Silver raindrops, golden clouds

Celestia soared through the sky, her large, light pink wings a magnificent sight to behold. Her battle armor shone like the sun as she flew, making the mare herself look both powerfully intimidating and alluringly beautiful. Her sister Luna flew alongside her, her indigo wings contrasting starkly with the landscape below. Underneath the pair, a massive army of Equestrian rebels, trained as quickly as possible by what remained of the royal guard, galloped madly across the countryside, their hooves thundering out across the land as they charged boldly forward. Behind the two sisters in the sky, pegasi warriors flew along, their wings spreading out wide as they flew, unfurling into a rainbow of glory. The army wasn't the best trained, but they were many, they were proud, and they were ready to reclaim their homeland. Celestia looked forward to the citadel they were advancing upon, its crystaline towers soaring high as the crystal ponies living within slaved away under their new tyrant, her brother Sombra. She thought back upon the events of the past few months, and wondered if there was some way it all could have been stopped.

About three months before, Sombra had taken the throne after the unexpected disappearance of Gold Soul, the eldest prince and future king, and the assassinations of the king and queen. He had cracked down upon his people, forcing them to work like slaves for the crown. Changelings had also arrived as slavers, rounding up the citizens as he looked on. He had been sitting in his new throneroom, the one of his father, when his two sisters approached him.

"Brother, we have come to you to discuss an important matter" Celestia said, looking cold and formal, not kind and gentle as she had when they were younger. Sombra looked down upon his sisters, seeing their stern expressions.

"Oh? And what might that be, dear sisters of mine? Have you come to congratulate me, perhaps?" He said mockingly. Luna looked up at him coldly, rustling her feathers as she shifted her wings.

"No, dear brother. We have come to discuss the state of our kingdom." She said, trying to remain calm. The way he was treating the citizens had infuriated her completely. Sombra hissed, glaring down at her.

"My kingdom, little sister. Do not so easily forget that."

"Well, we don't think you deserve it!" Luna burst out, unable to contain her rage. Celestia put a gentle hoof on her back.

"Easy, sister. All will be right soon" she turned back to her brother. "Our younger sister is correct. You have shown yourself unfit to be king, Sombra. Step down, or face the consequences." Sombra stood up, infuriated.

"You think you can dethrone me?!? You are but a helpless mare! Your only uses are foalbearing and domestic affairs! What do you know of politics?!? I earned my throne, unlike our soft, simple older brother, Gold. He only cared for peace and friendship, but I have found something stronger... Fear. By harnessing fear, I have gotten what I wanted, what I deserve, and I won't just hand it over to some hare-brained mare!" He raged, tossing his royal robes to the ground and revealing his wingless state for the first time. Celestia and Luna gasped in horror at the sight.

"Oh, dear brother... What have you done?" Celestia said, almost in a whisper. Sombra laughed, but is was not the laugh of the big brother she had known and loved for so long. It was dark, deep, cold, and empty, much like his heart had now become.

"From the power of fear, I have gained my fondest dream... And can plunge you into your worst nightmare." he said, his horn glowing and sparking brightly with dark arcane energy. The sisters found themselves engulfed in magic, then suddenly they were thrown into their darkest fears.

Celestia shook her head, flinging away the thoughts of the horrors she had experienced. She knew that her lost brother would never hurt her, would never touch her that way... He had loved her too much to even dream of committing such atrocities. Luna looked over to her sister.

"Do not fear, Celestia. Our royal brother would never have done such a thing." she said. She already knew what her sister's nightmare had been, as they had told each other what had happened. Celestia smiled and looked back to her.

"And your fear shall never pass either, dear sister. Your magic will always be safe with you." She replied. Luna looked away, faking a smile. She had told her sister that her nightmare had been about her losing her alicorn magic, but that wasn't quite true. But there was no time to ponder this, for they had arrived at the borders of the city.

The battle for Equestria was about to begin.