//-------------------------------------------------------// Solstice: Daughter of the Sun Goddess -by VanillaRose- //-------------------------------------------------------// //-------------------------------------------------------// The Summer Sun Celebration //-------------------------------------------------------// The Summer Sun Celebration Celestia sat majestically in her throne, her multi-colored mane sparkling in the moonlight that shone through the stained-glass windows of the royal hall. The doors on the opposite side of the room slowly opened inwards, and a tall, beautiful blue alicorn accompanied by two guards entered the room. "Hello sister," Luna greeted Celestia. "It is time." A heart-warming smile spread across her lips. "Wonderful," she replied. "I shall make my way to the ceremony." Her heart was light. Celestia always loved the Summer Sun Celebration. Gracefully rising to her hooves, she stepped towards the tall doors and out into her sister's luminous moonlight. There were hundreds of ponies eagerly crowded outside of the castle, awaiting Celestia's raising of the sun. Though it was nighttime, the darkness could not taint the image of the fair princess. A small, yellow orb of light began to form at the tip of her horn, and an excited hush fell over the audience. As the ball of energy grew, Celsestia spread out her wings and flew upwards, the magic now bursting elegantly from her long, white horn. The entire sky transformed into a shade of lavender, then a layer of pink emerged, then orange, then yellow. After the sky had completed its transformation, the bright sun hung regally in the clear blue sky. The ponies below her erupted into ecstatic applause. Luna, who was stood before the crowd, smiled and looked upwards towards her older sister. Celestia floated gently back down with ease, not looking fatigued in the slightest after her magical feat. She grinned at her little sister, and then addressed the audience of ponies she stood before. "Ladies and gentlecolts, thank you all for coming to celebrate such a wonderful occasion another year. It's lovely to see you all." The crowd cheered. "There will be a banquet prepared in the royal hall, so please, do enjoy yourselves." More cheers arose, and Celestia and Luna led the crowd towards their castle. Two guards opened up the doors, and began admitting ponies as the sisters approached their thrones to watch over the large occasion. "It has been another good year," Luna stated. "Indeed it has, little sister," Celestia responded and she beamed at her younger sibling. The two sat still as they admired the joy that filled their royal hall. Ponies were laughing, chatting, and stuffing their faces with the delicious food provided by the royal chefs. "I think I am going to have something to eat myself," Celestia told Luna. "I don't know about you, but i'm feeling rather hungry after raising the sun." Luna chuckled, then stood up and followed her, for the hunger was mutual. As they approached the table that was decorated with the tasty assortment of foods, the ponies all fell under a hush as they watched their princess. "Oh, don't mind me," Celestia laughed. "Please, continue enjoying yourselves. This food isn't going to eat itself," she laughed again as she gathered a few snacks on her small, silver platter, and she walked casually back to her throne to enjoy the food. Luna had collected a mountain of foods, making Celestia giggle. Her sister always had the largest stomach. Luna used her magic to levitate a bite of pineapple to her mouth, when suddenly the pineapple flashed a bright light. As Luna flinched at this in surprise, she witnessed it transform into a sharp tooth. "Ah!" Luna exclaimed. Curiously, she observed the tooth. Celestia looked over at her, hearing her sister's cry of surprise, and she gasped at the small pointed tooth levitating before her little sister. The tooth broke free at Luna's levitation magic, and flew across the hall. The audience of ponies attending the banquet had not yet noticed this anomaly, and was merrily chomping down on their food. It was headed for a window, then shattered it with ease. By now, the ponies filling the room turned their heads to see what was happening. A lean, tall figured appeared to be hovering by the window, and the tooth that had just shattered the window attached itself in his mouth. Fearful cries began to arise from the ponies, and the princesses narrowed their eyes in suspicion. A deep voice was heard from the figure. "Well hello my old friends, I do hope I haven't missed any fun," the voice said, sounding a bit dark in the delivery of this statement. "Discord!" shouted Luna. "Leave at once!" Celestia addressed the crowd of cowering ponies that filled her castle hall. "Everypony, you must leave at once!" They all scurried towards the door, frightened and distressed. Discord slithered his way through the shattered window, and snapped his fingers. The window repaired itself, but all the pieces were rearranged out of place, somehow creating a portrait of him. "I truly thought you'd be more excited to see me, Celestia, really," he exclaimed as he approached the thrones. Both princesses were on their hooves, horns and wings at the ready. Celestia thought for sure that this would get ugly. //-------------------------------------------------------// Discord's Return //-------------------------------------------------------// Discord's Return "What do you want, Discord?" Luna shouted. "You have no business here in Equestria!" Her voice was bold, and her attitude was determined. Indeed, Luna was a strong princess. "Oh, you know, the usual," Discord replied casually. "It's only a small favor really, I don't see how it would be a bother to you pretty alicorns." Luna repeated herself more firmly. "What do you want, Discord?" "I want you two lovely ladies," he paused, as if the create a dramatic silence, "to give up your throne to me!" He grinned maniacally as he flew towards the princesses. "Do your worst, Discord," Celestia replied. "You will not prevail!" She flew upwards, launching a beam of energy from her horn towards her foe. Her sister followed, and arrived at her side. "Do we need to use them?" she asked, concerned. "Not yet, little sister." Celestia replied. "We will only use them if we have to." They both glided around the room continuously shooting beams of magic at their opponent. He dodged most of the easily, and the ones that did find their target hardly caused damage. In the meantime, the princesses grew exhausted. It went on for nearly an hour, firing and dodging, and Discord was evading their attempts mockingly. He sparked a dark ball of magic in his claws, and thrust it at Luna as he laughed, sure of his victory over the princess of the night. The magic made contact with her side, and she fell from the air, hitting the floor with a thud as she cried out in pain. "Luna!" Celestia cried. She quickly landed, and stood by her sister protectively. She thought to herself that she wouldn't be able to hold off her foe much longer if her sister was already injured. There was only one way she would possibly be able to vanquish Discord-- the Elements of Harmony. She turned to her sister, who was unconscious, and turned back to face her enemy. "Discord!" she cried. "You've given me no choice!" Using her magic, she brought to her side the five Elements of Harmony. A spark from her horn flew into the air, levitating the Elements, and the sixth element was summoned. Realizing what Celestia's intentions were, Discord hurled himself towards her, propelled by his wings. He was inches away now. But it was too late. A bright beam blasted from Celestia's horn, sending Discord flying backwards. She followed him, sure of her victory, prepared to deliver the final blow so that Discord may never disturb the peace of Equestria again. Allegedly weak and helpless, Discord peered out of the corner of his eye, his mind whirling rapidly with thoughts as to how he could escape. "You have lost, Discord. You shall never disturb the Harmony in Equestria as long as my sister and I rule." As Celestia ignited the Elements once more to turn Discord to stone, his claw quickly extended, and she felt a pinch on her head as he plucked a single strand from her colorful mane. His wings stretched out, and he immediately rose to face his opponent. "We'll just see about that," he whispered in her ear, and he exited through the shattered window. In less that a moment, Discord was gone. Celestia, feeling a mix of relief and worry, quickly turned to care for her injured sister. "Oh Luna," she whispered on the brink of tears. "I'm so sorry, little sister." She gently lowered her horn to her sister's wound, and it slowly healed as Luna began to awaken. "For now, there is no need to worry,"she reassured her sister. "Discord has left."