Seventh Soul: Birth

It was dark outside, an unnatural darkness that spread across the entirety of Equestria. Princess Luna's beautiful night had taken a strange coloring as of late. Stars were disappearing only to reappear moments later in a drastically different color, even the void between the stars had shifted from a vivid black to a color similar to coal, but the most astonishing thing was the moon itself. No longer was it the pearly white orb that Luna loved, no, now it was distorted and glowing a sickly red across the world. Normal ponies were unable to notice the change to sky that night, to them it was the same old thing they saw every night, but the princesses could see the changes all to clearly. There they stood on their balcony of Canterlot castles tallest tower, neither could speak as they stared into the altered night sky.

"How..." said Celestia trying to break the silence. Still in shock from the skies appearance she turned to face her sister. "Luna" she said sternly, drawing her sisters attention away from the sky. "How could this happen? No unicorn today has the power to effect the sky like this, and I don't even feel your magic within the sky anymore!" Celestia's gaze shifted between the sky and her sister nervously.

"That, dear sister, is because our magic has been cut off from the sky." Despite the sadness and anger at having her precious night taken from her by an unknown force, her voice was calm and her habit of using old Equestrian was showing. "As for thy question, I know not the answer. Although me thinks it be an omen directed towards us alone."

Celestia walked over to the edge of the balcony and stared down at the ponies below. She was lost thought "Luna is right, if this were seen by the public then no doubt would there be panic. The real question is who could do this... and why?" She continued to think over the situation for several more minutes before returning to her sisters side. "You are right Luna this has to be a message to both of us, but what could this message mean?"

Luna's horn glowed a elegant blue as she tried again to reconnect with her beloved night, but to no avail. Her head sank in sadness and a look of lose swept her face as she spoke " *sigh* Again, sister, I know not..." She looked up slightly to meet her sisters gaze "but it must be connected to the events of recent, of this i am certain."

"What do you mean?" Celestia gave Luna a quizzical look. She opened her mouth andwas about to add to the question when she was cut off.

"Read the signs Tia!" Luna had jumped into a standing position and faced Celestia. The stress and emotions Luna felt were clear on her face and carried while she spoke. "Every day since the attack on the castle during the wedding three years ago Equestria has been growing more hostile. The dragons have broken their pact with us and now attack the peaceful villages many innocent ponies call home, The beasts we long thought to be extinct are reappearing across the land, normally calm and innocent creatures becoming violent and attacking, and now even the sky changes it appearance to send us a message! Yet we sit here and do nothing,why is that so Tia?!" Lunas tone was cynical at that last question.

"I have mobilized the royal guards throughout the whole of Equestria, Luna, They are doin their be-" She was cut off mid-sentence by Luna as she slammed her hoof against the balcony floor with a resounding thud that echoed through the castle.

"THAT ISN'T ENOUGH TIA!" Celestia was taken aback at her sisters use of the Royal Canterlot voice and at how Luna was acting, stressed or not, no one talked to Celestia that way.

"AND WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE ME DO LUNA!?" Luna fell to the floor from the shear strength of her sisters royal voice. "What would you have me do? It is all the power I have to mobilize the guards and issue their orders. I truly wish i could be there on the front lines with my troops, but i can't, much has changed during the thousand years you were trapped Luna." Celestia was shaking from a mix of her own stress, regret, and fear.

"I apologize sister I wasn't thinking straight, all the work from the past few days has started to get to me." She chuckled slightly trying to brighten the mood, to which Celestia gave her own meek chuckle. Luna trotted over to where her sister sat on the cold floor of the balcony and placed herself next to her. She placed a hoof on Celestia's shoulder and rubbed it softly trying to calm down her sister, and herself. They sat like that for what felt like hours, feeling her sisters body stop trembling and seeing a bit of her composure regained, Luna decided it was safe to continue "Tia, I know its hard to do all this, but I am with you whenever you need me." She smiled tenderly to Celestia who responded by wrapping Luna in a warm hug.

"Thank you." Said Celestia in a voice that was just barely audible even to Luna. Small tears formed in both their eyes as they left each others embrace.

"Tia... There must be something more we can do. I feel useless with such limited ability." Luna was wiping the fresh tears from her eyes as she talked, but her tone was stern in addressing the matter.

"Trust me Luna I've tried, yet all my efforts were in vain. Whatever or whoever is causing this rise in violence is beyond even me." Celestia said fwith anger in her voice.

Luna began to think to herself and mull over the information in her head. "If even Tia is baffled by these things what hope do we have.... Wait, there is still one shot left!" Luna snapped back into reality and whipped around to face Celestia. "Tia, do you remember that spell from before I was banished into the moon? The one that Starswirl and the other Five Greats made to summon forth guardians in times of peril?" Lunas voice was shaking, not of fear or stress but of excitement. Truth was she could barely contain herself.

"Yes Luna I remember that spell well enough but sadly..." Her horn began to glow a soft white and a flash of bright white filled the room, nearly blinding Luna who shook off the daze and looked transfixed at the object before Celestia. Floating infront of her was a scroll. By the looks of it it was older than the entire town of Canterlot, and gave off an immense magic presence. Celestia levitated the scroll to Luna who wrapped it in her own magic and began to unroll it. Despite its anctient origin the scroll was in good shape, not a rip or tear in sight. Upon fully opening the scroll luna peered at the writing and her hopes were instantly crushed. "Wha- What is this? What happened to the spell! All i see is random gibberish!"

"Exactly" said Celestia staring at her sister. " When the Six Greats made that spell they knew it was a power beyond even an alicorns ability to fully grasp. No pony has ever been able to crack that spell, its secrets are beyond even my comprehension." Celestia looked at the scroll and closed her eyes in frustation knowing the greatest hope they had was useless.

"That may not be true, Tia. I can think of one pony in Equestria with the skill and raw talent to pull it off." A wide smile crept across lunas face as a new plan worked itself out in her head "if anypony can do it she can." She was interuppted from her thoughts by a soft cough from celestia.

"And who may I ask is this miracle pony that outshines even my best resear-" Her question was stopped by a green swirling flame that stopped in front of her face and materialized into a small familiar looking scroll. Celestia was quick to envelope the parchment with her magic and began to read it despite Luna standing right next to her.

Dear Princess Celetia,

Today i learned a very important lesson on friendship... Celestia read through the letter fast, but slow enough as to not miss any details. Upon finishing the letter she saw the all to familiar signature of her prized pupil.

Your faithful Student,

Twilight Sparkle

Celestia stared at her students signature for a few moments, and then returned her gaze to Luna who still had that wide grin on her face and a spark in her eye as she stared at her sister. No, not at her, Celestia realized, she followed Lunas gaze to Twilights scroll still hovering in the air. It didnt take her long to put two and two together. "You cant possibly think Twilight capable of such a feat." her tone was prideful but with a tinge of fear, like a mother defending their child.

"Oh but i do Tia." Luna's smile grew even bigger and her voice became excited. "Who better to unravel the spell than the most powerful unicorn pony alive today, not to mention shes the element of magic and shes your protege to boot!"

"I don't know Luna. What if she gets hurt trying to decipher it? What if its a trap left by the Six Greats to harm anypony trying to gain the power?" Celestia was obviously worried for her students safety, and Luna took that into consideration will continuing on.

"Tia, she is a grown mare now, not the filly you took in and taught. There is no point hiding the risk of giving her the scroll. She could very well get hurt or worse." At that Celestia sunk her head but continued to listen to Luna "But, you must trust her as your student and as the mare she has become. I shall not ask you to force this burden on her, just promise me you'll show her the scroll and give her the choice she rightly deserves." Luna walked to stand in front of her sister who had also risen to all four hooves. They both looked to each other and the scroll luna was waiting for an answer while Celestia went over the possibilities in her head.

After many long moments of silence Celestia finally spoke. "Very well Luna I will call Twilight to Canterlot tomorrow and inform her of the scroll. Whether or not she accepts shall be completely up to her." her voice and stance were at their full regal state once again, though a faint hint of worry was still in her voice. She lifted her head to gaze at the distorted night once more. "Now Luna it is late and I am in need of rest before i raise the sun tomorrow. Goodnight." Celestia exited the balcony quickly and was at the door leading to the main hall of the castle when her sisters voice stopped her.

"Goodnight Tia. Don't worry Twilight will be fine, I have full confidence in her abilities!" with that Luna flew off the balcony and into the night sky. The red of the moon contrasted greatly with Lunas blue coat as she flew out of sight.

"I hope your right Luna. I truly do." White light gathered around her horn and in a flash she vanished, only to reappear in front of her private quarters scaring the two guadsponies stationed there. Before they could say a word to her she said " It is late, and i am tired let no one enter till morning. Understood?" both guards nodded vigorously and returned to their stations as Celestia entered her room.

Once inside she went immediately to her desk and levitated a piece of parchment,quill, and ink well to her. She stared at the for a minute then began to write her letter to Twilight telling her to be at the castle as soon as possible and emphasizing the urgency. With the letter done Celestia hopped onto her bed, completely ignoring the metal ornaments that decorated her body. As she was drifting off to sleep she had one last thought "Please Twilight, for your own safety, do not take the scroll" as she lied down the peace of the room took its effect her thoughts became fuzzy and before Celestia knew it she was in sleeps soft embrace.
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A/N: Welp thats it the very first chapter of "Seventh Soul: Birth." I hope you enjoyed it. There will be more action and elements of the other tags within a few chapters. I welcome constructive criticism so feel free to comment.