Chapters Author's Note
I bring you, the first official chapter. The Prologue
Prologue: Sent
Prologue: Sent
The black stag carefully set the ancient scroll in a box while his white furred brother wrote a letter to the destination of the package, then sealed it and set it in the box with the scroll.
“Brother. Are you sure it is time for the Equestrians to search for it?” The white asked the black.
“Yes… They’ve been without it for too long… and I fear they will need it soon,” the black closed and sealed the box.
A black Pegasus dressed in royal guard armor walked in. “You called for me, my Kings.”
“Yes, Captain,” the white stag sat back on his throne.
“You are our most trusted Pony Captain,” the black said as he sat back as well. “We have a mission for you, to your species’ homeland.”
The Pegasus blinked, then nodded. “I will do my best, your Majesties. I assume I am to take that package to the Royal Sisters.”
The white nodded. “You are correct, Captain. May your journey be safe and quick.”
The winged pony nodded, and then walked forward and picked up the package and sat it on his back. Servants walked over and tied it down so it would not come loose.
“Deliver it directly to Princess Celestia,” the twin Kings ordered. “No other.”
“Yes, my Kings. I will not let you down.”
With that, the Pegasus leapt to the air and flew out an open window.
The white looked at his brother. “Gywn.”
“Yes, Githin?” the black asked, glancing at him.
“Do you think they will decipher it in time?”
“I pray to the Gods they do.”
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One Week later, the black furred Pegasus Captain was escorted into the Throne room of the Royal Pony Sisters, and the door closed as he walked forward with his cargo.
The midnight blue Princess of the Night examined him before speaking. “What is it thou bring our sister and us from the Royal Stag Brothers of Cervidas, if we heard our herald correctly?”
The Captain bowed before them. “Princess Luna, my Kings express their greetings, and have also sent their congratulations for your safe return from the moon and from the darkness of Nightmare Moon.” His eyes moved to white furred Princess of the sun. “And they also send their congratulations for the ascension of your protégé, Princess Celestia. But I fear this is not just a casual visit.”
Princess Celestia nodded. “I understand. Please, what is the package you carry?”
The Pegasus nodded, and untied the packaged, and placed it on the dais of their thrones. “Something my Kings say could mean the survival of the world as we know it in the future. Inside is an ancient Cervidian scroll, and a letter that speaks of its importance. I leave it in your capable hooves, your highnesses. Now I must return home and to my duties.”
Princess Luna nodded. “Thank ye for your delivery. And thank your Kings for their kindness and the sending of this package. May the winds be in your favor and help your flight home.”
The Pegasus bowed, and left.
Celestia levitated the package up to her and Luna, and they looked at each other before teleporting to their private sitting room to open the package.
Luna took the letter while Celestia carefully unrolled the scroll and held it open to examine it. The pair was silent as they read—Well one read while the other attempted to read.
Celestia was writing words she recognized in the scroll, though there were not very many, as she had not seen the text that was on the page for almost three thousand years, so she, the Solar prince, was struggling.
“Sister, Listen to this letter,” the princess of the night said, and then read the letter aloud.
“To the Royal Rulers of the Day and the Night,
Greetings from the Twin Rulers of the Land of the Cervine. We hope our messenger delivered this package safely and gave you our condolences on the return of Princess Luna and the Ascension of the Princess Twilight Sparkle.
But we are afraid that this is not a friendly letter. The scroll that was sent to you in this letter is from our royal archives. The scroll speaks of an item that we fear even yourselves know not of, and speaks of a prophecy of when this item will be needed by your land, and the world. We pray you can decipher it, and pray you can decipher it in time…
And find the one who can wield the Item along side the Bearers of the Elements. From what are historians can understand, the author of the scroll refers very often to the subject of Peace. What kind of Peace, we do not know. We hope you might be able to understand, and be able to find a bearer for the Item.
Sincerely,
Githin, Prince of the North
Celestia frowned, and looked at the scroll. “I fear my Ancient Cervidian is a tad rusty.”
“As is mine, Sister…” Luna frowned, then looked up. “The filly that was sent here during the Cervidian Civil War. Was she not studying in the Archives before she was sent here?”
“You mean Lienia Harmony Belle?” Celestia said, and she smiled. “I will send this scroll and a letter requesting Twilight take this to her for translation.”
“Be sure they arrive on time. Remember what happened with the invitation and to-do list for Cadence and Shining’s wedding.”
“I will make sure,” Celestia rolled up the scroll carefully and then penned a letter before sending it to her student. Let us hope Spike remembers them both when he gives them to Twilight.”
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
A few minutes later, in a lower room of the Palace of Friendship, which was a pretty close replica of the original Golden Oak Library so the Princess of Friendship could still run the library for the small town so she could still enjoy her little hobby a purple and green dragon sat up in his sleep and burped up two scrolls, the first being the letter for the older scroll to be taken to a golden horned unicorn on the outskirts of the Everfree forest, and said scroll slid under a cupboard as the dragon caught the second.
“TWILIGHT!”
Chapter 1: The Scroll…
My golden magic wrapped around the handle of the library door, and I trotted in.
“Twilight. I’ve brought back those books—” I paused when I saw a scroll on her desk.
I walked over—surely just looking at it wouldn’t hurt. I slowly opened the scroll as I set my books on the desk, and examined the text, and gasped. This is Cervidian—What is this doing here?! This should be in the Cervidian Royal archives! I read quietly, softly speaking the language as if it was my own. “Mae deiliad y testun hwn yn dal yn eu dwylo hanes o amddiffyniad cryfaf y deyrnas Marchogaeth - yn Yr Elfennau o Harmony. Mae rhai yn credu bod chwech, ac er eu bod yn gweithredu gyda dim ond yr elfennau o Magic, Gonestrwydd, Teyrngarwch, Caredigrwydd, Haelioni, ac Chwerthin, mae un elfen nad yw hyd yn oed yn gwybod Chwiorydd Brenhinol y...” In my mind, I translated the words, which were. The holder of this text holds in their hands the histories of the Equestrian kingdom's strongest defense--The Elements of Harmony. Some think there are six, and while they function with just the elements of Magic, Honesty, Loyalty, Kindness, Generosity, and Laughter, there is one element that not even the Royal Sisters know of...
“This is ancient Cervardian…” I whispered, slowly and gently opening the scroll more.
“What are you doing?! Get away from that!” Twilight got between me and the scroll rolling it quickly and careless, making me panic.
“CAREFULL! THAT’S A CERVIDIAN ARTIFACT!” I shrieked, taking it away and making sure it was not damaged, then carefully rolling it back up slowly. “Who the buck taught you to handle ancient scrolls?”
“What were you doing snooping through my documents?” the purple alicorn snarled.
“I wasn’t snooping! I saw it open and happened to noticed the text was in Cervidian, so I was curious,” I snapped. “And I can tell you it talks about the Elements, and it’s in Ancient Cervidian.”
Twilight gave me a look, and she huffed. “Thank you for that information. Now it makes sense that Celestia sent it to me.”
I watched as she started to walk away. “Twilight, I can read ancient Cervidian. I could translate it for you right now, and it would be easy for you to go over it.”
“Thank you for the offer,” She growled, trying to stress she had dismissed me. “But Princess Celestia sent it to me. Not you.”
“Just because you’re the Solar Princess’s star student AND a princess as well does not mean you have to do everything yourself you know! I am offering to translate something for you because the language is second nature to me—”
“I said no,” she turned and yelled. “SPIKE! Find the Cervidian to Equestrian Dictionary please!”
I gaped at her stupidity. How the buck was this foal the princess’s protégé? “Twilight, did you not hear me? I said it was in Ancient Cervidian, which means the modern Cervidian dictionary will be useless! There is only three modern words in that paragraph I read. The rest are all non-existent anymore. I can read Ancient Cervidian because as a foal I studied old scrolls in hopes of working in the Archives. You will be lost if I don’t translate if for you.”
“I am sure I can manage. Now please leave, Lienia,” Twilight walked away again. “SPIKE! The dictionary!”
“The young dragon followed walked up to her. “Twilight I think you should listen—”
“SPIKE!”
“Yea, yea… I’m on it…”
Lienia sighed, and walked out, taking a deep breath. That alicorn is such a pain in my rear! Why does she have to be so prideful!
I made my way towards my adopted sister’s boutique, and sighed as I entered. “Rarity? Do you have my Gala dress ready yet?”
“Ah there you are, Lienia!” The fashionita appeared virtually out of nowhere. “I’m almost finished. Come try it on and I’ll see if I need to adjust it.”
I stood up on the platform, and waited as Rarity helped me into the gown.
Rarity and I had originally started off on the wrong hoof. She hated me and my “country bunkin” attitude, I hated how disdainful of me she was. For a while in our adult lives, the two of us never saw eye to eye, until we both realized we were different, but were still family. That and we needed to set a good example for Sweetie Belle.
Now, Rarity and I were good friends, I gladly attended the spa days with her and Fluttershy every week, and I also became the live model every now and then for Rarity so she could see how the dresses and outfits she made moved with a pony in them.
Back to the gown she was making me. I had won a gala ticket, and I was mainly going to join my sister and friends to see what the hubbub was about. The gown, Rarity and I both took the time to design, and it was my style with Rarity’s flare. It was dark emerald green, with fabric white poppies on the ribbons and collars.
“Rarity I love it! It looks wonderful!” I smiled at myself in the mirror.
“Thank you darling. You know I love to make things perfect. Now hold still, the hem is coming loose.”
I stood still as she start sewing. “Is it fun?”
“The Gala? It can be,” Rarity said as she kept sewing. “But I suppose it will be better considering Celestia is allowing popular bands to play.”
“That’s cool. Is Pinkie planning it?” I asked as I turned my head to watch her sew.
“She’s sending ideas.”
“That’s nice of her.”
“She wants it to be fun.”
The two of us laughed, and once Rarity finished, she promised she’d have it clean and ready the night of the gala, so I said goodbye and trotted home. It was a quiet walk, and allowed me to try and guess what that scroll was about…
Author's Note
Note, this is as it suggests, a teaser. Two things will determine it's expansion. a) readers feedback:I'd like you all to send me ideas for this story, and I'd love for it to be a reader involved story. b) popularity. I'd like to know you like it.
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Nonsense that Not Even Pinkie Can Understand.
Chapter 2: Nonsense that Not Even Pinkie Can Understand.
Twilight grinned, two weeks later, her mane and tail disheveled, and her eyes slightly… crazy. Spike had excused himself to the boutique to avoid catching it—What he liked to call “Twilight’s Crazy Lesson Syndrome”.
When she become so obsessed with an assignment that she would go crazy—Aka, the Smarty Pants Incident. And so she was with what she thought was a perfect translation of the Scroll.
“I did it! HAHA TAKE THAT LENA HARMONY!!!” the princess shouted to what she thought was an empty library. “I TRANSLATED IT MYSELF!”
“First off, it’s L-EE-NI-Ah. Not Leh-Nah.”
The purple Alicorn spun around, glaring at the unicorn who was replacing the six books she had borrowed—all old and historic books. “What are you doing here? Can’t you knock?”
“One, I’m returning books. Two, this is a public library, if you recall. And Three, I’VE BEEN KNOCKING FOR THE LAST THIRTY MINUTES LOOKING LIKE A BUCKING IDIOT!!!” Lienia snarled.
Her shouting drew the other five Bearers, as everyone was there to decorate their rooms. They walked in to discover the pair glaring at each other, sparks almost visible between them with tension so strong you needed a sword to cut it. But Pinkie managed to do it with a spoon, but then again, this was typical of Pinkie.
“Wha’ in tarnation is goin’ on in ‘ere!” Applejack asked, looking between her friends.
“Yea, what the hay is with the shouting?” Rainbow asked, looking between the light colored unicorn and the purple alicorn.
“I-is e-everything alright?” Fluttershy quietly asked as Pinkie examined the chunk of tension she had cut out of the air.
“Lienia, darling, whatever is wrong? Did Twilight say something?” Rarity asked.
“For one, she wasn’t paying attention to me knocking, two she said my name wrong, and I swear she is thinking I’m trying to spy on her and the Ancient Cervidian Scroll that I could probably translate easily in five minutes or less,” the unicorn huffed, and sat down, looking away.
“Well, I don’t need you too. I’ve translated it! WITHOUT YOU!” Twilight declared, and Pinkie looked at her translation, a frown on her face.
“Um, Twilight, I can understand a lot of random things that even you can’t understand… and I can’t understand this,” Pinkie said hesitantly. “Which means that this is utterly… well, nonsense.”
Twilight snatched the scroll away. “I’ll read it aloud, and then it will make sense.” She cleared her throat, and Spike ran in from the upper castle.
“Twilight! I found—”
“NOT NOW SPIKE!” She cleared her throat, and then started to read. “Historically owns a powerful text, condition the manual - the harmony of the elements. To some, it seems, and it's just the six magical for honesty, integrity, piety, goodness, rules, and the laughter of the sisters of the elements of the world, a member of the Product are not aware.” Insert assorted soft coughs from her audience here, one of which rolling her eyes. “It includes all the elements of peace and war; partner violence, in the cause of the war, of peace; room. This can be up to six, but rather the strength of the industry and the seventh day, and the power of the magic of the recipe.” Lienia, Rainbow, and Pinkie then snorted in laughter. Rarity, Spike, and Fluttershy all giggled. Twilight glared at them, and then resumed reading. “Beware what you read. Come to the middle of a heavy maailman. Alkuperäinen dominion, which is the world kostoski. Seitsemäs element is not found, and he, the Spirit for the punishment of the biological world, and destroy, and bring it into subjection.” They all tried to clear their throats to force back the laughter that her translation was causing. “For example, in the valley of the Reheat added to the full moon. Narrow is the gate, a wall, as in the studies of the seven, honesty, and integrity, piety, goodness, laughter, may be poisonous, and the world in the room. Then in the middle of the field is destroyed, and the harmony of the world, let them consider the grave, where you will find the item you are looking for.”
The other seven could not hold it in. They burst out laughing; Rainbow, Applejack and Pinkie all fell forward on the floor. The other four were sitting and laughing their heads off.
“HEY THIS IS SERIOUS!!!!” Twilight snapped.
That only seemed to make the other six ponies laugh harder, Lienia falling forward roaring in laughter.
“THAT WAS THE WORST ANCIENT CERVIDIAN TRANSLATION I’VE EVER HEARD!!!” the golden maned unicorn roared.
“DO YOU EVEN KNOW WHAT IT IS TALKING ABOUT?!” Rainbow laughed.
“THAT WAS THE MOST RIDULOUS THING I’VE EVER HEARD! I HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT FOR MY NEXT STAND UP COMPETION!” Pinkie chortled.
Spike stood. “You should read this. I think it came with the scroll.”
Twilight snatched the letter away and read it softly to herself. “Dearest Twilight Sparkle, The Scroll I’ve enclosed is important. The unicorn Lienia Harmony-Belle, the adoptive sister of the Bearer of Generosity, was studying such scrolls in the Royal Cervidas Archives. Take it to her and have her translate it. Your Fellow Princess, Celestia.” The alicorn’s shoulders sagged.
Lienia simply levitated the scroll over to herself, along with an empty parchment, while Spike brought her a quill and inkwell while Twilight went to a corner and whimpered.
“Two weeks of work… down the drain… why?” the princess whimpered as Lienia sat on the floor, gently and almost lovingly opened the ancient scroll, grabbed some of the heavier books to put on the corners, and then started to slowly translate the Scroll.
Author's Note
Please Review, send feedback! Send Ideas! This is a Reader-Involved story after all!
Chapter 4: A Proper Translation
The other bearers were soothing Twilight, reassuring her that the misunderstanding was a simple mix up, and Celestia’s habit of sending things when everyone was asleep.
Lienia on the other hand was silent, taking her time as she slowly worked through the scroll, writing down sentences that weren’t even close to what Twilight had gotten. Spike watched in excitement.
“Wow, it really is second nature to you, Lienia!” the dragon said in excitement. “And you don’t even need a dictionary!”
“Because I learned from the Royal High Historian himself. He was happy to have a pony interested in the Archives. He wasn’t fluent in Equestrian, so he assigned me translation assignments after he taught me Ancient Cervidian,” the unicorn said as she remained focused on the text.
“How old were you when you were learning?”
“I started when I was five. And I studied until I was sent here when I was 10 during the civil war,” the unicorn said, and finished the translation. “Finished.” She handed the translation to Spike, then walked over to the desk as she carefully rolled the scroll and wrapped a ribbon around it carefully but snuggly.
“Lienia, what are you doing?” Rarity asked, walking over.
“I’m going to send this back to Celestia, with a note reprimanding her for sending it to Twilight without proper instruction of how to treat Ancient Scrolls and through dragonfire! Ancient texts weren’t made to be treated so roughly,” she snapped, sounding like an old historian pony.
Twilight leapt to her hooves. “You can’t send her a letter like that—”
“I can and I will. I am not a really citizen of this country anyway, so I am allowed to make a judgment. Also I thought there was free speech in this country? Princess or not, Twilight Sparkle, YOU cannot tell me what to do,” the unicorn turned to Spike and cast a spell on the parchment in his hand, creating an exact replica, which she rolled around the older scroll carefully before also wrapping a ribbon around it, then taking out a fresh parchment and began to write her letter to the Solar Princess. “No ruler is above reprimanding.”
The other ponies in the room stared in shock, a joint thought between them. Nopony has ever spoken or even dared to speak to the Princess like that!
Lienia spoke aloud softly as she wrote. “Dear Princess Celestia. Enclosed is the Ancient Cervidian Scroll you sent to Twilight Sparkle, as well as a copy the translation I’ve finally been able to complete after Spike located the letter that was to inform them to do so. I would also like to ask you HOW IN TARTARUS DID YOU THINK IT WAS A SAFE IDEA TO SEND AN ANCIENT SCROLL THROUGH DRAGONFIRE! WHETHER OR NOT THE SPELL AUTOMATICALLY PROTECTS THE ITEM SENT, YOU COULD HAVE DESTROYED A VITAL PIECE OF BOTH EQUESTRIAN AND CERVIDIAN HISTORY! YOU ALSO DID NOT TEACH TWILIGHT SPARKLE THE PROPER AWAY TO TREAT SUCH TEXTS! SHE WAS TREATING IT AS IF IT WAS ONE OF HER FRIENDSHIP LETTERS! BEFORE YOU DO THIS AGAIN, I SUGGEST YOU TEACH HER HOW TO PROPERLY CARE FOR ANCIENT TEXTS! That is all I have to say. Sincerely, Lienia Harmony Belle.”
The room all had horrified looks as she rolled the letter around the first two scrolls, then unrolled it and rolled Twilight’s translation around it, and added a P.S. stating it was included before rewrapping the letter, and then sending it off with her own magic.
“I can’t believe you included my translation,” Twilight said as she hung her head in shame.
“To show how idiotic you were for not accepting help when it was offered,” the unicorn said, taking the translation from Spike. “Now would you like to hear the proper translation of that scroll or would you like to remain a stubborn idiot?”
Applejack walked over. “Personally, Ah’d like to hear what all ya translated from that there paper.”
“I myself am also curious, Darling,” Rarity said as she sat beside her adoptive sister.
“I’m curious too,” Fluttershy said softly.
“READ IT!!!” Pinkie said as she jumped up in the air crazily. “And I can throw you a “AWESOME TRANSLATER OF THE ANCIENT SCROLL THINGY” Party.”
“That isn’t necessary Pinkie…” Lienia sighed.
Rainbow landed on the ground beside her. “I’m curious because we haven’t heard anything, but about that scroll from Twilight.”
Twilight sat down. “I would like to hear as well…”
Lienia nodded, and held up the scroll. “Here goes…” she cleared her throat. “The holder of this text holds in their hands the histories of the Equestrian kingdom's strongest defense--The Elements of Harmony. Some think there are six, and while they function with just the elements of Magic, Honesty, Loyalty, Kindness, Generosity, and Laughter, there is one element that not even the Royal Sisters know of... The Element of Peace.”
“I’ve researched the elements! There’s nothing about an—” Twilight kind of stopped, as everyone was kind of glaring at her. “Element of Peace… Sorry.”
Lienia coughed. “Anyway…” she cleared her throat once more and continued. “This Element embodies all of the forms of Peace: the absence of war; harmonic relationships; lack of hostilities; calmness; tranquility. These things the other six can cause, but to properly strengthen these you need the Seventh which will work together with the element Magic in strength and power.”
“I’m interjecting again,” The alicorn said, and the others groaned.
“Twilight, face it; you and Celestia don’t know something the Elements,” Rainbow growled.
“I need to say this: WHY would the Cervidians know about this element and we don’t?”
“Pony Colonies have been in Cervidas for over two thousand years, Twilight. Perhaps an original bearer took it there for safe keeping,” Lienia sighed as she gave Twilight a look. “May I continue now, or are you going to continue questioning everything?”
Twilight silenced.
“Now please refrain from talking,” Lienia sighed as she started speaking again. “Beware thee who reads this. A great threat is coming to our world. Seeking a Vengeance on the world after being trapped by the original bearers. Unless the Seventh Element is found, The Spirit of Vengeance shall find a host and shall destroy and enslave the creatures of this world.” She paused, frowning slightly, but resumed reading. “Go to The Scorched Valley on the Eve on a Summer Full Moon. On the night of the Full seek the door on a Canyon Wall, then through Seven Trials of Honesty, Loyalty, Kindness, Generosity, Laughter, Magic, and Peace, to find the key to the Chamber. Then Venture to the Lands of the Shattered Hoof, and find the Tomb of Harmonia, the original Bearer of Peace, and there you shall find the Element you seek.”
The room was silent, and Spike sighed. “Another Nightmare Moon-like problem?”
The others nodded and talked about the translation, while Lienia frowned, studying the last paragraph. Harmonia… where have I heard and or read that before? She rubbed her chin thoughtfully, as Spike burped up a letter—a reply to Lienia’s letter.
“Lienia… It’s for you,” the purple dragon said hesitantly, and the rest of them all stared at the letter in his claw.
Lienia put the translation down, and levitated up the letter, then slowly opened it and began to read it. “Dear Lienia Harmony-Belle. Thank you for the translation, despite the misplacement of my letter, and Twilight’s… attempt. I am very appreciative of your Honesty of how you responded, and your Loyalty to your birthplace and its ancient documents. Even more so, true to your birth family name, you further impressed me with the Kindness and Generosity you’ve shown with this brilliantly well translated copy that you provided us with, and I am very happy that you had decided to send me Twilight’s copy so my sister and I could enjoy some Laughter, and I am even FURTHER impressed by the advanced Magic you’ve showed in the instant send spell you used. If you would assist us once more, and join Twilight and the other Bearers when they come here to Canterlot. Sincerely, Solar Princess Celestia.”
Slowly, Lienia looked up to see seven jaws hitting the floor. What am I getting into?
Author's Note
DUN DUN DUN! Please review!
Meeting with the Royal Sisters
Chapter 5: Meeting with the Royal Sisters
I sat nervously behind the group of Elements as I thought back to the last three moments I had with the Solar princess, the first especially.
~*~*~*~
“Princess Celestia, this Foal just arrived from the Colonies in Cervidas.”
The rainbow maned alicorn looked up in surprise. “Cervidas? There are still ponies there?!” the look on her face was quite horrified.
The guard set the foal down, who shrunk down in fear of the alicorn princess. “Yes, Princess. Her parents sent her here for safety. Sounds like the old king has passed and his sons are at war.”
“Oh dear,” the Princess stood and flew down from the dais. “This poor foal… Are there any others?”
“None that are alone. The ponies are vacating to avoid the civil war,” The guard said, and the filly looked at the ground tears in her eyes.
The Princess nodded, and the guard left. The alicorn looked at the silently sobbing filly as she tried not be obvious that she was scared. The older pony slowly sat down and put her wing over the filly.
“You are safe, my little filly. I’ll make sure you are well cared for,” Celestia assured with a gentle smile. “Come. Let’s find you something to eat.” She lifted the filly from the floor, and then carried her to the kitchen.
A few hours later the Princess was carrying the filly around the gardens, just talking to her, though she never responded, making the alicorn think the small unicorn was mute.
“I will help you learn equestrian learning so you can go to school soon, alright?” She asked, and was not expecting a response.
“Yes, your majesty,” she said softly.
“Oh, so you can speak?” Celestia asked curiously.
“I can… I was just shy…” she looked at the ground. “My name is Lienia Harmony.”
“That’s a pretty name,” Celestia said gently. “I’m—”
“Princess Celestia, also known as the Solar Princess, rumored to also possibly be the Daughter of the Sun.”
The alicorn stopped and looked at the filly. “Oh really?”
“Well, in Cervidas anyway…” the unicorn blushed. “I’ve read so many ancient texts that refer to you as the “daughter of the sun”… and… I probably shouldn’t bring up your sister.”
“Let me guess… She’s Daughter of the Moon?” Celestia asked.
“Yes… but also the “Demon of the Shadows”…” she looked down when the princess hung her head.
“I can understand that… the entire world was forced into night…” Celestia lifted her head and smiled at her. “Her descent was my fault.”
“What do you mean?”
“I didn’t love her as she deserved…”
~*~*~*~
“LIENIA!” Rainbow and Pinkie yelled in her face.
“AHH!” Lienia reared and fell over the back of her seat.
“Sugarcube, are you ok?” Applejack asked as she helped the unicorn up.
“Yea… they just startled me…”
“We’ve been trying to get your attention for like—an hour,” Pinkie said.
“Oh…” she coughed. “I was thinking about the first time I met Princess Celestia.”
“That was when you first came here wasn’t it, Darling?” Rarity asked, sitting beside her adoptive sister.
The other unicorn nodded. “Yes. I was the only foal to arrive alone, so the Guard took me to her.”
Twilight tilted her head. “The three weeks you were out of class…”
“Celestia had gotten a list of pony causalities… my parents were on the list… she called me out of class and told me. I was grieving the rest of the time,” Lienia explained. “The Third and last time we spoke in Canterlot was when the Belle family came forward to adopt me.”
Twilight looked away, feeling guilty for thinking Lienia was just a leech during her time in the castle and at the School.
Spike spoke next. “So you’re thinking about those times?”
“I kinda came to think of Celestia as kinda this godmother… she took care of me when I arrived, taught me Equestrian ways, and even enrolled me in her school once I was taught everything else,” she sighed. “But I still miss Cervidas… Not that your family hasn’t been wonderful, Rarity.”
“I understand, Lienia. If I was in your place I would miss home too,” the fashionista said.
Fluttershy sat on her other side. “I’m sure you could go home now.”
“I know… but I’m afraid no one I knew is still alive…” the blonde unicorn sighed. “But right now I should focus on the now.” She sighed. “I don’t even know if my best friend is alive…”
The three of the Bearers that were her friends gently rubbed her shoulders, and Applejack spoke. “Ah’m sure everythin’ will be alright.”
She nodded, and took a deep breath as the train arrived in Canterlot.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Thanks to Twilight, they pretty much had a fast pass to the throne room, where the Royal Sisters were waiting. Luna smiled and flew down to greet them.
“Twilight Sparkle! We have been anxiously awaiting your arrival since our Sister sent the reply to Lienia Harmony!” the Lunar Princess said as she hugged Twilight.
Said unicorn crouched down behind the rest of the bearers, feeling overwhelmed. Both Royal Sisters… I’m in the same room as both Royal Sisters…
“Speaking of Lienia Harmony,” the Solar Princess said as she landed beside her sister. “Where is she?”
Rarity looked down at the blonde unicorn. “I think she is a little nervous.”
Celestia walked forward and sat down in front of Lienia, much like when she spoke with her the first time she came to Equestria. “Hello again, Lienia.”
The blonde unicorn looked up, and she swallowed. “Hello again, Princess Celestia.”
“I hope you have been well,” the alicorn smiled as the unicorn slowly sat up. “Sorry about Twilight’s pride getting the better of her. She should have learned by now to take help when it is given.” Twilight shrunk with a blush. “But, the deed is done, and Luna and I got a laugh out of it.”
Lienia nodded. “I’m glad it was of some use.”
Luna walked over. “It is a pleasure to meet you, Lienia Harmony. We are surprised at how accurate your translation was—Especially for your age.”
“Thank you, Princess… but do you have to speak like that?” the unicorn tilted her head, and the other ponies blinked in surprise at her bluntness.
“It is tradition that we use the Royal We.”
“Ah-ha…” she looked confused, but shrugged it off. “Anyway, I only did what I had to.”
Celestia’s smile fell. “Well, there is more I must ask of you, Lienia.”