In the soft glow of twilight they began their journey, predator and prey alike moved in silent agreement not breaking the silence of early morning even the Timberwolves seemed to be at peace this dawn, only the soft whistle of the breeze swishing through the tall wild grasses was heard. Each creature paid no heed to the slow creeping of the sun as it peeked into sight old and young alike seemed to be overtaken by an air of calm moving steadily toward their destination. Their silence broken at last as small insects buzzed and chirped to great the day, but still the animals were silence large beasts pausing to allow the small pause under or around in peace as they arranged themselves to greet both the day and the life that came with it.

Pride Rock stood tall against the early morning sky a stark reminder of the power their land could hold against the elements of nature, at the middle outcrop of rock jutting out into the open air stood a solitary zebra, her name is Zecora who had five rings on her right foreleg and a similar set of ring around her neck and a grey stylized sun on her flank as her cutie mark, she had been a wandering Shaman before she had found herself at the Pridelands, now she helped the royal family as an advisor of sorts while also giving medicine and care to the sick and wounded who came to her in need. She wasn't always present in her home, a large tree not far from Pride Rock filled with various herbs and potions, as sometimes she could go out on spiritual journeys and quests to find her inner peace, but for moments like this presenting the heir to the kingdom of the sun she was always ready and available to play her part. Zecora looked to the sky smiling sensing the presence of Starswirl, their previous king, he had been slain in a duel with the chaotic being known as Discord, encasing the draconequus in stone before he passed on. Zecora bowed low in respect for the fallen king, the animals below following suit, though not as in touch with spiritual energies as Zecora was they indeed knew their king was still watching over them.

Zecora slowly returned to her hooves as their new ruler, Celestia slowly walked out of a small cave in Pride Rock, hidden from view unless you were on the rock itself, a small fuzzy body on her back protected from a nasty fall by the alicorn's wings. Celestia was well-known as the eldest daughter of Starswirl and capable of moving the sun to rise and set each day, she was pure white with a mane of light blue, pink, green and purple with a matching tail her eyes, kind and understanding, were a violet color. She wore her gold tiara with its purple stone in the center with grace despite the added weight of a matching necklace around her neck and golden shoes on her hooves. She carried herself gracefully and proudly as any mother would on a day of their child's birth, nodding her head as her loyal majordomo Philomena bowed spreading her fiery wings out as she did so, her beak nearly touching the ground. Celestia's mate, Sombra had been corrupted by Discord and was slain in the final battle, much to Celestia's heartbreak, but she stood strong for her subject pony or otherwise and in time her grief lessened though it still remained in her heart just as the happy memories did. Celestia gently took the foal in her magic passing her to a waiting Zecora who looked down at the small pony in her forehooves.

The foal was a girl, with light purple fur and a mane of muted blue parted by a thick pink stripe and a slightly thinner purple one she was a unicorn like her mother had been before she became an alicorn and had her mother's violet eyes. Turning toward the crowd of animals, pony and otherwise, Zecora leaned back on her back hooves and lifted the foul high above her head for all to see. The animals below went wild, stomping their feet and crying out in joy at the continuation of the circle of life the larger animals causing the ground to shake while smaller animals like monkeys and antelopes tossed up dust and dirt making small swirling clouds of the stuff at their feet. It took them a moment to regain their senses but soon every animal gathered from the mighty elephant to the song birds soon bowed to their future ruler, who looked around at all the commotion with bright eyes and giggled, wiggling in an attempt to get free and see what all the commotion was about.

Zecora allowed Celestia to take to foal again before she returned to her proper hooves walking over to the still wiggling bundle of fur and picking up a small gourd from the ground where she had left it. Inside was very little, merely some red substance commonly used in welcoming a new heir to the world it didn't have any real effect but it was a ceremonial thing, so with a slight smile on her face she dipped the tip of her hoof into the cool red before getting dragging it across the foals forehead, making a slight arch under her horn, her hoof now for the most part clean Zecora lowered it to the ground as Celestia tucked her heir onto her back between her wings once more.

"What have you decided to call her?" the young zebra asked her queen as the animals and ponies gathered began to slowly leave, some hang back to wish the queen well as Zecora and Celestia started walking off Pride Rock to return to Celestia's temporary den as she didn't want to have Twilight running around from so high up until she was older.

Celestia looked back at the now slumbering foal on her back and smiled, seeing not only herself in her but her dear beloved Sombra, how she missed him, maybe one day she'd be able to see him again. "Her name is Twilight Sparkle" she mumbled love and heartache both clear in her eyes and in her heart as she headed into the temporary den remembering the past and hopeful for the future.

Author's Note

this is just something that sort of popped into my head and I decided to write it for fun hope you like it :) and don't worry this chapter is only short because it's a 'prologue' the other chapter will be longer :D