"Are you sure this is wise, sister?"
Two alicorns stood before a crystalline bowl filled with water. One was the darkest blue, a blue that could only be made from the night itself, and the other was the pure white of dawn. Both had manes that flowed in a non-existent breeze, the white pony's being the color of a section of rainbow, and the dark blue pony's being the same shade as her coat. They both stared into the bowl.
"Applejack died last month, Luna. To put it bluntly, we're screwed if we can't find another means of defense. Everypony knows the Royal Guard is more of a media stint than actual defenders of Equestria. We have to ask the bowl."
Luna made a noncommittal noise and stepped forward. Celestia smiled. In Luna-ese, that means "I still don't think this is a good idea, but you're the boss, so whatever." She stepped forward as well, so they were both staring at their reflections in the bowl.
The water shimmered, as if it knew they were looking. The whole bowl and the pedestal it stood on seemed to sense the two alicorns' presence.
"Who will defend Equestria in the absence of the Elements?" Celestia's voice rang through the chamber.
The water started to glow white, and ripples spread across it as words began to form.
A child of the moon, a child of the dawn, and a child of the evening.
The bowl stopped glowing. Stopped rippling. Didn't make a noise. It was a normal bowl of water.
"That's it?!" Luna stamped her hoof.
"Prophecies aren't straightforward." Celestia murmured.
"I know, but-arrg!"
Luna left the chamber, muttering something or another. Celestia sighed, tossing a last meaningful glance at the bowl, and followed her.
