The Darkest Star

***Many Years Ago***

It was very early in the morning. Blackstar slowly pokes his head out of the door leading into Princess Celestia's bed chambers and into the

hall. He looks both ways, up and down the corridor. There were no guards in sight. Blackstar looks back into the room, at Celestia. The princess was still fast asleep, though a grin took form on her lips. Blackstar fails to stop himself, and he lets out a quiet chuckle as he recalls the intercourse he shared with her the night before. He steps out into the hall and closes the door as quietly as he can manage.

"We shall see each other again when you awaken, my love..." Blackstar whispers to the closed door.

With that being said, Blackstar begins his journey across the Solar Wing to Celestia's study. He passes a few Royal Guards along the way. Most of them give the human rather disturbing looks, but they keep their distance. Every pony in the palace new to stay away from Celestia's favorite human. Blackstar found a secret joy in his new found 'power'. He could go anywhere in the palace Celestia allowed and do anything he wished, if it were within reason. He loved knowing that no guard really knew why he was given so much freedom. Blackstar despised most of the guards, but there were a few he could share decent conversations with. This few included the Captain. She, along with another guard, was standing guard outside of Princess Celestia's study.

"Good morning, Blackstar." Captain Sadri greets him as he nears the study.  "Isn't it a little early for the human staff to be up and about?"

Her smile was friendly, and Blackstar couldn't resist smiling back.

"I... I just want to finish as much work as possible before the princess wakes." He admits.

"Oh, Blackstar... You are the most dedicated human I have ever had the pleasure of knowing." Captain Sadri says, using the magic from her horn to fix Blackstar's collar. "I wish my slaves as sweet and hardworking as you."

Blackstar blushes at the compliment.

"Oh, Blackstar, before you go in, might I introduce you to my son?" She asks, motioning to the other guard.

"Y-Your son?" Blackstar asks.

Captain Sadri nods proudly.

"Yes. He is still in training to be a Royal Guard. Don't be shy, Silver. Introduce yourself."

The other guard stairs at Blackstar through the openings in his helmet.

"Uh... h-hello..." Blackstar says uneasily, waving to the unicorn.

"Hello..." The training guard replies. "I... I'm Silvershield..."

"Two weeks into training with his mother, and he is still as shy as a bird." Captain Sadri chuckles as she pats her son's back. "Alright, Blackstar, I wont keep you from your duties. You get on in there and make our princess proud."

Captain Sadri and her son step aside to allow Blackstar to enter Celestia's study. As he is walking past them, he notices a very strange look from the son, Silvershield. Blackstar stairs back until he passes through the door frame. Then, the door closes.

***Part 1: The New Threat***

"Are... you certain, Fives?" Princess Celestia asks. "I find it hard to believe that someone could sneak a... what did you call it? A bomb? Anyway, security for the gala is going to be tighter than ever before. Something that big will not be able to get through."

Fives was losing his patience. He aggressively slams his fist into the table.

"You're not listening!" He yells at Celestia. "I have told you, mother, someone on our side is going to help Simco get the bomb in the palace. Twilight believes me. Why won't you?"

Celestia heaves a heavy sigh as she looks down at the war map.

"Fives, my son... You know I trust you and your judgment. You have saved Equestria once before, but we have been at war for over a year now, and Simco's forces have rarely been able to get past out lines. My subjects feel safe, and I want to keep it that way. is supposed to be a celebration, and a threat like this would throw everyone into a panic of unimaginable proportions."

"Mother, the very fact that I know about this bomb proves that you are wrong." Fives hisses. "It was one of Simco's agents that told me about it. He was trying to warn me."

This very quickly captures Celestia's attention.

"What do you mean? When was this? Where?"

"In our room, just before we came in here." Fives says.

Princess Celestia turns her attention to Twilight.

"Can you confirm this?" Celestia asks her.

Twilight shakes her head.

"No, princess, but I believe Fives."

"Twilight wasn't there when he arrived." Fives agrees. "He came into the room and told me about the bomb."

Celestia looks back and forth between her son and student. At last, she slowly nods her head.

"Alright... I will increase security and notify my highest ranking guards of this... bomb. Is there anything else I need to know?"

There was, but Fives couldn't tell her.

"The name's Toby, lad. One more thing: Don't trust Felix Rogers. He is not the Nobel hero he says he is, but you have to be mindful. If he knows you are on to him, everyone will die."

Fives had seen Felix in action. He knew what the soldier was capable of, and he knew he was dangerous. Fives shakes his head.

"No, mother... That's all I know." Fives lies.

Celestia's eyes narrow as she scans his face.

"Alright... Fives and Twilight, thank you for bringing this threat to my attention. Now, try to get some rest, you two. We have a very busy day tomorrow."

Twilight and Fives both give Princess Celestia a low bow before turning to exit the war room. Fives could only hope she was telling the truth about the unlikeliness of a bomb in Canterlot. Then, as he is leaving the war room, images of Fives' nightmare the night before flash in his mind. The destruction... The ruined city...

"Are you alright, sweetie?" Twilight asks nervously. "You look really pale."

Fives snaps back to reality at the sound of her voice.

"Huh? Oh, yeah... I'm fine... I'm just... really tired."

"Oh, well I hope you're not too tired..." Twilight says with a light-hearted chuckle. "I was kinda looking forward to some... you know..."

Fives' cheeks instantly turn bright red.

"After you, malady." He says, quickly ushering the purple mare down the corridor.

***Part 2: I'm A Nightmare***

Fives pants heavily. His chest felt burdened and his head felt as though it was on a swivel. He looks at his surroundings. He was in the palace, in the throne room.

"Save them... Save them, if you can..."

Fives spun in circles, looking for the source of the sinister voice that echoed in his mind.

"Your world will burn... Your city will fall..."

The voice sounded close. Fives could almost feel Simco's breath on his neck. Fives turns and throws his fist in the direction of the voice, only to meet open air. Simco's voice laughs.

"Ha! You still think you have a chance to win..."

"Show yourself!" Fives shouts into the darkness.

The darkness does not reply right away. Fives could feel it hesitating, almost as though it was afraid.

"Very well..." The sinister voice says.

The scene changes, and Fives finds himself in the old palace, the one in the Everfree Forest. The ruined stones gave off an aura that felt cold and ancient. There was only one window in the room providing light. Fives walks to the window, every step making his feet feel heavier. The night sky outside was lit up by the moon, illuminating the forest below. Then, Fives saw him. A man was running out of the forest, straight for the bridge.

"Daddy will be here soon, Nova..." Celestia's voice echos in his head. "He would not miss your first birthday for all the gifts in the world..."

Fives turned to look for his mother, but she wasn't there.

"Nova, please release my mane..." The mare's voice chuckles.

Fives turns his attention back to the man running across the bridge.

"Wait..." Fives mutters. "Is that... my..."

Fives heels a hoof on his shoulder. He spins around to find Celestia standing behind him now. Her eyes were filled with leaking tears.

"One day..." She sniffles. "Your father... He... He fell..." She cries.

Fives' heart stops. He looks back out the window. The man was nearing the bridge. Fives extends his arm and tries to scream, but no sound comes out.

"The bridge..." Celestia cries. "It fell... He fell..."

As the man neared the center of the bridge, the ropes on the other side gave way, and the bridge collapsed. The man let out a terrified yell as he plummeted towards the canyon below. Fives turns away and shuts his eyes. He tries to cover his ears, but he could not block out the screams. The screams are quickly followed by silence. When he opens his eyes again, Celestia is gone, and he is in the forest, outside of the castle. A shadowy figure approaches Fives, like a ghost. The figure passes right through Fives and walks into the thicket. Just before disappearing into the forest, the shadowy figure motions for Fives to follow, but before Fives can lift his foot to follow after him, a bright light illuminates the forest floor, an explosion. Fives screams as he is engulfed in flames.

***Part 3: The Sky Up Above***

Fives wasted no time with his new found energy. As the sun lit up the room, he sprang out of bed, kissed his wife's cheek, and dashed out of the room in search of his mother. Luckily for Fives, she wasn't a difficult mare to find. Princess Celestia and Princess Luna both were in the the war room, along with a few human officers and Royal Guards. The guard at the door sees him coming, and she extends her hoof.

"Halt," The guard says. "The war room is off limits. Turn around go back the way you came, Fives."

Fives peers at the guard through her helmet. Her voice sounded familiar.

"Sky...?" Fives asks cautiously.

The guard's ears perk up at the mentioning of her name.

"Ah... So, the Prince of Equestria remembers me. I feel so flattered." She says glumly.

"You were with Shining, when he got me out of the slave market... I haven't seen you since... since I was very little..."

"In the barracks." Sky agrees. "You were a little runt back then. You have grown up quite a lot, haven't you?"

Fives studies her facial features. She looked aged and tired, but that wasn't what got Fives' attention. Sky notices him staring at the jagged scar on her cheek.

"Ah... Noticed that, did you?" She asks.

"What happened to you?" Fives asks.

Sky sighs as she steps aside.

"I shouldn't bother you with such a stupid story." She says. "You better get in there and do what you need to do..."

Fives puts a hand on her helmet.

"Please, tell me. Did someone hurt you?"

Sky nods slowly.

"You probably don't remember, but I was once in a relationship with that bastard, Silvershield... When every pony found out about his betrayal, I was targeted too. That was a while ago... I've moved on."

Fives truly felt sorry for her. He didn't remember her being the nicest mare in the barracks, but she did defend him and Shining from Silvershield. Fives don't know what to say. He didn't have to say anything. Using the magic from her horn, Sky opens the door for him.

"Thank you, Sky..." Fives says as he prepares himself to step inside.

As he is about to walk into the war room, her hoof extends in front of him.

"One more thing, Fives..." She says. "When you meet Silvershield again, be sure to kick his ass for me, alright?"

Fives can't stop himself from smiling, and he embraces the unicorn. After pulling away, he pats her armored back and walks inside. He needed to speak to his mother.

***TO BE CONTINUED***