Heir of Mysteryby Poniard DaggerChaptersPreludeChapter 1Chapter 2Chapter 3CHapter 4PreludeTwilight walked into the throne room. The princess had sent her a letter, asking her to come to Canterlot and speak with her. As she walked into the throne room, she admired the massive stained glass windows. All of them showed scenes of great moments in Equestrian history. She stopped in front of one of them, it depicted the princess raising the sun. The window faced perfectly so that the morning sun hit the sun depicted on the glass so that the entire room would light up looking as if the light came from the sun on the window. As Twilight admired its beauty, she failed to notice a figure walking up behind her. "Admiring the scene?" Celestia asked her. "Oh!" Twilight was slightly startled, "I didn't see you there... I'm sorry for keeping you waiting." "It is no trouble. Do you know the story behind this window Twilight?" Celestia waved a golden clad hoof at the painting. "No, i have seen it many times before, but i never knew there was a story behind it." she looked at the Princess in curiosity. "Every window here has a story, this one is particularly close to myself." "Why is that Princess?" "it depicts the first time I raised the sun in the morning, it was the day after my sister and I came to the throne." "I was always told that you were always in power, are you saying that someone else ruled before you?" The princess looked down at the pupil. She was saddened by the look she saw on Twilight's face. For reasons she could not explain, the genuine curiosity on Twilight's face made her feel a longing. She could not quite put her hoof on it, but she felt a need. "My sister and I were not always the rulers." She sighed as she said it. Twilight noticed the sigh and the saddened look that crossed the face of the equine ruler. "Princess is there something that you want to talk about?" The princess realized that she had let her guard down long enough for Twilight to notice. "You are likely to not understand." "But it might make you feel better, Princess. You have confided in me before, is there something wrong?" The Princess decided inside herself, now was just as good a time as any. She was lucky that Twilight began to look at this window. It gave her a perfect springboard to tell Twilight what she had called Twilight to Canterlot to speak with her about. "I am old Twilight. I may not look my age but I can feel it. I have lived for thousands of years, as has my sister." she began. "I am not immortal, Twilight, I can still die. I can be killed just as easily as any other pony. Disease, hunger, tiredness all affect me. I am not a goddess, as much as I sometimes wish I could be. I am just an Alicorn. I simply age at a much slower rate than other ponies. I remember when I was a foal. Our mother, Mystery was her name, used to tell us, ' Luna, Celestia, one day you will take over for me, you will raise the sun and moon for all of Equestria. and when you do, remember me because I love you and I want you to be happy.' She used to let us sit on her throne, pretend that we were the princesses, I miss that me, Twilight. What happened to the Celestia that had fun? What happened to the Celestia that was intrigued by new things. I used to be adventurous. But time took it's toll on me, and I no longer have the will to do what iI used to. I see so much potential in you. I see myself in you. You show me how I used to be. And my time is coming to an end, as is Luna's. She and i both know this. Thats why I asked you to speak with me privately today Twilight. Luna and I have discussed it and we came to the same conclusion. Twilight Sparkle, I want you, to be my heir to the throne of Equestria. Luna is on her way now to speak with Rarity. Luna believes that Rarity would make a suitable replacement for herself." Twilight looked dumbfounded. She didn't know what she could say in response, so she simply said nothing. She looked back at the window, her mind mulling over what she had just heard. The Princess wanted her, Twilight wasn't even fully grown herself, to rule Equestria when she was gone. Twilight put her hoof to her mouth in realization that the princess would, in fact, have to be gone in order for that to even happen. She looked back at Celestia saddened by that fact. Celestia gazed back at her seemingly waiting for a response. “I...I don’t know what to say, except that I’m honored.” “Will you do it?” asked The Princess. “I don’t know how that would work. It can’t work. I’m a unicorn, I have magic but your an alicorn who lives for thousands of years. I can’t be expected to live that long, its not possible.” “Twilight,” began Celestia, “Do you know the story behind how Luna and myself became the rulers?” “No, princess, I don’t” Twilight responded. “Its not a big surprise, nopony lives that remembers the tale, apart from Luna and Myself.” Celestia thought about it for a moment before starting again. “Perhaps we should wait for Rarity, she will do doubt have the same questions as you. It would be more efficient for Luna and myself to tell you both at the same time. Follow me, i will tell you all in my personal chamber.” Celestia lead Twilight through the corridors of the Castle before finally stopping at a large door. it was wooden, no different from many of the doors, save for a small round hole in the top. Celestia motioned to the guards outside the chamber and they backed away. She then placer her horn inside the hole. The outer edges of the hole began to glow, small lines of light began to snake and twist from the edges until a clear shape could be seen. It was the Princess’s cutie mark. “Nopony apart from me or Luna has ever entered this chamber. At least not for the last ten thousand years.” The door opened slowly, creaking like an old door that has not been opened in a very long time. Celestia motioned for Twilight to walk inside. Inside was a large room, circular in shape, the floor was carpeted with colors that formed Celestia’s and Luna’s cutie marks shaped together in a sort of Ying-Yang symbol. the ceiling was domed, at its peak was a large skylight in which the light entered the room. As with the window in the entrance hall, the window here was made so that the light from the sun at midday would shine to illuminate Celestia's cutie mark on the floor. Twilight guessed it would do the same for Luna’s at night. On the walls there were two paintings, one of each of the pony sisters. on either side of the room were doors. Each of the doors had a name written above the door, one for Luna and one for Celestia. Twilight assumed these were bed chambers. In the middle of the room was a small area for sitting and relaxing, while the rest of the room was rather empty. “I feel honored that you would consider me for this.” Twilight began but the Princess walked off, opening the door with her name above it. She turned and looked at Twilight. “Twilight, I want you to stay here, until I get back. I am going into my room to remove the royal jewelry. I don't want you to feel like i am the princess right now, i want you to feel like I am talking to you as a friend.” With those words she walked into her chamber and closed the door. Chapter 1Twilight waited for what seemed, to her, to be over an hour before Luna walked in to the room, Rarity, and, for some strange reason, Pinkie Pie,following closely behind her. Pinkie was not her normal, if you could call Pinkie normal, self. She was walking, instead of her usual hopping. She also was quiet, a large feat for the party pony. Luna walked up to the area which had the seats and motioned for Rarity and Pinkie to take a seat. "We are pleased that you could join us in Canterlot, Twilight Sparkle. Our sister will be out shortly and we will explain to you the purpose of our calling you here today." "Thank you, darling. I hate to impose, but do you have a place for a girl to freshen up?" Rarity asked. "We do. You may use our washroom, follow us." Luna preceded to open her door, and motioned for Rarity to follow her. Twilight noticed that Luna's room was not dark like she expected, in fact it was quite bright on the inside. Luna closed the door behind Rarity after nodding to Twilight. Pinkie turned and sat down next to Twilight. Pinkie was clearly aching to move, she was tapping her hoofs on the floor. Twilight smiled, at least Pinkie was feeling fine. Twilight broke the silence, "Pinkie, it's not that I don't want you here, but why are you here?" Pinkie's response was just a whimper. "Pinkie, whats wrong?" As Pinkie looked at Twilight, tears began to form in her eyes. "I was talking to Rarity when Luna came in. She started talking about how Rarity would be near immortal. If Rarity is immortal, and I am not, I'm going to die before her. I cant...i just won't. I'm not sad that I am going to die. I'm sad because you and Rarity will have to live without your friends and family. I don't want you to have to face life, while everyone around her is aging and passing on." Pinkie's voice was barely above a whisper. As she finished she buried her face in her hooves. Pinkie was choking back tears. Twilight had not thought about that. How would she be able to outlive her friends? Could she continue on without her friends? "Pinkie..." Twilight began, placing her hoof on the crying pony's shoulder. Twilight didn't know what to say. There was nothing she could say. They sat there, Pinkie's crying slowly stopping, for a few minutes before Princess Celestia came back out. She was not wearing anything. Her royal jewelry absent from her white body. She was even missing her golden horseshoes. Pinkie Pie perked up when she saw the Princess, trying her best to look happy. It was not ten seconds later that Luna and Rarity came out of Luna's room. Rarity noted the solar Princess's appearance with a raised eyebrow and a quizzical look to Luna. "Rarity, please take a seat with Twilight and..."began Celestia, "Pinkie, um, what are you doing here?" "Well,” Pinkie's perky attitude was betrayed by her slightly reddened eyes, “i was talking to Rarity about her latest dresses when Luna came in, so I asked if i could come too 'cause I wanted to know what all the shenanigans was about, so while they were not looking I hopped into the carriage and flew back with Rarity and Luna." Pinkie explained. "I see" Celestia shot a look at Luna, who simply shrugged and sat down beside her. "I don't mean to sound rude," stated Rarity, "But all I have been told was that I could be immortal, but I don't know why? Why would it be necessary for me to be immortal." "Rarity, it is not truly immortality"Luna stated,"Thy life is simply extended much beyond any normal pony." "The reason, as I have already told Twilight, is because we are looking for replacements for ourselves."Celestia said, much to the surprise of Rarity. She was unable to say anything, but simply nodded. "The only thing I can say is that this won't be easy, it was not easy for me or Luna. I can't tell you how it will go, but I can tell you what happened to us." Twilight thought about it for about a minute and looked over at pinkie pie, who's eyes were still red, and her lower lip still quivered. Twilight made up her mind. She turned to Celestia and Luna. "What will happen to our friends?" she asked. "This is why we did not want Pinkamena Pie to join us on the trip." Luna stated, "We did not wish to hurt anypony." Pinkie couldn't hold it any longer and she started crying once again. This time Rarity came to be her comforter. She took Pinkie in both her hooves in a hug and slowly began to rock back and forth, if only to show Pinkie that she was there for her. Celestia looked over at the three with a look of concern and sadness, "Unfortunately, we cannot offer your friends the same. At most Luna and I may be able to pass it to one more of your friends, But the gift cannot be given to all six of you." Rarity looked over at Luna. "You said earlier that you could tell us what happened to you. Before I can make a decision, I would like to know all the facts." Luna nodded and looked to her sister. "Shouldest I start?" Celestia nodded and said, "Before you begin. This is the first, and quite possibly the only time we will tell this story. We would appreciate it if you did not tell anypony else what we tell you. You may tell your friends, but make sure they don't tell anypony." Pinkie made a few quick motions which Twilight vaguely recognized. Luna looked at the pink equine with a look of confusion. After similar looks from the other two ponies, Pinkie realized that she needed to explain. "I made a Pinkie promise. I zipped my lips. Then i took the key. Then I dug a hole. I put the key in the hole. Then buried the key. Then built a house. Then up the house on top of the hole" Celestia nodded, seemingly understanding what Pinkie had meant. Although luna seemed just as confused as before. Rarity simply chalked it up to "Pinkie being Pinkie." "We art still confused, but we shall begin." Luna had removed the confused look and now had replaced it with one of remembrance. She closed her eyes, and concentrated on remembering what happened all those years ago. "It all began sometime during spring..." Chapter 2EQUESTRIAN TIME SCALE 0010 Before Battle of Discord. Era of Harmony. "Luna!" Mystery yelled out, attempting to get the attention of the teenage pony, "We are going to have to do this eventually! You might as well do it now!" After no response for several seconds Mystery sighed and turned to her attention to the pony beside her. "Celestia," she began, "Sweetie, could you go get your sister? It is Very important that we talk." The pink princess sighed, "Sure," the princess began to walk towards her sisters room when Luna burst out of her room, nearly knocking over her sister. "Oh!, we apologize," Luna said, walking calmly to sit down. "Celestia, please sit down next to your sister," Mystery requested. After Celestia had sat down, Mystery proceeded to stand up and look out the nearby window. Her deep blue billowing mane floating gracefully behind her. She stood silently for a few moments before turning around to face the pink Celestia and her younger sister. "It is my job to determine which one of you will be the next Queen of Equestria. This places a heavy burden on myself, one I am not willing but I am forced to bear. While I am around the enemies of the Equestrian society are powerless. Even Discord cannot corrupt the world. But a shadow grows, branching out from the mountains, a deep shadow. It is my passing. I am need to impart my energy to you...both of you...you have been trained for this many years. You both have wondered why you have yet to receive your cutie marks. Until you fulfill your destiny, you will not." Mystery turned back around to face the two. She walked towards the two and sat down across from them. She smiled softly, just to reassure them. "Just remember, I will always be with you, and you will do great things, and I will always be with you, because I love you." Her horn began to glow as the process began. "Wait!" Luna yelled, stopping Mystery, "Will this hurt?" Mystery smiled, "Only if you resist me, then the power tries to force itself into you. After a few seconds I will lose all control over this process. Should you wish to stop, make sure I know before that point." The sisters nodded. Mystery's horn began to glow again, its dark blue glow soon enveloped the three of them. Mystery began to smile as she felt the presence of the two younger ponies. Her eyes started to glow a bright white as all her power began to escape her. As she expended more and more her horn's glow began to dim. Luna screamed out in pain, her body began to reject the immense power that was being now forced into her. Her pain was unlike any pain she had ever experienced. It felt like a thousand hot iron stakes were being forced into her horn. Her body began to morph and change, her horn grew to be nearly twice the length it used to be. Her coat changed from it's pale blue to a deeper, dark blue and her mane and tail changed to be a darker blue from the white it had been previously. Celestia's body also began to change, her pink coat was morphing. Her skin became a bright white as her legs grew so she was nearly twice her previous height. Unlike her sister she was experiencing an intense pleasure. She was so caught up in the pleasure she did not notice the drastic changes occurring to her mother or her sister. Mystery's horn was no longer glowing and had shrunk to a fraction of its previous size. Her coat became nearly as white as her mane, and her body had shrunk down to be the same size as a normal pony. The wings that once adorned her sides shrank down until they could no longer be seen. Her body and horn had stopped glowing and the glow around her daughters had changed from a dark blue to a light yellow around Celestia, and a light blue around Luna. The entire process lasted about a minute. Mystery fell to the ground as soon as the process was finished. Luna was bracing herself against a nearby wall, still recovering from the pain. Celestia had run to her mother's side, cautiously nudging her to her feet. Mystery was shaky, and was forced to lean upon her daughter for support. "You did well, both of you" she said in a very shaky voice, smiling slightly "Help me get to my bed, I need to rest." The two sisters helped their mother to her bed, the former Alicorn was but a small part of her former self, she possessed just enough of her residual magic to open her locked door. As soon as the sisters had placed Mystery in her bed, she closed her eyes and had fallen asleep. Far away, Discord looked down upon Equestria and smiled, "looks like Mystery's time has all but gone and my time is just around the bend." His snakelike body began to twist around in excitement. "Those two foals don't know how to use their powers. They barely know how to levitate a rock," Discord began to chuckle to himself, "In order me to usurp Mystery," Discord thought to himself, "I need to but simply wait." A few days had passed since the conversion, Celestia was helping her sister, who was still having uncontrollable magical bursts. Mystery had awoken, and was able to walk around, even though the doctors had told her to stay in bed. "They don't know what is happening to me," she would tell the concerned sisters, "i know i am dying. I am but a normal pony now, i have but a few days, And i would rather die walking around My castle than in a hospital bed, being constantly monitored by doctors who don't know what to do." The sisters would insist that she let the doctors try to help. Mystery did at first, but when the first doctor had said that she could find nothing wrong, Mystery had ceased allowing doctors to examine her. Mystery's death came as a surprise to everyone. She was talking with Celestia over a small cup of tea, when she stopped talking and smiled for no reason. "Mother, are you all right?" Celestia asked with concern. "It is time" Mystery said, smiling. After she had said this she slumped over, falling off her seat onto the floor with a terrifying thud. "MOTHER!" Celestia yelled, "No! Don't do this to me. Don't do this to luna. We are not ready for this." Celestia had tears forming in her eyes, slowly dripping down her white face. She was at her mother's side, holding her limp body in her hooves. She put her face in her mothers body and wept softly. The guards at the door had taken off their helmets, and placed them on the ground. After several minutes Mystery began to glow, what little of her magic was leaving her. Her body was fading from existence. Celestia did not notice until she realized that she was not holding anything. One, rather brave, guard had walked over and placed a hoof on Celestia's shoulder if only to tell her somepony was there. Celestia, still weeping, tuned and faced the guard. She grabbed hold on the guard and embraced him. She wept into his shoulder, as he held her in his arms. By this time luna had entered the room, the news of her mother's passing reaching her. She walked over to where Celestia was crying. Her emotions had overwhelmed her. Luna did not cry but simply sat down, Her face showing no emotion. Luna sat there for hours. Celestia, by this time had moved, taking her comforter with her. She had retreated to her bedchamber with the guard. Still crying in his hooves. Whenever he tried to break the embrace she would hold tighter. "Don't leave me," Celestia would say through her tears, "I need somepony to comfort me" "I will not leave you," he would respond, "I will be here for you." They sat there for hours, the royal guard, and the Princess, holding each other in a loving embrace. After several hours, the princess had stopped crying and was holding to the guard for support. She lifted her eyes and looked into the guards blue eyes. "Thank you," she said, "I am eternally grateful for what you have done." "It is no problem ma'am," he started, "it is..." He was cut off by the princess when she placed a hoof softly on his mouth. Celestia leaned in and kissed him. The guard recoiled in shock before relaxing. His mind was spinning, I should not be doing this, she is the princess, I cant do this, I'm supposed to protect her not be romantic with her. Why is the princess kissing me? Am I allowed to kiss her back? The princess broke the kiss, blushing, and smiled shyly "I should not have done that, i just..." This time the guard placed his hoof on her mouth. He smiled sweetly. "It's fine" he told the young princess before leaning in for a kiss of his own. This time the princess met him halfway, returning the kiss. Discord looked down upon the two, "Oh this is just precious," laughing to himself, " The princess has fallen for a simple guard. “The best way to hurt a pony, attack the heart." He laughed wildly as he schemed for the downfall of Equestria. Chapter 3Celestia woke up the next morning in her bedchamber. She stretched her hooves out and rubbed her eyes, the sun was out, the residual magic from Mystery still changing the positions of the celestial bodies. Celestia stirred slightly in her bed, twisting around to get her hooves under her. Celestia bumped against another object in her bed, startling her slightly. She turned to face the guard, Star Bolt, who was sound asleep in her bed. "Long night," she whispered to herself, still rubbing sleep out of her eyes. She leaned down and nuzzled her comforter, who began to stir. Not wanting to wake him up, Celestia slowly and carefully slid out of her bed, and onto the floor. Star Bolt shuffled around in the bed but quickly went back to sleep. Celestia walked outside her room and past the lone guard at her doorway. "Good Morning, Your Majesty," the guard's customary greeting rang out, before the guard realized his mistake and started to correct himself. "It is most certainly a good morning," Celestia said, covering her sadness, Celestia knew that the moral of the guards was based upon how she carried herself. How could she hold her guards to keep a pleasant and happy demeanor if she herself was crying like a newborn foal. Celestia walked through her castle until she came across one of the royal dining areas. Walking inside she had the chef on duty to make her a simple breakfast, and a second one for Star Bolt. She told one of the guards to bring the food to her bedchamber and place it on the desk inside. As the soldier left she remembered Luna, sitting in the dining room alone. Celestia continued to walk throughout the castle, greeting all the guards in much the same way. When she finally reached her intended destination, the dining room, she found Luna, still sitting in the same place as before, with a guard attempting to entice some sort of response from her. Celestia walked to the guard and put a hoof on his shoulder. She shook her head when he turned around to face her, he looked depressed as he walked back to his post. After a few moments Celestia leaned down to whisper to her sister. "Luna" she said, sighing before she spoke again, "I'm so sorry, I really am, but I need you to talk to me. I cannot do this alone." Luna's eyes and head slowly moved so she could look at her sister. Her dark blue eyes began to tear. She slowly said one word, one word that carried so much power and meaning with it that even Celestia could not respond. "Why?" With that one word she brought Celestia to tears again. Celestia grabbed onto Luna, "I don't know. I just don't know." The two sisters sat there together, holding each other, for mere minutes before Star Bolt arrived, having been awoken by the arrival of the food. As a guard he did not require food as often as ordinary ponies, but he appreciated the gesture. Instead he asked where Celestia had left off to. Upon seeing Celestia and Luna on the floor, he stood back for a few seconds before trotting slowly over to comfort them again. His instincts told him to protect the princesses, from any type of harm, even emotional. The trio sat together, Celestia holding onto Star Bolt, and Luna to Celestia, for several hours before anypony moved. A few days had passed since the death of the queen. A memorial service was held. Nothing fancy, the Queen had requested a small service for herself. Of course, when dealing with the death of a Royal, nothing is ever small. Celestia had relieved Star Bolt of his duties as a guard, she instead had him be a personal bodyguard, a position not without perks. Celestia insisted Star, as he liked to be called, sleep with her, in separate beds. Even though the beds were separated, often one or the two, most often Celestia, would move themselves over into the other's bed, all in the name of comfort. After a week had past, the days and nights were growing increasingly longer as Mystery's power faded. Discord had perceived that his time had come. His "attack" came swiftly. Before anypony could sound an alarm. His chaos ripped through the castle like it was a paper bag. The sisters were caught off guard by the sudden appearance in the throne room. "I take it you are Celestia?" Discord said in mock ignorance and politeness. After a few seconds he acted like he noticed Luna's tears. "Oh, you poor thing, let me dry your eyes," he said, summoning a handkerchief from thin air and levitating it over to luna "Discord, Is it?" Celestia said, anger threaded through her words. Luna was seated next to her, silent. "Oh I'm surprised you recognize me." Discord was playing games with Celestia, just to see how far he could take this charade. "We are not in the mood for games, Discord. Leave now." Luna had finally spoken up, tossing the handkerchief to the ground where it evaporated into a thin smoke. "Oh, but the fun has just begun" Discord replied narrowing his eyes and chuckling. Discord snapped the fingers on his clawed hand. The three of them were suddenly teleported to the gardens outside. "i have been watching you girls for a very long time. And now, you dont have your mother to protect you from me." Discord's paws began to glow, power unimaginable coursing through them. Celestia quickly began to summon her own, now highly enhanced, magics to defend them. Her horn glowed brightly and a flash of light erupted from her striking Discord. Discord did not even flinch. "I wouldn't do that if I were you." he smiled and began to focus his power on destroying the two entirely. As he reached out with his magic he felt something preventing his power. In her wisdom Mystery had shielded her young foals with an ancient magik. Nothing Discord could do would penetrate it. "Curse that wretched old hag." he whispered to himself. Turning his attention back to the sisters, he smiled again. "No matter, Just because I cannot destroy you, I can still banish you from MY kingdom forever." snapping his fingers again he surrounded the ponies with a bubble shield. "But before you go, Somepony wants to say 'hi'", snapping his fingers, Discord summoned Star Bolt along. Celestia's eyes widened at the sight of her lover. "No!" she screamed, " Don't do this!" what exactly "this" was she was not sure, but she knew it could not be a good thing. "Oh, but it's so much fun" cackled Discord. "Discord" spat Star Bolt, "You no good snake" "Mon capitán. Flattery will get you nowhere with me." Discord replied saluting Star in a show of rudeness. After mulling it over in his mind, Discord decided on his next action. Snapping his fingers once again, a flash of white light enveloped Star Bolt. When it had dissipated, it revealed Star Bolt, frozen in stone. Discord turned and looked at his handiwork. "NO!" Celestia screamed, anger and rage burning inside of her, "I will kill you for this." At this Discord simply chuckled. "You cannot kill me, you cannot even break out of my simple prison."Discord replied picking up his newly made statue. He then turned around to face his captives, holding Star Bolt in his paw "Your in no position to do anything my little pony. As of this day, remember that you were defeated by Discord, The God of Chaos and Disharmony." laughing manically he snapped his fingers one last time before sending the two careening uncontrollably to wherever they might end up. Looking at the statue, his smile faded, "I'm cruel, but not THAT cruel. I don't turn ponies to stone. Go to your...lover" He shuddered out of disgust just thinking about Celestia having a lover. Discord undid his actions to Star Bolt and sent him flying to follow the Ex-princesses. "Upon this day, I seized Equestria, and let this world become its best chaotic self." Discord cackled, summoning a brown fedora on his head. Onto his head. He glanced at Mystery's memorial, an doffed his recently summoned hat. Discord summoned a chessboard out from nowhere, the pieces already moved from their starting positions. He moved his queen to a particular space and smiled. "Checkmate Mystery, Checkmate." CHapter 4Celestia slowly regained consciousness, being ushered back to life by a familiar sound. She could not feel anything, apart from the constant drumming of her heart. She carefully opened here eyes. What she saw, brought a chill to her body, she was looking out upon what used to be Equestria. What remained was nothing but smoking buildings. Celestia tried to climb to her feet, but a sharp pain in her left flank kept her grounded. She turned to look and saw a large gash in her leg, it was no longer bleeding, but was raw and whatever had harmed her had broken something. Beyond her left back hoof lay Luna, still unconscious. After a few seconds she felt something touch her again, the same thing that had aroused her. She spun around to see Star Bolt's face directly in front of hers. His eyes were closed and his blue body was limp on her back. While Celestia was happy that he was here, and no longer stone, she was concerned for his safety. Feeling began to come back to Celestia, her back felt fine, but everything on her left hind leg felt like it was on fire. She grimaced every time she moved. She leaned down and put her head on Star Bolt's chest, she could feel a heartbeat. She looked over to Luna, she could tell Luna was alive, her breathing was regular. She placed her head back down next to Star Bolt's ear. "Come on, Wake up," she whispered into his ear. His ear twitched slightly, telling Celestia that he was at least semi-conscious. After a few moments, he began to stir. He lifted his head, and Celestia leaned down and nuzzled him to wake him faster. Star Bolt's eyes sprang open and his ears flared downward. "Discord!" he yelled. His sudden outburst startled Celestia, who recoiled her head. Star Bolt noticed who he was looking at and his expression softened. "Princess," he began, "Are you all right?" He noticed that he was laying on top of her, and quickly scrambled to his feet. Celestia smiled at his prideful show. "It's all right, but I may need some help." Celestia began to try to get to her hooves again, the pain had subsided slightly but any movement caused her injury to sting her. She managed to get to her feet, apart from the injury in her leg she felt fine. She tried to take a step towards Luna, but the pain in her leg made her fall back down. Star Bolt ran over to her and managed to catch her, Star Bolt became a support for her, letting her lean on him for balance. Luna lay still on the ground. Her breathing seemed normal. Celestia leaned down to wake her, placing her mouth next to her ear and whispering "Wake up Luna." Luna lay still, her ear didn't twitch, and her breathing remained constant. Celestia, with Star Bolt at her side, lay down next to her sister. She snuggled next to Luna, hoping to wake Luna with her touch. Star Bolt stood guard nearby, while Celestia tried to wake her sister. Hours had passed, and Luna had yet to move. Celestia had begun to talk to Star Bolt. "There is only one thing I know to do." Star Bolt began, "I remember reading about some magic stones, The Elements of Harmonics, or something like that." "The Elements of Harmony are but an old mare's tale" Celestia stated, "Six gems encased with the magic that created the world. The power to destroy or create worlds. According to legend, they are housed separately, held in locations outside Equestria. Each guarded by an immortal being of great power and wisdom. Not really something a pony wants to go up against." Star Bolt sat down next to Celestia, getting as close as he could without touching the injured leg. As they talked, Luna began to stir, she moved, but not enough to be noticed. She moaned quietly, Luna felt like she had just been slammed into a brick wall. She opened her dark blue eyes and found herself staring directly at a small spider. Any other time Luna would have been calm, but not today. She screamed out, nearly causing Celestia to jump out of her skin. Star Bolt jumped up and and stood at the ready, prepared for an unseen assailant. Celestia was so startled that she couldn't move. "GET THIS SPIDER AWAY FROM ME!" Luna burst out. Star Bolt, used to loud noises, sighed as he de-tensed himself and walked calmly over, picked the small spider up in his hoof, and placed it on a nearby tree. After a few moments, Celestia gathered herself and turned to Luna. "Luna! keep your voice down. We don't know if Discord can hear us." she thought they were alone, but Luna's scream could have been heard for miles. "I'm sorry, I do not know what came over me." Luna's apology satisfied Celestia, who relayed what she and Star Bolt had talked about. "It seems quite an impossible task. 6 elements, all in unknown locations. Nopony know where they are." "Not quite nopony, princess" a voice rang out, Star Bolt again jumped to his feet. "Show Yourself!" he yelled into the darkness, a scowl crossing his face. "Now now, Star Bolt, you wouldn't harm an old wizard would you?" "Try me." Star Bolt's personality had completely changed, no longer was he the kind, gentle, royal guard, he became a intimidating presence, one even Celestia recoiled at. Celestia recognized the voice, but she couldn't quite put her hoof on it. She put her hoof up to calm down Star Bolt, "I know that voice." "Fair enough, guard," the voice ignored, or didn't hear, Celestia's comment, "allow me to introduce myself. Hello everypony, my name is Star Swirl. I am a wizard of the old court." Celestia knew where she recognized the voice from, it was from a magcording, he was ancient. He was at minimum five hundred years old. As he slowly walked from the shadows, the trio finally got a proper look at the wizard. He wore a blue robe, with stars placed on in the shape of the constellations. Also, a hat, a cross between a nightcap and a proper wizard hat. His had was also dark blue, with stars forming consolations on it. Five small metal bells hung from his hat, jingling as he walked. His coat was the a dark blue, only slightly lighter than Luna's. His mane a deep royal purple. His face was wrinkled and attached to his chin was a long white beard. "Actually, I go by many names. I'm Star Swirl, or 'The Wizard', or 'Get Out Of My Lab', although strictly speaking, that last one is not a name," Luna smiled at his joke, while Celestia and Star Bolt remained deadpan. "You speak of the elements of harmony, I'm afraid you wont find them here,"began the elder, "I have in my possession, well not on me, but at my cottage, the location of the six. They are riddles, readable only by ones who wish to use their power to create life." At this he turned on his hoofs and walked into the darkness. Celestia looked at Star Bolt who in turn shrugged. We might as well go, what is the worst that could happen? Star Bolt thought to himself. Luna helped Celestia to her feet, her injury causing her even more pain. Star Bolt held Celestia up as the trio followed the wizard to his cottage, hoping for a miracle.
PreludeTwilight walked into the throne room. The princess had sent her a letter, asking her to come to Canterlot and speak with her. As she walked into the throne room, she admired the massive stained glass windows. All of them showed scenes of great moments in Equestrian history. She stopped in front of one of them, it depicted the princess raising the sun. The window faced perfectly so that the morning sun hit the sun depicted on the glass so that the entire room would light up looking as if the light came from the sun on the window. As Twilight admired its beauty, she failed to notice a figure walking up behind her. "Admiring the scene?" Celestia asked her. "Oh!" Twilight was slightly startled, "I didn't see you there... I'm sorry for keeping you waiting." "It is no trouble. Do you know the story behind this window Twilight?" Celestia waved a golden clad hoof at the painting. "No, i have seen it many times before, but i never knew there was a story behind it." she looked at the Princess in curiosity. "Every window here has a story, this one is particularly close to myself." "Why is that Princess?" "it depicts the first time I raised the sun in the morning, it was the day after my sister and I came to the throne." "I was always told that you were always in power, are you saying that someone else ruled before you?" The princess looked down at the pupil. She was saddened by the look she saw on Twilight's face. For reasons she could not explain, the genuine curiosity on Twilight's face made her feel a longing. She could not quite put her hoof on it, but she felt a need. "My sister and I were not always the rulers." She sighed as she said it. Twilight noticed the sigh and the saddened look that crossed the face of the equine ruler. "Princess is there something that you want to talk about?" The princess realized that she had let her guard down long enough for Twilight to notice. "You are likely to not understand." "But it might make you feel better, Princess. You have confided in me before, is there something wrong?" The Princess decided inside herself, now was just as good a time as any. She was lucky that Twilight began to look at this window. It gave her a perfect springboard to tell Twilight what she had called Twilight to Canterlot to speak with her about. "I am old Twilight. I may not look my age but I can feel it. I have lived for thousands of years, as has my sister." she began. "I am not immortal, Twilight, I can still die. I can be killed just as easily as any other pony. Disease, hunger, tiredness all affect me. I am not a goddess, as much as I sometimes wish I could be. I am just an Alicorn. I simply age at a much slower rate than other ponies. I remember when I was a foal. Our mother, Mystery was her name, used to tell us, ' Luna, Celestia, one day you will take over for me, you will raise the sun and moon for all of Equestria. and when you do, remember me because I love you and I want you to be happy.' She used to let us sit on her throne, pretend that we were the princesses, I miss that me, Twilight. What happened to the Celestia that had fun? What happened to the Celestia that was intrigued by new things. I used to be adventurous. But time took it's toll on me, and I no longer have the will to do what iI used to. I see so much potential in you. I see myself in you. You show me how I used to be. And my time is coming to an end, as is Luna's. She and i both know this. Thats why I asked you to speak with me privately today Twilight. Luna and I have discussed it and we came to the same conclusion. Twilight Sparkle, I want you, to be my heir to the throne of Equestria. Luna is on her way now to speak with Rarity. Luna believes that Rarity would make a suitable replacement for herself." Twilight looked dumbfounded. She didn't know what she could say in response, so she simply said nothing. She looked back at the window, her mind mulling over what she had just heard. The Princess wanted her, Twilight wasn't even fully grown herself, to rule Equestria when she was gone. Twilight put her hoof to her mouth in realization that the princess would, in fact, have to be gone in order for that to even happen. She looked back at Celestia saddened by that fact. Celestia gazed back at her seemingly waiting for a response. “I...I don’t know what to say, except that I’m honored.” “Will you do it?” asked The Princess. “I don’t know how that would work. It can’t work. I’m a unicorn, I have magic but your an alicorn who lives for thousands of years. I can’t be expected to live that long, its not possible.” “Twilight,” began Celestia, “Do you know the story behind how Luna and myself became the rulers?” “No, princess, I don’t” Twilight responded. “Its not a big surprise, nopony lives that remembers the tale, apart from Luna and Myself.” Celestia thought about it for a moment before starting again. “Perhaps we should wait for Rarity, she will do doubt have the same questions as you. It would be more efficient for Luna and myself to tell you both at the same time. Follow me, i will tell you all in my personal chamber.” Celestia lead Twilight through the corridors of the Castle before finally stopping at a large door. it was wooden, no different from many of the doors, save for a small round hole in the top. Celestia motioned to the guards outside the chamber and they backed away. She then placer her horn inside the hole. The outer edges of the hole began to glow, small lines of light began to snake and twist from the edges until a clear shape could be seen. It was the Princess’s cutie mark. “Nopony apart from me or Luna has ever entered this chamber. At least not for the last ten thousand years.” The door opened slowly, creaking like an old door that has not been opened in a very long time. Celestia motioned for Twilight to walk inside. Inside was a large room, circular in shape, the floor was carpeted with colors that formed Celestia’s and Luna’s cutie marks shaped together in a sort of Ying-Yang symbol. the ceiling was domed, at its peak was a large skylight in which the light entered the room. As with the window in the entrance hall, the window here was made so that the light from the sun at midday would shine to illuminate Celestia's cutie mark on the floor. Twilight guessed it would do the same for Luna’s at night. On the walls there were two paintings, one of each of the pony sisters. on either side of the room were doors. Each of the doors had a name written above the door, one for Luna and one for Celestia. Twilight assumed these were bed chambers. In the middle of the room was a small area for sitting and relaxing, while the rest of the room was rather empty. “I feel honored that you would consider me for this.” Twilight began but the Princess walked off, opening the door with her name above it. She turned and looked at Twilight. “Twilight, I want you to stay here, until I get back. I am going into my room to remove the royal jewelry. I don't want you to feel like i am the princess right now, i want you to feel like I am talking to you as a friend.” With those words she walked into her chamber and closed the door.
Chapter 1Twilight waited for what seemed, to her, to be over an hour before Luna walked in to the room, Rarity, and, for some strange reason, Pinkie Pie,following closely behind her. Pinkie was not her normal, if you could call Pinkie normal, self. She was walking, instead of her usual hopping. She also was quiet, a large feat for the party pony. Luna walked up to the area which had the seats and motioned for Rarity and Pinkie to take a seat. "We are pleased that you could join us in Canterlot, Twilight Sparkle. Our sister will be out shortly and we will explain to you the purpose of our calling you here today." "Thank you, darling. I hate to impose, but do you have a place for a girl to freshen up?" Rarity asked. "We do. You may use our washroom, follow us." Luna preceded to open her door, and motioned for Rarity to follow her. Twilight noticed that Luna's room was not dark like she expected, in fact it was quite bright on the inside. Luna closed the door behind Rarity after nodding to Twilight. Pinkie turned and sat down next to Twilight. Pinkie was clearly aching to move, she was tapping her hoofs on the floor. Twilight smiled, at least Pinkie was feeling fine. Twilight broke the silence, "Pinkie, it's not that I don't want you here, but why are you here?" Pinkie's response was just a whimper. "Pinkie, whats wrong?" As Pinkie looked at Twilight, tears began to form in her eyes. "I was talking to Rarity when Luna came in. She started talking about how Rarity would be near immortal. If Rarity is immortal, and I am not, I'm going to die before her. I cant...i just won't. I'm not sad that I am going to die. I'm sad because you and Rarity will have to live without your friends and family. I don't want you to have to face life, while everyone around her is aging and passing on." Pinkie's voice was barely above a whisper. As she finished she buried her face in her hooves. Pinkie was choking back tears. Twilight had not thought about that. How would she be able to outlive her friends? Could she continue on without her friends? "Pinkie..." Twilight began, placing her hoof on the crying pony's shoulder. Twilight didn't know what to say. There was nothing she could say. They sat there, Pinkie's crying slowly stopping, for a few minutes before Princess Celestia came back out. She was not wearing anything. Her royal jewelry absent from her white body. She was even missing her golden horseshoes. Pinkie Pie perked up when she saw the Princess, trying her best to look happy. It was not ten seconds later that Luna and Rarity came out of Luna's room. Rarity noted the solar Princess's appearance with a raised eyebrow and a quizzical look to Luna. "Rarity, please take a seat with Twilight and..."began Celestia, "Pinkie, um, what are you doing here?" "Well,” Pinkie's perky attitude was betrayed by her slightly reddened eyes, “i was talking to Rarity about her latest dresses when Luna came in, so I asked if i could come too 'cause I wanted to know what all the shenanigans was about, so while they were not looking I hopped into the carriage and flew back with Rarity and Luna." Pinkie explained. "I see" Celestia shot a look at Luna, who simply shrugged and sat down beside her. "I don't mean to sound rude," stated Rarity, "But all I have been told was that I could be immortal, but I don't know why? Why would it be necessary for me to be immortal." "Rarity, it is not truly immortality"Luna stated,"Thy life is simply extended much beyond any normal pony." "The reason, as I have already told Twilight, is because we are looking for replacements for ourselves."Celestia said, much to the surprise of Rarity. She was unable to say anything, but simply nodded. "The only thing I can say is that this won't be easy, it was not easy for me or Luna. I can't tell you how it will go, but I can tell you what happened to us." Twilight thought about it for about a minute and looked over at pinkie pie, who's eyes were still red, and her lower lip still quivered. Twilight made up her mind. She turned to Celestia and Luna. "What will happen to our friends?" she asked. "This is why we did not want Pinkamena Pie to join us on the trip." Luna stated, "We did not wish to hurt anypony." Pinkie couldn't hold it any longer and she started crying once again. This time Rarity came to be her comforter. She took Pinkie in both her hooves in a hug and slowly began to rock back and forth, if only to show Pinkie that she was there for her. Celestia looked over at the three with a look of concern and sadness, "Unfortunately, we cannot offer your friends the same. At most Luna and I may be able to pass it to one more of your friends, But the gift cannot be given to all six of you." Rarity looked over at Luna. "You said earlier that you could tell us what happened to you. Before I can make a decision, I would like to know all the facts." Luna nodded and looked to her sister. "Shouldest I start?" Celestia nodded and said, "Before you begin. This is the first, and quite possibly the only time we will tell this story. We would appreciate it if you did not tell anypony else what we tell you. You may tell your friends, but make sure they don't tell anypony." Pinkie made a few quick motions which Twilight vaguely recognized. Luna looked at the pink equine with a look of confusion. After similar looks from the other two ponies, Pinkie realized that she needed to explain. "I made a Pinkie promise. I zipped my lips. Then i took the key. Then I dug a hole. I put the key in the hole. Then buried the key. Then built a house. Then up the house on top of the hole" Celestia nodded, seemingly understanding what Pinkie had meant. Although luna seemed just as confused as before. Rarity simply chalked it up to "Pinkie being Pinkie." "We art still confused, but we shall begin." Luna had removed the confused look and now had replaced it with one of remembrance. She closed her eyes, and concentrated on remembering what happened all those years ago. "It all began sometime during spring..."
Chapter 2EQUESTRIAN TIME SCALE 0010 Before Battle of Discord. Era of Harmony. "Luna!" Mystery yelled out, attempting to get the attention of the teenage pony, "We are going to have to do this eventually! You might as well do it now!" After no response for several seconds Mystery sighed and turned to her attention to the pony beside her. "Celestia," she began, "Sweetie, could you go get your sister? It is Very important that we talk." The pink princess sighed, "Sure," the princess began to walk towards her sisters room when Luna burst out of her room, nearly knocking over her sister. "Oh!, we apologize," Luna said, walking calmly to sit down. "Celestia, please sit down next to your sister," Mystery requested. After Celestia had sat down, Mystery proceeded to stand up and look out the nearby window. Her deep blue billowing mane floating gracefully behind her. She stood silently for a few moments before turning around to face the pink Celestia and her younger sister. "It is my job to determine which one of you will be the next Queen of Equestria. This places a heavy burden on myself, one I am not willing but I am forced to bear. While I am around the enemies of the Equestrian society are powerless. Even Discord cannot corrupt the world. But a shadow grows, branching out from the mountains, a deep shadow. It is my passing. I am need to impart my energy to you...both of you...you have been trained for this many years. You both have wondered why you have yet to receive your cutie marks. Until you fulfill your destiny, you will not." Mystery turned back around to face the two. She walked towards the two and sat down across from them. She smiled softly, just to reassure them. "Just remember, I will always be with you, and you will do great things, and I will always be with you, because I love you." Her horn began to glow as the process began. "Wait!" Luna yelled, stopping Mystery, "Will this hurt?" Mystery smiled, "Only if you resist me, then the power tries to force itself into you. After a few seconds I will lose all control over this process. Should you wish to stop, make sure I know before that point." The sisters nodded. Mystery's horn began to glow again, its dark blue glow soon enveloped the three of them. Mystery began to smile as she felt the presence of the two younger ponies. Her eyes started to glow a bright white as all her power began to escape her. As she expended more and more her horn's glow began to dim. Luna screamed out in pain, her body began to reject the immense power that was being now forced into her. Her pain was unlike any pain she had ever experienced. It felt like a thousand hot iron stakes were being forced into her horn. Her body began to morph and change, her horn grew to be nearly twice the length it used to be. Her coat changed from it's pale blue to a deeper, dark blue and her mane and tail changed to be a darker blue from the white it had been previously. Celestia's body also began to change, her pink coat was morphing. Her skin became a bright white as her legs grew so she was nearly twice her previous height. Unlike her sister she was experiencing an intense pleasure. She was so caught up in the pleasure she did not notice the drastic changes occurring to her mother or her sister. Mystery's horn was no longer glowing and had shrunk to a fraction of its previous size. Her coat became nearly as white as her mane, and her body had shrunk down to be the same size as a normal pony. The wings that once adorned her sides shrank down until they could no longer be seen. Her body and horn had stopped glowing and the glow around her daughters had changed from a dark blue to a light yellow around Celestia, and a light blue around Luna. The entire process lasted about a minute. Mystery fell to the ground as soon as the process was finished. Luna was bracing herself against a nearby wall, still recovering from the pain. Celestia had run to her mother's side, cautiously nudging her to her feet. Mystery was shaky, and was forced to lean upon her daughter for support. "You did well, both of you" she said in a very shaky voice, smiling slightly "Help me get to my bed, I need to rest." The two sisters helped their mother to her bed, the former Alicorn was but a small part of her former self, she possessed just enough of her residual magic to open her locked door. As soon as the sisters had placed Mystery in her bed, she closed her eyes and had fallen asleep. Far away, Discord looked down upon Equestria and smiled, "looks like Mystery's time has all but gone and my time is just around the bend." His snakelike body began to twist around in excitement. "Those two foals don't know how to use their powers. They barely know how to levitate a rock," Discord began to chuckle to himself, "In order me to usurp Mystery," Discord thought to himself, "I need to but simply wait." A few days had passed since the conversion, Celestia was helping her sister, who was still having uncontrollable magical bursts. Mystery had awoken, and was able to walk around, even though the doctors had told her to stay in bed. "They don't know what is happening to me," she would tell the concerned sisters, "i know i am dying. I am but a normal pony now, i have but a few days, And i would rather die walking around My castle than in a hospital bed, being constantly monitored by doctors who don't know what to do." The sisters would insist that she let the doctors try to help. Mystery did at first, but when the first doctor had said that she could find nothing wrong, Mystery had ceased allowing doctors to examine her. Mystery's death came as a surprise to everyone. She was talking with Celestia over a small cup of tea, when she stopped talking and smiled for no reason. "Mother, are you all right?" Celestia asked with concern. "It is time" Mystery said, smiling. After she had said this she slumped over, falling off her seat onto the floor with a terrifying thud. "MOTHER!" Celestia yelled, "No! Don't do this to me. Don't do this to luna. We are not ready for this." Celestia had tears forming in her eyes, slowly dripping down her white face. She was at her mother's side, holding her limp body in her hooves. She put her face in her mothers body and wept softly. The guards at the door had taken off their helmets, and placed them on the ground. After several minutes Mystery began to glow, what little of her magic was leaving her. Her body was fading from existence. Celestia did not notice until she realized that she was not holding anything. One, rather brave, guard had walked over and placed a hoof on Celestia's shoulder if only to tell her somepony was there. Celestia, still weeping, tuned and faced the guard. She grabbed hold on the guard and embraced him. She wept into his shoulder, as he held her in his arms. By this time luna had entered the room, the news of her mother's passing reaching her. She walked over to where Celestia was crying. Her emotions had overwhelmed her. Luna did not cry but simply sat down, Her face showing no emotion. Luna sat there for hours. Celestia, by this time had moved, taking her comforter with her. She had retreated to her bedchamber with the guard. Still crying in his hooves. Whenever he tried to break the embrace she would hold tighter. "Don't leave me," Celestia would say through her tears, "I need somepony to comfort me" "I will not leave you," he would respond, "I will be here for you." They sat there for hours, the royal guard, and the Princess, holding each other in a loving embrace. After several hours, the princess had stopped crying and was holding to the guard for support. She lifted her eyes and looked into the guards blue eyes. "Thank you," she said, "I am eternally grateful for what you have done." "It is no problem ma'am," he started, "it is..." He was cut off by the princess when she placed a hoof softly on his mouth. Celestia leaned in and kissed him. The guard recoiled in shock before relaxing. His mind was spinning, I should not be doing this, she is the princess, I cant do this, I'm supposed to protect her not be romantic with her. Why is the princess kissing me? Am I allowed to kiss her back? The princess broke the kiss, blushing, and smiled shyly "I should not have done that, i just..." This time the guard placed his hoof on her mouth. He smiled sweetly. "It's fine" he told the young princess before leaning in for a kiss of his own. This time the princess met him halfway, returning the kiss. Discord looked down upon the two, "Oh this is just precious," laughing to himself, " The princess has fallen for a simple guard. “The best way to hurt a pony, attack the heart." He laughed wildly as he schemed for the downfall of Equestria.
Chapter 3Celestia woke up the next morning in her bedchamber. She stretched her hooves out and rubbed her eyes, the sun was out, the residual magic from Mystery still changing the positions of the celestial bodies. Celestia stirred slightly in her bed, twisting around to get her hooves under her. Celestia bumped against another object in her bed, startling her slightly. She turned to face the guard, Star Bolt, who was sound asleep in her bed. "Long night," she whispered to herself, still rubbing sleep out of her eyes. She leaned down and nuzzled her comforter, who began to stir. Not wanting to wake him up, Celestia slowly and carefully slid out of her bed, and onto the floor. Star Bolt shuffled around in the bed but quickly went back to sleep. Celestia walked outside her room and past the lone guard at her doorway. "Good Morning, Your Majesty," the guard's customary greeting rang out, before the guard realized his mistake and started to correct himself. "It is most certainly a good morning," Celestia said, covering her sadness, Celestia knew that the moral of the guards was based upon how she carried herself. How could she hold her guards to keep a pleasant and happy demeanor if she herself was crying like a newborn foal. Celestia walked through her castle until she came across one of the royal dining areas. Walking inside she had the chef on duty to make her a simple breakfast, and a second one for Star Bolt. She told one of the guards to bring the food to her bedchamber and place it on the desk inside. As the soldier left she remembered Luna, sitting in the dining room alone. Celestia continued to walk throughout the castle, greeting all the guards in much the same way. When she finally reached her intended destination, the dining room, she found Luna, still sitting in the same place as before, with a guard attempting to entice some sort of response from her. Celestia walked to the guard and put a hoof on his shoulder. She shook her head when he turned around to face her, he looked depressed as he walked back to his post. After a few moments Celestia leaned down to whisper to her sister. "Luna" she said, sighing before she spoke again, "I'm so sorry, I really am, but I need you to talk to me. I cannot do this alone." Luna's eyes and head slowly moved so she could look at her sister. Her dark blue eyes began to tear. She slowly said one word, one word that carried so much power and meaning with it that even Celestia could not respond. "Why?" With that one word she brought Celestia to tears again. Celestia grabbed onto Luna, "I don't know. I just don't know." The two sisters sat there together, holding each other, for mere minutes before Star Bolt arrived, having been awoken by the arrival of the food. As a guard he did not require food as often as ordinary ponies, but he appreciated the gesture. Instead he asked where Celestia had left off to. Upon seeing Celestia and Luna on the floor, he stood back for a few seconds before trotting slowly over to comfort them again. His instincts told him to protect the princesses, from any type of harm, even emotional. The trio sat together, Celestia holding onto Star Bolt, and Luna to Celestia, for several hours before anypony moved. A few days had passed since the death of the queen. A memorial service was held. Nothing fancy, the Queen had requested a small service for herself. Of course, when dealing with the death of a Royal, nothing is ever small. Celestia had relieved Star Bolt of his duties as a guard, she instead had him be a personal bodyguard, a position not without perks. Celestia insisted Star, as he liked to be called, sleep with her, in separate beds. Even though the beds were separated, often one or the two, most often Celestia, would move themselves over into the other's bed, all in the name of comfort. After a week had past, the days and nights were growing increasingly longer as Mystery's power faded. Discord had perceived that his time had come. His "attack" came swiftly. Before anypony could sound an alarm. His chaos ripped through the castle like it was a paper bag. The sisters were caught off guard by the sudden appearance in the throne room. "I take it you are Celestia?" Discord said in mock ignorance and politeness. After a few seconds he acted like he noticed Luna's tears. "Oh, you poor thing, let me dry your eyes," he said, summoning a handkerchief from thin air and levitating it over to luna "Discord, Is it?" Celestia said, anger threaded through her words. Luna was seated next to her, silent. "Oh I'm surprised you recognize me." Discord was playing games with Celestia, just to see how far he could take this charade. "We are not in the mood for games, Discord. Leave now." Luna had finally spoken up, tossing the handkerchief to the ground where it evaporated into a thin smoke. "Oh, but the fun has just begun" Discord replied narrowing his eyes and chuckling. Discord snapped the fingers on his clawed hand. The three of them were suddenly teleported to the gardens outside. "i have been watching you girls for a very long time. And now, you dont have your mother to protect you from me." Discord's paws began to glow, power unimaginable coursing through them. Celestia quickly began to summon her own, now highly enhanced, magics to defend them. Her horn glowed brightly and a flash of light erupted from her striking Discord. Discord did not even flinch. "I wouldn't do that if I were you." he smiled and began to focus his power on destroying the two entirely. As he reached out with his magic he felt something preventing his power. In her wisdom Mystery had shielded her young foals with an ancient magik. Nothing Discord could do would penetrate it. "Curse that wretched old hag." he whispered to himself. Turning his attention back to the sisters, he smiled again. "No matter, Just because I cannot destroy you, I can still banish you from MY kingdom forever." snapping his fingers again he surrounded the ponies with a bubble shield. "But before you go, Somepony wants to say 'hi'", snapping his fingers, Discord summoned Star Bolt along. Celestia's eyes widened at the sight of her lover. "No!" she screamed, " Don't do this!" what exactly "this" was she was not sure, but she knew it could not be a good thing. "Oh, but it's so much fun" cackled Discord. "Discord" spat Star Bolt, "You no good snake" "Mon capitán. Flattery will get you nowhere with me." Discord replied saluting Star in a show of rudeness. After mulling it over in his mind, Discord decided on his next action. Snapping his fingers once again, a flash of white light enveloped Star Bolt. When it had dissipated, it revealed Star Bolt, frozen in stone. Discord turned and looked at his handiwork. "NO!" Celestia screamed, anger and rage burning inside of her, "I will kill you for this." At this Discord simply chuckled. "You cannot kill me, you cannot even break out of my simple prison."Discord replied picking up his newly made statue. He then turned around to face his captives, holding Star Bolt in his paw "Your in no position to do anything my little pony. As of this day, remember that you were defeated by Discord, The God of Chaos and Disharmony." laughing manically he snapped his fingers one last time before sending the two careening uncontrollably to wherever they might end up. Looking at the statue, his smile faded, "I'm cruel, but not THAT cruel. I don't turn ponies to stone. Go to your...lover" He shuddered out of disgust just thinking about Celestia having a lover. Discord undid his actions to Star Bolt and sent him flying to follow the Ex-princesses. "Upon this day, I seized Equestria, and let this world become its best chaotic self." Discord cackled, summoning a brown fedora on his head. Onto his head. He glanced at Mystery's memorial, an doffed his recently summoned hat. Discord summoned a chessboard out from nowhere, the pieces already moved from their starting positions. He moved his queen to a particular space and smiled. "Checkmate Mystery, Checkmate."
CHapter 4Celestia slowly regained consciousness, being ushered back to life by a familiar sound. She could not feel anything, apart from the constant drumming of her heart. She carefully opened here eyes. What she saw, brought a chill to her body, she was looking out upon what used to be Equestria. What remained was nothing but smoking buildings. Celestia tried to climb to her feet, but a sharp pain in her left flank kept her grounded. She turned to look and saw a large gash in her leg, it was no longer bleeding, but was raw and whatever had harmed her had broken something. Beyond her left back hoof lay Luna, still unconscious. After a few seconds she felt something touch her again, the same thing that had aroused her. She spun around to see Star Bolt's face directly in front of hers. His eyes were closed and his blue body was limp on her back. While Celestia was happy that he was here, and no longer stone, she was concerned for his safety. Feeling began to come back to Celestia, her back felt fine, but everything on her left hind leg felt like it was on fire. She grimaced every time she moved. She leaned down and put her head on Star Bolt's chest, she could feel a heartbeat. She looked over to Luna, she could tell Luna was alive, her breathing was regular. She placed her head back down next to Star Bolt's ear. "Come on, Wake up," she whispered into his ear. His ear twitched slightly, telling Celestia that he was at least semi-conscious. After a few moments, he began to stir. He lifted his head, and Celestia leaned down and nuzzled him to wake him faster. Star Bolt's eyes sprang open and his ears flared downward. "Discord!" he yelled. His sudden outburst startled Celestia, who recoiled her head. Star Bolt noticed who he was looking at and his expression softened. "Princess," he began, "Are you all right?" He noticed that he was laying on top of her, and quickly scrambled to his feet. Celestia smiled at his prideful show. "It's all right, but I may need some help." Celestia began to try to get to her hooves again, the pain had subsided slightly but any movement caused her injury to sting her. She managed to get to her feet, apart from the injury in her leg she felt fine. She tried to take a step towards Luna, but the pain in her leg made her fall back down. Star Bolt ran over to her and managed to catch her, Star Bolt became a support for her, letting her lean on him for balance. Luna lay still on the ground. Her breathing seemed normal. Celestia leaned down to wake her, placing her mouth next to her ear and whispering "Wake up Luna." Luna lay still, her ear didn't twitch, and her breathing remained constant. Celestia, with Star Bolt at her side, lay down next to her sister. She snuggled next to Luna, hoping to wake Luna with her touch. Star Bolt stood guard nearby, while Celestia tried to wake her sister. Hours had passed, and Luna had yet to move. Celestia had begun to talk to Star Bolt. "There is only one thing I know to do." Star Bolt began, "I remember reading about some magic stones, The Elements of Harmonics, or something like that." "The Elements of Harmony are but an old mare's tale" Celestia stated, "Six gems encased with the magic that created the world. The power to destroy or create worlds. According to legend, they are housed separately, held in locations outside Equestria. Each guarded by an immortal being of great power and wisdom. Not really something a pony wants to go up against." Star Bolt sat down next to Celestia, getting as close as he could without touching the injured leg. As they talked, Luna began to stir, she moved, but not enough to be noticed. She moaned quietly, Luna felt like she had just been slammed into a brick wall. She opened her dark blue eyes and found herself staring directly at a small spider. Any other time Luna would have been calm, but not today. She screamed out, nearly causing Celestia to jump out of her skin. Star Bolt jumped up and and stood at the ready, prepared for an unseen assailant. Celestia was so startled that she couldn't move. "GET THIS SPIDER AWAY FROM ME!" Luna burst out. Star Bolt, used to loud noises, sighed as he de-tensed himself and walked calmly over, picked the small spider up in his hoof, and placed it on a nearby tree. After a few moments, Celestia gathered herself and turned to Luna. "Luna! keep your voice down. We don't know if Discord can hear us." she thought they were alone, but Luna's scream could have been heard for miles. "I'm sorry, I do not know what came over me." Luna's apology satisfied Celestia, who relayed what she and Star Bolt had talked about. "It seems quite an impossible task. 6 elements, all in unknown locations. Nopony know where they are." "Not quite nopony, princess" a voice rang out, Star Bolt again jumped to his feet. "Show Yourself!" he yelled into the darkness, a scowl crossing his face. "Now now, Star Bolt, you wouldn't harm an old wizard would you?" "Try me." Star Bolt's personality had completely changed, no longer was he the kind, gentle, royal guard, he became a intimidating presence, one even Celestia recoiled at. Celestia recognized the voice, but she couldn't quite put her hoof on it. She put her hoof up to calm down Star Bolt, "I know that voice." "Fair enough, guard," the voice ignored, or didn't hear, Celestia's comment, "allow me to introduce myself. Hello everypony, my name is Star Swirl. I am a wizard of the old court." Celestia knew where she recognized the voice from, it was from a magcording, he was ancient. He was at minimum five hundred years old. As he slowly walked from the shadows, the trio finally got a proper look at the wizard. He wore a blue robe, with stars placed on in the shape of the constellations. Also, a hat, a cross between a nightcap and a proper wizard hat. His had was also dark blue, with stars forming consolations on it. Five small metal bells hung from his hat, jingling as he walked. His coat was the a dark blue, only slightly lighter than Luna's. His mane a deep royal purple. His face was wrinkled and attached to his chin was a long white beard. "Actually, I go by many names. I'm Star Swirl, or 'The Wizard', or 'Get Out Of My Lab', although strictly speaking, that last one is not a name," Luna smiled at his joke, while Celestia and Star Bolt remained deadpan. "You speak of the elements of harmony, I'm afraid you wont find them here,"began the elder, "I have in my possession, well not on me, but at my cottage, the location of the six. They are riddles, readable only by ones who wish to use their power to create life." At this he turned on his hoofs and walked into the darkness. Celestia looked at Star Bolt who in turn shrugged. We might as well go, what is the worst that could happen? Star Bolt thought to himself. Luna helped Celestia to her feet, her injury causing her even more pain. Star Bolt held Celestia up as the trio followed the wizard to his cottage, hoping for a miracle.
