Prologue: Once apon a time
Hello, my name is Crysis. I'm a 14 year old unicorn zebra mare. I am deep brown with lavender stripes and bright green eyes. I also have a dark blue mane and tail, with a purple stripe through those as well, the reason behind that? My mother was a unicorn while my father was a zebra. We were happy living in Canterlot my mother and father and I, but when Celestia came and took them away, everything changed...
I was just a small filly then... Ever since, I’ve on the streets, growing up with other homeless ponies looking after me. I was too reckless back then to go to an orphanage, they wouldn't accept me... I grew up running into the fancy side of Canterlot in the night and ended taking priceless things to sell for myself. I survived that way at least, and I got my cutiemark, it’s a crown with blue jewels topping it.
The really priceless things were locked up... sometimes but very rarely somepony would leave a diamond ring out or a gold necklace that I could take and sell. I could buy enough to get a nice meal for a couple weeks but I usually spent that with some other ponies and got them meals. This is the story of how I died.
I was running and doing a daily look out, as I usually do, and spotted Celestia flying out of her castle. This reminded me of my parents, so I ran to the castle to take a snoop around Celestia's room. I mostly took the ground routes then moved to the roofs, I teleported up on top of the balcony of Celestia's room, where she raised the sun. This felt very bad to do, I mean sneaking into the sun goddess's room... yep that's going to get me banished…or executed, whatever they decide. I noticed something shiny on her bed stand. I picked it up and realized... it was the princess's crown! I had to take this, no one would ever believe me! I put it in my saddle bags along with some prison notice papers from a coincidenced eight years ago, what I originally came her for in the first place. I heard knocking at the door and someone asking for the princess. And then you guessed it, they burst in with a bunch of weapons, right as I was putting the crown in my bag.
“Who are you!? What are you doing with the crown?” a guard yelled.
I didn't think and just ran off the balcony. Now I know what you are thinking, I was stupid and was about to die but I did say I was a unicorn did I not? I teleported to a roof nearby and started running, with about seven pegasus guards after me. I saw another pony look at me like I was insane and closed the window from a house an alley away.
I was a distance away from the guards so I thought it would be safe to use the passages though the 'Dead Zone' as I call it. I slid down an entrance to an alleyway and ran under the shade of the shadows. I slowed to a trot. I found my hideaway located at the end of the Dead Zone of Canterlot. It was just a cave with a view of the town I learned was called Ponyville. That's the place I would love to be... no conflict... no having to steal anymore... just harmony... and no Canterlot to worry about. I slid back the weeds covering the entrance and walked in. I flopped down on the pile of hay I 'borrowed' and stayed laying face first, for a good 5 minutes.
I sat up and took the crown out of the bag. I looked at it and then suddenly realize... I stole the sun goddesses crown and escaped from her guard not injured! I've gone insane!! I dropped it with a clang on the rocky ground.
“Well... Chrysis Starfall, this is where you've been hiding?” I heard a voice say.
I jumped up and looked around. Through the weeds came…Princess Luna? Oh Celestia I am so dead!
“Relax... I know what you did... and that is understandable... I won't tell my sister where you are hiding or why you took her crown, I am only doing this in respect for your family.” she said.
I stared at her, puzzled by what my family did to gain the lunar princess's respect....
“Wha-Wha.... I thought... can-can you tell me why my parents got taken to jail?” I asked, still a bit surprised.
She nodded and said “It's a long story...”
Night Starfall and Harmony Stone were running a mission for the princess.
“Night... do you know what you got yourself into, joining the princess's secret services?” Harmony asked.
He nodded and said “Yes I do... it's all I can do since my father joined and went missing...”
They continued running in silence. They were supposed to go to the meeting point to join with Celestia's best op in the system, Dark Haven. He was a dark blue pegasus with a black mane and tail that looked a bit windswept. Harmony Stone and Night Starfall stopped running.
“You must be the rookie, you Night Starfall? I knew your father, he was a great stallion...” he said and under his breath he added, “Shame what happened to him...”
Night looked puzzled. Dark shook his head and motioned them to follow. A little while later they got to the place that they were supposed to be scouting out. It was on the edge of a cliff and there was a base a quarter mile over.
“Now this is the end of the line...” Haven muttered.
Night Starfall stopped and stared over at the base.
“Well... that's it right?” asked Harmony.
She was a lower rank in the system but she was selected by Haven himself. She never saw the changeling's base before. There was a flash of green and standing in Dark Havens place was... a changeling... the real Dark Haven stepped out from behind a rock. He was laughing.
“Oh dear, you guys really are ignorant,” he gave a sinister laugh. “This was too easy! Now all there is to do is finish the job and the changeling army can continue...” he said.
Night ran for his life, with Harmony in tow. When they got back they were greeted by two giant pegasus guards and two unicorn guards.
“Um... heheh...” Night chuckled nervously.
Harmony rolled her eyes and held out her pass, “Special ops. We have clearance to get through.
The guards just laughed, “You two are not allowed to come in, double crossers. You are to be put under arrest now! Let’s get ‘em...”
Harmony Stone took off running with Night Starfall right behind her.
“They hid in Ponyville for a while and a couple years later the guards found them again. They thought it would be safe to come back to Canterlot but it wasn't, my sister was still looking for them... I only had just gotten out of my banishment when I met your parents,” Luna finished.
I was shocked. My parents were framed! I took out the prison paper that listed all the prisoners in Canterlot Maximum Security Dungeon. I turned to Ponyville.
“It's impossible to rescue them... isn't it...” I sighed, not really looking for an answer.
Luna shook her head, “I'll help you... it was wrong of my sister to do that. I cannot release them but I can help you get there. When you are inside, you’re all alone. Though I hate to admit this, but I honestly don't know where it is,”
I walked out to the end of the cave and continued to stare out at Ponyville. I saw a burst of rainbow come out from the town. I saw it every so often when the sun would rise. I figured it was an illusion of the light. Luna put her hoof on my back.
“Get some sleep... I will come again tonight...” she said, flying away.
I felt exhaustion take me and I flopped on my bed of hay and fell asleep.