Chapter 1: The Beginning
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Nightmare, The untold story of the princesses of Equestria

Chapter 1: The Beginning

I was a naïve young mere back in those days. Everypony loved me and I couldn't see why, but Luna was a completely different story. Her father was the mayor of Ponyville at the time and her mother was a weather pony, her father loved his wife dearly but her love was not returned. She had an affair with a powerful unicorn who kept giving her this potion which made her an alicorn for a short while, soon she became addicted to the power. She became pregnant with Luna after about two years of cheating on her husband. When Luna was born her parents were both shocked to see Luna with a pair of wings and a horn sprouting from her head. Not only was she an Alicorn, instead of teeth, fangs were present, her pupils were slits and she had a long, flowing mane which showed the night sky. This was a dark time in Equestria, Alicorns were shunned as a race. Ponies believed Nopony should have all that power without sharing it equally, they lived in a communist society and Luna was no exception. She grew up with strange things happening around her. Whenever she got mad or scared, she would unwillingly use magic to try to solve whatever was ailing her, this didn't help her become more popular.

When Luna was six her mother became pregnant once more, Luna's father was scared that their next baby would turn out like Luna so he had his wife drink healing potions constantly, but the potions caused Luna's sister to come to early and the doctors told them the baby had no use of her hind legs. Luna's father couldn't take anymore disappointments and he left his wife, she did her best to raise the two fillies but the stress was too much for her. She died when Luna was only ten. After her mother's death, Luna found her father who agreed to take care of her and her sister. Luna's father favored her sister over Luna greatly, he gave her gifts and kindness while showing only hatred for Luna. He eventually got Luna and her sister into a school, and that's where I came in.

"Luna, be sure to take car of your sister." Said Luna's father as he re-adjusted The coat he had put around Luna's sister, Star Sprite. He grunted in frustration as the coat got caught on a strange contraption attached to Star's hind legs. Luna's father had hired an engineer to make a machine to help Star Sprite walk again. The engineer made a pair of wheels with many straps and buckles which would attach her legs to the wheels. Many elaborate, elegant designs were carved into the metal, as a sort of distraction from Star Sprite's disability.

"Of course father." Said Luna, looking at Star Sprite with affection. She was a beautiful pony, a deep brown mane and blood red fur, freckles dotter her cheeks which contrasted greatly with her fur.

"Honestly father, I'll be fine!" She called, modestly. Her father chuckled as he straightened the wrinkles on her new coat.

"Here," He muttered softly as he reached into his cloak and pulled out a small box. "For you." Star Sprite blushed as she received the box and opened it. Inside were a pair of regal shoes, magnificent, golden, bejeweled shoes to slip over her hooves. She gasped as the jewels sparkled in the sunlight, she took them out of the box and pressed her hooves into the empty cavity. They fit perfectly.

"You shouldn't have!" She shouted as she leapt forwards and hugged her father. Luna watched and felt an itch of jealousy tug at her heart but she ignored the feeling. Her father picked up the box and thrust it, forcefully, into Luna's hooves.

"Try not to talk so much." He said through gritted teeth as he walked back to the carriage they had arrived in and it took off down the street.

"The way he treats you," Said Star Sprite as she watched the carriage round a corner. "I'm trying to think of a better word than hate." Luna stared after the carriage even though it had vanished.

"I'm used to it." Said Luna in a pitiful voice, Star Sprite looked at her, concerned. Luna turned around and examined the school which lay before her. It was a large, brick building with many spires and peaks as it stretched across the sky. There was a crowd of ponies in the front courtyard of the school with the words, "Tuxons school for the academically gifted." were etched into a stone archway leading to a massive set of wooden doors. As soon as Luna and Star Sprite began walking into the crowd, ponies fell silent and stared at Luna. She was used to this unwanted attention, whenever her father would send her off to buy something ponies would gawk at her with a look of sickened amazement. She would ignore them and continue about her business without a second glance.

"Why is she here?" Luna heard a pony whisper somewhere to her right.

"What's wrong with that other pony?"

"I didn't know Alicorns needed education."

"Are those fangs!?"

"She has to be part cat." Luna brushed off these comments and continued walking with her sister by her side. Eventually they approached the large, stone archway where they stopped and waited for some sort of announcement. Luna didn't know what was going to happen, maybe they would be let in and given schedules or something.

"Everypony!" A mere yelled from somewhere in the crowd, Luna and her sister turned around and saw an older unicorn in a violet dress holding her hoof in the air, trying to collect attention. She was clearly not a student. "If you would all listen please?" She paused as a few whispers were cut short. "Thank you. Welcome to Tuxons school for the academically gifted, here you will be taught in all sorts of studies. Magical Lore, Gardening, Weather Studies, and for a lucky few of you, The Sorcerers' Studies." The older mere smiled a wrinkled smile and looked around the crowd until they halted on Star Sprite. She practically galloped to Star Sprite's side, not even noticing Luna.

"Ummm... Hi." Said Star Sprite, nervously.

"Hello my dear! You're the mayor's daughter aren't you?" Star Sprite nodded. "Oh, you're a pretty one aren't you?" The older mere lifter Star Sprite's chin with her hoof. "Tragically beautiful." The mere turned around and jumped when she saw Luna's fanged face.

"Hi!" Said Luna, with sarcastic enthusiasm. "I'm Lune, the mayor's other daughter... I'm beautifully tragic."

"Yes..." Said the older mere, not knowing how to respond.

"And you are?" The woman seemed to snap to attention, she had been examining Luna's light blue eyes and their black slits for pupils.

"Sorry!" She coughed nervously. "My name is Mystic Swan!" She called to the crowd. "Before we enter the school we need to discuss dorm rooms! Now, you may all pair up with somepony, as for you Ms. Sprite, You may stay in my dorm." Luna jumped to attention, her father had told her to take care of her sister, and being separated right off the bat wouldn't make him very happy.

"Ummm... I was hoping she could stay in a dorm with me." Said Luna softly.

"Oh, sorry." Said Mystic, "There's no more room in my dorm, you'll have to pair up with somepony else."

"I volunteer!" A young mere shouted. Luna turned her head and saw a bright white unicorn with a short, light purple mane.

"And who are you?" Asked Mystic.

"My name is Celestia, and I refuse to let anypony remain alone! She can bunk with me." Celestia smirked. A few meres next to her gasped.

"Celestia! You're so nice!"

"No I'm not!" Said Celestia with fake modesty. Mystic paused before saying.

"you'll do." Luna opened her mouth to protest but Mystic cut her off. "Everypony inside." Mystic slammed her hoof on the ground and the massive doors began creaking open.

"But she has to stay with me!" Luna shouted but Nopony could hear her over the sound of the opening doors and marching ponies. "STOP!" She screamed at the top of her lungs. There was a collective gasp of the crowd as the massive wooden doors slammed shut once more. Mystic turned her head and stared at Luna with amazement, while the rest of the crowd stared with horror.

"How did you do that?" Asked Mystic. Luna was panting with anger and struggle, she de-illuminated her horn.

"When I get mad it... it just happens." Mystic continued to stare.

"Open the doors." She whispered. Lune looked up at Mystic, confused but obliged. She squinted and the doors slowly opened once more.

"How would you like to become my personal student in The Sorcerer's Studies?" Luna didn't know how to react. She simply sat there, silent.

"What!?" The white pony, Celestia, screamed in a bratty voice which echoed across the courtyard. She marched forwards, making sure to stomp as loudly as possible with every step as she approached Mystic, Luna and Star Sprite. "I have dreamed of joining you in your studies, I even submitted a paper!" Mystic paused to look at Celestia.

"Yes, I remember your paper and I'm afraid I found it less than acceptable for my class." Celestia's eyes lit up with a fiery rage and she stormed off to her adoring fans. Mystic turned her head back to Luna and smiled. "If you're not sure, take one of these." Mystic illuminated her horn and from underneath her decorative jacket a small envelope appeared. "Come and see me when you're ready."