Seven Sins

I could feel my heart beating quickly as my hooves start to tire as I ran faster and faster to the castle.  All I can hear is the screams of my mother as she’s being attacked by changelings.  I burst through the doors of the castle and looked around for anyone.

“Miss Pride I see you made it,” Princess Luna said as she stepped out from behind her sister’s throne.

“Yes, Princess,” I said trying to catch my breath.  “T-the ch-changelings they've hurt Trample Star and their army is moving this way quickly,” I said panicking.

“Calm young mare your friend is fine and for the army.  My sister is not present at the moment, I will have my men prepared to attack but I wish you to speak to their leader in my place,” Luna said without even stopping to think.  My mind raced with questions but I could only mutter one.

“Why me?”

“This is your destiny to defeat this threat not Equestria’s.  I will help you along the way but this is for you and your friends from now on.  Good luck dear friend,” she spoke as she stepped closer to me and bowed.  She opened her large wings and pushed off the ground flying out the opened door towards the royal guard. I could hear the battle beginning outside the castle, my heart raced as the screams of war echoed through the large throne room.

“Well hello,” spoke a dark voice with a soothing accent.  “I see you've met my army, deary,” he spoke again looking at my cut wing.  “It’s always grand when my babies get a chance to play.  I truly love to see the smiles on their sweet little faces as they tear ponies apart.  It’s a grand old party,” he laughed as he spoke adding a horrifying affect making a shiver send down my spine.  I puffed out my chest and stood tall, trying not to look helpless.  The colt who spoke was tall but every inch of his body was covered in armor and had two golden horns poking out of his helmet.

“Stop this war! Call off your army!” I screamed as I continued to try and look strong.

“Not now, deary.  Your dear princess told you what you must do didn't she?  You must defeat me and my army but not alone.  With your petty friends what are their names again?  Oh right, I don’t give a buck they’ll all be dead before you even get to me,” he screamed at the end of his last sentence for dramatic effect.

“We will stop you! You’re just a monster!” I screamed louder and jumped into the air trying to pin him to the ground but he quickly turned to smoke with only a pair of glowing red eyes and horns in the center of the smoke cloud.

“Oh not now, deary.  You might think you’re strong now but you’re weak like the flower. You’ll never beat me or even get close! Weak! Weak! Weak!” he screamed as he took back his pony form. He started to growl and walk out the doors.  Just like that pain shot through my body making my collapse on the ground.  I screamed in pain and looked around the room for help but everyone was outside fighting.  The pain suddenly stopped and I stood up feeling extremely weak.

“Retreat man!” screamed the colt that leads the changelings. I could hear the royal guard screams of joy as the changelings retreated.  Luna walked back into the room but looked angry with me.

“How dare you send him away?!”  she shouted in her royal voice.  “We could have ended him right then and now!” she shouted louder.  I stepped back and started to cower as she stepped closer and opened her wings to seem bigger and tougher.

“He’s a monster and he’s leading an army of monsters,” I said quietly.

“I know he is that’s why my sister put me in charge of killing him.  How could I have let him get this much control? I should have locked him away when he defeated Twilight and the others!” the princess screamed at herself.  I started to back away until my flank hit one of the old stain glass windows.  I turned around to look at it and noticed that it had a young purple mare surrounded by five other mares and a small purple aura around them.  “That my dear is Princess Twilight Sparkle and her friends; they saved my life when I was a young mare like yourself.  Twilight risked her and her friends’ lives to stop the beast you are destined to destroy; they died in battle about twenty years ago.  Your mother was just a foal when she died, it devastated all of Equestia.  Your mother suffered the most, for Twilight was her mother and your grandmother,” a tear slid down the princess’s face and landed on the floor with a soft sound that reminded me of the days mom would start crying over dad’s death.

“So my grandma was a Princess? Then why isn't mom an alicorn and not a Pegasus?” I asked softly.

“Her father was a brave stallion who raised your mother on his own until Zodiac murdered him in revenge for the death of his wife, the changeling queen.  Your mother has suffered a lose greater than any pain a pony should feel.  Now your other question; your grandfather was a Pegasus and Twilight was born an unicorn not an alicorn giving her the gift of death and wings when she was crowned,” Luna said trying to cheer up a little.

“How was she grated the gift of death?  I don’t understand don’t you want to live forever?”

“No my dear, for I will never die along with my sister and we are forced to watch our loved ones live and die, while you out live them.”

“I’m so sorry…”

“Quite alright my dear.  Now Zodiac has complete control over the changelings thanks to a simple spell I taught him that he manipulated to control and army.  You need to kill him, avenge your family, and save Equestia from this monster.”

“What do my friends have to do with this?” I asked remembering how Zodiac said something about my friends.

“You are the seven deadly sins, are you not?” she asked looking at me.

“No we’re not we’re just normal ponies!” I shouted shocked.

“Oh my, no one told you,” she paused and ran out of the throne room as quick as she could.  She ran back in with a chest on her back as she ran/flew back.  “These are yours and your friends.  If I’m right they’re names’ are Pride and Brigitte Sparkle, Green Apple, Clear Crystal, Thunder Dash, Rose Shy, and Candy Pie, ” Luna said proud of herself that she remembered our names.

“I get it now…” I said as the princess fastened the chest to my back and used a quick spell to fix the pain in my wing so I could fly home to Ponyville.  “What happened to my mother?” I asked finally remembering that she was badly injured.

“She didn't make it, along with the other attacks that happened tonight in Ponyville. Rose, Green, and Clear have all lost their father or mother tonight along with you and your sister.  I’m sorry.” I started to feel tears form in my eyes as I took off in a full run out of the castle and took flight as soon as I left the building. As my wings beat in rhythm I felt my pain start to melt away, hot tears filled my eyes and whipped into the wind as I flew faster to ignore them.  I landed in front of the small house my sister and I share and quickly burst through the door.