My name is Baran Greymane. I’m the only heir to one of Canterlot’s oldest nobilities. As such, I was given private tutorings in Canterlot’s Politics, History, and High Magics as well as the basic General Studies courses and treated to only the best services befitting my position. On the day of my birth, the Princesses both presented me with gifts. From Celestia, I was given the gift of Light: to see the good in everything, that my magic would brighten the world around me, and that I would lead others to follow in my example. From Luna, I received the Power of Night: the ability to solve problems with a cool head, and when things looked darkest, that the heavens would light the way for me.
It wasn’t long before I was recognized for having “advanced magical talents and a natural aptitude for magic” and began to serve in the Royal Court under the current court wizard: Starswirl the Bearded. He taught me that my cutie mark: a black and white circle separated by an oblong line, was an ancient symbol for the balance between light and darkness. He explained that the reason only half the symbol appeared on each side of my flank, my coat itself split into black and white, was because i perfectly embodied this balance. The symbol even managed to manifest itself in the silver and gold colorings in my eyes.
Peace in Equestria didn’t last forever though; Rumors spread throughout the Court that Princess Luna was dismayed by her duties of watching over the night, and it wasn’t long before Princess Celestia began dismissing the court early to attend to her sister. One night, I snuck out of the house I shared with Starswirl the Bearded in the Everfree Forest that we used for studying its magical plants and the Forest’s magical properties after Starswirl fell asleep. I made it to the Castle of the Two Sisters undetected using a self-developed night based invisibility spell. When I arrived in the throne room, I was met with Princess Celestia in light combat armor confronting a black and dark blue armor-clad alicorn. The intruder’s horn began to glow as she addressed Princess Celestia.
“You WILL recognize my rule Celestia; Even if i have to force it upon you and all of Equestria.”
“ I don’t care what dark powers you have made pacts with,” Celestia countered, her horn illuminating as well. “I will stop this madness Luna. One way or another.”
Luna? The dark alicorn was the young princess? It didn’t seem possible but as the two lowered their horns, i found myself blindly galloping in between them.
“STOP!” I yelled as I dropped my invisibility spell and raised a shield in between them. My shield melted as the two beams struck me before my shield had a chance to fully form. Celestia ceased her attack when she saw me appear but Luna’s magic struck the right side of my head, sending me flying towards Celestia. After seeing me sent flying, Celestia flew off so that i wouldn't get hurt in any future crossfire. As I lay there bleeding and slowly losing consciousness, I reflected that Celestia’s fight with Luna was another reflection of my cutie mark: the struggle between light and darkness. After what seemed like an eternity, Celestia, battered and obviously having been crying, returned to my body lying in a steadily growing pool of my own blood. Her horn glowed and I felt the blood returning to my body.
“I cannot reverse the damage to your ear brave unicorn,” she said morosely, “but i can give your body a chance to rest. Luna will eventually return and you will be needed again to stand against her.” My body rose off the ground and I felt crystal slowly forming around me. “Rest young hero. We shall meet again.” I lost consciousness as the crystal rose to cover my head.
Some time during my sleep, I had a dream about an Alicorn who looked a lot like Celestia, but this one’s brilliance outshone Celestia’s a hundredfold. She spoke something that I couldn’t quite hear and then vanished, my thoughts drifting back into an abyssal darkness.
