The Beginning

Princess Celestia stood on her balcony overlooking Equestria. It was late afternoon and she had just received her letter from Twilight Sparkle explaining what new lesson of friendship she had learned today. Celestia had read it, then put it  in her special drawer like she did with all her letters from Twilight and her friends. Normally she would have written a response but she had another subject on her mind today. As she looked at the setting Equestrian sun she thought to herself: today marks the 3000th anniversary of the Beginning. The Beginning as she and Luna referred to it, was what helped shape Equestria into what it was today. For her people it was a distant memory, almost a fable but to Luna and her it was as fresh in their minds as though it happened yesterday. Celestia closed her eyes and let herself drift off to that terrible day that started it all....

Equestria 3000 years ago...  It was a bright late spring day that started it all and Celestia was only 7, Luna was barely 4 months. Their parents King Nocturne and Queen Aurora had brought them up to the highest tower of the Old Royal Palace, then just the Royal Palace, to teach Celestia her daily lesson in magic. She remembered how her father, Lord of the Night, would create small stars in his hands and let them fly all over the room illuminating everything with starlight. Her mother, Lady of the Day, would often make small colors of early dawn fill the room while Celestia and Luna would watch every move, excited for when their parents would let them try it out on their own. At first Celestia could make only small sparks in her hands but her mother taught her how to make those small sparks into balls of Solar energy, while Luna would often make small beams of Lunar energy. On this particular day their parents made Celestia and Luna sit by one of the windows in the tower so her parents could demonstrate how to create small clouds in the room, “Now Celestia, watch how the cloud starts off as little more then an orb of wispy mist but as your mother and I stretch the orb it slowly begins to resemble a cloud” her father said. Celestia watched intently holding Luna in her lap as their parents stretched the orb. “Celestia would you like to give it a try?” her mother asked and Celestia nodded. Queen Aurora took Luna from Celestia and Celestia went to take her other's place by her father. “Alright Celestia pull in your direction” King Nocturne said and Celestia nodded. Celestia pulled in her direction while her father pulled in his it was difficult at first but Celestia quickly got the hang of it and after a few seconds they had a real cloud before them. Her mother walked over and handed Luna to Celestia and said “now we will teach you how to make the cloud rain. Her parents took their places at the ends of the cloud and and raised their hands, they began to to preform the magic when an evil laughter interrupted them. Her parents stopped and the cloud dissipated. They all looked toward the window and saw Discord floating outside it. Discord was a powerful sorcerer and known as Lord of Chaos. He had been banished to the Netherland by then Prince Nocturne nearly 12 years ago but he must've somehow found a way out. “Ah King Nocturne, I thought I'd find you here” Discord said “how did you get out?” King Nocturne asked “that's for me to know and you to never find out” Discord said. King Nocturne waved his hand and sent a great oak bookcase flying out of the window towards Discord. Discord waved his hand and the bookcase burst into flames and fell from the sky. Discord flew in through the window and landed on the floor. “Now Nocturne I'm sure you can do better then that” Discord said “ah Queen Aurora, and the Princesses! How fitting that the rest of the family should be here to watch it's patriarch die” Discord said just noticing Queen Aurora shielding her daughters behind her body. “No one shall die today but you” Nocturne said and from beneath his robe he drew his sword. Nocturne ran at Discord and swung his sword at Discord's neck but Discord blocked Nocturne's sword with one of his own. Nocturne and Discord began to engage in a vicious duel swiping and thrusting their blades at each other, cutting each other all over the place. Queen Aurora scooped Celestia and Luna up in her arms and ran towards the door but Discord waved his free hand and made the door fade away so that there was nothing but brick wall there. Queen Aurora turned towards the window but found that that was gone too. Discord cackled and continued to duel the King. Queen Aurora sat Celestia and Luna behind a table she quickly overturned before turning to help her husband. Queen Aurora thrust her hands out like she was pushing someone and Discord went flying and slammed into the wall. Nocturne seized his chance and swung his sword at Discord cutting his arm. Discord shrieked in pain and leapt up running at Queen Aurora. King Nocturne swung his blade and cut Discord in the chest before he could reach her. Discord stumbled and fell, slamming into the table Celestia and Luna were hidden behind. Celestia held Luna tightly and jumped up from behind the table, running to the other side of the room and squeezing themselves tightly into a corner.  Discord jumped up and flew,literally flew, at King Nocturne and thrust his sword deeply into Nocturne's chest. Nocturne let out a small cry and fell to the ground, dead. “No!” Celestia said and Discord turned to her. A fireball formed in his hands and he threw it at where the Princesses were. Celestia grabbed Luna and dived out of the way. The fireball hit where they had only been seconds earlier and blasted a huge hole in the wall. Queen Aurora slammed into Discord and knocked him over. “Celestia!, take Luna and fly, get out of here!” Queen Aurora shouted “but Mother!” Celestia said “no, go now while you still can!” Aurora said punching Discord in the chest as he got up. Celestia took Luna and ran over to the hole Discord created and looked back one last time to see Queen Aurora grab Discord by the chest and fly upwards smashing through the roof. Celestia jumped out the window holding Luna tightly and began to fly until she was a safe distance from the tower. She turned back to see her mother and Discord wrestling in the air until Discord managed to force Aurora off him. He slammed his head into Aurora's and she fell from the sky, through the roof, and back into the tower. Discord waved his hands and the tower exploded and began to collapse. Celestia turned away tears in her eyes “Mother....Father” she whispered before flying off.

10 years later....

It had been 10 years since Discord, now Emperor Discord, had murdered the King and Queen and taken over Equestria. Celestia and Luna had managed to hide in with an elderly tavern couple. They had raised Celestia and Luna like they would their own kids. Celestia, now 17, watched as Luna,now 10, played with the other children of the village. Celestia laughed as Luna pushed a boy face-first into a puddle of mud. Luna ran over to Celestia and asked “Celestia, why aren't you off with your friends?” “because they've all gone off to o their daily chores and I've finished mine” Celestia said. The daily chores were a program created by Discord to supposedly help teach young people discipline but Celestia new it was really because he enjoyed to watch people work until their muscles hurt and they were too tired to do anything else. “how could you finish yours? The Emperor makes sure that all chores are finished at the same time” Luna asked “I have some little trick” Celestia said. In truth these 'tricks' were actually magic but Luna didn't know about it as Celestia had decided it was better for her to never know about her's and Celestia's true past. “Ok then” Luna said and she returned to playing with the other children. Celestia laid back on the ground and looked up at the clear blue sky. She watched the clouds as they floated by. With a subtle wave of her hand she made one cloud begin to float east instead of north. This was often how Celestia spent her days, secretly using her magic and watching Luna play. “Celestia, Luna come here please” a voice said . Celestia sat up and looked to see Mrs. Frosting, the elderly woman that raised them beckoning them. Celestia stood up and walked with Luna over to where she was standing. “What is it?” Celestia asked “Imperial soldiers are in our tavern, we'll need all the help we can get” Mrs. Frosting said. Celestia nodded and from inside her shirt pocket, pulled out a hair net and put her hair into it, Luna did the same and they both put their red caps on. “Celestia, how come only we have to wear caps when we're around Imperial soldiers?” Luna asked “because we we serve them their food and we wouldn't want our hair falling into it now would we?” Celestia said coming up with the quickest excuse possible, in reality it was to hide their rainbow and dark blue hair from  the soldiers, it would easily give them away. “No I guess not” Luna said and together they walked into the tavern. Sitting on stools art the bar were five Imperial soldiers wearing their black armor and drinking deeply from goblets. They probably just returned from executing some dissident. Celestia and Luna walked around the counter and stood in front of the soldiers. “What may we get you?” Celestia asked “five roast pheasants, 3 soups, and a slice of pie” one soldier said. Luna wrote it down on some parchment and went to deliver it to the cook. Celestia asked “would you like more cider?” “yes” all five soldiers said and she refilled their goblets. She sat the jug down and went to get some napkins for the soldiers when one of them asked “what's a pretty thing like you doing in a place like this?” “My parents own the tavern” Celestia said laying out the napkins before them “ever had a boy before?” one asked and Celestia said “no” “I can change that” another soldier said touching Celestia's breast. Celestia wanted to use her magic and send these creeps flying through the walls of the tavern but instead she composed herself and said “sir, we are a tavern not a brothel though there is one just east of here, located in an old shack” “just keep quiet and give us more drinks” another soldier said. Celestia picked up the jug and poured it into each of their goblets just enough to make sure it overflowed. “Hey!, what do you think you're doing?” one soldier asked wiping up the table with his napkins. “Apologies I didn't realize what I was doing” Celestia said. “Well pay attention next time” one soldier said. Just then Luna and Mrs. Frosting returned with their plates and Celestia helped them give each plate to the soldiers that ordered them. Once they had their food the soldiers payed no more attention to them. Celestia was thankful for this and returned to her duties in the tavern. She took some more orders, she helped deliver food, she swept the floor, cleaned dishes, and poor more cider. Celestia went through a small corridor to put the broom back in the closet when she felt a hand on her shoulder. Turning around she saw one one of the soldiers standing before her. “What are you doing?” Celestia asked “shhhh” the soldier said closing the corridor's door. Celestia backed up against the wall “They can hear us” Celestia said “that doesn't matter know one will care if a tavern wench is ravished” the soldier said walking towards Celestia and pressing himself against her. “You are a gorgeous creature” the soldier said leaning down and kissing her. Celestia felt great revolt and she bit his tongue hard. The soldier leaned up and covered his mouth. “Bitch” he said and punched Celestia in the face Celestia backed up further against the wall and the soldier moved closer again “you're a tavern wench and you will satisfy me” the soldier said placing both his arms on Celestia's vest and attempted to take it off. Celestia kicked him in the chest and the soldier fell backwards. The soldier got up  “wench!” he roared. Celestia had it. “I am no wench!,”she said “I am a Princess!” and with that she took her red cap and hairnet off and let her rainbow hair flow free. The soldier gasped “y-you!” he said “yes me” Celestia said “the Emperor's been after you forever, now I've finally got you” the soldier said advancing towards her drawing his sword. “That's where you're wrong you don't have me” Celestia said rising into the air. The soldier looked shocked and Celestia smiled. She had hoped that would happen. Celestia waved her hand and the soldier went flying through the door of the broom closet and landed with a loud thud Celestia extended her pointer finger and the soldier's armor began to glow red with heat. The soldier shouted in pain and ran out of the broom closet and into the tavern “someone get this armor off me!” the soldier roared in pain. Everyone looked towards the corridor and saw Celestia fly out and land back on the ground. “I think you've learned your lesson” Celestia said and with a wave of her hand the armor cooled down. The soldier collapsed and started panting. His four comrades stared at Celestia “the Princess!” one said. At this everyone in the tavern just stared at her with mouths agape. They all thought: this is our Princess, the daughter of our dead King and Queen. People in the tavern began to bow their heads to her, but the soldiers stood and drew their swords. “Everyone OUT!!!!!” the soldiers ordered and everyone left the tavern but congregated outside. Mr. and Mrs. Frosting and Luna came into the dining room to see what had happened and Luna gasped to see her sister staring down 4 Imperial soldiers. “Celestia what's going on?” Luna asked. One soldier turned towards her “there!, the other Princess!” he shouted. The other three looked over at her. “Split into two's we'll take the younger one you get the older one” one soldier said. Two soldiers advanced towards Luna while two advanced on Celestia. Luna shrunk behind Mrs. Frosting while Mr. Frosting stepped forward “you shall not harm the Princesses” he said. One soldier laughed and slashed Mr. Frosting across the chest with his sword. Mr. Frosting fell and Luna shouted “no!!!!”  Celestia saw Mr. Frosting on the ground and turned to her two soldiers “that's the second father I've lost!, I will not stand for this any longer!” she shouted and and she thrust her hands out like she was pushing someone like her mother did that day and sent the two soldiers flying through the tavern walls and out onto the street. She snapped her fingers and the panting soldier rose into the air, she swung her arm and the soldier flew head first into the cauldron in the fireplace and was knocked out cold. She lifted his unconscious body with her magic and smashed him through the tavern's walls too. Celestia turned to the soldiers after Luna and she flew across the room at them, they heard her coming however and one punched her in the face. Celestia flew into a table from the blow. She couldn't get back up because she knew her body hurt too much and she likely broke an arm. Luna looked to see Celestia leaning up against the table and Mr. Frosting's body on the ground. She saw Mrs. Frosting too was terrified. Her family was in danger and she would not stand for it. She took off her cap and hair net and let her dark blue hair flow free. She wasn't sure how to do what her sister did but she would try. She closed her eyes and visualized herself rising off the ground, above the soldier's heads where they could not get her. She visualized this for less then a second when she felt herself rising, opening her eyes she saw she too was floating in the air like Celestia. She laughed she was floating!, it was the  best feeling ever but she knew the two soldiers had to be taken care of. Luna visualized the great iron pot in the kitchen floating  out and up to where she was and in seconds it was there. She then visualized the iron pot smacking one soldier hard in the face. The pot flew down and did just that and the soldier fell over. Next she visualized it rising as high as it could go and falling down on the head of the last soldier. The pan rose all the way up to the ceiling and came down hard and fast on the head of the last soldier. The soldier fell over and the pot fell on top of him. All the soldiers were down and Luna descended to the ground and ran over to her sister. “Celestia!, are you okay?” Luna said kneeling down beside her. Celestia opened her eyes and looked at Luna “yes, I may have broken something though” Celestia said “that's ok, but Celestia can you tell me why those soldiers wanted us, why we have these powers?, and why everyone called us Princess?” Luna asked. “Yes, the time has come for you to know” Celestia said and she began to re-tell the events of that horrific day.

***

One hour later Celestia and Luna were sitting alone on two boulders in a secluded grove in their village. “So the Emperor killed our parents who were really King and Queen of Equestria?” Luna asked “yes” Celestia said “why didn't you tell me till now?” Luna asked “because I thought you were too young to know the truth I was going to tell you one day, when you were older but I never thought we'd be discovered I thought we would be safe out here in this small forest village but I guess not” Celestia said. “So what do we do now?” Luna asked. “You reclaim your thrones that's what you do” came a voice from behind them. They turned around to see Mrs. Frosting walking towards them. “Reclaim our thrones?, how?” Celestia asked “that's easy, defeat the Emperor and Equestria will be yours again” Mrs. Frosting said “that's not easy” Celestia said “right now, no it isn't ,you've still got much to learn and do before you can defeat the Emperor” Mrs. Frosting said. “Where would we start?” Luna asked “I would try your old palace” Mrs. Frosting said “the old palace?, no I can't” Celestia said. “It will be hard, I can only imagine what going there will be like for you, but it's the best place to start” Mrs. Frosting said. “I suppose you're right” Celestia said “but will you be able to manage the tavern without us?” Luna asked “I'm closing down the tavern, we're all leaving the village, once word reaches the Emperor of your location he will no doubt send soldiers to burn this entire place to the ground” Mrs. Frosting said. “Where are you going to go?” Celestia asked “to the caves in the mountains, the people of our village have been using them as refuges for hundreds of years” Mrs. Frosting said. “Until you re-take the throne it will not be safe for anyone in the village to come out of hiding” Mrs. Frosting said. “Then we shall leave at once” Celestia said rising from her boulder “yes lets go and get our thrones back” Luna said rising from her boulder as well. “That's the spirit!” Mrs. Frosting said. “Let's go!” Luna said and she readied to fly but Mrs Frosting said “wait!, you can't go on an adventure dressed like you are” “what do you mean?” Celestia asked “you'll need to change so your clothes will be durable, I think we've got something back in the village” Mrs. Frosting said. Back at the village Mrs. Frosting found and gave Celestia and Luna two shirts:one golden for Celestia,and one blue for Luna,pants golden for Celestia and blue for Luna, and boots golden for Celestia and blue for Luna. After Luna and Celestia finished changing Mrs. Frosting gave each of them a warm hug and said “May the Sun and Moon be with you” Celestia and Luna smiled and nodded. “Thanks for everything” Celestia said and Luna nodded in agreement “you're welcome, now go, you've got a kingdom to reclaim” Mrs. Frosting said. Luna and Celestia smiled one last time before they took off into the sky. “Come on Luna it's about 2 hours away” Celestia said and Luna nodded. Sh was having too much fun flying, on her back,arms held out, smiling and basking in the sunshine. “Hey, remember this isn't a vacation we're on a serious mission” Celestia said “I know but I'm enjoying the peace while it lasts, I have a feeling all hell is going to break loose soon” Luna said. “You're probably right” Celestia said.

***

Two hours later Celestia and Luna reached the old palace, they saw it's ruins on the cliff jutting out from the mountain, only one tower, the north one, was still standing. “That's it?” Luna asked “yes, that's home” Celestia said staring at the ruins. They landed in the area that was once the Great Hall of the castle. Celestia looked down and could still see some of the golden floor showing through the rubble. “Celestia what tower where we in when the attack happened?” Luna asked “the south one” Celestia said looking at the rubble everywhere. “So what should we look for?” Luna asked “I have no idea” Celestia said, getting on her knees and beginning to push rubble aside. Luna wandered off to one part and began searching through the rubble too. Celestia thought how strange it must be for Luna to be back in a place she'd barely knew yet had once called home. After a few minutes of searching Luna said “hey what's this?” Celestia stood up and walked over to her. Celestia almost dropped to her knees when she saw what Luna was holding. It's blade was still shiny like it had just been polished yesterday, the black gem in the cross guard still gleamed. “That's father's sword” Celestia said. “It is?” Luna asked “yes, but if that's Father's sword then that means this pile of rubble is the...south tower” Celestia said “this is where the attack happened?” Luna asked “yes” Celestia said. “What was the south tower like?” Luna asked “beautiful, it was the grandest part of the whole palace, every morning you, me, Father, and Mother would go up there and Father and Mother would teach us magic” Celestia said. “This must've been a grand place” Luna said “it was” Celestia said. Luna continued to look at their father's sword until she asked “hey Celestia?, what's this etched on the blade?” Celestia looked dow at the blade and saw that written on the blade was: Princesses, I hold the key to what you need, come to the Rocky Cave “that must've been etched on there after the attack” Celestia said “where's Rocky Cave?” Luna asked “about 3 miles west of here” Celestia said. “3 miles?, oh boy” Luna said “Luna, I'm not even sure we're going” Celestia said. “What?, why not? The message says too” Luna said “you're going to listen to a message on a sword when we don't know who the messages' from? It could be a trap set up by Imperial soldiers” Celestia said “but it may not be and it could be someone who actually wants to help us” Luna said. “Maybe, but we should be careful regardless” Celestia said.”Well let's go” Luna said and she and Celestia took off flying away from the ruins of their former home. They flew westward over forests,lakes,rivers,and villages until they saw it: Rocky Cave on the side os a mountain. They landed on the outcropping outside of the cave and debated wether or not to go inside. “Maybe whoever's in there will come out to us?” Luna asked “maybe” Celestia said. Just then a figure came walking out of the cave. The figure was dressed in a black, hooded robe and walked very slowly towards Celestia and Luna. “Who are you?” Celestia demanded “I am no one” the figure replied “are you man or woman?” Celestia asked “man” the figure said “if you're a man then you must be someone” Celestia said “I used to be someone Princess but that changed a long time ago” the figure said. “Alright, why did you want us to come here?” Celestia asked “I have gifts to you from your father” the figure said “our father?, did you know him?” Luna asked “oh yes Princess for many years, he gave me these gifts years ago” the figure said “why would he give you gifts for us?” Celestia asked “I have no idea he only told me 'keep these safe until my daughters are ready for them'” the figure said. “Where are these gifts?” Celestia asked. The figure turned around and walked back into the cave, re-emerging a few seconds later holding two items: the first, a sheathed sword, the second a fan. The figure walked over to Celestia and bowed holding up the sword. “The Solar Sword” the figure said. Celestia took the sword from him and slowly drew it from the sheath. It was completely golden with a sun-shaped pommel and a ruby-encrusted cross-guard. Celestia held the sword up to the sun and it glowed. “For you, a fan” the figure said kneeling before Luna. “A fan?” Luna asked “Celestia gets an awesome sword and all I get is a fan?” “open the fan Princess” the figure said. Luna flicked her wrist and the fan opened. Mounted on the slats was thin metal with a crescent moon painted in the middle. “A war fan Princess, it does as much damage as any sword” the figure said. Luna still didn't seem convinced so the figure said “throw it at that sapling over there.” Luna turned and threw the fan at thee sapling, the fan cut clean through it before returning to Luna. With a flick of her wrist she closed the fan “I'm convinced” she said. “Good now, if you want to now where to go from here I suggest visiting Obsidian Tower about 3 miles north of here” the figure said. “Why?, what would we find there?” Celestia asked “an old friend of your mother's, I believe his name is Sir Apple Strudel, of the Apple family” the figure said. “The Apple family? They sound familiar” Celestia said. “They are one of the greatest military families in all of Equestria, they have produced five generals and seven lieutenants” the figure said. “How could he help us?” Luna asked. “Military advice, you can't overthrow the Emperor by yourselves, you'll need an army” the figure said. “Well then let's go” Celestia said re-sheathing her sword and strapping it to her belt. Luna stowed the fan in her pocket and they walked to he edge of the outcropping. Celestia turned to thank the figure but he was gone already back inside the cave. Celestia took off into the air with Luna right behind her and they flew north. They had been flying for only a few minutes when Luna looked down and asked “what's going on down there?” Celestia looked down and saw a peasant man standing against a tree with five Imperial soldiers pointing longbows at him. “An execution” Celestia said “we have to stop it” Luna said. “I agree” Celestia said. They descended down into the clearing and Celestia drew her sword. “Hey!, leave that man alone” she shouted. The soldiers turned to her and after seeing who it was they fired there arrows. Celestia snapped her fingers and the arrows broke in half and fell. The soldiers went to re-string their arrows but Luna waved her hand and the bows turned into sand. Celestia charged at the soldiers, swung her sword and struck one in the chest. The soldier toppled and Celestia turned and beheaded another one. “Hey Celestia leave the last one for me” Luna said removing her fan from her pocket. She flicked her wrist,opened the fan, and threw it, it cut clean through the chest of one soldier and came back to her. Luna jumped into the air and still holding the fan, swung it at the soldier's face. The fan cut an ugly gash across it and the soldier fell. Celestia and Luna put away their weapons and walked over to the man who had curled up at the base of the tree to avoid the battle. The man stood up and said “thank you Princesses” and he bowed. “You're welcome, why did they try to execute you?” Celestia asked “because I spoke out against the Emperor's new Crop Tax” the man said. “Crop Tax?” Luna asked. “Yes the Emperor charges us a tax for every crop we grow and he just recently upped it from 8 bits to 20, I can't afford to pay that” the man said “well hopefully soon you won't need to” Celestia said. With that Celestia and Luna took off back into the sky. “We'll need to fly fast if we want to get to Obsidian Tower before noon” Celestia said “though it was worth it, we did waste time by fighting those soldiers.” They sped up as fast as they could go and flew over more mountains,lakes,and rivers until at las they saw it: a single tower made entirely of obsidian. “Should we take the door or window?” Luna asked. “Window, we're flying so it would be easier to take that” Celestia said. Celestia and Luna flew to the window and went inside. They hopped down from the sill onto the floor. The room was a mess, book shelves had been turned over,pages ripped from books and scattered all over the floor. “It looks like chaos” Luna said “some might say it looks like discord” came a voice from the other end of the room. Celestia and Luna turned to see Discord standing in an open door way with at least 20 Imperial soldiers behind him. “Discord!” Celestia said “how did you know we'd be here?” Luna asked “I didn't it was sheer luck, my original intent was to kill Sir Apple Strudel which as you can see from the mess was accomplished” Discord said. “You-you monster!” Celestia shouted and she drew her sword “step forward and fight me like man!” “tempting as that offer is I'd much rather sit back and watch you die so, kill her” Discord said and 13 soldiers rushed into the room. Celestia swung her sword and beheaded one before turning and impaling another on her blade. Luna took her fan from her pocket, opened it with a flick of her wrist, and threw it at a soldier coming up behind Celestia. The fan cut right through the soldier's back before returning to Luna. Celestia help up her hand and a soldier went flying backwards out the window. Luna jumped into the air,twirled, and brought her fan strait down to pierce the back of a soldier's neck. Luna swiped her sword clean through the neck of another soldier and turned to to release a blast of energy into the chest of another soldier. Soon Celestia and Luna had felled all the soldiers and they turned towards Discord. “Now you have no choice but to fight, all your precious soldiers are dead” Celestia said. Discord walked into the room and Celestia charged at him. She thrust her sword at his chest but he stepped out of the way and she missed. Discord waved his hand and Celestia went flying into a wall. Discord turned towards Celestia and from beneath his robe removed a dagger “you will be reunited with your parents shortly” Discord said standing over Celestia. He raised the dagger but Luna shouted “no!” and she through her fan at Discord, cutting him across the back. Luna caught the fan and said “you will not harm Celestia.” Discord turned towards Luna and walked towards her “ah the younger Princess” he said. Luna ran forward and swung her fan at his chest but Discord blocked it with his dagger. Luna spun around quick and slashed Discord across the chest. Discord threw his dagger aside and clutched his bloodied chest. Luna went to strike once more with her fan but this time Discord acted quick and forced the fan out of Luna's hand. Discord picked Luna up by her vest with one hand and held the other close to her face. Slowly a fireball began to form. The fireball grew larger and larger until it was the size of a globe. Discord brought his hand back and prepared to strike,Luna closed her eyes and readied for the blow but none came. Luna opened her eyes to see that Discord was still holding her but the fireball was gone. “I cannot do it, even I have standards I won't kill anyone under 13, so I'll have to make you 15” Discord said and he held his hand close to Luna's face once more. Small rings of light came from his hand and flowed over Luna. She felt incredible pain as her body went through 5 years of change and growth in under 5 seconds. After the pain was gone Luna looked to see her transformed self. She was much taller then before, her hair was longer and darker and she had everything a young woman would have. “Now I can kill you” Discord said and the fireball began to form again. Just as Discord prepared to raise his hand and strike he let Luna go and fell to the ground. Luna looked to see Celestia holding a silver platter with which she must have hit Discord in the back of the head. Luna ran to stand beside Celestia and look down at Discord. “Is he dead?” Luna asked “no just unconscious” Celestia said. Luna held out her hand and her fan came flying to her and Celestia did the same with her sword. Luna raised her fan to strike but Discord jumped up at that moment and ran to the window. He jumped out and waved his hand and pink energy rose over the tower. “This will keep you in here until I can return with a squadron of soldiers tomorrow” Discord said before laughing and taking off. “No!” Luna said. “How are we going to get out?” Luna asked Celestia “I don't know but we'll find a way” Celestia said. They spent the rest of the day sorting through the papers on the floor seeing if any of them held the key to escaping. They stopped at midnight. “This is hopeless” Luna said “no it's not we'll think of something, we have to” Celestia said.  “I don't know maybe we can wait until Discord returns to tomorrow and make a run for it the moment he gets rid of the energy shield?” Luna asked “no, that will be too dangerous, far too dangerous” Celestia said. “Well what else can we do?” Luna asked “I don't know, mayb....” Celestia trailed off “Celestia?” Luna asked. “Luna, how long has that mirror been there?” Celestia asked “what mirror?” Luna asked looking to see where Celestia was looking. There on the wall that had been empty previously was a mirror. It was long and rectangular with a golden,ornate frame. “I don't know it wasn't there previously” Luna said standing up and walking over to a mirror. Luna reached out and touched the glass and was surprised to see that it rippled lack water. “Celestia, I think this is a magic mirror” Luna said. “What?” Celestia asked coming to stand beside Luna. “Touch the glass” Luna said and Celestia reached out and touched the glass. It rippled again. “What is this thing?” Celestia asked. “It is many things” came a voice from the mirror. “That voice, it sounds familiar” Luna said “I know almost like...Mother” Celestia said. In the glass, before their eyes, King Nocturne and Queen Aurora appeared. “Mother,Father” Celestia said “hello daughters” Queen Aurora said. Luna stepped forward and stared at the mirror. She had been too young to remember their parents. “My Luna, how long it has been since we saw you, all of you” Queen Aurora said. “Mother how do we get out of here?” Celestia asked “through this mirror” King Nocturne said. “What?, but you're in there won't the mirror bring us to, the Otherworld?” Luna asked, “no this is only temporary, we really shouldn't open portals to the living world” Queen Aurora said. “Do you know where we should go from here?” Luna asked “I would try the Fire Monastery west of here” King Nocturne said “west?, ok then” Luna said “now come daughters, quickly” King Nocturne said. Their parents vanished and Luna and Celestia jumped through it. It was like swimming in water except they didn't need to swim at all through the substance,it just carried them. Slowly however, the substance did turn into water and soon they found themselves surfacing in a small pond. “Where do you think we are?” Celestia asked Luna as she broke the surface of the pond. “I don't know but let's just go to the Monastery” Luna said and she and Celestia took off into the night sky once more.  They soared over Equestria for an hour before they finally saw the temple. It was tall, much taller then the tower, painted bright red and rubies glittered in the courtyard around it. Celestia and Luna flew over it's walls and landed in the courtyard. They walked over to the great oak doors,opened them and walked inside. Inside the temple was just one room with a great altar dedicated to fire at one end and a perch at the other. In the centers was a great fire pit with four golden arrows pointing in each direction. “What should we look for?” Luna asked.  “I don't know maybe something to show us how to defeat Discord?” Celestia asked. “What would there be here except for statues and altars to fire?” Luna asked. “I don't know” Celestia said. Just then something caught Celestia's eye and she looked up to see what it was. Flying down from the rafters  was a phoenix with red and gold plumage and a long tail. The phoenix landed on Celestia's shoulder and Celestia raised her arm so the phoenix could move down to there. The phoenix stared at Celestia with huge golden eyes and Celestia stared back. The phoenix pressed it's forehead against her's and Celestia had a vision.  She saw a cave,or some underground place, illuminated by greenish water in a fountain sticking out from the cave's or whatever it was walls. To the side was a table on which two velvet pillows rested and on top of the pillows were four  tiaras: one larger golden one, and one smaller midnight blue one, and two equal sized golden ones. In the center of this room was another hooded figure, wearing a dark blue cloak. “Come” it said in an elderly man's voice. The vision ended and Celestia knew where she and Luna had to go. “Luna come, I know where to go” Celestia said. “How do you know where to go?” Luna asked “this phoenix gave me a vision, we have to go to a cave, or some underground place” Celestia said. “How did the phoenix give you a vision?” Luna asked “I don't know but let's go” Celestia said.  “Yea, just one problem, we don't know where this place we're supposed to go is” Luna said. “The phoenix will guide us” Celestia said “how do you know?” Luna asked “well it gave me the vision about the place so it must know where that place is” Celestia said. Celestia turned to the phoenix, “do you think you could show us the way to that place?” she asked.  The phoenix spread it's magnificent wings,flapped once and took off. Luna and Celestia went to the door, opened it, and they flew off too. The phoenix led them north for about two hours before it began to descend into a forest clearing. Celestia and Luna followed and landed on the ground the same time the phoenix did. The phoenix waddled over to a spot in the clearing and held it's wing out. Celestia and Luna walked over and looked down to see a circle, golden door. Celestia waved her hand and the door opened, the phoenix flew down and Celestia and Luna jumped down. When they landed they found themselves in a place exactly like the one in Celestia's vision. Celestia and Luna walked over to the fountain and stared down at the greenish water. “What is it?” Luna asked “water, but I don't know what kind though” Celestia said. “Magic water” came a voice from behind them. Celestia and Luna turned around to see the figure in the blue hooded robe standing there. “Who's that?” Luna asked “the man I saw in my vision” Celestia said. “Yes, I am the Keeper of Magic” the man said. “Did you send the phoenix to us?” Celestia asked. “Yes, she's stunning isn;t she?” the Keeper said as the phoenix landed on his arm. “Yes she is” Celestia said. “You can have her if you want” the Keeper said. “I can?” Celestia asked “yes” the Keeper said. The phoenix flew off of the Keeper's arm onto Celestia's shoulder. “I'll call her Philomeena” Celestia said. “Excellent name” the Keeper said “now, down to business why you're here” the Keeper said. “Are we here for the crowns?” Celestia asked “yes, you are here for the crowns” the Keeper said. The Keeper turned around and grabbed the pillow with the golden and midnight blue tiaras “these are your Royal Tiaras you won't wear them until the thrones are yours again” the Keeper said.  The Keeper walked back to the table and sat the pillow with the Royal Tiaras down, he took the pillow with the two equal sized golden tiaras on it and brought it over to Celestia and Luna. “These crowns you must wear when you face Discord” the Keeper said “why these crowns?” Celestia asked. “They contain perhaps the only thing capable of killing him, the Elements of Harmony” the Keeper said. “The Elements of Harmony?, what are they?” Luna asked “they are what created Equestria and what keeps the balance in it” the Keeper said “there are 6 of them: Honesty,Kindness,Laughter,Generosity,Loyalty, and Magic” the Keeper said. “Wear these only when you face Discord” the Keeper said. The Keeper waved his hand and the two tiaras  containing the Elements of Harmony shrunk till they were no larger then rings.  The Keeper gave them to Celestia and Luna and they slipped them on their ring fingers. The Keeper then waved his hand like he was beckoning someone and the two royal crowns floated over, the Keeper then waved his hand and from out of the darkness of the cave a small chest floated. The chest stopped in front of he Keeper and, with a wave of his hand the chest opened and he put the royal tiaras inside. The chest closed and shrunk till it was no larger then a bit. The Keeper handed the chest to Celestia and she slipped it inside her pocket. “Before you go, drink from the fountain, you'll need it's strength” the Keeper said. Celestia and Luna kneeled before the pool and stuck their faces in drinking deep. They pulled their heads out and took deep breaths. They felt something curious running through their bodies warm and tingly like a small light was illuminating their very souls. After the feeling was gone Celestia turned to the Keeper “what was that?” she asked “the pool gives who ever drinks from it immortality and nigh invincibility, you two are only two of four who have drank from the well, the other two being myself and Queen Chrysalis” the Keeper said.  “Alright, Luna, Philomeena let's go and retake our thrones” Celestia said and they turned to fly but the Keeper called out “wait!” Celestia and Luna turned back “yes?” “even

though you are now capable of defeating Discord you will still need an army to get to him” the Keeper said. “An army?, but Discord only has a few personal bodyguards with him at all times, the Elements of Harmony are capable of taking them down” Luna said. “Yes, but do you really think there are no warning signals that will reach Discord before you do?, he'll probably have the entire Imperial Army waiting when you get there” the Keeper said. “Well where are we supposed to get an army?” Luna asked.. “The Solar and Lunar Royal Guards, the personal armies of your mother and father, they number 90,000 altogether almost as big as the Imperial Army” the Keeper said. “Where are they?” Celestia asked “right above us by now, I sent a message to their captains before you got here” the Keeper said. “Well we should go greet the then” Celestia said and with that she,Luna,,and Philomeena flew out of the hole back into the clearing  and landed on the ground to find themselves surrounded by a huge force. The Solar Royal Guards wore golden armor and the Lunar Royal Guards wore dark blue armor. The two captains walked forward and the Captain of the Solar Royal Guard bowed to Celestia while the Captain of the Lunar Guard bowed to Luna. “Your Highnesses,” the Captain of the Solar Royal Guard said as he and the Captain of the Lunar Royal Guard rose “,we are here to aid you in your quest for the thrones.” “Good, we march to Discord's fortress now, when we arrive expect a resistance from the entire Imperial Army” Celestia said. “Yes Your Highness we know” the Captain of the Lunar Royal Guard said. “Then lets go!” Celestia said. Philomeena, who had previously been perched on Celestia's shoulder, spread her red wing and took off into the air. Celestia and Luna followed her and their troops began to march. They marched for several hours, reaching Discord's fortress shortly before dawn. When Celestia and Luna fell from the sky they nearly fell in shock. Surrounding the fortress was an army of nearly 100,00. Celestia and Luna descended to the ground and signaled their troops to stop. Celestia saw that among the Imperial soldiers there were the undead Changelings wielding deadly khopeshes. “Do you think we'll be able to make it past them?” Luna asked. “Yes” Celestia said before turning to the Captain of the Solar Royal Guard. “Captain, take your men and attack their right flank” Celestia said and the Captain of the Solar Royal Guard nodded. Luna turned to the captain of the Lunar Royal Guard and said “Captain, take your men and attack their left flank.” The Captain of the Lunar Royal Guard nodded. The two captains stepped forward and drew their swords. The Captain of the Solar Royal Guard shouted “charge!” and he led his golden army down to the Imperial forces smashing into their right flank. The Captain of the Lunar Royal Guard shouted “charge!” and led his army to the Imperial forces colliding with their left flank. Celestia and Luna watched as the Solar and Lunar Royal Guards cut down many Imperial soldiers and Changelings, but many of them were cut down as well. “Shall we go help them?” Luna asked “yes” Celestia said. Celestia drew her sword and Luna took her fan and opened it with a flick of her wrist. Together they flew into the air and flew over the battle before crashing down hard into the fray landing on and crushing two Imperial soldiers. Celestia turned and thrust her sword into the chest of an Imperial soldier and he fell while Luna beheaded another with her fan. A Changeling ran at Celestia but with a wave of her hand the Changeling went flying and crashed into another Imperial soldier. Luna held her hand out to an Imperial soldier's face and his eyes and mouth went completely black as shadows started pouring from the slowly snaking their way around his entire body until, with an agonized cry of despair, he fell dead. “Luna!, we have to get inside the fortress if we're going to defeat Discord!” Celestia shouted. Luna nodded and together they rose into the air flying over the battle until they came to the doors. Celestia raised her hands and blew out the doors with a blast of Solar energy. Celestia and Luna flew through the door and landed in  the Great Hall of Discord's fortress. “Which way do we go?” Luna asked “I don't know” Celestia said. Celestia and Luna went to walk forward but found  their path blocked by 20 Imperial soldiers. “Going somewhere Princesses?” one of the soldiers asked. “We don't have time for this” Luna said and she balled herb hand into a fist. From her fist a long whip of Lunar energy grew and she swung it at the soldiers. The whip hit thew soldiers and made them smash through one of the stone walls of the fortress. As soon as the whip dissipated Luna and Celestia ran off climbing up a twisting stone staircase before coming to two great oak doors. “Discord is right behind those two doors” Celestia said. “This it” Luna said. Luna walked forward and blasted the door. Inside they found a great room  with Discord's throne sitting on a dais. Discord was standing beside it facing the wall but turned when he heard the door open. “Hey Discord,” Luna said raising her fan “catch.” Luna threw her fan and it cut Discord in the face before returning to her. “He's all yours Celestia” Luna said walking back out of the doors. Celestia walked in,sheathed her sword, and closed the doors. “Discord your reign is at it's end” Celestia said. “I'm afraid not my Princess,” Discord said descending down the dais to stand before Celestia “the only thing that's at an end here is your life.” Celestia held up her hand and Discord was knocked off his feet flying into the stairs of his dais. Discord leapt up and and waved his hand causing Celestia to go to flying into a wall. Celestia tensioned her body for the hit and nearly cried out when it happened. She fell to the floor but leapt up just in time as Discord blasted fire right where she had been only seconds before. Celestia raised her fist to the ceiling and made a huge stone break into pieces and rain down on Discord. Discord fell from the impact of the falling stones and  Celestia seized her chance, with a wave of her hand a huge column in the room collapsed down down on Discord preventing him from moving. Celestia descended to the ground and ran to the door while she could. She opened it and told Luna who was standing guard on the other side “come on now!”  Celestia and Luna ran back inside and saw Discord was trying to get out from under the column. “We have to use the Elements of Harmony now!” Celestia said. Celestia and Luna took the rings off their fingers and they grew to full size. They put the tiaras on their heads and they felt a change. The clothes they were wearing melted away and were replaced by short dresses that ended at the knee and were rainbow colored. Knee-hight rainbow boots appeared on their legs and rainbow gauntlets appeared on their wrists. When they finisyed transforming Celestia and Luna looked at each other “your eyes,” Luna said in an echoing voice “they're glowing white” “yours are to” Celestia said. “Let's finish this” Luna said and Celestia nodded her head. They both turned back to Discord to see that he had lifted the column off him magically and he threw it at a wall where it smashed into pieces. Discord turned to face the  Princesses but when he did Celestia extended her hand and a blast of rainbow came from it and hit Discord square in the chest causing him to fly backwards into his throne and smash it. Discord leapt up rubbing the back of his head and jumped down to the floor. As soon as he landed however, Luna swiped her hand and a blade of rainbow cut through the air and hit Discord causing him to fall. Celestia and Luna leapt into the air and flew over to Discord hovering above him. “Let's kill him and finish this” Luna said raising her hand and a ball of rainbow began to form in it. “No!,” Celestia said lowering Luna's hand and the ball of rainbow dissipated. “If we kill him we'll be no better then him, I have something else in mind” Celestia said. Luna nodded and together she and Celestia raised their arms into the air. A wave of rainbow shot from their hands into the air before crashing down on Discord. “No!” Discord shouted before the rainbow consumed him and everything went white.  Celestia and Luna opened their eyes to find themselves on the floor with the tiaras next to them. They got up and looked at themselves to see that they looked exactly as they did before they put the tiaras on. Luna and Celestia looked and saw that Discord was laying on the ground his arms raised over his head and an expression of fear on his face and he was frozen in stone. “We did it!” Celestia said running to embrace Luna. “Yea!, his reign is over!, we're the Queens now!” Luna said. Celestia let Luna go and said “no, not Queens that title should rest with Mother” Celestia said. “We will remain Princesses” Celestia said. “Agreed” Luna said. Luna blasted a hole in the wall so hey could see the battle and when they looked out they saw something amazing. All the Imperial soldiers were turning to stone before crumbling t dust.The few remaining Changelings were fleeing. Celestia and Luna flew out out the window into the air and descended to the ground. The two captains came walking over when they saw Celestia and Luna. “Your Highnesses” the captain said bowing. “We did it Discord's reign is over” Celestia said “is he dead?” the Captain of the Solar Royal Guard asked “no frozen in stone, he is going to remain here his fortress shall be his prison and his tomb” Celestia said. “Yes Your Highness” the Guards said bowing.

***

2 Weeks Later...

Celestia and Luna stood in their new palace in the Everfree Forest gazing at it's beauty and adjusting to their new home. “It's beautiful” Celestia said “it is My Sister” Luna said. The Captains of the Solar and Lunar Royal Guards came walking in and bowed “How do Your Majesties like your new home?”: the Captain of the Solar Royal Guard asked. “It is very lovely” Celestia said. Celestia and Luna took the rings off their fingers and they grew back to tiaras. “Take these and put them deep in the dungeons” Celestia said as she and Luna handed their crowns to the Captains. “Yes Your Majesties” the Captains said and they bowed out. Celestia reached inside her pocket and took out the small chest which grew to full size. Celestia opened it and she and Luna took out their crowns. Celestia sat the chest down and together she and Luna walked out onto their balcony beneath which most of the population of Equestria was gathered. Celestia spoke “faithful subjects, today is a glorious day in Equestrian history, it has been two weeks since the fall of the tyrannical Emperor and now we, your Princesses are ready to take our rightful place on the throne.”  The crowd cheered and Celestia raised her crown. “I crown my self Celestia,” she put the crown on “Princess of the Day!” Celestia felt herself transform, her clothes melted off her body. When the transformation was over Celestia looked to see she was wearing a golden and pink ruffled dress. The crowd cheered as Luna raised her crown “I crown myself Luna,” she placed the crown on her head “Princess of the Night!” Luna transformed and she too wore a ruffled dress but it was black and dark blue. The crowd cheered and Celestia and Luna grasped hands and waved smiling at the crowd. They were going to transform Equestria into a paradise where monsters like Discord could never rise again.

***

“Celestia!” Celestia awoke from her reverie and saw that she was still standing on the balcony of the Royal Palace holding Twilight Sparkle's letter.  Celestia turned to see Luna standing in the doorway “come on, it's time to visit” Luna said. “I know let me just put this letter away” Celestia said. After Celestia had put the letter away she and Luna walked down to the Royal Palace Gardens. They came to two great tombs. On the door of one was inscribed: Here Lies Mr. and Mrs. Frosting Caretakers of the Princesses and the tomb next to it read: Here Lies King Nocturne and Queen Aurora Father and Mother of the Princesses,They Gave Their Lives to Protect them from Discord. Celestia and Luna bowed before the tombs and began to hum the Equestrian Hymn: Rest Thy Spirits. Softly it carried through the gardens and a soft wind began to blow as though everything in Equestria was pausing to remember those who had cared for the great Princesses.