The Next Generation, Part One

[/size] A tall, thin figure stood in the entry room of the empty throne room. Soft moonlight filtered through the stained glass windows that boasted of old stories. Stories that took place long ago. Stories of harmony. The Princess's hair waved gently as she trotted gracefully forward to the two thrones centered at the end of the regal hall. Above the largest throne, sat the imperial crest. On the left half of the emblem the silver moon arched gracefully and on the right half was a bronze sun, shining and majestic. Above both the sun and moon was a turquoise crystal heart. A heart that resembled Princess Cadence's cutie mark very much so. Celestia's glittering magenta eyes slid to the large star centered between the two. It had an achingly familiar shape. One like Celestia's old apprentice, Twilight Sparkle. But anypony with eyes could see this star was different. And it was golden. Like the dawn.

The elegant monarch's body stiffened for a moment as if she was hesitating. Tonight the star in the center of the crest was different. Pulsing and glowing and thrumming and. . . well, living. It was an odd thing, that star. Today had been the Autumn Star-Falling Festival. A day where the stars seemed to rain from the skies in a breathtaking display. It was a show nopony could describe or explain. But it was beautiful. Especially tonight. Celestia had never noticed how the star in the crest had shone so bright any year before. Usually she was still out enjoying the celebrations with her sister, Luna. Well, except last year. That was when she had first seen the odd shimmer. Last year, as soon as the last falling star had faded from the sky, the golden star had stopped glowing. Tonight she was expecting to find the emblem pulsing like last year; she was not disappointed. Cadence, Twilight, Luna, and the filly princess Flurry Heart could keep the adoring ponies busy for now. Celestia mumbled a small spell and her horn flashed with a dangerously bright violet light and she pressed the tip of her horn to the center of the star. Immediately she was knocked back into a somersault and landed on the cold marble onto her flank with a groan. Outside she could hear the gasp of hoards of ponies. Celestia rushed to one of the stained glass windows to see the stars shining with a dazzling display. Colors flashed upon the ground and stars spun and flashed. It was a blazing show and then, all at once, the stars calmed in the sky and faded back to their regular luster.

The princess's mouth hung open with sheer awe. And then, a little whiny. A squeak. In the middle of Celestia's throne was a filly. Just a wee bit smaller than Flurry Heart. Celestia whirled around with a choking kind of gasp. The filly was a very pale and faded gold and her mane boasted gorgeous streaks of purple, pink, orange, and speckled with shimmering light, like stars. She looked like a beautiful, pastel, sunset. An earth pony Celestia observed. And her eyes. Odd eyes. They were purple, and bright, and crystal-like. Pupils faded to the point that they were just a tad darker than her irises.

[size=1.5em]Oh. Oh my.

She blinked with disbelief. This filly was conceived from a race thought to have been extinct for more than a thousand years. Her father was one of this race but Celestia's mother was an Equestrian. This filly was a Star-pony.