Haunted Dreams

Celestia walked slowly down the long hallway. When she was a filly, and before Nightmare Moon, she had felt fearless next to her sister. Like she could face anything. But now, well... days were grim. Darkness threatened to flood over them all. All it would take was one little pony...

"Her royal highness, Princess Celestia!" Celestia tried to smile at her subjects, hoping it looked convincing. There was no need for them to know that in just a short time, the world could end.

"Greetings, my subjects. Today, we have gathered here to witness the sun to be highered for the 5,000th time." she begin, smiling.

Cheers erupted around her. Satisfied, she eyed each pony carefully. Then, all of a sudden, she rose the sun. Beautiful light seeped through her shadow.

"Oooh!Aaah!" the crowd seemed to whisper.

Celestia groaned as she got up from bed. So many papers to sign! So many ponies to greet! It was all too much. Her horn still ached from using her magic for so long. She heard a giggle. Whipping around, she found Luna snickering.

"Oh, hahaha. This is sooo amusing!" Celestia snapped, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

"My apologies, dear sister. It just seems the Philomena had a big one... on your head!" Luna erupted into another fit of laughter.

"Wha?!" Celestia fumed, puzzled as she trotted over to her mirror.

She gasped as she saw gooey bird waste plastered all over her forehead.

She trotted over to the bathroom, shooting looks that could melt steel at Luna. She took a long, hot, cozy bubble bath. The aching melted away from her horn and joints.

"Aaah," she sighed, relaxing.

After what had seemed like hours, Celestia trudged to the breakfast table, grumbling. She was positive that Luna had pranked her! How dare she!?

Calming down, she smiled at herself. She had looked funny. But... No. She wasn't going to admit that to her little sister. No, she wouldn't give Luna that satisfaction just yet.

"Good Morning, dear sister," Luna's eyes showed nothing;she was sneaky that way.

"Good Morning" Celestia replied with a brusque nod as she took her seat.

"Luna... I... I have to talk to you privately..." Celestia whispered.

The time had come for the truth to be revealed.

And Celestia was the ideal one to reveal it.

As Celestia closed the door to the dark room, she spoke quietly.

"The end is coming."

"No!"

"Yes. It is time we excepted it."

"You PROMISED me!"

"I promised you I would warn you and help you stop it. You always had a different opinion than I. I excepted it. You ignored it, and were blinded by your foolish arrogance! You must except it!" Celestia fumed, outraged by her sister's stubborn personality.

Luna panted, panic-striken.

"No..." she croaked.

Celestia rested a comforting wing on her sister's back.

"I pray we are wrong, but the signs are too vivid. We must find her."

"Which pony shall it be? A unicorn? Pegasus? Earth pony? Bat pony?" Luna asked as she listed off the names of different types of ponies.

"This time it will be a pegasus in Ponyville." Celestia decided as she looked at an ancient map.

"What is this Pegasus's name?" Luna inquired, curious.

"Star Dust." Celestia answered, her face grim and dark with worry.