The Adventures of Princess Althea

Althea woke up in a horrific landscape. Ruins of her castle crumbled as fire flared all around. The tenseness of war still hung in the air. Guards surrounded her and a group of others. She realized who they were. Her parents and sisters stared at her with terrified looks on their faces. Her littlest sister cowering behind her father.

"Wh-Wh-Who are you?" Her mother stuttered.

"Mother, don't you recognize me!?" Althea called back. She feared what she would like to her mother.

"'Mother'? Pft! Mother would never give birth to a beast!" The eldest of her sisters spat. She was younger than Althea, but still more prepared to rule the country.

Althea looked down at herself. Tears ran down her face as she did so. This couldn't be! Why had this have to happen to her!? She started sobbing and fell to the ground. Her parents, who held on to her siblings, started to back away, the youngest still hiding behind her father.

"Althea isn't an Alicorn!" The eldest screamed and pointed an accusing finger. "YOU MUST BE A FOOL TO THINK WE WOULD FALL FOR THAT!"

Althea's father drew out a sword and took a step forward, forgetting his shock.

"Step back, beast!"

He threw the sword at her but it was encased in a golden glow before it could reach her. They all gasped.

A flash of golden light filled the ruins as Celestia appeared and reached out to Althea.

"This isn't true, Althea. You must fight the monster that gives you fear. Never let the visions of the dark control you. I lost my sister the same way and I'm not losing you!" She said in a powerful voice. She grabbed her hoof and they started fading. Althea's family was gone... They had fading into the darkness.

Althea slowly opened her eyes, and saw nothing but darkness. She felt around the area and found a lamp. She turned it on and she was in the guest room she slept in the previous night. She took of her clothes from when she fell into the pond and curled into a ball on the bed. She had a dreamless sleep.