The Hidden Princess of Equestria

Chapters

The Prophecy of an Incoming Darkness
Divergence
The Birth of the Light
A Letter That Realizes Dreams
The Departure
A Fated Passion
The Arrival
The Greatest Conjurer of Equestria
A Talk Between Brothers
The Soothsayer
The Shadow of the Dark King
The Apple Family

The Prophecy of an Incoming Darkness

There wasn’t kingdom more beautiful in all pony world than Equestria, the place where all kinds of ponies co-existed in perfect harmony. No other kingdom couldn’t be compared to Equestria, both in beauty and splendor, with its mountain ranges that sparkled like crystal tilting the North, whose climate made the towns there look like being inside a snow globe, the sunny beaches throughout the cost line, the beauty and mysterious forests full of mysteries and secrets even older than the kingdom itself, and, located on a lonely mountain at the center of the lower half of the land, there was the capital, Canterlot. At this great, lovely and busy city was the castle where the regents of this graceful land lived: King Sombra and Queen Celestia.

King Sombra was a unicorn with a dark grey coat with three red crystals as Cutie Mark, black mane with moderate blue streaks, black hooves and grayish sap green eyes. Sombra’s family had been rulling Equestria humbly since the time of its foundation and, when it came the time for him to take the throne still young after his parents’ sudden death, Sombra took as his wife a young mare, who had the same age as him, and came from a land whose royal family had the characteristic of having members that were alicorn. Celestia was one of the few to be blessed with such gift. She had a white coat with a sun as Cutie Mark, a beautiful flowing mane with a mix of colors: light cerulean, light turquoise, very light cobalt blue and pale heliotrope, and purple eyes.

The two of them fell in love one for another and their great love drove them to marry and start a new life as rulers of Equestria. It didn’t took long for the happy couple get to wait for their first foal and that was something that also let the other ponies of the kingdom greatly happy.

One day, Celestia was walking around the capital along with her lady-in-waiting, Petal Shy, who was a pegasus mare with a pale, light grayish amber coat with three flowers, one pink, one orange and one green, as Cutie Mark, moderate raspberry mane and moderate cerise eyes with glasses. They both were using cloaks with hoods to not call any attention to themselves. Celestia was already showing signs of pregnancy and that prevented her from going on a hasty step. But she enjoyed visiting the capital in a non-official way, as that allowed her to approach her subjects and know their problems.

After buying some flowers, Petal Shy returned to Celestia’s edge and asked:

“What do you think, my queen?”

“They are gorgeous!” she answered, while smelling them. “Lilies are my favorite flowers.”

“I know” Petal Shy replied. “I thought we could use them to decorate the future infant’s room with them. I don’t what to give expectations, but I have a feeling that you have there a beautiful princess, Your Highness.”

“You know what, I do too” Celestia replied. “But don’t tell to my husband. He thinks the baby is a colt and you know when he gets something in his head.”

“Without wanting to disrespect King Sombra, I think that a mare and a mother’s sixth sense never fails” Petal Shy commented. “And I know what I’m talking about.”

“And how is little Fluttershy?” Celestia asked.

“She’s growing up very quickly” Petal Shy told. “I know that she’s only a few months, but to a mother it looks like time passes very quickly.”

“What I want is that time passes so I can see my dear foal” Celestia confessed.

“I understand perfectly” Petal Shy replied.

At that moment, an old mare appeared beside Celestia, wearing a cloak with a hood, just like the queen and her lady-in-waiting.

“Your Highness… allow that a humble soothsayer read your fortune” she asked.

“I don’t know…” Celestia answered. “I have to return to the castle and…”

“Don’t you want to know what future awaits to your daughter?” the old mare asked.

That question caught Celestia’s attention who asked:

“Daughter?”

“Even though seeing the future is hard for me without being in my tent, I can see that the child that you carry in your womb is indeed a beautiful princess” the old mare said.

Although not knowing if what she have told was true, Celestia had a feeling that she should listen more about the subject. It was not like any other feelings, but one that was close to certain. Was it what Petal Shy had referenced as being a mother’s feeling?

“Please, show the way” Celestia said.

The old mare made a brief bow and then advanced, with Celestia and Petal Shy following her.

“Are you sure of this, my queen? We don’t know if this mare is a charlatan or not.”

“Honestly, I don’t know, but there’s something that tells me that I must listen to her” the queen replied.

They followed the old mare to her tent, which had a very humble appearance, and Celestia and Petal Shy took off their hoods. The mysterious mare took off her cloak, revealing that she was a faun, having the hide legs and the horns of a goat. She sat down behind a table where at the top was a bowl full of ingredients used on divination.

“Please, Your Highness, sit.”

Celestia did so, while Petal Shy remained still beside her. Observing what existed in that tent, including a crystal ball that was in a display, Celestia commented:

“I have to say that you don’t look like any common soothsayer. I know a little bit about the subject of divination and you seem to be rather… competent.”

“We, fauns, have a great affinity to the branch of magic that you call divination” the soothsayer replied. “However, although it was me that came to you, I would like to know if you’re willing to know your future and your foal’s. Remember that the knowledge of something that is still yet to come can have nefarious effects to those it is about.”

But Celestia continued with the feeling that she should accept having the soothsayer reading her future.

“You may procede…” she replied.

And so, igniting a match, the soothsayer lightened up the ingredients that were in the bowl, causing a lot of smokes to rise up into the air. For a moment, it seemed that nothing had happened. It was then that something started to get shape…

“I see… a unicorn king” the soothsayer said, while a unicorn with a crown appeared.

Celestia’s heart started to get hasted while seeing that. Could it be that something bad was about to happen to Sombra?

“That king is loved by his subjects and family” the soothsayer continued. “However… from the desire to better protect them, a deep darkness is already taking form in his heart” the image of the unicorn king was involved in black smoke. “A war will divide the land in two…” the image of Equestria appeared with it being ripped apart in two “… and, in the next years, nothing will exist besides fear, sadness… and hate.”

While listening and seeing, all that provoked an anguish in Celestia, a pain that she refused to believe that was real… like that prediction.

“Enough!” Celestia exclaimed, while getting up and trying to calm herself down. “I… don’t want to hear any other word.”

“But I didn’t finished yet, Your Highness” the soothsayer replied.

“It doesn’t matter” the alicorn queen said. “I refuse to believe in anything that you had just said. There’s no way that the stallion I married with and that is the father of the foal that I carry in my womb would be able to cause harm to anypony! Let’s go, Petal Shy.”

And, after putting back her hood, Celestia got out of the tent quickly. Before following her queen, Petal Shy put a bit on the table and said to the soothsayer:

“I’m sorry.”

She got out and took a brief flight to catch up with Celestia. The soothsayer went to the entrance of her tent, observing the queen moving away, and then said:

“It doesn’t matter how much your heart is denying. I know that you will see the truth… Your Highness.”

Divergence

Celestia awoke, at the next day, repairing that she was alone on the bed with red silk sheets. Looking around, she saw Sombra immerging from the closet, putting his royal cloak and with his crown already put over his mane delicately combed.

Noticing Celestia awaken, Sombra said, while approaching her:

“Good morning, my love.”

“Good morning” she replied, while she received a kiss from Sombra on her forehead.

“Did you sleep well?” Sombra asked.

“The best I could” Celestia answered. “Our foal looked to be a little agitated.”

“Maybe he’s just too anxious to meet his father” Sombra joked.

“It can be a filly” Celestia remembered.

“I know that” Sombra said. “But even if it is a filly, I will make sure she’s the happiest princess of them all. Well, I have to go. Today, I have a lot of work to do.”

“In the last days, you have been working too hard, Sombra” Celestia observed. “Even more than usual.”

“You know that ruling a kingdom as vast as ours takes many of my time. But don’t worry, I promise that I’ll get some time just for the two… I mean, the three of us.”

And, having said that, gave a goodbye kiss to Celestia, passing then his hoof over her stomach with a smile, and then got out of the room. Celestia stood up from the bed and headed to her vanity table, where she sat in front of and started to comb her mane, while looking to the mirror. It was then that she remembered what the soothsayer had told her. Glimpses of the shapes that the smoke took passed through her mind.

Petal Shy got in the room, saying.

“Good morning, Your Highness.”

Celestia took a few seconds before replying:

“Good morning…”

“Do you want me to send the breakfast here or do you desire to eat it at the dinner room? Maybe you want to eat at the garden. It is such a beautiful day!”

But, noticing in Celestia’s distracted look, Petal Shy asked.

“Is there anything wrong, Your Highness?”

“It’s just… I can’t stop thinking about what that soothsayer said to me yesterday” Celestia revealed.

“I can’t blame you” Petal Shy said. “Anypony would be in the same way after hearing what she said. But I thought you didn’t believed on her.”

“One thing is not believe, another is to ignore” Celestia replied.

“Maybe you just need to occupy your mind with another thing” Petal Shy suggested. “What if, after breakfast, we made a stroll through the royal gardens? I heard that the gardeners are planting a new kind of flowers.”

Despite everything that was in her mind, Celestia ended up agreeing with a smile, happy to have a lady-in-waiting like Petal Shy.

After a breakfast served at the bedroom, the two mares went to stroll around the gardens. What, at the middle of the afternoon, Celestia was walking through the hallways of the castle, she found a guard passing by.

“Excuse me, do you know where is my husband?”

“The last time I saw him, he was getting into his office, Your Highness.”

“Thank you” Celestia answered, starting to head there.

Arriving to the office, she knocked, but she didn’t get any answer. Opening the door slowly, she called:

“Sombra? Are you here?”

But she found the office empty.

“It seems not.”

She then looked around the place and saw some book that seemed to had been tidied up in a hurry at its shelf at the cabinet. Celestia found that odd, as Sombra almost never let anything out of place. She advanced to there and proceeded to tidy the book up right, but, when she barely touched it, it moved to the front and the cabinet full of books moved to reveal a secret passage, to the queen’s great surprise.

Celestia couldn’t believe that there was a secret passage on Sombra’s office. Of course he knew the castle better than her, as he had lived all his life there, but she expected the stallion she loved and loved her back to tell her about that.

Questioning about what was down there, Celestia ended up getting in and started to walk down the stairs. She walked down and down until Celestia believed she was many floors under the castle. Finally, she arrived to a fork, where one of the ways was illuminated by torches. Knowing that could possibly be the way Sombra had gone, she started to cross it. At each step she gave, at that moment, her heart throbbed in a more accelerated way, while the fear of what she could find was raising even more.

At last, she started to see the end of the corridor. Getting there, Celestia made sure that she was well hidden and watched. Before her was an immense chamber with a strong structure. It looked like a stadium, with descending bleachers and what appeared to be a training ground at the bottom. There, Sombra was training with a hoofull of guards belonging to his personal guard. However, it was not that that shocked Celestia, but how he fought them, using violent blows that she didn’t know her husband was capable of.

It was then that, at the climax, Sombra charged his horn with magic, whose aura was dark and heavy, and, with a magic pulse, he made dark crystals appear on the ground and knocking off all the soldiers. Celestia hold off her breath when she saw that. Sombra had just used dark magic. If she hadn’t seen it with her own eyes, Celestia wouldn’t believe it. The warning words the soothsayer said to her started to echo in her mind. No… Celestia thought. It can’t be…

“I’m having a better control now” Sombra said. “It won’t last for me to have complete control…”

He turned to a guard and ordered:

“Bring him here!”

“Yes, sir” the guard replied.

And he got out for a while and, when he returned, he brought with him an earth stallion full of cuts and bruises, like if he had been tortured intensively for days. He was thrown before Sombra’s hoof, falling on his knees. The stallion looked to Sombra who looked back with such savagery that made the stallion to startle. Even Celestia did the same.

“Well, well, let’s get to know…” Sombra said, while rising the stallion’s chin to force him to look at him. “What have you been telling to your little friends about Equestria?”

“I… don’t know what you’re talking about” the stallion replied.

“I see…” Sombra said, while rising up. “It looks like we have a brave one, guys! Or should I say a fool? Because if you think that keeping the mouth shut before me is an act of bravery and intelligence, then I have to tell you that it’s just stupidity. I know that you are a spy working for Saddle Arabia. Those ruffians continue wanting to stand against Equestria, even knowing that they don’t have any chances. So, this is my proposition to you: tell me at this moment what I want to know and, in return, I’ll turn your death quick and painless. But, if you prefer to continue to be stubborn, then I will have to pass to less pleasant methods that will make you wish having loose the tongue when it were my guards torturing you.”

Celestia could feel her heart racing in such accelerated way and her legs were shaking, hearing Sombra saying something as wicked as that.

The stallion, in response, just spit blood over Sombra’s face and replied with a disdainful smile:

“I will never tell anything about my country to a stallion as despicable as you, who prefer to use disgusting dark magic than fighting like a real stallion!”

That left Sombra really angry, while he cleaned the blood on his face. Greenish dark smoke started to get out of his eyes and then, suddenly, he grabbed the stallion’s neck with the hoof and told him:

“The hard way it is…”

And, dropping the stallion, Sombra trespassed magically his chest and, when he took off the hoof, he took, to Celestia’s great terror, the heart, that had been enchanted and was still pumping.

“Now that I have your heart, you belong to me” Sombra said to the stallion. “I was hoping that you wouldn’t force me to this so I could spend some quality time with my family, but it looks like there’s things that a king has to do by his own hoof. Now, tell me, what did you tell to your superiors about Equestria?”

The guard tried to resist, but the enchantment on his heart forced him to tell:

“I just told them that the great and fearful King Sombra is about to be a dad… That our greatest enemy… now has a weakness.”

That made Celestia to hold her stomach, in a protective gesture towards her foal.

“While I continue to live, you can be sure that I will not let any harm come to my family. Your country will never inflict to me the same pain twice! And you’ll be the example to all the others…”

And he started to magically applying a force on the heart and the stallion felt an immense pain at the chest, something that he never felt before. It was then that the magical force reduced the heart to dust and the stallion simply fell on the ground… dead.

That caused Celestia to let a small scream get out, what echoed through the chamber. Hearing that, Sombra turned around and his look crossed with Celestia’s. She didn’t know how long they stayed like that, looking at each other, but when she started to feel her legs again, Celestia got out of there running. The instinct guided her through the secret passage until she arrived to the office and then through the hallways of the castle until she arrived to her room, where she turned to the mirror to look at her reflection.

Her face was even paler than the usual, while drops of sweat covered her forehead. She could feel herself with a fever, but that could be because of the effort she just did, having in count that she had a foal in her womb. The horror was marked on her traits, with her realizing that what the soothsayer was true. And if the part about Sombra succumbing to the darkness was real, then the one about the upcoming war was true as well.

She didn’t know for how long she stood there looking to herself, but that moment was interrupted when she heard the room’s door opening and steps getting in. Sombra’s image appeared at a corner of the mirror, but Celestia just gave him a simple and brief resentful look.

“Celestia…” he said. “We need to talk.”

“We don’t have anything to tell to each other” she replied. “I know what I saw.”

“Let me explain” Sombra asked. “That was not what seemed to be.”

The alicorn queen dropped a sarcastic laugh and comented:

“It seems stallions like to use the same excuse for everything.”

Turning to Sombra, she continued:

“Are you going to tell me that I didn’t saw my husband, a pony that I always considered to be good and generous, using dark magic and crushing the heart of a helpless pony at cold blood?!”

“What do you want me to do?!” Sombra asked. “He was a spy from Saddle Arabia. You know what I feel about them!”

“He was just a pony doing his duty to his country!” Celestia exclaimed back, taking a deep breath so she could continue in a calmer way. “I know that what they did to you was… unforgivable.”

“They killed my parents, Celestia!” Sombra shouted. “I was just a teenager… a kid, when I was forced to hold on the weight of the crown and an all land, while I was still grieving the only family I had. They were the ones that started this war, not me! But I will be the one to finish it… in any way possible.”

“Then do it without have to use this dirty and wicked methods” Celestia appealed. “Why don’t you try to make a deal with them? Why don’t you try to offer peace and show them that you are superior?”

This time, it was Sombra’s turn to drop a sarcastic laugh. He said:

“Please, Celestia… Peace is the last thing those ponies want, mainly now that they know about our foal. They will want to hurt me through you and our child.”

“But dark magic is not the solution, Sombra” Celestia said. “With it you may have power, but that comes with a price… a very high price. I know what I’m talking about, because my family has been studying dark magic to fight it.”

“I can control it” Sombra replied.

“No, you can’t, Sombra” Celestia contradicted. “You think you can, but the truth is completely different. Dark magic has a will of its own. It can take advantage of your deepest and darkest desires, fears and insecurities to manipulate you. Please, Sombra, for everything that is most sacred… for our love… and, most of all, for our child… give up using dark magic. Together, we can find a much better solution.”

Sombra turned his back to Celestia, while reflecting about the answer he would give her. A part of him wanted to accept Celestia’s words. But a voice in his mind shouted at him, reminding him of everything his enemies did to him, all the pain and suffering they caused to him and his subjects and the desire he had to make them feel the same agony he felt. It was that what made him turned to Celestia and reply:

“No, I won’t do that.”

“No?” Celestia repeated.

“You heard me” Sombra said. “I won’t give up on dark magic. I don’t care about the price I have to pay, if that can ensure the security of both my family kingdom and take revenge on my parents’ deaths.”

Celestia stayed without reaction hearing Sombra saying something like that. But she keep her posture and simply said:

“Then, you don’t give me any other option.”

And she started to charge her horn with magic.

“What are you doing?” Sombra asked.

“Ensuring that you won’t drag us all with you… for more it pains me doing it” Celestia replied.

Sombra recognized the spell Celestia was about to cast and told her:

“You wouldn’t dare… Please, Celestia, you know I would never hurt you or our child.”

“I know that and I would be willing to believe… but I can’t trust on dark magic” Celestia replied.

“No, Celestia… Don’t do this!” Sombra exclaimed.

“I’m sorry…” she said, with her eyes full of tears, getting ready to enact the spell.

“NO!” Sombra roared, while advancing towards Celestia.

But she casted the spell, what caused an explosion that hit Sombra and made him disappear. Celestia’s spell spread through all Equestria until arriving to the outside of the borders, where Sombra reappeared, falling on the ground. Getting up and getting to know where he was, the king said:

“No…”

He advanced to the border and tried to cross it, but he hit a barrier that repelled him. Sombra tried to pass through it some more times before shouting:

“CELESTIA!”

At her room, Celestia was sitting on the floor, crying for what had just happened. She just banished her own husband from his own kingdom and, despite all the pain, she had done what was best for everypony in the kingdom… and for her foal yet to born.

The Birth of the Light

Banishing her own husband from Equestria caused to Celestia a great heartbreak. However, she knew that she had to be strong, not only for her, but also for all the ones that depended on her.

The kingdom became very shocked with the revealing that their king had succumbed into the power of dark magic. Fortunately for Celestia, most of the inhabitants of Equestria stayed at her side and supported her. But there were the ones who opposed to such decision, like those who, like Sombra, had suffered at the Saddle Arabia’s hooves.

Celestia did her best to ensure stability to Equestria. She search through the kingdom for any of her husband’s loyalists to make sure they were not a threat, but all of them run away after getting to know about Sombra’s exile. The alicorn queen also made sure that Saddle Arabia would not take advantage of this moment of great weakness, being able to convince its leaders to make a non-aggression pact between the two nations. She bent over backwards to not bow before the sadness that was haunting her and only that allowed to conquer the admiration from everypony.

One day, Celestia, using her hooded cloak, went to the capital, going through a path she already did before. She arrived at the soothsayers tent, the one that predicted Sombra’s corruption and, when she the queen was about to get in, she heard the old soothsayer saying:

“Welcome, Your Highness. Please, come in and stay at will.”

Celestia came in and found the soothsayer sitting behind her desk, where she already had her bowl prepared.

“I came here because…”

“Because you wanted to know the rest of the prophecy that I told you.”

The queen beckoned with the head and then said:

“You warned me about my husband, but I didn’t listen. But maybe, if I did…”

“Don’t martyrize yourself, Your Highness” the soothsayer said. “Love can blind anypony. Beyond that, I believe that nothing could be done to stop it. Maybe it could postpone, but nothing more than that. However, the end is not yet set in stone and everything will depend on one only decision of yours… one that will be possibly your greatest sacrifice.”

Hearing the soothsayer saying that cased a great concern to Celestia, but, getting all the energy she still had, she said:

“I’m ready. You can continue with the prophecy.”

The soothsayer nodded and then ignited the ingredients in her bowl, making the tent be surrounded by smoke. She first told what she had already said before about the warning about Sombra and the upcoming war. It was then that she start to recite the last part:

“But look… in the middle of all that darkness, there is a light…”

A light made itself be noted in the smoke. It was a beautiful light, full of love and capable of illuminating the darkness that was surrounding it.

“That light will be the source of all hope in Equestria and the only thing capable of stopping the darkness that is approaching.” The soothsayer contined.

“And where can I find this light?” Celestia asked.

Suddenly, the smoke returned to the bowl, disappearing then. The soothsayer, after this, answered:

“You cannot find this light because you already found it. The light that will be the ruin of the dark king was sired by him and there’s nothing he can do to destroy it, as is something that the king won’t want to get rid of.”

Those words were revealing to Celestia, as she knew to what the soothsayer was talking about… or rather who. And, intuitively, embraced her womb, where her unborn foal was.

Some months passed and the great day awaited by many arrived: the birth of Queen Celestia’s foal. Her waters had broken and, at the an evening, she was ready for the delivery, with her reliable lady-in-waiting, Petal Shy, helping her as midwife. The queen was full of contractions, but, even so, she was holding the best she could, breathing deeply.

“Don’t worry, Your Highness, your foal is coming!” Petal Shy exclaimed. “Come on, again… One… two… three… Push!”

Celestia did it, while she released a painful scream. While that, her horn released sparks of magic and the barrier she had created when she exiled Sombra flicked for a few moments.

“Just one more effort, my queen!” Petal Shy said. “I can see the head already… Come on! One… two… three… Push!”

With one more effort, Celestia pushed with all the strength she had , while unleashing her greatest scream. The relief came to her when she finally heard the cry of a baby foal.

“Congratulations, Your Highness” Petal Shy said, holding the newborn foal. “It’s a beautiful filly.”

A smiled appeared on Celestia’s face, while she leaned back, completely exhausted from the delivery.

At the border of Equestria, barrier flicked even more and an immense darkness, so dense that looked like it could be touched, approached, tackling the barrier and breaking it, like who breaks a single dry twig, and then invaded the land, making dark clouds starting to cover the sky.

At Celestia’s chambers, she was holding her foal, while Petal Shy observed, with tears of joy. The newborn filly had a pale, light grayish mulberry coat, a moderate sapphire blue mane with moderate violet and brilliant rose streaks and moderate violet eyes. Looking to her beautiful daughter, Celestia couldn’t help but smile.

“Hello, my dear…” Celestia said, always smiling and with a tear on her eyes. “Mommy waited too much long to meet you.”

“Do you know how you’re going to name her?” Petal Shy asked.

“Yes…” Celestia replied, while drying her eyes. “I thought a lot about it and I think that the best name for her is Twilight Sparkle.”

“Princess Twilight Sparkle…” Petal Shy said. “Yes, it’s a good name.”

Celestia caressed her daughter once again, before starting to hear screams of terror out there.

“But what’s happening?” Celestia asked.

Petal Shy advanced to the balcony and became astonished with what she saw.

“Your Highness… the darkness is coming!” she exclaimed.

“What?!”

“I know, but I can’t explain more than this” Petal Shy answered.

Celestia thought quickly about what could be happening and only found one explanation. Twilight started to cry and Celestia said, while trying to calm her down:

“It can only be Sombra.”

That answer left Petal Shy nervous and she said:

“But I thought you exiled him.”

“My magic weakened because of the delivery” Celestia explained. “Sombra knows what happens when unicorn and alicorn mares when they deliver a child. He took advantage of that moment to get in.”

“So what do we do?” Petal Shy asked. “You are not in condition to face him. And if he arrives to the castle, we don’t know what he can do.”

Celestia thought about she could do and then remembered what the soothsayer told her about having to take a decision that would be her greatest sacrifice.

“Petal Shy, I need you to do me a great favor.”

“I do anything for you, Your Highness” she replied.

“Take Twilight and take her away from Equestria” Celestia said. “Take care of her and make her become a good, generous and compassionate mare. Be the mother I would want to be.”

“Your Highness…” Petal Shy replied, without being able to find the right words to say. “I can’t… I would never be able to separate a mother from her child…”

“It’s me who is asking, Petal Shy” Celestia said. “I can’t run away before Sombra arrives, but Twilight can. You can take her through the secret tunnels under the castle. My daughter will be the light that will save this kingdom from Sombra’s darkness, but, for that, it is necessary that he doesn’t get her and turn her as evil as him. Please, Petal Shy, take her away from Equestria. If it is the fate’s wish, it won’t be late for we to reunite.”

Despite the size of Celestia’s request, Petal Shy ended up being moved by her queen’s words and replied:

“I’ll do it, Your Highness. I’ll raise the young princess as if she was my daughter.”

Celestia answered with a smile and said:

“Thank you…”

She then turned to her newborn daughter and told her:

“Twilight, my adorable baby, it breaks my heart that you will grow up and I won’t see it, but it must be done for your safety.”

She gave a kiss on her baby’s forehead who had closed her eyes on a peaceful sleep. Celestia delivered her to Petal Shy and told her then:

“Go, please. Hurry!”

And, taking flight, Petal Shy got out of the room with the baby princess.

Saying goodbye in that way to her newborn daughter caused Celestia a great heartbreak and tears crossed her face. However, she knew she had to remain strong for the inevitable meeting that was about to happen.

It didn’t take long for the balcony to be hit by a dark wave that had its doors wide opened. A shadow came in and assumed the form of a pony, revealing Sombra. That Sombra didn’t have anything like the one Celestia used to know and love. His mane was completely black and more fluid, like it was living darkness, fangs appeared on his upper jaw, an armor and a red-blood cape covered his body and his horn was now curvy and red.

“Sombra?” Celestia asked, not wanting to believe on what she was seeing. “Is that you?”

And he looked at her with red eyes that emitted a very dark aura. An evil smile appeared on his face and, after charging his horn with magic, he managed to immobilize Celestia.

“What’s the matter, Celestia, don’t you recognize your own husband?” Sombra asked. “Although we shouldn’t consider ourselves like that anymore, after what you did to me.”

“What I did I did to protect all the ponies from your madness and thirst for revenge” Celestia replied.

“I don’t doubt of your motives, Celestia” Sombra said. “I know that you act following principles of nobility and things like that. But that doesn’t change the fact that you betrayed me in the worse possible way. And betrayers, to me, don’t deserve nothing more than despite. Beyond that, I have other much more important things to do like getting to know my dear foal.”

And he headed to the crib that was there, hoping to find his child, but, when he found it empty, rage took over him for a moment and he roared:

“WHERE’S MY FOAL?!”

Celestia smiled and replied:

“You’ll never find her.”

“Her…” Sombra said. “So I have a daughter.”

“And that’s everything you’ll get from me” Celestia answered. “I casted a protection spell on my mind and my heart, so you won’t be able to know where our daughter is.”

There was a pause and then Sombra said.

“You know what? I take back what I said earlier about banishing me being the worse betray of them all. This is.”

“Did you really think I would let our daughter fell on your hooves so you could fill her with evil?” Celestia asked. “No, I would never allow it.”

“And for that, you will pay” Sombra threatened. “You shall suffer a lot. First, I will recover part of my kingdom and then I will let you marinate in your own grief until I finally recover my daughter and turn her exactly like me, just for her to end what’s left of you. This is a promise.”

And, having said that, he disappeared, leaving Celestia, now freed from his magic, once again delivered to her own sorrows and sadness. She then stood up and headed to the balcony, looking up to the sky, hoping that her beloved daughter was okay and never met her father.

At the next day, the news about Sombra’s return left many ponies nervous, what led to some of them to board on boats and zeppelins to get out of Equestria. Between those ponies was Petal Shy, her husband Curly Cloud, their baby daughter Fluttershy and Twilight. Curly Cloud was a pegasi stallion with pale, light grayish malachite green coat with three clouds as Cutie Mark, light amaranhish gray mane and gayish turquoise eyes. Fluttershy was a little baby pegasus with a pale, grayish light gold coat, a pale, light grayish pink mane and moderate cyan eyes.

Curly Cloud, having a big heart, accepted helping Petal Shy raising Twilight and then they decided to left Equestria. Boarding a zeppelin, it took flight and started to move away, with the couple seeing the one that has been their home starting to get away of their sight…

Author's Note

I hope you had enjoyed the first three chapters, because I can guarantee you the next ones will be more entertaining.

A Letter That Realizes Dreams

Sixteen years had passed since the day Queen Celestia had ordered Petal Shy to take the former’s newborn filly away in order to protect the baby from her evil father. The former lady-in-waiting had followed that order with all her heart, with her and her husband raising and loving Princess Twilight as their own. Even though they were not sisters, Twilight and Fluttershy ended up becoming best friends, as if they were true sisters.

Of course raising a young unicorn wasn’t easy for Petal Shy and Curly Cloud, mainly when that unicorn turned out to be very talented in magic. Eventually, they had to tell her they weren’t her true parents, having the care to not reveal her true origins, and, even though they feared she wouldn’t take it well, Twilight reacted surprisingly well.

The morning of the young princess’ anniversary arrived, with the sun illuminating a small, but cozy cottage at the top of a hill, near a small village. The sunbeams get in through a window into a room that belonged to Twilight. The young unicorn was at that moment sleeping in her bed, but it didn’t take long for her to awake when the sun touched her face. After yarning and stretching, Twilight took a deep breath and rose up from the bed and went to her window, opening it and admiring that new day.

Twilight had now become a beautiful grown mare, with a pink six-pointed sparkle surrounded by five small white sparkles as Cutie Mark. She couldn’t believe she had now sixteen years and that the day of her anniversary would be beautiful. The only thing that she hoped was that her great dream would come to reality at that day.

Getting out of her room, she started to walk down the stairs to go take the breakfast, when she faced with three voices exclaiming:

“SURPRISE! HAPPY BIRTHDAY, TWILIGHT!”

That had come from her parents and her sister Fluttershy, with them having prepared a great breakfast with three presents on the table.

“But what is this?” Twilight asked, surprised, while approaching.

“What do you think it is, sweaty?” Curly Cloud asked. “Do you think we would forget about your birthday.”

“We know that you don’t like parties, but I think that a surprise birthday breakfast is not included on that” Petal Shy told.

“So, we made everything you like” Fluttershy said, going to her sister to give her a hug. “It’s a nice way of wishing you a good birthday. What do you think?”

“Well… I don’t know what to say” Twilight confessed. “No, that’s a lie. I know what to say: I have the best family ever.”

And she hugged her parents, while saying:

“Thank you… for everything.”

After that moment, they started taking the breakfast, with Twilight opening her presents. Knowing her very well, Petal Shy, Curly Cloud and Fluttershy both bought to her books that she wanted, something that she was very grateful of.

“And… there is another surprise” Flutteshy said, with a great smile.

“What?” Twilight asked.

And the young pegasus showed Twilight a sealed letter. That caused the latter to let out a little scream of excitement, while taking the letter with her magic. Looking to the seal of the letter, she recognized it as belonging to…

“The Canterlot School for Gifted Unicorns…” Twilight said. “This must be the answer to my admition. I just hope I got in.”

She started to open the letter, while Petal Shy and Curly Cloud stood nervous as she did it. Although they wished Twilight to realize her dreams, they knew very well what could happen if she returned to Canterlot. Because of that, they wished Twilight hadn’t been accepted. But that came undone when a smile appeared on her face as she read the letter.

“I can’t believe it…” she said. “I got in! I was accepted in the Canterlot School for Gifted Unicorns!”

“That’s wonderful!” Fluttershy exclaimed, hugging Twilight. “I’m so happy for you!”

Before those news Petal Shy and Curly Cloud became even more nervous. Noticing that, Twilight asked:

“Are you two okay?”

“Oh, yes, my dear…” Curly Cloud said. “I guess we were just caught by surprise by the moment.”

“And also because we know you’ll have to leave to go to school” Petal Shy replied.

“You don’t have to worry” Twilight said. “I will write to you every day. And I will come during school breaks.”

“We know, dear, I think we’re just worry about you going to Equestria, that’s all” Curly Cloud said.

“You know that land is under a great war” Petal Shy said. “That was the reason why we had to flee when you and your sister were babies. We would be more relieved if you stayed here.”

Twilight, making a slight smile, advanced to her parents and hugged them, while saying:

“I know you’re worried, but you don’t have to. I can take care of myself perfectly.”

“Yes, Twilight will be fine” Fluttershy said. “I for one would be terrified in going all by myself, but Twilight is smart and resourceful.”

“Yes, that is true, but…” Petal Shy said.

It was then that Curly Cloud put a hoof on his wife’s shoulder and said to her:

“It would appear our daughter has made up her mind. It would be cruel try to keep her from making her dream a reality.”

Understanding what her husband was trying to tell her, Petal Shy sighed and told:

“Yes… I guess a parent shouldn’t prevent her children from follow their dreams. Just promise me you’ll be careful there.”

“I will” Twilight promised.

And then she joined Fluttershy on their celebratory hug. Looking at them, Petal Shy just hoped things back at Equestria were better than when she and her family had to flee.

At Equestria, the war had reached an impasse, where both sides were in an armed truce, waiting for the other to do the first move. Ever since King Sombra’s return, he and Queen Celestia had begun a war that divided their land in two: the North Equestria, ruled by King Sombra at the Crystal City, and the South Equestria, ruled by Celestia at Canterlot. A great wall had been built dividing this two nations, with it being guard at both sides by a great number of guards.

Celestia did her best to never give up on her fight against her former husband. She had to ensure her subjects she wouldn’t stop until Sombra’s threat was over. However the alicorn queen didn’t know for how much she would hold that war. She knew she wasn’t as powerful as Sombra and that his army was trained to win at any cost.

At that morning, Celestia was looking to her kingdom at the balcony of her room. The fact that he had stopped attacking South Equestria worried a bit. Maybe he was now focused in finding their daughter, a thought that didn’t give much comfort to her. Celestia just hoped Twilight, as well as Petal Shy and her family, was okay.

It was then that, behind Celestia, a pegasus stallion appeared. He had a moderate red coat with a torch with two crossed spears as Cutie Mark, reddish brown hooves, a brilliant red mane and deep blue eyes. His name was Hepheus and was Celestia’s current husband.

Some years had passed ever since Celestia had to give Twilight up to Petal Shy and begun the war against Sombra when she met Hepheus, a new captain to her Royal Guard, ending up falling for him. Their marriage came not very long, as well the birth of their daughter, Gleaming Shield, who was a ten-year-old alicorn filly with turquoisish white coat with a crystal snowflake as Cutie Mark, a moderate rose, pale gold, moderate sapphire blue and dark phthalo blue mane and light purple eyes.

Putting his foreleg over Celestia’s shoulder, Hepheus asked:

“Is everything okay, my love? You seem a little troubled.”

“Today makes sixteen years ever since I had to give up Twilight to Petal Shy” Celestia replied. “It seems it doesn’t get easy with the pass of time. I even wonder if I will see her again.”

“You will, you just have to have faith” Hepheus said. “You told me the soothsayer said that she would be the one to defeat Sombra. If the prophecy is real, then you can be certain that you’ll see Twilight again. That and Gleaming will be able to meet her big sister.”

“You’re right” Celestia said, with a slight smile, turning to her husband. “Only you to make me smile when I’m depressed. But even with all my faith, I can’t help but wondering what Sombra is up to. I just hope he doesn’t find Twilight before she is ready to face him. I can’t stand the thought of having my own daughter against me…”

Before she could continue, Hepheus pressed his lips against hers in a kiss that made her clear the worries she had in mind. When they ended it, Celestia said to Hepheus with a tender smile:

“Thank you. You’re great.”

“No, you’re the one who is great” Hepheus said. “You’re a great queen, capable of working through the pain and thinking always on her subjects. Believe me, if your daughter doesn’t defeat Sombra, you can be sure you will. That’s what I believe.”

Celestia chuckled and said:

“I just work through the pain because I have you to help me carry on my own sadness. I don’t know how I would be still standing if it wasn’t for you or Gleaming or Twilight.”

When they were about to share another kiss, somepony knocked the door of the room.

“Come in” Celestia said.

The door opened and the great conjurer of Equestria and headmaster to Canterlot School for Gifted Unicorns, Star Swirl the Bearded, appeared. The powerful unicorn had a bluish gray coat with a robe with a night pattern with bells at the edge, a white and arctic bluish gray mane and beard with a pointed hat with the same pattern as the robe and bells at the base and the tip, dark gray hooves and dark violetish gray eyes. He was holding with his magic a closed scroll when he said:

“I’m sorry to bother you, my queen, but it was told me that you would be here.”

“Star Swirl!” Celestia said. “Please, come in.”

“Well, I guess I will check on my guards and read the reports about the situation on the border” Hepheus said.

And, having said that, he got out.

“I’m sorry, if I interrupted anything between and the king, Your Highness” Star Swirl said.

“Don’t be” Celestia replied. “Hepheus was just comforting me. Today is Twilight’s birthday. My daughter has sixteen years and I don’t have her with me to wish her a happy birthday.”

“Yes, I know it must be very hard for you” Star Swirl observed.

“It is, but I better focus in other things” Celestia replied. “Tell me, Star Swirl, what brings you here?”

“Well, as you may have noticed, my current apprentice is getting closer to his gradation, so I decided to take a look to the new admitted students.”

“That’s no big deal” Celestia commented. “You do that every time your current apprentice is near gradation.”

“I know that, but I think, this time, you’ll find this new student of mine very interesting” Star Swirl said. “She possesses a great talent and potential, but it was her name that made me come to you.”

Finding herself now curious about this new apprentice, Celestia took the scroll that Star Swirl, opened it and started to read it. She noticed that Star Swirl was right about that student’s talent for magic, but when Celestia looked to her name, she stood petrified, while feeling a mix of feelings she had never felt.

“Twilight… Sparkle… my daughter…” she said.

The Departure

Twilight’s excitement lasted on the next days, while she got ready to her trip to Equestria, although she felt sorry of leaving her family and the land where she grew up. However, being accepted into one of the best schools of magic was a great honor.

Petal Shy and Curly Cloud were nervous about having Twilight returning to Equestria, having in count that she was the light of hope that would end with all that war. But the happiness that she was having for having her greatest dream coming true appeased the feeling that they were having.

At last, the day before Twilight’s departure arrived and she already had everything prepared, just like it was expected from her. After closing her saddlebags, Fluttershy, who was with Twilight, said:

“I can’t believe that you’re going already tomorrow. Time really passed away very quickly.”

“You sound like we’ll never see each other again, Fluttershy” Twilight joked. “We may not be blood sisters, but we’re real sisters and nothing and nopony will change that.”

“I know, but… you know how I am, Twilight” Fluttershy replied. “I think that, as soon I have the opportunity, I’ll go visit you to Equestria.”

“Then no hurries” Twilight replied. “You know how the situation is there.”

“Just for that, I think that you are very brave for wanting to go there knowing that” Fluttershy commented.

Twilight smiled to Fluttershy in a way to thank her for her words and then looked to the time, saying:

“I better go. I’m already late.”

And, having said that, she got out the room and then the house. Twilight advanced in direction of the forest, crossing it until she got to a clearing. She looked around, but there was nopony there. But the young unicorn continued to look around as if she was trying to find somepony specific and then noticed a rock that was beside of one of the trees that delimited the clearing. Twilight smiled and approached the rock, saying then:

“Next time, try to be less obvious, if you want to get me out of surprise.”

There was a flash and the rock turned into a creature close in aspect to a pony, but possessed insect-like like a moderate amaranth carapace-like with a grayish blue underside and wings with the same color as the upper-side of his carapace with blue violet elytra. He had a long membraned tail with the same shade of moderate amaranth as the wings, a dark cyan chitin with a moderate amaranth chest, that contained a trio of gemstone-like objects, and a horn, like a unicorn, that seemed like a thorn. At the top of his head, he also had mandibles-like horns that had the same color as the wings and tail and his eyes were moderate blue violet. He was a changeling.

“How did you figure it was me?” he asked.

“Come on, Pharynx, this is normally our meeting point. Do you think I wouldn’t notice any detail that shouldn’t be here?”

“No, of course you would notice” Pharynx replied. “How could you not notice?”

“So, what do we do today?” Twilight asked.

“Come, I want to show you something” Pharynx replied.

And the young changeling guided Twilight through the forest until they arrived to its other side, where it ended. Arriving there, Twilight became astonished. There was what seemed to be a mountain with the shape of a castle, with plants growing all around what gave a certain beauty to the place.

“Uau…” Twilight said. “Pharynx, this is… amazing. This is so much better than it was before.”

“Well, after we ended with that… problem, it was a matter of time for everything to regrow back and this place recover its former glory.”

“Yes, now I can finally see again your home really is” Twilight said.

The young unicorn looked to her changeling friend and noticed on a certain sadness at his look. Twilight sympathized with Pharynx, as she knew how hard it was being to him, after what happened.

Queen Chrysalis, Pharynx’s mother and the queen of the changelings, had found a way to turn her species stronger and more feared by feeding on love. Conducting experiments along with some of her chosen ones, she managed to find the right spell to steel love. However, the use of that spell started to cause collateral damages, with the vegetation nearby wilting slowly and Chrysalis and her love-stealing changelings turning into something different, but tenebrous.

It didn’t last for Pharynx and his older brother, Thorax, to find out what their mother was doing and what that was turning her into. Incapable of convincing her to stop, a fight happened between mother and sons, where the two brothers won. Without any alternative, they expelled Chrysalis and her changelings, with Thorax becoming the new king.

Twilight approached her changeling friend and put a hoof over his shoulder, asking:

“Pharynx… are you okay?”

“Yes, I am” he replied, putting himself together quickly. “I was just… thinking about the past. Any way, I would like that you saw the hive before… you go to Equestria.”

“I know, it also pains me to go and leave behind my family and friends” Twilight said. “But this has been my dream since always.”

“I know, it is because of that I was able to make peace with the subject” Pharynx replied. “And also because I know that you will return and we will see each other again.”

At that moment, Twilight noticed a change at the intensity of Pharynx’s look and he approached her. Before he could advance more, Twilight said:

“Enough, Pharynx. Don’t do it.”

“You know what I feel for you” Pharynx said.

“I know, and I also like you, Pharynx, but not in the way you do” Twilight replied. “To me, you’re just my best friend.”

“But I know that we can be more than that” Pharynx protested. “If it is because I’m a changeling, no problem. I can be anything I want.”

Before he could turn into anything, Twilight stopped him, taking one of his hooves, and said to him:

“You know that’s not the reason. Pharynx, you and I are friends since we were little and, because of that, I can’t see you as anything more. Please, don’t ruin all the friendship that we cultivated because of an unrequited love.”

There was a pause and then Pharynx said, taking his hoof from Twilight and turning his back to her slightly:

“It seems I got stuck in the friend zone.”

“Please, don’t be mad with me, Pharynx” Twilight asked.

The changeling prince turned again to Twilight and replied with a slight smile:

“I would never be able to be mad at you, Twilight. Despite everything, I still have your friendship and that is what’s more important to me.”

The two then shared a hug and then Pharynx asked:

“Do you want to go to the hive say hello to Thorax? He would like to see you before you go.”

“I would want to, but I have to check if I package everything I need” Twilight said. “You know how I like to have everything organized perfectly.”

“If you didn’t, you wouldn’t be the Twilight I know” Pharynx commented.

“Beyond that, I want to spend the time I have left to be with my parents and sister.”

“Hey, before you go, can you wait here a little? I have a farewell gift for you.”

“Pharynx… you don’t have to…” Twilight said.

“I know, but… I would love that you had something that could remember you of me, while you’re in Equestria” Pharynx replied.

Twilight then nodded with her head and her Changeling friend moved away, flying, heading to the Changeling hive. It didn’t take too long for him to return. When he landed, he said:

“I was hoping to give you this as a love gift, but I think give it to you as a friendship gift is as much good or better.”

And he extended to Twilight with his magic (that manifested through his mandibles-like horns) a pendent that seem to be made of amber.

“It’s beautiful, Pharynx!” Twilight exclaimed, taking the pendent with magic and putting it on.

“It is enchanted to reveal the true form of whoever is in disguise” Pharynx exclaimed. “Also, while you have it, no one will be able to take your appearance.”

“Uh, and it’s very practical too” Twilight said. “You know me very well.”

“Well, as you go to Equestria, I knew you could need some extra protection” the changeling prince explained.

There was a pause and then Pharynx said:

“I’ll miss you, Twilight.”

“I’ll also miss you, Pharynx” Twilight replied.

The two exchanged a last hug and then Twilight moved away.

At next day, Twilight was accompanied to the zeppelin port by her family. The farewell lasted a little more than Twilight had expected due to her parents (mainly Petal Shy), but she eventually got on board. While she waved to her family, she noticed a stallion not that far away observing her. Twilight didn’t know him, but a thought made her take her pendent and look through it and saw that pony was Pharynx. Twilight smiled and made a gest with her head to show him that she had seen him and Pharynx returned it.

It didn’t last for the zeppelin to take flight and Twilight stopped seeing her family. Using her magic to take her luggage, Twilight started to head towards her room. However, when she had just given a half dozen of steps, Twilight bumped into somepony, what caused her to lost focus and let her luggage fell.

“I’m so sorry” Twilight said, while she stood up, rubbing her head. “I’m such a clumsy and an airhead.”

“It’s all right, I also wasn’t paying attention” a male voice replied.

At that moment, Twilight’s eyes met with others that were moderate cerulean. They belonged to a unicorn stallion in armor, but without his helmet. He had light gray coat, moderate sapphire blue mane with moderate cerulean and dark phthalo blue streaks, with hooves also sapphire blue.

It seemed that the two of them were enchanted by each other’s eyes, as if nothing could make them dodge the look. Twilight couldn’t understand the reason why to not be able to dodge the look from a stranger. There was something on him that captivated her, although Twilight couldn’t describe what it was.

“Hi…” Twilight ended up saying, although with a dry mouth.

“Hi…” the stallion replied.

A silence dominated the moment for a few seconds, being just broken when the stallion got Twilight’s luggage from the floor with his magic and told her:

“Here you have…”

“Thank you…” Twilight answered, receiving it with her magic.

After a few seconds still staring at each other, the stallion nodded cordially to Twilight and then moved away, with her following him with the look. After that, Twilight felt her cheeks getting warmer and noticed, looking through a nearby glass that she was blushing, giving a very pink shade to her coat.

Although feeling a little embarrassed, Twilight couldn’t take the image of that stallion from her head. But who was him?

A Fated Passion

The zeppelin that was heading to Equestria was traveling through the skies calmly, flying above the clouds that looked to form a spirolant sea. All the ponies that were aboard were enjoying that moment of tranquility, as they knew that they wouldn’t have any as soon they arrived to South Equestria. Although the faction of the south being peaceful, the threat of North Equestria was something that was always a constant in the lives of the ponies of the south, like a vulture waiting to eat.

However, there was a pony that looked to not be able or want to relax. His name was Shining Armor and was the stallion that had bumped against Twilight earlier. Shining was a young promising royal guard. Although he was twenty years-old, Shining managed to show all his capability, what allowed him to evolved quickly on his career, turning into the youngest first-lieutenant of Canterlot Royal Guard. Now, he was returning to his homeland after making a brief internship at the Royal Guard of Britaly, an allied kingdom of South Equestria.

Getting into his room, Shining placed at one corner his saddlebags, took of his armor (revealing that his Cutie Mark was a Pink six-pointed star on a purple shield with three small light blue stars above), putting it on a chair, and laid down on the bed, while he let the tiredness he had acquired got out of his body. While he did that, Shining found himself thinking about the young mare he had bumped into.

It was strange that a stranger would cause him such fascination, but, now that he thought about it, the idea was not that absurd. That mare, who should be just a little younger than him, was truly beautiful, with an unique but, at the same time, simple charm. She seemed to irradiate a pure light that warmed Shining’s heart, with that warmness spreading through the rest of his body, being a feeling that the young stallion was not able and didn’t want to forget.

At that moment, he felt something vibrating. Knowing what it was, Shining got up and headed to his saddlebags, from where he took off with his magic a hoof mirror enchanted to serve as a way of communication. The image of a unicorn stallion with an imperial blue coat, an electric ultramarine mane with midnight blue streaks and glaucous eyes appeared. His name was Blue Sword, Shining Armor’s twin brother.

“Hi, Blue, how are things at home?” Shining asked.

“They’re good, as you can guess” Blue replied. “Mom and dad are expectant for your return.”

“I also had been out for a few weeks” Shining said.

“Yeah, but you know them” Blue replied. “They don’t like when they have their children out of the same land they are. So, how was things at Britaly?”

“Good” his twin answered. “I learned new techniques to show to Captain Hepheus that may improve our chances.”

“Great, because cap really needs you here.”

“Why? Don’t tell me that there was another attack from the north.”

“Not exactly” Blue replied. “There has been just a few skirmishes at the frontier, but that was all because of refugees from North Equestria. Personally, I don’t blame them. If I had to live under the reign of a tyrant like Sombra, I also would want to escape.”

“And did they make it?” Shining asked.

“Some did, but others ended up being dragged back” Blue told.

Shining gridded his teeth in frustration and said:

“I can’t wait to have that bastard out of our lives permanently.”

“I share your thought, bro, but we can’t forget that we’re talking about one of the most dangerous dark magic users of all time. It will take time for us to take him down, and that if we ever get that chance. If I was you, I would enjoy those moments while you’re not in Equestria to relax and have a little fun.”

The young lieutenant gave a sarcastic laugh and replied:

“As if I would be able to relax knowing what is happening at my home.”

“Maybe this will help” Blue said. “I have a message from a certain mare who is missing you terribly…”

Shining’s stomach made a turn when he realized who his brother was talking about: his marefriend and fiancée, Princess Cadance, Queen Celestia’s niece. She was an alicorn mare with a pale, light grayish cerise coat with a multifaceted light blue crystal heart between gold laces as Cutie Mark, a moderate violet mane with moderate rose and pale gold streaks and light purple eyes.

She had come from Britaly to live with her aunt ten years ago, which was also the time they knew each other. Although he didn’t remember very well how it started, he and Cadance became coltfriend and marefriend a little after they met the first time, a relationship that had lasted to the current day.

The truth was that, although not doubting of Cadance’s feelings for him, Shining realized that now he was with her for pure convenience. After all, they had a stable relationship based on a friendship of a decade. Beyond that, he feared to hurt Cadance if he broke up with her, as she was his sovereign’s niece. But that didn’t stop Shining from trying to find a glimmer of passion and focusing it.

“How is she?” Shining asked.

“You know Cadance, she can barely wait for you to arrive to plan the wedding” Blue replied. “Dude, partly, I can’t wait for your arrival so she can stop tailing me and bombing me with questions about when you'll return or about decorations for the reception.”

“Don’t worry, I must arrive to Equestria tomorrow morning.”

There was a pause and then Blue said:

“You know, I was talking seriously when I told you to enjoy the trip. Mainly when you’re considering marrying Cadance.”

“Wait, are you really trying to encourage me to get a girl for the night?” Shining asked. “Blue, do you really think I…”

“I’m just doing my duty as twin and best friend” Blue replied. “Shining, if you’re really considering marrying with somepony that you don’t really love, then try to have fun while you don’t have duties and an annoying marefriend stopping you.”

“You know that I’m not like that.”

“Yeah, I know, but that’s why you have me, your dear little brother, to dodge you slightly from the path of responsibility for your own good.”

That caused Shining to drop a laugh, telling then:

“Yeah, I’m really lucky… I must hand off, Blue. I don’t want to take the time of your turn.”

And, having said that, he made Blue’s image to disappear and put down the mirror. Laying down on the bed, Shining closed his eyes to rest a little, although he couldn’t stop thinking about the talk he had with Blue.

After dinner, Blue decided to follow part of Blue’s advice and went to take a drink at the bar to relax. Arriving there, he got surprised when he found the same mare he had met at the beginning of the flight. He really wasn’t expecting finding her there of all places existing on the zeppelin. A part of him was telling him to move away, but the other was telling him to aboard her, if only just to apologize for the incident from before. Shining then started to approach her.

Twilight was reading a book, while she was drinking an apple juice. That was for her the best way to relax. It was then that a known voice asked:

“Enjoying the reading?”

The young purple unicorn got a little startled and got really surprised when she saw the stallion from before. A tingling in her stomach appeared as soon she saw him, while feeling her cheeks getting slightly blushed.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t want to scare you.”

“It’s okay” Twilight said. “You just caught me by surprise. When I read, I tend to forget everything around me.”

“It’s just I saw and I thought that I should come and apologize for bumping against you” Shining said. “I was not paying much attention.”

“The same happened with me” Twilight replied.

There was a pause of a few seconds and then Shining said, extending his hoof:

“I’m Shining Armor. And you?”

“Twilight Sparkle” Twilight replied, also extending her hoof.

As soon their hooves touched each other, they collected them as soon their eyes met each other, dodging also their look at the same time, blushing.

“Allow me to compensate you with a drink” Shining said.

“Thank you, but I normally don’t drink alcohol” Twilight replied.

“Once doesn’t hurt” Shining said. “Beyond that, it would be a great way to start a new friendship.”

Twilight thought on that for a while and then replied:

“Well, if it is only one drink, I think there’s no harm.”

But, after the first one, a few more were followed, while Twilight and Shining talked lively, sharing a few things about their respective lives.

“Wow, it must be hard to be a royal guard at Canterlot during a war” Twilight commented.

“Yes, sometimes, there are very hard moments, mainly when we lose companions for the other side… independently how that happens” Shining replied with a certain sadness on his voice. “But that only gives us more reasons to continue to fight. What about you? It must be uncomfortable to live with a family of pegasi.”

“I confess that sometimes it can be a little challenging, but my parents and sister also aren’t the type of pegasi that like to be at the sky” Twilight told. “I believe it’s harder for them than me. After all, they had to deal with my magic surges. They did a lot for me and, for that and for all the love they gave me, I consider them to be my real family, even if we don’t share the same blood.”

“I can see that you’re an amazing mare, Twilight” Shining said, while he placed his hoof over hers.

Feeling Shining’s touch, Twilight managed to feel her own heart racing faster, while feeling her face getting warmer and blusher. Retreating her hoof, she said:

“Well, I think it is best if I go to bed. Tomorrow will be a great day, after all.”

She got up, but, suddenly, she felt herself losing the balance for an instance. Fortunately, Shining got her and said:

“Maybe I should go with you.”

“Yes, I think you’re right… Looks like I drank more than I should.”

With Shining by her side, Twilight made the way to her room and, once there, Twilight turned to Shining and told him:

“Thank you for the talk, Shining. And also for coming with me.”

“It’s the least I could do” Shining replied.

There was a pause, during which the two of them just stayed looking at each other, but then Twilight broke the silence:

“Bye…”

“Bye…” Shining replied.

Twilight turned and tried to open the door of her room, but, because of the alcohol she consumed, she lost her focus and the key fell on the ground. When she got ready to get it with her mouth, Shining got ready to do the same, saying:

“I got it…”

When they found themselves, the two had the tip of their muzzles touching on each other, while their eyes met again. Because of the great chemistry they had and their respective consciousness uninhibited due to the alcohol, it didn’t last for their lips to touch in a passionate kiss.

Twilight had never given a true kiss to a stallion and couldn’t explain the reason to do it with a pony he had just met. However, she couldn’t feel ashamed for that act, as it was something she was enjoying a lot.

Shining shared the same thought as Twilight. He had been dating Cadance for so long, being loyal to her and getting used to their relationship, that he had forgotten the feeling of true passion. He truly desired Twilight and now that he was kissing her soft lips, Cadance’s image evaporated from his mind. He approached Twilight to him and saw that she wasn’t resisting. She was enjoying that moment as much as him.

It was then that the key was levitated and placed on the lock, turning over and opening the door of the room, with them not knowing who did it. They get in the room, kissing, with Shining closing the door with one of his hind hooves. It didn’t take long for them to get to the bed, falling on it with Shining over Twilight. The young purple unicorn had her front hooves around Shining’s neck, while he kissed hers, while holding her body firmly.

Arriving the time, the two naturally went to under the sheets, consummating then that intense passion that was involving them and so they continued…

The next day dawned gloriously and Twilight’s room let itself be illuminated by the star of the day. Shining was already awake, observing Twilight while she slept quietly by his side, smiling. Her smile caused the young lieutenant to smile as well, although all of her caused him to be happy. That had been the most wonderful night he had. He had never have felt so much alive, desired somepony as he desired Twilight and made love with so much passion. Shining passed his hoof gently by Twilight’s face, saying then:

“You’re so beautiful…”

And he gave her another kiss that, although gentle, was charged with all the feelings Shining had for Twilight.

It was then that Shining started to be invaded by the thought that put an end to that feeling of ecstasy. The name of that thought was Cadance. She was the reason why Shining was feeling guilty for what he had just done. Even if his relationship with Cadance didn’t have the same intensity it had once, he still liked her and he owe her respect.

That feeling of guilt was what caused Shining to get up from the bed, doing it in a way to not awake Twilight. After that, using a parchment, pen and ink he had found in Twilight’s desk, he wrote a note and placed it beside Twilight, along with something special. After that, looking a last time to Twilight’s lovely countenance, he gave her a sweet kiss on her forehead and told her:

“I’m sorry… Bye, Twilight.”

And he went to the exit and abandoned the room.

It didn’t last long for Twilight to wake up. Although feeling a slight headache due to the alcohol of last night, she still remembered what happened and hoped to find Shining beside her. However, she saw she was alone. Twilight then noticed a note, along with a beautiful lotus flower made of origami. Taking the note, Twilight read it:

“Dear Twilight, you gave me the best night of my life and made me feel more alive than I ever thought. However, certain circumstances in my life prevent me from feeling what I feel for you. I’m writing you this note, not for cowardice, but for knowing that I wouldn’t be able to execute my duties if I stayed longer with you. I leave with you this remembrance, something that represent not only your beauty, but also the pure feeling that I have for you. If it is really in our fate to be together, then I am certain that we will meet again. Maybe then I will not be prevented from being with you. With all my heart, Shining.”

Although feeling a little hurt for Shining having gone away without saying nothing, Twilight couldn’t help but feeling how truthful those words were. Taking the lotus flower made of origami that Shining gave to her, Twilight looked at it, while asking if she would see again the stallion that made her have the most magical night of her life.

The Arrival

As the sun was rising on the sky, the zeppelin was approaching its destination. Shining was at the front, looking its homeland getting closer. Although being happy for returning home, a part of him wished that trip never ended, as in that way he would be able to be with Twilight. However, he knew that was not possible and he couldn’t ignore his duty.

Putting Twilight away on his mind (or, at least, trying), Shining tried to focus on his meeting with his family, like his parents and twin brother, even with Cadance. He then asked himself how they were.

At the castle of Canterlot, Cadance was at her room… but she was not alone. On her bed, there were movements beneath the sheet, along with chuckles. It was then that a stallion appeared from beneath the sheet. He was a unicorn with a brilliant gamboge coat with light apple greenish gray spots at the legs with an orange sun with bursting yellow rays and six blue stars, a vivid and brilliant vermilion mane and eyes with a gradient of dark cornflower blue to moderate cyan. His name was Sunburst.

“I have to say…” he said, breathless. “You let anypony… exhausted… princess.”

And she also appeared beside Sunburst, saying:

“Well, I have that effect on stallions.”

The two shared a kiss and then Sunburst said:

“You’re beautiful…”

“Tell me something I don’t know” Cadance replied.

“I wished so much that we could be with you forever…” Sunburst said, while kissing Cadance’s hoof.

At that moment, Cadance’s face hardened and she said, moving away Sunburst’s hoof:

“Unfortunately, that can happen.”

“But why not?” Sunburst asked. “I love you, Cadance, and I know that I’m not indifferent to you. Our chemistry is so intense… I know that we are perfect for each other.”

“Sunburst… you are dear and all that, but have you forgotten of one little detail? I am engage.”

“Yes, to a ruffian that don’t give you the attention that you deserve and that certainly don’t love more or as much as me.”

Adopting a seductive smile without any warm feeling, she said:

“Sunburst, you’re a dear, but a little naïve. I am a princess and, as such, I must marry according to the expectative everypony has. Shining is Canterlot Royal Guard’s second-in-command and my uncle Hepheus’ right hoof. Just that turns him into the perfect candidate.”

“But I can also be a good candidate” Sunburst replied. “After all, I am an apprentice to Star Swirl.”

“A mere apprentice between other apprentices” Cadance said. “Don’t take me wrong, Sunburst, but everypony is expecting my wedding to be great and unforgettable. But don’t worry, as I’ll never forget you.”

“Then I’m nothing more than a diversion to you?” Sunburst asked.

“My dear…” Cadance said, passing her hoof beneath Sunburst, chin. “Don’t you tell me that you don’t like of these moments that we have.”

“Of course I do…”

“Then why ruin what is already perfect? Now, the zeppelin where Shining is coming from arrives today and I need to be there to receive him. I have to keep the appearances after all.”

“Yes, as you wish… princess.”

Sunburst got up and, using his magic, placed his glasses and his robe, heading to the exit. He still gave a last look t Cadance, who nodded to him and throw him a kiss, and then he got out, moving away from the room carefully so that nopony would see him, while Cadance got up to go to get ready to go meet her fiancé.

The zeppelin arrived to the Canterlot port, where a crowd awaited for their beloved ones that would arrive. Shining, transporting his luggage with magic and wearing his armor, got down the zeppelin, starting to walk through the crowd and looking around.

“Shining!” a voice called.

He turned and saw his brother approaching.

“Blue!” he exclaimed.

When the blue twin headed the white one, the two gave a big hug.

“It’s good to have you back, brother” Blue said, ending the hug.

“It’s good to be back” Shining replied. “Mainly when I’m welcomed by my brother and best friend."

After a few seconds, another voice called him:

“Shiny-dear!”

“Here we go…” Blue replied, rolling his eyes.

And Cadance arrived there, landing, throwing herself to give a hug to Shining (who didn’t have any other choice but to catch her) and giving him a big kiss on the lips.

“I missed you so much!” Cadance said, after finishing the kiss. “I simply had to come to be the first to welcome you.”

“I’m sorry to disappoint you, but I think that honor was mine” Blue replied.

Turning to him with a sidelong glance, Cadance answered:

“Oh, I even didn’t notice you were there, Blue… Sorry.”

That made Blue to roll his eyes again, as if there was something that he clearly didn’t like in Cadance was all that arrogance of hers.

“It’s good to see you too, Cadance, but you didn’t have to come” Shining said to his fiancée.

“Nonsense!” she answered. “Of course I had to come. It is my duty as your future wife. Beyond that, I can take this opportunity to invite you to have lunch and dinner with me at the castle. My aunt and my uncle will love have you with us. After all, you’re practically a part of the family.”

It were situations like that one that left Shining uncomfortable with Cadance, as she did everything to have him by her side getting along with the rest of the royal family, being one of them his superior in the Royal Guard. Fortunately, he had a way to dodge that situation.

“I’m sorry, Cadance, but I ended up getting here and, because of that, I would want to pass some time with my family, before resting for a little bit” he replied.

Although that answer didn’t please her, Cadance didn’t undo her smile and said:

“Of course, I understand perfectly. Maybe you can come diner to the castle another day. But you won’t get rid of me that easily. I will come along with you to your parent’s house.”

And she advanced, dragging Shining. Blue sighed and said:

“Awesome… Here I go serving as a third weel.”

Having said that, he followed them.

Twilight got out of the zeppelin, bringing her luggage with magic. A certain disappointment was visible on her face, as she hopped to find Shining, but it looked like that was not fated to happen.

Advancing through the crowd, Twilight tried to pass through, giving the less bumps as possible. It was then that she heard a voice calling:

“Twilight Sparkle! I’m looking for a Twilight Sparle!”

Curious to know who was calling her, Twilight followed the voice and got surprised when she saw that it belonged to a small dragon. He had light mulberry scales with light spring budish gray underbelly and light lime green "ears" along with moderate harlequin spikes and moderate pistachio eyes. He was bringing with him a sign with Twilight’s name.

“Hello…” she said, approaching the dragon. “I’m Twilight Sparkle.”

Listening that, the young dragon released a sigh and said:

“Finally! I was thinking that I would have to be here shouting for nothing.”

He made a brief gracious bow, introducing himself afterwards:

“Greetings, Miss Sparkle. My name is Spike and I’ll be your assistant in Canterlot School for Gifted Unicorns.”

“You can just call me Twilight” she replied. “And what do you mean by assistant?”

“Well, it’s just optional, but every student can have an assistant to help you in numerous tasks so you can have a good achievement. For example, as you are new both to the school and here in Canterlot, I was asked to come get you to the zeppelin port.”

“That’s surely a surprise…” Twilight said. “I never had an assistant before. Although I have to admit that it will be good to have some help.”

“Perfect, then follow me” Spike said. “I’ll take you to where you’ll stay and then you can go to the school. Let me carry your bags.”

“Don’t mind that, I can carry it…”

“Nonsense, I am your assistant and it is my duty to help you in everything I can.”

“Well… if you say so…”

And Twilight placed her luggage on Spike’s backs and the young dragon soon realized he had bitten off a bit more than he could chew.

“Are you certain that you don’t want me to help you with that?” Twilight asked.

“No… I can do it” Spike said.

And he started to advance, although doing it slowly because of the weight of Twilight’s luggage, with her following from behind.

And so Twilight and Shining’s paths took different directions. However, despite everything, it was possible that fate wanted their paths to cross over again.

The Greatest Conjurer of Equestria

Twilight was conducted by Spike through Canterlot city. While they were walking, Twilight looked fascinated to everything that surrounded her. She had never been in a city like Canterlot and the constant agitation was something that she was not used to. The variation of stores and houses, as well the great amount of colors and smells and the numerous types of ponies waling harmoniously made Twilight forget of any negative aspect that the captail should have.

It was then that they arrived to what was a small tower at the edge of the castle. Arriving there, they climbed up the stairs until they reached the entrance door. Spike put down Twilight’s luggage on the floor, while saying:

“Well, we arrived… finally.”

“It’s here where I’m staying?” Twilight asked, observing the tower.

“Technically, it’s where we’re going to stay” Spike replied, while holding a golden key. “I am your assistant after all. But don’t worry, I don’t use to snore… At least, I think not.”

That caused Twilight to drop a laugh, while Spike put the key in the lock and turned it. The door opened and they got in, with the vision of the interior of tower causing Twilight to become openmouthed. The walls of the tower were covered with shelves full of books, while the room in itself was divided in subdivisions, all threaded with chairs.

“Wow… this is amazing!” Twilight exclaimed.

“Do you think so?” Spike asked. “I think it only has what any student would need. Any way, I don’t know what you want to do now: to settle in or to know the school.”

The young unicorn didn’t had to think twice to answer:

“If you don’t mind, I would like to get to know the school.”

Spike seemed relief with the answer and said:

“That’s good, it means that I can have a break. No offense, but I think that you put too much in your bags.”

Chuckling, Twilight replied:

“Yes, my family uses to tell me the same.”

“Well, let’s go to the school then” Spike said. “Fortunately for you, it isn’t too far.”

And, following the young dragon, Twilight got out of the tower that would be her home for the following future.

It didn’t last for Twilight and Spike get to the school. The young unicorn got rapturous for finally being at the school of her dreams, about to develop her magic the best magic users of all time, being one of them her greatest idol and headmaster of that school.

“Ok, the first thing to do is to introduce yourself to the headmaster and, after that, I can show you around” Spike said.

“That means that now I’ll meet personally… the great Star Swirl the Bearded, the greatest conjurer that ever existed in Equestria?” Twilight asked.

Noticing the great enthusiasm in Twilight’s voice, Spike said:

“I’ll guess and say that you’re a fan.”

“Are you kidding?!” Twilight exclaimed. “Star Swirl was one of the reasons why I tried to enroll in this school in the first place. He inspired me to try to be always better in magic, beyond he being the oldest and most gifted conjurer on the land and one of the few to be able to stand against King Sombra.”

“Wow, that’s what I call admiration” Spike commented. “But just take this advice: try to control yourself in his presence. Don’t forget that he is the headmaster of the school where you now study.”

“Yes, you’re right…” Twilight agreed, while taking deep breaths to calm herself down.

And then Spike took Twilight to Star Swirl’s office. Arriving there, the young dragon knocked two times before a deep voice say:

“Come in.”

Spike opened the door and said:

“Excuse me, sir, but the student Twilight Sparkle is here.”

“Let her come in and then leave us” the voice ordered.

Turning to Twilight, Spike said, while making an inviting gest:

“You can go, Twilight. Meanwhile, I’ll get something to eat, while I wait. Don’t worry, I bring something for you.”

“Thank you, Spike” Twilight thanked.

And so, taking a deep breath, Twilight got in.

The first impression that Twilight had when she got in was of having got in a library as the office was full of shelves with books and parchments. At the end of the office was a desk where, behind it, was Star Swirl, who was with his back to Twilight, looking through the window. Closing the door, Twilight advanced until she reached the desk where she stayed waiting for Star Swirl to talk to her.

“I have to say that I got very surprised when I got your application, Miss Sparkle” Star Swirl said, turning to Twilight. “For a pony that comes from a land with such superficial magical teachings, your knowledge on subjects related to complex branches of magic is quite impressive.”

Twilight wasn’t expecting a compliment coming at the beginning of the meeting from the headmaster of one of the most prestigious schools. She replied, humbly:

“I thank you for your generous words, sir.”

“But I must warn you that talent won’t be enough to excel in my school” Star Swirl continued. “I always hope work and dedication from all of my students, mainly from the ones with great potencial.”

“Don’t worry, sir” Twilight replied. “I take everything I do very seriously, mainly when it comes with magic.”

Appearing to have liked Twilight’s answer, Star Swirl made a gesture with the head and said:

“I like how you said those words, Miss Sparkle. It just reveals the veracity of your words. Let’s see how serious you take magic during your stay in this school. Normally, the accepted students are organized in little classes with a tutor being determined to it. But, to students more advanced, like you, the school determines an internship with one of top tutors.”

“And who will be my tutor?” Twilight asked, curious.

“It will be myself” Star Swirl replied, for the young unicorn’s surprise. “My current apprentice is near graduation. It would be good to have a new apprentice as soon he finishes his studies and, having in count that you took my interest with your level of knowledge and talent, I thought in you to take his place. What do you think?”

Twilight took some time to process the invitation Star Swirl made to be his apprentice, as it was a dream come true.

“I… Of course I accept!” she replied with great enthusiasm. “Thank you for this opportunity, sir.”

“You don’t have to thank me” Star Swirl said. “I just picked the best candidate. I can see a great future ahead of you, Miss Sparkle. I hope you can get it. Now, I think that it is best for you to go, to enjoy the rest of the day. Try to get to know the school and its facilities. Tomorrow we start with your learning.”

“Yes, sir” Twilight replied, getting up and heading to the exit. “Thank you, sir. I wish a good day.”

“For you too, my dear” Star Swirl replied.

And Twilight got out of the room. When the door closed, Star Swirl headed to a looking glass that he had near and used his magic. At that moment, the image of Celestia appeared.

“I have news, my queen” Star Swirl informed. “I just ended up knowing the young princess Twilight.”

A big smile appeared on the alicorn queen’s face, being a smile filled with pure joy.

“How does she looks like?” Celestia asked.

“Well, I just got to know her for a few moments, but it seems to me to be a gifted young lady with a desire to do her best in everything and very respectful” Star Swirl disse. “I dare to say that she possesses a kind and pure heart.”

“I have to thank Petal Shy for that” Celestia said. “She rose Twilight as I knew she would. I wished to thank her for everything she did, but sending any type of message to the outside the borders…”

“It would call King Sombra’s attention” Star Swirl completed. “I understand perfectly, Your Highness, and I agree completely.”

“But she knows how thankful I am” Celestia said. “And when we meet again, I would be able to express my gratitude with words. But now the most important thing it’s that now I have my hidden daughter close to me. I can’t wait to meet her again…”

“I recommend for you to control your emotions, Your Highness” Star Swirl advised. “By what I could notice, Princess Twilight is very sensible. It’s for the best that we try to conceal the fact that she’s your daughter for now.”

“I know that” Celestia replied. “It breaks my heart to do it, but it’s something that is necessary to do in order to protect her until she is ready. I count with you to guide her in the best way possible, Star Swirl.”

“I’ll do my best, my queen” Star Swirl replied, making a bow.

And Celestia’s image disappeared.

A Talk Between Brothers

At Canterlot, in a different part of the school, Shining, Cadance and Blue advanced towards the twins’ parents’ house. During that course, Cadance was telling Shining everything that have happened during the time they were separated, including things she had already told through her letters. Blue let himself get behind a little so she could stop listening part of Cadance’s monologue. It was with great relief that they arrived to their destination.

“Hey, look, it seems we arrived!” Blue exclaimed, turning then to Cadance. “Now that you know that Shining got at home safe and sound, why don’t you turn around and get to the castle? I bet that you have princess things to do, Cadance, like royal duties and stuff like that.”

“Why do I have the impression that you’re trying to get rid of me, Blue?” Cadance asked. “You should be more civilized with me, not just because I am a princess and niece of your queen, but also because I am your future sister-in-law.”

Noticing that his brother’s patience was being burned out quickly, Shining told to Cadance:

“Don’t take what Blue said seriously, Cadance. I think that what he wanted to say is that you should return to the castle before your aunt notices that you still didn’t do your duties.”

Sighing, Cadance said:

“I thing you’re right, dear Shiny. Mainly now that we have some moments of peace. But I want to be clear that I want to spend the day of tomorrow with you. After all, we have to make up for the time we were apart, isn’t that true?”

Having said that, Cadance gave a long kiss on Shining’s mouth, while Blue dodged the look in a repulsive way. Finally, Cadance ended the kiss and moved away, flying.

“Finally!” Blue exclaimed. “Now, we’re free from the pest.”

“Come on, Blue, watch the words” Shining said. “Don’t forget that…”

“Yeah, I know, she’s Queen Celestia’s niece and your fiancée” Blue replied. “I believe Cadance left that part pretty explicit.”

“She’s not that bad.”

“You’re right, she’s not that bad. She’s terrible.”

Shining rolled his eyes, while he shook his head, smiling. Since always that Blue had a certain dislike for Cadance that only grew with time, mainly when she and Shining announced their engagement. However, the young lieutenant learned to deal with the implication that his twin had, ending up eventually considering it as something perfectly normal.

“Enough talking about Cadance. We don’t want to make mom and dad waiting, do we?”

“Yeah, you’re right” Blue replied. “But I want to know all the details of your trip.”

And the two brothers got in the house.

Getting inside, Shining was welcomed with a lot of warmness by his parents: his mother Dusk Velvet and his father Bow Hothoof. Velvet was a unicorn with a light gray coat with three purple stars as Cutie Mark, a moderate purple and light gray mane and light arctic blue eyes and Bow Hothoof was a pegasus with a pale, light grayish blue with a rainbow and cloud with a horseshoe at the front as a Cutie Mark, a rainbow mane and moderate amber eyes.

“I was starting to think that I would never see you again, son” Velvet said, while giving a hug to Shining. “We missed you so much!”

“Mom, I’m already a grown stallion” Shining replied. “I can take care of myself.”

“That’s what I told to your mom, but you already know how she is” Hothoof said.

“A mother always worries about her children, no matter how old they are” Velvet defended herself.

“Yeah, but you know that our sons are strong and tough” Hothoof told. “Beyond that, they are responsible and have the heart at the right place. Fortunately, they are not like certain someponies who like to disappoint…”

“Hothoof!” Velvet exclaimed.

“I’m just telling the truth!” he replied. “If only she was like her brothers…”

“I think it is better if we end the talk right now” Blue said. “Shining is tired from the trip and it is better if he takes a nap before going to report to captain Hepheus.”

Having a great ability to mediate the arguments in his family, Blue sighed slightly with relief when everypony agreed with what he said. The twins then climbed to the next floor, getting in the one that was their foalhood bedroom where there was bunk beds. Laying on the bunk bed on the floor, Shining sighed:

“I can’t believe that they still talk about her after her betrayal.”

“That doesn’t surprise me” Blue replied. “After all, she is their daughter… and our sister.”

“A sister that preferred the enemy over her family and country” Shining said. “To me, she’s nothing more than a traitor.”

“Shining, you should have calm” Blue advised. “Don’t forget that Sombra already seduced honorable warriors that were considered to be incorruptible. Because of that, we can’t judge Rainbow Dash’s actions without knowing her side.”

“I don’t understand why you keep defending her” Shining said, while holding with his magic and observing a photograph that contained his family: he along with his parents, Blue and even his younger sister, Rainbow Dash that was a pegasus with a very light cerulean coat with a blue-yellow-red lightning bolt with cloud as a Cutie Mark, a rainbow mane and moderate cerise eyes. “She doesn’t deserve it.”

Rainbow Dash, who was done living in the shadow of her elder brothers and desiring more than what she already had, deserted from the Canterlot Royal Guard to join King Sombra’s army, leaving her family suffering from the humiliation of having a traitor as a member.

“I’m not defending her, just stating a fact” Blue replied. “Maybe one day we can put some reason on that stubborn head, but, for now, we better not keep feeding the existing hate.”

Shining hated to admit, but Blue was right, although he didn’t know if he would be able to overcome his pride on that matter.

“Why don’t we talk about happier things?” Blue said. “How was the trip? I hope you have followed my advice, although I have a feeling that you didn’t do it.”

“Believe it or not, I did” Shining replied.

And he told to his twin brother about his meeting with Twilight and how it ended. After finishing, Blue said:

“Wait, wait, wait… Let me see if I got it right. You fell for a mare that is not Cadance and you went to the bed with her? Shining… Finally! I was starting to think that you would never do anything to get rid of that unbearable mare that you call marefriend.”

“Wow, slow down, Blue” Shining said. “I never said that I would leave Cadance.”

“Oh, come on!” Blue exclaimed. “I mean, you found a mare you fall in love with and even so you still keep wanting to be with Cadance?”

“It was only a one-night-stand. Probably, I won’t see her again. Why ruin everything for a fling?”

“Shining, I know you pretty well. Have you forgotten that we shared the same uterus for months at the same time? I can see in your eyes that this meant more for you than you’re really trying to say.”

Sometimes, Shining hated to be Blue’s twin, because it seemed that he was an open book that he could read easily.

“Maybe you’re right, but it doesn’t matter now. I did my choice and I think that there’s no turning back.”

Despite what he had said, Shining really hoped that wasn’t true, even if it were just to see again the mare that awakened in him true passion.

Author's Note

I decided to change Twilight Velvet’s name to Dusk Velvet because of the fact that she, in the original series, is Twilight’s mom.

The Soothsayer

Spike had given Twilight a tour around the school, passing through many places, each one causing a great excitement to the young mare. They went to the science and chemistry rooms, as well passing through many clubs and classrooms, where Twilight was able to notice some of the greatest names in all history of magic.

But the best part to her was when they arrived to the library. Her excitement was so great that she took her time there, visiting every corner of the library. When they got out of there, Spike commented:

“Wow, I never expected to see a pony that liked so much being at a library. I think not the librarian likes being there more than you, Twilight.”

Blushing a little bit, she responded:

“Well, I guess I love books a little too much.”

“I wouldn’t guess that” he said, sarcastically. “Hey, now that I already gave you the tour around the school, what about I give you one around the city? We could go to the market.”

“I don’t know, Spike…” Twilight said. “I wanted to have time to revise some subjects for tomorrow. After all, I have to live up to my position as Star Swirl’s apprentice.”

“Wow, I really never met a student like you that rather wants to keep studying than enjoying a free day” Spike said. “Come on, let’s go have some fun before all the work begins.”

Despite her desire to get ready for tomorrow, Twilight was tempted by Spike’s offer. Eventually, she ended up agreeing in going.

Arriving to the market, Twilight quickly noticed that place was the most agitated on all the capital. Ponies were all over the place, buying and selling all kind of products. It was then that the young unicorn watched that there were a huge number of guards spread around the market. Now that Twilight thought about it, she had seen an abnormal amount of guards when she arrived.

“Wow, sure there is a lot of guards around” she commented.

“Well, of course” Spike said. “With the war against North Equestria, the security had become even more constricted.”

“Oh, so the war is on that point” Twilight said. “I just hope it can end soon with peace being implanted.”

“That will only happen when King Sombra is defeated once and for all” the little dragon responded. “What may take a while, as he appears to get stronger and stronger.”

That let Twilight a little worried. If that was true, then that would mean Sombra would try to invade South Equestria and conquer it. If that happened, the two factions would face each other and the crossfire would catch a lot of innocent ponies.

At that moment, they passed by a humble tent and a voice said:

“I can sense that you’re troubled, my dear.”

Twilight and Spike turned and saw a mysterious old mare with a cloak sitting on a rocking chair at the entrance of the tent.

“Do you allow a humble soothsayer to tell your fortune?” she asked.

The young mare got a little unsettling with the soothsayer’s appearance, but quickly got over it and replied:

“I’m sorry, but I don’t quite believe in divination. It’s not a very reliable branch of magic.”

Spike poked her to get her attention and then said:

“Ah, Twilight, if I was you, I wouldn’t talk like that. Can’t you see she is a faun? Everypony say that fauns possess an innate ability to see the future.”

At that moment, she noticed the soothsayer’s faun attributes. She had already heard about that species’ aptitude to divination and, despite her dislike for that branch of magic, Twilight couldn’t deny that, perhaps having some lights of what awaits for her, even if not reliable, wouldn’t be bad.

“Okay then… How much does it cost?”

“I only charge my services to the ones who seek them” the soothsayer replied. “You don’t have to worry about payment, my dear.”

“Well, what about that?” Spike said. “It looks like it’s your lucky day, Twilight.”

“Yeah, I don’t know about that, Spike” she replied.

They got inside the tent, with Twilight curious about all the things that were there. The soothsayer made a sign to a table, where there was a deck of cards, and Twilight and her assistant sat down before it. The soothsayer sat at the other side and took the deck, using her fawn magic to shuffle them and then placed each card face-down on the table.

“I can sense you have a lot of questions in your head, my dear” the soothsayer said. “Think about what you want to know and pick three cards.”

Twilight did so and the first thing she ever thought was her internship with Star Swirl. She wanted to know if everything would be alright. And then she picked three cards, motioning them with her hoof. The soothsayer made them hover and turned one over.

“The Magician” the soothsayer said. “Apparently, you have a lot of talent and capability. This card is advising you to embrace them and not contain them.”

“That’s what I do” Twilight said.

“Perhaps, but, sometimes the extension of our abilities can scare us and that’s what this card is telling you” the soothsayer replied.

The soothsayer then turned another card, saying:

“The Wheel of Fortune…”

“Oh, that sounds interesting…” Spike commented.

“For what I can see, not everything will go as you planned” the soothsayer told. “Fate will try to lead you in the road it sees fit.”

“I don’t actually believe in fate” Twilight said.

“But it exists and it will guide you” the soothsayer said.

The faun then turned over the third card.

“The Emperor” she said. “I can see someone that will help you in this road of yours. I can’t see clearly, but will be like a sort of a father figure.”

Twilight thought for a moment that could be Star Swirl, but how would he, the most important conjurer in all Equestria, be what the soothsayer tells he’s going to be.

“Well, I have to say that this was actually… reassuring” Twilight said. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome, my dear” the soothsayer replied. “However, I can’t help but feeling you have still some questions.”

She was right. Twilight didn’t know how she got it, but another question was bothering her and that was regarding a certain stallion she had met during her trip to Equestria.

“If you want some help with that… you just have to pick three more cards” the soothsayer said.

The young unicorn hesitated. If that faun was really as great in divination, Twilight was really nervous about she would tell her. Then, taking a decision, she picked three other cards and the soothsayer turned one over.

“The Lovers… I see, you want to know about love. For what I can see, you already found it, am I right?”

Twilight didn’t replied, but it couldn’t be more obvious.

“Wow, Twilight, I didn’t know that about you” Spike said.

“We only met today, Spike” Twilight replied.

“Oh, right…” the young dragon replied.

“This love of yours seems to complete you, my dear” the soothsayer said. “I dare to say you are meant to be. You are fated to meet each other until your story is resolved, in one way or another.”

“Really?” Twilight asked.

The soothsayer nodded, giving hope to the young unicorn that she would find Shining again. The faun turned the second card.

“Temperance… I see that you’ll have to balance both your reason and your heart when it comes to this love.”

“What does that mean?” Twilight asked.

“Maybe something will happen that will test your feelings for him” the soothsayer said. “But, perhaps, the third card will tell us more.”

She flipped it.

“Strength… This card only enhances the importance of the previous one. You’ll need to be strong.”

“But why?”

“Perhaps there’s something that will be an obstacle to your love, something from your life… or his.”

Twilight remembered then the note Shining left her, saying that there was something preventing him from being with her. Perhaps that was what the soothsayer was trying to tell her.

“Tell me, my dear, there is anything else you want to know?” the soothsayer asked.

She thought for a moment and then she realized that could be the moment to get to know her origins. Twilight then extended her hoof and picked three other cards. The soothsayer turned over one.

“Death…”

“Wait, Twilight is going to die!” Spike exclaimed with a little terror in his voice. “But I just become her assistant and…”

Twilight chuckled and then said:

“Spike, I may not be knowledgeable in divination, but I don’t think this card is telling I’m going to die.”

“She is right” the soothsayer ensured. “The card Death doesn’t mean actual death, but rather the end of a circle. Something will happen that will change your life, my dear.”

“What kind of change?” Twilight asked.

“I can’t tell you that, but I can tell that change won’t come easy” the soothsayer replied. “But, despite that, you won’t have any other choice but accept it.”

That puzzled Twilight. Would that anything to do with her birth family. Would she be able to know who they were?

“What can you tell me more?” Twilight asked.

The soothsayer turned the next card:

“The Chariot… I have to tell you, my dear, this change in your life will put you in a crossroad and is the road that you’ll choose that will direct you in the path that you are meant to walk.”

Those words worried Twilight. The fact that choice the soothsayer was talking about would determinate her fate was alarming.

“Please, I need to know more” Twilight said.

The soothsayer took the third card and took a peek. Shock invaded her face and then hasted to put it down.

“What?” Twilight asked. “Is there something wrong?”

The soothsayer took a moment and then replied:

“No, my dear, there’s nothing wrong. It’s just I’m exhausted. These sections are starting to get the better on me and I’m not as young as I used to be.”

“But what was that card?” Twilight asked.

“Nothing special” the soothsayer said. “Something that would be a repetition of what had been said. Please, tell me, my dear, do you have any other question?”

“No, I don’t have one. But, you know, it was nice to hear all that” Twilight said. “It was a big help, thank you.”

The soothsayer nodded with her head in response and the young unicorn get up, saying:

“Let’s go, Spike.”

And she and the little dragon got out. The soothsayer went to the entrance of the tent and watched Twilight moving away. She then looked to the card she didn’t reveal to her: it was The Devil.

“I wish you the best of luck, little princess” she said. “I hope you make the right choice.”

While they were walking, Spike said:

“You know, I wanted to know what that third card was.”

“Me too” Twilight said. “Did you noticed how she got when she saw it? She probably saw something that worried her and didn’t want to tell me.”

“Oh, don’t think about that, Twilight” Spike replied. “Probably it’s nothing. Besides, you were the one that told me that you didn’t believe that much in divination.”

“I know, but… that soothsayer made feel otherwise, like… she actually could see the future.”

Twilight was so immerse in her thoughts that ended up bumping on somepony else, causing apples to fall, along with a basket.

“I’m sorry… I wasn’t paying attention.”

“It’s okay” a voice replied.

That voice belonged to a big stallion with a brilliant amaranth coat with a green apple sliced in half as Cutie Mark, a brilliant orange mane and moderate sap green eyes. He, when saw Twilight got entranced by her beauty. He couldn’t believe in what he was seeing. He had never seen such beautiful mare. His heart started to race uncontrollably and he couldn’t move.

Using her magic, Twilight took the basket and placed all the apples there, putting then the basket on the stallion’s back.

“There you have” she said. “I’m sorry for that. Come, Spike.”

And they moved away, with the stallion following Twilight with his eyes. He then smiled, with his cheeks getting red.

The night fell and the soothsayer was walking through the streets of Canterlot, pulling the wagon where she had her things. She then arrived to a dark alley and stopped, saying:

“You can show up now. I know you’re there.”

A few seconds later, cloaked figures surrounded her, with one that seemed to be a pegasus approaching her. That pegasus removed her hood, revealing to be Rainbow Dash, Shining and Blue’s younger sister.

“So, it’s true what they say about you” Rainbow said with a harsh and cold voice. “You really can see the future.”

“See the future is such a stretch” the soothsayer replied. “Let’s just say I can guide ponies in their fates.”

“Whatever…” Rainbow Dash said. “Our king wants you and that’s exactly what he’ll have.”

“So finally King Sombra started to search for me” the soothsayer commented. “I have to say it is an honor to finally get to know him.”

That response confused Rainbow Dash who asked:

“You’re not trying to run away.”

“Why would I do that? I’m just an old faun that is surrounded by guards of King Sombra. Beyond that, I knew this moment would arrive. After all, I have something that your king wants.”

The Shadow of the Dark King

The North Equestria, unlike its other half, was a place where the ponies living there, despite appearing living normal lives, were haunted by a great sadness and despair as they had their freedom restrained by the tyrannical laws of King Sombra. Even if they wanted to leave to South Equestria they couldn’t because Sombra had the border and the coast well-guarded.

The capital of the northern half of Equestria was the reflection of all that sadness. Crystal City was entirely made of crystal. In the past, it used to be so shining and bright, but that changed when King Sombra took over the north of Equestria and settled there. He stole all the light in the crystals, turning them dark.

A great amount of guards were guarding both the borders of the city and the castle, along with the streets, but the security was even tighter inside the castle. Some of the guards were completely loyal and devoted to their king, but others were forced to serve him in the army, having their hearts taken by Sombra and remaining under his control.

At that moment, Sombra was at his bedroom, but he wasn’t alone. Behind the curtains of his big canopy bed, he was having sex with a mare who had a pale, light grayish heliotrope coat with a purple and white star with two two-toned blue glimmering streams as Cutie Mark, moderate purple mane with lighter purple and pale light, grayish aquamarine highlights and moderate persian blue eyes. She was riding Sombra, while he was passing his hooves around her hips. That mare was Starlight Glimmer and was Sombra’s concubine, or at least one of them, being his favorite.

The moment came Sombra and Starlight got to their climax and then she let herself fall beside her king, with the two gasping. Looking to him with a smile, Starlight said to Sombra, while caressing his chest:

“My king, I have to say that was amazing, like always.”

But that caused him to drop a laugh and then reply:

“I know that, Starlight, I don’t need any compliments to say how amazing I am in bed.”

“Of course, my king, I’m sorry for my audacity” Starlight said.

“But this was really relaxing” Sombra said. “I was really needing something like this to charge out the energy.”

“Well, I’m very glad in serving my king as best as I can” Starlight told.

Seeing the way Starlight was insinuating to him, Sombra had the desire to have sex with her again, but before he could do anything, somepony knocked at his door. He grunted and then said, while getting up:

“Who dares to spoil my fun?”

He opened slitly the door, finding his captain of the guard, Thunder Night, who was a thestral with dark grey coat and yellow eyes with slit pupils.

“What?!” he asked coldly.

“I’m sorry to bother you, sir, but…” Thunder Night said.

“But what?” Sombra asked. “Spit it out, I don’t have time to waste.”

“The guards you asked me to send to Canterlot are back with the faun, my king” Thunder Night hasted to tell.

When hearing that, Sombra’s expression got calmer.

“They got her?” he asked.

“They are bringing her here as we speak.”

Sombra couldn’t believe he was inches from getting one step closer to know about her daughter. After he got to know about the prophecy that drove Celestia to turn against him and separate him from his own daughter for sixteen years, he tried to find that soothsayer and finally the time has come.

“Make sure they bring her to my throne room once they arrive” Sombra said.

“Yes, my king” Thunder Night replied, bowing his head respectfully and then departing.

Sombra got back inside, closing the door behind him and, using his magic, he started to dress up his armor.

“What’s wrong?” Starlight asked, confused by what Sombra was doing.

“I need to resolve something urgent now” he said, finishing putting his armor and heading to put his cloak.

“But I thought we would be together for the night” Starlight said.

“Get out” he said, finishing putting the cloak.

“What, but…”

“Get out! NOW!”

Not wanting to taste her king’s fury, Starlight hasted to stand up and heading to the exit of the room, getting out. The king went to his window, looking to the city that was below and then to the horizon, in direction of South Equestria.

“Very soon, Celestia, I will have our daughter by my side and she will become my heir and help me get back the rest of Equestria. We will make you suffer for everything you did.”

It was then that something caught his attention. He saw Rainbow Dash approaching the castle with her squad of guards who were escorting the soothsayer who had her hooves chained to not escape. An evil smile appeared on his face and then he advanced to the door, exiting the room.

Rainbow Dash and her squad arrived to the entrance of the castle, where Thunder Night was waiting. Smiling, Rainbow flew the remaining distance to him and then said:

“Hei, Thundy, miss me?”

And she kissed his lips, but he ended the kiss and told her:

“We don’t have time for that. The king is impatient to see the prisoner. Take her to the throne room.”

“Oh, I hate when you get like that, all work and no fun” Rainbow Dash replied.

They then got inside and headed to the throne room. It didn’t take long for Sombra appear at the top of the stairs to the throne in a mist of shadows and his look was to the soothsayer.

“My king, I brought you the soothsayer you asked me to get” Rainbow Dash said, while she and the others bowed to him.

Sombra didn’t reply to her, starting to get down the stairs and approaching the soothsayer. He was hoping to impose some fear in order to be easier to get what he wanted, but the dark king was surprised when the old faun didn’t seem bothered by his present.

“Leave us alone… now!” he ordered to his guards.

At first, they shared a confused look, but they have learned in the hard way to never question his orders, so they left.

“So, finally I found you” Sombra said to the soothsayer. “I have to say, it was not an easy task.”

“Let’s just say it was not the right time” the soothsayer replied. “But you can see that, as I let myself be captured, now is the right time.”

“You think you’re funny, don’t you?” Sombra asked, while circling the soothsayer. “Do you know who you’re talking to?”

“Of course I do” she replied. “I would be a complete ignorant, if I didn’t. But make no mistake, Your Highness, you don’t intimidate, because I know you’re not going to hurt.”

“And why is that? You were the reason why Celestia did what she did sixteen years ago, the reason why I don’t have my daughter by my side.”

“I believe you’re confusing everything. What’s reasonable, as you need to blame somepony else and you can’t blame yourself. But I need to tell that I only warned Queen Celestia about a dark future that would fell upon Equestria. She didn’t believed in me. It was only when she saw your dark side that she decided to do it. So, logically, you’re the one to be blamed for what happened.”

That caused to Sombra to go to the front of the soothsayer quickly and grab her neck with his hoof.

“Don’t you dare to anger me, old goat” Sombra grunted. “You have no idea what I can do when I get triggered.”

“I know perfectly what you can do” the soothsayer replied, with the breath she was able to take. “But I also know that you won’t hurt me because I’m the best chance you have to find your daughter.”

There was a silence, where the two of them stared each other. And so Sombra let the soothsayer go who then fell on her knees.

“You’re right” the king said. “You are my best chance. And you will start by telling me the same prophecy that you told to my ex-wife.”

After recovering, the soothsayer rose up and told:

“But of course, Your Highness. If you allow me, I will take my things.”

She then took her bowl, where she put the same ingredients she used when she made the prophecy to Celestia. Igniting the match, the soothsayer lightened the ingredients up, making the smoke rise in the air.

“A unicorn king, loved by his subjects and family…” the soothsayer said, while the smoke took the form of a unicorn with a crown, similar to Sombra “… has a deep darkness forming in his heart, coming from his desire to better protect the ones he love.”

And black smoke covered the unicorn king.

“A war will divide the land in two…” the soothsayer continued, while the imaged of the broken Equestria appeared. “…and, in the next years, nothing will exist besides fear, sadness… and hate.”

“So that’s the reason why Celestia sent me away” Sombra said. “She was a fool. If only she wasn’t so weak and coward, maybe we would still be together… with our daughter.”

“If that happened, do you think the happiness that would come from it would be real?” the soothsayer. “Queen Celestia has a good heart and wouldn’t be able to see any innocents to suffer under her reign.”

That caused Sombra to give a hard look to her, but not being able to intimidate her.

“But this is not all the prophecy, right?” Sombra said. “I bet you told Celestia how to end this war with her victory.”

“I did, but I believe you won’t like what I have to say” the soothsayer.

“I don’t care” the dark king replied. “If there’s a way for my dear ex-wife to defeat me, I want to know how so I can stop it once and for all.”

The soothsayer took her moment and then proceeded:

“But, in the middle of all that darkness, there is a light…”

A light full of love and capable of illuminating the darkness that was surrounding it made itself be noted in the smoke.

“That light will be the hope of Equestria and the only thing to be able to stop the darkness upon Equestria” the soothsayer continued.

“Where is that light?” Sombra asked.

“Is closer than you think” the faun answered.

“And who or what is it? Tell me! I have to know!”

“That light… was sired by the dark king and will be his ruin and there is nothing he can do to destroy it, because he won’t want to do it.”

And the smoke returned to the bowl, ending the prophecy. King Sombra stood quiet on his place.

“So… if I understood correctly… my daughter is the only one who can defeat me…”

It was then that a chuckle started to get out of his mouth, followed by a wicked laugh. When he stopped, he said:

“That’s why she sent her away… Clever, Celestia, very clever. But I won’t let you have your way. If my daughter is the only who can defeat me, then I’ll make sure she will come to my side, just like I had always planned.”

“That will be a very hard task” the soothsayer replied. “If Queen Celestia did everything right, then the young princess was raised to be a young mare with a gentle heart.”

Sombra looked at her from the corner of the eye and then called:

“Guards!”

Almost immediately, the doors opened and two guards appeared.

“Take the soothsayer to a dungeon and place her things in a safe room” Sombra said.

They prepared to conduct the soothsayer to the exit of the throne room when their king told them:

“Ah, and tell Starlight to be at my room. I want her ready for me as soon as my get their.”

And they got out. When they did, Sombra went to his throne, sitting there for a while and thinking about his daughter.

“Don’t worry, my little princess, daddy is going to find you and you can be certain that we will be happy together” he said.

After that, he exited the throne room and went to his room. When he entered it, he found, just as he had requested, Starlight, next to his bed.

“My king…” she said, bowing her head. “I thought you wouldn’t want my services for today, after…”

“I changed my mind” Sombra replied, while taking off his cloak and armor. “Besides, this meeting has been very fruitful. I need to celebrate that.”

And having said that, he advanced to Starlight and threw her to the bed, falling then over her and starting to kiss her neck in a rough way.

After being put in her cell, the soothsayer placed herself in a meditating position and then closed her eyes. Remaining like that for a moment, she opened them suddenly, while they were shining in a golden color for a brief moment, and said:

“I see a dark future ahead. I just hope you can make the right decision in the end, young princess, or else Equestria will be completely submerged in the shadow of your father.”

The Apple Family

The Apple family was a family of farm ponies that lived and worked on their own apple farm located at the outskirts of Ponyville, a village located not very far from the mountain where Canterlot was located. They sustained themselves selling the apples they cultivated and their derived products.

Arriving to the farmhouse, when the night had already fallen was Big McIntosh, better known as Big Mac. He was pulling a wagon where he had the rest of the apples he had taken with him to the Canterlot market. After putting away the wagon, Big Mac went inside.

Getting in, he found his family. At the kitchen was his younger sister, Applejack, doing the dishes. She had a light brilliant gamboge coat with three red apples as Cutie Mark, pale, light grayish olive mane and moderate sap green eyes. His father, Bright McIntosh (also known as Bright Mac), was a pony with a pale, light grayish olive coat with a half of green apple with a star in the center as a Cutie Mark, brilliant red mane, pale, light grayish gamboge hooves and moderate harlequin eyes. At that moment, he was reading his newspaper, sitting on his armchair. And also there was his grandmother, Granny Smith, a mare with a light lime green coat with an apple pie as a Cutie Mark, light gray mane and light brilliant orange eyes, who was at her rocking chair, sleeping.

“Howdy, Big Mac!” Applejack greeted. “It’s a good thin’ you arriv’d.”

“My son!” Bright Mac said, putting his newspaper aside. “Tell me, how were things in Canterlot?”

Big Mac answered by showing a sac full of bits that he had taken out of his saddlebag.

“Ah can see that it went considerably well” Bright Mac noticed. “We have dah thank dah our Queen Celestia fer protectin’ this land so well.”

“Eeyup” Big Mac agreed.

“Hey, Big Mac, sit down at dah table so Ah can serve ya dinner” Applejack said. “Ya’re in luck as we jest had dinner.”

“Ah’m not hungry” Big Mac replied. “Ah’ll go tah mah room.”

Having said that, Big Mac went upstairs.

“That was weird” Applejack commented. “Big Mac refusin’ dinner?”

“He’s probably jest tir’d” Bright Mac told. “After all, he does a lot here at dah farm and fer us.”

But Applejack continued to get a little suspicious of that strange behavior from Big Mac.

Big Mac, after reaching the top of the stairs, headed towards his room, a rather simple place, just like he liked it, with only the essential and with some other personal things of his decorating, like a photo of his family that included his late mother, Pear Butter, also known as Buttercup, a beautiful mare with a pale gamboge coat with a jar of preserves as a Cutie Mark, a brilliant gamboge mane and brilliant turquoise eyes.

The big red stallion let himself lay on his bed and contemplate the ceiling, while he remembered the amazing mare he had found back at the market. Of course Big Mac had already noticed on other mares before, but none were able to get his attention, despite the opposite was not observed. After all, his duties to his family and farm prevented him from focusing on other thing that was not work.

However, there was something about that mare that captivated him. He didn’t know if it was her bright and soft coat, her mane with a floral scent or her gentle and flaring eyes. She occupied his mind in such way that he ignored his growling stomach after spending an all day without eating anything.

A knock on the door made him wake up from his thoughts. It opened and Applejack appeared, bringing a tray with a plate of food and a glass with apple cider.

“Hey there, big brother” she said, while coming in and putting the tray on his chest of drawers. “Ah thought ya could use fer some supper.”

Now that Applejack mentioned it, Big Mac managed to feel his stomach begging for something to digest.

“Uh, thanks, AJ” Big Mac replied, while heading to eat. “I was starving.”

“Uh, it’s funny, ‘cause that was not what ya said minutes ago” Applejack responded, with a smile.

But Big Mac didn’t reply to her, limiting to just eat his food, but his sister knew him too well and knew when he was hiding something. However, Applejack knew his older brother was stubborn and wouldn’t tell her anything. But she, for knowing him well, knew that eventually she would find out what he was hiding.

“Ah know somethin’ is up with ya, but Ah won’t press ya tah tell” Applejack said. “Ah will find out, sooner or later. Besides, Ah have other things tah do.”

“Please, tell me ya won’t go see him” Big Mac said, seeing his sister heading towards the exit of the room.

She stopped and said:

“An’ what if Ah will? Ya have nothin’ tah do with that.”

“Ah am yer bug brother an’ is mah duty tah protect ya” Big Mac replied.

“But not control me” Applejack replied.

“Come on AJ, he’s way too old fer ya” Big Mac said. “Not tah mention that…”

“Okay, first ov all, he’s jest eight years older than me” Applejack replied. “An’ second, dah other detail had already been solv’d even before we got together. An’ ya know what, Big Mac, if ya’re so against it, then why haven’t ya told pa?”

“‘cause Ah stil have hope that ya’ll end this befere ya get hurt or in a bad situation.”

“Well, don’t hold yer breath” Applejack replied. “Ya may need it.”

And, with that, she left, closing the door behind her, with Big Mac sighing.

When she was certain that his father and grandmother were already on bed, Applejack got out and headed towards the village, where she headed towards to a certain house. Arriving there, she knocked and the door opened, revealing an earth stallion with a grayish gamboge coat with a flash camera and map as a Cutie Mark, dark cerise mane and light raspberry eyes. His name was Snap Shutter, an adventure for whom Applejack was having an affair with for some months.

Snap Shutter had the job of exploring inhospitable places in order to study exotic plants and creatures for the advancement of science and medicine, what was useful on the war against North Equestria. His job took made him stay away for a long time. In fact, he only came to Ponyville once for month. It was during one of those times he and Applejack met and got involved with each other.

“Hey there, gorgeous” he said, while making a gesture with his hat. “Is it just me or you’re just beautiful tonight?”

Applejack, chuckling, got in and asked, while Snap closed the door:

“Do ya really have tah say that every time we meet?”

“And yet it is very true all the times I say it” Snap replied.

“Well, what if we let this fancy words aside and pass to more serious things?” Applejack asked, while she took Snap’s hat from him and placed it on her head in a seductive way.

“I say… what are we waiting for?” he replied, taking the hat and throwing it away, while giving Applejack an intense kiss.

While kissing, the two of them headed towards the bedroom, where they fell on the bed and let themselves be involved in the consummation of their intense passion.

The next day dawned, with the morning sunlight getting in Snap’s bedroom. He was on his bed, sleeping, while he hugged Applejack. She started to wake up and, when she saw she was hugging the stallion she loved, she couldn’t help but draw an immense smile, closing her eyes to feel the intense happiness she was feeling throughout her all body.

It was then that the words her brother had told her resonated in her head. Despite everything, he was right when it came to what was conspiring to separate her from Snap.

Feeling her lover moving, she turned to him and saw him waking up. As soon his newly-awaken eyes noted Applejack, Snap smiled and said:

“It feels great waking up and see a goddess like you by my side…”

“Really?” Applejack asked with a chuckle. “Ya’ve barely awaken and ya’re already usin’ those fancy words?”

“What can I say? I have a very inspiring muse.”

The two of them traded some kisses and then they let themselves appreciate that moment… except Applejack couldn’t do it. She then gained the courage to say:

“Snap, we need to talk.”

“About what?” he asked. “About our next date? Don’t you want to enjoy this marvelous moment of ours?”

“Really, Snap, a serious talk” Applejack said, turning to him. “Dis situation can’t keep dis way. We can’t keep hidin’ our relationship this way. Eventually, dah other ponies will know an’…”

“AJ, you know why it has to be this way” Snap said. “At the moment, our relationship can’t be public because…”

“Ov yer marriage.”

“I would way because of my current condition.”

“That’s still dah one ov a marri’d stallion” Applejack replied. “Snap, Ah can’t… no, Ah don’t want to be dah other mare!”

“But you were never the the other mare” Snap told. “I already got separated from Mare even before we got to meet each other. The only thing bonding us is a piece of paper she insists in keeping for pure obsession.”

“Even so, you’re still a married pony” Applejack said, lowing her eyes.

Snap then rose up her chin so that she could look him in the eyes, and then told them:

“Independently of that, you still are the mare I love, Applejack. I just need you to give me a little more time to solve this matter so that we can get together. Please, trust in me.”

Although she didn’t like the things how they were, Applejack trusted Snap and knew he was doing everything so that they could get together. Smiling to him, she gave him a kiss and replied:

“Don’t take too long, okay?”

Snap smiled at him and then returned the kiss.

The two let themselves be together for a little longer until Applejack had to go back home, so that she wouldn’t raise any suspicion.

Returning to the farm, Applejack started doing her chores, using her usual excuse of having gone for a morning walk to justify her absence. Although his brother was the only pony to know the real reason for her lateness, Applejack did her best to ignore that, as she knew that the moment would come where she would had to lie anymore to hide the love she felt for Snap.