~ PROLOGUE ~
Celestia cared not for the risks. She knew them already.
She stood upon an ethereal plain, the very same she'd taken her beloved student to in order to reach higher powers. And she was relying on this mysterious realm once again, to accomplish a much different task. Princess Celestia wore a look of intent worry, an expression that could only be described as ominous, as if she knew her actions might bring about dire consequences. But she cared not for the risks, despite her worries she had already made up her mind. Through the power of magic, she would build a brighter future for herself, and another.
She was not selfish. She wasn't unkind. She was simply, demotivated. She needed a morale boost, after all she accomplished it was only fair wasn't it? She could see no other option, at least, that's what she convinced herself of. This was the only option she had left.
Hesitantly, Princess Celestia unveiled something. It was a familiar item, one of immense power and absolute love. Upon closer inspection it was revealed to be the crystal heart itself, borrowed from Princess Cadence. Whether Princess Cadence had given her permission to use such an item, was uncertain. Princess Celestia remained focused as she let the heart float in place a few feet away from her, patiently.
Soon enough, she exhaled, then taking in a breath of preparation. "Well, I-I guess it is time I got started."
Blurred vision came from an unknown individual. She slowly opened her eyes, a natural reaction she somehow knew how to do. The bright light which came into view only confused her more, as slowly her vision started to clear. The first sight of her world, the first thing she truly saw, was a large white creature. She looked upon this creature, and her immediate reaction was, acceptance? She knew not why she accepted the creature, she knew not what it was or who. But she felt comfort in its presence, in its caring and worried eyes, in its obvious love for her.
The white creature spoke worriedly, earnestly as she leaned forward momentarily. "H-Hello there. I'm Princess Celestia."
The individual rose, as it was revealed that much like the one she looked upon, she to was a pony. She trembled as she rose, in similarity to a fawn who'd just been born. She struggled, wheezing as she came to her hooves. She was completely dry, and much like Princess Celestia her mane was ethereal, consisting of varied bright colors. She looked upon Celestia with a fearful look, and made her way towards her, struggling to reach her. It was a programmed action, like most children, she sought protection from the very first figure she saw and the one that didn't intend to harm her. Trot by trot, she continued to attempt reaching Celestia, unsure of why she was even doing so.
Princess Celestia smiled, spreading her hooves as her eyes filled with tears and she looked upon the smaller figure who approached her. "Yes, come here, come to me. I will hold you, and protect you. I will teach you about the world. I will guide you forever, my darling."
The thoughts ran through the filly's mind. Somehow she made sense of Celestia's words, and her intelligence naturally came. She struggled to reach Princess Celestia, but she knew she had to. This white creature, it was her protector, her teacher, her mentor, her mother.
And upon reaching her, Princess Celestia wrapped her hooves tightly around the smaller pony. Tears coursed down her face as she kept the filly close in her embrace, and ran a hoof through her ethereal mane. "I've waited so long for you. I'm so happy you're finally here."
The newly born filly couldn't make sense of those words however. Her eyes grew wide with concern. Who or what, exactly was she?
~ 5 MONTHS LATER ~
"Mother? Uh, do I look alright?" Her voice was high pitched, not unexpected from a child her size. Her accent possessed a hint of royalty, also not unexpected seeing as she'd been in Canterlot from the moment she was born. She wore a white dress with gold trim along the edges and small decorative blue diamonds laced along the center. She looked up at Princess Celestia with worry, unsure of what to think.
Princess Celestia smiled earnestly as she tugged at the filly's dress. "Yes my darling. You look wonderful, no matter what you wear. Are you that nervous spending time with Auntie Luna? I promise she is kind." Princess Celestia looked upon the filly in amusement.
The filly lowered her head with a look of obvious doubt. "I feel like Auntie Luna doesn't really like me."
Princess Celestia raised a brow at the filly. "And why wouldn't she like you darling? That doesn't make sense."
The filly looked up at Princess Celestia, and spoke with certainty. "Because you made me mother."
Princess Celestia suddenly looked angry, her brows furrowed as she glared at the filly! "What's that supposed to mean Serenity!? You are my daughter, I made you because I wanted you. There is nothing wrong with my actions! I wanted to have a child, so I had you!"
The filly, revealed as Serenity, flinched as she lowered her head. "I know mother. But I studied love, and an associated feeling of love is jealousy. What happens if Auntie Luna feels that due to creating me, it meant that she herself is no longer loved?"
Princess Celestia's eyes widened again before she lowered her frame, and forcibly made the filly look into her eyes. "You're thinking too much into it. There is absolutely no reason Princess Luna would be that insecure. Should she be upset over such things, she'd talk to me."
Serenity looked away from Princess Celestia again.
And Princess Celestia wasn't pleased, to say the least. "You don't seem convinced. Did you want to stay home?"
Serenity shook her head. "N-No, I can go mother. I need to learn more about the aspects of love from Princess Cadence."
Princess Celestia smiled again, before planting a kiss on the filly's forehead. "That's my daughter. Responsible as always." She rose, "You have done remarkably well to learn so much in such a short amount of time. Now hurry along, Auntie Luna is waiting for you outside."
Serenity made her way down the steps of the throne carefully, trotting hurriedly towards the door before looking back. "Bye Mother!"
Princess Celestia's expression sunk worriedly as she hesitantly raised a hoof. "Bye for now darling, I will see you next week."
Serenity nodded plainly, before making her way out the door. Two guards immediately began to escort her.
Princess Celestia, after watching the filly depart, placed a hoof over her heart with concern. "So that's what it feels like...."
Another one of the guards made his way inside. "Princess, might I ask you a question?"
Princess Celestia looked upon him earnestly. "Of course my dear subject, you can ask me anything."
The guard continued with a bow, before raising his head. "When might you consider officially announcing Lady Serenity as your daughter? It is only a matter of time before she becomes public knowledge without your consent. Might there be something you're waiting for?"
Princess Celestia smiled softly. "Yes, that day will come very soon. I only need her to acquaint herself with Princess Cadence first."
The guard hesitated. "And if I may Princess, might I ask another question?"
Princess Celestia smiled and nodded silently.
The guard continued. "W-With Lady Serenity's appearance might we be expecting a King soon?"
Princess Celestia flushed red before shaking her head as she chuckled. "N-No! There will be no King, Serenity is....special."
As Lady Serenity was guided to a grand carriage awaiting her at the back of the castle, standing in front of that very same carriage was Princess Luna. The princess wore a questionable expression as she looked upon the filly with half closed eyes.
Serenity frowned a little. It was as if there were tension in the air before the tender moments had even began. She casually trotted forward and kept her head lowered nervously, as she attempted to make her way up and into the carriage by herself, without saying a word.
However, suddenly blocking her like a barricade, with a raised hoof, was Princess Luna as she eyed the filly.
Lady Serenity started to tremble as she attempted to remain still and without worry, but she couldn't shake the fear.
Princess Luna then did something the filly never expected, and pulled her into a one hoofed hug. "I can read you so easily Serenity. Why're you so afraid of me? What have I done to cause such concern?" She frowned a little, before using her magic to open the door for the filly.
Serenity peered up at Princess Luna with guilt. "F-Forgive me Princess Luna, I just feel, that, you always seem to give me strange looks."
Princess Luna nodded briefly as she used her magic next to raise the filly up and into the carriage. "Ah I see, now I understand." She disappeared then, before reappearing beside Serenity in the carriage in an empty seat. "Do forgive me for that Serenity."
Serenity wore a blank expression as she sat sternly in her seat, eyeing the floor of the carriage.
Princess Luna wrapped a hoof around the filly, pulling her against her side before looking at the two pegasus at the front. "We may depart, do make haste, Princess Cadence is expecting us." She then turned her attention back to Serenity. "I'm sorry if I frightened you. There is reason for my concern Serenity, but it has little to do with you. My sister is the one I'm more worried about at the moment."
Serenity looked up at Princess Luna worriedly. "With mother? W-Why?"
Princess Luna's gaze drifted a little, as if she were lost in her thoughts. "It's nothing a child like yourself should be concerned with. These are issues that relate to us grownups Serenity, and I don't want to worry you." She glanced over at the filly. "For now I just want to make sure you are happy, much like your mother does, but to do that I need a few answers Serenity, answers I cannot find alone." She frowned a little. "Your mother and I have a strong bond, that much is certain, but do you realize what you are? Where you came from?"
Serenity paused, looking at the floor of the carriage. "I remember mother, s-she, she was the first thing I saw. I, I know I'm a pony, and I am mother's pony. I-Is there something else I should know Auntie?" She peered back up at Princess Luna with concern, and obvious worry. "I've studied as much as possible, but there's still some things I don't know! I'm sorry I can't provide any more information for you!"
Princess Luna flinched before looking away towards the skies. "No Serenity, that will be all." She clutched the filly and pulled her closer. Such idiocy! I have already worried her! But- she paused, to create an alicorn. What did you use Celestia? And why?
Meanwhile, back at the castle, Princess Celestia entered Serenity's bedroom chambers. Within there were numerous stacks of open books spread about the entire area. Serenity's bed was made, her bathroom was tidy, and her window was still open. Princess Celestia's eyes widened a little at the sight of the open window, before grumpily making her way over towards it. "Did she truly open her window without my permission? That child." She hurriedly raised her hoof, and attempted to reach outside the window, as she was blocked by a magical barrier. Princess Celestia smiled a little, "Good, the barrier is still in place. This should prevent any unwarranted entry into her room."
Princess Celestia then made her way over towards Serenity's bed before lowering her frame and resting her two front hooves and her head atop of it. "It has only been a few minutes and I already miss her." She sighed, glancing over and down at one of the open books. "I do hope Luna is taking good care of her. I have ensured she studies, so she should know full well of the dangers of the outside world." Princess Celestia glanced up towards the ceiling. "She is maturing just fine, but she needs to be educated." She reached for one of the pillows, before hugging and clutching it with worry. "She will be absolutely fine with Luna. There's no reason to worry, calm down Celestia..."
A wide and affectionate smile came upon Princess Celestia then, as she couldn't contain her joy at the thought. "After all this time, I have my own daughter." She paused, "I should've been the one to go with her, especially on such an important day of her life. But I cannot abandon Canterlot, I have responsibilities I must attend to." Her eyes began to tear up as her expression gradually sunk, and she buried her head into her pillow. Princess Celestia wrapped a hoof around herself in a pained manner. "I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry Serenity...I couldn't..."
And like a child, Princess Celestia began to sob into the pillow as she squeezed it tighter. "I'm sorry I'm not there right now. Please Luna..."
And as Princess Luna and Serenity's carriage soared through the skies, Princess Luna had one hoof planted against her cheek while her elbow rested on the side of the carriage. She looked towards the sunset skies and sighed heavily as she still had her hoof wrapped around Serenity as well. She glanced over and down at the filly as if to ensure she was alright, only to find Serenity had fallen asleep already. Princess Luna smiled softly, before the carriage came to a sudden abrupt halt in the middle of the sky, which caused her to jolt forward.
Princess Luna peered ahead angrily. "What's the meaning of this! What're you two stopping for, this is an important-" but Princess Luna's eyes grew wide with shock as she, along with the two guards that drove, noticed a band of five mysterious individuals blocking their path in the skies. Princess Luna's expression became serious as she glanced back down at Serenity, then back towards the individuals. Her nose wrinkled in silent rage as she glared at them, inquiring, "What is the meaning of this nonsense? Do you realize who you're trifling with!?"
All members of the mysterious group wore thick brown rags over their faces.
One of the individuals at the front of the group's eyes widened as her eyes started to glow green, while all their horns began to ignite with green flame in unison. The obvious leader of the group spoke, her voice was chilling, alluring in its own strange way as she spoke with an intent rage of her own. "Did you two truly think you could hide such a precious prize from me? I sense the love that resides within that child! Who do you think we are Little Princess!?" Before instantaneously, they let off a blast of magical energy straight towards the carriage.
Princess Luna's eyes snapped wide with disbelief as she immediately reacted, reaching for Serenity in her panic. "S-SERENITY!"
And Serenity's eyes slowly opened as she rose her head with a smile. "Auntie Luna? What's the matter?"
But before Princess Luna could even speak, a bright light consumed them as their carriage had been struck by the blast.
And debris rained from the sky, as a cloud of black smoke now veiled the area where the carriage had once been.
