Chapters It wasn’t shocking at all the castle staff and to Luna when her sister voiced that she wanted a heir, especially with subtle and some not so subtle notions that Celestia had been sending for the past few months. Even though there was her niece Cadance and nephew Blueblood she felt that they were needed elsewhere. Since Cadance got married was able to rule over the Crystal Empire. As for Blueblood, Celestia felt that he wasn't ready for any throne. Even Luna herself felt that it would be better for somepony else besides her who was more suited to rule, for she was still not ready to take her place. This drove Celestia even further. If she felt the need to step down from the throne and her beloved sister was not going to take control of the reins then who. So she began plotting, first the baby names, she would go through each alphabet and pick out the ones she liked the most. Next was that Celestia would make inquiries on colors that best suit every personality type a foal might have, she even asked for the best interior designers all over Equestria to come up with a room design that best suits the son/daughter of the royal lineage.
Celestia also commissioned fashion designers to create an entire wardrobe for the foal. Most designers presented her with clothes for a filly, while some brought clothing for a colt. And others for both genders. At one point she even looked into adoption agencies after constant complaints from Luna on how this whole thing was driving her to madness. This soon got everypony talking. Princess Celestia is going to be a mother with Luna as the foal's aunt. Every newspaper and gossip colum gushed on details of the expecting mother. The main question that crossed everypony's lips was who is the father? Researchers and historians came out and blatantly said that the accusations that Princess Celestia being pregnant were impossible, due to the fact that there hasn't been a male alicorn around for more than two millenia. So in order for her to have a child now would be to have one with a deity or incarnation of a spirit.
Months later and with innumerable interviews with the royal sisters, none of the reporters were given any solid info on whether or not that the princess was indeed pregnant. Most they got from the alicorn sisters was "when the time comes we will send word." Soon the story died along with Celestia's enjoyment of looking for an heir. Plus with all the stress of keeping diplomatic peace between kingdoms, nations and empires was exhausting. Especially since the fall of King Sombra in the Crystal Empire and the rise of Queen Chrysalis in the empire of Hyvrul in the western side of Equestria.
It had been years since Celestia and Luna had some time to spend together without the watchful eyes of the gaurds. They're decided to have a week just to themselves. Because even royalty need a vacation too. Strolling among the city citizens they were greeted with astonished and humble "princesses" when encountering their subjects, as well as soft celebratory yelps as workers would quickly tidy up the store whenever the two entered any establishment. They enjoyed being among the citizens that they cared and watched over. On the way back to the to the castle Celestia and Luna found that a large crowd has gathered in the middle of the road. Booming fast-pace beat mixtures coupled with a soft but strong accompaniment of a stringed instrument could be heard from where the pair were standing.
"Sister, what is that noise?" the dark alicorn asked.
"I have no idea Luna, it must have something to do with such a sizable audience," she replied staring out in wonder as to what or who could cause such a commotion. "Care to find out?" Celestia said with a intrigued smile.
"I suppose it wouldn't hurt." the younger alicorn replied with a shrug.
As they got closer the music became more deafing than possible. Although the previous piece was now replaced by something more hard hitting with a deeper beat along with strange and unrecognizable sounds. It seemed that this song was talking about the love of this pony's life being a movie star, and seeing how this pony couldn't go a day taking their eyes off their lover. The crowd parted immediately once they realized that both princesses came to watch. In the center of everything there were three ponies; two colts and a filly, with them was a bright orange bucket and a sliver boom-box that pumped out the tunes. The older filly and colt looked like they were in either middle or high school, while the youngest one, a colt with a light brown sugar coat including light gray stripes covering his legs and having a golden mane in a style zebras would wear with the tips seemingly dipped in blood.
The young colt wore nothing but a slim dingy white tank top that hugged his torso, and a pair of black baggy cargo shorts which had blue and green flames rising up the legs. He didn't appear to be over the age of five. This little guy was the main cause of the large crowd. His dancing, if a pony would call it that was unlike anything any pony, gryphon, or zebra has ever saw. The young colt's movements seemed erratic at best, though he was keeping up with the beat as if his mind, body, and soul was synchronized to the outrageous and out of control tune. Not only that, but his tricks were a jaw dropping spectacle. Complete with heart stopping falls, impossiblely dangerous flips, dizzying dazzling spins of every kind and extreme control of the speed in which he did each move. Every pony there including both princesses were pleasantly mystified. The young colt even appeared to glide across the cobble stone road like it was a sheet of ice.
Needless to say that both Luna and Celestia were very impressed. At the end of the show the bucket was passed around to anypony that wanted to contribute to help the living conditions of these three and both alicorn sisters definitely wanted to make a impact on this young colt's passion and dream. After almost all the crowd had dispersed having enjoyed the evenings entertainment Luna and Celestia chose this opportunity to congratulate the trio on they're performance.
Author's Note
Tis my 1st fic so critics are welcome.
I'm so tired of dancing. I complained to myself as I whipped the sweat off my face and neck. I went to grab my canvas bag when two very tall unicorns approached me. Their appearance caught me off guard, most notably their beautifully sculpted figure, not to mention those gorgeous astral manes.
"That was a magnificent performance you gave my little one. May I ask, what do you call that?" The white unicorn said as she crouched down to meet me at my level.
"Um, uh... I really don't have a name for it yet." I confessed looking down at my feet.
"Well, whatever you decide to call it, I'm sure it'll fit your style just fine." she said with such confidence that I might have believed her.
"What is your name young one?" a dark blue unicorn asked. When I looked up to answer I noticed that she was leaning over and that I could see down shirt. Averting my gaze back to feet I finally answered.
"I... I have no name, if you wish to call me something then call me Noname." it felt like I was reading a piece of paper with those words scrawled on it. Though it was true that I was not give a name I've found myself telling countless ponies those words so many times that it now seems robotic.
"That certainly won't do." the dark unicorn said as she picked me up. She held me in her arms as if I belonged her or the white one.
"Sister, take a gander at these beautiful eyes." she said as she motioned to the white one. It took me by surprise that both were related. Her sister leaned in and I buried my face in the dark one's shoulder, they both giggled at this. "Come now, no need to afraid." the white unicorn said soothingly as she lifted my head up. Before they could finish examining me they were interrupted.
"You little brat!" a young female voice bellows. "We were wondering where you ran off to." She said half releaved. Her name was Dark Angel. She and I are apart of a acrobatic troupe known as MHZ. She’s was one of the few performers in our group that seemed to look after me. That is when she's not drunk. She apologize to both of them for any trouble I caused then yanked me out of the dark pony's arms by the collar of my shirt choking me slightly. I tried in a futile effort to get out of her clutches and be back in the loving and caring arms of the sister unicorns.
"Thank you again for the show. It was superb!" They praised. Just then a group of royal gaurds surrounded the two and started to escort them away. When they left I noticed that both had wings as well a horn.
Once we were out of eye and ear shot of anypony I got slapped and yelled at because I didn't stick to them and the fact that I didn't rake in enough bits, which meant that I wasn’t allowed to stay with them tonight. When I made a comment about how unfair it is to treat the baby of the group, I got beaten. I begged for her to stop, but she kept on until she was exhausted. I laid there praying to Celestia, whoever that is, I'd be with a family that'll love me either that or to let me die here in forgotten alley. Because I didn't feel like dealing with them anymore. After about fifteen minutes or so, without my life ending, I got up to begin my search for a few easy bits to snatch. Yes I'm a thief. I'm not really proud of it but I gotta live somehow. I'm not going in to details on how I go about doing the deed, just know that I've never been caught. After scanning the area near the Canterlot castle I found a cart full of apples sitting next to a vendor selling baked goods. There was a burnt brown napsac hanging of the cart. Mine was taken from me by Angel. I knew that it my best bet to quickly and easily get food and a few bits of my own. I waited to the owners of the cart (a tall red stallion with a green apple that's cut open as his cutie mark and a mare with a slightly dark orange coat with a cutie mark of three red apples) to leave. When they went to interact I saw my chance and snatched the bag off the cart before filing it with as many apples and bread I could carry. I started walking away from the cart and almost home when I heard some pony shout.
"Hey! Come back hur!" I high tailed it out of there and realized that I was beeing chased. Slipping between a nearby ally I ran as fast as my already sore body could go only to find the end of the ally went to nowhere. Hearing my pursuers not far behind I fashioned together anything that would lead me to getting over the wall and out of trouble. Hopping off the rickety setup which soon collapsed under my weight, I struggled fit a few seconds to get myself over the top of the wall and onto solid ground. Unfortunately night came which made it hard to see with two swollwn eyes. Dropping from five feet hurts like hell, but I kept running not thinking about who was behind me, or how many there were, or how far they were from catching me. Though without realizing it, I got my anwser.
"Somepony stop that thief!" a pony called out their hooves clanging against the ground along with the rhythmic tune of metal on fur.
I ran a full block before coming across a large tree and the outer wall of the castle. I was surrounded and adrenaline coursed its way through my veins. There was only one option and that was up.
"Where ya think yur goin' with that?" One of the owners of the apple cart asked.
"Hand over the bag, boy, and come with us" One of the guards said or at least I think he was a royal guard. I held the bag close ro my chest and shook my head. Each step they took towards me the more I backed up til my back was against the tree.
"Ya got nowheres to go!" the red stallion bellows. He scared me the most and I wasn't gonna sit and get captured. Tossing the bag up, I ran around the back of the tree where its trunk had very little space between the castle wall. One of the guards had followed me so I use my body to scale up the trunk and stone wall to the first branch that I could reach. Forgetting all about the bag of food I jumped to the next available branch. My hands bearily made a connection, but I was able to wrap my arms over and after a few moments pulled myself up. The second my hooves landed on the branch the gigantic tree shook with such violent force I buried my fingers into the thick bark just so I wouldn't fall.
"Get yur flank down hur now!" the mare yelled right before the tree shook again. Glancing down I realized that she was trying to buck me out of the tree. Around the fourth or fifth attempt, the red stallion joined in and that was the first time ever that I almost pissed myself. It felt like an earthquake, but only were I'm at. Now it was time to go and "up and over" was my only option. I climbed that tree as fast as I could and only stopped when I heard thud against the tree and felt the tree shake. Once at the top I saw an slightly less dangerous way out, but at the cost of getting into even more trouble than I'm already in. The top of the tree extended over the castle wall in which I could see a massive garden. I didn't have time to admire the scenery because the four earth ponies below me bucked me out of the tree and sent me soaring over the wall and slamming into some sort of pillar, then falling into a bush of flowers.
Apparently there were royal guards positioned near the garden and were drawn to the sound of me hitting the pillar. In the same time frame that I heard the guards coming, a window was opened and a bucket of water was dumped on me. I wanted to scream and cry as well as curse the universe all at the same time but couldn't. I didn't wait to see whether or not the gaurds were watching nor if the pony inside was still at the window, so I climbed in. Searching through the massive castle for a unlocked room to hide in became frustratingly difficult until I found a door with an emblem of the sun etched into the middle of double doors. Opening the door I slipped in and closed it back as silently as possible then I found the first hiding spot I could think of and tried to get some sleep.
I didn’t get much sleep due to being hungry, cold, and wet. When I did get some shut eye I would soon wake up from a nightmare. Once they stopped and I did get some sleep it seemed like morning came way too quickly. The pony who owns the room got up while it was still dark out. I found that it belongs to a white mare. I could tell she was in a good mood just by the she hummed to herself as she got ready for the day. I must have dozed off from the soft delicious tune she hummed, because the next thing I know, something metallic dropped to the floor in front of me. I watched as she knelt down searching for the object. When she reached for it she accidently flicked it further from her and towards me. I realized that it was a piece of jewelry, and was in awe of its design. It looked really expensive, it had a what appears to be a large size yellow diamond encased around a bunch of white topaz embedded in a metal symbol of the sun. I knocked the fashion ornament back where it was first dropped when I knew she would start searching for it. Due to my tiredness I really didn't think that she would mind that her jewelry came back to her on its own without the help of magic. The presence of somepony watching me became an overwhelming force. Glancing up I see two beautiful violet eyes peering at me. I jumped up in shock only to smack my head against the underside of the bed frame.
"Who dares to enter my chamber!" The white mare's voice bombed with such authority, yet it still seem so soft. My hiding spot and the source of my injury was lifted off by the white mare's magic or her pure strength.
Clutching my head I withdrew my knees to my chest and began whimpering. Not because of the immense throbbing pain that's destroying my head, it's more of the fact that I'm about to get another beating on top of the one I got by the hands of Angel. Usually if I started whimpering during or after a beating it would worse or I would get another one. At this point my whimpers transformed into sobs as big fat tears soaked my shorts. I hadn't realized that I'd been picked up by the mare who began soothing me, I was crying so heavily and loud that I bearily heard anything, let alone the white mare. Her shushing quieted my sobs but only slightly. I could feel her heart weep with concern over me in a way only a mother could. She soon got me to stop with the silky tune of a lullaby she sang to me. The click of the door opening with a very agitated mare caused my to flinch. "Sister, what is with all this noise? And at such a - oh." I didn't hear anything after that as a result of the white mare's lullaby. I awoke a few hours later thanks to my hunger pains.
"Good morning." a familiar voice said cheerfully. Shifting my body in the direction of her voice hurt a lot, I knew why. She was standing on the far side of the room staring out the window. She wore a flowing pale pink oriental dress with the slits ending just a few inches above her knees. It was accented by a gold trim going along the edges of the dress. When she turned to face me her wings and horn glistened with the bright rays of the golden sun. That's when it hit me, she’s Princess Celestia and I was in her room. I mean I knew that I escaped over the castle wall and ducked inside, but never thought that I hide away with one of the power beings in Equestria.
"If you feel up to it, after we get you cleaned up, you may joins us for breakfast." she said lovingly.
"I-I'm not hungry." I lied through hoarse lips, though my stomach replied with a different answer. She smiled as she walked over kissed my forehead while petting my head.
"Come on let's get you cleaned up and a change of clothes." With that loving voice and warm caring smile how could I argue.
Once I bathed I found a dark pair of jeans as well as light color button down shirt lying on the princess's bed. Two maids came into help me get dressed. Like I needed help, I've been dressing myself since I was able to walk... well not really. I voiced in protest that I was old enough to do it myself, it seemed like my words fell on death ears. I even asked them insultingly if they were completely deaf or just plain stupid, they just glared at me still fixing my clothing. When they were done they left just as silently as they came. Princess Celestia soon appeared and escorted me into a quite expensive dining room. The walls were a ghostly white, but decorated with various paintings of ponies of old and tapestries of ancient legends just hanging there. Four large chandeliers enhanced the already bright morning glow. In the middle of the room sat two large round tables with two ponies already sitting.
"Morning ladies!" Celestia chirped joyfully as we approached.
"Morning auntie. Morning Tia." they both said at the same time. I recognized Princess Luna right away, though the other alicorn I didn’t know who she was. It was a pink alicorn with a light pink mane which she wore in a pony tail that had stripes of a creme color and a touch of violet in it, her small frame was covered by a full length lavender dress with more frills and lace than I could stomach.
"It appears that we have a guest." the pink alicorn stated. She stood crossed one leg behind the other grabbed the sides of her dress and looked like she was trying sit or kneel at the same time.
"I am Princess Mi Amore Cadenza. Its a pleasure to meet you. You may call me Cadence." I stood there completely confused.
"When a lady curtsies and introduces herself, a gentleman must bow to her and introduce himself." Celestia whispered in my ear. It was the first I was told to introduce myself to anyone. When I was with MHZ I wasn't allowed to say anything unless somepony personally addressed me. I wasn't even allowed to look that pony in the eye.
I did as instructed, placing my hands at my sides I lowered my upper body just enough to where it was parallel to the floor. "I have no name," I replied so emotionless that I sounded like a robot as I straightened my form before continuing. "If you have to call me something call me NoName. And it's an honor as well as a pleasure to meet such a beautiful mare." The pink of her coat turned a shade deeper from my comment Cadence's expression changed from blissful to distraught. Celestia and I took our seats, me in between both alicorn sisters.
"That's completely unacceptable!" Cadance huffed. "How can a pony grow up without a name?" I shrugged.
"Well that changes today." Celestia said. I almost choked on my orange juice. I was given a few quick pats on the back then faced her. She gave such a warm loving smile that I started to smile as well which made hers grow even bigger.
"From today and onward you shall be known as 'Solaris vi Fajro,'" I guess my expression said it all because both Luna and Cadance giggled. Celestia laughed while explaining. "We'll just call you Solar Flare for short."
"Thank you." I said hugging her.
"You should also thank Luna, she came up with the nick name." Celestia smiled again.
I did give her a hug as well. An audible growl erupted from my stomach. Releasing Princess Luna I pressed my hands into my gut telling it to shut up under my breath. Right as I said it a group of servants and maids brought out large platters of food. My mouth almost liquidified when all the food was finally set onto the table. I wanted to dig in, but I was told that a gentleman must wait for the ladies to go first. I did and piled my plate high with two of each appetizing dish. Princess Celestia and Luna both gave me a worried look, though once I started eating I couldn’t stop. I went back three more times.When I finished all three of the princesses were amazed at my appetite.
“You must keep your parents busy.” Cadence commented.
“I... I... uh don't have any, or at least don't know where they are.” I said gazing off into the distance.
“What do you mean?” Luna asked intrigued.
“A few years ago somepony told me that my 'whore of a mother banged your father, a zebra, then left after finding out that she was about to have you. She soon split right after giving birth, not wanting an abomination as her child.' and since I never really wanted to know.” Hearing those words hurt so much the first time, but hearing myself utter those same words in that exact tone hurt a thousand times worse. It was like getting your chest stomped by a stallion wearing studs on the bottom of his steel hoof boot. I felt a dark hole forming inside me at it replaced the brilliant sun that used to be my heart. I was picked up by Celestia and placed in her lap hugging and rubbing my back.
“You are most certainly not an abomination and I would like you to refrain from using such displeasing language.” she said. I wanted to say "yes mother," but didn't for the fact that she wasn't my mother. The darkness inside was soon replaced with a gentle warmth. Then it transformed into a sharp pain I sucked in air when Celestia’s hand brushed a tender area on my back.
"What's wrong?" she asked as I began to squirm under her embrace.
"It's nothing." I lied. Celestia undid my shirt and pulled it down to reveal the many scares and bruises that I've collected over the years. I heard both Cadance and Luna gasp and Celestia mumbled something under her breath.
"Solar Flare, who did this to you?" They requested, there was no point lying to them now. So I told them what happened after I was ripped from Luna’s arms and explained what I go through every time it happens. "I'm not allowed to show any signs of pain or cry, otherwise it would just get worse. With them it's everypony for themselves." I said. It was then that Celestia went protective mother on me.
"What kind of a pony can do this to a child?" Luna exclaimed completely taken aback by what she just witnessed. My shirt was put back on and was rebuttoned. They were furious and rightly so.
"General Darktooth. Darkside. Captain Calypso." she called. After a while three ponies in dark gold armor with rust color helms entered the room. They kneeled before us while removing their helmets.
"You summoned, Princess." a dark gray pony with a jet black mane said. His voice has this dark smooth sinister feel to it that I didn't like.
"Yes, I want you to use your influence to find a group of young street performers I would like to have a word with them." her tone said something more than just a friendly chat.
"If I may ask, regarding to what ma'am?"
"The matter pertains to this young colt." Celestia said. He looked up at me, those brown eyes seemed to bore a hole through me.
"Princess, permission to speak freely ma'am?" she wave a hand and he continued. "That child was reported missing late last and there was a child matching his description who stole from one of the traveling merchants." He explained.
She held up her hand so he wouldn't continue. "I am well aware of this and have dealt with the matter personally, please find them for me." she calmly told the captain.
"As you wish, Princess." He replied lowering his head then stood and went to leave, the other two followed.
"Captain Calypso," he turned. "be sure to be discrete as possible."
"Ma'am" he said with a salute. Once he was gone her attention returned to me, and she was not pleased with me. I was more in trouble with her for the fact that I didn't mention that I stole something. I apologized to her, though she said that I needed to apologize to the ponies that I stole from.
"We will discuss this further, but for now you will be with my personal student, Twilight Sparkle, and you give me a report on thief and how it effects the economy." she said firmly as we exit the dining room.
"But..." I started to protest, but didn't get to finish. The look she she gave said "don't even bother and no excuses." Though I have a legitimate reason why it couldn’t or wouldn't get done. Hanging my head in defeat. "Yes, Princess." Again I wanted to say "yes mommy" but didn’t.
She found two pony maids to guide me to the library to meet with Twilight. I realized that it was the two from before. Their names are Mortisha and Greta. Bowing to them I apologized to for what happened earlier. Princess Celestia gave me a confusing look. They accepted my apology and without another incident they guided direction of the castle’s library. When I got there I found it more impressive than the little book shop near an ally that I use to sleep near. Inside the cave like library seem way too quiet. That is until I heard the echo of multiple stacks of books crashing down and muffled voices coming from within. Mortisha and Gretna had left me after we reached the doors to the library. After wandering around trying to find this Twilight Sparkle I realized that I was lost.
"Sister, what is with all this noise? And at such a - oh." Luna demanded only to cut her sentence short when she noticed her older sister holding a young and seemingly familiar pony in her arms while hushing his wails with a lullaby.
It was a lullaby that Luna hasn't heard in centuries, not since they were fillies. She told the three guards that followed her to leave and that everything was fine. After closing the door she placed her back against it and crossed her arms as Celestia continued humming softly the lullaby that their parents sang to them so many years ago.
"Tia." she called. Either her sister didn't hear her or she was ignoring her. "Tia!" she replied a little louder this time, still no response. Now she was annoyed, but only slightly.
"Celestia!" she hissed startling the white alicorn for a brief moment. Celestia turned cautiously to see which pony that was seemed to be upset with her then let out a breath of relief when she saw it was Luna.
"Luna, thank the heavens, you startled me. Is there something wrong?" she asked. She gazed into the mirror of light teal orbs.
"What is going here, who are you singing to and how do you remember that song?" Luna bellows. Celestia placed a finger on her lips when the foal attached to her began to stir in her arms. A smile spread across her face when the child wraps his arms around her. Celestia faced her sister fully revealing the foal.
"Is that really -, how did -, what happened to?" Luna couldn’t finish any of her questions, she in a state of utter shock.
"I don't know how, I just do, and not all the words come to me. I remember we use to sing it to you whenever you were scared or lost control. This young colt, I believe is our little dancer and somehow managed to sneak into the castle for what reason I don't know. He hid underneath the bed, though I think I scared him even more than he already was. Whatever it was that caused him to come here will be dealt with in the morn'." Celestia answered. There was a silent moment that passed between the two which lasted only for a bit when Luna spoke.
"Tia." Luna said sheepishly pulling on her loose black and white lace trim nightgown. She did this every time she became nervous about asking or saying something that is embarrassing and only when the two are alone.
"Hmmn..." The elder sister replied placing the foal in her bed and tucking him in.
"Can you sing Mom's lullaby again?"
"Luna, I-"
"Please!" her sister begged in an almost childlike voice.
"Fine," she sighed caving to the pleading eyes of her younger sibling. "Then it's off to bed young lady" she said playfully. Luna nodded with a smile covering her face.
"Hush child, dry those tears,
there’s nothing to fear. I'm here.
As night falls, strange color walls,
deceive your eyes.
There's nothing wrong with you." she began to hum the rest of the tune. As she stated before most of the lyrics were lost to her. Luna joined in as they both tried to remember their mother's words that always put them at ease.
"I wish they were here with us." Luna commented somberly taking a seat next to her sister and leaning her head on her shoulder. Celestia placed a wing over Luna feeling the same.
"What should we do about him?" she asked as they heard the young foal change positions.
"You know how long I've wanted a child again." Luna rolled her eyes but nodded while remembering all the antics of the older one. "Well, I believe that he was given to me by the heavens. It would mean a second chance at redeeming myself as the mother, that I couldn't be for them." Celestia said exhaling a sigh of regret. No pony knew of the pain the sun goddess went through more than Luna.
Even as Nightmare Moon she watched from the moon in heartache as Celestia struggled with the responsibility of being ruler of Equestria while secretly juggling the responsibility of being a mother to two young and powerful filles. And as time went on that motherly connection was soon severed with both girls. As one abandoned her right to the throne and ran away, the other stayed becoming the best student ever.
"Tia, you have to stop blaming yourself. You did the best you could as a mother and ruler."
"But at what cost, Luna?" Celestia choked out already on the verge of tears. "I practically lost both daughters because I wasn't there for them when they needed me the most!" she cried then quickly recomposed herself before continuing. "Now I get to start over. I'll be the best mother I can be for him. Less time with politics, and more time with my family." she stated proudly more to herself than to Luna.
"What name will you give him?" asked Luna. They sat in silence as they brainstormed for a decent name to give the young colt. A slow and intense heat began to envelop the two alicorns.
"Tia, I know thinking of a name for a little one is hard, but I don't believe that you need think that hard." The indigo alicorn joked.
"I'm not doing that." Celestia replied. The two turned there gaze in the direction of the source of heat. They found the young colt shaking as visible waves of heat radiated off of him. It was as if he was freezing cold. Tears flowed down both sides of his face as clenched the sheets in fists. Celestia placed a hand on the foal's face thumbing away his tears. Though the foal wasn't sweating a pool of water, his body was burning up like he had a fever. Celestia started the lullaby again with Luna joining in. The heat from the colt died and his tears dried themselves.
"I have very good idea for this little one's name." Celestia said smiling down at her son.
Author's Note
I'm having trouble creating a lullaby. I was trying to use the music from Silent Hill: Shattered Memories' song; Acceptance. But got very little out of it. If anypony wants to give it a shot go ahead. Just hit me with a PM or email me what u got. Hell if I think it's great I'll add it to the story later on.
"Wait, your her brother?" I said completely shocked.
"Yup. Though I'm technically her step-brother."
"What's a step brother?"
"It means that we have either the same mother but not the same father, or in our case, we have the same father and different mothers." Twilight explained from the doors. Celestia, Luna, Cadence and Shining Armour slammed their palms into their foreheads when she came in with three books in her arms.
"Twilight Sparkle, how many times do I tell you? No studying at the table." Celestia said scolding Twilight as if she was her daughter.
"But, Princess," and there it is again. That unique tone a child has when protesting against their parents' wishes. Okay, Twilight didn't exactly use the same tone, but she did say Princess the same way as before. Celestia's horn glowed a beautiful golden aura much like the suns rays. She pulled the books out of Twilight's grasp with her magic and made them disappear.
"Hey!" she cried.
They glared at each other for a minute. In that time the food was brought out and put in a neat row down the middle is the table. "Sit down and eat lunch with us. You've done enough studying." Celestia said sternly. Twilight complied and sat next to me pouting.
"Pout all you want young lady, you're going to take a break from books." Celestia in a motherly way.
"You can't study for everything, and it can't be healthy spending your entire life in books." I said after piling my high as Mt. Everhoof and took a bite out of my grilled cheese sandwich. Everyone laughed except for me and Twilight. I don't know why they thought what I said saw funny.
"Oh Twily, you just got burned by a foal!" Shining said. She glared at her brother then me.
"What does he know, he's only four." she spat.
"Enough to know you wouldn't last a year in my world." I shot back before Celestia could get a word out. I wasn't trying to sound ungrateful and I knew what she was getting at. I really didn't want to start a fight with my big sister.
"What is that suppose to mean?"
"Exactly what it sounds like."
"Solaris, Twilight." Celestia warned us.
"Well you wouldn't last a month doing what I do." she shot back.
"And you wouldn't last a week doing the I have to to survive."
"Bet you I can."
"Bet you can't." We burned holes into each other as if we were going to strangle the other one.
"Can too."
"Can not."
"Twilight Sparkle! Solaris vi Fajor! That's enough!" we both winced when Celestia yelled out our names.
"Sorry, Princess." We said in unison. Though it sounded more like "sorry mom" or is that just me.
I hadn't realized how hungry I still was until I tasted the rest of food. And like before all were amazed of how much did I put away. Celestia soon stopped me. Fearing that I may end up having stomachache.
"Slow it down Sol. You eat like you've haven't eaten a meal in years." Shining said.
"I haven't." I said shoving another sandwich into my mouth.
"Yeah, well that's- wait what?"
"Yeah I don't get to eat much. After getting beaten to an inch of death most nights and having a good amount of my bits, that I've earned, taken from me. Starving is the least of my worries. You get use to it, I guess." hearing this news made Celestia even more upset than before. It also got the rest of them riled up over my extreme mistreatment."
"You are not going back, are you?" Twilight asked. Before I could say anything Celestia answered for.
"He had better not!" she said.
"There's enough rooms in the castle for you to stay here." Cadence told me placing her hand on mine.
"Agreed!" Luna chimed in. Wow if somepony had told me a month ago; that I'd find a family that actually cared about my well being, I'd laugh in their face. But it felt awesome knowing that I finally had somepony at my back.
The doors to the dining room flew open and Captain Calypso walked in and up to Celestia. He whispered something into her ear then took a few steps back. "Come Solaris, there are some ponies that I have to meet." she said taking my hand.
"Ladies. Shining, we will see you later." Once out of ear shot of the others Celestia started questioning Calypso.
"Where are they being held?"
"In your private study your highness," she gave him such a weird expression. "There are at least two guards with them." Though I was beside Celestia I had a hard keeping up with their long strides. I was soon picked up by Celestia as we went down the hall that led to her study.
"How many are there?"
"We believe there are at least six of them. We found them drunk on some stolen ale, all under the legal age. There is one more thing that you may want to hear." We stopped and turned towards Calypso.
"I'm listening."
"Your majesty, we believe one of them is considering harming this foal." I felt her body go stiff. The only one that would hurt me in a drunken rage is Dark Angel. As we got close to a rose colored door with the symbol of the universe as well as a symbol of a skull and flower posted on either side of the frame, screaming as well as wailing were heard from inside. There were two guards posted outside the door both stood there like statues that is until we gotto the door. They both saluted her and Calypso and opened the door to utter chaos.
"Angel please stop!" cried Bella. She's a 10 year old pegasus with a black coat and a ginger red mane. Her full name is Belfast, on the back of her neck shown a cutie mark of a silver bell connected to a black wing and flames around it. She was hunched over holding her brother Belfire, he almost has the same cutie mark with the exception that, instead of silver bell, he has a bronze bell. Yes they're twins. Objects were being thrown at them by Angel. Don't know why though, there are a lot of reasons why Angel would do something like that especially in a drunken rage like she is now. Angel was being held back by a guard's magic pining her again the wall though this didn't stop her from using get magic to hurl anything not bolted down at the younger ponies. She was also screaming obscenities at the twins.
"What in the name of Faust in going on in here?" Celestia yelled. Everything went quite until they saw me.
"You!" growled Angel. The hatred that poured out of her was like she was the embodiment of Nightmare Moon. I instantly sought refuge in my mom's protection. The sound of a hand meeting muzzle echoed within the small room. Pulling my head up from mom's chest I saw the glint of disgust as well as anger cross her features.
"You are not to harm him or any other foal ever again! Do you hear me!" Celestia growled almost mimicking a Timberwolf. I've never encountered a Timberwolf before, but I've heard from Hammerfell that they're pretty dangerous. The look on Angel's face was priceless. The twins as well as the two other ponies including myself sat in silence waiting to see what would happen between Angel and Princess Celestia. The last time an adult hit Angel, we watched in horror as she mutilated the guy. This time was different she just sat there in shock with tears in her eyes that soon became a defiant glare.
Once Celestia put me down she ask for their names. No pony said a thing, as they followed the eldest one of the group's lead by keeping your mouth shut. It's one of the few rules MHZ has. So I told her their names.
"Ok, the two pegasus with black coats and red manes are the Twin Pistons; Belfire and his sis Belfast. Then you have Dethrow aka Bleeding Heart; he's the blue earth pony with the white and yellow mane. Next we have Skindred, she's the other earth pony with a chestnut coat and black mane. The unicorn with the yellow coat and dirty blond mane and blood shot emerald eyes that's wanting to dismember you in the most brutal way possible, is Dark Angel. And... And... And-"
"And what?" Celestia asked. There was something wrong here. I scanned the room a few times before it hour me. Someone's missing.
"Solaris," Celestia called in a sweet motherly tome. "What is it?" looking up at her then back at my former group members, I knew who was missing.
"They're short one pony. There's suppose to be six of them not including me. Where is he?" they just stared at Angel knowing who I was talking about. She gave me the dumbest expression ever.
"Angel, where is he?" she still wore that ignorant look. So I kinda made my question more obvious. "Where's your hammer?" her expression stayed. "Where's the hammer you use to beat us down." she still didn't get my revealing reference.
"Sweetheart what are you talking about?" Now I was annoyed.
"Where's that prick that calls himself the embodiment of ener-" I stopped because of mom telling me to watch the language and then there was Angel. Her eyes went pitch black, her mane became alive as it flowed out around her head, and her horn glowed an ominous dark colored. Objects varing in degrees of sharpness swirled above us. The twins coward under a table while Dethrow and Skindred took cover behind a nearby guard who readied his weapon. As for me, I was too terrified to even move.
Angel yelled and screamed every explicative known, describing the leader of this broken dance group. Most of what she raged on about I can't retell. Whatever I said caused her to lose it.
Celestia one again stepped in to stop her from harming us. Celestia walked to Angel with everything aimed at her.
"Please don't be too harsh on her, Mommy." I mean I didn't hate her, I just don't know how Celestia nor Angel were going to react to each other especially after since the she already slapped her. She gave me an reassuring smile before placing a hand on Angel's shoulder. The darkness that took hold of her instantly vanished. Although her magic still held on to every pointy and sharp object.
"What troubles you so much child?" Mom said. And just that easily the water works started. This was a first for me. I've never see her sad let alone depressed and crying. Mom sat Angel down to let her calm down. She explained everything that happened between her and Hammerfell through heavy sobs. I had to translate most of what she was saying. Apparently her and Hammerfell were dating and he just dumped her, whatever that means. He also decided to abandon the group and do his on thing. Angel complained that he left her for a stank hoe, huh? Not only did he leave her alone, he also left her to raise the four of them.
"Wait, what?" I asked confused. Mom was also a little taken aback by this revelation. Mom had the guards escort the rest of us kids out into another room. Just as we were leaving I heard her also wanting the guards to put out a warrant on Hammerfell's arrest.
We entered a very large colorful room filled with toys and other things to entertain us, I could hardly believe that this was in a castle. The twins quite literally jumped up and down with joy. While the other two stayed with me and the guard that watched over us. I so wanted to know what fate awaited Angel. I mean I didn't hate her and whatever he did to her is by far the worst thing he could do. But like Twilight said; what do I know I'm only four. I jumped slightly when I felt a cold hand in my shoulder.
"Woah it's just me, Noname" Bleeding Heart said his soft voice almost unhearable.
"So what's up? " I said.
"You tell me, calling the Princess 'Mommy' what's all that about? You've only went missing for one day."
"I didn't think you'd hear that," I did sheepishly while rubbing the back of my head.
"Really Noname, we all heard it. I mean I can see why, Angel is far from being motherly at all." Skindred stated.
"Yeah, but she also gave me a name." all of them just stared. "Oh come on, ya heard about three times, it's Solar Flare or as Celestia calls me Solaris vi Fajor." a huge smile began to spread across both of their faces. We screamed... well they screamed and shouted in celebration while hugging me. Chanting "Noname has a name" over and over again. We spent the rest of our time together playing with every toy that was left in there. The twins tried to get the guard watching us to play with them, but she was more like a statue than a living thing. She didn't even smirk when the five of us used every trick we could think of to make her smile. Hell any kind of expression would've been nice.
Though we did get her to move when Bleeding Heart took pieces of her armor off. After an hour of sort of chasing him down she did get it back, but only after saying she would bring this incident to Celestia. And not long after saying that, guess who walks in? Mom came in with... I wanna say a drained Angel. Her eyes were completely red and face betrayed her actual age. The twins dropped everything and bolted towards dark unicorn upon seeing her entangling her in their embrace. I went up to Celestia and tugged on her dress to get her attention.
"Yes, sweetie." she said squatting down to meet me at eye level.
"What's gonna happen to Angel? Are you going to lock her up in the dungeon, or is going to be executed?" they both froze in shock from my question. I don't know I just couldn't see the twins without their supposed mother.
"I know she did some bad things to me as well as the others, but please don't kill her!" I shouted as I felt the sting of tears ready to fall at any moment. Celestia placed her hand on my check and began massaging it before speaking.
"I wouldn't dare execute a child for "bullying" ponies younger than herself, but she still has to be punished."
"Then what are you gonna do with me?" Angel asked in a slightly disheveled voice.
Celestia stood and thought for a minute. "Considering you have basic knowledge of offensive magic and your willingness to use any means of hurting somepony," Angel took a step back not knowing what was coming next. "I propose that you serve me, under the royal guard. And you will be Solaris's personal body guard once your training is complete."
"What!" Angel and I yelled. "But, Celestia!" she held up a hand to stop us.
"My decision is final. Now what to do with you four."
"Wait, please your highness don't take these two away from me. They're all I have left! I- I can't lose them too." Angel begged Celestia while wrapping her arms around the pegasus twins.
"Very well, your children will stay with you. As long they abide by the same rules as Solar Flare, do I make myself clear?" Celestia said sternly. All three nodded without uttering a word. That is until Angel hugged Celestia and whispered her gratitude in her ear. She left with the twins right after that and was escorted to their new home.
"Now what about you two?" mumbled my alicorn mother. Skindred and Dethrow sat in silence the entire time. It's the first time I've ever heard them not being heard (if that makes any sense). She turned to the guard that was watching us.
"Do you have any children Lieutenant Alexandria?" Celestia asked.
"No ma'am, I don't. I have yet to find a stallion worthy enough to share that opportunity with." she replied.
"Well, what would you say about taking these two into your home?" There was a shocked looked that graced the guard pony face for a few seconds before answering.
"I wouldn't mind. They were a joy to watch." the lieutenant retorted. Bleeding Heart, Skindred and I just stood there with our jaws to the floor. Her response was so not what we thought it would be. We were told countless by Hammerfell that 'no pony wants a bunch of whinny pests as their kids and that we were better off on the streets where we belonged.'
"Then it's settled!" the goddess of the sun replied in a cheerful tone.
Bad Dreams and Nasty Omens
The weeks went by slightly uneventful. Though I got a nice little surprise from Celestia when I woke up one morning with Celestia sitting on the bed beside me humming a sweet playful tune softly. It was so lovely that I didn't want to get out of bed, but she called for me to get up. "Solar Flare, it's time to get up." When I didn't move she called again before rubbing my back. I wanted her to continue her song so I stayed there in bed a wee bit longer. "Please Mom five more minutes."
"Though I would allow you to waste the day away in bed, you are a prince now and there is lots to be done." Moving my body in the direction of her warm soft heavenly voice I found her laying beside me smiling sweetly. "Huh?" I said quizzically faking my half sleepiness. She pulled me into her bussom and didn't let go, and I didn't want her to.
"From this day forward you will be known as my son, prince of the Helios lineage."
"But I don't want to be a prince, I just want to... sleep in." I whined to her.
"Whether you like it or not, it will be announced to the world that you are my son, Solaris vi Fajor." I arched my head to look into my mother's rose colored eyes and found them casting a loving gaze upon me. "Now it's time to get up." She stated adorning the top of my head with a kiss. She got up and started for the door, but stopped when I called to her.
"Mom," she turned as sat up in bed.
"Yes."
"When did you decide that I would be your son, and why me?" Her joyous expression only brightened evermore at my request.
"Well, it was when I first watched you dance. It was a mesmerizing and wonderful experience to witness. Something in me knew I wanted you as my child. So what was it that made you consider me you're mother?"
"I dunno, I guess it's the same as you. Something told me or at least knew that I wanted you as my mother. I guess I already accepted you as my mom when we first met." She came back in, kissed me again, throwing her arms around me in a hug. After a while she let go and told me in her motherly voice to get ready for the day.
"When your ready I will meet in the private dining hall."
Most days after I have breakfast with Mom, Auntie Lulu and Twilight. Then I go with Twily and Spike to spend half the morning with them studying everything under the sun. Later mom would then come and get me so I can meet up with the twins, Skinny and Bleeding Heart just to hangout. At times she would leave to deal with a few, as she called them, "royal problems," but always promised that she would return shortly. She would and brought back tons of snacks for us. I was told that I have the best mom in all Equestria. Angel and Lieutenant Alexandria protested those claims. Angel told the twins that she would send them to live with their father. The two quickly recanted their statement and begged her not to, I doubt they know where he is. Alexandria was... creative with her ways of punishing her two foster foals. She said if she wasn't the best mom in Equestria then Skinny wouldn't want to have anymore high fashion cloths and explained to Deth that he wouldn't be able to have a certain special gift that was waiting for him and would not allow him to see a certain somepony and her band. They both promised to be good. Mom and I both laughed.
"Don't laugh your the one who caused us to get in trouble!" Bella said punching me in the shoulder.
"Hey, I'm not the one who claimed that my mom was the best mother in Equestria." I said holding up my hands in a surrendering stance. "I mean, your not totally wrong." I added. This didn't help me out at all. They surrounded me with deathly glares, I knew then that there was no way I was getting out of this mess.
"Alright, while I appreciate all the compliments. Your mother's deserve some credit." My radiant mother said smiling down at us saving me from my friends. All was forgotten when the boom box was turned on. Every evening when they came over we'd listen to the radio and create new routines. Yes, we still perform, but it's only for our mothers and no other. Afterwards we would say our farewells and go back to our respective homes. On occasion mom would invite both Angel and Lt. Alexandria over for dinner with the rest of them, that is if she didn't have to entertain any those noble snobs.
I had a little run in with one not long after I officially became the son of the Sun Goddess. It wasn't that big of a deal for me, because I had already accepted her as my mother and she already told me that I was her son the moment she saw me. She just wanted the whole world to know that she had a child to call her own. It took place while we were in the main dining hall. With all... well most of the nobles that meant something to mom. I had the twins, Belfast and Belfire as well as Skinny. Bleeding Heart had other plans. It was in the middle of desert that Celestia decided to announce the good news.
When Angel took the other three home I stayed with another foal. He was the brat of a noble who dismissed the idea of playing with my toys, or pretending to be pirates or ninjas as "utterly barbaric and childish" I was completely put off by his remark for only a moment, then I made my rebuttal. He then went and told his parent(s) which got back to Celestia. I was then scolded by both Auntie Luna and mom, but when I explained why I said it they said they'd understood. Mom still didn't like me saying it even though she knew I was right. "I don't want to hear you saying that ever again, do I make myself clear?" she said with a glaring tone. "Solar Flare?" her voice was almost a growl when she called my name.
"Crystal." I said.
"Good, go apologize to the young colt you offended."
"What?!" I shouted "But, Mommy he started it by calling me barbaric and childish." she shook her head.
"It doesn't matter at this point of who started the altercation, as a prince you must forgive and make amends with those who have been unfair. You must show that you are mature and big enough to overlook certain things-"
"Overlook!" I couldn't believe what my ears we're hearing. She gave a single nod.
"Now go apologize before they leave." sighing I went off to do as I was told, not liking this one bit. Not long after I found the noble family, I started having doubts that this would end well. I apologized to the brat and asked if put this little incident behind us and start a new. You know what I got? A slap to my muzzle from that brat. I stood there a few moments as he laughed while spouting complete nonsense. I recovered just as he stepped into the carriage, I grabbed him turned him to face and my fist met his muzzle. The guards immediately pulled me away from the colt and escorted me back inside the castle chastising me for my actions. I didn't care no pony was going to degrade, and disrespect me and my family and get away with it. We found mom and Auntie Luna with Cadence in the hall near the study.
"I don't care if you ground me for all eternity, the next time I see that snot nosed brat I will destroy him!"
"What are you going on about?" Luna and Cadence asked at the same time.
"What did you do Solaris?" Mom asked. I opened my mouth to explain then closed it. I was too pissed to speak, that and the possibility of getting myself in even more trouble by cursing. One of the guards who escorted me inside gave a very brief explanation of what went down up until the last part.
"Solaris, you didn't?" Celestia said. I looked up at her with rage burning in my eyes showing off the new mark on my face.
"Sorry, but - no I'm not sorry he deserved it!"
"Solaris!" All three mares yelled.
"No! He said that I was nothing more than a tool to clean the back side of the royal family let alone a prince. He said the only reason I became your son was to keep Blueblood and other 'more qualified' ponies from ascenf, ancentchion – from taking the throne. Not only that, but that bastard said that you two were unfit to rule Equestria, so yeah I rocked him." Celestia took a deep long breath and sighed.
“Please take Solar Flare to his room where he will stay there until I say so.” Once I got to my room I turned on my music and laid on my bed not really knowing if I was grounded or not. Twilight soon arrived and sat on the bed next to me. She did most of the talking, as usual.
“I heard what happened. Sol that's not how we resolve our issues with ponies who belittle and demean us.” I went to object, but she held up her hand the way mom does and continued. “Hurting a pony because they insulted you, it just proves their point and it doesn't help you in the long run. Though there are many ponies here that have... rubbed me the wrong way and many of them have aggravated me to the point of no end there is never a reason to physically harm them. I definitely wouldn't have gotten away with it and I sure as hay wouldn't have just been sent to my room for the rest of the day.” I sat up on my arms giving her a look.
“Now promise me this won't happen again.”
“I... I guess-”
“Sol.”
“Ok, I won't attack another pony because of an insult.”
“Good.” she said kissing my forehead and wrapping me in a hug.
“Sis, stop what if my friends see.”
“Well its a good thing that I'm not one of your friends.” Mom said softly. Twilight and I jumped a little and away from each other.
"Mom! Don't scare us like that, it's so not cool." I said once I got over my shock.
"You know what else is 'so not cool' using violence to get your point across." She used the same tone I did a few moments ago.
I lowered my head groaning "I know, I know. Sis got on me about the same thing. If I knew how much I would be hated I might not have done it."
"Solar Flare we don't hate you, we are just very disappointed in the actions that you showed this evening. You are a prince now and there are certain things the nobles will do to undermine any and all efforts we do that doesn't support their own interests. They will use any means to overthrow and Luna and I."
"Ok Mom, I get it. I really messed up. I'm really sorry. But I couldn't stand there and allow him to say those things." I said exhausted from all the lecturing. They left it at that, but I knew I still had to deal with that brat at some point.
"Tomorrow after your study session with Twilight you be with me during the entirety of court." Mom announced before exiting my room.
"Wha! But mom, I'm suppose to help with our new dance routine." I said but mom was already out in the hallway. "Twilight!" I pleaded as I watched her give a shrug and exit as well. Throwing myself against my bed I grabbed a stuffed black and blue wolf doll clutching it tightly while ranting in my head about how unfair it is to force me to sit with her in court. I mean if this was some form of punishment this was beyond cruel and unusual especially for the benevolent and gracious Sun Goddess. After sulking for a few hours sleep came for me and it was soon gone by the glory of the morning light hitting my eyes.
"Solar Flare it's time to get up," mom called sweetly. "We have a long day ahead of us."
I sluggishly dragged myself out off bed and into the bath. Once finished I was dress in black slacks, a white dress shirt with a golden neck tie that covered a good portion of my upper body. Breakfast was served in silence. I so did not want to go through this. Spike tried his best to lighten the mood as well as Twilight. Both failed.
"Let's go," I said in soulless tone to my adopted sister after we were finish. I didn't bother giving mom my usual "I love you" hug. Grabbing her hand I pulled her out of there and in the hallway.
"Sol, what was that, why didn't you say bye to the princess like you always do." I bit my lip and silent.
"Yeah that was cold even for you." Spike said trying to keep up with our pace. When we got to the archive room I asked Twilight a list of everything that I needed to go over for the next test she should give. She complied and composed the list for me.
"Are you still mad about night?" Twilight asked holding off on releasing the list to me. "Mo - Celestia only did that because y-"
"I'm not mad!" I snapped teaching for the rolled up paper. Twilight moved it out of range with her magic after multiple failed attempts. The menacing growl of a manticore escaped my chest.
"Give it." I growled again this time from my throat.
"Someone's in a grumpy mood." She commented before handing the scroll over. With a irritated huff I turned and left the two alone in the massive labiryth like room. It felt like I hadn't slept in years which made it every hard to read anything that I was suppose to.
"Twilight where's your broth-" I faintly heard mom, though I could have been dreaming. A moment later a stern motherly voice called out jolting me out of what little rest I was getting.
"Solar Flare,"
"What?" I snarled I hadn't registered the voice until I got a face full astral rainbow hair. Swearing in my head I sat up straight wipping off a small glob of drool from my cheek, corrected my clothes then stood to face her.
"I...I... I was just... sorry." There was no excuse I could give her for dozing off in the middle my study. She gave a single nod turned and needed for the exit
Once in the throne room, I was told to observe and learn how she and the others resolved issues brought up by the citizens of Equestia, but it didn't take long for me to fall back into the dream world. Though I was still able to hear what everything that was going on even though it seemed like it was under water. I was still drifting in and out off sleep due to my sweet dreams turning nightmares. Two hours later and I woke up in mom's arms as she took me to her room.
"Sister, I believe that he is not truly what you think he is," aunt Luna said in a low tone, as if not wanting anyone else to hear. "His dreams are... unnaturally dark and menacing, I fear a dark omen hanging over us. It would be wise to ob-"
"Luna!" Mom hissed. I groaned and shifted in her arms. She shushed me whispering in my ear another lullaby, one that I've heard countless times before.
"Sorry," Luna said softly. "I just have a very bad feeling about-"
"We will speak of this no more, Luna. My son needs rest." I didn't hear anything else because I fell back asleep. It seems that I slept the rest of the evening away, for I woke up being extremely hot. I thought it was due to mom raising the sun, but that wasn't it. I was surrounded by my mom, Twilight and Spike.
"M-Mom," I called groggy. I felt her kiss on my cheek as she answered.
"Yes my little sunspot." She said though her voice had a strange sound to it. Plus she never called me that nickname before. I mean I loved it, but it felt like it belonged to somepony else.
"Why is Twilight sleeping in my bed, and why does Spike feel like a five ton brick on fire?" She didn't answer, I twisted my body to face her, only to find the face of my mother mutated. Her beautiful ruby eyes were nothing but black holes swirling in two different directions at the same time. She gave me a smile that spread from one side of her face to the other. When her lips parted from each other they sent out a horrifyingly long loud creak of an old wooden door, that revealed iron nails as teeth, ready to tear my flesh to ribbons. Pulling my head back I watched in complete disgust as her brilliant alabaster coat transformed into a dingy rust color. I forced myself not to scream when I noticed her rainbow astral hair erupted in a blue flame.
I backed up into Twilight's form only to cringe at the claws that wrapped around my chest. I looked behind me and screamed when I saw that her face mirrored mom's why the exception of the flaming hair. She was bald and I could see through the top of her skull, brain was green and black and falling apart. Her coat bubbled and hissed when it morphed into a jet black mist.
"This is not real, this is not real, this is not real." I said to myself over and over again edging towards hyperventilating from me panicking. The weight of a stone Spike became unbearable when I felt his claws grab my wrists and ankles as they sank deep into my flesh. Wrenching my eyes shut I chanted over and over again the "this is not real," once more.
"But tell that to the east drums beating in the background." My brain said. Though that wasn't the thing that scared me the most. The dark ritualistic chanting, not of my own doing, pierced my ears with a haunting tune. I knew nothing of what they were saying, I kept my eyes shut. I opened my eyes when the chanting stopped. Big mistake. I found myself on my back held down to a stone slab with a masked figured with the same face the mom and Twilight wore in bed, stood over me holding a ancient knife above his head and lining up with my chest.
Struggling with all my might I could not free myself from this stone death bed. The claws that I thought were Spike's were actual claws, just not his. They dug into my skin like I saw before and each time I struggle they went in deeper drawing more blood. Dropping my head back down with tears flowing with fear staring up at a soulless sky.
"M-Mo-Mommy... auntie Lulu... Twilight, h-help me!" I cried. My terror worsened when the masked figure with the knife started to plunge the blade towards my chest. Screaming again I fought with all my might to prevent the ending off my life. It's want enough, just as I got one of my arms free I felt the sting and searing pain of the ancient weapon diving into to me.
"This is my son, your nephew. I just fully gained custody and now you're telling me that I have to give him up. No, I will not lose out on being a mother a third time." Celestia said scowling at Luna.
"I'm sorry Tia, I really didn't mean to upset you with this," her ears flattened against her head, her form seemed to fade into the shadows, if not for the silver edges of her gothic styled dress. "I just felt you need to know, that these dreams are a sign of something worse to come.” the princess of the night spoke wearily considering that this was her nephew. If any other pony the two would agree to act swiftly and with extreme digression to resolve a threat of this magnitude. The two were followed by General Calypso, after Celestia had put the young colt to bed in her chamber not long ago.
"I'm not suggesting anything more than keeping a close eye on him. Something ominous is coming." The night goddess continued.
"What could you possibly mean by that?" Celestia asked raising an eyebrow at her sister. As soon as those words glided from her lips she got her answer, but not from her sister. A high pitch howl echoed through the hall slamming into the alicorns' ears. Both turned and bolted backed to the bedrooms. They tried desperately to open the door not realizing that it was sealed by magic. Celestia banged against the door like mad mare.
"Whoever you are, do not harm my child." she demanded. Meanwhile Luna took to the dream realm to see if there truly was an intruder within the castle. The images the night princess witnessed were of true horror. Using the magic of night itself, Luna tried to pass through the barrier to no avail.
"What?!" Luna exclaim in disbelief. She shook it off returning to her true form. Her beloved sun goddess was using every unlocking spell known to force the door open. She soon resorted to more powerful spells that were based on destruction. By now half the royal guards and a good portion of the castle staff had been awakened crowding the hall bringing Twilight along. With each strike and each unanswered reply from the other side, the more Celestia's frustration grew.
"Princess Celestia," the lavender unicorn beckoned to the goddess of daylight. Touching her arm gingerly, Celestia froze causing Twilight to wrench her hand away from her after receiving a jolt of extreme heat. Luna pulled the young mare back as they watched blue flames flickering off her fingers.
"Celestia," Twilight utters again being weary of saying something that could possibly set her off. "What's going on, did he get in trouble again?" She asked while her beloved guardian of dreams used her magic to treat the mare's wound. Celestia didn't answer, she just stood there glaring calmly at the impenetrable door before her.
"We don't know. We heard him scream not long after, Tia laid him down. And there is something keeping us from going inside. Not only that but, he is experiencing a living nightmare. Though I suspect that it is the cause of this barrier.
"Can't you help him, why haven't you done something to help? Is it because he's still upset about yesterday, or is it because he stayed up last night mad at Princess Celestia? And what does a living nightmare have to do with any of this? Is there a way to wake him, if not what will happen? Wait what happens when we do wake him, will he still..." the young mare rambled starting to pace back and forth in front of Luna. Her worried tone and expression did not help the Ruler of the Daystar either.
"Twilight-" Luna said firmly placing her hands on the unicorn's shoulder. Twilight gazed up into the dark blue eyes of her Luna and realizing what they were saying without saying a thing.
"Sorry. How does this living nightmare work?" Twilight asked genuinely curious.
"Well, a living nightmare is a nightmare in a semi-physical form," Luna began explaining. "Much like any nightmare, it starts off as a normal dream. Though with a living nightmare it starts off as a regular dream then goes into a life or death situation. Dreams in general can turn deadly in a heart beat if not careful. I've seen this only once in my lifetime, and it didn't end well."
The eruption of inferno from the other side of the door ended Luna's explanation. A cry only the princesses could hear caused Celestia to lose all patience. "Mommy... Luna... help me!" Celestia's horn glowed with a slight bluish tint hidden within the golden aura of her magic, her eyes glisten a haunting fluorescent azure and her hand pluses in the same aura her horn gave off.
"Princess, Tia!" The two whisper as they watch Celestia carefully.
General Calypso stood in the background with a slight smirk gracing his lips. He watched as his princess of the Sun, head ruler of this massive diarch place her magic encased hand on her door protected by a layered barrier of magic. Upon contract the barrier ripples for a minute or two before splintering then shattering along with the door itself. Waves of suffocating heat slammed into Celestia causing her to take a few steps back. Luna and Twilight came to her aid only to be brought to their knees within minutes of encountering the raging heat as it began to bake them from the inside out. The image before them shook them to the core, Celestia's bed that Solar Flare lay in was engulfed in flames, flames as black as tar, blue as the sky and hot as the gates of Tartarus. Although the bed was alight no real harm fell upon the foal, least they knew of.
"What in the name of Faust-" Celestia breathed as she watches in disbelief as her son is encased in a coffin of unholy flames. "No, not now - not like this!" She spoke with fear choking her voice. Casting all logic aside Celestia ran into the black hellfire that was her bedroom. Flames flicked and rolled around the entire bed not allowing anyone to get close to the child. Once she got close enough, she witness her son's face contorted in pain and fear, with hers ringing anew. Blood flowing from both of Sol's wrists had stained the satin sheets and pillow and to Celestia's horror a two inch crimson stain covers the young colt's chest right where his heart set.
A quiet storm raged inside the elder princess, while tears rolled down her cheeks. Masked within her madness of grief, whilst seen by everypony else, mainly Luna and Twilight, the Sun Goddess's luminescent rainbow mane flickered and whipped violently at her back transforming it into a mane of blue flames.
"Celestia please," Luna pleaded with her sister. "Don't let her win, your much stro-" she fell silent as the black flames were absorbed into her sister. Once it was all consumed, she placed her hands on Solar Flare's face and noticed that the fire inside had all but died and only a ember remained. A river of tears cascading down Celestia's face causing her flaming mane to ignite with the intensity of the star she commanded.
"Calypso! Find who ever did this, and bring them me!" A darkness flowed within the voice of the reigning Sun Goddess not of her own. It was not truly the words of Celestia, but that of her other self, one driven by a suppressed emotion; anger. Though Celestia, the benevolent, wise and patience princess rarely lost her cool only two beings have ever witness this.
"Y-Yes princess." His smile was gone and a somber mood feel over him, though he was still pleased with the dishevel and chaos that unfolded. He did an about face heading past a few castle staff that still wanted to know everything that developed with the young colt and his mother. Strolling down the corridors deep within the castle Calypso was flanked by two others wearing dark armor that resembles those who swore to protect Princess Luna. The the ponies walked in silence through hidden passages that led to dimly lit hallways and a seemingly old staircase which opened to long forgotten chamber room. A massive blazing fire was the only sound that blankets the room.
The three stopped in front of a row six figures draped in hooded cloaks. To the far left of the room stood a rusty iron cage. Inside a unidentified pony sat slump against the bars, while a plate of leftover greenery withered away.
"Have ye found 'im?" A deep voice calls cutting through the roar and crackling of the fire.
"We have," a pony beside Calypso responded. The pony sporting short neon blue mane continued on. "What would you have of us do?" She questioned.
"Nuthin fur now, though do keep de nightmares aflowin'. Til it serve as a reference of his place in de world." the voice says in a mocking tone. "Oh an' as fur lil miss darklin, keep an eye on her she will com in handy." With that they were dismissed.
The three retraced their steps up to the main castle out a side door and entered the staff quarters. None of the ponies there paid them no mind for most of them are resting. They passed four rooms, two kitchens and three and a half bathrooms, stopping in the hallway in front of a bust of the former queen of Equestria. Pushing the head of the bust back then to the side, the wall behind them slid back, revealing set of dimly lit stairs. After heading down the three entered a small room with two foals bound to each other in a chair and a young pony chained to the wall across from them.
"Please, let them go... I did everything you asked!" A pearl pony pleads to Calypso. Instead of answering her plea the war pony turned and walked off towards the exit.
Back within Celestia's bed chamber, Celestia sat next to her son weeping softly, her mane of an azure inferno now a smoldering dull blue, as she stroked his head murmuring quietly to herself. "I'm so sorry... this all my fault, I should've stayed."
"Tia this is not your fault. There was no way of knowing." Luna said firmly placing her hands on Celestia consoling her. Twilight just stood there close to the lunar princess, but on the other side Celestia with tears in her eyes as well racking her brain on how this could've happened. She looked over Sol's body as if she were a detective. His breathing was shallow, with little to no pulse. Examining the boy's arms first, she noticed that even though they were parallel to his body the streaks of blood flowing from those wounds were vertical. Deep claws like gashes ran from his forearm up to his wrists. Then there was imprint of something holding his feet down. Not to mention The more Twilight examines the colt's wounds, the more she realized that something was very wrong. She looked back at Celestia, still caressing the child's head, to comfort the mourning day star the only way she knew how, with science. Though before she could utter a word something caught her attention.
A twitch. But from where, or was that just me imagining things. Twilight thought to herself as she stared at body of the colt she been secretly growing attached to. The longer she stared at his unconscious form the more she thought she was going insane. Then came another twitch as well as deep breaths. Twilight spun towards the mourning Sun goddess and her comforting sister, the two did not know what was happening within the princess's room. A two syllable word that flew from Twilight's lips had not been heard from the purple unicorn since she was a filly herself.
"M-Mother," she called softly. Celestia responded with quietly with a "hmm." So Twilight called again a bit louder. "Mommy, look!" Both princesses shot their eyes up to the unicorn, who turned a shade darker, then followed her finger in the direction of Solar Flare. He shifted his body slightly, which caused him to groan in pain. The sisters inhaled sharply, completely taking aback with joy flooding their souls that the child breath life again.
"Mommy," two voices beckon for the Sun Goddess's attention as well as affection. One said it with doubt, not sure if it was allowed for them to use this form of personification. While the other said it with fear and a need for comforting. Placing a hand back on Sol's body and holding the other towards Twilight she simultaneously soothed and beckoned her children to her. For the first time in years the embodiment of the the celestial star governing the galaxy's light (or more importantly this planet's light) actually felt blessed to have her children by her side and safe. Any rage that was left within Celestia vanished as her mane of flames reverted back to a rainbow of astral lights. Tears of joy cascade down from both mother and daughter face from being lost for a long time and now finally reuniting with each other. A tight grasp of her thigh with the soft mumbling rubbing against her, gave the Sun Goddess quiet a jolt.
"M-Mo-Mommy said I could." The slumbering prince spoke. The three mares just stared at him for awhile cloaked in a curtain of relief. Soon Twilight felt herself dosing off in her mother's embrace. "Can I-"
"Of course." Celestia responded with kiss to the young mare's head and a smile. Using her magic Luna pulled a blanket from the closet and draped it over the three, before leaving and praying to Fausticorn that they have peaceful sleep.
Author's Note
Been out for a while. Now I'm back. Thanks for those who continue to read my work. I really appreciate it.