Before the Beginning
Midnight
Astral Ember woke up with a start, sweaty and gasping for air. The darkness... rushing on, chasing her as she ran as fast as she could. However, she failed to escape every time.
She walked out onto the small balcony, taking in the night moon and the glimmering stars. It was barely one in the morning, but she couldn't bring herself to go back to sleep.
Strapping on a black leather jacket, she quietly walked out of her comforting home and onto the dark, narrow, empty streets. A cold wind drifted past, and Astral shivered while pulling her jacket tighter. Celestia's magelights tried to keep the darkness at bay, but it was never enough.
A robed black stallion stepped out of an alley.
"Hello. How's the parents?"
"They're as pompous as usual. Don't ask any more."
"Alright, Princess Astral. Your wish is my command."
Astral rolled her eyes and asked, "What are you going to teach me tonight?"
The black stallion chuckled in amusement and took out a small crystal dagger. "I was thinking we could practice some fighting. And your magic needs exercise as well. Don't want to underwhelm Celestia tomorrow, eh?"
Astral took the crystal dagger from his grasp. An aura of pulsating blue magic enveloped the faceted, wickedly sharp crystal weapon and pointed the tip towards the black stallion. "Ready, Shadow Sword."
The black Earth pony drew his own dagger and got into position. Simultaneously, the unicorn and Earth pony began circling each other, waiting for a weakness to reveal itself. Astral Ember jumped first, taking advantage of a flicker in the magelight. Shadow Sword dodged easily, using Astral's unbalanced position to trip her. Astral fell face first on the paved ground, but she lashed out her back leg to try and hit Shadow. Shadow fell back, grimacing as she climbed back up. Once again, the duo circled each other, searching for weak points.
Daggers flew as Astral tried to land a cut on Shadow. Shadow blocked, dodged, and parried easily each time. Eventually, Astral tripped on a loose stone and Shadow nicked her on the front leg.
"I win, yet again."
"I want a rematch."
"Alright, but you know I'll win every time, right?"
"Just... rematch."
Daggers flashed and metal hit crystal over and over again. By dawn, both ponies were exhausted - one from magical use and minor injuries, the other from physical exertion.
"Nice job, Astral Ember. Glad to see you can manage to defend yourself, for ten minutes at least. I'll be gone for a while, so shock Celestia with some fighting moves when I'm gone, alright?"
"Okay, Shadow Sword. Be back soon..."
"Count on it, sis."
Astral Ember looked on as Shadow Sword, her cousin and trusted mentor, trotted away into the fading darkness.
Little did she know... she would never get the chance to see him again.
Chapter 1
Dawn
As the city of Canterlot woke up and began its routine, Astral Ember the indigo unicorn walked home in silence. She took off her jacket and put on some shoes - the School of Magic's flooring was known for being unforgiving towards delicate hooves.
What would Celestia demand of her? Astral thought about the solar mare's previous students - rumor said that one of them had been asked to hatch a dragon egg. Hopefully she wouldn't have to do that.
She arrived at the School for Gifted Unicorns, with butterflies in her stomach. It's not that hard... all you have to do is pass one simple test... She showed her token to the guards, who let her pass.
"Hello, Astral. Come on in." A sprightly peach Earth pony beckoned to Astral with a sweet smile and waved Astral over. "Your testing room's here."
"Thanks." Astral followed the Earth pony while gazing around, mesmerized by the pristine white walls of the School, the busy unicorns trotting about, and the many decorations that brought out the beauty of the place. When the Earth pony stopped into a grand hall with paintings, a stained-glass roof, and beautiful glass flooring, Astral wasn't surprised.
"Wait here just a minute, the tester will arrive soon. Make yourself at home." The Earth pony left.
Astral didn't hear. She was staring up at the high vaulted ceiling, admiring the magnificence of the intricately detailed windows, and observing the little sparks that rose up from all of the many little fountains nested into corners. When a tall, stern unicorn arrived, Astral didn't even notice the clacks of hooves on glass.
"Ahem. Astral, I believe? It is very rude to ignore your superiors." Astral whirled about, surprised by the mare's entrance.
"Umm... sorry... eh... well, hi." Astral quickly bent down in a polite curtsy, not wishing to make the tester more annoyed.
"Well then. Let's begin, shall we?"
"Yes, ma'am."
The tester produced a checklist. "First things first. What is your name?"
"Astral... Ember, ma'am."
"Birthda-"
"Eleventh day of the seventh month, in the old calendar style, of the twelfth and seventeenth year, ma'am."
"Do not interrupt me, child. And repeat your birthdate in the moder-"
"Sorry! The eleventh of July, in the year twelve-seventeen."
The elder unicorn sighed. "Young unicorn, your rashness and rudeness is not being overlooked. It may be the catalyst for expulsion from this school."
"What-? Repeat that?"
"It might be the catalyst for expulsion."
"In English?"
"I am speaking English! But if you want the fools' language, 'it might get you kicked out!"
"Oh."
"Alright," The mare grimaced and rolled her eyes, then continued. "let's begin with the real testing." She pulled out a small crystal. "I want you to hatch that egg. With your magic."
"A... dragon's egg?"
"No, just a simple phoenix."
"A... phoenix?"
"Yes. Begin."
Astral began pouring magic into the egg, willing it to open, to crack... Nothing happened. She tried again, this time imagining a hammer smashing the egg to smithereens. No luck.
Panicking, she desperately poured more and more magic into the egg. Half an hour ticked by, and all that had broken was Astral's hope for success.
"You have fifteen more minutes, Astral. If you can't do it, just say so."
"I... I can do it. I can!"
The mare rolled her eyes in disbelief and tapped her hoof on the ground impatiently as Astral again struggled with her magic.
Three minutes left. The egg had not changed.
Two minutes, forty seconds.
One minute fifty-seven seconds.
One minute twenty-three seconds.
Forty seconds.
Thirty-six seconds.
Twenty-five seconds.
"Your time is up, Astral Ember."
"But... I..."
"You can always try again later, child. Go home and practice."
Astral dejectedly walked out of the hall. So much for hoping to enter a school for gifted unicorns...