Love and Power: A New Dawn

It was afternoon in the Crystal Empire when the train pulled into the station. Spike and his friends exited the train and headed off in the direction of the crystal tower. Applejack asked, "Uh Spike, now how are we going to do this? Are we just going to tell them that Celestia and Twilight are missing or what?"

Spike replied, "Well yeah that is what Luna told us to do. After all, we don't want to mess this up because Luna is not as forgiving as Celestia was when it comes to matters like this."

As they continued to head towards the crystal tower Princess Cadence and Prince Shining Armor were out and about mingling with the crystal ponies. The crystal ponies loved Cadence and Shining Armor because instead of sitting up in their tower they come down and interact with them.

Cadence and Shining Armor were talking to a group of school ponies when they heard shouting off in the distance. Spike and his friends saw the royal couple and were running in their direction. Cadence said, "I'm sorry kids, but I have company coming. I promise you we can talk again another day!"

The fillies and colts looked sad as Cadence ran towards Spike and his friends. Cadence was getting ready to greet Twilight like she always does but noticed that Twilight was not there. Cadence asked, "Hi everypony. Where is Princess Twilight?"

Shining Armor arrived right as Cadence asked where Twilight was. He suddenly became very worried. He asked, "Spike, where is Twilight? I am very worried about her because normally she would be here with you but she is not here."

Spike replied, "Well Twilight is missing."

Shining Armor shouted, "WHAT! Come on guys, let's go up into the crystal tower. You need to tell us everything you know."

Very shortly they were in the throne room and a panicky Shining Armor was biting his hooves, too scared to say anything. Cadence had more composure and asked, "Ok, tell us everything. I want to know what happened before she went missing and what you think may have caused her to go missing."

Spike started, "Ok, she started acting strangely immediately after we got back to Ponyville from the coronation. She was going to give a speech to the whole town at Sugarcube Corner."

Applejack continued, "But she was really nervous and faked a coughing fit. She then teleported herself over into the library and locked Spike out."

Cadence interrupted, "WHAT? SHE LOCKED SPIKE OUT?"

Applejack continued, "Yeah she did and she pretty much shut herself in the library for a couple of days. By the way she was acting everypony is pretty sure that her and Celestia did spend some time together in the library. Almost like they were hiding something."

Celestia looked shocked, "She asked, really? Twilight and Celestia shut themselves in the library for a couple of days?"

Fluttershy replied, "Yeah that is what we think. Two days later Twilight finally came out of the library."

Spike continued, "Yeah and she seemed like she was in a daze. I hugged her when I saw her and she screamed and yelled at me. She said that Celestia is the only one who is allowed to touch her."

Shining Armor shouted, "What? My sister said that?"

Rarity continued, "Yeah, she said that. We went over to Sugarcube Corner and she even bit Pinkie Pie's head off when she asked her if she wanted something to eat."

Applejack added, "Yep. While she was shut in Flash Sentry was looking for her because Celestia had gone missing. At Sugarcube Corner I asked Twilight if Flash Ever got ahold of her because he was looking for Celestia and she went ballistic."

Rainbow continued, "Yeah she started yelling something like Flash was trying to take 'her Celly' away from her. Now what on earth she means by 'my Celly' is beyond me."

Cadence asked, "What is up with Celestia? Did she ever go back to Canterlot?"

Spike replied, "Nope. She has been gone for four days and has not done her royal duties."

Cadence asked, "Is this on official business or not?"

Rarity replied, "Well from what we understand one of Luna's guards was doing a patrol and saw Celestia leave the castle in the middle of the night headed towards Ponyville shouting something about going to Las Pegasus with Twilight and marrying her."

Applejack added, "Yeah and then Luna saw them the very next night headed in the direction of Las Pegasus."

Cadence had a shocked look on her face. She said, "Come on everypony, we need to get to Canterlot immediately. I am sure Luna has a lot more information on this."

A day and a half after he left Gray Wings finally arrived in Faustica on Alicorn Island. He flies to the castle and almost passes out at the entrance. The guards saw him and they pointed their spears at him. He pleaded, "Please don't kill me. I am one of Princess Luna's royal guards. I really need to see Queen Galaxia and King Cosmos."

The guard replied, "Oh you'll see them alright. They will be the last thing you see!"

The guards dragged Gray Wings into the throne room where one of them said, "Your Majesties, this bat pony claims to be a royal guard of Princess Luna and said that he needs to talk to you two. Shall I kill him now?"

King Cosmos walked up to him and smiled. He asked, "Gray Wings, how on earth did you manage to fly all the way from Canterlot to Faustica?"

The guards looked up and asked, "Wait a minute your Majesty, you know him?"

Cosmos replied, "Yes I do and if either one of you two ever mistreat a friend of mine again you will be the ones who get killed."

Gray Wings said, "Your Majesty, I have come from Canterlot on orders from Princess Luna. She didn't fill me in on much of anything except that she needs to speak to you two about an ancient law and Princess Celestia."

Galaxia jumped out of her throne and said, "Cosmos, Gray Wings, we have to get going at once! This is extremely important!"

Cosmos replied, "We can't go right away. Gray Wings is exhausted and I don't know how much more he could fly. I do know he doesn't have enough strength to make it very far."

Galaxia shouted, "Carry him on your back if you have to or levitate him. We have no time to waste. Ugh I wish we were like that Rainbow Dash pegasus I have heard about and could break the sound barrier."

Cosmos replied, "I know this is important but poor Gray Wings here needs to rest. Gray Wings, I can handle it but would you be willing to allow me to levitate you to the coast where we can get some food and water and then fly the rest of the way to Canterlot?"

Gray Wings replied, "Sure thing your Majesty!"

Galaxia shouted, "Well then let's go! I want to know what has happened with Celestia."

The flight seemed to take forever for Cosmos given that he was levitating Gray Wings, and it is no easy task to levitate a pony that far, especially if they are wearing body armor. It was an hour or so after they arrived at the coast. Cosmos asked, "Galaxia, I am dead tired. Do you think we could rest here until the morning?"

Galaxia rolled her eyes and replied, "Sure but we need to get to Canterlot at once, the sooner the better. Look, there are apples growing here. I am so hungry, let's eat!"

Cosmos asked, "Gray Wings, do you know if there is any fresh water around here?"

Gray Wings replied, "Yeah, about a quarter of a mile inland. There are abundant fresh water lakes and the water is so delicious!"

The three ate and drank water for what seemed to be forever before falling asleep. The night passed all too quickly for them, especially Cosmos since he had to levitate Gray Wings the day before. Galaxia shouted, "Wake up!"

This caused both Cosmos and Gray Wings to shoot skywards before having their wings shut in on them and they fell to the ground. Cosmos asked, "Galaxia, why did you have to scream like that? It scared us!"

Galaxia ranted, "Look, Luna needs us there as soon as possible. Let's get some food in our stomachs and water in our system and then let's go!"

After about twenty minutes of eating they were getting ready to leave when Galaxia asked Gray Wings if he could fly without being levitated. Gray Wings told her that he would be able to fly on their own. A powerful westerly wind was blowing which would push them along.

Cosmos said, "Galaxia, this westerly wind will help us get there quicker. Let's just hope it will blow all the way to Canterlot." The three finally took off around an hour after sunrise. They had plenty of food and water in their systems and were flying at a rate faster than normal.

Noon arrived in Canterlot and everypony was getting ready to sit down to lunch when Luna heard three sets of hooves running towards the dining hall. Finally Galaxia, Cosmos and Gray Wings had returned. Luna saw who it was and flew over to her parents. "Mom, Dad, Gray Wings! I'm so glad you could make it!"

Galaxia began to cry as she had not seen her daughter in well over a thousand years. She said, "Luna, I'm so happy to see you!"

Luna replied, "I'm so glad to see you too. We're just sitting down to lunch." Luna looked back towards the kitchen and shouted, "We need lunch for three more!"

Quickly there were three more plates of food at the table. Galaxia asked, "Luna, who are all these with you at the table?"

By this time Cadence and Shining Armor were already there. Luna said, "Ok, I will go clockwise around the table. Sitting next to me is Colgate, who is one of the ponies I have major plans for. Next to her is Lyra, the other pony I have major plans for. Next to her is Princess Cadence, who is the niece of both myself and Celestia. Next to her is Prince Shining Armor, who is her husband. Next to her we have Applejack, then Pinkie Pie, then Rarity, then Fluttershy, then Rainbow Dash, then Spike, who used to be Twilight Sparkle's assistant and then we have Flash Sentry, who is the head of the Solar Royal Guard."

Cosmos asked, "Regarding Spike being somepony's assistant, who is Twilight Sparkle?"

Luna replied, "We will get to her and this whole situation later on, in our meeting after lunch. For now let's sit down, relax and eat! Discussing such matters during meals displeases me."

Galaxia, Cosmos and Gray Wings sat down to lunch with everypony else. Galaxia was able to eat her lunch despite being very concerned about the situation involving Celestia. Everypony else was able to down their meals as they were much more care free.