Time passes quickly in the Pridelands, but as rainy season began Starswirl and Discord met in battle, the latter eventually being defeated by the former with the elements of harmony and banished beyond the borders of the Pridelands, threatened with worse if he ever should return. Zecora however had other things in mind as she painted on her tree there were two shapes in her painting: a tall white unicorn with a flowing multi colored mane with the mark of the sun on her flank, and the other a smaller blue pegasus with a night blue star filled mane and a moon marked on her flank. There were ill stirring in the air but perhaps she was just being too paranoid the young rulers were strong, and with Starswirl and Wild to guide them they would be great one day… But still the ill winds blew and Zecora was left to ponder.

Princess Celestia ran to the edge of the outcrop of Pride Rock smiling back at an eager looking Princess Luna the young fillies were excited this morning because they were going to have a morning lesson with their father. Usually Celestia was taught by their father and Luna was taught by their mother, due to Luna controlling the moon and Celestia controlling the sun so it was rare for the pair to get a lesson together. The two looked toward the not quite risen sun and then turned racing inside Pride Rock to wake their father, leaping and apologizing when their hooves met another pony. Celestia was the larger of the two and was born with a horn she had a long pink mane and bright white fur, Luna however had wings and dark blue fur and a mane of light night blue.

“Your children are awake” Wild mumbled sleepily to her sleeping mate over the excited choruses of ‘Dad’ that echoed in the small cave several other ponies stirring slightly at the noise.

“Before sunrise, they’re your children” Starswirl mumbled back, not quite ready to start his day even while Celestia grip his ear in her teeth and tugged until she felt backwards rolling into the sleeping mass of ponies. Luna however had a different plan, because she didn’t have a horn like her sister she could do it without worrying about hurting him, her tongue sticking out the side of her mouth slightly she backed up to the edge of the raised stone that Starswirl and Wild slept on and then she charged hitting her father in the head and finally managing to get him to open his eyes.

“You promised!” Luna said glaring slightly, soon joined by Celestia who was pouting with large eyes purposely trying to win their father over.

“Okay Okay, I’m up I’m up” Starswirl stood yawning loudly and began to follow his eager children out of the cave, each filly happily going over to nuzzle Wild, who would soon be heading back to bed, before once again following their father to the top of Pride Rock where he usually stood to raise the sun. The two fillies watched in awe as their father’s magic rose the sun and beat away the dark of night exchanging eager glances once their father settled down between them once more. “Look girls” he said flicking his tail toward the view before them “everything the light touches is our kingdom” he grinned slightly at their awed voices, they really were a good audience “A king’s time as ruler rises and falls like the sun, one day girls the sun will set on my time here and rise as you two as the new rulers” he leaned down nodding to them.

“And this will all be ours?” Celestia asked curiously Luna however was silent studying the line of the horizon and the their known borders.

“What about that shadowy place” Luna suddenly spoke up walking along the edge of Pride Rock to point out an area covered in darkness, sharp points of rocks the only thing that could be made out clearly from their current spot.

“That’s beyond our borders, you must never go there” Starswirl said looking over to see what concerned Luna.

“But I thought a ruler could do whatever they want” Luna quipped making her father chuckle.

“Well there’s more to being ruler than getting your way all the time” he replied.

“There’s more?!” Celestia jumped in eagerly making Starswirl laugh openly now before he gesture for them to follow him, walking away from Pride Rock and into their kingdom.

“Everything you see exists together in a delicate balance, as ruler you need to understand that balance” Starswirl told them while they walked, a herd of antelope leaping nearby “and respect all the creatures from the crawling ant” he nodded toward the herd “to the leaping antelope”

“But Dad, don’t the antelope get eaten?” Luna asked innocently looking up in confusion at her father.

“Yes Luna, but let me explain, when everything dies their bodies become the grass and the antelope eat the grass and so we are all connected in the great circle of life” a brief flicker of fiery wings announced the arrival of Philomena eager to give her morning report.

Uninterested in such affairs, Luna and Celestia decided to take this time to practice their skills Luna’s flying and Celestia being magic respectively. Celestia’s attempts to catch a cricket quickly got her father’s attention as he started giving her advice on how to use her magic properly.

“Philomena could you turn around?” Starswirl asked, the majordomo obeying without question though Luna began to frown slightly. “Make sure to keep your horn steadily pointed” he whispered to the crouching filly making Philomena look back in concern.

“What’s going on?” she questioned looking from Celestia to Starswirl and the still frowning Luna in confusion.

“A magic lesson” Starswirl explained adjusting Celestia’s stance with a hoof.

“Oh very good magic” Philomena moved back into position for a second until the word hit her and she flipped around again splaying feathers “magic?!? Oh no sire you can’t be serious!” But Starswirl merely twirled a hoof meaning for her to turn back around grinning which she did, very slowly “This so humiliating” she added outloud crouching slightly to make a good target.

“Try not to make a sound” Starswirl whispered into Celestia ear again making Philomena straighten slightly.

“What are you telling her Starswirl?” She looked back but only saw Luna “Starswirl? Celestia?” she paused slightly before a shot of magic knocked her from her perch making Starswirl laugh loudly.

“That was very good” he praised making Celestia light up happily, unaware that Philomena was now talking to a groundhog who had popped out of the ground. Starswirl turned to Luna “alright, now you” he said gesturing for her to come over but just as Luna began to learn from her father as well Philomena popped over the rock in a panic.

“Sire! Hyenas! In the Pridelands!” she yelled making Starswirl leap up and over the rock.

“Philomena take the girls home” he ordered, all silliness gone.

“Aww Dad can’t we come?” Celestia asked, but was quickly shot down by her father.

Luna scoffed in disappointment “We never get to do anything, Dad didn’t even get to show me anything” she and Celestia began to walk back home with Philomena flying diligently overhead.

“Oh young madams, one day you’ll rule the kingdom and you can chase those slobbering mangy stupid poachers from dawn until dusk” she said, clearly trying to cheer them up, but Luna’s frown remained.

In the Outlands, not far from the Prideland border

Discord walked along his stony perch with disinterest, making aside an old animal bone trying to find a place to lay down, looking over when he heard the sound of small hooves.

“Hey Mr. Discord, guess what?!?” Luna called excitedly racing over to him.

“I despise guessing games” he grumbled turning to face the filly.

“I’m going to rule Pride Rock” she said proudly her wings flaring out behind her as she posed.

“Oh goodie” Discord said sarcastically while Luna ran to the edge of his rocky perch looking toward the Pridelands.

“My dad just showed me and Tia the whole kingdom, and we’re going to rule it all” she puffed her chest out proudly “and then you can come and live with us” she said turning back toward Discord again, she had found him a few days ago and he offered to teach her things and while her father was too busy being king or with Tia Discord was always there for her and she enjoyed spending time with him, even if he was a bit of a grump.

“Yes, well forgive me for not leaping for joy, bad back you know” Discord replied sarcastically laying down with a slight thump.

“Hey Mr. Discord, when I’m ruler, what will that make you?” Luna asked coming over and lying near his head.

“A monkey’s uncle” he replied snidely making Luna laugh as she rolled off him.

“You’re so weird” she said still snickering turning to look at him as he leaned up slightly.

“You have no idea” Discord smirked using his magic to make the seeds of darkness in her heart burrow deeper. “So you’re father showed you the whole kingdom did he?” Discord stood again making Luna, who confirmed his question, chase him slightly as he started walking again “He didn’t show you what is beyond the rise on the northern border did he?”

Luna sort of deflated “Well no… he said we can’t go there” she mumbled.

“And he’s absolutely right! It’s far too dangerous, only the bravest ponies go there” Discord could barely contain his smirk as he spoke, if he knew one thing about the young, they couldn’t resist a challenge.

“Well I’m brave” Luna said, puffing her chest out slightly “What’s out there?” she tilted her head curiously as Discord laid down again.

“I’m sorry Luna I just can’t tell you” Discord replied turning his head away slightly.

“Why not?” Luna asked leaping onto his other side looking more eager to know.

“Luna, Luna I’m only looking out for the wellbeing of my favorite little visitor” Discord reached out to her with his paw ruffling her mane in an act of affection.

“Yeah right” Luna peeked out at him grinning under his paw “I’m your only visitor” she continued.

“All the more reason for me to be protective” he easily replied “an elephant graveyard is no place for a young princess- oops” Discord covered his mouth with his paw, looking flustered.

“An elephant what?! Whoa!” Luna asked excitedly.

“Oh dear I’ve said too much” Discord pressed his paw against his head dramatically “well I suppose you’d’ve found out sooner or later you being so clever and all” he continued quietly pulling Luna close to him “now listen to me for one minute, promise me you’ll never visit that dreadful place” he said in a sickeningly sweet tone.

Luna thought quickly putting on a winning grin “no problem” she lied looking quite convincing as she nodded at him.

“There’s a good lass” Discord grinned back before nudging her off “you run along and play, have fun, and remember” he told the fleeing heir “It’s our little secret” Discord barely managed to hold off his evil smirk as Luna cantered back toward the Pridelands.

Author's Note

Look I finally added another chapter! Hahaha sorry for the wait though honestly, I had to figure out some stuff character and plot wise, but I have it all handled now so this one will be getting updated more often too I hope you enjoy it