Solar Child: The Original Chapters

by Dragon Genesis

Rating: teen
Tags: Alternate Universe, Sad, Romance
Length: 38183

What if Celestia was Twilights's actual mother?

What if Twilight has been lying to her friends all along and her real mother is Princess Celestia herself?

I got the idea while writing Prism and Glimmer. This story is just to dive into what it would be like if Celestia was Twilight's biological mother. (Teen because pissed Celestia does not hold back on language. Romance tag for some Lunestia).

These are the original chapters to the currntly being rewritten fic, Solar Child. After finding the original chapters hidden in my phone, I uploaded them to dropbox and decided to throw these up to help give those of you who want the original.

Published 1970-01-01 00:00:00 UTC
Last updated 2015-06-24 22:39:46 UTC

Chapter One

Solar Child

Chapter One

Written by Bakmah Genesis

           "Do you have a name for her yet?" asked a pink filly as she jumped up and down next to Celestia.  The princess sighed and rubbed her ever growing belly.

         "No, Cadence.  I just found out a few weeks ago that it was a filly.  I still have a few months."  Cadence stopped and sat down, frowning.

        "You still need to find her a name, Auntie Tia.  Its always bad to wait till the last second."  Celestia giggled and stroked the filly's mane.

        "And it's always better to wait and not to rush."  Cadence stuck out her tongue, she was still only sixteen but had the mind of a filly at times.  There was a silence in which Cadence decided to change the subject.

     "So,, have you spoken to Sparkle since her deployment?" asked Cadence.  Celestia shook her head.  Sparkle was one of her top guard and marefriend.  They had to keep their relationship low due to how nobles and other high political ponies could react and turn against them.  She was also the reason for her enlarged belly.  Being a unicorn she had more than enough ability to make it happen. She was currently deployed on the edge of Equestria.

       "Not since she left.  They had troubles out there so I wouldn't be surprised if she hasn't had the time to-" she was cut off by one of her guard walking into the study in which the two alicorns sat.  He removed his helmet and bowed.

       "Princess, at 0500 this morning, there was an attack on the eastern edge of Equestria.  We had heavy casualties and two captains were killed.  The captains' names were Shield and Sparkle.  The conflict has calmed down and is believed to be under control......Princess?"  Celestia's eyes were wide and her back was rigid.  Cadence looked at her in concern.  Cadence motioned for the guard to leave.  Once he did, she put a hoof on her aunt's shoulder.

      "No, Sparkle couldn't be gone.  She said she would be there.  She said she would stand next to me when I have birth, she would support and help me raise the filly, she said she would love us both forever."  Celestia bent forward and placed her head in hooves.  "This world is too cruel, Cadence."  Cadence stroked her mane gently, calming the white alicorn.

     "It's okay, Tia.  You can get through this.  I'm sure she would not want to see you like this.  She would want to see you stand tall and continue on despite her death.  You are strong, prove it."  Celestia smiled the pink alicorn and embraced her.  The two sat in quiet, waiting for someone to speak or to break away.  Neither did for awhile.  Finally, Cadence broke away and smiled at her.

     "Come on, you got court in a few minutes.  You need to get cleaned up and ready."  Celestia smiled and followed the mare out of the room, though she didn't want to sit and listen to snobs all day.  She much rather lay down and shut everything out.  She put on a illusion spell on her stomach and walked into the throne room, preparing for another boring four hours of her day.

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        Celestia sat in the throne room, listening to a proposition on a mining project in Canterlot.  The day court took twice as long as it usually took and it was almost time to lower the sun and raise the moon.   It had been three months since her mare friends death and the raising and lowering of the sun and moon were the only things she ever really enjoyed.  Cadence tried plenty of times to cheer her up, each failed, however.  Her advisor, Quill, showed as much enthusiasm to the stallion as she did.  None.

      Celestia groaned and grabbed her stomach, or close to it as others could see, as pain surged from the lower part of her body.  Quill put a hoof on her shoulder, trying to make sure she was alright.  Celestia waved her away and started to sit up.  Before she could, another wave of pain went through her.  She again went back in her hunched position.

       Something wet touched her hoof.

      She opened her eyes and stared in shock at the small pool of water at her hooves.  She looked over at Cadence who was sitting off to the side, observing the court and giving advice here and there.

      "My water broke."  Cadence and Quill stared at her in shock.  Cadence went to Celestia's side while Quill shoved out the stallion and told the guards to get the doctors.  Quill, who had foals before, sat next to Cadence and Celestia and calmed the white alicorn.

      "Just take deep breaths."  Celestia followed Quill's instructions, breathing in and out calmly.  She groaned and bent forward again.

       "It's not helping!" grolwed Celestia.  Cadence made a mental note to stay back when Celestia was giving birth, she had no intention of being injured by a mad alicorn in labour.  Celestia is scary while in labour.

       Quill kept trying to calm the alicorn while Cadence at there awkwardly, she didn't know what to do.  She knew how to take care of foals, not give birth to them.  She was completely clueless and just stroked Celestia's mane.  This seemed to help somewhat.  She gave a sigh of relief as the doctors came in with a stretcher.

      They quickly lifted the princess onto the stretcher and pushed her with haste out of the throne room and to the hospital wing of the castle. Celestia held onto Cadence's hoof the whole way, she had to hide the pained look on her face as her hoof was turned into powder by the impossibly strong grip of Celestia.

      Cadence was told to wait outside with Quill while the doctors deliver the foal.  Cadence walked over to a chair in the waiting room with a slight limp.  Quill raised an eyebrow at her.

     "Are you alright, Princess Cadence?" asked Quill as Cadence found a seat by the hallway.

     "Yes, it's just she has one hell of a grip.  Being in labour doesn't help either, just makes her squeeze harder."  Quill looked down at the alicorns hoof and saw it was red around the area Celestia had been holding.  She was surprised she still had a hoof.

     The two sat and listened to the cries of Celestia along with the occasional cuss that was loudly announced through the building.  Cadence winced, hoping it wouldn't be this painful for her when she had her own foal, whenever that would be.  She already felt sorry for the poor stallion, or mare, who had to stand next to her when she gave birth.  She just hoped they would still have the ability to walk.

      After six hours of waiting, the screaming stopped and the medical wing was filled with silence.   The silence was broken by the cries of a small foal.  Both Cadence and Quill let out the breath they didn't know holding.  The doctor came out and told them it was okay to enter.

      In Celestia's hooves, was a lavender alicorn with a dark purple mane and pink highlights.  The alicorn filly held firmly onto one of Celestia's hooves, not seeming to want to let go.  Cadence giggled at the cute little filly.  The filly squirmed in her mothers hooves and opened her eyes.  A deep purple.

      "What are you going to name her?" asked Cadence.  Celestia forgot to find one.  She looked out the window in hopes to possibly find the answer in the night sky.  Both the sun and moon were low in the sky, bathing the sky in orange and purple.  The stars were just starting to show.  Twilight.  Celestia smiled as she looked at the sky.

      "Twilight.  Twilight Solar." Cadence smiled, obviously agreeing with the name.

      "Princess Twilight Solar.  Well, she's not a princess yet but it's still a good name."  Celestia nodded and cradled her newborn daughter.

       "A good name indeed."  Celestia looked over her daughters body.  "We do have a small problem, however."  Cadence raised an eyebrow.  "She is an alicorn."

       "How is this a problem?" asked Cadence.

      "It is already going to be a lot of trouble for her being the daughter of a goddess.  Being a goddess herself does not help."

      "What will you do then?"  Celestia thought for a moment before leaning her head forward.  Her horn touched Twilight's and a light golden aura covered her.  Her wings shrunk into her body.  Once the light faded, Twilight looked like a normal unicorn filly while Celestia looked like she was about to pass out.

      "There." she said as she layed her head on her pillow.

      "What did you do?" asked Cadence, staring at the filly on awe.

     "I removed her wings and 50% of her magical power, as well as her earth pony strength in slumber.  It will awaken when she is of age."  She looked down and smiled at her daughter.  "Until then, she is my little unicorn."

     "I will never understand you, Tia.  I have no doubts whatsoever that you will be a great mother." said Cadence, smiling at the alicorn mare and the now unicorn filly.  "We will have to see how everything turns out for the little filly, castle life will not be kind."

      "I will not let anything bad happen to her.  And if anything does, I will handle it as I deem fit, even if I have to send a group of ponies to their deaths."

       "You also scare me at times." said Cadence as she shook her head.

       "It's my job to be intimidating when I need to be." said Celestia with a shrug.

       "I can't wait to see what will happen when she starts dating.  Faust help that poor stallion." said Cadence in a mock tone.  Celestia rolled her eyes at the young alicorn.  She looked down at her daughter who was carefully making her way to her source of food.  Celestia pulled the covers over to give her a little privacy.

       "I have a feeling that I will not have a relaxing moment for a very long while."

Chapter Two

Solar Child

Chapter Two

Written by Bakmah Genesis

         Due to the lack of a close, sufficient room, Twilight Solar slept in a crib in Celestia's room.  Cadence suggested it for awhile until she got old enough for her old room, or when she outgrew her crib and needed an actual bed.  Quill warned her about the downside to it as well which is why she is now up in the middle of the night, cradling her daughter and trying to calm her down.

        Celestia ultimately ended up feeding her.  Even though she has been around for thousands of years, she can't help but feel lost while taking care of her own child.  There was the option of her finding someone to take her in until she was old enough to know the truth, but she didn't want to let go.  It was her daughter and she would take care of it just as much as Sparkle would of.

        Once fed, Celestia put Twilight over her shoulder and gently patted her back.  She repeated the action until the small filly gave a small burp.  For some reason, Celestia always thought the sound to be cute and funny.  She giggled and set the filly back down in the crib and made sure she was tucked in.  Once that was down Celestia laid in her own bed and watched Twilight from there for a few minutes.  She smiled and closed her eyes to sleep until it was time to bring about day.

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        Celestia yawned as she walked down to the dining hall, Twilight in a little basket made to hold foals.  The filly giggled and played with Celestia's flowing multicolored mane.  Celestia smiled at the fact that the filly could at least get decent sleep.  Celestia placed Twilight in a high chair, something she never thought she would see in the castle, and sat down.

      Cadence came shortly after.  She tickled Twilight and sat next to Celestia before laying her head on the table.  Celestia suppressed a giggle as she watched her niece lay her head on the table in exhaustion.

       "Well that's not fair.  I should be the tired one considering I had to wake up twice last up to feed Twilight." said Celestia, still trying not to laugh.  Cadence sat up and pulled the pot of coffee towards her.

       "I'm just not a morning person.  Could at least tone it down on the sun?  It's bright as hell in the morning."  Celestia giggled.

       "I believe that's why they call it the sun."  Cadence grunted and took a sip of her coffee.  Once she had enough to try and wake her, she spoke.

        "So, what are you planning on telling the public.  News probably has already got out that the medical staff was in a frenzie a month ago.  Plus, we have a foal in royal towers.  That will raise even more questions."  Celestia thought about it.

       "We will release that I have a daughter, but not her name.  We will also try and keep her out of sight of cameras as long as we can.  We don't need so much attention attracted to her."  Cadence nodded and took another sip of her coffee.She set down the cup and looked over at the filly.

       "She is going to have a rough life.  Her mother is the most powerful being in Equestria and can move the sun and moon.  She will be target for many things, not all good sadly."  Celestia nodded and watched her daughter play with the few toys she brought with.

         "She will just have to be strong."

        "Was there ever room for the weak in politics?" asked Cadence, taking a sip of her coffee.

        "After looking at all the nobles, I don't even know anymore."  said Celestia, levitating the hungry filly out of high chair and down below to feed.  She cradled the filly with one hoof while she fed.

       "She will be strong." said Cadence, grabbing a muffin off of the stack.  "She is related to you."

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        Celestia shifted as she waited to walk in front of the crowd of reporters.  She had called for a press conference to break out the news and now waited for everyone to sit down.  Quill stood next to her, watching her shift about.  Quill giggled, earning a confused look from Celestia.

        "I think this is the first conference I've ever seen you so nervous." said Quill, smiling at the princess.  Celestia smiled a bit.

       "Yes, well, I'm just not sure how the public would react to her being my daughter.  Ive been around for Faust knows how long and this is my first child."  Quill placed a hoof on Celestia's foreleg, being to short to reach her shoulder, and smiled at her.

      "You're just being a mother.  I would have the same worries if I was in your place.  Don't worry.  I'll be standing next to you the whole time and I will help you when it's needed."  Celestia smiled at the unicorn and embraced her.

      "Thank you.  I needed that."

       "Of course.  Now come on, it's time to go out."  Celestia nodded and followed the unicorn out into the court yard where the conference was being held.  Upon seeing her, reporters started shouting questions and taking pictures.  She couldn't catch all of it but she could her questions about the medical staff a few months ago and the reports of a small filly in the castle.

      Celestia stopped at a pedestal that was placed on a raised platform in front of the reporters.  Raising a hoof, she silenced the reporters and began to speak.

       "I am aware of rumors going around about the uproar in the medical wing of the castle and the sightings of a filly on castle grounds.  They have said that there was an accident and the filly was just the daughter of a guard."  She paused and scanned the crowd.  Reporters wrote down her every word and payed utmost attention to her.  "There was also the rumor of me giving birth to said filly and her being my daughter."  She paused again, trying to gauge how they would react to the next part.  "She is my daughter."

        The court yard was filled with shouting as reporters shouted out questions.  The noise pained her ears but she stood tall and resisted the urge to lay down her ears.  She nodded to a blue stallion in the first row.  He had what sounded like a Manehatten accent.

        "Princess Celestia, how was it you were able to keep your pregnancy a secret for ten months?"

        "I used a simple illusion spell."  The questions started up again and she pointed to a Pegasus mare.

      "Celestia, why is it you hid your pregnancy from Equestria until three months after the filly's birth?"

       "I did not need the stress of the press during my pregnancy combined with the everyday stress I already have."  She pointed to a brown mare next.

         "Princess, who is the father."  Celestia went rigged as the question was asked.  Quill looked up at her in concern.

          "The mother of my daughter is the late Captain Sparkle."  This sparked a whole new wave of questions.  Celestia stomped a hoof and silenced the crowd.

         "I will not answer any questions about the relationship of my late marefriend, the name of my daughter, her race, or her appearance.  Conference adjourned."  With that she turned around and walked off the platform, holding back tears.  Quill followed behind her.

       "Are you alright, Princess?" asked Quill, who was walking next to her.

      "You are lucky, Quill.  Your parenthood wasn't this stressful." said Celestia in a sad tone.

       "You've been through a lot worse in your years.  You can get through this and so will Twilight."  Celestia smiled at her advisor.

       "I'm going to head back to my chambers.  I would like to see my daughter and I could use the rest."  Celestia walked down the halls of the castle until she made it to her room.  After bidding Cadence farewell and thanked her for watching Twilight, she laced down and closed her eyes, wanting for the world to fall away.

        "Oh Sparkle, how I wish you were here."

Chapter Three

Solar Child

Chapter Three

Written by Bakmah Genesis

     It has currently been six years since Twilight's birth and the conference in which her presence was revealed to the public.  She has been seen in town plenty of times with Celestia enough times to make it known that she was her daughter.  Though everyone knows her name and what she looks like, she is still treated like any other filly, on Celestia's orders.

     Twilight was taught by Celestia herself and has gained a love for books and learning.  She never once failed to pay attention and would always be found in the library when, with Cadence sometimes, reading while her mother was busy or away.  Celestia always saw this as something she gained from her mother, Sparkle.

    Another thing that surprised her was the presence of strong magic that came from her.  Though she couldn't yet summon it, Twilight held a vast amount of powerful magic that puzzled Celestia.  Yes, she was the daughter of the alicorn who raises the sun, but she couldn't see how one unicorn could hold so much power.

   While there has been plenty of good times, there has also been bad.  Threats have been made torwards her daughter if she didn't step down.  She always put them aside, hoping it was just some empty threat, but she couldn't shake the feeling that it could happen.  The threats unnerved her but she never once showed it.

   Cadence knows of the letters and agreed to keep them from Twilight until she was older.  Celestia hoped by then there wouldn't have been any incidents from these letters.  She just hoped.

    She knew hoping wouldn't get her anywhere but sometimes it was what is needed.  Hope.  False and weak and yet it seems to calm the senses.  She will just have to see how well this hope actually works.

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          Gleaming Shield, a former guard, tapped a photo of Princess Celestia walking around Canterlot with a filly walking next to her.  A circle was drawn around the filly, giving her significant purpose.  He looked around the table at the others who were seated with him.

      "After six years, Celestia has shown great care for this filly, mostly because she is her daughter.  She is are only shot at getting to Celestia."  The others nodded.  The unicorn lit his horn and made a green version of the castle.  It was shown in such great detail that it could have been the real thing if it wasn't for the size.

     "Now if we are going to kidnap the child, we will need go in when she is separated from her mother and less likely to be around guards."  The model zoomed in on a room on the third floor.  The room was rather large.  "She will most likely be I the library while her mother is in court.  Not many guards are in this area at this time.  This will be the best time to go and kidnap her."  The model zoomed out then focused to the wall.

    "The castle was built so the only ones who can teleport in or out of the castle grounds is Celestia and Cadence.  Once we have the child, we have to teleport out of the building itself and run the rest of the way to the outside of the walls before a barrier is out up, trapping us.  Once past the wall, we can teleport here.  Any questions?"  A white Pegasus raised his hoof.  Shield nodded to him.

     "Who is to go in and get her?  We can't risk our inside men since we will need them even after we have the child."

     "Myself and two other of our top unicorns will go.  We can't have any earth ponies or pegasi go since we need a quick escape."  He looked at all the faces at the table.  "We start at noon tomorrow when court is in session.  Everyone prepare the cell and get the horn ring."  He stood up and walked to the window.  From it, he could just make out the castle.  He smiled, soon Celestia will step down and he will rise. "Prepare the defenses."

     Guards ran around the abandoned guard post, setting it up to stand against what was most likely to be an alicorn.  He did not care, however.  They would have her child and she would not dare hurt her.  He will make her step down.  Kill her if need be.

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     "Come on, Caddy.  What's the surprise?" asked Twilight as she followed the alicorn through the halls.  Cadence giggled as she led her to the library.

     "Well, my coltfriend is here and I thought you two should meet each other."  Twilight cocked her head.

     "Why?"  Cadence gave her a big smile.

      "That's the surprise."  Twilight sighed and followed her to the library.  Cadence trotted down the hall with a slight spring in her step.  Twilight watched the mare in confusion, wondering why she was so excited in her meeting her coltfriend.  When they finally made it to the library, there was a stallion inside.  He was a white unicorn with a blue mane.  His mane also had the different colored streak in it like hers did.  He turned around and smiled at her.

     "Well, hey there.  You must be Twilight." he said as he stood up.  Twilight nodded.  "I'm Shining Armour.  Caddy told me a lot about you."

     "She did?"  Shining nodded.

     "Yep.  She told me you are Celestia's daughter, you love to read, and who your other mother is."  Twilight looked down and pawed at the floor.  She new little about her mother.  She was told she died before she was born.  Shining leaned forward so he looked into her eyes.

      "You know what?  She was my mom, too."  Twilight's eyes grew big and she looked up at him.  Shining smiled at her.   "Hey there, sis."  Twilight wrapped her forelegs around him and hugged him.  Shining returned the embrace while Cadence stood watching them with a smile.

      "I never knew I had a bigger brother." said Twilight, almost crying with joy.  Shining stroked her mane.

     "And I never knew I had a younger sister.  If it wasn't for Cadence I would have never known."  Twilight turned and hugged Cadence's legs.  Cadence giggled and hugged the filly.

    "Thank you, Caddy."  said twilight as she buried her head in her shoulder.

    "You're welcome, Twi.  Now I'm going to leave you two to catch up.  Celestia wants me in court today.  Me and your mother will stop by later."  She ruffled Twilight's mane and left, leaving the two unicorns to talk to each other, both excited to learn more about the other.  Cadence giggle as she closed the library door, not noticing the pair of eyes watching her from around the corner.

Chapter Four

Solar Child

Chapter Four

Written by Bakmah Genesis

      "Shit, someone is in there with her." said a unicorn stallion.  Shield looked back at him with a glare.  The stallion shrank back and Shield looked back at the library doors.  He played with the odds in his head and made up his mind.  He put on his helmet and walked up to the door.  The other three followed suit.  Shield knocked on the door and stepped back.  The door opened and revealed a white unicorn with a blue mane.

     "Excuse me sir, but is Miss Twilight here?"  The stallion stepped aside and a lavender unicorn filly walked up to the door.  Shield smiled.  "Thank you, sir."  Before either Shining or Twilight could speak, Shield sent Shining flying into the bookshelves while another grabbed Twilight and used a spell to knock her out.

    Guards came around the corner and saw them.  Shield curse and ran down the hall, the others following.  They turned around corners, trying to make it to the gates as fast as they could.  Just as they made it to the second floor horns sounded, alerting the others.

     Shield and the others kept running, hoping they wouldn't run into Celestia as they escaped.  They ran into the courtyard and started to book it to the wall.  The four of them sprinted across, trying to stay away from the guards and make it before they lose off the castle.

    Somewhere doors slammed open, causing him to look back.  On a balcony stood a not so happy Princess Celestia watch them run.  Shield saw that they were almost there.  He grabbed Twilight in his magic and pushed her past the wall.  When there, he sent her to their hide out.  Leaping, he made it out the wall just as a barrier came down, locking down the castle.  He looked back at the other three before teleporting away.  He couldn't afford to stay.  He had a prize to reap.

    The three stared in horror as Shield teleported away, leaving them behind.  They heard something large land behind them.  They gulped as they turned around and faced Celestia.  They could feel the heat from her death stare burn through their souls.  She leaned forward so her head was level with theirs.

     "Where did you send my daughter?"  she asked through clenched teeth.  The gardener was not happy that he had to clean three piles of legit shit off the cobblestone walkway.  A cream colored stallion stood up straight and held back his head in defiance.

      "We will not tell you.  You will give in to our demands or she will die.  That's all there is."  Celestia smirked.

     "Well, don't you have balls.  What if I clipped them?"

    "Do what you want.  I will not speak."  Celestia's smirk faded.  'Damn he is a tough one.'

    "We'll, since you assisted in the kidnapping of a child, let alone royalty, you will be held a very strict trial and will be held in my dungeons until your judgment is passed."  Guards came and shackled the three and hauled them away.  Once they were gone, Celestia walked through her gardens until stopping at a bench.  Sitting down, she placed her head in her hooves and started crying.  She cried out her worries, fears, anger, sadness.  A hoof was placed on her shoulder and she looked up to see Cadnce looking at her.  Celestia threw her forelegs around her and cried into her neck.

     "Oh Caddy, why her?  Why my only daughter?  Haven't they taken enough when I lost Sparkle?"  Cadence stroked Celestia's mane.  She patted her back gently as the alicorn cried into her neck.

     "I don't know, Tia.  We will find her and we will get her back.  You will hold her again before you know it."  Celestia looked up at her.

     "What if they kill her before we get there."  Cadence smiled at her aunt.

      "They are up against the goddess of the sun.  They will not be able to do anything to her before you get them."  Celestia smiled and nuzzled her.

      "Let's just find her soon."  Cadence nodded and stood up.  Celestia slowly followed her into the castle.  Before she could walk into the doors, a guard stepped in front of them and knelt down.

    "We are sorry, Princess.  We were not careful enough and they were able to take Miss Twilight.  We will take any punishment you wish upon us."  Celestia sighed and leaned forward to the guard.

    "Rise, my little pony.  You could have never predicted this nor prevent it.  You are not to blame, only those who committed this crime are to.  No return to your post."  The guard bowed and stepped aside.  Celestia shook her head.

     "She has grown to be a special piece of this castle and gained a place in everyone's hearts.  I suspect everyone will not be the same until my daughter is returned safely."

     "You are who I am worried about.  She is your daughter and I know how hard this must be, but-"

     "YOU HAVE NO IDEA HOW HARD THIS IS!" shouted Celestia, causing Cadence to shrink back.  "EVERYTIME I GET CLOSE TO MY FAMILY IT IS TAKEN AWAY FROM ME!  I HAD TO BANISH MY OWN SISTER AND NOW HOPE AND PRAY TO FAUST THAT MY DAUGHTER SURVIVES!  DON'T TELL ME YOU UNDERSTAND HOW I FEEL!"  Cracks spider webbed across the glass and guards gathered around the two alicorns.  Cadence was nearly laying on the ground shaking with her ears splayed back.  Her eyes were filled with fear of the great alicorn before her.  Celestia realized what she did and fell back on her haunches.

    "Cadence, I'm sorry, I didn't-" Cadence stopped her from continuing.

     "It's okay, Tia.  You are stressed beyond imagination.  Just go lay down.  I will find Twilight."  Celestia sighed and went to her bed chambers.

______________________________________________________________________________________

     Celestia layed on her back, looking up at the ceiling.  Her thoughts raved around in circles, making sleep impossible.  Her daughter raced through her mind.  She finally closed her eyes and let sleep take her, allowing the sleep consume her.

    She found herself and a grayish surface. The sky was filled with stars even more detailed then the ones at night.  She found herself walking in a circle, exploring the sky from her place on the ground. Her gaze stopped upon a large blue and green sphere.  Her eyes widened as she realized where she was.

     "Welcome to the moon, sister."  Celestia whipped around.  In front of her was a midnight blue alicorn with a starry mane.  The alicorn smiled sweetly at her.  Celestia shook her head and stepped back.

     "This can't be real.  You can't be here.  I banished you."  Luna laughed.

     "You forget I rule the realm of dreams, my only escape as it seems.  You are dreaming, sister, so I can visit you."

   "But why show yourself now?"  Luna looked down at the earth.

    "You have a beautiful daughter down there.  If only this nightmare was gone.  Your mind has been troubled and your daughter has been reliving a  memory for the past few hours, thus I know she was kidnapped."  Celestia shook her head.

    "How does any of this help her?"  Luna laughed again.

   "Easy, dear sister.  I looked into past dreams of one of the suspects and found out where they keep her."  Luna was about to show her but Celestia stopped her with a raised hoof.

    "Why are you helping me?  You hated me for always getting the attention and that no pony appreciated your night, so why help me?"  Luna's face grew somber and she sighed.

    "You tend to think when you are trapped in the moon for a thousand years.  Nightmare Moon thinks about her revenge, I think about what I've done and my reasons for doing so.  I saw that they were not good enough to justify my actions.  I felt that I deserved to make it up to you and this is my chance."

    "You are willing to abuse your power as ruler of dreams to help me?"

    "Oh Tia, we have to have fun sometime." replied Luna with a smile.  The area around the, shifted and showed an abandoned guard station.  Celestia raised an eyebrow.

     "A guard outpost?"  Luna nodded.

     "The leader of the Anti-Celestia group who did this is a former guard, top ranks if I remember. I can't tell you the full story since his is tainted with his anger but he wasn't let go with honor."  Celestia nodded.

    "Well, I must get my daughter."  She turned to leave."

     "Tia?"  Celestia turned around a looked back at her sister.  "Give them hell only the goddess of the sun can deliver."  Celestia smiled and woke up.  She frowned and disappeared in a flash of light.

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     Celestia stood in front of the outpost she saw from Luna's dream realm.  She could feel the intense power that flowed from Twilight.  Celestia shook in anger.  Her hate, rage, pain, and sadness all came forth in dark fury.  Her normally gold crown, necklace and shoes turned black, her coat pure white and her mane and tail a blaze.  Her eyes were pure white with rage.

   She stepped torwards the building, the grass withering beneath her hooves with each step.  A guard walked around the corner and saw her.  He manged to yell something before he was set ablaze.  Celestia kept her eyes on the entrance of the large building.

   Horns sounded, causing her ears to twitch in annoyance.  She looked to where the noise was coming from.  A room suddenly exploded in flames and the annoying noise stopped. Arrows and crossbow bolts were shot at her among other projectiles.  Each and everyone was burned out of existence before reaching her.

   Ponies fell from the roof and windows screaming in pain as their bodies were set on fire.  The air regaled of burnt wood and flesh.  Celestia smiled.  No.  Not Celestia.  Solar Flare. She gave an evil grin and kept walking towards the door.

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     "Damnit, Tia." said Luna as she watched the massacre below.   "Don't give in.  You know what it did to me.  Pull yourself together before you get to Twilight.  Control it!"

_________________________________________________________________________________

      Solar Flare stopped and shook her head.  The pain in the back of her mental mind continued.  She snarled and shook her head more.

     "I will not let you have control."  she snarled, shaking her head furiously.

     "Yes.  You.  Will!"  Her crown and other regila turned back to gold and her eyes went back to their original state but her mane and tail still remained on fire.  She lifted her had and fixed a death glare on the outpost.

    "I may have control but it doesn't mean it will be pleasant for you."  She resumed her advance on the building, destroying any attempt to attack her.  She destroyed several guards posts, killed twenty guards, and created eight new windows.  She stepped in front of the door and kicked it in.

    The halls were scarce of guards since they were probably injured or killed.  She advanced on her way to the dungeons, relying on Twilight's magical pulse to guide her.  She went past door by door, looking for the one with the strongest pulse.  Her anxiety grew the more she couldn't find her.

     She soon came to an iron door that poured magical energy.  She smiled as she found her target.  She first tried opening it, which of course failed, then tried ripping it off its hinges.  The door was both locked and layered with  safe guards.  She then shrugged and fixed it with a death glare, this one, however, was channeled by the suns rays that flowed through the hole in the wall.

    The door then began to sizzle and melt under her gaze.  With the doors handle and lock now gone, she pushed the door open gently only to have it fall off.  She frowned as she saw that she melted the hinges as well.  She shrugged and looked inside.  Inside was a small lavender unicorn filly who was cowering in the corner of the room, looking at the alicorn in front of her.  Celestia's mane snuffed out and returned to its normal colors.  She rushed in and scooped up her daughter in her hooves, who wrapped her forelegs around her neck and cried.

     "Hush now.  Everything is okay.  Mommy gots ya.  Come on, lets go home."  She felt the filly nod in her shoulder and they disappeared in a flash of light.

Chapter Five

Solar Child

Chapter Five

Written by Bakmah Genesis

       Celestia curled up around her daughter as if she were to shield her from danger.  The small filly nuzzled up against her as she felt her mothers warmth.  Celestia sighed and closed her eyes, thankful for the rest after her extremely stressful and eventful day.

     She found herself in Luna's dream realm again.  She looked up at the stars as she waited for her sister to come.  She examined all the constellations she usual saw from the ground in their full beauty.  The sight was simply breathtaking.  She smiled as she looked at the stars.

    "This is the only place I can paint the sky, now."  Celestia turned her head to see Luna standing next to her.  Tonight she went without of her royal regila.  Her mane was still since she didn't give it its own regal wind such as Celestia did.  A drooped down her back and sides.  Some of the strands fell on her face.

      "Yes.  I missed your nights."  A thought occurred to her.  "Wait, why is it Nightmare Moon is not in my dream with you?"  Luna cocked her head.

    "Didn't I tell you?  This is the one place Nightmare can't follow me.  This is my personal escape from her.  This is my realm.  My freedom.  Here, I can do as I wish and keep up with the lives of ponies AND my sister."  Luna nuzzled her sister.  Celestia shivered at the contact.  It felt so real and yet it was a dream.

    "Oh this is more than a dream." said Luna as if she could read her mind.  "This is a state of mind.  Some ponies can reach it while awake.  It's pretty much a space in the back of the mind that is like your dream realm yet it's not.  It's kinda hard to explain."  Celestia nodded and looked up at the stars again.

    "Thank you, sister.  Without you, I wouldn't have my daughter back."  Luna smiled up at her.

    "Think nothing of it.  I did much to you.  I attacked you, nearly killed you, and made you banish me.  This is my punishment, though it doesn't have long left."  Celestia raised am eyebrow.

    "It's nearly been a thousand years, sister.  I will escape by then most likely.  Rather the nightmare not me but still."  She shook her head.  "I hope you have a solution that doesn't involve another thousand on the moon.  I do love my moon but its not exactly fun to sit and live in a crater."  Celestia sighed and put a hoof on her younger sisters shoulder.

    "I promise that by the time you are released, I will have a solution."  She smiled and hugged her sister.  "I can't stand having to send you away and live without you for another thousand years.  There isn't a day that goes by that I don't wish that I did something to prevent this."  Luna nuzzled in her neck.

     "Soon sister, soon."

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

      "Ugh.  Can't I just 'say' we did the trail and sentence him?" asked Celestia as she watched ponies enter the court room.  Cadence shook her head.

      "Sadly, no.  When he was clearly caught at the outpost plus the fact there are several witnesses saying that they saw him running like hell through the castle halls trying not to be caught and he is clearly guilty, they still have to have a trail." Celestia snorted.

      "Damn laws."

     "You made that one."

      "Oh."  Celestia felt very stupid for once.  She face hoofed and watched as the ponies took their seats.  "Let's just see how he tries to get out of this."  Cadence scoffed.

     "Probably with some conspiracy bullshit and saying how our government is corrupted and needs to be cleansed."  Celestia stared at her.

    "Two things.  One: Twilight is near by and we are in court so watch your mouth.  Two:  You read those articles, don't you?"  Cadence nodded.  Celestia sighed.  "A bit of a downside with freedom of speech.  It used to be you were struck down for that kind of stuff now it's categorized as freedom of speech and we can't touch."

      "Well, he took it too far when he kidnapped and hurt your daughter."  Celestia's ears perked up when she heard 'hurt your daughter.'

     "What?"  Cadence realized what she said and turned her attention to the court.

     "I think they are bringing him in now."  Cadence let out a sigh of relief as Celestia focused on the court and not her.  Sure enough, the doors opened and four guards escorted in a green unicorn with a red mane. Celestia couldn't help but laugh at how rediculous he looked.

     Gleaming Shield stood on the raised platform in the middle of room.  He stood with his head held tall and a smirk on his face.  Celestia rose, causing everyone to quiet down.  She stared holes through his soul before speaking.

      "Gleaming Shield.  He is Ex-Guard and head of one of the largest Anti-Celestia groups in Equestria.  He is on trial for kidnapping, assault, and attempted murder."  She paused as she let this sink in.  "Tuesday, during court hours, he led a time of four into the castle library, attacked a citizen and kidnapped Twilight Solar Sparkle, my daughter.

     "Within a few hours, he sent out demands requesting me to step down, give up my throne to him, and leave Equestria.  My price if I did not do what I was told, was the life of my beloved daughter."  she inhaled sharply.  "Do you have any words on your trial?"  Gleaming smirked.

    "Yes.  I was doing Equestria a favor.  We don't need am immortal, filly fooling princess to guide us.  You have become corrupted and weak.  If I had succeeded, I would have saved us."  Not on pony looked his way nor agreed with him.  Celestia, who looked like she would start fire if it wasn't for her daughter being in the room, shaked with rage.

    "Life in prison with no parol."  He was then taken out of the court room with Celestia glaring at him as if he would start on fire, she wished he did.

Chapter Six

Solar Child

Chapter Six

Written by Bakmah Genesis

        Celestia sat in her personal dining room with her niece and daughter.  The three of them sat in silence as they ate.  Celestia found it odd how her daughter always kept herself covered and didn't speak much, she even thought she had a slight limp.  She feared what actually happened during her daughters imprisonment.  If anything happened to her, the guards will find a rather messy cell the next day.  Of that, she was sure.

     "Mommy?"  Celestia looked up at her daughter and smiled warmly at her.  Comforting whatever troubles she couldn't see.

     "Yes dear?"  Twilight shifted slightly.

     "Shining said my mothers name was Sparkle, what happened to her?"  Celestia's smile faded away and her eyes gained a distant and sad look to them.  Sensing this, Cadence put a comforting hoof on her aunts shoulder.  Celestia took a shaky breath.

     "Sparkle was a beautiful unicorn mare who was the captain of my guard.  She was always kind and helping and, like you, she had a love for reading and learning.  She was a curious one."  A smile appeared on her lips.  "I got to personally know her.  After her last husband, Shining's father, she gave up on stallions, thinking them too selfish for certain things.  That's about the time she began to like mares.

     "We then began to find interest in one another.  I believe it was when I was setting the sun and raising the moon, that I first confessed my love for her.  She was more than happy to share that she had the same feelings for me."  Celestia chuckled at the memory.

       Celestia sat next to a blue mare with a red mane, a streak of pink running down it.  The mare was focused on the setting sun and the beautiful sky.  Celestia took this moment to examine the mare without her armor.  She traced the mares figure, stopping briefly at her flank, before continuing up to her face once more.

       "I always loved the twilight.  The beautiful colors surpass the day and night.  It is a beautiful combination." said the mare as she watched the sky.  Celestia nuzzled up to the mare.

       "Not as beautiful as you, Sparkle."  Sparkle blushed at the comment and looked up at Celestia with a smile.

      "Um....you can't actually mean that, Tia?"  Celestia leaned forward to the mare.

     "Of course I do.  For the longest while I felt something that I haven't felt in hundreds of years.  Just recently, I figured out that...."  Celestia blushed and looked down.  "That I love you, my dear Sparkle."  Sparkle sat quiet for a few minutes.  Celestia thought that she would hate her and their friendship would change.  She knew of her age and statues but she still had natural worry.  Sparkle surprised her with a kiss.

      "I love you, too, Tia."  She went in for another kiss, this time Celatia returned it.  They sat there under the sun set, lost in a deep passionate kiss.

     "Sadly, duty comes first.  She was to be deployed to a rising conflict on the eastern border.  By then, we just found out that I was pregnant with you."  Celestia inhaled sharply, knowing what she had to say next.   "Three months before you were due, their was an attack on the eastern border.  Ten ponies died in the attack, your mother being one of them."  Celestia paused to wipe away a few tears.

     "I attempted court that day, trying to be strong for my ponies, but I ended up breaking down before we begun.  The next months were painful."  She smiled and looked at her daughter.  "Then you came along. You are the best thing to enter my life and I will never want that to change."  Twilight leaped into her mothers hooves.  Celestia embraced her daughter.

      "I wouldn't want it to change either.  You are the best mommy, ever!"  Celestia smiled. She of froze when she saw the series of bruises and cuts on her daughters back.  Celestia had been so stressed the last week that she never noticed until now.  Twilight felt her mother tense up and looked up at her.

     "I think I will need to have a chat with my prisoner today."  True to her word, guards were washing remains off the walls the next day.

Chapter Seven

Solar Child

Chapter Seven

Written by Bakmah Genesis

         "Tia, you can't block me from your dreams forever!" yelled Luna, looking up at the sun.  The sun was calmer now and on top of it was a crying Celestia.  Luna tried to calm the broken sun princess but she was blocked from entering.  Celestia looked up at her sister.

       "Why can't you just leave me alone?" she asked, sobbing.  Luna sighed and flew as close as she could.

       "Because you are my sister and I love you.  Now, what is troubling you?"  Celestia smiled a bit.

      "You know, I though you would still be speaking old equestrian."  Luna laughed lightly.

      "A thousand years of dream walking and you can learn how to adapt to the ever changing language.  You are dodging my question, dear sister."  Celestia sighed.

     "I'm am awful mother, Luna.  I let someone kidnap my daughter IN MY HOME!  You know what else?  She has been home for three days and I just now noticed her injuries.  What kind of mother notices THAT after THREE BUCKING DAYS?!" Luna sighed and landed next to her sister.

      "We can't protect our children from every possible harm.  As for the injuries, you have not seen her for awhile and you were just getting off the effects of darkness.  That is something that takes time."  Luna placed a wing over her younger sister.  "For now, you can stay with her, comfort her, and love her.  All she needs is her mother.  She just got kidnapped and beaten because her mother happens to be the most powerful being in Equestria.  She is going through trauma and needs you."  She lifted Celestia's head with a wing.  "Now promise me that you will stop blaming yourself and be there for your daughter."  Celestia smiled and nuzzled her sister.

       "Of course, sister."  She looked into the younger sisters eyes.  "We may not be blood related, but I'm glad that I still have you."  Luna gave her a mischievous grin.

     "Does that mean I have a chance when I return?"  Celestia punched her shoulder playfully.

     "Slow down, little filly.  I'm still mourning over my last lover."  Luna pouted.

     "Aw.  And here I thought I was getting lucky."  Celestia nuzzled her.

      "One day."  Luna sighed and smiled.

      "One day." she agreed.  Celestia felt the mental alarm in her head go off and groaned.

      "Ugh.  Time to lower the moon."  Luna raised an eyebrow at her.

      "Does thou not like our moon?" asked Luna, reverting back to old speak.

      "No, I love your moon.  I just hate having to wake up mad part with you.  I love you."  Luna smiled.

      "I love you too, Tia."  She began to lean forward but was stopped by Celestia's hoof on her muzzle.  Celestia smiled.

       "I'll wait to kiss the real thing."  Luna smiled and stepped back.  "Until then, fare well"

      "Fare well, my dear Tia."  With that, Celestia woke up in her room.  She sighed and walked over to the balcony to end night and begin day.

_______________________________________________________________________________

       Celestia and Cadence walked through the castle gardens, taking in the sight after an early and taxing day of court.  She missed four days of it and they came back at her with full force.  Cadence didn't enjoy it as much as she did, but she was surprised at how publicly Celestia was about it.  Cadence knew the look on her aunts face well and hasn't seen in since the passing of Sparkle.

       "So, who is the pony that has caught your attention?" she asked, smirking.  Celestia's eyes went wide.

       "What are you talking about?" she replied, a little too quickly.  Celestia mentally face hoofed.  It should be pretty obvious now, but thankfully not about who.

      "Oh come on, Tia.  I know when somepony is in love or thinking about a certain pony.  I think it's progress."

     "She new when people were in love as well." she mumbled to herself.

     "Who did?" asked Cadence, her ears perking up.  Celestia physically face hoofed in front of Cadence.  Damnit, Lulu.  I can't stop thinking about you and now I'm making more mistakes then usual.

      "Fine.  You must not tell anypony about this, got it?  Not even Twilight." Cadence nodded.  Celestia sighed and looked up to the sky.  She watched the weather ponies move about clouds for the scheduled thunder storm.  She smiled at how quickly they were getting the sky set up.

     "I believe I've fallen for an old lover."  Celestia saw Cadence's confused look and sighed.  "She was way before Sparkle and before Nightmare Moon."  Cadence's jaw drop.

     "Before Nightmare Moon?  Who could have lived that long for you to fall in love with now?"  Celestia gulped, knowing what she had to say next.  Too late to back out.

      "Her name is Princess Luna." Celestia thought she could hear Luna giggling all the way from the moon.  Cadence stared at her in disbelief.

      "Isn't she banished let alone your sister?"  Celestia laughed.

      "She is banished, yes, but she can walk dreams freely without the nightmare.  As for the whole 'sister' thing, we haven't been sisters since three hundred years before her banishment."  Cadence looked at her confused.  Celestia sighed.

      "We are adopted, Caddy.  Neither of us had the same parent.  We were thrown into an orphanage and adopted by the same family seeing as we treated each other like sisters even though we weren't related."  She smiled and looked up at the sky.  "And because we are foster sisters doesn't mean we are frowned upon if we date each other.  Yes, it is still awkward but accepted."  She looked down at her niece.  "We are more than sisters and I would like to have that back when she returns."

       "You are willing to wait for her?" asked Cadence.  Celestia nodded.

       "Of course.  Besides, it has almost been a thousand years.  I only have to wait seventeen years."  She then scowled.  "But it also holds a problem."  Cadence raised an eyebrow.  "She will return with the nightmare in tow.  We need to find the bearers of the Elements of Harmony before then."  She sighed.  "Why can't everything be easy for once?"  Cadence shook her head.

      "Don't ask me.  I'm not sure myself.  In time, it will hopefully be easier."  Celestia smiled.

      "I also hate that I have to keep waiting."  Cadence laughed.

     "That we can't help."  The two alicorns laughed and returned to the castle before the storm started.

Chapter Eight

Solar Child

Chapter Eight

Written by Bakmah Genesis

This chapter takes place while Twilight is nine.  She is about to audition for Celestia's school.

                                     Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns. Three years after the incident.

          Celestia sat outside of the school room, waiting impatiently for her daughter to enter.  She wanted her to at least join the school and get some friends.  Twilight has been reserved and quiet after the incident three years ago.  The doctors said it was the trauma of being kidnapped and beaten.  Celestia worried for her daughter and hoped sending her to school for her to get friends would help.

        Celestia tapped her sandal on the marble flooring as she waited.  The two guards present with her eyed her with concern.  Twilight sat next her and busied herself with a book.  It was a simple fiction novel that Celestia had suggested, not wanting her to always be stuck in textbooks.

      They were soon waved in by one of the judges.  The judge barely looked up, she simply looked at the clipboard, read Twilight's name, and went inside.  Celestia snorted and followed her daughter into the large classroom.  The front of the classroom was kept empty for the students to practice while the back was raised.  In the seats on the raised section sat three judges.  On the side sat the two deans of the school.

      Upon seeing her enter, the judges and the deans bowed.  Celestia let out a sigh and motioned for the to rise off the ground.

      "You don't need to bow to me.  I'm just her to see how my daughter does."  With that, she sat in the corner.  She herself didn't exactly like the idea of having her take the exam but she wanted it to be fair and she didn't want to be seen giving Twilight special treatment just because she was her daughter.

     Twilight stood I the center of the room and a dragon egg was rolled into the room.  As it stopped next her, one of the judges told her she had to hatch the egg.  Celestia's mouth dropped open.

    'Why the buck would they have her do that?!  I know she's my daughter but she ain't as powerful as I am.'  She watched as her daughter tried and failed to hatch the dragon egg.  She cursed the judges in her head as she watched.  At that moment, there was a boom and a circle of rainbow color appeared in the sky.  A sonic rainboom.  Something that hasn't been preformed in years.

     At that moment, something happened that Celestia will never fully understand.  The three judges were lifted off their seats by Twilight's magic while the deans were turned into potted plants.  Finally, the dragon egg hatched and grew into a full grown dragon.  Celestia's jaw hit the floor.  How could a nine year old filly do all this?  The filly in question stood hovering in the air, her eyes white and no signs of control where shown.

    Celestia walked over to her daughter and embraced her, trying to calm the filly and the magic she was controlling.  The dragon returned to a hatchling, the judges were set down, and the deans were once again ponies.  Twilight slumped onto the floor and slowly opened her eyes.

    "Shh.  It's alright my dear."  Twilight smiled at her mother.  Celestia looked over the filly's body to make sure she was okay.  Her gaze stopped at her flank.  Celestia grinned and turned towards her.  "Not only did you manage to show you have plenty of potential, you always managed to find your special talent."  Twilight cocked her head at her.  Celestia pointed at her flank and she followed the direction of the hoof.

     On her flank was a cutie marke of a five pointed star with smaller ones sorounding it.  Twilight nearly rocketed out through the roof with joy.  She jumped up and wrapped her hooves around her mothers neck.

    "This so awesome, mommy!  This is the best day ever!"  Celestia smiled at small unicorn in her hooves.  She turned towards the three judges who were watching with expressions of shock.

    "I think it doesn't need to be discussed that she passed."  The three nodded slowly.  Celestia put on a warm smile.  "Good.  She will start during the upcoming term in three weeks.  Now, I must get home and talk with my daughter."  They were about to leave when they stopped in front of the dragon from earlier.  It was purple with green eyes and spikes.  The dragon layed on its back and sucked on the tip of its tail, watching as they walked towards him.  Celestia smiled and turned to Twilight.

     "What do you want to call him?"  Twilight looked up her in confusion.

    "Call him, what do you mean?"

     "What do you want his name to be.  You might as well keep him since you hatched him.  As long as he doesn't set my room on fire, I will be okay with you keeping him."  Twilight beamed then turned back to the dragon, her mind lost in thought.  Her eyes drifted to his spike shaped tail for a moment.

      "What about Spike?" she asked as she looked up at her mother.  Celestia smiled.

      "Spike it is, then."  She lifted the dragon in her magic and placed him on Twilight's back.  She struggled with the weight for a moment before getting her balance and standing straight again.  The two ponies and one dragon then made their way back to the castle, eager to relax for a moment after the long morning.

__________________________________________________________________________________

       Cadence stared at Celestia, her mouth hanging open.  Cadence asked about the audition when they got back and Celestia told her after a few hours of relaxing.  Now, Cadence sat there, not believing what she just heard.  She shook her head and rubbed her temples with her hooves.

       "She is nine and yet she can do something so complicated that I can't do it." she said as she shook her head.

       "I can barely do it as it stands." said Celestia.  This caused Cadence to stare at Celestia with the same slack jawed expression from a few moments ago.  She shook her head again and laughed.

      "Your daughter is showing you up, Tia, and she is nine!  She is truly something different."  Celestia nodded and looked out the window.

     "I'm still worried."

     "About what?  She will be fine."

     "Caddy, she is pretty much the strongest unicorn in existence, most of her known family has A LOT of influence in many ways, and her mother is ruler of Equestria.  She is an oddity and she will be treated as such from other colts and filly's her age.  Her trauma doesn't help either.  She's becoming OCD and gets overly paranoid and jumpy when stressed.   I worry for her because I know full well she will not have an easy path."  Celestia sighed and looked up at her sun.

     "I worry because I know her life will be hell and I can't always be there to guide her. In another ten years she is a legal adult and can move out if she wants.  I'm afraid of what will happen to her if she moves out but I'm also afraid of her never leaving the castle."  She looked over at Cadence, tears in her eyes.  "I worry so much about her."  Cadence sat next to her aunt and held her in her hooves, stroking her mane gently and soothing the distressed alicorn.

     "You can only do what you can.  You cannot protect her from all pain that lies in the world outside of the castle but she needs to be free.  Just let her."  Celestia nodded and looked at her niece.

     "Hey, ain't I supposed to be the one comforting you when you act like a little filly?"  Cadence giggled.

     "We all have our moments, even you, Tia."  The two sat in peace.  Celestia let the recent conversation role through her mind over and over again, trying to decipher what she should do next for her daughter.

Chapter Nine

Solar Child

Chapter Nine

Written by Bakmah Genesis

       "Are you sure you are all ready to go?" asked Celestia.  She was messing with Twilight's saddle bags, constantly adjusting them, checking inside, and putting something in or taking something out.  Twilight giggled at her mother.

     "Yes, mommy.  I'm only going two blocks away."  Celestia sighed and smiled at her daughter.

    "Yes, but its my job to worry about you.  Now behave and pay attention.  The teachers there know me so they would be more then glad to help you with any problems."  She sighed and looked out the window towards the school.  "This is going to be difficult when you have to move out when you're older.  I'm afraid I might just try to tie you to the floor so you won't leave."

    "He he, you are silly, mommy.  Can I go now? I don't want to be late."  Celestia sighed and nodded.  Twilight beamed and ran out the castle gates.  She motioned for to guards to walk over to her.  Once there she pointed at the receding image of here daughter.

     "Follow her for a few days and make sure she does alright.  I don't want anything like a few years ago to happen again while she is further away from me."  The two guards nodded and took off towards the school.  Celestia sighed and walked back into the castle.  "Being a mother is a lot harder then it looks."

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      Twilight walked through the halls of the large school that her mother ran.  There were unicorns her age and slightly older walking around the wing of the school she was in.  Twilight couldn't wait for her class to start.  She was nearly jumping up and down.

    She soon noticed that the others were giving her odd looks and backing into the lockers when she walked by, making room for her.  She stopped and looked behind her, her jaw dropping as she beheld the two guards that followed her.  She face hoofed as she knew full well who sent them.

    "As much as I love to be escorted by guards, could you stay further back?  You are scaring everyone and I don't want them to be scared of me because I have two guards at my side."  The guards looked at each other nervously before backing up a good distance.  Once they were a good ways away from her, she smiled and kept walking towards her first class.

     Once inside the classroom, the guards again followed her.  She sat down at a desk and pointed to the back of the room.  The guards sighed and took a seat in the back corners.  They couldn't disobey since she was royal family but they still didn't like the idea of being in a crowded room with her so far away.  The unicorn guard shook his head and leaned against the wall, watching the filly.

     In her excitement, she barely heard the whispers and murmurs from the other students.

     "Hey, isn't she the one who turned the deans into potted plants?"

    "Yeah, but what is she doing in an higher class?"

    "And why do guards follow her around?"

     "I head she's the daughter of Princess Celestia."

     "She's probably only in here because her mom put her in here."  The guards shifted with unease as they listened to the comments, more them happy that Twilight couldn't hear them.

     Seeing that class still had a few minutes until it started, a light blue colt stood up and walked to her desk.  The two guards stiffened and the unicorn guard silently prepared a spell to lift the colt away from her if needed.

     "Excuse me, but this class is for third years only." said the colt.  A few other colts from around where the blue one came from laughed.  Twilight cocked her head then looked at her schedule.

     "No, I'm supposed to be here."  The colt scoffed and leaned closer to her.  The guard's eye twitched, resisting the urge to throw the colt into the wall with as much force as he could.

     "Just because your mother is the principle of the school and Princess of Equestria doesn't mean you get to go into classes we worked for while you barely did anything except ask mommy."  Twilight looked at him confused.

    "I didn't ask mom.  I told her to be fair and let me join like everyone else.  I was told by the dean to join this class and I did."  She turned her attention back to the board in front of her, trying to ignore the annoying colt.  The colt was about to go off on her when he saw that he was covered in a green aura.  He turned and saw the unicorn guard shake his head while glaring at him.  The colt gulped and went back to his seat with his tail between his legs.  Twilight turned and glared at the guard.  He shrugged and gave her a sheepish smile.

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       The rest of the classes up to lunch went without incident.  The presence of the two guards was enough to make ponies think twice about approaching the young princess, as they called her.  Twilight was only mildly annoyed by this but after listening to their reason, allowed the guards to follow without complaint.

      She was currently getting lunch, the guards got their respective lunches after the lunch mare demanded they get some.  They followed the filly, ready to sit not to far from her, but not next to.  They didn't need to be too intimidating.  They soon just decided to sit in the corner and watch over her from there.  If they would be needed, they could easily reach her still.

     Twilight looked around the lunch room, trying to find a seat at a table.  For the most part, the lunch room looked completely full.  She then found a spot at one of the spots and decided to take it.  She sat down and focused on her lunch.  She would have tried studying but her mother asked her to only do it during study halls and at home.  For now, she set about eating her lunch.

     After a few minutes, she realized that no pony at the table was talking.  She looked down the table to see everyone staring at her.  She shifted and tried to get back to eating.  From the corner of the room, the Pegasus guard noticed this.  He pointed it out to the unicorn and they both watched from their seat, ready to run to her side when needed.

     "Why are you sitting here?"  Twilight blinked and searched for the voice.  Standing in front of her was a grey unicorn a few years older than her.  Her glare made Twilight shrink down and shift in unease.

    "W-well there a-are n-no more seats a-available s-so I thought I c-could sit here."  Twilight could almost feel her anxiety build within her. The filly's glare intensified and caused her to whimper.

     "This school is for unicorns who actually control their magic and don't use their parents authority just to get in higher classes because she thinks she is better."  The filly's glare was ice cold.  Twilight could barely breathe.

    "I-I-I w-wasn't d-doing t-that.  I-I s-swear."  The filly was about to open her mouth when someone tapped on her shoulder.  She whipped around, ready to yell at whoever did that, when she found herself looking into the eyes of a unicorn guard.

    "Miss, I will kindly ask you to leave Madam Solar alone.  Swift, check on the poor filly.  Miss, come with me."  Swift nodded at his partner and knelt down next to the terrified filly.

     "Madam Solar, it is alright.  You are safe.  Just take deep breaths."  The filly didn't seem to hear him.  She stared at where the older filly once stood, frozen in place.  The other filly's and colts were now gathering around her with concerned glances.

     "Is she okay?" asked a red colt as he looked over at her.  Swift motioned for them to stand back.

    "I can't be completely sure.  She suffers from extreme anxiety attacks if stressed out to a degree.  She has been this way for a few years.  I would treat her, but I don't have her medicine nor am I a unicorn skilled in trauma treatment.  Just step back."  Swift stroked the filly's mane, trying to soothe the filly out of her state.

    "Trauma?" asked the same colt.  He was farther back now.  By looking over his shoulder, he could tell the others had the same question.

     "Yes.  It was just before Madame Solar was assigned her own guards.  Being the daughter of the most powerful being makes you target for terrorist, enemy countries, and most recently, the AntiCelestia group."  He propped up the filly and held her on his lap.  "She has seen too much for her age."  He shook his head and put the filly on his back.  "Make room, I must return her to the castle and report this to the Princess.  While the other filly may get a stern talking from her parents and the deans, she will get a very angry lecture from the princess herself."  He picked up her saddle and walked towards the door.  Everyone moved out of the way.  After excusing her from the school, he took off towards the castle, ready to explain Twilight's condition in front of the princess and most likely court.

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        "WHAT?!" yelled Celestia, her mane and tail flaring up a bit in her bout of anger.  Everyone in the throne room winced and Cadence covered her ears from the force of her voice.  The guard walked in and told the princess of what happened before she questioned his interruption.  To say the least, Celestia was not pleased to learn of this.  She was both angry with the fact that a filly would so heartlessly bully her daughter for her talent.  But she was also horrified.  This was the first time she had an anxiety attack in public and it would spread like wildfire during a dry spell for sure.

      "Tia, just calm down." said Cadence.  Celestia turned to face her.  She had the same flame in her eyes as when Twilight was kidnapped.  She knew how dangerous her aunt could get like this.

      "CALM DOWN?  I REFUSE TO CALM DOWN WHILE I KNOW MY DAUGHTER IS BEING BULLIED FOR HER TALENTS.  I CAN'T LEAVE HER ALONE FOR A FEW MINUTES WITHOUT SOMEONE GOING AFTER HER."  Cadence knew Celestia rarely used the Voice, and when she did, it was never a good thing.

       "Tia, you are in public and your daughter can probably hear you."  Celestia calmed down and took a few deep breaths.

      "Anything of urgent matter will be asked to come to night court, everything else will wait until next day court, dismissed."  She stood up and walked out of the throne room, Cadence right behind her.  "Cadence, go to Twilight and calm her down.  If you need to, have her take her medication, you know where in her room I keep it."  Cadence nodded and walked towards the filly's bedroom.  Celestia sighed and looked to one of the guards who was accompanying her.

     "Do you have any children, soldier?"  The guard shook his head.

    "No, Princess.  We are expecting our first in a few months, however."  Celestia nodded.

     "Be warned, it's going to be a hoofful."  The guard nodded.

     "From what I see here, I couldn't agree more."  Celestia chuckled and walked down the road, heading towards her school to have a chat with a certain grey unicorn.

Chapter Eleven

Solar Child

Chapter Eleven

Written by Bakmah Genesis

                                                                        Guard Outpost #594 - Abandoned

       Guiding Spear sat behind an old mahogany desk.  On it sat a series of reports, info, and various photos based around Twilight Solar.  The fourteen year old daughter of Princess Celestia herself.  She has shown a great amount of magical talent and seems to study under Celestia.  While she is high in the views of nobility, she has no friends except her foal-sitter Cadence, her half-brother Shining Armour who was currently enlisted in the Royal Guard training grounds, and her mother.  She also had a dragon which she called her brother.

      Guiding Spear rubbed his temples as he tried to think of a way to get to her since she was under more protection after their last attempt to use her as leverage.  Spear was placed as leader after their former leader was arrested and reportedly killed, in a very brutal manner, after Celestia found wounds on the filly.  Guiding Spear was a former board member and was placed leader under chain of command since he was next under Gleaming Shield.

     Spear looked at the reports from their worms a second time.Twilight spent most of her time in three areas of the castle.  The library, Celestia's study for lessons, and the gardens.  She went there sometimes to study in a more calming setting or just to relax.  For him, however, it was an opening.

     The guards located around the gardens were more spread out then in the castle and the hedges would make a perfect place to ambush and escape to the castle walls easily.  If all went correctly, they could get in and out without Celestia knowing until they were already on the other side of Equestria.

      He smiled in triumph as the plan came into view and showed itself in its glory.  It would work and he had no doubt.  The only problem was Celestia herself.  He saw the outpost after she got done with it.  It wasn't pretty.  He wasn't going to make the same mistake.

     Shield used her as leverage.  He is going to use her as an advantage.  He would kidnap and murder her.  Once Celestia finds the body she would break down and will open herself.  He then would take that moment to attack and dethrone her then and there.  Equestria would be free of the tyrants rule and he would be crowned as the true king of Equestria.

      He looked out the window towards the direction of Canterlot.  Soon he would have his chance at taking what is his.  Tomorrow, change will come and Celestia will fall.  He laughed to himself.  She will fall.

____________________________________________________________________________

      Celestia tapped her hoof on the marble floor as she looked at the window over the gardens.  There was on the knock on the door and Cadence walked into the study.  Celestia sighed in relief and hugged her niece.  Cadence gladly returned it before turning serious again.

     "Now, Tia, why did you ask me to come here?" she asked as she sat across from her.  Celestia sighed and looked out the window.

     "I think we have worms among the staff and guards." she replied.

    "How do you know?"

     "They caught a guard sending a note via magic to an unknown location.  They couldn't track the notes location sadly.  When they tried to ask the guard where he sent it, he ran off.  He was cornered and committed suicide.  If that doesn't scream worm I don't know what does."  She shook her head and looked out the window.  She spotted her daughter walking through the gardens.

       "It has been eight years since their first attempt and I'm afraid they will try again or try something worse then just kidnapping her."

     "Like what?" asked Cadence, she watched along with Celestia as Twilight made her way to one of the fountains.  Celestia turned and looked her dead in the eye.

     "Murder."  Cadence's eyes went wide.

     "They couldn't be that desperate.  They know what her statues among us is."

    "That's exactly why they would do it." snapped Celestia.  "She is my daughter.  She is my weakness.  If I were to lose her, I would fall apart and they know it.  They will use that advantage if they need to."  She placed her head on her hooves and stared out the window.

     "We will just have to watch out for her until this worm problem is figured out.  I will have a te-"

      "What is that?"  Cadence followed her gaze out the window towards Twilight.  The shadows seemed to shift slightly behind her.  Cadence made out the faint sign of magic as a green aura shown out of the shadows.  She swore and stood up.  Before she could react, Twilight slumped forward and was caught by a green aura.  The figure then ran towards the wall which was only thirty feet away.

      There was the sound of shattering glass as the windows were blown outward.  Celestia jumped out of the window with her horn glowing.  A force field started to expand from the center of the castle.  Cadence watched as the figure was only five feet from the walls when Twilight was teleported away in a wisp of magic.  The figure just made it past of the wall and was about to teleport when a bolt of lightning struck the back of his head, sending him face first into the cobblestone.  Gore covered the area around him, marking the spots where his brains exited his skull.

       Celestia landed and let out a piercing scream.  The remaining windows in the study shattered under its force.  Cadence covered her ears.   Celestia collapsed and started to sob as memories from eight years ago came flooding back.  Now time was against them and she was more then aware of it.

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        Twilight groaned in pain as the side effects of the spell started to wear off.  She squinted her eyes shut and brought her hooves to her temples.  It was then she heard the rattling of chains.  She opened her eyes to find her hooves shackled to the wall behind her.  She panicked and casted a spell to realease herself.  Her horn fizzled out before she could properly cast the spell.  She brought her hooves to her horn and groaned as she felt a ring on it.

        She started to take deep breaths to keep her anxiety at bay as she felt it rise with every passing second.  She started to scan the room she was in and instantly regretted it.  She emptied her lunch as she saw the blood stains that covered the walls and shackles.   Wherever she was, she wasn't liking it.

      She heard the sound of approaching hoof steps.  She thrashed about against her restraints, trying to break free.  She froze when the sound of keys were heard outside her door.  Her heart rate increased ten fold and her eyes baca me pin pricks.

     No!  Not here, not now!  Stupid anxiety.  She stared at the door as a dark grey stallion with a jet black mane walked into her cell.  He sat across from her with a smirk.

     "You have a good fight in you, don't ya?"  She didn't say a thing except stare at him.  She was frozen in place.  "Hey, what's wrong with her? She won't even talk."  The guard by the door turned and faced them.  He looked her up and down then shook his head.

      "You triggered her anxiety.  She is having an anxiety attack and is frozen in place.  Unless you got her medicine in your back pocket you can do nothing except let her calm down."  The grey stallion shook his head.

      "Damn.  Shield made this harder, didn't he?  Oh well.  I didn't expect you to talk much anyways."  He smirked again and leaned closer.  "You are going to help us dethrone your mother.  All you have to do is die.  Simple.  In an hour we will take you out in the front and mount your head.  So be a good girl and stay put until then."  Twilight turned to the side and emptied whatever was left in her stomach.  She was now shaking uncontroably.

     "Until next time, Miss Solar."  He stood up and walked out of the cell.  As soon as he left she fought against her restraints harder, trying to get away before they did Faust knows what to her.  The shackles cut into her skin and caused her to bleed.  Despite this, she pulled harder, wanting to break free.  She had to escape.  She will not let them take down her mother.

Chapter Twelve

Solar Child

Chapter Twelve

Written by Bakmah Genesis

        Cadence stood aways back from Celestia as she paced back and forth, waiting for the tracking spell to finish.  Needless to say, she was pretty much on edge.  She was starting to put a decent sized rut in the floor.

      "Damnit!  Why is this spell taking so long?" she yelled out in frustration.  She glared at the currently spinning holographic globe in the center of the room.  Cadence sighed.

      "Tia, you can't expect immediate results, especially if you cast it in the state you are in.  You will have to wait." As soon as she finished, Celestia whipped around and glared at her.

      "How can you be so calm, Cadence?  My daughter is out there with ponies who intend to kill her and I'm standing here waiting for a spell to find her.  How can you be calm?"  Tears ran down her face.  Cadence scooted closer to her will keeping enough distance to dodge any attacks.

       "Because I know she is a smart child.  We also can't help her if we go in there and murder everypony on first instinct."

       "She is right, Tia." said a voice in the ends of her mind.  She recognized the voice instantly.

       "Lulu?"

      "That would be my name."

      "How are you talking to me?"

        "Easy, you are day dreaming."

       "I guess that makes sense."

       "Of course it does.  Anyways, Cadence is right. You cant go in as Solar Flare and kill on sight.  Kill when needed and take as many prisonors as possible including the leader of the group.  at least do this for Twi.". Celestia sighed as she saw her point.

        "Alright.  Once I find out where she is I'll just take prisioners.  Hopefully I will have enough to find them guilty."  The globe stopped spinning and zoomed in on Equestria.  It zoomed in a second time on the southern edge. With one more zoom it stopped at an abandoned outpost.  Celestia laughed darkly.

        "It's always the outpost.  Lets go and get my daughter."

_________________________________________________________________________________________

        Twilight bit into the small piece of rock as her bloodied hooves slide out of the shackles.  She whimpered and removed the shackles from her hind legs.  Once completely free, she struggled to her hooves and walked over to the door of the cell.  The whole while she was trying to fight off her anxiety, trying not to let it take her over again.

      She grabbed a medium sized rock from the crumbling walls and bashed it against the guards head.  She yelped and stepped back, instinctively spilling out a string of apologies.  After getting herself together, she grabbed the keys and unlocked the door and the ring on her horn.

       Once free, Twilight walked down the hallway.  She swayed side to side as if she just got done drinking a bottle from her mothers 'secret' cellar.  She tried to run through her mind, trying to figure out why this was happening to her.  She looked down at the blood covering her hooves.  She was, losing blood and fast.  She probably didn't have long until she lost consciousness.

        She soon found a side exit, the door was clear and not far down the hall.  She just had to make it to the end and she would be free from this hell.  She had to do it for her mother.  She had no choice.  She was not going to let her mother suffer because of her.

        She heard a loud explosion and shouts come from the front of the building.  She wearily turned her head to the noise.  Her eyes widened when she heard one voice over all the others.

      "Where is my daughter?!"  Twilight nearly cried as she heard the voice.  She called out as loud as she could, her voice hoarse from her screaming.  It seemed to work as the screams and explosion doubled and got closer to her.  She gasped as she saw what ca,e around the corner.

      Dressed in golden Armour was a white alicorn whose mane and tail were alit with blue flame.  It's eyes were her mothers lavender but its pupils were slits as if it was a dragon.  Upon seeing her, the flames died down to a rainbow mane and its pupils became normal orbs once again.  There stood her mother, covered with blood that was not her own.

     Her mother gave a weary smile and was about to approach her when she was tackled to the ground by three stallions.  One of them was the grey one from earlier.  The stallion pounded repeatedly on Celestia's horn, making the alicorn disoriented and slightly confused from the attacks.  Twilight sat in the corner, shut down in fear.  Her eyes wide and watery, never leaving her mother.  She couldn't take it.  She had to help her mother.

       She screamed, placing her hooves on her head and bellowing out a dealing sound.  Her mane and tail became a pure black.  Her coat was soon a dark purple.  A pair of wings sprouted from her back.  When she opened her eyes her eyes were darker then her coat, almost black and her pupils slits.

       Her horn glowed in a black aura.  The three stallions were picked up and thrown across the hall.  This only got the attention of more guards and made her the main target.  They ran full force towards her, weapons raised and ready to strike.

       "Leave me alone!" Her voice wasn't even normal.  It was adult mare.  It was a demented adult mare.  Her horn glowed again and did more then send them back.  Some were struck dead by lightening, some killed by their own weapons, and some were sent through the walls.

       Celestia placed a wing over the demented version of her daughter.  Slowly, the darkness vanished from the filly, revealing her wounds in full light.  As soon as she was again in full control, she slumped over into her mothers embrace.  Cadence walked around the corner and found the two.  She rushed to Celestia's side.

      "I think I know what I'm going to do, Cadence." said Celestia as she placed her daughter on her back.  Cadence cocked her head at her.  "Until the time is right, or at least until the alicorn inside her awakens, Twilight Solar was killed before we could save her."  Cadence stared at her in shock.

     "Celestia, ponies know what she looks like.  They would figure out she is still alive sooner or later."

     "True.  That is why she will be staying inside the castle away from the public.  After a few years, we will let her out and have her go by a different name.  Like I said, until she is ready, I don't want her to be the daughter of one of the most powerful ruler in Equestria."  She sighed and looked back at the unconscious figure of her daughter.  "I'm scared to think about what kind of trauma she will expire nice from this."

      "This is twice I let someone take her away from me.  If stating her dead to the public and keeping her hidden away for a few years is what it takes, then so be it.  I can't lose her.  Not her too."  With that she walked out of the building and into the sunlight.  With a flash of light, her, Twilight, and Cadence all disappeared only to arrive in the castle medical wing.

Chapter Thirteen

Solar Child

Chapter Thirteen

Written by Bakmah Genesis

       Celestia watched as the spell worked.  The five pictures that included Twilight burning into ash.  Any other photos in existence doing the same wherever they may be.  Her excuse simply being it too much to handle for her when in reality it was to protect her daughter.

      She sighed and looked at the mental report sitting on her desk.  Twilight's anxiety and paranoid OCD became more extreme as well as recurring episodes at the sight of blood or the dead.  Celestia could understand this.  Though she wanted nothing more then to wipe it from her memory, Luna and Cadence stopped her, saying it would be more damaging for her to forget then find out later.

        It has been two weeks since she declared her daughter dead and she placed a spell on the staff and guards so that they cannot tell anyone that she lived.  It was cruel but needed.  The guards were more than willing to help keep the young princess safe.

      She set the report aside and looked at the charges for the six remaining members of the AntiCelestia group that wasn't splattered across the old outpost.  One was a Guiding Spear, the current leader after Gleaming Shield.  She obviously had deep seeded hate for Spear and she would be more than happy to give him the death sentence.  The public wouldn't expect less, either.  It was the most unthinkable thing, murder.  And he did it to a foal.

     She looked over at the clock and saw she still had half an hour until she was supposed to be in the throne room to start court.  She closed her eyes and started to collect herself.  The last thing the public needed to see was Celestia unleashing the darkness in the middle of court.  That would not help her case.  There was a knock at the door and a guard poked his head in.

     "Princess, Twilight Sparkle is here to see you, as well as Lady Twilight Velvet and Sir Night Light."  She sighed.  Velvet and Night Light were minor nobles who took in Shining and were more then glad to take in Twilight when she asked.  Shining was not happy when he learned he lied to him about Twilight's death but agreed on her decision.

       The door closed behind the three.  The small lavender filly shot forward and wrapped around her mother, brining her into a warm embrace.  Celestia smiled and returned the hug.

      "It's good to see you too, baby.  I hope you are staying both out of sight and trouble?"  The filly nodded into her shoulder and looked up at her with a smile.

       "Yep!  I got to go in the kitchens for awhile and they let me help with some of the meals."  She nuzzled into her mother.  Celestia froze as she felt tears stain her coat. "But I don't want to be like this forever.  I hear some of the citizens when they come for court and I'm in the study next to the throne room.  I hear them always mourning for me.  'Oh poor filly, she was still so young.  Those bastards should burn.'  I don't like being dead."  Celestia stroked her daughters mane.

      "One day.  When you are a young adult, your true self will awaken and then, then Twilight Solar will once again live.  I don't like this either but we have to be strong."  She felt her nod.  "Now, go through the passage that leads to the study, from there you can hear the court."  Twilight got up and walked up to one of the book cases.  Giving it a slight pull with her magic, it revealed a hallway.  Celestia motioned for Velvet and Night to follow.  Once the three were in the hallway, the book case went back to its normal position.  Celestia sighed and headed down to the throne room.

____________________________________________________________________________

         "Presenting the accused, the last surviving members of the AntiCelestia group and their leader, Guiding Spear."  Celestia watched as ten guards brought in the six ponies.  Each one limping slightly and with multiple cuts on their body from both their treatment in the dungeons and their encounters from Celestia.  She glared at each one individually, tears in her eyes.  She still felt the pain from nearly losing her daughter again.

      "We are here to judge the AntiCelestia group with foal napping and first degree murder of Princess Twilight Solar.  How do you plea?"  She hated to ask the question since she knew they were guilty so did everyone else in the room, but it was law.  Guiding Spear smirked.

      "Guilty."  Celestia allowed a small smile, just enough that only ponies close to her could see it.  She started to raise the gable and sentence them when he spoke once more, making her drop the gable in the process.   "But she is not dead."  The silence that hung over the court was heavy as all eyes fell upon him.

      "Your so-called-princess is lying to you.  She is alive and well.  She was carried out of the outpost with the rest of us."  He smirked as he saw the court mumble among themselves.  Celestia remained silent.

      "Yes, we'll, she died at the hospital."  The silence rained down on the court again.  Guiding Spear's smirk disappeared and his eyes widened.  "I got there as quickly as I could but the medical staff could do nothing.  She lost too much blood and the trauma from the events was too much on her."  Tears stained Celestia's cheeks.  It was actually partly true.  Twilight lost a great deal of blood and slipped into a coma.  They were barely able to bring her back.

      She lifted the gable again and brought it down with a resounding crack.  Spear winced at the noise, waiting for his sentence.

      "I here by sentence the remaining AntiCelestia members to be hung publicly."  The six gulped.  "Mr Spear, however, will be executed by myself in private."  Spear turned visibly white.  Celestia fought back a triumphant smile.  She brought down the gable again, dismissing court.  She stood and Cadance followed her through a side door.  There sat Twilight next to a rose red mare and a grey stallion.

      "Well, I think you made a fine point of why no pony bucks with Princess Celestia." said Night Light as the two entered.  Celestia and Velvet glared at him.

      "Language, dear.  Twilight is in the room."  Night Light smiled sheepishly.  Velvet nodded and turned back towards Celestia.  "I'm guessing Spear's execution is going to be a bit more, to say, gory?"

      "Every last second of it." said Celestia as she sat down.  She motioned for the filly to join her.  She smiled as Twilight wrapped her hooves around her.  "I only hoped things could have been different so I didn't have to watch her grow up in a life like this."  Cadence wrapped a wing around her.

      "You can't predict everything, auntie.  Be glad she is here.  Now come on, lets head back to the study, I'll have someone get some ice cream."  Twilight gasped and beamed at Cadence.

      "Really, Caddy?" asked the filly, her eyes gleaming.  Cadence giggled at how ice cream could cheer up the wrecked filly in an instant.  She nodded.  Cadence led the others down the secret hallway to the study farther in the castle.  Celestia hung back and looked out the window.

      "Why is it that heart ache must follow me, Lulu?"  She sighed and followed the group.

Chapter Fourteen

Solar Child

Chapter Fourteen

Written by Bakmah Genesis

      "Why now?  I'm not ready.  What if they find out?  What if.." Twilight stopped her rambling as Spike slapped her across the face.  "Thanks." she muttered.  Twilight sat down and looked out the window she was standing by.  Just a few seconds ago she was told to go to the town of Ponyville where they were supposedly having this years Sun Celebration.  Twilight of course went into paranoid state of mind as she ran through all the possible ways ponies could find out she was Celestia's daughter and that she was in face alive.

      "I just find it risky, Spike.  Why send me into the public after I've been 'dead' for eight years?  I think it's still too early."  The dragon picked up the recently discarded book and walked over to the table to set it down.  Once he did, he propped himself on the surface and sat facing his sister/mother figure.

      "Twilight, you've been locked away in the castle for eight years.  I think it's time you got out and your mom agrees.  Besides, there is probably no pony that can look at you and make the connection that Twilight Sparkle, personal student to Princess Celestia, is actually Princess Twilight Solar, the supposedly dead daughter of Celestia."  Spike hopped off the table and placed a claw on her shoulder.

      "All you have to do is go there, observe the preparations and make some friends.  And not worry about the return of your slightly evil aunt."  Twilight raised an eyebrow at him.

      "Slightly evil?"

      "Well, Nightmare Moon, as said by your mother herself, is actually just a dark spirit that infested Luna and uses her negetaive emotions to power itself." said Spike in a matter-of-fact tone.  Twilight stared at the baby dragon with her jaw hanging open.  "What?"  Twilight smirked at him.

       "We'll, look who is starting to become a little scholar."  Spike snorted and made his way to the door.

       "That's what I get for living with a mare whose best friend is a book."  Twilight blushed and ran after the dragon.

       "Hey! That's not completely true!"

        "Sure it's not."  Spike's smiled faded.  "Twilight, what if you do meet your aunt?" he asked, his tone turning serious.  Twilight thought for a moment.

       "I'm not sure, but I'm scared that she might go ahead and let loose ,y true identity without thinking.  We haven't been able to contact her and inform her for eight years due to the fact that Nightmare Moon is preparing for tonight."  She sighed and gave a small smile.  "I'm probably being paranoid anyways.  Faust knows I've been for just about anything."  She paused and looked up a the sky.  "I will just have to hope for the best."

__________________________________________________________________________________________

        The chariot touched down in the middle of a small rural town that she guessed to be non other than Ponyville.  The small town consisted mostly of earth ponies and a few unicorns.  There was the occasional Pegasus but they were scarce.  The ponies went about business, ignoring the royal chariot with guards pulling it as if it wasn't even there.

        Spike thanked the guards as they got off.  They gave a nod and flew off back in the direction of Canterlot.  Twilight sighed as she watched the chariot fly back to her home and her solitude.  Where she felt safe and would never have to worry about being discovered.

        She turned around and came face to face with a pink earth pony mare.  The mare had a large poofy pink mane and ice blue eyes.  After a few seconds, the mare jumped up in the air with a gasp and disappeared down the street in such speed that Twilight's head hurt from trying to figure out how it was possible.

       "Okay.  That happened.  Spike, who do I have to go to first so I can hurry up and research Nightmare Moon?" asked Twilight, rubbing her temple with a hoof.  Spike produced the scroll again and read through it until he found a list of the names of the organizers.

       "Alright.  First is catering.  That is handled by a pony named Applejack.  Says here she lives at the towns apple farm.  Sweet Apple Acres." said the drake, pointing towards the line of apple trees.

        "Good, now lets hurry up.  The faster I finish observing, the better." said Twilight, trotting to the farm.

       "Don't forget about making friends." pointed out Spike as he hopped onto her back.  Twilight gave a small grunt at the weight.

       "Yeah, sure.  I'll think about it."

       "Twilight disobeying her mother?  That's a first." said Spike with a smirk.  Twilight shot her a glare.

       "Not in public, Spike!  Besides, I just don't see the point."  She held up her head and kept up her trot.  Spike sighed.

       "You may try to hide it but I can still see you hurt.  Twilight, you are dead.  You were foalnapped twice and almost died one of the times."  He leaned forward so his face was next to hers.  "You need friends who you can talk to and open up to.  You can pretend to hide it but I can see you hurt."  Twilight sighed.

       "I just don't know Spike.  I find it hard to trust again."

       "I will not let anypony hurt you.  I am here now and I will make sure you are safe."  He smiled.  "I may be small but I'm still a dragon."  Twilight gave a slight chuckle.

       "I feel so honored to have a cute little dragon like you protect me.  I feel so safe." said Twilight sarcasticly.

        "Hey!" shouted Spike.  He crossed his arms and pouted.  "I'm not cute."

        "Sure, keep telling yourself that." giggled Twilight.  They soon came up to the farm.  A sign above the entrance read 'Sweet Apple Acres' in large lettering, proudly wearing its name.  Twilight looked around the fields from where she stood until she found a single orange mare bucking the trees, knocking its contents into buckets.  The mare had blonde hair and wore a brown stentson on her head.

        "Excuse me, are you a Miss Applejack?" asked Twilight as she walked up to the mare.  The earth pony looked up at her and tilted her hat with a hoof.

        "That Ah am.  What can Ah do fer ya?" asked Applejack.  She had a thick southern drawl but was still understandable.  She was kind enough.

        "My name is Twilight Sparkle.  I am here by orders from the Princess to oversee the planning of this years Sun Celebration.  You are handling the food, I'm guessing?"

       "Eeyup.  Now, where have I heard your name before?" asked the farm pony.  She put a hoof to her chin in thought.  Twilight froze.  Her eyes widened in fear that she was caught.

        "What do you mean?" asked Twilight.  She forced a smile on her face.

        "That's it!" shouted the farm pony, smiling as she remembered.  Twilight's eyes became prinpricks.  "You have the same name as one of the old famous royal guard captains."  Twilight sighed.

        "Well, that's interesting." said Twilight, smiling in relief.

        "Eeyup.  Apparently, this Twilight was the marefriend of the Princess 'erself before she was killed in action." Twilight's eyes widened again.  It couldn't be the same Sparkle.

         "Oh?" asked Twilight.

        "Yup, she was also the other mother of the late Princess Solar, Celestia's daughter.  I remember that school ended early when we heard the poor filly was murdered.  She was only fourteen.  Poor girl." said Applejack, shaking her head sadly.  Twilight, however was trying to get over what she just heard.  Spike was in the same condition.  He never knew his other grandmothers name.

        "Anyways, why don'tcha try some of the food?  All this talk of death can't be healthy."  Twilight nodded and followed the mare back to the house.  Applejack was quiet for awhile before looking back at her.

       "Did ya know her?" she asked, her tone serious.

      "Who?"

       "The Princess' daughter."  Twilight looked off into the distance, not liking the direction the conversation was taking.

       "I did.  We hung out a few times.  She studied with me as well.  We became close after awhile.  I was looking for her in the gardens when I heard shouting.  I ran towards it in time to see her get teleported off somewhere.  Her foalnapped was killed before he could escape.  I never seen the princess cried as much."  Twilight finished, happy with her story.  She was told of how she was foalnapped a while after.

       "It hit you hard, didn't it?" asked the farmer, sympathy in her eyes.  Tears welled up in her eyes as she remembered how it felt like when she first pretended to be dead.

      "More than anyone can imagine."  A thought came to her and she looked up at the farmer.  "How do you know so much about my mother?" asked Twilight.  She clamped a hoof over her mouth as the words spilled out.

      "Yer mother?" asked AJ.

      "I was born a few years before Solar was." lied Twilight.  Applejack narrowed her eyes.

      "Yer lying to me.  Ah can tell when Ah'm bein lyed ta and Ah don't appreciate it."  Twilight sighed and looked away.

      "Just don't ask." she muttered.  Applejack looked at the pain that showed up in the lavender mare's eyes.  She couldn't be...  She decided not to broach the subject and reached for the triangle to call out for the others.  She would make this mare feel better, wether or not she was actually the dead princess.

Chapter Fifteen

Solar Child

Chapter Fifteen

Written by Bakmah Genesis

     Twilight walked away from the farm with a slightly bulging stomach.  Spike was similarly stuffed as he sat contently on her back while he rubbed his stomach.  Applejack and the countless other members of the Apple family were more than happy to let them taste all of their food.  Twilight actually enjoyed it somewhat.  She was still thrown off by their overly happy behaviour.

      "Alright.  Next we have a Rainbow Dash.  She is supposed to be taking care of the clouds so we can have a clear sky." said Spike as he read the scroll.  They both looked up to find clouds still in the sky and not a single Pegasus in the sky.  Twilight frowned.

       "Where is she?  We need to have this sky cle-"

       "Watch out!"  Twilight turned her head before being hit by a cyan blur and falling a puddle of mud.  She wiped her eyes clear a glared at a cyan Pegasus with a rainbow mane.  Said Pegasus shook all the mud off of her a looked sheepishly at Twilight.

       "Here, let me help you with that."  She flew off.  Twilight stood up and looked over herself and sighed.  She was suddenly drenched as a cloud dumped its contents on her.  She pushed her hair out of her eyes.  The mare smiled sheepishly from the cloud at Twilight.

       "I guess I over did it.  I'll give you my patent rainbow dry."  Before Twilight could speak, the cyan mare flew around her fast enough to full her vision with rainbow.  The mare stopped and landed with a grin on confidence.  Twilight's mane and tail puffed out.  The mare and Spike fell on the ground laughing.  Twilight sighed in frustration and looked at the mare.

      "Are you Rainbow Dash?" she asked the laughing mare.  Upon hearing her name, the Pegasus hopped up and puffed out her chest.

       "That's me!  Rainbow Dash, fastest flyer in Equestria and future Wonderbolt." boasted the mare.

        "The Wonderbolts?"

        "Yup." replied Rainbow.  "They are best flyers in Equestria and are going to be here during the festival.  I'm going to show them my moves and they will be begging me to join them."

        "They won't let a Pegasus who can't even keep the sky clear join them." said Twilight, shaking her head.  Rainbow Dash narrowed her eyes.

        "Hey, I can clear the sky in ten seconds flat."

         "Prove it." said Twilight with a smirk.  Rainbow smirked back before flying into the sky.  She was a blur as she went from cloud to cloud, bucking them into nothingness.  True to her word, she touched down ten seconds later, sky clear.  Twilight and Spike stared at the sky with slack jaws.  Twilight shook her head and smiled.

        "Well, I guess the sky is taken care of for tonight.  Come on, Spike.  We have to check the rest of the preparations so we can head to the library."  Spike nodded and hopped on her back.  They were walking away when Rainbow called out to them.

       "Hey, you look familiar."  Twilight froze.  Not again.  If this happens at the next two stops I will hurt somepony.. She turned around to the Pegasus.

      "What do you mean?" asked Twilight.

      "I don't know, you just seem familiar for some reason.  I just can't figure it out."

       "Yes, well, we need to get going."

       "Alright."  Rainbow flew off into the sky.  Twilight sighed.

       "That was close." said Spike.

       "Yeah, that's twice now we were almost figured out.  So what's next?"

      "Rarity.  She is supposed to be taking care of the decorations at the town hall."

___________________________________________________________________________________

       The town hall of Ponyville was a large circular building in the center of town square.  The outside of the simple tan building was covered in streamers on celebration of the Sun Celebration.  The inside was covered in a series of streamers, bows, and banners.  Twilight looked around with a smile on her face.

      "It's beautiful." said Spike, his mouth open in awe.

      "Yes it is." agreed Twilight as she looked around the building.  Spike shook his head.

      "Not that." He said. "Her." He pointed to am alabaster unicorn with a purple mane did up with perfect care.  The mare compared a few strands of ribbon before choosing the red and tying it into a bow.  She placed it on the wall and smiled at her work.

      "You have done a beautiful job." said Twilight, approaching the mare that she presumed to be Rarity.

      "Oh, thank you darl-" She stopped as she took in Twilight's mane.  "Oh my Celestia!  Darling, your mane!"  Twilight looked at her tail.

       "Oh, this?  It was just an accident.  Nothing to worry about." said Twilight, shrugging it off.

       "No, this won't do.  I have to make you look like royalty.  Come with me, darling."  Rarity dragged Twilight with her out the door, Spike practically floating after them.  Twilight was frozen at the royalty comment.

      They arrived at a boutique.  Rarity opened the door and set Twilight on a raised platform in the middle of the room.  She then went off behind a screen and started looking at clothes and dresses she had stored back there.  For the next half hour, Twilight tried on so many dresses and hair styles she lost track.  Finally the fashionista stopped after some convincing and let the her go back to her normal mane style and let her out of the dress.

      "I never got to know your name, dear." said Rarity as Twilight stepped out of the last dress Rarity shoved her in.

       "Twilight Sparkle.  The Princess sent me to look over the preparations."  Twilight sat down on one of the chairs in the room they currently sat in.

       "You live in Canterlot? Oh, how I wish I could go there.  I heard it is simply wonderful." said the fashionista.  "Personally, I would love to get to know Prince Blueblood.  I heard he is simply to die for."  Twilight scoffed.

      "Don't get your hopes up with him." said Twilight as she leaned her head back to relax.

       "Whatever do you mean?"

       "Blueblood is one of nastiest nobles you will find.  A firm believer in the book of Celestia, who is also his adoptive aunt.  He sees anypony that goes against the bible to be heathens from hell and pure evil.  He is also so full of himself that he will always act like he is high in mighty when he makes smaller decisions compared to Celestia."  She sighed and looked up at Celestia.  "I've known him since we were kids.  After he became a 'prince' so to speak, he has became full of himself that I just started avoiding him."

        "I think you should set your sights on someone less of an ass." finished Twilight.  Rarity stared slack jawed at her.

       "How do you know so much about him?" asked the fashionista.  Spike, who was lost in the mares beauty, spoke without thinking.

       "Because she is the daughter of Cele-"  There was a crashing sound as a ponykin was smashed ontop of Spike, cutting him off.

       "Oops." said Twilight, pretending to be innocent.  She stood up and placed Spike, who was rubbing his head and glaring at her, on her back.  "Well, we must get going.  We will see you at the celebration."  With that she left the boutique and went towards the park.

       "What was that for, Twi?" asked Spike as he rubbed his head.

        "Let me see, a certain drake almost told someone that I'm Celestia's daughter." she snapped.

         "Yeah, I guess I deserved that." said the drake as he scratched the back of his neck.  He took out the scroll and opened it up.   "Alright.  Last but not least is Fluttershy.  She is in control of the music."

        "Alright, where do we find her?" asked Twilight.

       "Over there." he said as he pointed towards the center of the park.

Chapter Sixteen

Solar Child

Chapter Sixteen

Written by Bakmah Genesis

        As the two made their way further into the park, the sound of singing birds reached their ears.  They sang in sync and harmony, perfectly along with a beautiful song that was lost to them among the singing.  In the center of the park was a yellow Pegasus with a pink mane.  The mare hovered above the ground and directed a group of various birds in a tree.

        Spike and Twilight stood patiently and swayed along to the music coming from the birds.  Twilight closed her eyes and hummed along, enjoying the bird's singing.  Once the singing stopped she opened her eyes and approached with a smile.

       "That was beautiful." said Twilight.  The Pegasus gave a small 'eep' and the birds flew off.  The pegasus started to shy away.

        "Oh.  Um.  Thank you." said the mare just enough to be heard.

         "My name is Twilight.  Are you Fluttershy?" she asked, bringing her voice down a bit for the timid mare.  She nodded in response.  "Well, that was a beautiful song, Fluttershy.  We just wanted to make sure that the music was ready."  She looked over at Spike who sat on his back.  "Alright.  That's it.  Lets head to library so we ca-"

       "Is that a baby dragon?!" exclaimed the Pegasus, her eyes shining in joy and curiosity.

       "Yep." said Spike confidently, puffing out his chest and raising up his head.

       "Oh my goodness, I never seen a real baby dragon before.  Oh you just have to tell me about you." said the mare as she fluttered in front of him.

       "Well..."  Twilight sighed as Spike went into a full out story about himself.  She kept a brisk pace forward as the two talked.  Not once she talked to, she only served as a transport.  She sighed in relief as the library came into view.

       It looked like a normal tree at first until you take into count the door and windows that were spread out through it along with the sign saying 'Golden Oaks Library'. She felt giddy about seeing something she was familiar with and felt overly comfortable in.  She stopped at the door ad turned to the still excited Fluttershy.

       "Well, we are here." said Twilight, growing an overly large fake smile.  "I just need to get Spike inside, he is so sleepy."  Spike crossed his arms.

      "I don't know what you are talking about.  I am fi-"  He was cut off as he was thrown off her back and landed on the ground.  His head swam from the sudden impact of the hard ground.

     "See?  He is so vewy tired." said Twilight, going into a baby voice.  Spike crossed his arms as his mother figure treated him like a baby once again.

     "Oh my, we must simply get him to bed." said the timid mare, making to bring Spike into the library.  Twilight stepped in front of her.

      "And I will get him there.  Well it was nice talking to you but we really need to go. Bye!" Twilight nearly slammed shut the door.  She sighed as she tried to make out shapes.  In the dark library.  "Spike, help me find the lights so I can get to research.  Right now, that's the only thing I want to be doing."  Oh how the world is cruel.

       "SUPRISE!!" The loud shout and the sudden bright light made Twilight jump and cover her eyes.  Upon opening them, she saw that her temporary home was filled with ponies she didn't know, save for the three ponies she got done talking to over the course of the day.  Next to them was the pink pony from when they first landed.  She wore a smile ready to rip her face in half and jumped from hoof to hoof in excitement.

        "Hi!  I'm Pinkie Pie!  You must be wondering 'Why are there all these strange ponies in my house?"  Well, I throw a welcome-to-Ponyville party for everypony I don't know who is new to town!  I threw it in the library because you seemed to like books and-". Whatever else was said by the rapid speaking mare was lost to Twilight as she tuned her out.

       Twilight grabbed a red bottle of liquid, half hoping for liquor to be in it, and poured it into a goblet.  She lifted the goblet to her lips and started drinking the red liquid.  After a few gulps. Her eyes widened and she set down the goblet.  Her mouth felt like it was on fire.  She spat out the rest of the liquid and ran up stairs, trying to escape the crazy ponies that were in her home.

         She walked into the bed chambers of the library and kicked the door closed behind her, shutting out the loud music and voices of ponies.  Reaching into her saddle bags, she pulled out a book she 'borrowed' from the Canterlot Royal Library.  The book focused on the subject of Nightmare Moon, telling the story of her corruption and of her banishment, touching lightly on how she was before.

        Twilight heard enough stories from her mother to know some about her aunt's past before the Nightmare.  In all reality, she was almost happy to have her come back.  She only wished it wasn't as Nightmare Moon.  She sighed and looked up at the setting sun, feeling the comfortable warmth of her mother and aunt combined as the day gave way to night.

  _____________________________________________________________________________________

        Rainbow Dash excused herself from the group and flew up the stairs to the bathroom.  The music got much quieter as she opened the bathroom door.  She closed the door behind her and looked into the mirror sitting above the sink.  What looked back at her was a cyan Pegasus with a rainbow mane.  Her eyes sad and tired though the rest of her body said awake and full of energy.  She sighed and rubbed at her eyes.  She splashed her face a few times and opened the door, ready to head back down.

        A calming tune stopped her.  It was calm and slow singing of a familiar song she herself played at moments when she was depressed.  She could almost hear the guitar as the voice went into song, slow and sad.  Rainbow Dash slowly approached the door that lead to the bedroom.  She quietly opened the door and gasped at what she saw.

       The lavender mare from earlier.  She named herself as Twilight Sparkle.  She was sitting on her bed looking out the window at the setting sun.  The rays of dusk shining down perfectly on her lavender coat.  Her purple eyes gleaming in the sunlight even though they were laced with saddness.

         Here comes the rain again

             Falling from the stars.

           Drenched in my pain again.

              Becoming who we are."

           Twilight wiped away tears as she went into her next verse.  Rainbow's heart fluttered as she watched the beautiful mare sing.  She cautiously made her way into the room, careful not to startle the unicorn.  After a few more minutes, she sang the last note and held it into nothingness.

          "Wake Me Up When September Ends by Green Hay, love that song." said Rainbow quietly.  The mare yelped and jumped into the air.

         "How long were you there?" asked Twilight, collecting herself.

         "Long enough to hear you have a beautiful voice."  she said with a smile.  Her face fell into her serious frown as she fluttered up to the next story.  "And that there is something bothering you."  Twilight sighed and looked out the window.  She couldn't exactly tell the truth to this mare she just met, but she couldn't just turn her away.

        "I was an orphan at a young age."  It wasn't a complete lie.  She had lost one of her mothers and she can't publicly call Celestia her mother anymore for at least another few years.  "I lived in the orphanage since I was three, my brother was fifteen and kept himself busy with school and later the guard." She gave a small smile.

        "Books kept me happy.  I had no friends there so it was just me and the stacks of books.  Because of my constant learning of magic, I grew quite skilled at it for my age.  The head of the orphanage got me a slot to audition for Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns."  She laughed and looked down at her hooves.  "And I passed with enough flying color that I was appointed as Celestia's protege by Celestia herself."

       "Then why are you all depressed?  You have it all after starting off with shit." said Rainbow as she sat in front of the bed.

       "I was put down a lot."  Now this was true, she thought to herself.  "I was a no pony and somehow got into one of the most advanced schools in Equestria."  Her expression saddened and she faced the rainbow maned mare.  "Can you keep a secret?"  She got a nod in response.  "I suffer from major trauma induced anxiety and OCD.  I can also get extremely paranoid."

         "No one except Celestia and the guards that followed me knew."  She looked back out the window.  "There was a filly a few years older.  She absolutely, hated that I was a whole year higher than year and I was younger.  She wasn't afraid to beat me down vocally."  Rainbow's mouth went slack with shock.

         "I went into a full anxiety attack right there in the middle of the lunch room.  I was pulled out of the school and taught by Celestia twenty-four-seven.  I have never once been out of the castle for more than a little while and never tried to meet with other ponies."  Twilight looked over at her.  "What about you?"

         "What about me?" asked Rainbow, raising an eyebrow.

        "You said you loved this song." She looked Rainbow in the eyes and pointed a hoof between her eyes.  "And I learned to spot pain in someponys eyes."  Rainbow sighed and sat up against the bed.

         "I had a brother, a twin to be exact.  Don't ask me what it's called when twins are different genders, I can't remember.  Anyways, we were still pretty little, ten maybe.  It was a few years before we heard the Princess' daughter was killed."  She looked out the window with a distant look.  "We were pretty decent fliers.  I got my cutie mark the year before by doing a trick that was never supposed to be possible."

         "We thought we were invincible like any little kid, especially talented flying pegasi." She smirked a little.  "We were no exception.  It was Nightmare Night, I was here with Fluttershy.  My brother was coming down from Cloudsdale to hang out."  She gulped and Twilight could see a little of the mare die inside.

        "Some Pegasus thought it would be funning to use a thundercloud to scare the living crap out of one of his crew members, its not illegal.  He forgot to put it back and it was caught in a draft."  She turned her head away and looked at a floor.  "He loved to race through clouds because of the feeling you got when the condensed water breaks over your body."

        "It was late, so you couldn't tell white clouds from grey clouds very well, they looked the same if you don't have a keen eye for them."  Rainbows voice caught a bit.  "He didn't notice and by the time he did he was gone." she stuttered, her voice cracking.  "I saw the small explosion as the lightning escaped all at once.  I went to go check it out and found him on the ground.  Only a few strands of hair were left and his coat was burnt pretty bad."  She wiped away the tears.

        "I'm sorry." said Twilight softly, putting a hoof on the Pegasus' shoulder to help calm her.  Rainbow leaned her head on the hoof.  Her face reddened and her heart beat rose.

       "Thanks, Twi." she muttered.

         "Twi?" asked Twilight, raising a eyebrow at the nickname.

        "I thought it was cute, a little."  said Rainbow as she turned crimson.  "I just wanted something sort to call you."

        "Then Twi it is." said Twilight with a smile.  Rainbow smiled back and stood up and flew to the door.

         "You coming out?" asked Rainbow.  Twilight shook her head.

         "Nah, I want to get some sleep until tonight."  Rainbows ears drooped slightly.

         "Okay, well, see ya later."  With that she left the room.  Twilight looked out the window with a small smile.

         "Sometimes, I just need to remember there are people who had it worse.  Rainbow, thank you."

Chapter Seventeen

Solar Child

Chapter Seventeen

Written by Bakmah Genesis

    Twilight followed the crowd towards the town hall, Spike sitting on her back as he watched the crowd.  The crowd was alive with buzz of the upcoming event.  Twilight herself was excited.  She has seen her mother do it so many times over the course of her life but it always left the world with an magical hum.  It was amplified for her due to the fact she was a partial alicorn.

       She entered the building and looked around at the beautifully decorated building by none other than Rarity.  Twilight made a mental note to congratulate her.  The sky was spotless and clear, the food table long amd plentiful.  The small singing of birds in perfect sync and tune.  She might still have been a but weary of the habitants of the town, but she was sure warming up fast.

        She looked up and caught a familiar rainbow mane as Rainbow Dash slowly flew around the building, taking everything.  She looked bored but Twilight could see the small shimmer in those beautiful magenta eyes.

        Now where the hay did that come from? thought Twilight, shaking away the thought of the gorgeous orbs.  Her cheeks grew hot and red.  Twilight's eye twitched as she remembered the feeling described by her mother about her other mother.  She refused that within a few hours she had fallen for the rainbow maned Pegasus.  Besides, she would hate to think about what would happen of it worked out and she found out the truth.

        Her running thoughts were cut short to her relief by the sound of a hoof tapping on the microphone.  She turned her attention to the mayor as she gave a speech about the upcoming event.  Twilight didn't listen since she heard the speech many times before.

        Movement out of the corner of her eye made her gaze in the direction of the moon.  She was glad she wasn't drinking something for she would have done a spit take at the sight of the missing image of Nightmare Moon on the moon.

        "Oh buck me." she said quietly.  Spike heard her and looked up at the moon.

         "Well shit.  You know, I hate it when you are right." said the drake as he gazed up at the blank orb in the sky.  The birds began the song that was to signal the princess.  Twilight quickly turned her gaze towards it, hoping to the gods known and unknown that it would be her mother walking through that curtain.  Sadly, her prayers were not heard as no pony stood on the otherside of the curtain as it was parted.

        "She's gone!" exclaimed Rarity from atop the balcony.  There were shouts and screams of panic.  Twilight stood there, praying for this to be nothing but a dream.  Her prayers were cut short by the sound of a chilling cackle.  The sound was somewhat familiar as it sounded like her aunt who visited her once before in her dreams.  But this sounded more demonic than anything.

        "Ah.  My little ponies, I hope you did not miss me during my unexpected leave."  A pillar of smoke appeared on the balcony, forming into the dark figure that was Nightmare Moon.  Her green eyes chilled the very air as she stared at the crowd in twisted humor of seeing them frightened. She stopped and frowned as she spotted a single lavender mare upon all the rest.  She stood defiant with no sign of fear.

        "And who are you to not cower in fear at my return?" growled the nightmare, floating down to level with the mare.  The mare stared back at her.  She dropped her voice so only her and the nightmare could hear.

        "Twilight Solar and I would gladly like to know where my mother is."  growled the mare.  Something clicked and she smirked as she remembered the mare.

        "Ah yes, Twilight Sparkle, the personal student of Princess Celestia herself.  Well, I'm sorry to inform she is not capable to come at this time.  I removed her while I bring this retched realm into a land of eternal night."  The mare before her gritted her teeth.

       "What did you do?"

        "Ah, ah, ah." said Nightmare Moon, shaking a hoof at her.  "No spoilers."  She grinned and disappeared in a wisp of smoke.  The wisp left out of the window amd towards the Everfree forest.  She snorted and walked out of the town hall.

        "Spike, I want you to go back to the library and stay put there until I get back."  He nodded and hopped off her back.

       "Hey Twilight." He called out.  She stopped and looked over at him.  "Don't level the forest, please."  Twilight smirked.  She turned to head towards the forest when she found her path blocked by the five ponies from earlier.

         "And where do ya think yer goin'" asked Applejack.  Twilight sighed.

         "I have to stop her.  If I don't, well, we will have to get used to never seeing the sun again."  She tried to walk around the group only to find Rainbow Dash cutting her off.  She almost walked straight into her, causing the two to blush and a certain alabaster unicorn to hum in thought.

          "You can forget about going alone.  We will come with you because eternal night is so not cool." said Rainbow, slightly getting her blush under control.  Twilight was about to argue when she saw the pleading look Rainbow had in her eyes.  Her heart fluttered slightly and she gave in.

          "Alright, follow me."  Twilight and the other five mares made the treck into the foreboding forest, unaware of the green eyes watching their every step.  Nightmare shot off into the forest until she found what she was looking for, a Manitcore.  She was more than sure that if irritated, the monster would be enough to rid her of the five ponies.  Twilight, however, she wanted alive.

          Twilight led the five , scanning for any sign of the nightmare.  Her train of thought was derailed by a howl of a creature she never heard before.  Twilight quickly cursed the fact she rarely got out of the castle walls.  The six mares continued on more carefully, trying to be aware of whatever might be in the forest besides them.

       Out from the bushes jumped out a Manticore, its eyes red with rage.  The six shrank back, Dash jumping I front of Twilight to shield her without thinking.  Again, Rarity thought on the actions, though the thoughts were brief.  The six retreated back from them large creature, careful of its movements.

       Fluttershy took in a deep breath and walked out from the group and towards the angry Manticore.  Rainbow almost jumped out to get her when she turned around and motioned for her to stay back.

       "Aw, you poor thing, you want to tell me what's bothering you?" asked the normally timid mare.  She showed more confidence then any of the other five mares have ever seen her have.  The manticore's expression softened amd it held out a paw, a single thorn protruding out of the soft padding.  Fluttershy nodded and gripped the thorn in her mouth before jerking back her head.

       The creature roared and leaped at Fluttershy before the others could react.  However, they stared in disbelief as they saw the large creature nuzzle the yellow mare.  Fluttershy broke the embrace and waved good-bye as the Manticore walked off.

      "Whoa, Fluttershy!  That was totally awesome!" exclaimed Rainbow Dash as she swooped down and picked up the shy Pegasus in her hooves.

     "Oh, um...thank you Dash.  Could you, um, put me down?"  Rainbow nodded and set down the Pegasus who gave a quiet thanks.

      "Alright let's keep going." said Twilight.  The others nodded and they went further into the forest.

______________________________________________________________________________________

       Twilight and the others stood in front of the crumbling building that was the Everfree Castle.  On their way, they dealt with landslides which AJ happily saved her from and asked her for trust, once she had it, she let go and Twilight was able to fall onto the capable wings of Rainbow Dash.

       Then there was the pitch black darkness and creepy shapes of the trees.  Pinkie Pie taught her and the others to just laugh at it so it would disappear, leaving them to leave without a scratch.

        Next was the agitated sea serphant, making it impossible to cross by causing rapids due to his distress.  Rarity generously removed part of her tail to repair the serphants ruined mustache and pride, allowing the, safe passage across the river.

       Finally was the Shadowbolts.  To fix the bridge, Rainbow fetched the hanging bridge hung it back up and was able to make it cross able.  She was then intercepted by the Shadowbolts, claiming to be world class fliers and wanting her to join.  Out of her pure loyalty, she refused and returned to the group.

      Now they stood in front of the castle that she was hiding in.  Twilight swallowed her fears, anger, and rage.  She collected herself and turned to the other five mares.

     "You guys check down here, I will go upstairs.  If you find her, shout out and we will come.  Don't try to fight her alone."  They nodded  and went their separate ways.  Twilight walked up the winding stairs set in the stone, carefully making her way up so as to not run into a trap.

     At the room on the top of the stairs was what seemed to be a long hall.  Pillars were fallen over and a few holes gave way to the still dark sky.  She looked around the barren room, not wanting to chance it.  She walked further in, her steps careful and slow.  She stopped at the sound of cackling.

      "Twilight Sparkle.  Out of all the names in the world, she chose to change yours to the most obvious."  Nightmare Moon appeared behind a small raised platform in the back of the room.  It wasn't until she inspected it until she realized what sat upon its surface.  The five elements of harmony.  The sixth only being able to appear with a spark of magic.  Twilight had to get to them.

      "Well, my life hasn't exactly been a cake walk.  If things had been different I wouldn't need to be dead." The two mares circled each other.

       "I bet you wish to hurt me, get me to release your mother and aunt.  Tell me, how far will you go?" asked the Nightmare with a smirk.  "I can feel the darkness building within you, Solar.  You can feel it too.  It wants out.  It wants to feel the satisfying feeling of killing amd hurting others.  It wants free."

       "But it won't." said Twilight, gritting her teeth.  "I will not release that into the world.  You want to use it because it is more powerful than you."  Nightmare Moons smirk faded.  "You are scared of it so you want it to yourself, you want to control it.  I'm sorry, I don't give that easily."

        "We will see how much you can handle, Solar."

        "Twilight?  Did you find her?" asked Applejack, her voice carrying from the stairs.  She heard multiple hoof steps come from the stairway.  Twilight's eyes went wide.  Nightmare Moon smirked at her reaction.

       "Oh buck my life." moaned Twilight.

       "Gladly, dear." said Nightmare.  The five made it to the top and gasped as they saw Nightmare Moon before them.  Twilight and Nightmare stood on either side of the room, the girls in between.  Her mind clicked and she sprinted forward towards them as Nightmare's horn glowed.

       Time slowed as Twilight raced, her horn glowing and engulfing the elements of harmony.  Her mind raced faster than she could believe possible.  The elements glowing bright as Twilight sent a charge of magic with out thinking.  She jumped I front of the beam, the elements surrounding her.  There was an explosion, sending everyone in the room sprawling.

     Rainbow groaned and opened her eyes.  She saw that the others alright.  She then noticed Nightmare Moon on the ground on the far side of the room.  Her heart stopped as she saw Twilight.

      The lavender mare was glowing in a rose aura as she layed on a blackened spot on the floor.  The five elements floated towards each of the girls including herself. She gasped as she saw the pendent was her cutie mark.  The necklace attached itself to her neck and she felt a surge of magic surge through her.

       The others were in the same state as her, shocked and not understanding.  They were soon lifted into the air as twilight stood up.  She couldn't figure out why any this was happening or how.  She glanced over at Nightmare Moon who stared at Twilight in horror.

         "H-how?!" she exclaimed.

         "I figured out on the way here that I had the true elements with me.  Applejack with her honesty, Rarity and her generosity, Pinkie Pie and her laughter, Fluttershy and her kindness."  Twilight paused and her smirk grew.  "And finally, Rainbow Dash and her loyalty."  Rainbow's heart fluttered slightly as she watched her.

         "I realized how much they meant to me and how much I would sacrifice for them, and that provided the spark."  A six pointed star crown appeared and settled itself on Twilight's head.  "Nightmare Moon, as bearer of the element of magic and as Celestia's personal student, I here by expel you from Princess Luna Moon!"  Nightmare Moon screamed as her vision was filled with rainbow.  The rainbow them flew out the window and out into the sky, disappearing from sight.

          Twilight smiled as the sun began to rise.  Her smile grew as she turned to her friends.  She had, for once, friends and she was more than happy.

Chapter Eighteen

Solar Child

Chapter Eighteen

Written by Bakmah Genesis

  Celestia flew towards the Everfree Castle after feeling the discharge of the elements and the presence of Nightmare Moon all center around the castle.  She flew with excitement and fear.  Excitement of seeing Luna once again, and fear of any injury that had been dealt to her or Twilight.

     Soon the abandoned castle came into view.  She angled her flight path and flew towards one of the halls of the old building.  She flew to the closest one, most of the ceiling having been removed from a battle long forgotten.  She gently glided down inside, careful not to clip her wing on the ceiling.  Once landed, she was tackled by a lavender blur.

      "Thank the sun you are alright!" said Twilight as she embraced the alabaster alicorn.  She smiled and leaned down next to her ear.

       "It's good to see you are okay, too, baby." whispered Celestia as she embraced the young mare.

      "I never want to lose you." Twilight said as she buried her head into Celestia's shoulder.

       "And you won't.  Now come on, I have a sister to talk to." said Celestia as she stood.  She walked to the indigo figure that was on the marble floor.  Luna was in the fetal position, hugging her legs.  Her eyes were distant as she stared off into the distance.

        "I tried to stop it, Tia." said the indigo alicorn softly as Celestia sat next to her.  She cradled the younger alicorn in her hooves, soothing her.  She turned to Twilight and the others and nodded.  Twilight understood and ushered everyone out.

        "There was little you could do, Luna.  It's not your fault." said Celestia quietly.  Luna nodded.  She seemed to be lost in thought for a moment.

            "You still miss her, don't you?" asked Luna.  Celestia stopped stroking her name and looked down at her.

    "Of course."

     "So you changed Twilight's name to hers?" asked Luna.  Celestia looked away and focused her eyes on the stairway on the opposite side of the room.  The excited voices of her daughter and her friends came from the floor below.

     "Twilight would not want you to mourn over her by changing her daughters name to match hers." said Luna, eyeing the older alicorn.

      "I know." she said quietly.  Luna placed a hoof on her shoulder.

       "You have to tell her the truth, Tia.  Now."  Celestia sighed and nodded.  Luna stood and made her way to the stairs.  Once she was gone, Celestia looked at the rising sun, making its round through the sky without the nightmare disrupting it.  The sound of hoof steps brought her back to reality.

      "Was there something you wanted to tell me, mother?" Celestia turned to face her daughter.  She smiled warmly as she brought her into a embrace.  The unicorn/alicorn nuzzled into her coat.

       "How much do you know about your mother?" asked the alicorn.

        "She was the captain of the Royal Guard, had Shining with the last stallion she would ever have a relationship with, and met you when she climbed the ranks.  She was deployed to the eastern edge where she was killed by a suprise attack.  Her surname was Sparkle." recalled the mare.  She looked up at her mother.  "Why?"  Celestia sighed and looked out a hole in the wall.  It overlooked the forest that was bathed in the suns glow.

         "Twilight Sparkle was orphaned at the age of six.  At nine, she was brought in by a pair of nobles that, surprisingly, were the parents of Cadence and Blueblood."  Twilight snorted at that and nuzzled against her.  "Later that year, she received her cutie mark for bravery and knowledge for offensive spells, which she got from reading almost all the time." she said with a smirk.  Twilight giggled.

          "So that's where I got that from." giggled Twilight.  Celestia giggled herself.

         "Yes.  Now, at twenty she met a decent Gentlecolt that of course sired Shining Armour.  When he was two, they left each other and she joined the guard to try and support them.  Shining spent most of his time with a foal sitter."  She smiled.  "It wasn't very long in the service she climbed up to the point where she was appointed to my personal guard.  This is where we got close and soon grew to each other and of course to something else."

         "The rest is obvious but the point is that I still miss that mare and it was part of the reason I changed your name to Twilight Sparkle, to hear that name again."  She stroked the younger mares mane and kissed her on the forehead.  I love you and your mother more than anything."

          "I love you, too, mom." said Twilight as she nuzzled the alicorn.

          "Come on, you have friends waiting and I have an old friend." said Celestia as she walked towards the stairs.

         "Wait, what?" asked Twilight as she caught the last part.  Celestia giggled.

           "The public thought I had a sister when I only had a foster sister, Twilight ght."  Twilight shook her head and followed.

           "You need to explain that farther one of these days, mother."

           "Of course my dear."  Applejack ran back down the stairs, sneaking back into the group without Luna noticing.  Rarity noticed her and raised an eyebrow.  Applejack leaned close to her so only they could hear.

          "I need to tell ya something about Twi when we are alone." she said in a whisper, watching Celestia and Twilight come back down.  Rarity looked over at their rainbow maned friend who seemed to beam as she saw Twilight.

          "And same with our dear Rainbow Dash." said Rarity.  They put on smiles and followed the group, thinking about this new information each of them held.

___________________________________________________________________________________

            "So what is this big news?" asked Rarity as her and Applejack snuck around the corner for some privacy.  They were currently at the celebration held for the sun celebration and the return of Luna and defeat of Nightmare Moon.  Applejack pulled Rarity off to the side so they could talk.

         "Twilight isn't telling us everythin about 'er." said the farm pony.  "I kinda eavesdropped on 'er and the Princess and found something out that Ah still can't believe."

         "Oh Applejack, dear.  It can't be that big of news." said Rarity.

          "Twilight Solar isn't dead." Rarity's eyes widened and her jaw fell open.

           "She is?!  Where is she and why was she pronounced dead?" asked Rarity. Trying to figure out what she was hearing.

            "Ah dunno why the princess said she was dead.  As for where she is, she is currently in the next room chatting with the princess." said AJ, jabbing a hoof back in the direction of the princess.  Rarity followed her hoof and only saw Twilight talking with Celestia.

           "I only see Twilight-" her voice died off in her throat as everything clicked.  "Well that was unexpected." said Rarity.  Applejack nodded.

            "I don't know why they are hiding it but it sure has me suspicious." said Applejack, focusing on the lavender mare.

           "Well, we can only wait for her to come out." said Rarity.  Applejack nodded before turning to her.

           "Now what was that thing bout RD ya wanted ta tell me?" asked AJ.  Rarity gulped.

          "I think Rainbow may have a crush on our secret princess."

Chapter Twenty

Solar Child

Chapter Twenty

Written by Bakmah Genesis

    Trixie sat up against a tree outside of the skirts of Ponyville, her breathing heavy.  She had recently ran away from the crowd of ponies that found out she was lying.  It was after the Ursa Major, later revealed as a Minor, attacked.  It nearly flattened her.  She sighed at the memory.

      She was somewhat mad with the colts that brought the Ursa to town in the first place but she couldn't blame them.  When she created this false personality, she didn't take into account that anypony would care enough to stand up for her.  Though, it was more out of pure admiration of the fake Trixie that drove them.

       Then there was the lavender unicorn that stopped it all.  Part of her thought she should be cross with being stood up and humiliated, the rest of her thought she deserved it and that she owed the unicorn an apology and thanks.  She smiled a bit.  She would do that once she finished her meeting at the library.

      She looked up at the moon and gauged that it was almost time.  With a grunt, she stood and made her way through the town of Ponyville, keeping up against the shadows to avoid being seen.  The last thing she needed was angry ponies shouting at her, or was it at the fake Trixie?  She didn't even know anymore.

       When she reached the library, she was surprised to find it to be a tree.  The large oak seemed to in prime condition despite its hollowed out inside and whatever other modifications it had.  The lights inside were still on, showing life inside the library.  She swallowed and knocked on the door.  It opened to reveal a purple dragon.  He looked her up and down before sighing.

      "She is here, Twi.  I will send the letters now." said he drake, motioning for the mare to enter.  Trixie entered and looked around the library.  Books lined the shelves like any other library.  The drake stopped for a brief moment.

      "The kitchen is the door on the right, feel free to grab something to eat and drink, Celestia knows you are going to need them.  The bathroom is up the stairs and to the left.  I will be upstairs if you need me.  Twilight will be down in a sec."  With that, the small drake made his way up the stairs, leaving her in the library main.

      Trixie made her way into the kitchen, keen on filling her empty stomach.  Upon entering, she was surprised to find a already made sandwich.  Her stomach growled as she made her way to the plate on which it sat on.  She stopped as she spotted the letter next to it.

        I hope you enjoy the sandwich.  Milk and juice is in the refrigerator, cider is kept in the third cabinet to the left of the refrigerator.  Help yourself.

        Twilight.

       Trixie read the note once over then walked over to said cabinet to grab a mug of the promised cider.  She smiled as she saw the mug of cider.  She gripped it in her magic and walked over to the sandwich.  Taking both in her magic, she walked into the mane and sat at on of the reading tables that was set up in the library.  She started munching on her sandwich as she waited for Twilight.

        She heard the sound of hoof steps and turned to the stairs to see who it was.  She nearly choked as the lavender mare from earlier walked into the room. She had a small smile on her lips as she sat across from Trixie.  They sat in an awkward silence before Trixie spoke.

       "I'm sorry." she said in a near whisper.  Twilight's ears perked up as she heard her apology.

       "About what?" asked the mare.  Trixie kept her gaze at the crumbs of her sandwich.

      "About lying about, everything really.  About treaty you and the others the way I did."  She smiled slightly.  "I also want to thank you for standing up for me and saving me from nearly getting killed."  Twilight chuckled a bit at this.

       "Yes, well, your mother would send me to the moon if I let you die." giggle Twilight.  Trixie cocked her head at the comment.

      "You make her sound like she is the princess." Twilight froze.  She began to stutter but was saved as knocking filled the room.  Twilight seemed to sigh in relief.  She stood and walked to the door.

      "So, did you come on your own accord or did Tia kick you out of Canterlot?" she heard Twilight ask the new quest.  She was slightly surprised by the mention of Canterlot.

      "On my own, though it did take a bit of self convincing." she heard another mare reply.  This one seemed to hold a slight hint of power as well as the overall feeling of kindness.  She turned to catch a glimpse of the new visitor and did a spit take with the cider she had in her mouth.  It was very painful.

        Luna ran up to her in shock trying to see if she needed help.  Trixie, however, stood and bowed to the regal alicorn.  She looked up at the princess, trying to see approval and forgiveness for her mistake but found a sad gaze.  The indigo alicorn looked back at Twilight.

       "Do you mind staying, Twi?  You are her cousin and she will need as much confirmation as possible." said Luna.  Twilight nodded and sighed.

         "I won't be of much help until later.  But you will help when I tell her my story." said the lavender unicorn.  Trixie was surprised by how inappropriate this mare was acting to the princess.  Luna nodded and say in front of Trixie.  She seemed to be lost in thought for a moment, trying to figure out what to say.

         "I'm your mother."

     "What?!" shouted the blue mare, causing both of the other two mares in the room flinch.

      "I never told you since I was scared and it's not easy to believe that I gave birth to you on the moon." said Luna, looking down at the table.  Trixie calmed a bit.

       "How?" she asked, wanting to know as much as she could about her birth.

       "Nightmare Moon was evil and smart, though she wasn't that smart when she messed with Twilight." said Luna smirked, causing the lavender mare to blush lightly. "Anyways, she believed that with having a child born with hate, when she was brought back, she could use you to help her plunge Equestria into eternal darkness."  Trixie's eyes shrank to pinpricks.

         "Thankfully, I was able to take control during your birth.  After I gave birth to you, I made you a unicorn and sent you off to the Canterlot Orphanage where you stayed." finished Luna.  Trixie rubbed a hoof on her temple.

       "You said you turned me into a unicorn.  What was I before that?" asked the mare.  Luna shifted a bit.

       "Well, when alicorns have foals, the alicorn is passed on." said the indigo alicorn.  Trixie played it through her head until it clicked.  Her eyes widened and her jaw dropped.

     "You mean I'm.."

      "Yes, you were a very cute alicorn." said Luna with a small smile. Trixie rubbed her temples.

      "So what, I turn into an alicorn at some point or am I a unicorn for the rest of my natural life?"

      "Unnatural life."corrected Twilight.  "We are alicorns inside so we are still immortal.  As for becoming an alicorn, it's after we hit a certain age." said Twilight.

     "Wait, you said we." said Trixie, raising an eyebrow.

      "Well, I may be Celestia's daughter." said Twilight, scratching behind her head.

      "But she's dead!  I remember hearing it from the orphanage head herself!  It was even in the papers!" yelled Trixie.

       "We just said I was dead." said Twilight, shaking her head.  "In all reality, I hid in the castle until just a few months ago."

          "First I find out that my mother is the princess of the night and now my cousin was supposedly dead for eight years.  My head hurts." said Trixie.  She lifted the half empty mug of cider to her lips and took a sip.

         "I've had similar moments." said Twilight with a sigh.  Luna giggled a little.

        "At least you two are getting along pretty well." giggled the princess.

        "Surprisingly." muttered Twilight.

        "Well, it's not like there is something for me to hate you for." said Trixie, taking another gulp of the cider.  "At least I can say I have a family, even if it is a crazy one."  The three of them shared a laugh.  Trixie trailed off and looked off in the distance.

        "What do I do now?" asked the mare, her smile fading.  Twilight looked at her with a nervous look before going into thought.  Luna put on a large grin.

     "Well,Twilight has a year left, am I correct?" asked Luna.  Twilight nodded.  "So, since you two share the same birthday, then you add the length of the spell, you have about two left, Trixie."

      "Yeah?  That just means I have two years of doing a dead end job until I'm a princess." said Trixie, not following her mother.

      "Simple, you can just stay with me and your aunt until then." said the lunar princess proudly.  Trixie's jaw dropped while Twilight beamed.

     "But won't ponies get curious as to why I'm at the castle?" asked Trixie.  Twilight shook her head.

       "Nope.  They were able to hide me for eight years and every single guard and staff member is bound by spells that makes it impossible to tell others that I'm actually Twilight Solar without permission from Celestia, Cadence, Luna, or myself.  It's a safeguard." explained Twilight.

        "You are acting like I am some national secret." huffed the mare.

          "Well, look at Twilight.  She was kidnapped twice, almost died once, and has major trauma damage, though she hides it well.  I don't want it to happen to you so I'm hiding you until you can protect yourself and others better.  Same is for Twilight." said Luna.

        "Well, you two might as well stay here for the night before you head out before I open shop.  Luna, you can have my bed.  Trixie, the spare is set.  It's the door on the right up the stairs." said Twilight as she moved into the living area of the library.

       "What about you?" asked Luna.

       "I got the couch." she responded, levitating a blanket and pillow over to her sleeping area.

       "No niece of mine is sleeping on a couch." huffed Luna.  Twilight raised an eyebrow.

         "Then where am I to sleep?"

         "Easy, Trixie will share your bed while you take the spare."  Twilight and Trixie stared at her, slack jawed.  "What?  This is my first time meeting my daughter since I shot her out of my womb and sent her away from me.  I want to be able to hold her again." said the alicorn, pawing at the ground.  She yelped as the younger blue mare wrapped her hooves around her.

         "I may be a grown mare, but I would love to cuddle with you.  I haven't been able to all these years." said Trixie, nuzzling into her.  Twilight smiled as the mother and daughter made their way up the stairs.  She snuffed out all the lights in the library and went into the spare room.  She closed her eyes as she lay on the bed.  The door opened and closed, the sound of hoof steps filling the room.

        "Now it's no fair my sister gets to cuddle with her daughter but I don't." said Celestia quietly, slipping into the bed and wrapping her hooves around Twilight.

        "I miss this.  It's not that I don't like having friends, it's just that I'm so used to this that it's hard not to go to sleep like this once again." mumbled Twilight as she started to drift.

        "I missed it too." said Celestia tiredly.  She kissed her daughter on the forehead and lyed backed on the bed.  "Good night, my sweet star." said Celestia.

        "Good night, mom." mumbled Twilight, nuzzling into the older mare.  Sleep took the four ponies, each dreaming of their respective families, now complete.

Chapter Twenty-One

Solar Child

Chapter Twenty-One

Written by Bakmah Genesis

       Twilight sat on the train on its way to Canterlot.  She frowned and  stared out the window, her head resting on her hoof.  She was heading to the wedding of her brother and cousin.  She was somewhat mad inside with the fact that her brother and cousin never told her that they were engaged, let alone getting married.

     Though she was mad, she was glad that she was getting to see them again, as well as her cousin Trixie.  Before she left, she promised to keep I'm touch as long as Twilight promised to visit.  They have kept up both ends of their promise for the past three months.

      She was slightly conscious of the fact that the truth may come out, but it didn't bother as much as it did before.  She has successfully gotten rid of that fear.  She still needed to come out to her friends but she pushed it out of her mind for the moment, she would have time once the wedding was over.  She sighed as the conductor called out that they were approaching Canterlot.  She sat up and stretched, wanting to get over this as fast as possible.

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        The door of the royal room of Twilight Solar slammed shut behind its owner.  Twilight paced around the room frantically, trying to figure out the day.  First was the series of moments where Cadence seemed different, she brushed it off.  It begun to increase and became more disturbing.

           Then she tried to use the keyword her and the rest of her family had set up when she need to talk to them as Twilight Solar instead of Sparkle.  When she used the keyword, Cadence only stared at her in confusion before ignoring her and going back to doing whatever she was doing before.

         It also was lost to Twilight how empty her voice sounded.  Her normal cheer and love that was laced in her kind voice was missing.  She didn't even remember the personal shake the two shared when they met.  It wasn't like Cadence to forget it or to ignore it.

        When she brought this up, minus the keyword, to the girls, they just shoved it off as pressure before the wedding.  She knew how Cadence could get, and this wasn't it.

        Finally, and more disturbing then anything, was when she saw what she did to her brother.  She seemed to shot some sort of green magic out of her horn that drained and disoriented Shining once in contact with his horn.  Whatever she was, she wasn't Cadence.  She knew her cousin, and this wasn't her.

       She looked up at the clock and saw that she was late for the wedding rehearsal.  Hell bent on not letting this go through, Twilight marched down the halls to the throne room.  Her eyes set as she prepared to point out the imposter, she could not let whatever this is marry her brother, no matter what.

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        Cold.  That was the first thing she felt as she started to wake.  Twilight's eyes shot open as memories from her last two foal appoints rushed back.  She tried to remember what happened and where she was.  She searched her clouded memory, hoping to find something.  When she did, she felt her heart tear in half.

          Outrage was the first thing that she saw in everyone's eyes as Cadence ran out.  Twilight was wrong, in a sense.  She ran off after telling a story of how she was pressured and nervous and how mean she was by accusing her of such a thing.  Her heart broke as she remembered everyone's reactions to that.

          Shining refused to call her his sister and ran after Cadence.  Spike refused to call her his mother.  The girls each shot hr down and turned their backs on her.  Her heart broke as she looked into Rainbow's, her crush's, eyes and saw nothing but hate and disgust.  Celestia was the one to throw the final punch that crippled her.

           She looked down at her in disgust and rage, saying nothing but that they would have a talk after they found Cadence and calmed her down.  With that, she left the room, slamming the door behind her.  That was all her heart could handle before she collapsed on the floor.

         Cadence found her.  Twilight apologized, with as much she could shove out from the remains of her heart.  Cadence only smiled.  The last thing she remembered was her laughing evily and green flames.  Twilight shuddered at the memory.

         The sound of that same chilling laughter filled the crystal like room she was in.  Soon, images of Cadence appeared on the walls.  Channeling her magic, Twilight shot a lightening bolt towards the fake Cadence, hitting stone.  She did this to every image that popped up before hitting home, destroying the wall and showing Cadence.  Her mane disheveled and her eyes baggy.  She was somewhat skinnier then she was before but Twilight didn't notice this as she jumped on the mare and charged her horn.

         "Wait, Twilight!   It's me!" shouted the mare.

         "Prove it!" growled Twilight.  Cadence wiggled out from underneath her and stood.

          "Sunshine, sunshine.  Ladybugs awake.  Clap your hooves and do a little shake." said Cadence, a little out of breath.  She did each motion.  Twilight, still didn't believe her fully, not trusting her eyes after what she went through.  Cadence sensed this and sighed.

           "Your name is Twilight Solar.  Your mom is Princess Celestia.  Your aunt is Princess Luna whose daughter, Trixie, is your cousin.  You also have this massive crush on Rainbow Dash." stated the pink alicorn.  Twilight blushed.

        "Okay, you're Cadence.  Now, why am I seeing double?" asked Twilight, hugging the mare.

       "Changelings." said Cadence with a sigh.  Twilight cocked her head, following Cadence towards the exit.

      "What are those?" asked Twilight.

        "Changelings are an insect race that turn into the pony you love.  Using this form, they feed off of the emotion you have for this pony.  Love, anger, happiness, lust, you name it.  Love is their favorite, however." said Cadence, leading Twilight down the caves.  "The Cadence you met was the queen.  Chrysalis if I remember correctly.  She is cunning and is very good at deceiving a pony."  Twilight looked down at her hooves.

        "You don't need to tell me twice." said Twilight.  Cadence sensed the tone of saddness in her tone.

        "Come on, it couldn't have been that ba-"

        "Shining and Spike disowned me.  My friends and the pony I love looked at me with disgust and left me."  Twilight choked up.  "Mother...mother looked at me with disgust and I was afraid she was going to snap right there, Cadence.  I never seen her so angry when somepony wasn't threatening my life."  Cadence draped a wing over Twilight.

        "And what of Luna and Trixie?"

         "Luna is in the Gryphon Empire dealing treaties.  Trixie was in the city as far as I know or somewhere away from the other elements considering the impression she left them."  Cadence nodded, squeezing her cousin harder.

        "Don't worry.  We will get there in time, stop Chrysalis, and hopefully heal all of this, alright?" asked Cadence, a warm smile on her lip.  Twilight returned the smile and nodded.  "Now, last one out of the caves is a rotten egg." said Cadence, running off with a smirk.

          "Hey!  No fair!" shouted Twilight, racing after her.

Chapter Twenty-Two

Solar Child

Chapter Twenty-Two

Written by Bakmah Genesis

       Twilight and Cadence barreled down the halls of Canterlot Castle, their hooves pounding on the marble as they ran.  Twilight's chest burned from running but she pushed further, wanting to stop Chrysalis before she was able to marry her brother.  The doors to the throne room were soon in their sight and Twilight threw her shoulder into it, throwing it open.

      "Stop!" shouted the real Cadence, panting slightly but her face set as she glared daggers into the fake Cadence.  "She is not the real Cadence.  That is a changeling!"  Twilight limped slightly as she walked up to Cadence.  Celestia averted her eyes in shame before looking over at Chrysalis.  The fake Cadence snorted before disappearing in a green flame, leaving an insect creature wearing a crown in her place.

       "You just are a very annoying pain in my flank, aren't you?" said Chrysalis, everyone on the alter moved away from the Changeling Queen.  "I probably shouldn't have put you and that damn unicorn in the same cave." said Chrysalis, putting a hoof to her chin in thought.

        "Oh well, not too much damage done." said Chrysalis with a smirk.  "How long do you think that shield will last?" asked Chrysalis.  There was a loud thud as changelings rose from areas unknown and started pounding against the shield that spanned across Canterlot.  There was a loud crack as the shield broke.

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          "Hurry up, Vinyl.  You have to be there in two hours." said grey earth pony mare, her charcoal mane smooth and done with care.  Vinyl Scratch walked out of the bathroom, drying off her mane with a towel held in her magic grip.  Her wet electric blue mane fell over her blood red eyes.

         "Don't worry, Tavi." said Vinyl, pecking Octavia on the cheek quick.  "I've done this before every show and I still get there on time." said the white unicorn.  Octavia shook her head at the mare.

         "Can we just go get breakfast now?  You need to eat something before you head over to the wedding."  Vinyl nodded and pecked her mare friends cheek as she grabbed her over-sized purple glasses and head out the door, Octavia behind her.  Octavia examined the dome that covered Canterlot.

          "I still don't know about this dome they have us under."  said Octavia.

          "Unless you want to attack the castle, I think its fine." said Vinyl.  "Besides, it doesn't really concern me."

         "Why is it that you hardly care about anything?" asked Octavia with a sigh.

         "I care about stuff. Like dub step." said Vinyl, causing Octavia to roll her eyes.  Vinyl leaned forward so her mouth was next to her ear.  "And you." she whispered softly, causing Octavia to shiver in pleasure.  She pecked the earth pony on the cheek and continued walking.

          "I swear I'm crazy to love you." said Octavia with a smile.  Vinyl smirked.

           "You are insane." said Vinyl.  Octavia was about to reply when a loud shattering sound cut her off.  They looked up to see insect like creatures flying into Canterlot.  Octavia looked back at Vinyl.

           "Doesn't concern you, does it?" she said.  Vinyl smiled sheepishly.

           "Maybe a little." she responded as changelings surrounded them.  Octavia sighed.  She noticed a patio chair sitting next her.  She gripped it by the back and chucked it at the nearest changeling, bashing it over the head.

           "You going to help?" shouted Octavia as she picked up another chair.

           "Maybe." said Vinyl, tearing her eyes away from her mare friends flank and picking up her own chair.  "This has turned into one hell of a fucking wedding day."

__________________________________________________________________________________________

            Twilight ran through the courtyard of Canterlot Castle towards the wing that held the Elements of Harmony.  The other five elements followed close behind her.  She swore all hell breaks loose every time her family got together.  This time certainly proved it well enough.

          The six of them beat down whatever changelings stood in their way, trying to get to the elements as fast they could.  The other five struggled to keep them back while Twilight struggled to keep herself back.  Part of her told her to let go, to hurry up so they can get to the elements.  The rest of her screamed no.  She did not want to release it, to hurt the ones she loved because she could not stop it.

          She kept her focus on the large number of changelings before her, threatening to over run them.  She kept herself set, striking down whichever one that got close.  She limited herself to stunning spells, not wanting to kill.  She would save that for Chrysalis if she could.

          The changelings attempted to break their momentum by turning into each of the six of them.  Twilight kept her eyes on he real friends, keeping them within her vision and close by as to not attack one of them by accident.  Each one of them was fighting off something.  Rainbow Dash and Applejack fought off the swarm with their hooves, kicking whatever was unfortunate enough to get close to their hooves.

           Pinkie Pie resorted to her party cannon.  Twilight deduced that she did not want to be in front of it.  Rarity used her hooves for awhile before she ended up fretting over a chipped hoof.  Twilight had to resist a well aimed face hoof to the forehead.  Fluttershy just cowered, not fit for fighting.  Twilight expected it out of the mare and put a small field around the canary mare to protect her from the changelings.

           Twilight herself shot well aimed stunning spells at changelings, hitting them in the chest or, on occasion, on the head.  Twilight almost overcharged the spell at one point.  This would end into painting the floor with the changelings brains.  She was able to lower the charge enough to give it one hell of a concussion when it woke up.  Twilight felt the presence behind her and whipped around to attack before it could.

           "Twilight?"  She froze as she saw a terrified Rainbow Dash.  She was crouched down, her ears pressed flat on her head, her magenta eyes wide with fear of the glowing horn on the mare before her.  The sight tore at Twilight's heart, but something was off.  Rainbow Dash rarely ever used her full name and all other changelings payed them no attention when they should have been flocking to them.  Twilight gulped and hoped she wasn't wrong.  She wasn't.

           Rainbow screamed as a rose red beam hit her in the just, sending her back across the cobblestone.  She skidded to a halt and her appearance dropped to show a changeling.  Twilight took in a sharp intake of breath, thankful for it not being the real Rainbow Dash.

          She was then tackled by a group of changelings, breaking her focus.  The others were similarly pinned.  She felt something cold and hard placed on her hooves.  She froze her anxiety kicking in as the familiar feeling of shackles touched the scars from the last time she was in them.  Memories flooded through her mind.  Her death sentence, the blood soaked dungeon, the bodies that lined the hallways, her mother being attacked.

         She was picked up and hauled back to the throne room.  Rainbow Dash looked over at her, worried about her current state.  She bit her lip and looked away.  She completely turned her back on the mare she loved and she was actually right.  She couldn't stand to look at her and see the pain in her eyes.  She would tell her when she got the chance, keen on letting her know that she loved her more than anything.

        "Oh no, Twilight!" said Cadence as they brought the six into the throne room were the main group of ponies were held.  She rushed up to Twilight and called for Spike.  She held the mare in her hooves as the drake rushed over.

       "Spike, do you have her medication?" asked Cadence.  The drake scratched behind his head.

        "I didn't expect her to come so I left it back in my room." said Spike sheepishly.  Cadence cursed.

         "Damnit.  Trixie!" yelled the pink alicorn.

         "Right here!" shouted the blue mare.  Before she could make it to the alter where Twilight was, she was cut off by the other five elements.

        "You!" growled Rainbow Dash.  "What are you doing here?  No, nevermind, we won't let you get near Twilight!" said the mare.  The other four nodded.

        "Let her bucking pass." said Celestia, half awake after her recent battle with Chrysalis that left her exhausted.  The others jumped, except for Twilight who was still in anxiety induced shock.

        "But Princess..." started Rainbow.  She was cut off by a glare from the sun goddess.  Rainbow shivered and stepped aside, allowing the showmare get to their friend.  She sat next to Cadence and looked her over.

        "One shot enough?" asked Trixie.

        "Should be." replied Cadence.  Trixie nodded and took out a small black case out of her dress.  She opened it up to reveal a set of ten needles with a blue liquid inside.  She grabbed one and plunged it into the lavender unicorns foreleg.  Rainbow leaped forward to tackle the showmare but say her tail held firmly in the princess' mouth, keeping her where she was.  She looked back over to Twilight.

       After more than half the liquid was injected, Twilight's eyes widened and she let out a pained scream as the feeling of the needle being stabbed into her flesh from earlier attacked her senses.  After she finished, her breathing calmed and she laid down on the marble, panting slightly from her exertion.

        "Are you better?" asked Trixie.  Twilight nodded slightly.

        "M-mother." she whispered.  Trixie looked over at Celestia who had let go of Rainbows tail.

        "She is okay.  Do you need to talk to her?" another nod from the mare told her all she needed to know.  Trixie walked over and helped up the large alicorn as she guided her to her daughter.  She set her down next to Twilight's head so they could talk.  Trixie walked back to the other elements, Cadence and Shining were also there.

         "She is alright.  Still a little weak and most likely still stressed but she should be fine.  Her and Celestia are talking for now." said Trixie as she made it over to them.

          "Thank you, Trixie." said Cadence with a nod.

          "Your welcome.  It's a good thing mother has me caring a case of ten when Twilight is over." said the mare.  She sat down and looked over at the mother and daughter.  Twilight was now effectively nuzzling her mother as they slept from exauhstion.

         "What was that stuff you gave Twi and did you have it?" asked Rainbow as she trotted over to the former showmare.  Trixie casted a worried glance over to Cadence who wore the same expression.

          "It is a medicine specially designed into the form of injection to spread faster.  It helps calm her down when she goes into an anxiety attack.  As for why she has them and for why I have the medicine, you have to ask her.  It's not my place to tell." said Trixie, laying her head on her hooves.

          "But why does she trust you?" shot back the Pegasus.

         "Because I'm family." said Trixie, looking over at the Pegasus.  "If you haven't guessed, she holds her family and friends extremely close.  As for the things in Ponyville, I'm sorry.  The Great and Powerful Trixie is a mask and I got too wrapped up in it."

        "Well, I guess I can accept it.  You did save the mare I love." said Rainbow, getting the attention of everyone.  "So yeah.  Apology accepted." said Rainbow, holding out a hoof.  Trixie smiled a shook it.  "Now if only we can get out of here." she said with a frown.  Cadence eyed her soon-to-be husband and leaned her head forward, placing her horn on his.

        Magic swirled around their horns and Shining opened his eyes.  He stared into the eyes of Cadence who was smiling at him.  He smiled back before the two focused their magic, channeling it into a spell.  The sheer power made Trixie shiver and she felt a small surge of magic as the seal to her magic weakened slightly at the force of magic.  She closed her eyes and prayed that whatever happened, the seal did not break for she could not control the backlash of it.

        A purple field exploded from the couple's horns, throwing every changeling in the room out the window and across the Canterlot and most likely Equestria.  Chrysalis herself held on to what she could, refusing to be thrown out easily.  Another burst erupted from the couple, sending her flailing across Equestira screaming.

         The couple collapsed as they ended the spell.  They held each other close as they slipped from consciousness.  Falling into the world of sleep to rest.

Chapter Twenty-Three

Solar Child

Chapter Twenty-Three

Written by Bakmah Genesis

       Twilight leaned over the railing in the royal gardens, the view taking in the entirety of Canterlot.  Only a few hours ago her mother married her cousin and step-brother.  She was happy but the memories of what happened beforehand were still in the forefront of her mind.

       She sighed and hummed a small tune before starting to sing.   The song was slow and held the ever presence of depression within each note she sang.  Her hoof tapped along to the beat slowly as she continued into the second verse.  Soon her singing gained volume and intensity, brining forth some of the tears she held back.  She finished by letting the note fade away.

       "You're doing that bad, huh?"  Twilight whipped around to see Trixie.  The former showmare had a small smile as she walked up next to her and examined the city below her.  "I heard bout what happened from Auntie Tia." said the mare.  Twilight looked down at the city.

        "I never felt so lonely.  I felt like everyone left and I was nothing but a broken soul left to die." said Twilight.

        "I can imagine.  Nice singing, by the way.  I personally love that song." said Trixie.  She turned so she was facing her cousin and lifted her chin so they stared into each other's eyes.  "You were never alone, Twi.  My mother and I will have stood by you no matter what.  Your mother made a mistake and she is paying for it emotionally."  She looked back into the crowd.  "You can't see it outside but inside she is a wreck."

        "It will take time for it to heal, yes, but keep in mind she still loves you, as do your friends." said Trixie, a warm smile on her face.  Twilight brought the blue mare into an embrace.

        "You are an awesome cousin, you know that?" said Twilight.

        "Trixie the Great and Powerful Cousin." replied the ex-showmare with a smirk.  The two broke out into laughter.  As it died down, Twilight looked over back at the party, her eyes gaining a distant look.

         "I'm going to tell them tonight." she said, causing Trixie to stare at her with her mouth open.  "It's time they know, and I want you to be there. You are the only other pony that knows what's it like to hide the fact your mother is the most powerful being on this world."

         "Then let's tell them." said Trixie, breaking away from the embrace at last.  "Like you said, it is time."  Twilight nodded and the two mares made their way to the other five elements, Twilight's mind racing with all the possible outcomes on how her friends could take it.  She doubted they would be like Trixie and just drink her cider while massaging her temples.

        They found the five of them conversing with Celestia and the newly wed couple.  Upon seeing her, Celestia ran over and gave her warm embrace, catching the unicorn by suprise and recieving a yelp in return.

        "I'm sorry." whispered the Alicorn.  Twilight wrapped her hooves around her.

        "It's okay, I have forgiven you long ago." she said with a smile, Celestia making her own match her daughters.  Twilight looked over at her friends.  "I think its time they knew." said Twilight softly.

          "I'm guessing you want me there?" asked Celestia.

          "Of course.  A very silly question for you to ask." replied the younger mare with a smile.  Celestia smiled back before turning to the group behind them.

          "Girls, Twilight and I have decided to reveal a very large secret to you.  Cadence, Shining, Trixie, you are invited to come even though you already know." said the Princess.  She looked down at the young drake who stood next to Rarity.  "As for you, Spike, I will need you to catch Rarity if she, ahem, faints."  Spike saluted with a large grin, causing Twilight and Trixie to giggle.

          "We will come since it has to do with us in a way." said Cadence, stepping forward, Shining nodded.

          "Twilight asked me to come and I agreed." said Trixie, earning confused looks from the other five elements who were starting to feel anxious about what we about to be revealed to them.  Celestia nodded.

          "Very well.  Everypony hold still."  There was a bright flash before the group found themselves inside Celestia's study.  A small fire burned in the fireplace, lit previously by the princess via long distance magic.  Scrolls covered the bookshelves along with other books.

         Celestia sat down and conjured a bottle of whiskey and enough glasses for al of them.  Once the alcohol was set down, she was met with five raised eyebrows.

         "Trust me, you are going to need it." said Trixie, grabbing and filling her own glass.  Twilight, Cadence, Celestia, and Shining did the same.  Celestia conjured a glass of juice for the young drake.

        "Hey, I'm old enough to drink in dragon years!" he protested, shoving away the glass.

         "Come back to me when you are old enough in pony years." said Twilight, taking a sip from her glass.  She gave a small wince as the liquid burned her throat before chasing it down with another sip, this seeming milder to her organs.  Spike sighed a grabbed the juice.

          "Now, back to the point why we are here." said Celestia, taking a sip of her own glass.  She pulled it away and wondered if she should just start drinking straight from the bottle.  She set it down and looked back at the other ponies in the room.  "Now, you have to understand that whatever is said in this room is to never leave it or to be discussed unless you are sure you are away from unwanted ears since this can become leverage to enemies of the crown." said Celestia, scanning the five elements in front of her.  She received their nods of understanding.

           "Now, I don't know if you are aware, but I had a daughter." started Celestia.  Rarity and Applejack looked at each other, knowing what this was about.

           "Sorry to interrupt, Princess, but me an' Rarity have to confess tha we already knew this." said AJ.  This was met with slack jawed stares from everypony in the room.

          "How?" asked Twilight.

          "Ah caught on after yer slip up when we met." said AJ.  Twilight looked down at the floor.  "Then Ah heard you an the princess talk about it after we defeated Nightmare Moon."

           "Note to self, use eavesdropping spell when discussing my daughter." said Celestia, massaging her temples.  "No matter, less ponies to tell."  She looked over at the remaining four.

          "Like I was saying.  I had a daughter that would have been around your age.  Nine years ago, she was pronounced dead after being saved from her kidnappers."  She looked away and out the window.  "In reality, me, her, and Cadence kept her hidden for the last nine years.  The only ones to know was her step-brother, the castle star and guards, my foster sister, and Trixie."

         "What do you mean foster sister?" asked Rainbow Dash.

         "Trixie's mother, Luna.  Me and her were adopted after being put in an orphanage from different families." explained Celestia.  "Now, after her supposed death, she needed a new name and I ended up giving her mothers name."  She bit her lip.  She felt a hoof on her back.  She didn't need to look to know it was Twilight.  She sighed at the comforting gesture and looked up.

        "Her name is Twilight Sparkle."  The four other four elements gasped at the news.  Dash nearly felt her heart rip.  She didn't know how good her chances were anymore.  But somewhere in her, she was tempted to tell her, and tell her she will.  This along was able to mend the crack.

        "What is your real name then?" asked Rainbow, wanting to know out of curiosity.

         "Twilight Solar." said Twilight, keeping her eyes away from her friends.  Rainbow smiled and placed a hoof on Twilight's shoulder and smiled.

          "Awesome name.  I won't let this stop us from being friends.  You are an awesome friend, Princess or no princess." said Dash.  Twilight brought Rainbow into a tight embrace.  The other elements did not hesitate to join the two, creating a group hug with Twilight and Rainbow in its center.  The sight of the two ponies in love melted Cadence's heart slightly as she watched.

          She had to admit, despite the invasion and the near death expierence in the caves below Canterlot, it was a very good wedding day that ended up helping all the ponies involved.

Chapter Twenty-Four

Solar Child

Chapter Twenty-Four

Written by Bakmah Genesis

      Rainbow Dash stood anxiously in front of the Golden Oaks Library.  She bit her lower lip as she thought about what she was about to do. The possibly ways it could go wrong.

      She took in a deep breath and knocked on the wooden door. As she heard hoof steps behind the door, she wondered if it was too late to do a sonic boom away from the  library.  Her question was answered as the library door opened to reveal a lavender mare.

       "Good morning, Rainbow Dash." said Twilight, smiling.  This alone was able to lift the cyan mare's spirits and made her smile in return.

       "Mornin' Twi." said Rainbow as she walked into the library.  A pile of books sat in front of one of the shelves, signs of Twilight's famous reshelving to clear her mind.  Spike just sat in the corner, pretending to nap but Rainbow could see the slight smirk on his face.  He knew what she was here to do.

       "So what can I help you with?" asked Twilight, grabbing a few books in her magical grasp and reading the titles before putting them into their correct places.  Rainbow Dash took a deep breath before she started.

        "First off, I want to say I'm sorry.  I just can't seem to say it enough." said Rainbow.

         "Rainbow, I already forgave you and the girls a long time ago.  I don't hold you against it." said Twilight with a small sincere smile. Dash smiled a bit.

         "Well, when I turned away from you, I felt bad.  I couldn't shake the feeling I betrayed you.  It ate at me and it was worse when I saw you limp into the throne room." she looked away and occupied herself with the shelves.

         "My heart broke when I saw you.  You looked dead inside and you were barely able to walk into that room let alone follow us to the Elements."  Rainbow sighed and looked back at her.  "It wasn't just that I'm the element of loyalty that made hurt so bad, Twi.  I-it was something else."

         "What was it?" asked Twilight, setting a hoof on her shoulder.  Rainbow started to blush a bit at the touch.  She tried to figure out what to say, how she could say it.  But sometimes actions speak louder then words.

          Twilight's eyes widened as Dash pressed her lips into hers, brining them into a kiss.  Twilight's eyes rolled back into her head and she leaned into it, taking in the beautiful taste of the other mare.

         Dash soon broke off and looked away blushing.  Twilight opened her eyes, her face a mixture of awe and bliss.  Dash shifted and glanced towards the door for a second. Twilight caught what she was about to do.

          "Dash.." It was too late.  She already bolted out the door and into the sky.  Twilight almost expected her to do a Sonic Rainboom.  She watched sadly as the rainbow trail faded away.  She sighed and walked inside.

          "Well that could have gone better." said Spike, sitting up in his chair.  Twilight jumped as she realized he was awake.

           "Spike!  How long were you awake?" she asked, calming down slightly

           "The whole visit.  I already knew what she was going to tell you, I just didn't expect her to start a tongue wrestling match with you and fly away like a bat out of hell." said the drake, placing his hands in the small of his back and leaning backwards.  He received a few satisfying pops.

           "This is seriuos Spike." said Twilight, starting to pace.

           "I know.  I owe Applejack thirty bits." said Spike, kicking at the floor.  Twilight glared at him and he smiled sheepishly.  "So, what are you going to do then?"

           "Honestly, tell her I feel the same even if it means tapping into the small reserve of alicorn magic and flying up there and tackling her into a kiss." said Twilight walking towards the door.

            "Ooh, classy." said Spike with a smirk.  Twilight rolled her eyes and opened the door.

             "Just keep re shelving, smart ass." she said as she walked out.  The door closed behind her and she went on the search for Rainbow Dash.

____________________________________________________________

           "Stupid stupid stupid stupid stupid." said Dash, bashing her head against one of the many trees in Sweet Apple Acres.  Tears stained her cheeks as she repeatedly bashed her head on the tree causing a few apples to fall as a result.

           "Damn idiot.  Now she will probably hate you and won't want to see all because you bucking kissed her without even finding out if she swings that way.  Fucking brilliant,  Dash."  She bashed her head on the tree again, sending a cascade of apples falling down on her.

           "If her gonna knock the apples out of the trees at least put buckets under it." Dash turned to see AJ walking towards her with a small smirk.  She just sighed and went back to braining herself with the tree.  AJ looked at her with concern.

           "You okay, Dash." she asked, walking up to her.  Dash just kept beating herself senseless.

           "I was stupid, AJ." she muttered.  She sat down on her haunches, starting to feel lightheaded.  She probably had a concussion now.

           "Whaddya mean?"

          "I kissed her." she muttered.  "I kissed her and now she probably hates me."  Dash laid down and rested her head on her fore hooves, giving into defeat.  "I just want to fall away from the world."

           "Sugarcube, this is Twi we are talking about.  She couldn't hate a single thing unless it was trying to hurt or kill her family and friends.  She might be a little cross but she will calm down sooner or later." said AJ, sitting next to her.  "Just give her time."  Dash smiled at her.

           "Yeah, I guess.  It could have been worse.  She could have thrown me face first out of the library."  The two shared a laugh, AJ being glad Rainbow was finally coming back around.

           "I would have thrown you somewhere but defiantly not out the library.  The bedroom would have been decent."  The two ponies froze at the sound of the voice.  Rainbow immediately shot off into the air to find her tail held firmly by a rose red aura.  Twilight was smiling sweetly as she set down the Pegasus.

            "It's not polite to kiss a lady and run off without learning if the feelings will be returned or not." said Twilight as Rainbow was set back on the ground.  Dash back away slightly.  "Now, about that kiss earlier..."

            "I'm sorry!  I didn't-". She was cut off by a pair of lavender lips pressing into hers.  Her eyes widened as she saw Twilight kissing her.  Her eyes rolled into her head and she leaned into it.  Twilight broke off and giggled at Rainbow's goofy grin as she pulled away.

           "I love you, Dash." she whispered.

             "I love you too, Twi." said Dash with a smirk before kissing her again, taking in the fact that the mare of her dreams loved her as much as she did.  She couldn't do anything except kiss her and hope it never ends.

Chapter Twenty-Five

Solar Child

Chapter Twenty-Five

Written by Bakmah Genesis

     "I still have to go there like an actual test?" asked Twilight raising an eyebrow as Spike finished the letter recently sent by her mother.

     "It said you should bring your stuff." said Spike.  Twilight huffed and grabbed her saddle bags, shoving multiple books, parchment, quills, and ink pots into them. In the end, they were nearly overflowing.

       I don't see why we still have to go through this whole smoke and mirror act.  The girls now and so does the whole damn castle.  What do I need to hide?" asked Twilight as she placed the bags on her back.

        "There have been rumors of the AntiCelestia group coming back up.  If they are true, you need to be more careful until you turn." said Spike as he followed her.

         "I wish things can be normal once again." sighed Twilight, walking out the door. "What about the girls?" she asked.

          "She said that they are getting on a train later.  The train will stop at Canterlot where we will get on and we will head off to wherever we are being sent.  After you talk to her, though."

           "Cryptic and mysterious like usual.  There was hardly a time I understood her.  I wonder if it's a mom thing."

          "Probably.  Do you want me to read through the letter one more time?" he asked, grabbing it from somewhere.  She nodded.

         "My dear Twilight Solar

    Something of major importance has come up and you need to report for a 'test'. Please make sure to get whatever you need as well.

        Princess Celestia". Spike rolled it up.  "The rest is just a few directions designed to show up once it got to us."  Twilight nodded and sat down on the station platform waiting for train to arrive.

       "What do you think she wants?" asked Spike, sitting down next to her.  Twilight sighed and pulled her head back and looked up into the sky.

         "With mother, only Faust knows.  I doubt it's just a casual 'nice to be able to talk to you again' chat if she is sending all of us to somewhere unknown and she used the test keyword."  A faint train whistle caused her to look down the tracks to see the faint shape of a train.

           "Though, for all I know, she found out about me and Rainbow and is trying to have a 'talk' with her and just disguise it as a little get away." she said, grabbing her bag and walking to the edge of the platform.

          "I thought that was a father thing?" asked Spike.

           "It is, but she has to play both mother and father since mom died before I was born." she said, a sad smile forming.  Spike just nodded then slipped into thought.

            "Will you and Rainbow have foals?" asked the drake.  Twilight recoiled and stared at him.

            "Spike!  We just started dating a week ago.  That stuff takes a few years at the most!  You just don't go 'I want a fucking foal so rut me hard.'" said Twilight.  Spike just rolled his eyes and smiled.

            "I was kidding, Twi.  You were becoming sad and serious.  I needed to cheer you up and throwing you into panic mode sometimes helps." said the drake, trying to contain his laughter.  Twilight's expression softened and she smiled.

            "Thanks Spike." she said, nuzzling his head softly.  He gave a triumphant smile.

             "You smiled, my mission has succeeded." he said with a grin big enough to split his face.  Twilight just laughed and rolled her eyes.  The train then reached them and came to a halt, unloading a few ponies and allowing new ones to get on.

             Twilight and Spike boarded the train and sat in the back of one of the cars, preferring to keep to themselves.  Soon a ticket pony came by and they flashed their tickets and had them clipped before lapsing into an awkward silence.

             "When do you plan on telling her?" asked Spike, referring to her and Rainbow Dash.  Twilight sighed and turned her attention to the window.

             "I don't know.  If it wasn't for the fact that my mother is by far the most powerful being known to pony kind, she would have strutted up to her and proudly stated herself as my marefriend.  She lost that confidence when she found out she had to convince the ruler of the sun."

            "Well you have to tell her sometime.  You can't hide it until you get engaged." he said, laying back in his seat.

            "We will just have to wait and see how our cards are dealt." said Twilight.  She layed her head on the glass and lot herself in Luna's dream realm.

__________________________________________________________________________________________

            Twilight woke as the train ground to the halt, ending her sweet dream of her and Rainbow Dash running through a field.  She huffed before sitting up and giving a quick stretch.  She then stood up and levitated her saddle bags on her back.  She looked around to see not many ponies in her car.

           "Ready?" she asked Spike.  Spike shrugged.

            "More of are you ready.  I'm not the one having to do this." he said as he hopped on her back, adding to the weight.  She gave a small grunt but silently thanked her earth pony strength that was starting to seep through.

            "Let's just hurry up and get our flanks to the castle.  The faster we get there the less I have to do this."  She took in a deep breath before snapping open her eyes.  She looked frantic and like she was about to panic.  She burst end off the train and bolted towards the castle, talking about how she couldn't be late for her test with the Princess.

             She ignored the glances and looks as she made her way to the castle.  Even from her distance a few fifty feet away, she could see he guards smirking at her act.  She made a note to glare at them when she wasn't running like a manticore was on her ass.

             She stopped as soon as she made it into the Castle itself.  She dropped the saddle bags and stretched out her back, sighing in relief as several joints popped.  She shook herself and got the directions to her mother.

               She gazed at the throne room doors and rubbed her shoulder.  It was three weeks before she was able to walk correctly again. She had to admit that the doors were tough after all of the years they've seen.  She nodded at the doors and pushed the open with her magic.

             Celestia was staring out of the window in the northern direction.  She had a somewhat stressed look on her features, slightly worrying Twilight.  She looked up as she heard Twilight enter.  She smiled lightly and walked over to her, brining her into a warm embrace.

            "It's good to see you, my sweet." she said quietly.

             "It's good to see you too, mom.  So, why did you want to see me?" asked Twilight, breaking away from the embrace.

             "Well, as much as I hate asking you to do this, I need you to go on a mission with the elements of harmony."  She sighed and walked further into the room, Twilight behind her.  "I asked you to come here alone since I need to teach you a certain spell that is sadly a necessity if you are going to go up against this new foe."  She turned around and summoned her magic.  A sprawling city made of crystals hovered above the marvel floor.

             "This is the Crystal Empire, former ruling place of Cadence.  It was taken over by a evil and power hungry unicorn named Sombra.  Using dark magic, he was able to take over the empire until he was sealed away with the empire over a thousand years ago."

              "He has recently returned along with the empire.  His control over the crystal ponies is still strong and we need you and the other elements to try and break away his influence and get rid of him."  Her face saddened a bit.  "I have to teach you a small bit of dark magic if you are going to get used to the feeling so you can stand against him.  My only fear is that it will unleash the demon inside you."

             "Now, before I continue, I need to know if you are ready." said Celestia.  Twilight stood there for a moment, drinking in the mass amounts of knowledge she just received.  She nodded, closing her eyes in preperation.  Celestia gave a sad smile and lowered her horn until it touched her daughters.  Her horn glowed in a black aura and she transferred the feeling and small amount of dark magic knowledge to her.

             Twilight tensed and squirmed under the feeling, the overall sense of power and urge to hurt, to kill.  She bit her lip, drawing blood, but kept still until she felt the horn stop casting magic and remove itself.  She gave a loud gasp and fell forward.

              "I'm ready." she said quietly.  Celestia nodded and kissed her forehead.

               "Be careful, my sweet." she whispered.  Twilight smiled and nodded.  She watched the mare walk out of the room, leaving her alone.  "Oh how much have you changed from that cute little filly I remember, my dear Twilight."

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

               "Run!"  Twilight's legs were happy to comply.  Twilight, the other elements along with her brother Shining Armor ran through the snow of the north.  Spike nearly strangled her as he clinger for dear life on her back.

                Four hours ago she was talking to her mother and now her she was, running from the smoky figure of King Sombra.  It was just a normal Tuesday.  Nothing at all weird about being chased by a pillar of smoke with glowing green eyes and a chilling laugh.  Totally normal.

               Soon a pink dome came into view and Shining stopped to try and hold him back a bit.  The six elements dove head first through the dome, landing on soft grass.  Twilight stood and rubbed her head and turned as Shining came through, slightly dazed.  She turned around and gasped at the breath taking sight.

              Sprawling across the land and made purely of crystals, was the Crystal Empire.

Chapter Twenty-Six

Solar Child

Chapter Twenty-Six

Written by Bakmah Genesis

        The six elements and Spike marveled at the beauty of the city that was the Crystal Empire.  It was almost hard to believe that only a thousand years ago it was taken over by Sombra.  Shining Armor broke Twilight out of her trance with a light tap on her shoulder and pointed to the Palace standing tall in the middle of the Empire.

        During their walk, Twilight noticed that every crystal pony had a dull sheen and looked depressed.  When she asked Shining he told her it was after affects of Sombra's rule as well as his presence outside of the Empire.  She sighed softly and kept walking.

         "Cadence!" shouted Twilight as she bursted through the throne room doors.  The two ran towards each other before doing their small dance.  Once finished, the two embraced.  Cadence winced as the Sombra attacked the field again.  It was then Twilight noticed the glowing aura around her horn that was constantly being used.

          "It's good to see you, Twilight." she said, visibly shaking as she carefully made her way to the crystal throne.  Shining stayed next to her the whole way and helped her down.

           "How long have you kept this shield up?" asked Twilight, concern coloring her face.  Cadence sighed in relief as Shining fed her a small amount of magic.

            "Three days.  Not once slept since Sombra won't stop trying to get in.  I'm not sure I can keep this up for too long." said Cadence.  As if to prove her point, Sombra attacked the shield again and Cadence leaned forward as if someone punched her in the gut.

           "Now, I doubt Celestia told you how Sombra can to be.  She probably wanted me to tell you.  I did start this." muttered Cadence.  She rubbed her temples where she was starting to get a very large headache.  She was going to need a bottle of painkillers once this is over.

          "Twilight, I sure you are very well aware that all alicorns have a demon side to them.  Your mother has one since I saw it twice before, Aunt Luna obviously has one, and Trixie more than likely has one but we just haven't seen her revert to it." said Cadence, sitting as straight as her body would allow. "And as for you, I saw it on the day we pronounced you dead.  These things feed off our negative emotions, the host's, and uses it to creates it goals.

             "Celestia, blood-thirsty rage.  Luna, revenge-hungry pain.  You, relief-searching fear.  Each one of these are what powers them." explained Cadence.

             "Couldn't we just remove the demon so it doesn't take us over?" asked Twilight.

             "No!" shouted Cadence, making everyone back away in shock.  "Greed.  That's what Sombra is.  I was stupid and removed him and ended up unleashing a full on demon upon the Empire.  Demons are more dangerous when without a host but can't go without one freely.

           "We were just lucky it was me who unleashed a demon. If it was Luna, Celestia, or even you, Twilight, then the world would burn in flames of hell before they are even content." said Cadence, finally settling back down.

            "Well how do we defeat a demon?" asked AJ.  Rainbow snorted and flew into the air.

            "Easy.  We go out there and kick his flank across Equestria!"

            "Rainbow, I love you but that plan is utterly stupid." said Twilight, not falling for Rainbow's attempt to impress her.  Rainbow Dash landed, deep crimson coloring her cheeks.  Cadence giggled, feeling the obvious love the two shared for each other.

            "Do you at least have an idea, Twilight?" asked Cadence, the smile on her face refusing to leave.  Twilight put a hoof to her chin and thought for a moment.

           "Well, we can try and find out how they defeated him the first time.  Girls, you can go ahead and ask around the Empire.  Me and Spike will head to the library and try to find a book there that has any information on the defeat of Sombra." said Twilight.  The others nodded and ran off.  Twilight and Spike went off to the Crystal Empire library, leaving Cadence and Shining alone in the throne room.

         "Let's hope this will work.  I can feel him getting stronger." said Cadence, looking out the window towards the direction of Sombra.

______________________________________________________________________________________

          "Well, we're fucked." said Twilight.  The seven of them were lying down on the third floor of the library.  The others came back with the same story, amnesia.  Twilight and Spike faired no better.  She could not find one book that even mentioned Sombra's rule and nothing on what defeated him.  At hearing her foul language, Rarity sat up and crossed her hooves, glaring at her.

            "Twilight, such foul language!  And in front of Spike!" she said, covering said drake's ears.  Twilight gave her an unamused look.

            "Rarity, we have absolutely no information on how to save a whole empire with a demon ready to waltz right in.  There is also the fact that he will come after me.  The word fuck barely describes the situation but it gets pretty fucking close." said Twilight.  Rainbow laid there wide eyed.  She knew it was bad if Twilight swore more than once and didn't apologize for it.  Then what she said fully hit her.

             "Wait, what do you mean he will go after you?" she asked, grunting as she sat up.  "Last I checked, Cadence is the ruler of the empire so wouldn't he go after her and try to get back the city?"

             "Yes, but you got to remember his position.  He still has little chance with us being element bearers and Cadence protecting it.  He wants to gain an upper hoof and I provide it." she said, sitting up amd turning to face them.  "As natural to demons, they can sense each other.  I can sense mothers, I can sense Luna's, I can sense Trixie's, and I can sense Sombra.  If I can sense them, they can sense me.

              "He may be at full but knows he is nowhere near powerful enough to face me if I were to unleash my demon.  With this in mind, he will try to befriend it and use it to his advantage."  she sighed and rubbed her temples.  "For once, I wish I didn't have the ability to plunge Equestria and the world into utter destruction."

            "Then you wouldn't have met us, silly!" said Pinkie, sitting up with a grin.  Twilight raised an eyebrow at the pink pony.  "Well, you were sent to Ponyville because you were the princesses daughter, but you still could go there.  But you said that you didn't want to decide the fate of Equestria and that would mean not fighting Nightmare Moon and we all became friends because of that." she said with a grin.  Twilight shook her head and smiled a little.

              "You truly are amazing, Pinkie." she said.  Pinkie started hopping around them.

              "Of course!  Who wants to be normal?  Then everypony already know what you are going to do and there is not much fun in that and who would make all the super-awsome parties in Equestria?  Somepony has to."  Twilight shook her head at the mare.

            "So what do we do know." asked Spike, sitting on a pile of books.  He then shifted his gaze to Pinkie who was still bouncy around the library and was now trotting happily on top of a bookcase.  He shook his head and turned his attention back to Twilight.

           "Well..." said Twilight as she looked away from the hyperactive mare.  "The best place to search is in the Palace itself.  I saw something on the throne and I would like to check it out.  My and Spike will check it out, meanwhile you guys try and keep the citizens calm and protect them without killing yourselves if he breaks through.  I would like a second date with my marefriend." she said, looking at Rainbow.  Rainbow smiled sheepishly.  "Now go."

           "What are we going to do at the Palace, Twi?" asked Spike as the others left.  He hopped onto her back and held on as she ran towards the door.

             "Try something stupid, dangerous, and could possibly plunge the world into chaos.  Just the normal Tuesday."

              "Oh, my favorite time of the week." said Spike with a roll of his eyes.

_______________________________________________________________________________________

              Twilight and spike stood in front of the crystal throne and all it's glory.  It looked like it was just a large cluster of crystals if it wasn't for the seat cut into it and the heart set into the top.  This crystal heart was actually the center of Twilight's attention.

           She could see the faint glow of dark magic in its depths, meaning it was hit with it constantly.  At first, she threw the possibility of it meaning something aside, setting it as an affect from Sombra's rule but she noticed none of the other crystals shared its same properties.

          "What are you going to do, Twi?" asked Spike as he saw her horn start to glow.

            "Like I said, something really bucking stupid."  Her horn started to glow black with dark magic.  She screwed her eyes shut, trying not to let it get an upper hand on the internal battle waging inside her.  Her eyes gained a green tinge as the magic builded up inside her, ready to be released.

           The bolt of dark energy raced from he horn and hit the heart, turning it a dark black.  Twilight released the magic and gasped, trying to refill her lungs.  After taking a few deep breaths.  She looked up to see a dark stairway in place of the floor I front of the throne.  She looked around then down at herself and nodded.

          "No demonic creatures, no dark coat, lengthened height, red cutie mark or any other demon related signs.  So far so good." she said, walking towards the steps.  She tested them with a hoof before starting her way down, using her horn as a light source.

         The dark staircase spiraled down into darkness, not showing signs of a floor anywhere close.  Twilight shuddered slightly as she walked, taking into account of the unpleasant feeling that was seeming to seep into her.  The entire place poured dark magic and she could sense it, having used dark magic herself and being a host for a demon.

          She gave a sigh of relief as she finally reached the bottom, coming to stop in front of a dark colored door, black iron keeping it secured.  Twilight carefully walked over to it before opening the door, trying to find what was behind it.

          Twilight was in Sweet Apple Acres, ontop of the same hill she chased Rainbow to and confessed her feelings for the other mare.  The tree itself that was on top was covered in red and orange trees as summer gave way to fall, painting the landscape beautifully.

             Rainbow was standing with her back to her.  Her wings were fully erect, feeling the autumn wind blow through her feathers.  Rainbow turned to her.  Twilight was taken aback by the cruel grin that she was giving her.

           "It's totally not going to work, Twi.  I got my bits from AJ and I no longer need to pretend to love some egghead like you."  she said.  Her face was of some sort of self-achievement.  Somewhere, she could hear her rational side yelling at her that it wasn't her, but she didn't listen.  She was too stunned.

             "No!" she shouted, trying to catch the mare as she took off.  Rainbow disappeared into the sky, leaving behind a rainbow trail that left her like its owner.  "Please, Rainbow.  Please."  Twilight sobbed, laying in the grass under the tree.  She curled into a ball and hugged her knees, crying to herself.  "Please."

            "Twilight!"  A firm claw smacked the side of her face.  Twilight opened her eyes, tears still streaming, and found herself back in the dark stairway.  She slowly stood up and examined the door, trying to make sense of what had happened.  She found a similar crystal set above the door like the one back on the throne.

            Shooting another bolt of dark energy at it, Twilight watched as the door was surrounded by a black aura before flashing in a bright light.

           Taking a deep breath, she opened the door.  She sighed as she saw a identical room as the one they were just in, except white.  The stair way lead upwards and seemed to go on forever.

            "I'm starting to hate stairs." she said as she gazed upwards.

             "Same." said Spike as he followed her gaze.

              "What are you talking about?  I'm the one carrying you and walking up all of them.  You don't do anything." said Twilight, looking back at the drake.  He smiled sheepishly at her.  Twilight rolled her eyes and started up the stairs.

            After what felt like twenty minutes, Twilight noticed that they were getting nowhere fast.  She examined the stairs, trying to find a faster method.  She smiled widely when she did.

          "Hold on Spike!" she called out before lighting her horn.  Spike felt his stomach lurch as gravity was reversed, sending him and Twilight onto the ground above them.  She smiled back at him before sprinting forward.

         Within a few minutes their trip beared fruit as they came to a trap door.  Bursting through it, they found themselves on the top spire of the Palace.  They gasped as they saw that the field had already fell.  Sombra himself was just entering past the field. Twilight frantically searched the spire, hoping their trip wasn't for nothing.

          In the center was a Crystal heart, floating above the ground in a faint blue aura.  Twilight  dove into the depths of her mind, trying to find it.  She gasped in recognition.

            The Crystal Heart represented hope and love to the people of the Crystal Empire.  It went missing around Sombra's time and has been missing since.  Twilight connected two and two together and got a beautiful four.

             Without thinking, she stepped forward, her heart and the tile below her sinking in rythem.  Twilight cursed before running forward, dodging black crystals that shot out of the ground.  She hit the heart, successfully knocking it out of the crystals reach.  She looked up to find herself being surrounded by a cage of black crystal.

            "Twilight!" yelled Spike from the otherside of the crystals.

            "Spike!  Grab the Crystal Heart and run!  Cadence needs to get it in the town center!" shouted Twilight.

            "But..."

             "Spike!  Grab the heart and get the fuck out of here!  You can't let Sombra get to it first!"

             "Alright." said Spike, giving in.  She could hear Spike grab the heart and walk off to somewhere beyond.  "I will be back."  With that, he was gone, leaving Twilight in the crystal cage.  She didn't tell Spike but she was still fighting her demon, trying not to let it out.  The demon was starting to gain an upper as the dark magic from the crystals seeped into her.

               "Hurry, Spike." she whispered.

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                Spike swallowed and let go of the crystal.  He landed on the balcony, startling the seven ponies standing on it.    Spike looked up the way he came and whistled.  He travelled the whole way by jumping from crystal to Crystal before making it to the balcony.

              Remembering why he was there, he ran over to Cadence and held up the heart.  Her eyes widened in remembrance.

            "Is that?" she asked.  Spike nodded.

            "Yeah, we need to get this to town center, now.  Twilight said that it might stop him." said Spike after finally catching his breath.  Shining Armor stepped in.

             "Where is she?" he asked, worry in his voice.  He pointed a single claw upwards to the spire.

             "Staying nice and cozy in a crystal cage.  She yelled at me to get down here."  Shining sighed and shook his head.

             "That mare.  Alright, Rainbow Dash, can you get him down there?"

              "Wait why do I have to put it there?" asked Spike as Rainbow stepped forward to collect him.

             "Because you two are the only ones capable since Cadence is still weak and I can't leave her.  Now get on that Pegasus and get Sombra the fuck out of here!" said the Captain.  Spike sighed and climbed onto Rainbow's back.

             "Alright, hang on."  Rainbow lept forward, diving over the railing and down to the streets below.  Ponies were running and screaming as the cloud like mass of Sombra entered the edge of town and made its way to the Palace.

            Rainbow made a quick circle around he Palace before finding her target, a giant circle in the middle of the street underneath the Palace.  Spike jumped off and ran towards it.  He quickly threw the crystal into the air and watched it float towards the center in its blue aura.

            Once reaching the center, it slowly spun, gaining speed as the blue aura intensified.  The markings embedded in the streets glowed in the same blue aura, encircling the empire in its glow.  With a final pulse, a dome encased the empire.

            Sombra screamed as the wave hit him,dissolving the dark cloud and him with it.  The Empire gleamed in light as the spell woven from the heart took effect.

          Rainbow and Spike were suprised to find them selves made out of crystal when they looked down.

          "This better be temporary or I'm going to be so tempted to eat my hand." said Spike.  Rainbow laughed and picked up the drake.  The two flew off towards the Palace balcony as the citizens cheered for the defeat of Sombra.

Chapter Ten

Solar Child

Chapter Ten

Written by Bakmah Genesis

      Celestia walked down the halls of the school, Swift and one other guard at her side.  Upon seeing her, the other students backed away.  Celestia payed them no mind as she walked to the office of the school.  Her eyes burned with fire as she thought of the filly who pushed her daughter into an anxiety attack.

      Outside of the office sat Spear, the unicorn guard from earlier.  He stood up and saluted her as she approached.  He sweated slightly as she stared at him.

      "Tell me, why is it you did not act right away when my daughter was being bullied?"  The guard gulped.

      "We were in the corner since there was no room for us to keep a close eye on her and she demanded we not stay close to her." he said, sweating under her gaze.  Celestia sighed and shook her head.

      "She can be stubborn sometimes.  Who is the filly that bullied her?"

       "A Miss Ruby, Princess.  Her parents have been notified and are on their way here."  She gave her thanks to the guard and walked into the office reception area.  In one of the chairs sat a grey filly with a red mane.  Celestia glared at her as she made her way to her office.  She closed the door behind her and sat down behind the rarely used desk.

       "Can I ask for just one day of peace?"  There was a knock on the door.  She sighed.  "Of course not.  Come in."  Ruby, the grey filly from earlier, walked in with a red mare in tow.  The mare had a greying mane and blue eyes.  The two mares sat down in front of her. Celestia nodded to the mares head.

       "It's amazing how my mane is still this vibrant with no grey after all this stress I take on.  Daughters tend to do that."  The mare giggled at Celestia's remark.  Celestia frowned and looked over at the filly who shrunk under her gaze.  "Though this one caused more damage and stress then needed."

        "Um.  Princess, may I ask why my daughter is in trouble.  It is only the first day of the term." asked the mare.  Celestia nodded.

      "Yes, well, my daughter, Twilight Solar, has started going here of this term.  Do to her 'talents' she has skipped ahead almost two grades of what she should be.  I had no influence on her being as high in the schooling system as she is."  She looked over at the filly once again.  "Her, on the other hand, seems to think otherwise.

     "It is her belief that my daughter is incompetent and can't control magic and uses my authority to get into higher classes so she can show off."  The mare shook her head and glared at her daughter.  "Oh, and this is the best part.  She drove my daughter in an anxiety attack."  The mare's jaw hit the desk.

    "WHAT?!" she yelled as she turned and glared at her daughter once more.  The filly shrank back from the two mare's glares.

    "Twilight suffers anxiety and sever OCD, which of course happens when stressed.  I bet she is driving the sitter crazy because she is trying to ,are sure everything is absolutely perfect."

     "Was she born like this?" asked the mare.  Celestia shook her head.

     "You cannot tell anyone, but she was kidnapped a few years back."  The mare gasped and held her hooves to her mouth.  Celestia continued.  "She was held there for a day or two and she was beat constantly.  The trauma from this of course gave her OCD and extreme anxiety and OCD when stressed, panicked, scared."  The mare shook her head again as Celestia finished.

      "Don't worry, I'll make sure Ruby isn't stupid enough to try anything like this again.  She will be grounded for three weeks."  Ruby stared at her mother with her mouth agape.  Celestia nodded.

      "Yes and she is suspended for a month.  It's nothing special except the fact my daughter is legally labeled as special needs in certain cases.  The punishment is more severe if one is to bully them." Celestia glared at the filly again.  The mare nodded and opened the door.

      "Fair enough.  Have a nice day, Princess, and I hope Twilight gets better soon." She gave her a warm smile and left.  Celestia could her fading yelling as the mare chewed out her daughter.  Celestia chuckled and did the paperwork required to suspend the filly.  Once done, she got up and headed back to the castle.  The thing she needed was a nap.

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      "I'm guessing this wont be a quick little chat, will it?" asked Luna as she sat next to her foster sister.  Celestia shook her head.  The days events played back through her mind as she sat there, a few of the events playing before them.

      "It's like I can't leave her alone for a few minutes without SOMETHING happening."  Celestia shook her head.  Luna nuzzled her gently, kissing her neck.

       "Kissing you in the dream realm isn't that satisfying.  I would like to cuddle up to the real thing, wash away your worries, promise hope and love, and spend the night in your hooves.  Damn nightmare, I can't do shit with her still in me." said Luna.  She smirked up at Celestia.  Celestia kissed the tip of her horn, causing her to moan at the sensation.

     "I think dream me will work for now."  Celestia nuzzled her side.  She giggled and leaned her head against Celestia's chest.

    "For now.  I still can't wait for the day I am reunited with you.  Speaking of which, have you found bearers yet?"  Celestia shook her head.

    "No, sad.y.  However, I have found possible candidates.  My daughter is one of them.  The trick is they all are currently foals." Luna face hoofed and groaned.

    "Of course.  I have to wait for them to be old enough to even use the damn things."  Luna sighed and closed her eyes.

    "On the bright side, they are all Twilight's age.  They will all be the same age when you are released though getting them together is the tricky part."  Luna raised am eyebrow at her.

    "The other five are very friendly and doesn't take much for them to become friends with each other.  Twilight on the other hoof, will probably shy away from others for a long time especially after today.  If we want the elements to work, I need her to go ahead and get this fear over with.  Wether or not it will be easy, I'm not sure."  Celestia sighed and layed her head on Luna's.

    "Nothing is truely easy, Tia.  You will get over this one day."  Celestia smiled and kissed her.  It wasn't completely real but they still kissed and it still had some feeling to it.  They broke apart and Luna giggled.

    "Now I wonder what the real Tia tastes like."

    "You will just have to wait."

Chapter Nineteen

Solar Child

Chapter Nineteen

Written by Bakmah Genesis

      Rainbow Dash looked over the crowd and stared at the wooden trailer.  The trailer was painted with multiple stars and what looked like some sort of hat.  The words 'Great and Powerful Trixie' were lettered across its surface.

      "Ha!  Twilight is better and is a whole lot sexier."  Rainbow realized that she said that aloud and smiled sheepishly at the word looks she got.  She flew to the front where she saw the others and landed next to them.

     "Ya don't have ta tell everypony you love 'er, ya know." said Applejack.  Twilight was so far the only one out of their group who was not there.  For that she was thankful since she would probably died if Twilight heard it.

      "I didn't try to think that out loud."  Rainbow pawed the ground with a hoof.  "It's true, though."

       "Well, we all think that when we love someone, dear." said Rarity.  The mare nuzzled against Applejack.  "At times, I would say Applejack is more beautiful than any jewel I've seen."  She smirked and gave AJ a quick kiss, the farmer quick to return it.

      The fashionista and farm pony have been. Together for the past week.  Everyone was shocked since the two were complete opposites.  Rainbow accepted it a bit more as well as Twilight.  She loved Twilight and she was nowhere near the same level as Twilight.

       "When is this thing going to start?" groaned Rainbow, wanting to judge this 'Trixie' character herself.  Almost on cue, there was a large burst of fireworks.  Out from behind the curtains came a blue mare with a silvery mane.  The young unicorn mare wore a purple star covered hat and cape.

       "Behold the sight of the Great and Powerful Trixie!" shouted the mare.  Rainbow's ears twitched in annoyance.  She snorted at the boastful mare and spotted Twilight off in the edge of the crowd.  She smiled and was about to call out to her when a shouting brought her attention back to the stage.

       Somehow, Applejack ended up hog tied and an apple shoved in her mouth.  Rainbow's eye twitched at the sight.  She wasn't going to let some boastful showmare humiliate her friends. She leaped into the air and flew up to the mare.

       "Hey!  No pony makes fun of my friends!"

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        Twilight gazed at the mare that stood on the stage that called herself the Great and Powerful Trixie.  She ran the name through a hundred times before a clicked, causing her mouth to drop.  Spike noticed this and raised an eyebrow at her.  He looked back up at the mare then back to her.

       "Uh, Twilight?  Are you okay?" asked the drake, eyeing the mare below him with curiosity.

       "I know her." she replied, shaking her head.

        "From where?"

         "Well, remember when Aunt Luna told us how Nightmare Moon was somehow to convince one of the guard that was sent up with her to sleep with her?" asked the mare.  Spike shuddered.

        "Yes.  Why does that have anything to do with it?"

        "Luna told me she had a child, surprisingly on the same day I was born, and that she was able to get enough control over her body to send the filly back here after naming her and doing the same spell that makes me a unicorn."  She looked up at the boastful mare.  Applejack was shouting something at her but she payed it no mind since she as focusing on the other mare.  "The filly's name was Trixie Lulamoon."  Spike's jaw dropped.

       "Why haven't we seen her at the castle then?  Either one of them should have had the desire to meet the other since Luna returned." said Spike as he looked up at the mare.  She was now facing with Rainbow Dash, Applejack hog tied on the otherside of the stage.

       "Trixie doesn't know and Luna is afraid to confront her and tell her.  Spike, do you have parchment and quill?"  The dragon gave her a 'you're joking, right?' look and grabbed paper a quill from where she could not see.  "Alright.  Dear Auntie Luna, a traveling magican travelled to Ponyville today and is most likely her for the day, maybe night.  I tell you this since her name may have meaning to you.  It is Trixie.  She fits the description, accept her being boastful and slightly full of herself.  I recommend you come by while she is here and tell her.  Your loving niece, Twilight Solar."  Spike finished with a quick flick of his wrist.  He rolled up the parchment and sent it on its way via blue flame, a flame he rarely used.

        "Let's hope she can set her straight." said with a frown as he watched Rarity run off crying, her mane a green birds nest. He shook his head and hopped her back.  "If you need me I will be calming down Rarity.  I will find you if she replies."  he said, walking off after the mare.  Twilight turned her attention back to her other friends who were walking her way, Rainbow and AJ throwing the showmare looks that could kill.  She was about to call out for them when a scroll hit her on the head.

        "Nevermind.  She decided now." called out Spike before running off.  Twilight shook her head and picked up the scroll.  She broke off the moon seal and read the letter.

          My Dear Twilight

  I know you are right and I should tell her.  The problem is I don't want to walk into the Ponyville and attract attention to me and my daughter.  I'm asking you to invite her into your home and have Spike send a letter to me so I could travel over via teleportation.  Make sure to send your mother one as well.  I may hesitate and she will be more then glad to drag my flank to Ponyville.

              Your Loving Aunt

          Luna.

           "Oh buck me." said Twilight.

            "I would gladly but we are in public."  Twilight jumped and fell to the ground with a thud.  Rainbow Dash laughed as Twilight stood back up, glaring daggers into the cyan mare.  Applejack shook her head.  She noticed the letter on the ground and picked it up.  She yelped as it was ripped out of her grasp.

           "Now, I must get back to the library.  This Trixie has brought on a few problems and I need to take care of this all."  With that, the lavender mare turned and left, leaving the four other mares to stare in confusion.

___________________________________________________________________________________

          "Who is it that seeks audience with the Great and Powerful Trixie?" asked the blue showmare as she approached her trailer door.  The sound of knocking pulled her away from her research.  She looked through about three thick tomes through the day after her show, each one yielding no information on what she was looking for.

            She opened the door to be met with a chilled breeze.  The sun was starting to set, coating the small town in an orange glow.  She looked around for the reason she was there and found a scroll in front of the door.  Curious, she picked it up in her magical glow.  She walked inside and began to read the contents aloud.

            "Dear Miss Trixie Lulamoon.  I will not give you my name yet but I do have some information that I believe will be benifical to you.  At eleven this evening you are expected to arrive at the Goden Oaks Library here in Ponyville.  Your parents identity will be revealed the-" she stopped and stared at the letter in disbelief.  She looked up at the clock on her wall that depicted that she had a few hours until she was supposed to meet this pony.

             She was interrupted by rapid knocking on her door.   She sighed and placed the letter away until further notice.  She opened her door to reveal the two young colts who claimed to be her biggest fans.  They were panting and had a mixture of fear and excitement on their faces.

           "Why have you disturbed the Great and Powerful Trixie?" she asked, switching back to her persona that served as a mask.  The colts were about to speak when a deafening roar cut them off.  Trixie searched around for the source until she stopped on the source.

         "Oh buck." Was all she could managed as she took in the Ursa Major.