MLP: The Forgotten Prince

                                      MLP: The Forgotten Prince

Chapter 1: Questions And Answers.

Twilight sighed as she closed the last book of Equestria's history and rubbed the sides of her head with her hooves in frustration. For three maybe four hours she had researched all of the land's past in an attempt to discover this third and unknown ruler that her own mentor Princess Celestia seemed to want to keep hidden.

Or maybe she really didn't know anything about this Cosmos.

Either way it was bugging the manure out of her that there wasn't a single piece of history or sentence even that gave a true blue description or evidence of the existance of Equestria's missing ruler, one she hoped if real would be possible to find and have him rule again by his sister's sides once more.

“I just don't understand it Spike.” Twilight whispered a bit rubbing her forehead with her hoof to stave off the headache attempting to land in. “There can't be any reason for one of the best author's in Equestria to make up this Cosmos.” She said, especially since said author has been on a real roll as of late with a new species find of Timberwolves. “He never lies and yet there isn't a solid peace of evidence to be found of his existance but if somepony like Story Links makes a note on it........it's so frustrating.” She sighed really rubbing her forehead now.

Spike rolled his eye's knowing how dramatic Twilight can get when she can't find the right thing, be it info, a book or even the right type of daisy sandwhich. “And you asked the princess already and she didn't have an answer for you last time, do you think attempting to ask her again is going to change anything from before?” He said and asked holding onto the chariot tightly after nearly losing his grip during their take-off.

“Besides I thought you were meeting Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie today at the Sugarcube Corner for a little relaxing time, you know AFTER all of the trouble yesterday involving those Grand Galloping Gala tickets. Ring a bell?” He asked a little confused but annoyed that she's letting books distract her.......again.

She shook her head her mane whipping around a bit because of the wind. “Yes I know I that Spike but this more important.”

“More important than your friends Twilight?” Her eye's went wide at the question.

“Of course not. This is just happens to be a little bigger priority as of the moment.” She replied getting a little starry eye'd. “Can't you just imagine it Spike? A Prince! A missing ruler and brother to Princess Celestia and Princess Luna, somepony to not only return balance to the stars and Equestria but to bring back close family to them........” She imagined a tall stallion with the power to control the stars moving them in intricate patterns to provide much needed energy to the ponies of Ponyville and calmer nights to add with Luna's beauty to it. “Assuming this prince is even real to begin with Twilight.” Her dragon assistant reminded her causing her to get sheepish for letting her tightly contained imagination run wild like that.

“Well yes I suppose there's “if” in all of this.” She replied before lightly hitting the front edge of the chariot with her hoof and the guard pegasai continuing their flight not even remotely distracted by the mare's slight outburst. “But I believe it to be true. I trust the princess more than I could ever trust anypony, even my friends.” She whispered the last part. “I believe there's some truth to it because......well because she seem to dodge the question about him everytime I asked her.” Spike looked surprised at that one.

Princess Celestia. Ruler of Equestria alongside Luna and Princess of The Sun was nervous?

Before they could continue their discussion on her reaction the site of Canterlot and the great castle above the rich town came into view as the their pegasus escorts neared their landing point on a solid ledge right outside of Canterlot Castle. They landed smoothly as their escorts had been trained in and not just being a soldier and both Twilight and Spike hopped off as the guards around them saluted and one stallion made his way to the both of them.

He was a couple of feet taller than Twilight and was pure white with a blue mane and tail with a light blue stripe in both of them and had light blue eye's as well as a shield with the same star as Twilight's on his flank.

He is Shining Armor. The brother to Twilight Sparkle and Captain of The Royal Guard of Canterlot.

“Twilly!” He shouted in happiness with his cpatain neutral look replaced with a large smile.

“Shiny!” Twilight yelled back happily and practically rocket boosted out of the chariot and into her brothers hooves faster than anyone of them could blink.

Somepony's REALLY brother addicted.

Shining Armor looked down to his sister as their reunion hug ended. “So Twilight what brings you to Canterlot? Here to mingle with your big brother and watch him perform his duties?” Twilight shook her head before going to her serious face. “Actually Shining there's this legend of Equestria I've been researching the past few days and I was wondering.....uh...well......”

She moved her right hoof in a circle on the ground while her brother raised a brow. “Well what Twilly?”

“Well........could you perhaps oh....I don't know..............findmeawayintoCelestia'sprivatelibrary!” She rushed the last part in a fit of nervousness knowing it was a tall order even for her brother and his position while said brother shook his head. “Uh sorry Twilight but could you run that by me again? I didn't quite catch the last part.” He said quite sincerely.

Twilight sighed while Spike nudged her side signaling for her to just get it over with.

“If you could perhaps get me access to Celestia's personal library.” She said slower with a nervous smile at Shining who chuckled and rubbed a hoof on her head. “I don't know Twilly that's quite the request and even with my status here......” He let off looking back at her and seeing her droop her head. “But I'll give it a try.” He finished chuckling as she jumped on him then hugging him and saying thank you over and over. “I can't make any promises but maybe I could appeal to her knowing how much you like to learn. Now that I think about it what exactly are you looking to find in Celestia's own collection anyways?” Twilight jumped back as realization hit her like a brick to her head.

“Oh yeah before I uh....got off track I was saying that I was researching into one of Equestria's oldest, if not newly mentioned, legends. One that pertains to Princess Celestia and Princess Luna themselves.” She remembered as the answer came over Shining's own face. “Ah I see your talking about that legend of their supposedly “missing brother” then. The one brought to life by.......Story Links I believe his name was. “ His sister nodded with her serious face back on.

“He is. I don't know for sure if it's absolute, obviously, but if he's not one to EVER lie about anything in his books, he always strives for the truth and that's why I want to see if this “Cosmos” truly exists.” Twilight said absolutely determined causing Shining to chuckle knowing that once his sister puts her mind to something she'll keep going at it until the truth of the matter is revealed.

Something she's been doing since she was a filly.

The captain of the guard nodded with a smile. “Alright Twilight I'll do my best to get this done. Besides....” He leaned down near her whispering. “I want to know if this hidden prince exists myself.” He leaned back as she giggled knowing he didn't want the troops under his command to start useless rumors and start shirking their duties. “Well follow me and we'll get you and Spike situated for a short stay here then.” He said as he walked back inside, the troops saluting all three of them while Twilight with Spike on her back followed her brother to see the princess of the sun.

Canterlot Castle, Throne Room....

Both Shining Armor and Twilight Sparkle with Spike on her back walked down the hallway with glass window effigies showing both Princess Celestia and Princess Luna's toughest battles through-out the years with two most notable ones being their fight against the Lord of Chaos Discord and the evil unicorn King Sombra of the now vanished Crystal Empire.

“So Twilly...” Shining started turning to his sister walking beside him while she turned to him hearing her name while Spike was admiring the effigies. “Have you spoke to Celestia and Luna about this stallion before?” At her surprise he shakes his head. “I don't know the details only that after your last visit the princess seemed....distant I suppose the word would be for it. Didn't want to talk to anypony else for the rest of the day and the entire night.”

“Well it's not exactly confirmation on the subject but I know there's something to it.” She replied as they stopped in front of the giant double-door that led into the throne room of Equestria's rulers. “You think so Twilly?” Shining asked with Twilight nodding back and Spike putting his attention on them now as well. “Yes. She didn't start acting like she did, not even remotely, until I brought this legend and his name up.”

“I don't know Twilight. I mean if there is something to this then it seems like it's a little personal then, she REALLY didn't want to talk about it when it was brought up after all.” Spike inputed worried that she might accidentally upset them or Celestia to be specific.

She looked anguished and Luna seemed quite saddened but hid it well.

Twilight just rolled her eyes at her assistants apparent un-needed concern with her teacher getting angry and upset with her. “Oh please Spike she's not going to blow up at me. Obviously I won't go too far if it's personal but there's gotta be something she'll be willing to tell us.”

Spike sighed and nodded while Shining waited patiently. “Alright Twilight if your sure about this....”

“Of course I am. Now let's do what we came here to do and find out more about Equestria's lost prince.” She finished turning to Shining Armor who nodded and opened the door with all three of them walking through and into the princesses throne chamber to see the two Alicorns in question sitting upon their thrones and not apparently busy at the moment with both gaining smiles at seeing Celestia's prodigial student along with her assistant and her brother and captain of their guard walking in before bowing before them both.

Both Celestia and Luna moved off of their thrones and down to them before they each hugged Twilight and patted Spike on his head.

“Twilight my faithful student, it's good seeing you again albet a little unexpected.” Celestia said smiling down at her pupil who smiled back. “Same here princess and sorry about that I didn't really have the time to send a note beforehand.” She replied as her mentor chuckled nodding. “It's quite alright Twilight I wasn't busy at the moment anyhow.” She looks over at Spike. “And how has my students assistant been since he's been in Ponyville?”

“I'm alright princess, somepony is still over-zealous over work.” The little dragon replied looking down at Twilight who sighed but smiled. “But everything's been alright.”

Celestia nodded smiling while Luna stayed back behind her but nodded as well.

Something they noticed about her since her reversal from her Nightmare Moon state was that she didn't seem to talk much anymore, well since Twilight and the Mane Six knew her anyways.

For Celestia though...........it's been quite a bit of time not including since her exile in her own moon.

Princess Luna however still helped out with royal duties politically and with her duties in raising and lowering the moon since her return and was still quite cheerful, though it seemed, with her hardly saying a word being unusual since she was the most talkative of the two.

“There's actually something Twilight needed Princess Celestia.” Spoke out Shining who went to a knee with one leg bringing both princesses attention to him.

“Oh and what might this request be?” She asked looking from him to her student who looked a little unease before taking a breath and steadying herself. “I was wondering or requesting if you perfer princess if I could take a look inside your personal library, it's important I assure you or I wouldn't ask of this.” She said lowering her head a bit in respect and saying please over and over in her head. The princess of the sun looked back at Shining Armor who nodded after rising. “It's true princess. For maybe the only time in ever I'm using my place as captain to vouch for her, it does seem quite a important though......” He trailed off as Spike jumped off of Twilight's back and onto the floor looking up at the Alicorn.

“If maybe a little personal your majesty. It's uh.........” He looked a little back at Luna who smiled and waved a bit at the baby dragon before looking back at Celestia and whispering the last bit. “It's about THAT night princess, the one where Twilight asked you a certain question.” He said a little cryptic before it sunk into her head what he meant and her eyes went wide before a stern expression replaced her happy/business like expression and turned it onto Twilight who was instantly nervous and hoped Spike wasn't right about her possibly loosing her cool.

She's heard stories and enough rumors around Canterlot to give her a few nightmares to last a while.

“I see.......” Spoke Celestia looking at all three of them though Shining nodding to her saying he would take any anger or falls for such an intrude into her blacklist life, considering if it's like that in any way. Celestia lightly sighed brushing a few strands of her mane out of her eyes and nodded to the door behind them that led to the princesses quarters, well guards quarters first technically in the front and theirs in the back. “Very well. Perhaps my faithful student......perhaps you may be the answer I have been looking for.” She looked back to her sister who seemed neutral but you could see the sadness in her eyes which were on the verge of leaking tears.

Celestia along with Luna began making there way towards the door as Twilight got out of her stupor thanks to Spike thumping her side again and followed. She looked behind and noticed her brother heading back out the other way and called out to him.

“Shining! Aren't you coming for this too?” He looked back and shook his head though smiling. “Sorry Twilly but I have to get back to work, been slacking too long as it is.” He chuckled though cursed inwardly because of it being mostly paperwork for new recruits and new placements for squads through-out Canterlot.

Twilight looked crestfallen since she doesn't see much of her brother anymore but nodded knowing his work was important to keep Canterlot, Ponyville and Equestria even safe from harm.

She also still wishes they'd close off the Everfree too even IF it had resources for use.

“Alright but will I be able to see you again before I leave?” Shining waved a hoof back in acknowledgement. “Sure. I'll take a quick break to see you off Twilly I promise.” The purple mare gave out a yes before following her teacher and her sister in the back, both them and Shining Armor chuckling in amusement.

Canterlot Castle, Guard Quarter's....

Twilight walked up front with her teacher to ask a few questions on other subjects other than the one on the fore-front of her mind while Spike decided to walk next to Luna from seeing her in the back and depressed.

No doubt from this prince mystery.

“Hey Princess Luna, how are you holding up?” He asked walking beside her while said princess looked down at the dragon and smiled lightly.

“We......are alright. Thou' is kind to ask little Spike.” She spoke softly. “Though thou' does admit thy is feeling.......sad? Yes....sad.” She asked then finalized seeing him nod since he knew she wasn't use to Equestria of today and still needed to be caught up on the times. “Alright princess but we're all here for you if you need somepony.” Spike replied patting her right leg before catching up to his mentor and hers. Luna sighed looking back down to the ground and lost in thought.

“Not all tis' it seems though little dragon. Not at all.......” She thought unhappily before all four of them made it to the princesses chambers which was two doors in a large chandelier like room.

They entered Celestia's room with the exception of Luna who managed to whisper out that she needed some time alone.

The elder sister nodded sadly seeing how much she was hurting before closing her door, walking to the middle of her room where Spike and Twilight stood to the side before using her magic to open a cloaked door which led to her personal study/library where the most sensitive information of the neightions history resided.

She turned back to her student and her assistant and nodded her head towards, they both nodded back and followed her deep into the room as the door re-cloaked behind them.

Canterlot Castle, Celestia's Private Study....

“There's something I need to show you Twilight, to the both of you.” Celestia said moving towards the back of her study with the purple mare and baby dragon following closely behind her. Twilight was nearly drooling at all of the exclusive and rare literary reading material that her teacher possessed.

Complete Map Guides Of Equus.

Starbeard The Swirl's Exclusive 100 Defense & Combat Spells.

Top 10 Permanent Magic Increase Spells.

It wasn't until Spike began snapping his fingers in front of her did she realize she was daydreaming and Celestia holding in a laugh in front.

She had been drooling over the books too.

Embarrassed as she could be, which was quite a bit, she wiped away the drool blushing before her teacher coughed to get hers and the laughing Spikes attention. Celestia merely nodded her head forward in a silent gesture and Twilight nodded following close behind her as they got to the end of her library. The door they arrived to as both student and dragon helper could see was pretty heavily, if not somewhat ridiculously, chained and locked up, garunteed that only an Alicorns magic could break through even if barely.

The Alicorn of the sun sighed and both Twilight and Spike could have sworn they saw tears at the edge of her eyes but dismissed it as Celestia composed herself and her horn beginning to glow her signature yellow-ish color with the chains on the door glowing the same before a “click” signatured it's release as the heavy pieces of metal fell to the floor with a heavy thump.

Celestia turned back to Twilight and Spike with a heavy look on her face as they could see.

“Behind this door my student, lies the most well kept secret, personal secret, in my history, Luna's history even the history of Equestria itself. What lies behind here Twilight, is exactly what you have been wondering all this time now.” She said shocking them both but Spike even more now knowing that this whole business with a book prince actually seemed to be the truth.

Twilight gasped in surprise but had a shine in her eyes. “No way! Celes-princess you don't actually mean....?!” Celestia nodded opening the door and motioned for her to step inside which she did with haste and gusto, eager to finally place together this mystery prince that Story Links somehow managed to hear about himself.

She REALLY needed to remind herself to question him about how he got that information.

After she was done here of course.

Once Twilight and Spike, still on her back and now gazing in the darkened room with childlike curiosity, Celestia had stepped in behind them and closed the door with her magic and moved past them both before their hearing let them know that she stopped at the end of the short room.

“For time the being Twilight, please do not let anypony know what it is you see in this room. It's.......it's too much right now to let out as a whole.” Celestia pleaded.

“Yes of course princess. I promise I won't tell a soul.” She replied with Spike snorting a bit and her giving him an unseen glare. “What? I'm not going to tell anypony, if there's one I can guarantee that to it's definitely the princess Spike.” Spike held in a laugh and nodded.

“Whatever you say Twilight.” Said mare merely huffed as Celestia cleared her throat to get their attention as well as using her magic to light up the candles in the room revealing to them both what it was that her student had been looking for in her research.

The room was actually fairly large now that there was light and that they could see clearly, the walls were sturdy, if not dusty due to lack of use, with northern light and star patterns all over them, a dresser and bed to the left with a large window that had been barred with some kind of black covering, Celestia obviously deciding to erase existance of who it is she thinks it is.

There was a large mirror and a dresser in the back which is where her teacher stood looking at them both expectantly as Twilight and Spike moved closer to her, Spike still on her back.

Man that dragon could really be lazy at time's.

“Umm........princess is this........?” She started as the Sun Goddess nodded motioning towards the dresser which was covered in a layer of dust and hardened dirt as well as the mirror though it was slightly cracked down the middle. There were several trinkets and pieces of jewelry most royalty wore in well crafted music boxes which were broken and dusted up as well with the jewels cracked and possibly worthless after being stored for possibly thousands of years, hundreds most likely.

“Oh wow. So this is it then?” Twilight pointed out in obvious curiosity looking over the worn dresser and jewels as Spike hopped off of her back and started going through the drawers. Something Celestia didn't seem to mind as she wasn't stopping him though most of them seemed to be stuck due to moisture storage and the knobs on several coming off due to age.

Another, closer, look at the room showed it's age to it's fullest with the lights burning bright. The room was in a bad state, not necessarily of decay but dust and some cracks in the walls with the colors of it faded heavily and the bed looked like it was ready to fall in pieces the moment somepony laid on it with even a tail's worth of weight.

Twilight looked around a bit more with the only other piece of furniture to be found was if to be obvious was an old bookcase with a ton of dust gathered at the top in the all years it was untouched.

The purple unicorn walked to it and observed the collection of old and possibly frail books that were neatly lined up on the three shelves it had for stock and looked through the titles. During this time Celestia was quiet, not from waiting but rather lost in memories. She herself had not been in his room for many many years after.......the event that caused his disappearance.

And unknowingly to her, started his hate.

“It's been so long....................everything is as it was since he had been here...last.....” The princess thought still a little lost in her memories has her student and her helper had finished their observations or in Spike's case explorations of the former prince's room. Both had walked back to Celestia's side with Twilight berating Spike that it wasn't “proper” to touch anything of historical value much less try to eat jewelry that hadn't been touched in ages. “Honestly Spike I can't let you out of my sight anywhere we go without you trying to eat somepony's family heirloom.” She said and was about to continue till Spike poked her side and made her jump a little before giving the little dragon a sharp look.

“Spike! What the hay do you think you're-

“Look Twilight, the princess.” Her assitant interrupted pointing at Celestia seeing her far-off look and Twilight seeing it herself.

“What do you think's wrong with her Twilight?” He asked in a bit of a whisper, not that it would have mattered since Celestia was off enough that she wouldn't hear it. Twilight shook her head in confusion herself not knowing what could be bothering Equestria's ruler. “I have no idea Spike.” Said dragon's eyes lit up a bit. “Do you think it's about him Twi? The missing prince?” Twilight nodded, a possibility to be sure but it seemed there was quite a bit bothering the sun princess these days.

“Maybe but just to be sure...” She responded and shook her teacher a bit as well as prodded her side a bit before it seemed like Celestia had regained her sense and looked down to her student. “Princess are you alright?” Celestia nodded smiling a bit if not a little forcefully. “I am quite alright Twilight. Just.....a little lost in memories is all.”

She took a breath before using a little more of her magic to open a compartment on the aged dresser and lifted out what appeared to be a crown, a broken up crown, in a fortified glass container and set it on top.

“Princess is that...?” Twilight inquired her eyes going wide with her assistants jaw practically on the floor in realization.

Celestia nodded confirming just what it was they thought it was to be. “Yes my faithful student. I brought you back here for a reason and that was what you asked me that night at the Gala, if there really was a prince of Equestria as Story Links himself had inquired.” Her golden light enveloped the glass class and it was opened at the top with the sound of a click signafying it's unlocking as the princess lifted the shards of the broken head piece crown and onto an old pillow she also leviated in front of them.

“This my student is what will answer the questions you have. For the time being however I can only answer a few, any other right now is..........well it's not ready to be spoken of as of yet.” She said and nodded her head for them to come forward and observe a little closer.

Twilight was all too happy though careful to approach it and Spike got a better view himself by looking over the mare's head. “So this is his then?” Twilight asked, mostly to herself, as she got close enough to observe but not too close to embarrass herself or feel like she might have been a little invasive. “The crown of Equestria's lost prince and sought to be king. Cosmos IS real. This means Story was right all along Spike.” The dragon assistant nodded stupified at the outcome of this paticular legend.

Give him a break though. He IS still a baby and he pretty much learned from the biggest egghead and firm scientific believer in all of Equestria.

Though it was quite funny to see miss scientist going ga-ga over a rumor, despite it's author, herself.

“That is cool!” Spike let out in excitement before covering his mouth and giving a sheepish look with letting out such a yell. “Sorry.” He apologized seeing them both look at him and looked back at the crown. “This is cool though. Who would have thought Equestria would have THREE rulers when most kingdoms have one at most and two rarely.” Both Twilight and Celestia agreed with his statement though the latter doing so in her head.

Spike looked up at the Alicorn with a curiosity in mind. “If you don't mind me asking princess.” He started as she brought her attention to him. “What happened to his crown? Or him for that matter?” Spike looked back at the destroyed head piece. “Judging by the way it's all broken up and dirty it looks like something bad happened to him.” That statement unknowingly to them had put a bad tear in her heart and nearly brought up the painful memory of what happened.

Nearly.

She regained her composure before speaking. “In a sense Spike. Indeed something had befallen Cosmos, alas however it was too late by the time I managed to get to his location in the throne room before my brother had disappeared.” She replied though in a blatant lie.

Like she told Twilight, it'll be revealed when the time is right or when she manages to work up the nerve to remember that day.

“All that was left was his symbol of his authority as a ruler, his crown.” Celestia said using her magic to arrange the pieces into what it looked like. “I had attempted to piece it back together and repair it but it seems to have a tainted magic within it's jewel and I could not do so.” Another lie. She had gathered them that day and placed them in it's case and locked it away within the room to be forgotten. “This is your answer Twilight. There was indeed a third ruler to Equestria. He was mine and Luna's brother, Cosmos was in fact real but......long gone now.” She said once again hiding the truth but did not see her student catch the glimpse of light that she had seen before at the Gala, one that told her that the princess was hiding something.

For her teacher's privacy and her respect for her, as always, she did not prod at it though kept in mind about the part of Cosmos being “long gone” as she had stated.

“Yes! I knew Story Links wasn't lying when he made that book about him.” Twilight said excitedly with Spike rolling his eyes at her enthusiasem though secretly glad she didn't call him out on his disbelief of it despite Story's proof of truth in all of his publishing's.

“Now what was that about it being just a fairytail Spike?” She asked looking back at him slyly.

Drat. Her and that big brain of hers.

“Yeah yeah Twilight. So I was wrong but let's not forget that I made that observation based on what YOU taught me.” He snipped back with a toothy grin of his own and laughing when she grumbled about “smart aleck dragons” making him laugh a little harder with her joining in not long after.

Celestia was happy for their feelings but dreaded having to wander back into this dark line of her past.

It didn't help that Luna seemed to be regressing back into her hate for her when she learned of Cosmos' fate after she had been saved from her Nightmare Moon persona.

That was a tongue lashing she didn't think Luna had in her or was even capable of.

She knew however in her heart that the day was coming closer when the truth would come out, whether it be by her tongue or Luna's own somehow it was going to come out.

Celestia does admit that she feared that day greatly.

“Yes Twilight. It's all true and now that you have been told I think it's time you run back to Ponyville and continue your studies of friendship there my faithful student. You do still have much to learn after-all and I await your next report on what you learn.” She said giving an honest if not slightly dimmed smile to the book mare who smiled back and helped Spike onto her back. “Of course princess. I'll have it as soon as I can though I doubt it'll be much trouble if any. Let's head back now Spike, I get the feeling I'm going to be owing the girls quite a few favors for skipping out on them.”

The little dragon laughed. “Told you Twilight.” Was all he let out before they were escorted out of the room after Celestia had put everything as it was before and led them out of the study and eventually back into their throne room.

She watched them be escorted by her brother Shining to the chariot and leaving for Ponyville once more.

All the while she couldn't help but feel the constant dread of that part of her past looking to come back up.

In memory and a meeting.

End Of Chapter 1.