Chapters Luna stirred not long after Celestia fell asleep. She got up and stretched, then suddenly the noticed tears streaming down her sister’s face. She was about to wake her sister up, then she then saw Philomena. She smiled at the bird, thinking she had figured it out.
“Mom says sometimes when somepony is really happy, they cry! Tia must be happy you have returned, Philomena!” Luna ran over to the phoenix perched on the window. She stared out at the dark sky, spotted with stars and streaked with moon light. “Looks like mom lowered the sun and dad raised the moon again!” She laughed. “One day Philomena, that will be me and Tia’s job. I raised the moon once already, that’s how I got my cutie-mark!” Luna showed the baby phoenix the crescent moon on her flank. Philomena flapped her wings in response. Luna laughed, and then yawned loudly and walked back over to her older sister, nuzzling her affectionately before curling up next to Celestia.
“Soon mom and dad will come back and we will be one big happy family again, Tia promised and I can’t wait,” the blue filly whispered as she snuggled against her sister. She yawned again, already half asleep as she slurred, “Well goodnight Philomena, I’m glad you’re back.” The young blue alicorn listing to the soft cooing sound coming from Philomena as the warm night air guided her to the dream world. In her dreams she was often accompanied by a small bat, she had seen this bat in her dreams many times before. She had even given him a name, Starlight after the night sky that she and the bat both loved. As the dream went on Luna began to smell something. Something she had smelled before, but she could not put her hoof on it. Then suddenly she looked up with wide eyes.
“Smoke! I smell smoke, and where there is smoke there is-.”
“FIRE!” the sound of her older sister yelling woke her up, after a moment she realized the smell was still there, and then it hit her. Something was wrong.
“Tia? Whats going on?” Luna asked.
“No time to explain we need to get outside now!” Her sister said. Luna then felt herself being lifted off the ground and placed on her big sisters back by magic.
“Hold on tight, okay?”
“Okay Tia.” Luna said closing her eyes in fear. As her big sister was running through the burning castle. Luna heard a crashing sound, and looked up to see the exit covered with burning wood and stone.
“Tia I’m scared.” Luna cried out. Then moments later she felt herself being lifted once more. This time towards a hole just big enough for her to fit through. As she crawled through and jumped to the ground Luna heard her sister’s voice from the burning castle.
“Luna meet me by the river okay? You will be safe from the fire there.” Luna hesitated for a moment but then ran through the burning forest. As Luna neared the river she heard a sound from behind her and looked back to see her sister standing there all covered in soot and some burns. Luna then looked next to her sister and saw the strangest creature she had ever seen. Celestia and the creature came running up to Luna. Just then there was a snap from above as a tree branch broke and fell. The creature pushed her and Celestia sending all three of them into the river. The current was strong and swept them down stream. Luna watched as the creature grabbed onto a branch with it’s tail and grabbed her sister, it then tried to grab Luna with its paw but Luna watched as she slipped from it’s grip.
“Luna No!” Luna heard her sister call.
“Tia save me.” Luna cried out as she was washed away.
“I will find you, follow the the sunset Luna.” Was the the last thing she heard from her sister as she was carried away. Luna tried to fight the current by swimming up stream, but she was too little. Luna searched for something to grab onto and luckily found a small branch. After about an hour of floating Luna saw a small shore. She used the rest of the strength she had to kick her little legs propelling herself to shore. As she stepped onto the shore it began to rain and Luna fell over and lost consciousness.
Celestia felt something hitting her nose repeatedly and woke up to see Philomena pecking at her muzzle, then the phoenix flew away. Then Celestia smelled smoke, and looked up to see the forest on fire.
“FIRE!” she yelled waking up her sister.
“Tia whats wrong?” Her sister asked.
“No time to explain we need to get outside now!” Celestia used her magic to pick up her little sister and put the blue pony on her back.
“Hold on tight, okay?” Celestia told her sister.
“Okay Tia.” Luna said. As Celestia was running through the burning castle, she watched in horror as part of the ceiling crashed under a falling tree and blocked the exit.
“Tia I’m scared.” Celestia heard her little sister cry as she looked around for a way out. Then Celestia spotted a small hole leading outside. She lifted Luna with her magic and got her through the hole.
“Luna meet me by the river okay? You will be safe from the fire there.” Celestia told her sister. A few seconds later Celestia heard her sisters hoofsteps fade in the distance as she got farther away. Celestia was looking at the hole made by the falling tree, but realized she would be burned very badly if she tried to get out that way. Though the ceiling was full of holes they weren't big enough to fit a hoof in let alone a pony.
“Mother, Father, Luna, I’m sorry I failed yo-.” Celestia stopped mid sentence when she felt a raindrop on her nose. But it wasn't a raindrop in fact it wasn't even water. It was brown and smelled chocolaty. As more drops fell Celestia looked up through the holes in the ceiling to see what looked like a large pink cloud.
“What?” As Celestia spoke a drop fell in her mouth. Chocolate milk? She thought to herself. Then looking over at the blocked exit Celestia watched in disbelief as the stone and burning wood changed into paper, and then quickly burned away creating a way out. As Celestia began to leave the burning castle she saw a strange creature standing in the doorway.
“Hurry! We have to catch up to the little one.” It said pointing in the direction of the river. Celestia ran past the creature into the forest. As she ran she looked over her shoulder.
“Thank you!” She called back to the creature.
“You're Welcome.” The creature said sliding next to her. Celestia was surprised to see that it caught up to her so quickly, she looked down at its mismatched legs to see soap strapped to the bottom of its feet as it skated alongside her.
“This is taking to long.” It said picking up the young alicorn, and skated faster.
“That's better, by the way my names Discord. I’m a draconequus.” The young draconequus told her trying to distract and calm the young pony down . Celestia was surprised, but didn’t complain about being carried.
“So Discord how are you able to do those things?” Celestia asked him.
“Well you see I use magic to do those things. “ Discord replied grinning. He loved attention.
“And who are you?” the draconequus asked.
“I am Celestia, I’m an alicorn.” Celestia answered. As they skated ahead they could hear the river, it had gotten quite bad. Celestia realized the urgency of the moment and got back on the ground and started running. As they got closer Discord stepped on a small twig which made a loud cracking sound, and they saw Luna turn around to see them. Celestia and Discord ran over to Luna, then Discord heard a snapping sound and looked up to see a flaming branch from a tree about to fall. Thinking quickly the draconequus push both sisters and himself out of the way of the branch. Celestia was surprised as she felt the cold water come into contact with her coat, her body instantly feeling as if she was in a snowy blizzard as it dragged the heat out of her. Celestia felt the talons of his eagle like hand as Discord grabbed her and her sister, but watched helplessly as the only family she had slipped away from her and Discord.
“Luna No!” Celestia cried out as she watched the current take her sister.
“Tia save me!” Celestia’s heart shattered as she heard her sisters cries for help as Luna was out of her sight.
“I will find you, follow the sunset Luna.” Celestia cried praying her sister heard her. Celestia began crying.
“Luna come back.” Celestia sobbed. Celestia and Discord were forced to stay in the river to avoid the fire. Later celestia looked up to see it beginning to rain. The fire slowly began to go out.
“ We should find a dry place for the rest of the night.” The draconequus said.
“What about my sister?” Celestia yelled.
“We will look for her tomorrow. Now to make sleep even possible we are going to have to- ” He said.
“She is out there ALONE and you are worried about where you can SLEEP?” Celestia yelled and kicked Discord. The draconequus released her. Celestia screamed as the water took her down the river, as discord magically made a newspaper appear and was reading it.
“Discord don’t just sit there help me.” Celestia cried out. Discord sighed and folded the paper into a boat and sailed down to her. “But I thought you wanted me to let you go.” He said obviously mocking her.
“If we are going to save your sister, we are doing it my way.” He said as Celestia climbed in.
“Wait why didn’t you make this earlier?” Celestia yelled pointing at the large paper boat.
“Well you see I am still young and can only use so much magic at a time, I need to recharge.”
“But what did you use your magic on?” Celestia asked.
“Saving you.” Discord told her
“So if you didn't save me my sister would be safe right now?” Celestia asked beginning to cry.
“Yup that about sums it up.” Discord said bluntly. Celestia was crying as the draconequus told her this.
“This is all my fault.” Celestia choked out through the tears. She felt the mismatched arms of the draconequus wrapped around her.
“It’s okay it’s not your fault, now lets get to shore the boat is starting to sink.”
Sunlight peaked through the spaces between the leaves and branches of the trees that were spared by the fire. Luna finally regained consciousness. As she woke and opened her eyes she looked around to see that on the other side of the river the trees were scorched and the smoke still lingered in the sky. Luna heard a sound from behind her, she turned around to see what it was she saw a pair of green eyes looking at her from the shade of a tree. What is that?
“Who’s there?” Luna called not breaking eye contact. Luna watched as the creature began walking closer.
“H-hello?” Luna whimpered as it got closer. As it broke through the shade and walked into the light Luna saw it’s black legs and horn was full of holes.
“Hi my name is Chrysalis.” She said blowing her turquoise mane out of her face and smiling.
“Chry- chrys. Uhm I’m Luna.” She said. Chrysalis giggled.
“You can call me Chryssi if you would like.” Chrysalis said pointing a hoof at herself.
“Okay then Chryssi.” Luna said.
“Do you have a nickname Luna?” Chrysalis asked.
“No I don’t have one.” Luna said.
“I’ll give you one, now let me think. How about Lulu?” Chrysalis said looking at Luna.
“I like it.” Luna said cheerfully.
“Okay Lulu it is.” Chrysalis said happily.
“Um.. Chryssi what happened to your legs and horn?” Luna asked looking at the strange looking pony.
“What do you mean?” Chrysalis asked cocking her head, a confused expression on her face.
“There are holes in them.” Luna said hoping her new friend wouldn’t get offended.
“Oh nothing happened to them I was born with them like this.” Chrysalis said as she laughed at Luna’s comment.
“Oh. I didn’t know ponies could be born with holes in them. Do they hurt?” Luna was curious about the small pony.
“No not at all. I have never seen a pony without holes in their hooves let alone a pony with feathers.” Chrysalis told Luna. For the first time the small blue alicorn noticed the insect-like wings on the other pony’s back, they also were full of holes. Chrysalis yawned revealing a forked snake-like tongue. This is a very strange pony. The blue alicorn thought.
“So Lulu how did you get here?” The changeling asked. Luna thought for a moment then remembered the night before. Her eyes began to fill with tears.
“I’m sorry, did I say something wrong?” Chrysalis asked.
“No it’s just that I’m lost.” Luna said as tears in her eyes turned the surroundings into one large blur.
“What happened Lulu?” The small black insect like pony asked.
“Well there was a fire.” Luna began to tell the story of the blazing forest, the strange creature her sister was with, losing her sister, and how she had been carried away by the river.
“And this all happened last night?” Chrysalis asked.
“Yes and now I just want my sister back.” Luna said crying.
“It’s okay Lulu you don’t need to cry.” Chrysalis said giving her a hug.
“Thanks Chryssi.” Luna said.
“Show me what she looks like, I can help you look.” Chrysalis told her.
“I don’t know how I can show you.” Luna told Chrysalis.
“Why not change?” The small changeling said.
“Change? What do you mean Chryssi?” Luna said confused.
“Come on you silly filly you know like this.” Chrysalis said as she was covered with green flames for a moment. When the flames disappeared Luna saw herself standing in front of her.
“WHAT? How? Chryssi is that you? How did you-?” Luna said in shock.
“Wait you can’t do that?” Chrysalis asked quickly changing back.
“Well no not really, but my daddy taught me how to raise the moon.” Luna said proudly. Chrysalis looked up at the sky for a moment.
“Really?” She asked.
“Yeah, but right now he does it.“ Luna told her.
“Wow that’s amazing.” Chrysalis said as she sat down. Luna felt her belly growl with hunger.
“Hey Chryssi do you know where any food is? I really like apples.”
“Apples?” Chrysalis said confused.
“Yeah you know the red fruit that grows on trees.” Luna said laughing a little. Chrysalis stood up.
“Uh yeah I know where some are. Follow me.” Chrysalis said leading the way. Luna followed her happy to be able to get food. Chrysalis lead Luna through a strange and unfamiliar forest. They soon came upon a steep hillside.
“Be careful if you lose your stepping its a long way down.” Chrysalis told Luna as the began to walk up.
“Okay Chryssi.” Luna said following her. After a few minutes of climbing a large bird flew out of a nearby bush startling both of the ponies. Luna let out a scream as the bird flew out causing her to lose her footing and tripped and tumbled down the side of the hill for a few feet until a large rock stopped her. Chrysalis quickly made her way down to the blue alicorn. Luna felt a jolt of pain shoot through her as she tried to stand up. Tears ran down Luna's face, and as she sniffled she tasted blood. She looked down to see a small puddle of blood on the ground coming from her nose. The taste of blood made Luna feel sick, and she vomited. Chrysalis finally reached the small alicorn.
“Luna are you alright? Oh no Luna you’re bleeding.” Chrysalis said walking up to her. Luna only cried as Chrysalis helped her up to her hooves.
“Luna we have to go before something smells the blood.” Chrysalis told Luna trying to find something to stop the bleeding. Luna tried to speak but stopped as she got sick once more. Chrysalis looked around for anything that would work for her friend’s bleeding nose.
“I found something that might work.” Chrysalis called as she ran back with some moss. She held the moss to Luna’s nose. After a few minutes Luna’s nose stopped bleeding.
“It feels really stuffy.” Luna said. Chrysalis wrinkled her nose.
“It smells bad here.” Chrysalis said turning away.
“Sorry I got sick.” Luna told Chrysalis.
“It’s fine, lets go find some water so you can get the taste out of your mouth.” Chrysalis said as she helped her friend up.
“I hurt my leg, but I think I can walk.” The small alicorn said.
“Can you fly?” Chrysalis asked.
“No I can’t, and my sister Tia isn't very good at it either.” Luna told Chrysalis. The two ponies walked together back up the hill at a slow pace.
Prologue
A warm breeze picked up as two ponies stood in a small forest talking. One of the ponies was a full grown stallion, a blue alicorn with stars in his mane. The other was his daughter a small white alicorn filly, with pink hair,and the image of the sun on her flank. Her large purple eyes looked up at her father as he spoke.
“Now listen, your mother and I need to leave and protect the land from creatures of chaos, and creatures who feed on love of other ponies.”
“What? You are leaving? Take me with you.” The small filly said.
“I can’t it’s too dangerous, and you need to take care of your sister, she is only six, she can’t take care of herself. Sweetheart I am going to be honest with you, there is a chance that me and your mother will not come back.”
“But… Do you mean…?” The small filly stuttered, tears beginning to form in her eyes.
“Yes, I need you to be strong though. Do it for me and your mother, do it for your sister.” The white filly began to cry, looking at her father slowly blur from the tears.
“Don’t cry, you need to be strong for you and your sister, she looks up to you and always has. I will keep raising the moon and your mother will raise the sun. If the worst does happen I need you and your sister to take our places. Okay?”
“But I-” The filly started tears still in her eyes, as she imagined losing her parents.
“I need you to promise me you will do this.” The star covered alicorn looked at his daughter.
“I promise father.” The filly told him.
“Good, now the safest place for you to stay is the castle where you used to play when you were younger. We must go now, your mother has told your sister everything I told you except the part about what happens if we do not come back.” The alicorn with the night sky in his mane told his daughter.
“Your mother and I love you very much.” He said spreading his wings and taking off into the air, and soon was joined by a second alicorn this one was a mare with a white coat which matched the filly’s perfectly.
“ Bye mommy, bye daddy. We love you, and can’t wait for you to come back.” The blue alicorn filly called to her parents waving her hoof in the air. The white filly still held back tears as she brought her sister inside the old castle.
Promises
Two sisters huddled close together in a slowly crumbling castle, the stone slicing the moonlight into jagged beams across the floor. They shivered, though the older of the pair was doing her best to keep her sister warm. She looked out, her heart heavy as the two sat, waiting for their parents to return from the alicorn, draconequus, and changeling war .
“Are they going to come back for us?” Her young sister asked. Celestia looked down at her sister.
“Of course they are.” Celestia answered kindly.
“When will they come back?” Her sister asked.
“I’m not sure when they will come back.” The white alicorn replied.
“Oh...Do you think they miss us?” Her sister asked.
“Yes Luna, I know they miss us very much.” Celestia said to her.
“Hey Tia, how long have they been gone?” Her sister asked.
“Almost three years.” Celestia answered sadly. There was a long pause, then a soft whisper.
“Tia you have promise we will be one big happy family, okay?” Luna said looking up at her.
“What?” She asked.
“When mom and dad come home.” Her sister said. Celestia looked at her sister for what seemed like an eternity.
“Tia?” Her sister said breaking the silence.
“Okay Luna I promise.” She said.
“I wanna hear you say it.” Her sister said still looking up at her.
“...Okay, we will be one big happy family.” Celestia told her sister hoping for it to be true.
“Thanks Tia, now that you said it it has to come true.” Her sister yawned and curled up next to her to go to sleep.
“I love you Tia you’re the best sister ever.” Her sister said closing her eyes. Celestia could feel Luna’s face nuzzling her side. Celestia kissed Luna’s forehead.
“I love you too Luna.” Celestia waited and listened for the soft rhythmic breathing of sleep to come from her sister Luna, then she carefully stood up and walked around thinking of the good days before the war. She remembered when Luna and her learned how to raise the sun and the moon and getting their cutie-marks, she had also learned to raise the moon just in case Luna needed help. It was still their parents job to raise them, but later she and Luna would be ready.
Celestia was awoken from her daydreaming by the sound of flapping. She looked to see what it was and in one of the windows sat a baby phoenix.
“Philomena you’re back.” Celestia was so excited that her beloved pet found her way back. Her mood quickly changed when she saw behind Philomena, and saw the sun suddenly begin to slow, and then stop going down completely. Oh no the sun it’s…no, no no this isn't happening. A tear rolled down Celestia’s cheek as she heard her father’s voice in her head, Celestia lowered the sun the rest of the way, and raised the moon. Tears were flowing from her eyes. I can’t tell Luna, especially not after making her that promise. She walked over and curled up next to her sister and Philomena, still crying.
“One big happy family” Celestia whispered before she let sleep wash over her.
