Author's Note

I didn't have chapters in the original, but I had a feeling it would be easier to read in chapters. The only thing is that there might be one or two chapter changes that are a bit off.

Parents

Alaru ran down the corridors, a sense of panic thrilling through him as he made many different turns. The halls were eerily lit by torches and his shadow was strangely distorted on the walls as he passed, his hooves clomping on the stony floors. The dark grey colt shivered as he darted around yet another corner and stopped suddenly. He peered around the corner, his heart beating heavily, the blood pulsing loudly in his ears. His swirling, orange-red eyes darted back and forth as he tried to spot his pursuer.

A figure appeared behind him out of the darkness and his mahogany mane stood on ends. He jumped around, shivering. As soon as he did the mysterious, white pegasus slammed his hoof into his chest. It sent him to the ground and it made him wince in pain.

“Tag,” the white pegasus said, his voice nearly monotone, “you’re it.” He shook his head and muttered, “Alaru, I have no idea why you challenge me to a game like this. You know I know the castle better than you, not to mention I’m faster.”

“You’re a year older than me,” he argued, “and besides I’m better at flying, Darcian. I bet you couldn’t catch me if we were flying.”

Darcian snorted and replied, “You couldn’t know that. We’re only allowed to practice flying with mother. We’re hardly allowed outside long enough to practice speed flying and we won’t get to until we’re at least another year older. Well I suppose it will be two years for you.”

“How do you know I haven’t been practicing inside?” Alaru retorted but Darcian was already shaking his head.

“I know you’re bluffing,” he replied nonchalantly, “because father strictly forbade us from flying inside and he would catch you and you know it.” He smirked, “and I know you’re too scared of him to keep up the bluff.”

“Well,” Alaru replied slowly, “when we’re allowed to practice flying on our own I’m going to prove to you that I’m the fastest.”

“No you’re not,” Darcian replied stonily, “because I’m going to start first and by the time you’re old enough I’m going to be far better than you already.” He then turned around and walked away.

Alaru demanded as he chased after him, “Where are you going? Aren’t we going to play another round like you promised?”

“Later,” Darcian replied. “Our father told me to meet him in the throne room at three-quarters. I suppose you can come along if you want.” Three-quarters was a measurement of time in the kingdom the two brothers lived in. It was a reference to the position of the “sun” and each of them knew it innately. It was their father’s job to raise and lower the sun after all.

Darcian walked at a slow, stately pace and Alaru followed impatiently. He was beginning to wonder how his older brother was able to get anywhere on time when he was always walking so slowly. He was almost tempted to run ahead of him, knowing exactly where the throne room was, but he knew that if he did it would only make his father mad at him. Alaru loathed seeing his father’s stern, judgmental gaze burning into him with disapproval.

He started to become lost in thought and wasn’t paying much attention. He nearly ran into Darcian as he stopped walking. The hot-headed younger pony had to stop himself from crying out in outrage, knowing that not only was it his fault for not paying attention but it would also be the kind of thing that would make his father mad. His father hated ponies that raised their voice and that’s what made him all the scarier.

He looked all around the room. The room was covered in shades of black and red, consisting of dark stone and reddish light that streamed from windows that appeared to be tinted. It looked more sinister with the tapestries that depicted horrible battles between unimaginable monsters though Alaru knew that they would be far worse if he was to meet them in real life. The room was also lit by torches that made the shadows flicker and jump in the late evening light. Alaru could also now see the sun that seemed to glare menacingly through the windows at this time of day.

Unlike the real sun, this one was controlled by the two brothers’ father and it shined with a ghastly red light and it was the cause of the windows appearing to be tinted. It served to mark this kingdom of devils and sickly peasants where there was little to no real sunlight. Alaru’s father held a long-standing hatred for the sun princess—for Celestia—and had long since banished her light from his kingdom though some say that she took away her sunlight as a punishment for his wickedness.

“Come closer,” the dark stallion said as he gazed up at the false star, his horn ablaze with the magic needed to lower it. He stood at the foot of a tall, menacing throne. There was a smaller throne supposedly for his queen or perhaps the prince but Alaru knew that his mother would never enjoy sitting in such a dark and disturbing room. The only place she truly looked comfortable in was her garden. He also couldn’t imagine his father asking him or his older brother to sit beside him, even on a lowered throne.

Darcian walked forward as their father asked and Alaru followed behind with a quick, surprised step. Alaru knew that it was too late to back out now that his father saw him, even if his father hadn’t acknowledged that he was there. As soon as the thought occurred to him the dark stallion turned his gaze on the young colt. His sharp, red gaze pinned him in place and he froze even as Darcian continued to walk forward.

“I see you brought your younger brother,” he said, continuing to stare at Alaru.

“I’m sorry,” Darcian replied evenly. “I assumed it was okay since you didn’t forbid it.”

Alaru wondered how many meetings like this they had before that he didn’t know about it. It irritated him how his father had spoken about him like he wasn’t there and like they weren’t related.

“It does not matter,” he answered, his voice deep but smooth and alluring. “This is a lesson that would be well-learned by both of you though I have little to no doubt who will gain the most out of their inheritance.”

Alaru felt a twinge of anger, becoming more and more enraged at his dismissive tone. It’s obvious he means Darcian, Alaru thought bitterly. He burned to yell that he was his son too.
He looked down at the cold, dark stone, trying to master his anger before it got him in trouble. As far as he could tell, his father, Starstin, didn’t notice or care that he was upset. As Alaru looked up again he was taking slow, dignified steps up to the altar above his throne, his hooves echoing around the room. Alaru felt annoyed once more as he wondered if that’s where Darcian had picked up the habit.

His horn began to glow with magic that seemed to consist of black light. It sent the sun ablaze as it lowered below the crest of the hill before the room was finally cast into complete darkness. Darcian didn’t seem to care but it disturbed Alaru, for reasons he couldn’t sort out, to see his father do something as powerful as banishing the sun.
It wasn’t long before the moon began to rise and bathe the room in a gentler light. For a moment Alaru could see his father’s face staring down at them with foreboding shadows. Alaru found himself imagining that it was a mask of rage and fear but the moment passed and he decided it was nothing more than imagination. Alaru still found himself looking at his older brother for reassurance but his face was just as unreadable as his father’s now was.

“One of these days,” Starstin said, jolting Alaru from his revelry, “one of you two will take my place at raising and setting the sun though I doubt it will be any time soon.”

The young colt wanted to retort viciously that there wasn’t a chance either of them could do that when they were merely pegasi but he knew better than to contradict his father. He was also discouraged by how Darcian didn’t say anything to contradict him as well and even looked eager.

“There is a secret that not many ponies know and that is that alicorns are not born but made. Do you really think that audacious sun princess was born with both wings and a horn? Never forget that she nothing more than a deceiver and oppressor. She will always wallow in her immortality and so there will never be a chance for change, for the natural order of chaos!”

“One day you will strike her down and there will be no one to oppose your perfect vision of power,” Darcian replied as if he had rehearsed saying this many, many times before and Alaru continued to listen in silence. He didn’t know what to think about all of this but it didn’t sound right to him.

“I have considered this for quite some time, uncertain if my eldest son, let alone my younger son—“

Oh, he acknowledges that I’m his son, Alaru thought bitterly.
“— was ready but I have come to the conclusion that there is no way better to test whether or not you are both prepared than to actually give you the test. If you pass then I will begin teaching you on the path to becoming an alicorn but if you fail then I suppose I will have to continue with our normal lessons. Of course you will be dismissed until you’re older, Alaru.”

Darcian nodded eagerly but Alaru wasn’t so sure he wanted that kind of responsibility or power and hesitated.

“Well?” Starstin asked him impatiently when he noticed how his youngest son fidgeted but did not nod or show any other sign of confirmation. Darcian turned and glared at him through narrowed eyes and Alaru was startled into nodding, this being the first time that his other brother had ever given him such a dark look. He had never saw him want something so much as now and he could feel a wave of fear coming off him. He looked deathly worried that his father would change his mind just because Alaru was there.

“Very good,” Starstin replied smoothly despite how scared Alaru looked now. “Simply listen and if you pass then we’ll continue your training.” Alaru started to feel annoyed as he realized that his father was once more speaking to Darcian as if his younger brother didn’t exist or was simply a stray mouse but it melted away back to cold fear.

Guttural snarls broke from Starstin’s lips as he began to speak, if it could be called speaking, once more. He had never heard even an animal make that sound and they were far worse than the howls that haunted his nightmares when he was half his current age. Before he could even hope to make out what was happening he noticed his brother beside him, cowering on the floor and twitching nervously and a sudden feeling of panic flooded him. He darted from the room, unwilling to continue seeing and hearing these things.
***

After he rushed from his father’s throne chamber a deep feeling of shame manifested itself like burning heat under his skin. The panic gone, he walked with his head hung low. He didn’t realize that his path was taking him to his mother’s garden. Her garden was illuminated by a bright and happy light like he couldn’t imagine; light akin the sun’s light. It was a fixture that the castle wizard, Sterling, had put up so the plants would thrive and Alaru had seen him renew it once when he was younger though he hadn’t seen him around lately.
He wasn’t interested in magic in any case and couldn’t imagine ever learning magic when he was a pegasus. A feeling of cold grew in his chest when he recalled that he might have been able to learn from him if he had become an alicorn.

His mother was working in the garden as he approached her, his hooves falling heavily, and she turned to see him on the verge of tears. She was named Rosepetal and she had a pink coat with a dark red mane just like his that was tied up at the end. He appreciated how she was never mean, only kind and approving. She walked over to him and laid her head on his shoulder and he buried his face in her mane so she wouldn’t see him crying. He knew his father would have scoffed and Alaru was simply glad to know that his mom never would.

He didn’t know about this but she hadn’t come from these lands. She had traveled here and she and his father had met when Starstin was around Darcian’s age or a bit older and it was when Starstin’s father ruled. Alaru had never met his grandfather since he had died before Darcian was born and so he had no other living relatives besides his parents and brother. His mother had left her homeland because she didn’t have any relatives where she had previously lived.
Starstin and Rosepetal had fallen in love almost immediately and Starstin had promised to always protect her but ever since she had become pregnant with his second son he had more or less ignored her, allowing the other ponies that served him to take care of her. Alaru and his brother didn’t really know anything about her history though.

“I don’t think father likes me,” he finally was able to say though his voice was muffled, “not when he has Darcian who’s better than me in every way.”

“Of course he does,” she replied. “He just pays more attention to your brother because he’s older but I promise your day will come. He loves you just as much as your brother.” She tried to hide her uncertainty. She knew that Starstin only kept things as long as they were useful. She didn’t want to tell Alaru that when she knew it would break him though so she kept her thoughts to herself.

“You really think so?” The young colt mumbled, looking up at her with his shining amber eyes.
She tried not to flinch as she realized how much he looked like his father besides his messy mane. “Yes,” she replied, “and if you ever want to talk or just want some company don’t be afraid to come here and see me. I love you so much, Alaru.” More than you know.

He gave her a small smile and she smiled warmly back. “I want to become better than my brother one day so dad will want to work with me as well. I don’t want to disappoint him again. I’ll become bigger and braver. I’ll be strong enough to protect this entire castle and land one day all by myself. I’ll keep you safe and I’ll never forget how much you cared for me.”

“Of course,” she replied, not showing him just how much his words moved her.

“Can we go into the village tomorrow?” He asked suddenly. “I want to practice my flying and see the townponies. We’re not allowed to do either in the castle. We can, can’t we? Darcian can come too and I can show him what I can do!”

“Of course. We’ll do that tomorrow then, just you, Darcian and I,” she said in a soft voice. “Go get some sleep then.”

Alaru smiled widely and replied in quick succession as he trotted away, “Thanks, love you, good night.”