In Sun's Light

"What do you plan to do about the dissapearance of Celestia?"

Celestia this, Celestia that, do you ponies care about anything else? Will thought.

"I'll do everything in my power to find her, even go and look myself." It wasn't really a lie. In fact, he meant it. They hadn't asked what he would do when he found her.

"And you, princess Sparkle?"

"Celestia was my mentor long before I was much of anypony. If it means saving her..." she thought for a moment. "I suppose I might even give my life. She's like my second mother." Murmurs erupted in the crowd at this remark. Twilight straightened her crown.

"Princess, how do you plan to adress the brass embargo brought on by the griffons to the north?"

"I plan to diplomatically meet with the leader of the eyrie to talk about this recent turn of events and come to a compromise."

"You, Will?"

"I want to go and talk to him as well, but I plan to get as most out of the situation as I can for this country. Brass is a key material in magical engineering. It's a great conductor of magic. We need it, and I plan to let the griffons know."

"Alright. Closing statements please?"

"Equestria," Will said, "We have hard times ahead of us, to be sure. Together, we can get through it. Even with all of our problems, together we can perservere, like we always have."

* * *

Sunshine was sipping tea that Meredith had made for her when she heard a voice.

Sweet dreams last night?

She jumped. It was in her head!

Who is this?

That doesn't matter. You'll know soon enough. Now... What have your dreams been about? Sunshine didn't see a reason not to explain, but she couldn't find the words to explain it all. Somehow the voice picked it up. Ahh. As I thought. Your memories are returning to you. Good. Do you know where you came from?

No.

How old you are?

No...

Want me to give you a little history lesson? Not even your ears have heard this. It's beyond your memory. Something I learned in a very secret spot. It'll shed some light on your past.

First, who are you?

Didn't we already agree that didn't matter?

Not really.

Fine. the voice said with slight annoyance. I'm Will. Quite honestly, I'm the stallion that sent you here. Sunshine froze up. Ah, you remember that. Want to hear what I discovered? Alright. Here goes nothing. A long time ago, before even the settlement of the country we both come from, there lived a race of wonderful, intelligent and beautiful ponies. A civilization of immortals. Radiant in appearance and in personality. They called themselves alicorns. Quite a few images flashed through Sunshine's head, ponies of different colors. All had wings and a horn, like her.

They were quite the ponies. Able to magically disable and subdue even dragons. Quite impressive. Lesser beings stared in awe at their feats. And some envied them. Ponies of various types grew to have a lust for power. And when the alicorns wouldn't let them in on the secret, well. Images flashed through her mind. Unicorns, pegasi and earth ponies alike were fighting one alicorn. The alicorn was strong, and fast, but there were too many ponies. The image cut off right as a sword came up to strike the final blow.

The ponies decided to take the power. They thought killing the alicorns would allow them to take their power. These dark deeds only ravaged their souls. Still they lusted for power. It became genocide. Alicorns simply weren't as numerous as the others. It was a horrible time. Alicorns were all but wiped out. Those that lived went into hiding, and for some, hatred built towards the ponies. This changed them. You have seen the effects firsthoof, numerous times.

Both in early- Images of the starry maned nightmare flashed into her head at lightning speeds, making the images more nightmarish, for in each one the look moved slightly, like this pony was moving as lights flickered on and off. -and advanced forms. A massive black creature, its twisted horn radiating with magic, showed its fanged mouth and green slit pupilled eyes before there was a green blast, followed by a shock to her horn that left her spine in agony, like a spike had been forced into each vertebra. She screamed.

Some manipulated the ponies, tried to backstab them all in their own attempted genocides. The attempts failed. The rest, your family included, went into hiding. Then you showed up with your sister. You all made friends. You became the rulers of the ponies. You were royalty. Such was not so in your bloodline. You're no princess, you're a fake. You do not deserve the throne you hold. I do not wish to destroy your race. Such beauty. But you in particular cannot be allowed to return. I will take that throne. Where are you?

She didn't answer.

Speak up, dear.

She wasn't saying anything to this guy. Nobody would be safe if she did. Not Eric, or Meredith, or Gavin. What would she do without them?

Gavin, hmm?

Sunshine started to panic. Get out of my head.

Oh, I've struck a cord, have I?-

Get out.

Know what I'll do if I find him?

Get out!

I'll beat him, yes. Then burn him. I'll make you listen to all of his screams. Every last one. You'll watch him die,-

Get out!

And then I'll give you the same fate.

Get out of my head! Now!

But you can save him.

Get out!

Come to me. In the forest. Meet your fate, and you will save him from his.

"Get out of my HEAD!" She screamed aloud and in her mind. Her magic fought hard to wrench the consciousness out of her head, and a sudden burst of magic welled up from inside her. She screamed because it felt like she was burning.

Meredith, who had been trying to snap her out of her trance since she fell off of the couch, dropped her and watched as magic flared around her horn in three layers, the exertion showing itself on her face. Her mane changed from one toned pink to four toned mint-green, pink, light-blue and grassy-green before Meredith had to close her eyes tight to protect them from a bright flash of golden light.

She finally managed to open her eyes and noticed the shadows shifting extremely fast. She looked outside as Sunshine finished accidentally moving the sun.

I'll give you three days. Then, either way, I'll find you and this "Gavin."