Equestria's Saving Grace

Raucous cheers could be heard from outside the cell I was in, a sound signalling the dominion over another world. I let out an exasperated sigh and leaned against the dirty white wall on the far side of my cell, the sound of the chain on my collar keeping me steady company. I listened intently as the sounds of celebration slowly died off until there was only silence. Moments passed and not another sound was heard. I felt something in the silence, as if some part of me wished it was with it's brothers and sisters. Instead of dwelling on the subject, I closed my eyes and began to think.

There was a time when I thought my Father could do no wrong; That he was nothing but love and happiness, especially for His children. I was proven wrong, when even He fell to anger at the children who spat in his face and abused their gift of life. Was I angry at the humans? Yes, I was, but I did not blame them; for I forgave them. I forgave the human race in place of my Father, who refused to. I opened my eyes and sat against the wall, the chain clinking loudly as I did so. A few moments of silence passed before I once again closed my eyes and became lost in my own thoughts and memories.

When the order came to march upon Earth and exterminate the human race, I was hesitant to do so. It felt wrong. I could not bring myself to murder His children, especially when I was the first to bow before them. I was the first angel in all of Heaven to take a knee and love the children my Father created. Perhaps I was weak for doing so, but mankind has taught me that even the greatest weakness can be the source of your greatest strength.

After Gabriel attempted to convince me of our Father's actions, I knew next what I had to do. I rebelled, and cast away my wings and my divinity in a desperate bid to help our Father see the error of His Judgement.

I failed.

I underestimated my Father's drive.

When the lesser angels were pushed back after the child's birth, Gabriel descended upon us; his horn signaling his arrival. Only an archangel had the power to be near the child. I knew how this encounter would end, but my faith would not be shaken so easily. After ensuring the safety of the remaining human's, I stood before Gabriel, defiant and rebellious as ever. I held out hope I could still convince my brother, but it was not to be. We fought, and I lost. My human body was destroyed, but my spirit remained and was called back to Heaven. My Father showed me mercy. I had my wings once again, but no longer held the power of an archangel.

I am now doomed to reside in this prison until the end of time.

Or so I thought.

"Thank you, Princess."

Princess Celestia gave a warm smile as the brown furred unicorn noble bowed before exiting the throne room, but the smile immediately fell as the doors were closed. Day Court was important, but it did not mean she had to enjoy the long hours of sitting and smiling and nodding and approving and-

"Sister?" came a voice from behind the throne.

A few satisfying pops were heard as the pinkish alicorn stood before turning to address the familiar voice.

"Luna, is it that time already?" As she said this, Celestia looked out the window to see the sun's red-orange glow. Many ponies believed the alicorn sisters were constantly controlling the celestial bodies, but that was only mostly true. Millennia ago, the two sisters cast an enchantment on the both Sun and Moon that allowed them to move on their own throughout their respective time periods, before needing to be lowered or risen with more power than the enchantments allowed. Not only was it a good way to keep track of time, but it kept the alicorns from exhausting themselves over the constant strain of movement.

Luna only smiled and moved to embrace her sister in a hug. "Really, Tia. You're going to work yourself into the ground with the number of ponies that you allow into Day Court. I can see now where Twilight gets her study habits." The younger alicorn winked at that.

"I'll have you know. Twilight had those study habits before becoming my student." Celestia smiled and gave her sister a friendly nuzzle. "Now, let's go do our duty."

Luna tried and failed to hold back a foalish giggle. "You said duty."

Twilight Sparkle watched as the sun was lowered. She enjoyed watching Celestia and Luna's work, if not for the magic involved, but for the beauty of such an act.

"Twilight."

The purple alicorn answered with a content sigh.

"Twilight."

She wondered if she'd ever have the power to move the sun or the moon one day.

"Twilight!"

"Gah!" Twilight jumped slightly, and knocked an inkwell off the desk infront of her. She turned around, smiling sheepishly. "Sorry, Spike. I guess it's time for a break if I'm so easily distracted. Help me clean up, will you?" Her hoof motioned to the clutter of open and closed books among the crystal castle's library, along with magically anchored parchment lining the walls.

Spike gave Twilight a playful salute. "Right away!" he said before rushing around the collect the books.

Twilight covered her muzzle with a hoof and yawned. She had been spending a lot of time studying her known spells and how to improve them. She figured you never know when you might need to use them again. A happy by-product of such an area of study was increasing her capacity for casting. Becoming better at casting spells meant a smaller strain on her magic, and a smaller strain meant less magic needed to be used, and saving magic meant she could learn to cast more and more spells. She enjoyed it.

Twilight began gathering the parchment from around the library with her magic. After organizing and stacking the parchment, Spike was nearly finished gathering the books. Twilight gave the small dragon and gem for his help. As they both left the castle library, she gave one last look outside just as the moon was becoming to rise. 'Beautiful' she thought, before closing the door behind her.

"Michael."

I opened my eyes as I looked towards the cell door, my memories setting themselves into the back of my mind once more.

"Gabriel," I answered. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"

Gabriel flared his nostrils, his demeanor changing as he looked down upon me. "You know why I have come, brother. Why I have always come these past years."

He was right. I did know. Since the day I was imprisoned, Gabriel has made it a point to visit myself every day in an attempt to convince me to side with our Father. It never worked.

"And you know what my answer has been these past years. I have not changed my mind." I turned my head as I spoke, not wishing the see the disappointment in my brother's eyes again.

Gabriel was silent for a few moments, choosing not to speak as he watched his brother.

"Very well." he said. "Just know that we near another world. Victory will once again be ours. As it always is." with that, the archangel left.

I turned my head towards the empty cell door. It's dark black staring back at me, but I felt different, as if a spark was inside of me. Almost as if there was some sort of remnant of a fire still burning within. I had known what my Father and his dogs had been up to, but to actually hear it from Gabriel. I paused in my thoughts and cracked a small smile. Was this my brother's plan? Did he still care about my well-being? Whatever the case, his words served to ignite a fire that I once thought was lost.

I looked down to the thick chain coiled beside me, and then to the collar around my neck. I had to get it off. Standing, I extended my wings as far as I could without touching the walls. Should any feather make contact with any wall in my cell, the dungeons will be flooded with angels. I reached out with a hand, bringing my right wing closer to myself. I examined the plumage and pulled out a feather no bigger than my palm. Folding my wings back, I used my other hand to feel for the joint of the collar on the back of my neck. Bringing the feather around, I stuck it into the joint. Normally, an angel's wings could cut through anything, but the metal used for the collars and weapons were made of stronger stuff, however, they were not unbreakable. Using whatever leverage I could get, I pulled the joints apart. Upon doing so, a loud screeching sound emitted from the thing, before a blue halo formed around my neck and quickly closed around the collar and breaking it apart. A fail-safe, to let any nearby angel's know what had been done, but the dungeons were empty. The angels were preparing for another march. I was in no danger. Yet.

With feather in hand, I examined the cell door for any weaknesses. I knew it would be made from the same material as the collars, but after a few moments of thinking I figured the door wouldn't be as well-maintained. The dungeons were ever rarely used. My Father preferred banishment over imprisonment, but that didn't mean the dungeons were empty. There were quite a few occupants. Among them was the angel who allowed Lucifer into the Garden. Taking a step back, I positioned myself, and threw a punch for the center of the door. The sound was enormous as my fist contacted the divine steel. I was about ready to try a different approach when I noticed the door had budged an inch. Allowing myself a small smile, I once again struck out at the stubborn metal.

The bar was alive with laughter and delight as ponies danced and partied. However, for one pegasus, it was but another sound in the background as he downed another shot of dark brown liquid. Lucky Shoe hadn't been so lucky lately. His wife left him and took their foal. He lost all his bits in a wild drunken gamble. And to top off his week, he had broken a wing, thus preventing him from returning home.

Lucky had finished off a bottle to himself. Maybe if he was lucky enough, he wouldn't have to pay.

"That will be 40 bits." said the bartender. She was a velvet unicorn with white blonde hair and sea green eyes.

Lucky Shoe frowned. Just his luck. "I'm sorry, miss. I don't have any bits." is what he thought he said. What he actually said was, "Erm swy, muss. I dun hurt hunny butts."

The bartender blinked a few times, unsure whether to be offended or not. She went with the former and angrily threw the pegasus out onto the dark Manehattan streets with a quick burst of telekinesis.

Lucky Shoe lay on the sidewalk, dazed and too drunk to feel himself laying on his broken wing. After a few moments of struggling to stand, Lucky finally stood and promptly made his way to the alleyway beside the bar to pass out. He lay down again, lost in thoughts of how much his life has fallen apart around him.

CRASH!

Lucky quickly bolted to his hooves, but promptly fell forward, still drunk out of his mind. After the haze of moving quickly passed, he took note of two boots infront of his eyes. He'd never seen boots like that before. That was his last thought before a sudden jolt of pain erupted from the point between his two wings and everything faded to black.

Over him stood a figure shrouded by darkness. A pair of wings rose to attention.

Princess Celestia awoke with a start. Her body was covered in sweat, and a faint tingle of something came from a point between her wings.

The doors opened and Celestia turned her head, only to see Luna poking her head in with a look of concern etched across her face.

"Is everything alright, dear sister?" she asked.

Celestia took a few moments to calm herself before speaking. "Gather Twilight, and her friends and bring them to Canterlot immediately."

Luna took a moment to process what her sister had asked. "Whatever for, Tia?"

Celestia remained quiet as she got out of her bed and began putting on her royal regalia, but stole a quick glance towards the younger alicorn. "I had a vision."

The princess of the night nodded, and disappeared out the door.