Soul's Requiem

Twilight still couldn't believe what she had been told. She and the others had been asleep for over a thousand years. She tried to comprehend this as Ember led her through the halls of the strange place she had found herself in. Ponies dressed in white lab coats passed them and gave Ember a respectful nod. When they saw Twilight though they eyed her as she would one of her own experiments. It was unnerving for the alicorn. Eventually they stopped at a door. With a beep it slid open. Inside was the biggest stallion she had ever seen and he was an alicorn too. She stared up at the hulking grey behemoth in dibeleif, her jaw threatening to hit the floor. The massive alicorn just stared down at her.

"Twilight!"

Twilight whipped her head around, shaken from her shock. Celestia stood at the other side of the room with a soft smile on her lips. Twilight rushed forward and into the larger alicorn's open hooves, relieved to see her lifelong teacher and friend. Celestia pulled her student into a tight hug.

"Celestia," Twilight cried," I'm so glad to see you."

"And you as well my faithful student," Celestia smiled down at the younger alicorn.

"Celestia, Cadence she-" Twilight said, tears stinging her eyes.

"Shhh," Celestia said holding Twilight close," I know I was told as well."

"Unhoof us blagard," a voice shouted," We demand you release us this instant!"

Twilight and Celestia turn to see Luna held upside down in the air by an invisible force.  Beside her was an light blue alicorn as tall as Celestia. She wore the same suit as the larger alicorn stallion and had the same black mark. Celestia was agape at this. Here before her were two other alicorns that looked as old as her and her sister. Twilight was just as shocked.

"I will release you when you choose not to try to hit me again," the light blue alicorn said.

"Are you alright Temp," the larger stallion said his voice showing instant concern.

"I am well Brother," she said," It was a glancing blow."

He fixed a glare at Luna and she just glared right back.

"Forsooth you are a big one," she said before looking at Celestia and Twilight," Sister. Twilight Sparkle." Her face lit up," We are most glad to see you. We would embrace you but this one," Luna gave the captor a glare," Has seen fit to stop that."

"Will you behave?" the light blue alicorn asked.

Luna continued to glare at her. The light blue alicorn returned her glare with a neutral gaze.

"Fine," Luna gave a frustrated sigh. Without warning she fell onto the floor," Oof! You did that on purpose!"

Celestia walked up and wrapped Luna up in a spine crunching hug.

"I'm so relieved to see you Luna," she said.

"It is good to see you sister," Luna managed despite the amount of pressure that threatened to blow out her lungs," But we would be most grateful if you loosened your grip. We are having trouble breathing."

Celestia smiled sheepishly and dropped Luna, who was grateful for the gift of breathing again.

"Sorry Luna," Celestia said.

"Tis quite alright," Luna said before turning to Twilight.

"Twilight Sparkle. We are most relieved to see you unharmed," Luna said.

"Same to you," Twilight managed a giggle.

"We are guessing that Cadenza is no longer with us?"

Celestia and Twilight looked down, each with sorrowful expressions going across their faces. It was the only answer Luna needed.

"Then she died with honor," Luna said with a hint of pride in her voice," She will not be forgotten for her sacrifice."

Ember Gem cleared his throat garnering their attention.

"I am sorry to have to interrupt," he said," But we must get down to business."

"And who pray tell are you commoner?" Luna said, earning her a swat on the shoulder from Celestia," Oww. Sister what was that for?"

"I thought we had agreed to not use that word," Celestia scolded.

"You did," Luna huffed," We did no such thing."

Ember cleared his throat again," As I was saying. My name is Ember Gem. I am CEO of Genesis Technologies. We found you frozen in crystal. There were four of you but as you all know Cadence was dead at the sight. We brought you three here to one of my main labs in Canterlot. Now I must stress that the world is very different from what you remember."

"Why are my sister and I disconnected from the sun and moon?" Celestia asked, her tone stern.

"Without anypony to control them they stayed logged in the sky bathing the world in a perpetual twilight for quite some time. Then nine hundred years ago ponies discovered a way to begin the cycle again. Now the celestial cycle is managed by an array of satellites. They have safety measures set so no one pony can disturb the cycle."

"They are ours to manage," Luna growled, enraged at the idea of some machine doing her job," Give them back thief!"

"It's out of my hooves Ms. Luna," Ember said," Whatever connection you had to them is gone and the council will be hard pressed to let you take up the mantle again."

"Why? They're the Princesses for pony's sake," Twilight said.

Ember shook his head," In truth Ms. Twilight you three, according to lore, are a fairy tale. Any semblance that you actually existed is gone."

"You mean our little ponies have forgotten us," Celestia said," What of these two? If they are to talk-"

"They hold no power," Ember said cutting her off," They are a product of my head scientist's work. They were not born they were made."

Luna looked at him in disbelief," You mean these two are constructs? Illusions?"

"I assure you they are quite real."

Everyone turned to see Gene Splice walk into the room.

"Ah Dr. Splice," Ember said," So good of you to join us."

Thank you sir," Gene said," Temperance and Ironsights are flesh and blood. They were grown here to try to test the limits of genetic research."

"Genetic research?" Twilight asked.

"Yes," Gene explianed," They are the perfect combination of pegasus, earth pony and unicorn DNA. DNA is the blueprint of life. Every life form has its own unique genetic blueprint."

"Alicorns ascend when they master a type of magic," Celestia said her voice laced with barely contained disgust," This is blasphemy you've committed." She took a step toward Gene.

The large grey alicorn stepped between her and Gene his expression held a subdued anger.

"That is quite alright Ironsight," Gene said.

Ironsight glared at Celestia a moment before stepping back. He gave a snort and sat down. Temperance patted his shoulder with a comforting hoof.

"We are ponies same as you," she said looking at Celestia," We breath, we bleed and we feel same as you. I Aaah!"

Temperance suddenly fell to the floor clutching her head.

"Temp!" Ironsight shouted.

Gene rushed to her side," What is it?"

"It's Wildfire," Temperance said, tears streaming down her cheeks," She's having another episode."

"Can you walk?" Ironsights asked.

Temperance nodded and stood up. They rushed out of the room with Ember and Gene following close behind. Celestia, Luna and Celestia followed as well. The lights went red and the alarm began blaring again.

"Attention all personnel. Temperature spike in Lab C. Level six emergency. All lab technicians go to designated safe zones."

They followed Temperance and Ironsight into a large lab filled with tables and various equipment. In the center of the room was a red furred alicorn filly.  Her golden mane was matted to her forehead with sweat. The room was unbaribly hot and the area around the filly had warped from the heat.

"Wildfire look at me it will be ok! Please you have to control it! Calm your mind!" Temperance shouted over the filly's screams.

"I-I can't," Wildfire screamed," It won't listen."

Celestia stepped forward without a word. Temperance and Ironsight moved to stop her but Ember Gem stopped them.

"She knows what she's doing," he said. Earning him a confused glance from them and Gene. Luna and Twilight watched, knowing the filly was in good hooves. Celestia for her part was barely feeling the heat as she approached the filly and placed a hoof on her shoulder.

"It is alright little one," Celestia said, a serene smile on her muzzle.

"Who are yo-you?" Wildfire asked.

"My name is Celestia," She said," What is your name?"

"Wil-Wildfire," the filly stammered.

"Ok now Wildfire," Celestia said," I need you to calm your mind."

"I-I can't!" Wildfire cried, molten tears streaming down her cheeks.

"Look inside yourself," Celestia said," And envision yourself in front of a door."

Wildfire closed her eyes and did as she was told," I-I see it."

"Good little one. Now close it. I will help you," Celestia's horn began to glow a golden light. The larger alicorn felt a power in the filly that was different from any she had seen. The filly could use mana but the power was akin to an earth ponies innate magic, invisible but there. Slowly the temperature faded to normal inside the room. Wildfire wrapped her hooves around the larger alicorn's foreleg in a tight hug.

"Thank you!" she cried.

Ceelstia returned the embrace. Temperance and Ironsight rushed forward.

"Are you alright!?" Temperance said as she scooped the filly up and checked for any injuries. Wildfire giggled and squealed at the pokes.

"I'm alright," she finally said.

"Oh thank goodness," Temperance released a breath she hadn't realized she had been holding. She turned to Celestia," Thank you."

"Yes thank you," Ironsight echoed, his tone was grateful but his eyes held caution.

Celestia nodded," I am just glad she is alright."

"Dr. Splice," Ember said," See to it that this lab is kept off limits. As for young Wildfire I believe a treat is in order."

"I will send for-" Gene began.

"No," Ember said a smile gracing his muzzle," Allow them to go into the city and show our three new arrivals around."

"Sir are you sure?" Gene questioned," I mean after an incident like that-"

"She is in good hooves," Ember said as turned to leave the room," Besides I believe these walls will get unnerving for them. Oh and once your done," his eyes narrowed and his tone became sharp," My office."

"Yes sir," Gene said.

All the while Luna watched him go. There was something about the stallion that unnerved her. She didn't trust him or the other alicorns for that matter. Luna knew they were at the mercy of these ponies though she didn't want to admit it. They were in another time without any way of knowing what had and hadn't changed. Everypony they knew was gone and all they had was each other. While Luna was lost in thought Twilight smiled fondly at the scene. It reminded her of the time Celestia had helped her when she had lost control of her magic those many decades ago. She had no doubt in her mind the three alicorns cared for each other. They had a strong bond between them, reminding her of the bond she had shared with her friends.

Gene cleared her throat pulling everyone's attention toward her," Mr. Ember has given clearance to allow you to show the newcomers around Canterlot. Ironsight you are in charge."

"Yes Mother," he said.

"Can I come too?" Wildfire asked. Her amber eyes cutely pleading with the stallion.

"As per Mr. Ember your all allowed to go," Gene said.

"Yay!" Wildfire squealed. She grabbed Celestia by her hoof and led her away," Come on I gotta show ya my favorite place."

Luna and Twilight followed after them. Temperance glanced at Ironsight, who looked lost in thought.

"What is wrong Brother?" she asked.

"I don't trust her or those other two," Ironsight said his gaze unwavering.

Temperance sighed. She knew her brother was overprotective of their siblings and with Wildfire it showed the most. She nuzzled his neck. "All will be well," Temperance said, trying to reassure him," They are good souls and without evil thoughts. The blue one seems to not trust us either but that is for her own family's sake."

Ironsight sighed, knowing she was right. After all nopony knew emotions like Temperance," Very well sister. Come lets go get Infinity or he'll be sore with us for not taking him."

"Is that simply an excuse to wake him?" Temperance asked, raising an accusing eyebrow at him.

"Maybe," Ironsight said, the ghost of a smirk playing on his lips.