Editing:The Test Begins...
Through the endless cosmos I travel, a sentinel against the corruption and vile that seek to decay of all creation. My task given to me by divine gods to maintain balance and cull from creation, to root out and correct corruption, entropy, and decay, where such was possible. And where it was not... to ensure that could have never existed in space and time in the first place.
Creation, life and reality eventually becomes corrupt and diseased and when left unchecked, this disease would spread through all worlds and eventually, it would grow beyond the boundaries of a single universe. Thus I seek the chaotic and corrupted, to find the source of the infection of the universe, and destroy it.
Many see me as a monster that only destroys. However, if a world passes my test then I leave them unharmed for only if they fail do I condemn them to eternal oblivion.
I am The Doom Star... Creation's greatest enemy is I. For Creation's greatest enemy is itself. I come to test and to destroy and hope only to fail utterly. For in failing, I shall succeed. Those who know this and understand may come to understand me. Be ready… I am coming for you, and I shall not be merciful.
. . . .
In the darkness of the night, the little town of Ponyville slept peacefully. Every resident was dreaming of the various wonders they would hope to meet in the morning. Knowing that the Princess of the Night watched protectively over them was a comforting fact that more often than not allowed them to dream the blissful dreams that they sought in sleep.
If only the same level of happiness was shared, for Princess Luna distracted herself with a matter of greater importance.
Within the Canterlot castle, Luna was using the tower telescope to gaze at the stars. She often found herself looking at the stars of her night, constantly discovering stars that she had never seen before. With her powerful third-eyed device, she inadvertently stumbled upon one that sent sharp tingles down her spine. As she focused the telescope at this new discovery, she soon found herself in awe.
A star of crimson red filled her scope. When it had appeared a couple days ago, Luna had simply shrugged it off as an anomaly, but now it held her full attention were it only the fact that it had returned the following two nights.
Luna was so distracted by this recurring discovery that she failed to hear her sister enter her chambers.
Princess Celestia had just finished her work for the day and was on her way back to her own chambers to unwind before joining her subjects in the realm of dreams. However, as she passed Luna’s chambers, the Princess of the Sun couldn’t help but notice that her two personal guards had been noticeably absent and that her door was ajar.
Curiosity, worry, and a desire to respect her younger sister’s privacy had fought. Naturally, her concern for her sibling won out as she peered through the door to find her little sister stargazing.
“Luna, is there something troubling you?” The question startled Luna as she realized her sister’s presence. Luna turned away, casting her magnified lens aside momentarily. She met her sister in stride, worry filling her mind and likewise her expression.
“It’s nothing, I think…” she trailed off awkwardly as she glanced from her sister to her telescope and back again.
“You think?” Celestia asked dubiously as she trotted closer to her sister, her expression deadpanning. “It sounds to me that you’re unsure.” She stopped beside the younger alicorn, staring out at the vast expanse that made up the night sky.
“I didn’t want to worry you sister but look through the telescope and tell me what you see.” Luna motioned to the telescope.
Celestia obeyed and moved to Luna’s spot and looked through the eyepiece. As her rose colored eye peered through the eyepiece, an odd chill crawled up her spine as she spotted the same tiny red star far in the distance.
“What a strange object in the distance!” Celestia remarked carefully before turning back to Luna. “Is that what concerns you Luna?”
“Yes,” Luna stated, fear shaking her very core. “That star has only been there two nights.” Ominously she gazed at where the star ought to be. “And every time I look at it, I feel a nervousness that has no reason to exist!”
“I see what you mean, and I can understand your worry, but you have been cooped up in this tower for two days. I think you need to rest… just for a spell.”
“I know I haven’t been out lately but this star has me asking so many questions that I am unsure how to answer!” It was clear to Celestia that her sister had been panicking about this dilemma for the better part of the night.
“Luna please,” Celestia pleaded. “Take a break. I’m sure it will not go anywhere.” Luna cast a sidelong look at her telescope and then at the star before heaving a heavy sigh and nodding reluctantly.
“Perhaps that is for the best...” With that, Luna and Celestia left the tower while they wondered what could come from the sudden appearance of the star.
After guiding Luna to her bed with strict orders to rest or at least do something that didn’t involve panicking about that red star, Celestia trotted to her private chambers and settled upon her bed, drifting off to sleep.
Celestia’s dreamscape was not as complicated as some ponies would believed it to be. In her dreams, she would relive her life as a filly, playing with her sister in the old castle’s beautiful garden while their parents watched from afar on a stone bench with small smiles on their faces. It was a lovely idea: part dream, part memory; Celestia enjoyed it.
As Celestia examined her lovely dreamland once again, she was greeted by something more: a dark expansion of death and despair, ponies crying everywhere, lifeless bodies scattered across the ground in pools of their own blood, light fading, destruction wreaking havoc on the survivors. A voice shouted between the lines, color starting to recede into monochrome: the reds with greys, the blues with blacks, and yellows with greens. Though the transformation began slowly with only a sketch or two outlining the shapes of the dream, the filling of endless darkness swirled into the interior. It was horrific, watching the loving memories that she had clung to for support distort to black perverted images of her past; Celestia didn’t like it. The alicorn found herself surrounded by the snare of the dark void. A strange voice seeped through the confines of nothing, taunting her in every direction.
You are worthy…
Celestia awoke in a cold sweat, gasping for air. She had no idea what was going on and as she climbed out of her bed, she found herself staring out the balcony with her gaze transfixed on the red star in the distance. Her head began to ache as she felt something pierce through her passive mental defenses and penetrate deep into her mind.
You are worthy…
“Who is there?” Celestia asked half fearful and half shocked.
I am the crimson star you see in the night sky… The alibaster alicorn let out a gasp she hadn’t realized she’d been holding in as her brain slowly processed the information.
“What…?” Celestia clenched her teeth and grasped her head.
You will become my mortal instrument for the test of your world: you will kill, you will steal, you will take all your loyal, precious little ponies and separate them before throwing them in the hooves of those who will perform the final step. They will hate you; loathe your name. In doing so, you may save them from me...
Celestia ran, still clutching her head with her only free hoof, while using the other three to swing the large doors wide. She stumbled back into her bedroom, making her way to the bed as quickly as possible. Unfortunately, she only managed to stagger into the center of her room before collapsing, her breathing strained. She looked up, the white room fading as the voice filled her mind with its twisted lies and truths.
You’re mine...
. . . .
Celestia awoke in the early hours of the day. Covered in sweat and breathing heavily, she tried to process what happened but with the her head her head had been pounding, Celestia felt like she was hit by a wagon. Heaving a sigh that belied her fatigue, she levitated a glass of clear water from her nightstand to help soothe the burning in her throat and nerves.
Walking over to the mirror, she put on her crown, necklace, and hoofshoes. The Princess of the Day found herself smiling as she considered what she would do that day…
****
Celestia’s schedule was hectic as per usual. Dealing with land disputes, solving economic problems, and trying to keep the ponies of Equestria safe. Her sister Luna, since her return from exile, had helped greatly with many tasks that Celestia had struggled to do on her own. It was hard work, keeping a great nation running while also keeping peace with other lands, but the princesses have done this for ages.
Celestia managed to finish her work a earlier than planned today and, hoping to meet with her sister, set off for her sister’s chambers where she found her having just left them. Not bothering with decorum, Celestia approached her sister, a request on her lips.
“Oh Luna can you help me with something?”
“Of course sister…” Luna had agreed easily.
The two alicorns had backtracked into Luna’s room. The walk was quiet, as neither said a word. They didn’t need to given that they had known each other for thousands of years. Once in her chamber, Celestia’s sister wished to ask why they were here.
Unfortunately, she never got so far as to open her mouth to ask the question when Luna suddenly plummeted onto hard floor, her teeth clenched and her head grasped in her hooves.
‘You are worthy…’
‘You will give hope to many, save countless lives, but you will make a choose: your sister, or the world…’
As the voice left Luna’s mind, the princess fell unconscious as Celestia closed the door.
. . . .
It was a peaceful afternoon in Ponyville. The idle chatter of the town’s ponies and the clattering of hooves on the cobbled stones of the little town's streets were the only sounds that permeated the air. All around were little houses with thatched roofs, brick, and stucco walls, and happy ponies in the doorways. Vendors called to ponies from behind their stalls and in front of their carts. The smell of baked goods and fresh produce wafted from every corner.
On the outskirts of the peaceful little town was the Friendship castle, where the Princess of Friendship, also known as Twilight Sparkle, found herself rather bored today. She had already read almost every book in her large library and the map of Equestria had not called on her or her friends to solve a problem in the land. However, she was looking forward to the special event that was to take place right outside her home later today.
Twilight had agreed to hold a charity book signing for the local school to update on some renovations. Twilight was confident nothing would ruin this nice day, even though she did wish for something a bit more exciting.
Twilight was getting ready for the book signing as she gathered her quills and ink into her saddlebag. She walked down to the entrance hall of the castle when she heard the sound of hooves running to the door. The castle door swung open to reveal a concerned Applejack.
“Applejack? What the matter?”
“Twi, you better come outside and see this.” Interest piqued, Twilight followed Applejack outside and only to be met with nothing.
“I don’t see anything…” Twilight stopped in mid sentence as she looked up into the sky.
The sky above Ponyville was black as the night as bolts of magical energy were shooting from an area near the Everfree forest. Animals were running for their lives from the forest and thunder echoed across the air. After a few minutes Twilight and the rest of her friends gathered to talk about what was going on.
“Twilight, what could be going on in the Everfree forest this time?” Rarity asked.
“I don’t know but I can feel the magic radiating off it. It’s immense… but did anypony see where the black sky came from?”
“No idea,” said Rainbow Dash. “I was flying with some other pegasi when it just appeared out of thin air.”
Twilight had ordered a town wide evacuation. With the townsfolk hunkering for cover, the six friends made a beeline for the Everfree forest.
“Twi, you got any idea what this could be?” asked Applejack as they galloped through the increasingly dense foliage.
Pinkie had chimed in claiming that aliens had obvious come to Equestria. She had also added that she genuinely hoped that they liked pies and cake. It would definitely make for great party materials. Plus it would make Pinkie’s job all the easier.
“I don’t know about liking pies,” Twilight frowned, “but something is off…” Her friends eyed her oddly as she continued to explain. “The air and magic surrounding the forest feels different.. almost wrong for lack of a better word. It’s almost like something shouldn’t be here.”
The six ponies continued their trek into the forest as fast as they could until they reached a field near Zecora’s hut. There were scorch marks from something powerful in the center of the grassy field and strange large foot prints leading to the northern location.
The six friends’ gallop slowed to a more casual trot as they came to a nondescript area only to hear something odd coming from near a clearing.
Without wasting a moment, the mares quickly took cover behind some nearby bushes. They soon saw something odd… a elder grey unicorn, wearing strange wizard like clothing and a hourglass on his front right hoof.
“You can come out now!” The elderly unicorn called out. Feeling no motivation to continue hiding, Twilight and her friends slowly walked out of the bushes to this elder pony with caution.
“Who are you? And how do you know us?” Twilight asked suspiciously as she stared at the unicorn.
“First, my name is Iadoa, second is that all of your names on recorded in the Chronomancers Archives.’
“A Chrono-what?” Applejack asked, confused.
“I am a master Chronomancer or Time Mage. I along with others go throughout time and space to fix errors in reality… However, why I am here involves you all,” Iadoa explained much to Twilight and her friends’ confusion.
“What do you mean?” Rainbow Dash spoke up first.
“If you were to look up at night, you would see a rad star in the sky. It’s moving toward Equestria and when it gets here, it will obliterate this world unless Equestria passes its test as conducted by the chosen,” he explained to their combined shock and horror.
“WHAT?!” all six yelled, horrified at the prospect of the whole world being destroyed if they failed this test.
“As for what is to come next,” he paused before casting them a genuinely apologetic look. “I am sorry but the Elements Of Harmony inside you all must be saved.” Before the six mares could even so much as blink, Iadoa had already released a burst of magic, freezing them in time. Confident that he had performed the spell correctly, he had used his hourglass to envelop both them and him before warping them away from Equestria.
. . . .
With the mysterious disappearance of the Bearers of the Elements, Equestria was starting down the path of sorrow as the Doom Star moved ever closer. Equestria had begun to unravel as Princess Celestia had gradually shifted from a kind and benevolent ruler to a vile dictator that not even the tyranny that was King Sombra could hope to match. She had pushed through for many new laws that had, over time, caused her ponies as well as the other races to hate and despise her. Princess Luna, on the other hand, left the castle some time ago before Celestia’s descent into madness. Some ponies claimed that she was searching for a way to end her elder sister’s madness and tyranny. They had even suspected that she had scoured the most obscure regions and searched the highest mountains to the deepest of oceans only to find nothing that could help through this crisis.
This is the new Equestria five years later as the Doom Star sits past the moon above the world.
The air that once smelled of peace and harmony was now filled with rage and war. A revolution had begun and the casualties were great. The ponies that had revolted had cut a swath through Equestria before homing in on Canterlot where they marched upon Canterlot Castle while the Princess waited in her throne room.
“Ah there you are my dear sister…” Celestia spoke as a cloaked pony stepped out of the shadows as the hood fell back to revealed the well worn face of her younger sister.
“Tia, I’ve searched most of the known and unknown world for a way to stop your madness…” Luna had explained before bowing her head in a vain effort to hide her tears. “But I have failed both you and Equestria.” Luna’s horn lit up as she cast her cloak aside, not even batting an eye as the cloak then transformed into several bats that quickly dispersed. Celestia, for her part, stood silently, her gaze blank.
“Tia?” asked Luna carefully as she slowly walked forward to get a better look at the mare she’d looked up to all her life.
‘The test…’ a darkened voice spoke from Celestia’s mouth, catching Luna off guard before she leapt back and glared at her.
“You!” she roared, “ You’re that strange voice that has been tormenting me all these years! What are you doing to my sister!?”
‘As I have been telling you...You are worthy...You will give hope to many, save countless lives, but you will make a choice: your sister, or the world… and now is the time to choose for I have arrived in Equestria… as you look upon the crimson star.’
“You're the red star that now hovers above the lands?” Luna asked incredulously. “You're the one filling ponies and my sister with this hate? Why are you doing this?!”
‘To test your kind, Savior… To see if they are truly worthy then this malice I fill them with will easily go away… But their survival depends on you, Savior… you have been chosen as your kind’s paragon. What you do next will decided whether I destroy your world or leave forever.’
“What about my sister?!”
‘She has been chosen as my instrument that I must test your kind with… now prepare yourself… for the final part of the test begins here.’ With that Celestia’s eyes glowed dark red as she slowly rose into the air with a flap of her powerful wings.
Luna stared in shock as Celestia blasted away the ceiling of the throne room and climbed higher to the red star. Luna gave chase prompting Celestia to stop and begin to fire magical blasts at her sister. Luna and Celestia began a titanic battle as the revolution watched, prayed, and hoped for Luna’s victory. After hours of fighting, Luna knew what she had do as she flew as fast as she could directly at her sister, trying to ignore the tears that trailed from her eyes as she rammed her horn into Celestia's heart. Her aim was true as she felt her horn pierce her sister’s body and hung limp for several seconds before gravity began to take effect, sending the mad tyrant falling to the ground with a sickening thud while Luna covered her eyes in fear. She didn’t want to look but was forced to as she descended to meet her sister’s body on the ground.
“Lulu…” her voice was weak, her white coat stained a deep red from her blood. Luna, for her part, had wanted to wretch at the sight of her sister’s body, battered and broken.
And all because of me Luna thought in horror as it dawned on her just what she had done. Yes, she had slayed a tyrant but it came at the price of her own sister. The only mare Luna could rely on when times got tough. The only mare Luna could say for certain would always have her back in pinch. And now here she lay, dying by her younger sister’s own hoof...
“Tia… I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.” Luna couldn’t hold back the tears that trailed down her cheeks as she kneeled down and nuzzled her older sister, apathetic to the stench of iron and copper as she held her close.
“Don’t be…” Celestia whispered as rubbed Luna’s cheek with a hoof. “You freed me and saved Equestria, I’m proud of you, Luna. So very proud of you.” Luna’s eyes had widened as she noticed how cold she had gotten as the alabaster alicorn uttered her sentences.
“Tia don't leave me!” Luna held her sister close to her in a vain attempt to warm her up and keep her alive and by her side.
“Take care of yourself and the our little ponies…” Celestia whispered as she struggled to pull Luna in for a hug.
“I love you Luna.” Celestia’s last words as the Doom Star, in a flash of red light, disappeared from the sky while Luna did nothing more than to hide her face in her sister’s colorful mane so to conceal the fact that she was crying openly.
. . . .
It has been years since that fateful day. Princess Luna restored the old ways of Equestria and ruled over the ponies with the grace and majesty her sister had. Though Celestia was branded a tyrant, in the end the ponies remember her for the good she had brought. After the Doom Star was gone the Bearers of the Elements of Harmony were returned, though their shock of what happened while they were gone was understandable. However, they were needed to rebuild Equestria back to its former glory.
Equestria now stands ready for whatever the future may hold.
Author's Note
Me and a friend made this one-shot fic, hope you all enjoy it and leave comments below.
