The Youngest Alicorn

A gray unicorn filly flinched as another blast of cold, biting wind blew through the streets. She shivered hard, and sneezed, wiping her muzzle on the threadbare cloak draped haphazardly around her. She looked up, looking to see where she was within the great city. She did not really know where exactly she was, but perhaps if she could find the castle...

She suddenly bumped into something warm and solid, propelling her backwards.

"Oh, 'm ever so sorry, young miss! Are you alright, little filly?"

The filly looked up into the kindly face of a young pegasus. Her coat was a silver color, and she had a golden mane and tail. Her cutie mark was a scroll tied with a royal blue ribbon, and she wore the outfit of a royal mail carrier, with slippers on her hooves that had wings on each side and a hat with wings as well.

"Oh, poor thing! You look chilled to the bone! And why in Equestria are you wearing this raggedy old thing?" One of her fore-hooves brushed against the cloak. She paused for a minute, thinking. "Where are your parents?"

The filly's face darkened, and she looked away.

"Oh, you poor filly! Come with me. I shall bring you to the princesses."

The filly looked up, alarmed. "Y-you're t-t-taking m-me to the p-princesses?!"

The pegasus smiled warmly at her. "Of course, little one. Princess Celestia and Princess Luna care deeply for the well-being for their subjects. Oh," she suddenly exclaimed, "I do not believe I have properly introduced myself. I am Silver Quick, a private mail courier for the princesses. What is yours?"

"Lily, miss. Lily Note."

Princess Luna yawned. It is too damn early, she thought to herself grumpily. She glanced at a clock - 5:15 pm. It would be a few hours before she would have to open Night Court, but she usually got up about a half an hour before she had to be there. However, her dear sister, Celestia, had decided to get her revenge upon Luna by setting her alarm clock to a much earlier time than Luna preferred. As for what she had done? Luna had found it amusing to set up a date for Celestia and Discord. As a creature of chaos, Discord had of course agreed to the delightful prank. What Luna did not mention was that she knew that this formerly-evil draconequus had quite the crush on Celestia (and that Celestia might return the feelings)!

Luna looked around her personal library situated in her royal suite. Might as well read something, seeing as how I am awake. She picked up a book titled, "Broken Land: A Dystopian Society." It was a pretty good fiction book that had a theory of what could have happened to Equestria if Celestia had never recovered from locking away Nightmare Moon 1,000 years ago. It described her as becoming a merciless tyrant who forced everypony to be friends with each other. When Celestia had found out about it, the author had been scared of portraying one of the rulers of Equestria as a villainess, but Celestia had actually enjoyed the book and had copies printed everywhere in Equestria. The book was quite popular, now, and a sequel was on the way.

She had gotten quite far into the book by now, and while at first she had been skeptical, she now was very invested in the events taking place. She was on chapter 10 of 20, and there were still many more pages to be read.

Suddenly, before she could even pick up from where she had left off, she heard a rapid knocking at her bedroom door.

"Come in," she said to whomever was knocking, somewhat sadly. She had just started to read! The door opened, and Captain Nebula of her Lunar Guard stepped into her room. He was a strong thestral with a very dark purple coat, almost black, and a light blue mane and tail that slowly turned to green, which turned to purple. She found him very handsome, but that had nothing to do with anything.

"Good evening, my Princess." Nebula bowed low to Luna. "I have an urgent message from your sister, requesting your immediate presence in the Throne Room." He must have sensed her unhappiness, because after a pause, he asked, "Princess Luna, is everything alright?"

Luna nodded, waving a hoof. "Yes, it's just that I was about to read a book."

"Ah," said Nebula, in understanding. "Should I escort you, my Princess?"

"No, I shall be fine, Captain." Luna got up from her reading cushion, and put her book upon her table.

"Of course, my Princess."

The two of them stood silently for a moment, before Nebula awkwardly coughed into his hoof.

"Well, I guess that I'll be going, my Princess." He started for the door, but stopped for a second. "And, ah, have you considered my question, Princess?"

Luna felt her face become slightly warm. "Y-yes, Nebula. But, um, now would not be the proper time and place to give such an answer. After all, you have informed me that Tia requires my presence in the Throne Room."

Nebula nodded, his face also slightly red. He bowed one last time, before trotting off down the hallway. Luna watched him for some time, before shaking her head. She rubbed her face with a hoof, and stifled a yawn. Yes, it was truly way too early for her to be awake.

Celestia had lived for thousands of years, so she thought that she had seen everything worth being surprised over. However, when she and Silver Quick had removed the cloak of the little unicorn filly that Silver had brought in, she had been completely surprised by what she saw. It was not that it was the first time she had seen something like this, but she was never-the-less surprised.

This filly, this unassuming looking waif, was an alicorn.