stop that! You know I don't like my feet being touch or tickled!" Aurora snaps as it woke up both Somnus and Blueberry, who were together in the hospital room. Before Aurora could say anything else, her siblings wrapped their arms around her and started to rub their chins on her shoulders.
"Big Sister don't do that again mother is missing, and you are the only one left for us." Blueberry said with worry in her voice as Somnus explains what happens to her.
"I was found unconscious and unresponsive in the garden by Cadence. After I failed to return to the main house." Aurora repeated as she understood why her siblings were worried about her.
"I am sorry, little sister I promise it will never happen again. Big sister, honor." Aurora said honorably as she placed a gentle kiss on Blueberry's horn to reassure her.
"But besides that, it going to take more than that for you, Somnus, to take the top spot from your big sister as I am the oldest of the royal foals." Aurora said, teasing as she quickly flapped her wings and pulled her legs under herself. Denying her brother free access to her very sensitive feet to torment.
"Fine, Big Sister I don't want that top spot!" Somnus replied
"Eek!" Aurora exclaimed as she shot into the air after someone ran their finger down the full length of her exposed sole from heel to toes. As Aurora hung in the air, try to figure out who tickled her. She spots Blueberry inch her's way out of the room.
"Well, brother It looks like our little sister is feeling her oats today, and she trying to take the top spot from us. Shall we teach her." Aurora said playfully as he nodded his head.
Before Blueberry knew what happen, she was lifted off the ground by her flying sister and deposited on an empty bed in the room. Somnus pinned her down as her sister land by the foot of the bed where her feet were. She kicked wildly at her sister, trying to keep her from grabbing her feet and taking her shoes off. A few moments later, Aurora using her magic, managed to get her shoes off her little sister's feet.
Went the kicking slowed, she pinned her little sister ankles to the bed, leaving her looking at a pair of light blue midsized bare feet with red nail polish. She ran her fingers across both of Blueberry's bare soles, which caused great gale of laughter from her. She did this just enough to teach her if she going to secretly tickle her be prepared to pay the price for doing it. As they both release Blueberry, the two older siblings sit on either side of the bed that Blueberry was laying on to allow her to recover.
"Somnus, I don't want you involved in this I don't care what Great Grandmother plan is. This between that faker pretending to be our mother and me." Aurora said, concerned as Blueberry breath return to a normal pace, and she sat up.
"Where is this coming from, Aurora? All of a sudden?" Somnus inquiry as Blueberry wonders as well.
"What Blueberry said earlier' I am the only one left for us' With the fate of our mother unknown I can't allow my siblings to die in this civil war." Aurora said her voice edged with tension as she placed a tightly held fist on the bed in front of her. Suddenly Somnus put his hand on top of Aurora's fist; a moment later, Blueberry does the same. She lifts her head up and looks at her siblings.
"We are family If one faker hurts one of us it hurt all of us, we stick together that what our mother would want us to do." Somnus said reassuringly as Blueberry shook her head. This caused Aurora to tear up, knowing even those that they don't always get along; she can count on her family to support her went she needs them.
~It six months later~
For the past six months, Daybreaker posing as the real Princess Celestia Silverlight has been forced to swallow a bitter pill, her typical method of bullying any family into submission has backfired on her. Her attempt to intimidate the noble Silverlight Unicorn family into submission has caused in her mind the worst-case scenario: Civil War. With access to the real Princess Celestia Silverlight's memories she known within their ranks, the whole main family holds the highest position a knight could attain: Grand Master status. This family is forced onto themself.
'Damn! Damn! Damn! The Silverlight unicorn family the family my good side married in to. highest knight rank that could be attained Countess Ophelia Silverlight Supreme Grand Master. The only mare that been allowed to hold that sacred title. Her skills in combat and tactics far outstrip my good side ability with the addition of the troops they were able to spring from the Palace they are nearly unstoppable forces.' Daybreaker thought as her eyes were transfixed with horror trudging her way down the endless dungeon corridor to the real Princess Celestia Silverlight new accommodations.
Meanwhile, in her cell sitting on a small wooden platform attached to the wall by two short lengths of chain was the real Princess Celestia Silverlight her once elegant coronation gown laid torn and tattered upon her perfect equine figure. Slipped over her horn was a disruptor ring, this mystic device blocks her ability to use her magic. Also dangling from her wrists and ankles were hinder manacles, this second mystic device inhibits her Alicorn earth pony strength. Two large leather bags were slipped over her wings and locked with a mystic padlock.
A moment later, the real Celestia heard the lethargic sounds of heels upon the stone floor of the dungeon corridor approaching her cell door. She looks up, and looking through the barred window of her cell door was the exhausted Daybreaker. Slowly the real Celestia's raises her filthy fairly large bare feet toward her. A fine layer of dust covered Celestia's white forefoot from her ankles to her toes. Why the soles of her feet were solid black with no hint of white, except between her toes.
"Here you go, Daybreaker, my feet are yours do try to target the sections between the balls of my foot and my toes I'm terribly ticklish their It might make me pass out." Celestia said sarcastically as she suggestively wiggles her toes. Sudden their hard thud against the wooden door as Daybreaker punches it.
"Tell me good side! where are they going to strike next?" Daybreaker inquiry fiercely as she slams her fist against the door a second time.
"Who? Dearie?" Celestia said, pretending to be ignorant.
"Those insufferable unicorns that part of your royal family, The Silverlight. Where are they going to strike next, Celestia?" Daybreaker said as the edge of impatience creeps into her voice.
"Oh, them I pretty much have no idea where they are going to strike next I went I had to call up Countess Ophelia Silverlight for military service and the Paladin of Light I just gave her a map with numerous objectives and a timeline. Days later, 'proof.' An envoy from the enemy army would arrive fully ready to talk a peace treaty with me." Celestia said with some pride in her voice as she lay down on a wooden platform not big enough to fit an Alicorn her size.
"With all the memories you stole from me, you should be able to confirm what I say is true," Celestia said, knowing as Daybreaker left the door. Celestia felt intense heat coming from the dungeon corridor. She figured Daybreaker confirm what she speaks with her own stolen memories.
'Hahaaah, good going, my dears foals. You are truly a testament to me and your father's lineage. No one ever bullies our Royal family. No matter who you are. But at some time as your mother, the mare that protects you (tears come to her eyes). I don't want you to get hurt or killed. My heart could never take the loss. This is my dream, a long-living Alicorn mare dream. Foals she can call her own.' Celestia thought as she dissolves into tears, worried about her foals.
Meanwhile, on their way back to the rebel secret base camp in the whitetail woods aboard an Armored Amphibious Personnel Carrier was Princess Aurora Silverlight and a small squad (10 soldiers) of Royal Division Solar Guard Unit.
"Your highness? Is something wrong?" The unicorn staff sergeant inquiry went he notices that the Princess' face became downcast.
"Huh?" Aurora exclaims, shaking her head a few times.
"Is something wrong, your highness you became downcast all of a sudden?" The unicorn staff sergeant concerns as Aurora rubbed her eyes with her gloved hand.
"I appreciate your concern with this Princess. But its nothing, Staff Sergeant, I am going to ask the Countess for some time off. These disruption missions are taking their toll on me, it's not like we really need royalty right now. I'm a soldier right now. Not a Princess." Aurora comments encouraging as the whole Royal Division of Solar Guard unit grunts in unison.
"Yes, Lieutenant Colonel." The Staff Sergeant said as it caused Aurora to blush. Suddenly Aurora felts a gloved hand from the staff sergeant rest on her knee.
"This reason why we follow the Royal Foals. On the battlefield, there is no rank or privilege, there are only the ponies next to you. The royal foals fight at our side on that battlefield." The Staff Sergeant said as the grunting get louder and louder.
But suddenly it stops as a more feminine grunt is heard; the female grunt came from Aurora. Who was a bit embarrassed with her grunt, the soldiers look at each other and begin to mimic Aurora's soft grunt. So she could join in with the hooting of the soldiers.
Walking through the marble tiles corridors of the Grand Royal Palace on her way to one of the many guest rooms in this part of the palace carrying fresh bedding was good looking 5ft 11in blue bodied unicorn mare with champagne pink mane and tail. Her superb physically fit equine figure was attired in peach color slightly below the knee length dress of the standard uniform of a Royal Maids, and on her bare feet were white slip-on shoes. This unicorn mare was Royal Maid Mirebelle Orderly and former head Royal Maid for Prince Somnus Silverlight.
After Princess Luna Silverlight, Princess Cadance Sparkle and the Royal Foals were branded traitors to Equestria, Daybreaker in the disguise of Princess Celestia Silverlight. Systematically started to arrest the royal head maids of the five traitors and sent them to Canterlot city prison. Word on the street has it that the royal head maids sent to the prison are being subjected to humiliating interrogations in an attempt to locate the traitors.
As the Head Royal Maid serves a dual role as a personal servant and secretary for their royalty. To keep herself safe, Mirabelle used a little know fact that Somnus her royal told her one day. With so many Royal maids working at the Grand Royal Palace at any giving time, the Royal Palace Guards can't keep track of individual mares.
That job falls to the Princess' elite protections unit, the Solar Guard, who been able to keep track of the Royal Maids who serve the royalty. The only way that Royal Palace Guards know that she was Head Royal Maid was a royal purple uniform she must wear, went accompany their royal. She quickly replaced her head royal maid royal purple uniform with a peach-colored standard uniform of a normal royal maid, allowing her to continue working secretly at the palace.
"Oh?" Mirabelle exclaim surprised as she saw out of the corner of her eye something moving in shadow following her down the marble tiles corridors.
"All right," Mirabelle said softly as she continues down the hallway to the further guest room in the hall with a white pedestal in front of the door. She paused momentarily to slip her blue bare feet out of her shoes and pitter-patter barefooted into the room.
A week earlier, why she stripped the old bedding off a bed in one of the guest room to replace it with the fresh linen, a hidden Prince Somnus spotted her wearing the standard peach-colored royal maid uniform. He secretly approached her in the guest room and was a surprise that she was safe, after being branded a traitor by the faker. During the encounter, Mirabelle informed Somnus that other head royal maids were arrest and sent to the Canterlot city prison.
She implored Somnus to rescue the other head royal maids from the prison as no mare deserves that kind of treatment. That night a hand-picked, highly trained Solar Guard rescue team freed the other head royal maids from the penitentiary and reunited them with their royalty. The head maids now fight at the side of their royal. Unfortunately, Lynda White, the unicorn head royal maid for Princess Aurora Silverlight, was rescued comatose as she was subjected to the worst of the interrogations. Now she slowly recovering in a small hospital run by Princess Blueberry Aurora's little sister.
"Tee-hee tee-hee." Mirabelle laughs as an invisible finger stroke the bare sole of her bare blue foot that rests on the bed she was making.
Suddenly Mirebelle's jade green eyes begins to glow solid white through Shadow Sight Ability that was taught to her by Princess Luna Silverlight, a skill that only the Head Royal maids of both Somnus and Luna know. She spots the outline of the transparent hand and wrist of her troublemaker; she follows the arms up till she reaches the face of Prince Somnus Silverlight, her royal.
"Now stop that your highness and come out of the shadows," Mirabelle said a bit agitated but not mad as Somnus drops his Shadow Walk Ability and appears before Mirabelle.
"I couldn't help myself, Mirabelle. You keep your feet so pristine, it too hard to resist tickling them a little bit." Somnus said playfully as Mirabelle sits down on the edge of the bed and crosses her leg over the other. Before resting her elbow on her knee and rest her chin on the palm of her hand.
"Just be happy that I am dedicated to you, your highness. If I wasn't, I wouldn't let you get away with tickling me like that. Beside as your head royal maid, Somnus, I must look my best to accompany my royal as his secretary and companion." Mirabelle explains as she smiles at Somnus.
"All right, Mirabelle? What do you have to report to me? Before I get the urge to tickle both of those pristine feet of yours." Somnus inquiry with a playful warning to her as it causes Mirabelle to chuckle.
"Anyway, Somnus. It seems that Sun Princess Twilight Sparkle is starting to get suspicious of that faker on the throne. I caught her snooping around your mother's room a couple of times went I was cleaning that area of the palace." Mirabelle reports as Somnus blink with surprise.
"Snooping around my mother's room? Why?" Somnus inquiry as his eyes blinks with incredulity.
"It seems that several normal royal maids have disappeared on that side of the palace. Went you ask the faker about it. She tells you that the royal maids had decided to quit their position." Mirabelle explains as Somnus looks a bit puzzled.
"What is so unusual about that, Mirabelle? Over half of the royal maids are temporary positions. So they come and go regularly." Somnus explains as Mirabelle shook her head.
"You are correct about that, Somnus. They do come and go regularly. But the royal maids that have disappeared are permanent positions. None of them are temporary." Mirabelle comments as Somnus gasps.
"I seem what you mean, Mirabelle. Mother is pretty generous with paying those permanent positions. So why quit that position, it makes no sense to leave that many bits on the table. If that what going on, I order you Head Royal Maid Mirebelle Orderly leave the palace at once and head to the Whitetail woods. The Solar Guard unit members know you are my head royal maid and will let you in." Somnus commands as Mirabelle stood up.
She pulls on a blue rope opening a secret passage in the wall. Before leaving Somnus, she kisses him on his lips and makes him promise that he will see her at the secret rebel camp went he finish this mission.
He watches the secret passage close behind her, and he reassumes his shadow walk ability. For the next few minutes, he makes his way to the private living area of Grand Royal Palace, the location of the Royal family's bedrooms. Once in the area, Somnus makes his way down the fine marble tiles corridor toward his mother's bedroom. He arrives at a solid wooden door with a carved stylized sun design on it, the entrance to his mother's room. Regularly two top Solar Guard security guards are posted at his mother's door at all times to protect the Princess. But due to the rebellion, no security guards are posted here at all.
He pushes opens the wooden door and walks into the bedroom of his mother, Princess Celestia Silverlight. The four walls of her grand bedroom are painted in light blue paint with a mint green trim. Toward the center of the room was his mother's Alicorn size mattress covered by fresh bedding. An unlit fireplace sat to one side of her room, why on the other side along oak dresser fill the wall. Until it hit a huge oak wardrobe with all his' mother's clothing and shoes in it.There was nothing unusual about his mother's bedroom until he used his shadow sight ability.
Suddenly hidden by a shadow gate spell was a huge passageway, he walked through the opening on the other side was a long tunnel. A few more feet down the tunnel, it opens onto an 8 x 12 sized octagon room in the center of the room was a long table with four steel clamps for holding pony morphs to the table.
"By my mother's light!" Somnus exclaims, finding nude corpses of every missing Royal Maid that disappeared from the palace.
A closer look at one of the unicorns reveals that the mare was drained of all her life force. Somnus examined the wrists and ankles of the same mare only to discover bruising from the clamps on the table.
Suddenly Somnus heard fearful crying coming from a nearby room, looking through the barred window into the cell he saw a 5ft 5in beautiful purple pegasi mare with a pink mane and tail her wings were tied securely to her back. She was still wearing her royal maid uniform but had her shoes removed, leaving her barefooted.
"Bonnie Starsong, is that you?" Somnus asked as the pegasi mare get to her feet and looks toward the barred window.
"Your Highness!" Bonnie exclaims as Somnus' face appears in the window, and tears begin running down her cheeks.
"Please, your highness releases me from this cell. I don't want to be drained of my life force. Like your Royal Maid Anne Skydancer. That monster pretending to be your mother tied me to a chair and forces me to watch her drain the life force out her, it was horrifying. She told me fear makes the life force taste divine." Bonnie said her voice cracking as he opens the cell door.
A moment later, Bonnie rushes out of the cell to hug her rescuer with that Somnus asks her to turn around so he could cut her wings free. Once her wings are free, she quickly stretches them to loosen them and folds them onto her back once again. Somnus grabs hold of her hand and leads her to the passage. As Bonnie passes the long table with the four steel clamps, she begins to gulp air furiously, sensing his pegasi mare distress. He pulls his pegasi mare companion to him and hugs her tightly to reassure her that she is safe. The kind gesture reminds Bonnie why all the Royal Maids remain loyal to their royal. As it, the job of Royal Maids to be the last line of defense for their royal, the royal, in turn, protects them went that not needed.
"Your Highness, all these mares deserve their dignity to be restored and not left in this state by that monster. But I know that is impossible. But at least could you use your stronger magic to restore the dignity of Royal maid Anne Skydancer she was loyal like me to you." Bonnie asked to sadden as a tear runs down her cheek with a wave of his hand.
Somnus creates a makeshift dress out of the scraps of fabrics from around the room, and it appears on the nude body of Anne Skydancer. He could swear a smile formed on the still lips of pegasi mare's corpse. He is soon snapped out of it went he felt a soft kiss being placed on his cheek by Bonnie to thank him for restoring her friend's dignity to her.
As the two ponies emerge from the shadow gate into brighter lights of his mother's bedroom, it takes only a moment for Somnus' eyes to adjust to change of brightness as he had been using his shadow sight ability the whole time. He is taking back went he is finally able to lay his eyes on pegasi mare he just rescued from that dark prison. Royal Maid Bonnie Starsong was drop-dead gorgeous pegasi mare with a perfectly sleek figure for flying.
"Y-y-y-your highness, Please stops staring at me. I don't like ponies stare at me." Bonnie said, struggling to control quavering in her voice.
"Tell me, Miss Starsong? How is that I have never actually laid my eyes on you before now? I have at least seen each of my royal maids at least once during their routine duties. But still, I have never seen you." Somnus inquiry as Bonnie shook her head and blush.
"Normally, I wait for you to leave on your royal duties before I join the cleaning crew to straighten your room. I get very nervous went I am around you." Bonnie said her voice breaking as Somnus does a quick evaluation of her.
"I simply can't have that, Miss Starsong. Went this all over, you are being promoted to my traveling group of Royal Maids as a chief maid. Which means you will be assigned pale purple uniform and ivory white strap sandals. Plus you will get an increase in your salary. You must also adhere to keeping yourself pristine from head to foot. Now with that done, a quick escape from the palace and fly to Whitetail woods. Inform the Countess of what going on at the palace." Somnus said as he ushers Bonnie onto his mother's balcony so she can take flight, before taking off, she sneaks a kiss on his lips.
As Bonnie disappears into the distance, Somnus notices the doorknob turning on his mother's bedroom door. Quickly he ducks behind one of the larger flower pots that decorate his mother's grand bedroom as his shadow walk ability must recharge for a few minutes before he can use it again. From his hidden position behind the flower pot Somnus' heart pounds in his chest. Slowly the door opens, and in enters, a beautiful 5ft 5in purple Alicorn mare with moderate sapphire blue, moderate violet, and brilliant rose streaked mane and tail.
Her fit equine figure was encased in green mid-knee length short sleeve sheath dress and gold pumps on her bare feet. Somnus' lips curled with disgust upon seeing this Alicorn mare wearing his mother's original gold tiara on her head, an artifact she has not earned. This Alicorn mare was Sun Princess Twilight Sparkle and formally the Princess of friendship. Quickly Somnus regains control of his disgust toward that Alicorn mare.
'From what Mirabelle told me, Twilight is starting to get suspicious of that faker on the Throne of the Sun. But how suspicious is she toward that fake Princess Celestia Silverlight? I think a little talk is in order.' Somnus thought as he lifted his hand up and whipped his fingers in the air.
This gesture caused Twilight's horn to become stasis locked as magical bindings locked her extremity and wings in place. As Twilight lay on the ground of the fake Celestia's bedroom with her eyes tightly closes, her body trembled with fear. She figures that the fake Celestia finally discovers her snooping around her bedroom and decided to silence her, to keep her secret. Soon she felt someone pick her up and carry her short distance before laying her on a soft spot (she figure the bed).
Slowly she opens her moderate violet eyes and is relieved that it is not the fake Celestia but is saddened that it was the real Celestia's son Prince Somnus Silverlight. Before all this started, she was trying to build a bond of friendship with him. She was kind of jealous of the friendship between him and Rarity. After concluding his royal business with her at the Castle of Friendship, waiting outside the throne room was Rarity with her purse.
The two unicorns would greet each other and leave the castle together, discussing along the way where to stop for lunch and who will pay for it. During her Royal duties in Ponyville, she would encounter the pair at various places around town. Both would have a huge smile on their snouts, which make her even more jealous of them. One time at a brand new café in Ponyville, Twilight encounter the pair they were discussing something between themselves.
The moment she approached the table, the two stopped talking and greeted her as a friend. After being called by spike her number one assistant to a scheduled appointment, the pair went back to talking. Out the corner of her eyes, as she was walking away from the table, she noticed Somnus looking at her and shaking his head, why Rarity was explaining something to him.
~Back to the Present~
"Now, let have a little talk, Your Highness," Somnus said mysteriously as he begins to remove Twilight's gold pumps from her small purple bare feet with red nail polish.
Twilight shook her head frantically no pony knows, except for maybe a dragon that the soles of her feet are uniquely sensitive to a light touch. Somnus barely touch Twilight's sole with his finger went she arched her back and unleashed a muted No. This caught Somnus totally by surprise as a smile form on his snout. He touches the magical binding on her snout and makes it disappear, so she can speak.
"Were is my real mother? Your highness? Or do I have to tickle these unique soles?" Somnus inquiry brings his fingers close to Twilight's bare feet.
"Please your highness, don't tickle me! I honestly don't know where your real mother is, that the honest truth. But you just confirmed my suspicions of that fake Celestia." Twilight answers as her chin sunk dejectedly into her chest with a snap of his fingers the magical bindings vanished, allowing her to sit-up.
"Went did you know, Twilight?" Somnus inquiry as she leaves her feet in place, knowing if she moves them, Somnus will stop believing her.
"Not right away, your highness. I have known your mother for a long time. As the civil war dragged on into months, that fake Celestia never forgave the royal foals for betraying her. Even at her worst, your mother always sheds a tear. That fake Celestia never did. Then those Royal Maids started to disappear from around the palace went the fake Celestia started to get weak. After the first disappearance of a Royal Maid, the fake Celestia would be invigorated." Twilight explains as Somnus slips Twilight's pumps back on her feet.
"No, wait, your highness," Twilight said, removing her pump and set her barefoot in front of Somnus as he blinks with surprise.
"What is this for, Twilight?" Somnus inquiry as Twilight smile at him.
"You have one more question for me, your highness. This to ensure that I speak the truth to you." Twilight comment as Somnus took hold of her foot and positioned his fingers in range of her very sensitive sole.
"You most likely search this palace from top to bottom. Trying to figure out what happens to the Royal Maids. Was there any place in the palace that felt off to you or strange?" Somnus inquiry as Twilight thought for a little while.
"Yes, there was your highness. To the far end of the dungeon, it felt like it should be much larger then it is. I couldn't put my finger on it, why it felt that way." Twilight explains as Somnus floated her shoe to himself and put it on her foot.
"Well, it looks like I have to do what Rarity asks me to." Somnus comment as Twilight had a puzzled look on her face.
"That is, your highness?" Twilight inquiry
"She has been trying to get me to spend some time with you. To find out about you, Miss Twilight. But my royal schedule has been booked solid. But maybe I can move around some of my lesser appointments. So I can visits you your highness. Besides, I want to know how ticklish you really are." Somnus comment as Twilight chuckled a bit.
"Tee-hee, all right, your highness. But if you want to know how ticklish I am, you must become my friend. Only a friend is allowed to find out." Twilight comments as Somnus grabs hold of Twilight's hands and pulls her to her feet. Before disappearing from Twilight's sight.
~ Back in the Real Celestia Silverlight cell in the dungeon~
In the cell Celestia kneel on the ground with her forehead pressed against the wall; her pale magenta-colored eyes are bloodshot from crying. Her right palm is pressed against three names she scratched into the wall with her sharp and strong horn.
Aurora
Somnus
Blueberry
She figures she been in this cell for 12 ½ months, but she cant's be so sure about that as this pocket dimension exists in past, the present, and the future all at the same time. Being uninformed with what going on outside the cell. Celestia is worried that Daybreaker has defeated her foals and is now torturing them as punishment for defying her. That why she has not come to taunt her for some time.
"Daybreaker! (Pounding on the wall with her fist as tears streak her snout) Stop torturing my babies! (Sliding down the wall to all fours as tears continue falling down her snout) Please stop hurting them. Be merciful end their life, don't hurt them anymore. Each scream of pain from them break my heart just a little bit. Stop hurting them! I beg you, end their life." Celestia's voice becomes high and hysteric with grief as she rolls up into a tight ball.
Meanwhile, after way too many close calls for infiltration operative Somnus as the palace is just crazy with Royal Army troops coming and going from the frontlines as the rebel army has put a severe hurt on the royal army with each battle. Somnus finally makes it to the palace dungeon using the information that Twilight told him, he heads to the far end of the dungeon. The moment he arrives at that position, he gets the same sense that Twilight got it should be much larger than this dead end. He charges up a powerful dispel spell in the palm of his hand; the moment he touches the dead-end, the magic shatters, revealing a second corridor with more cells.
This part of the dungeon is much more deteriorated then the newer section with the mortared joints falling to dust as Somnus touch them, several metal cell doors are badly rusted in place. A simple kick from his earth pony strength inherited from his mother would most like cause the doors to go puff. A few more feet down this deteriorated corridor, Somnus heard a mare crying from one of the cells. Looking through the barred window rolled up into a ball on the ground wearing torn and tattered coronation gown was white Alicorn mare with a hint of pink on her pelt with a dirty blonde mane and tail.
"Mother!" Somnus calls as the Alicorn mare turns toward the voice and begins to bawl upon seen her son face in the window.
"Baby! Look out!" Celestia yelled but not in time as Somnus is struck on Back of his head and falls unconscious from the blow.
"Baby, please wake up. Please awake up for your mother. Show me that you are ok." A mare voice said worried and begging as Somnus felt someone running their fingers through his mane very loving.
Slowly Somnus open his cobalt blue eyes and quickly winks away from the mare. He reappears a few feet in front of her. As he stares at the white Alicorn mare with a hint of pink on her pelt with a dirty blonde mane and tail wearing a torn and tattered coronation gown. He quickly hides his gleeful smile with a guarded one. As Celestia tries to move toward him, she is met by a weak magic blast meant to make her keep her distance from him. She tries a second time and is meant by a little more powerful magic blast that impacts in front of her feet.
"Stay put, mare. Don't approach me." Somnus says warning as Celestia watches her son generate a more powerful magic blast in the palm of his hand pointed in front of her feet again.
"All right, baby," Celestia said, conceding as a single tear run down her cheeks, and she sat down on her legs as the ears on top her head droops.
"What must this broken-hearted mare do to proof that I am your mother?" Celestia's inquiry hopeful as her goddess features fell.
"Your feet mare!" Somnus orders as Celestia faces glazes with shock with her son's request to her.
"What? No baby, I know that will instantly tell you I am your mother, and I know what you want to do. But that will be impossible. I no longer feel it." Celestia said her voice edged with tension.
"Your feet now mare!" Somnus said more forceful as a chill runs up Celestia's spine.
"Please listen to me, baby. To keep me weak and allow her to exist in this world. She used my ticklishness against me. The more times she used it on me, the more I built up a tolerance to it. Till I was finally able to resist it. That the reason she put this disruptor ring on my horn, and these hinder manacles on my wrists and ankles. And placed me in this cell here." Celestia explains as her heart becomes heavy in her chest.
"Final warning mare! Present those feet of your now!"Somnus said demanding as Celestia watch her son generate a larger magic beam in the palm of his hand. Her eyes widen in alarm that large of the magic beam will undoubtedly take her down.
"Very well, baby. Just know this; I am that mare that gave you and your sisters' life. No matter what happens, I will always love you. For you have extended my life beyond my immortality." Celestia said her voice a lifeless monotone as she walks over to the wooden platform in the wall and sits down on it.
She swings her legs onto the platform allow her perfectly round heels to rest right on the edge of the opposite end of the platform with that Somnus kneel in front of her filthy reasonably large feet. He kisses two of his fingers and touches his real mother big toes with them, a small heart form on the underside of her big toes.
The two hearts burst and begin swirling around the underside of her feet, till it absorbed into them. Their quick flash signaling that the spell did its job. He gently pushes back his mother's toes opening the intersection between the base of her toes and balls of her feet. He picked that particular section because of she most ticklish there.
"Huh?" Celestia exclaims as electrical impulses shoot up both her legs and explode in her mind. Tears first form in her surprised pale magenta eyes, followed by a smile on her snout that quickly breaks. That follows up by great gusts of laughter that fill the whole cell.
"Pleeeheeaseee bbbaby I-I cahahahan't take Anymorhoore I-I Bwahahahahanonhooo!!!" Celestia screamed with laughter as Somnus stop tickling the intersection between the base of her toes and balls of her feet.
"Mother!" Somnus exclaimed as he wrapped his arms around his mother's neck, and she lovingly rubs her chin on his Back, overjoyed that she is reunited with at least one of her beloved foals.
"Somnus? How did you do that? I built up a tolerance to it and could resist it. But went you touch my foot that tolerance and resistance vanished. I am grateful for it. But how?" Celestia inquiry as she took her legs off the platform and allowed Somnus to sits down next to her.
"After I rescued cousin and auntie from the dungeon. Cadance told me if you tickle some pony with love in your heart, they will always feel it, no matter what. So I used my love for my mother, and she felt me tickling her." Somnus explains as Celestia blink with a surprise, not for the reason he did it, but learning that her adoptive niece and sister were in the dungeon.
"Somnus? You say you rescued your cousin and your auntie from the dungeon." Celestia commented as Somnus shook his head.
"Please, my dear foal, fill your mother in about everything that has happened. Up till you were tossed into this cell with me." Celestia asks as Somnus begins to relay the events up till he was tossed into the cell with his real mother.
"That arrogant mare! Picking on my foals was one thing! But arresting my adoptive niece and sister! Then order the more despicable member of the palace security unit to tickle them helpless feet till they broke them! Unacceptable!" Celestia said fiercely with her eyes seething as she stared at the manacles on her wrists and ankles.
"Baby? Can you do something about these manacles?" Celestia inquiry as Somnus kneels in front of his mother and tears off the sun symbol patch from his upper arm of his sneak suit.
Hidden behind the patch were two lock pick tools with these tools he begins to pick the lock on his mother's manacles on her wrists. A moment later, their very soft click followed by a second one. The manacles fall off her wrists and clang as it hits the stone floor of the cell. She rubs her wrists a few times as it feels so much better with them off.
Somnus gestures his mother to put her fairly large feet on his thighs, which she does instantly, and he goes about picking the locks on her ankles. Why he is doing that, she reaches up and pinches the ring on her horn between her fingers breaking it, allow her to use her magic again. Before long, Celestia once again heard the clang on the stone floor of the cell as the manacles fall off her ankles. With her son's assistance, they can free her white Pegasus wings from tight-fitting leather bags that held them. She flexes them a few time to loosen them before folding them on her Back again.
"Somnus step aside. Let your mother open the cell door." Celestia said confidently as she lifted off and spun in the air to pick-up speed.
At the right time, there an unreal loud smack as the sole of Celestia's barefoot impacted on the cell door, blowing it off the hinges. Without even a flinch, Somnus' mother just walks out the now open door. She gestures with her fingers telling her son are your coming time is' wasting. Through the opening Somnus gape in stunned silence, the cell door his mother kicked is now embedded in the wall across from the cell. Were his mother's foot made contact with the door has a dent in the shape of his mother's foot. He knew that his mother was strong because of she a pure Alicorn mare, but not that strong.
"Somnus! Stop wasting time, come on! Our home is in danger!" Celestia yelled
"Yes! Mother! Yes, coming!" Somnus answer his voice edged with tension as he caught up to his mother; she ran her snout through his mane in loving gestures and kisses his horn. This loving gestures help reassure him that his mother will only use her full strength against those that will hurt her foals and ponies.
The soft pip-plop of his mother's fairly large and plush bare feet echoes in the corridors of the dungeon as she treads fairly quickly over smooth and round river stone that makes up the floor of this area. She stops short of the opening into the large cavernous room filled with dust-covered torture equipment of bygone age.
Celestia always hated this room in the dungeon filled with instruments to inducing pain on victims and force them to confess to anything to end the suffering. Went Luna and her rose to the thrones of Equestria, it was a common practice to uses these instruments to make some pony confess their crimes, even if it was not true. After being crowned, the two sisters outright banned this practice and instead instilled a court system. She will admit the system is not perfect, but it better than forcing a pony to admit guilt through the pain.
"Stop Somnus," Celestia said quietly as she sticks her arm out to stop her son.
She peeked around the corner and saw four royal dungeon guards guarding the staircase to the main floors of Grand Royal Palace. She figures after the escape of her sister and her adoptive niece by her son. Daybreaker doubled the guards down here to ensure if her son returns and rescue his mother, their no way to get her to the main floors of the palace.
"Their no problem, mother. I can sneak you pass like I did with cousin and auntie." Somnus said confidently as Celestia shook her head no.
"That will not work, Somnus. For two very good reasons." Celestia said as she dunked the foot, she kicked the door open with into a bucket of water and cleaned all the grime off her foot. Return it to a fairly pristine condition.
"Have a look at my foot, Somnus," Celestia said as Somnus held his mother's foot and gasp, across her foot, was a bad bruise.
"That door was harder than I thought. Trying to walk quietly on a bruise like this. It will aggravate it more, and the second reason I am much taller than your Auntie and your Cousin is in terms of being an Alicorn. I ensure no small amount of attention with my height." Celestia explains as Somnus' ears drooped on top of his head.
"But mother. I can't leave you here. Not after rescuing you from that cell." Somnus said, fearful as his mother caressed his cheek with the Back of her hand.
"You won't baby," Celestia said, reassuring and motherly as she continued to stroke back of her hand against his cheek.
"Are you wearing that gold sun pin, which I gave to you and your sisters to keep?" Celestia inquiry hopeful and motherly as Somnus pointed to a stylized gold sun pin on his collar.
A knowing smile form on her snout pleased that he wore it, she quickly sneaks as a loving kiss on his cheek. She slowly brought her hand close to the gold pin and snapped her fingers once. Suddenly the pin started to glow and blink several time as if it was setting off a beacon. Celestia quickly ushered her son to her side and pointed at the four royal dungeon guards, who were wearing a simple gold sun pin on their collar. Two minutes later, the sun pin on their collars begins flashing in rapid succession.
"Queen Chrysalis Changelings are in Canterlot again! To arms! To arms!" The staff sergeant calls as he jumps to his feet, and the group rushes up the stairs to the main floors of the palace.
Most likely heading to the throne room were Daybreaker would be and hold her at gunpoint, till the code word is said by one of the remaining Equestria royalty. After the guards left, Celestia strolls out of the opening over to the staircase at a pace that willn't aggravate her severely bruise foot. A moment later, a dumbstruck Somnus follow behind his mother and joins her at the stairs.
"My turn, mother, but how?" Somnus inquiries as Celestia had a huge Cheshire cat smile on her snout as they ascended the staircase to the main floors of Grand Royal Palace.
"Way before I met your father and had my beautiful foals. An evil pony name Queen Chrysalis and her changelings invaded Canterlot during your cousin's wedding ceremony. After the defeat, I did a review of Canterlot Security Protocols. I discovered that there were huge gaps in the Security Protocols, even with the heavy presence of Soldiers in the city. Because there was a threat against Canterlot, it still happened. After your cousin's reception, I ask your Auntie to join me in my office. We went over the Security Protocols from front to back, trying to plug the holes in the Protocols." Celestia explains as her bare feet pap-pops over finely made marble tiles of the many interior corridors of the Canterlot Grand Royal Palace on their way to the Throne Room.
"After plugging as many holes as we could in Security Protocols, we came up with a plan. The plan was these gold sun pins (tap her fingernail on stylized gold sun pin on Somnus' collar). We gave the plain gold sun pins to every member of the Royal Army. Went activated, it sends signals to the other gold sun pins. In theory, the Royal Army soldiers would instantly return to Canterlot to protect the Royalty. But in practice with animosity among many of the divisions, it never worked. It was not till the birth of my beloved foals (kissing Somnus once again on his cheek). That it works, with your older sister strong command presence as well as my other foal’s command presence. The plan worked." Celestia explains as they continue down the marble tiles interior corridors heading toward the throne room.
Meanwhile, on the west side of Everfree Forest close to the area of the Ghastly Gorge, the Equestria Royal Army and Rebel Army exchange gun-fire with an occasional explosion that pockmarks the territory. In the next instance, all gun-fire ceases as the gold sun pins on their combat uniforms begin to blink rapidly, without being ordered the Princess' elite protection unit the Solar Guard start to climb into their troop transport trucks. Once it fills with combat personnel, it speeds off towards the Capital City of Canterlot in rapid succession. Soon the skies above the battlefield is darkening by the hundreds of wings from the Solar Guard Pegasus ponies following ground-based troop transport trucks back to the Capital City of Canterlot.
Before long, a huge burning sun symbol form in the sky as remaining troops look skyward toward the symbol at the center of sun symbol wearing her combat uniform was Celestia's eldest daughter Princess Aurora Silverlight. She soon joined in the sky by her Aunt Princess Luna Silverlight and her Cousin Princess Cadance Sparkle. She quickly orders them to gather together their troops and begins to head to Canterlot as fast as they can. With a nod of their heads, the two princesses fly over the heads of their soldiers, order them to load up, and quickly move out.
Once the troop's transport trucks head toward Canterlot, the two princesses' land on the roof of the lead truck and ride it all the way to Canterlot. The last troops to leave and head toward Canterlot were the Canterlot Medical Battalion lead by Aurora's younger sister Princess Blueberry Swirl Silverlight. She lands on the roof of the truck that her little sister was riding in.
Along the way, Blueberry informs her older sister riding on the roof of the truck that the Solar Guard unit from Friendship kingdom and Ponyville has arrived in Canterlot and is currently deploying around the city waiting from arriving of the Royal Division with that Aurora charge up her horn and begins the process of activating her long-range teleporting ability. As the magic energy in Aurora's horn reaches its zenith in the next instance, their bright flash and a loud pop as Aurora disappear. She soon reappears on the roof of the led Royal Division Solar Guard truck as it passes through the main gate of Canterlot. Once the truck stops, she flies up and does a back flip in midair to land on the ground to the rear of the truck.
"Troopers, we don't know what the situation is at the Grand Royal Palace. So let do this by the book."Aurora said as she floated herself shotgun and handgun from the onboard armory.
"Yes, Your Highness!" they all said in unison.
Meanwhile, in the throne room of the Grand Royal Palace, Somnus holds his own against Daybreaker. Still, he knows he is severely outmatched it likes fighting with his own mother, who he has never been able to defeat in a sparring match. Suddenly a cobalt blue magic aura surrounds the battered Somnus and tosses him against one of the many marble columns in Grand Throne room.
Since entering the throne room, the real Princess Celestia Silverlight was quickly drained of her strength by Daybreaker. Celestia's face is etched with desperation watching her son go all out to protect his weaken mother, and she can't do anything to help him. But to add more desperation to this already tense situation, any blow that Somnus lands on Daybreaker is quickly transferred to his mother, who immediately screams out in pain. This has forced Somnus to taper back his assault on Daybreaker in an attempt not to hurt his mother. This situation has given the advantage back to Daybreaker, who is just playing with Celestia's son like a cat with a mouse toy.
"I am sorry, baby. Mama is useless against this threat," Celestia said as she dissolves into tears.
"Celestia! Look at our son. He is waiting for his mother to save him! That monster is you, and only you can stop it. Our son is taking a beating to give you time to recover. That who our foals are. Don't waste this opportunity. You are his mother, for Celestia's sake!" A stallion voice said in Celestia's head as she slowly rose to her feet as a yellow magic ball forms in the palm of her hand.
"Get away from my foal, Daybreaker!" Celestia said fiercely as she lifted her hand in the air and fires a yellow magic beam toward Daybreaker, blowing her off her foal lying badly beaten on the ground. She quickly flies over to him and begins to nudge him with her naked right foot, trying to rouse him.
"Mama," Somnus said in a weak voice as she ran her toes through his mane, and she caressed his horn with a side of her foot.
"Rest now, my beloved foal, and let your natural Alicorn healing ability, heal you. This' my battle with my evil alters ego Daybreaker. For my family's future." Celestia said as she flies over to Daybreaker, who is playing possum still lying on the ground.
"Get up, Daybreaker! That level of magic wouldn't take me out like that!" Celestia exclaims as Daybreaker does an acrobatic leap to her feet and unleashes her own beam toward Celestia. Who quickly moved her head out of the way and caught the very edge of beam on her cheek cut it that quickly heals.
"Very right, my good side, it didn't take me out. So good side it times to show who is superior." Daybreaker said as she assumes an offensive stance, and real Celestia assumes a defensive posture.
In the next instance, the battle begins as the booms of the two Alicorn trading blows echo in the marble halls of the Grand Throne room of the palace. The counter blows from these powerful Alicorns shake the very foundation of this grand residence.
"Why are you fighting me, Celestia? You are me, and I am you!" Daybreaker said as she landed a solid jab on her block, sending Celestia crashing through one of the marble columns, shattering one of the stained glass windows went; she impacted the wall under it.
"You don't get it, Daybreaker! One time in my past, I was that mare! But not anymore! I found what I was missing! I found true joy! All those victories meant nothing but pain and suffering for the defeated!" Celestia said as she pulled herself out of the impact crater just as Daybreaker punched a huge hole through the same wall.
Celestia dodges out of the way of Daybreaker's next several attacks and counters the rest of her fury with few well placed strikes across her body. Before their loud thud as she does an acrobatic airborne maneuver. That drives the top of her foot into Daybreaker's back; sending her crashing to the ground their aloud crack as she Daybreaker breaks several marble tiles on the floor went she's impacted.
"It those insufferable foals of yours! Went I defeat you, Celestia! I will kill each of your foals slowly! Make them suffer by letting the blood drain out of them! And watch as their heart begins to slow and stop!" Daybreaker threatened as Daybreaker quickly comes up on Celestia and whip kicks her into another wall. Once again, shattering the second stained glass window in the throne room.
Quickly Celestia flips and presses the soles of her fairly large feet against the wall; she squats against the wall and launches herself at incredible speed toward Daybreaker. She covers her head with her arms. Her arms impact on Daybreaker's stomach knocks the wind out of her. Celestia follows Daybreaker as she sent through the golden doors of the throne room into entrance vestibule their aloud crunch as Daybreaker impacted against a marble column in the room and she down to the marble floor in dazed. Quickly Celestia lands in front of the dazed Daybreaker and begins charging a yellow magic ball in the palm of her hand.
"My real joy died years ago, Daybreaker. But those foals he gave me are lasting tribute to the love he always shows me and continued to show me till he died. You shall never hurt my foals again. Begone Daybreaker and return to me." Celestia said as she unleashed the yellow beam destroying Daybreaker force her back into her.
Before long Celestia, legs give out under her, and she collapses to ground exhausted a moment later, a badly beaten Somnus stumble into the entrance vestibule and sinks to his knees. He wraps his arms around his mother, who, in turn, wraps her arms and wings around him in a loving embrace.
"Is it over, mother?" Somnus inquiry
"Indeed, it is my dear foal. That monster will never again plague our family. She is forever locked in my past. Our family's future is very bright." Celestia comments as the Royal Division of the Solar Guard quickly secure the Grand Royal Palace.
