The Ruin of Rule

***1,000 years before the destruction of Equestria***

“Sister!” Luna yelled. The midnight-colored alicorn flew down from the blood red, smoke-filled sky. Celestia looked up from the battlefield to see her sister descending to the balcony on which she stood. “What is it dear sister?” she asked. Luna panted as she tried to catch her breath. “King Sombra has reinforcements on the way here to Canterlot, our troops are heavily outnumbered!” she exclaimed.

Celestia slammed a hoof on the ground creating a loud clop sound. No, this can’t be happening! We need to keep the enemy from taking Canterlot, without it, he will have taken over half of Equestria! Celestia’s face became shadowed by her mane as she looked to the ground in grief. We need to leave, I must evacuate myself and Luna, everypony else is doomed! Me and Luna aren’t in any condition to fight, what with our pregnancies and all.

“Luna, you must go to the barracks and bring the general here so I can issue the urgent orders!” Luna nodded then quickly flew off to the barracks as instructed. As she disappeared from sight, Celestia held a hoof to her swollen stomach and smiled at the thought of giving birth to a new beauty of the world. She knew for certain that the unborn child was in fact, a filly. She then looked at Luna, who had just arrived with a commanding officer of the guards. The guard saluted as he asked, “You summoned me Your Highness?”

Celestia stood tall and gave the orders that were needed. “Yes, I need you to call back the troops and prepare to make a final stand against Sombra and his army!” The guard hesitated for a moment before saluting. “Yes princess, I shall do so quickly!” The guard quickly galloped away to give the orders. Celestia relaxed her composure a bit as she looked at her sister.

“How’re you feeling?” she asked. Luna looked at Celestia strangely for a bit. “If thou is referring to our pregnancy, then we are doing just fine. A bit dizzy and nauseated, but fine.” She smirked in a sarcastically. “You know, we should be asking you that question ourselves. You haven’t been the same since Twilight and her friends were slain by Sombra himself.” Celestia flinched as if she had been struck with a sharp object.

Her face became covered with grief once again as she remembered receiving the terrible news of her student’s death. “No… I haven’t been the same… we’ve lost the Elements of Harmony, Princess Cadence and Shining Armor, and we’ve lost our beloved husbands… so no, I haven’t been the same.” Luna suddenly felt horrible for bringing up the subject. “W-we're sorry sister, we were just…” Celestia looked at her sister with tearful eyes. “It’s ok Luna, I know you meant well.”

Celestia hugged her sister as they began to mourn the losses of the ones who were most dear to them. Celestia then realized that the situation at hand still wasn’t solved. “Sister we must leave here, we can’t risk losing the next heirs to the throne!” Luna looked at her sister in disbelief. “B-but…. we can’t just…” Celestia put a hoof to Luna’s muzzle.

“This’ how it must be Luna, surely you know this?” Luna closed her eyes in thought. She looked at Celestia and nodded. “Yes, we must leave.” Celestia smiled as she walked to the edge of the balcony. “Then let us begin casting a transportation spell.” she said.

“Right, let’s do th- agh!” Luna fell to the ground in pain. Celestia galloped to her incapacitated sister’s side. “Luna, what happened? Are you ok?” Luna weakly looked up at ‘Tia. “S-sister… h-help… us…” Luna then fell unconscious as a puddle of clear liquid formed near her plot.

Celestia became panic-stricken, lying by her sister’s side. “Luna! Sister wake up!” As she began to breath heavily, Celestia remembered what she had to do. Come on ‘Tia, calm down. You can’t perform the spell if you don’t have a clear mind. Celestia took a deep breath.

Right, let’s begin the spell. As she began to form the words needed for the spell, she was interrupted by a dark and menacing voice that came from the shadows. “Oh Celestia, did you really think you could escape me?” Celestia cringed at the sound of the familiar voice. “Sombra!” She was disgusted by the mere mention of his name.

The dark unicorn chuckled at her distaste. “Now now Celestia, that’s no way to speak to your new ruler now is it?” She spat at his hooves and replied with a nauseated feeling in her stomach. “You shall never take control of this realm!” Sombra gave an evil grin. “Funny for you to say that princess. Why would you say such a thing when there isn’t anypony who can oppose me?”

Celestia tried to stand up, but was pulled back down by the weight of her swollen stomach. “I’ll face you myself!” The mad king laughed maniacally. “You really think you can oppose me? You can’t even stand on four hooves!” Sombra bared his teeth in laughter and hate. “Well, let’s get down to business shall we?”

Sombra put on a serious face. “Now then, do you wish to surrender, or shall I put you out of your misery?” he asked. Celestia gave him a shocked look. “What, you're giving me an option?” Sombra laughed once more. “Now Celestia, what kind of king would I be if I didn’t offer my subjects mercy?”

Celestia laughed bitterly at that comment. There wouldn’t be much of a change in your character, that’s for sure. Sombra gave her a strange look. “Did I say something funny?” Celestia smirked at him. “Not really, it’s just that I can’t really picture you as merciful.”

Sombra returned a smirk as well. “So I take it that you do not wish to surrender?” Celestia began to stand once more, this time she succeeded in doing so. “No, I shall not let the whole of Equestria come to be ruled by a despicable tyrant such as yourself!” He began to laugh. “A tyrant? Despicable? That’s the best comeback you can think of? Honestly, I’d expect much more from the princess of light!” he snarled.

As the shadows darkened the mad king’s face even further, he began to gather a dark ball of energy above his horn. “And like all light, it eventually falls into darkness. And now… it’s time for your light to be snuffed out! Goodbye, Princess Celestia!” The dark magic from his horn swelled as he laughed a long and evil laugh. “Now die!” As the dark magic made contact, a flash of light was seen for a brief moment before the smoke cleared.

***Meanwhile in Appleoosa***

Hey Braeburn, ya’ll watch’n the stars ta’nite? The yellow-coated stallion looked over to the young mare that stood beside him while he unpacked his saddlebags. He smiled to the young mare and said, “Of course ahm gonna be watch’n the stars ta’nite! Why else would ah be all the way out here in the fields?” The young mare looked to the ground sadly. “Well, ah thought that me and you coulda had some alone time ta’gether.” Braeburn looked passionately at the young mare. “Redrose, ya know that ah would do anyth’n for ya. And ya know that ah would take any chance that ah could get to spend time with ya.”

Braeburn took his hoof and held the side of Rose’s face as if he were a human cuping a cheek. Rose’s face began to burn red. “Rose?” Braeburn asked. The young mare began to stammer. “Y-yes Braeburn?” Braeburn’s face started to burn red as well.

“Rose, ah have admired ya’ll for a while now and there’s som’n ah have been mean’n ta tell ya.” Redrose stood there, her heart aflutter and her body began to feel as if the sun’s heat ran through her. “What is it that you need to tell me Braeburn?” The young stallion gulped as he began speaking slowly. “Rose, ah just want ta say that ah lo-” From the night sky, a bright flash of white light followed by a loud crash interrupted Braeburn’s speech.

“What the buck was that?!” Rose asked. Worried, Braeburn responded, “Ah don’t know, but ah reckon we go and check it out.” Redrose nodded and together, she and Braeburn went to check out what had happened. A few minutes later, they arrived upon a giant crater. “Whoa, what the hay happened here!?” Rose asked. Braeburn looked around the scene of the strange happening to see what had happened.

“Ah don’t know, but ah see two ponies over there in the middle of that crater.” Braeburn began to gallop over to the mysterious ponies. Rose followed close behind him. They both sat there in shock as they saw the sight of the wounded princesses. Braeburn looked at Rose worriedly. “Rose, ya need ta get help from the other ponies in town!”

Rose nodded and began galloping off in the direction of Appleoosa. Braeburn looked back towards the injured princesses. “Don’t ya’ll worry now, help is on the way.” he murmured. Braeburn looked towards the star-lit sky. Ah wonder what happened? Someth’n musta went wrong in Canterlot. he thought.

Just then, Braeburn saw a couple of shooting stars fly through the night sky. Well one thing is fer certain, whatever happened, it ain’t good. Ah just hope that the princesses turn out alright. Braeburn sighed. Love… heh, ah shoulda told her insteada act’n like a frightn’d rabbit. He chuckled to himself.

Well, ah guess there’s always tomorrow. Some more shooting stars passed by. The sky sure is beautiful ta’nite… just like her… ah promise to protect ya from whatever’s out there Rose… ah promise…