The Royalty of Equestria. Princess Cadance, ruler of the Crystal Empire and guardian of love. Wife of Captain turned Prince Shining Armor. Luna, Princess of the Moon, guardian of dreams, guide to all in their nightmares. Princess Twilight Sparkle, the Princess of Friendship. The self-made Princess of Friendship, guardian of Magic, barer of the Element of Harmony representing Magic itself. And the eldest of the four, Princess Celestia. Keeper of the Sun, guardian of all of Equestria, guide and teacher to many little fillies and colts.

Only during special events were they ever in the same room together. The Summer Sun Celebration, Nightmare Night, the Friendship Festival, Hearths Warming Eve, and the Grand Galloping Gala. Other events tended to draw out at least two or three of them. Wonderbolt’s shows, harvest festivals, Cider Season in Ponyville. Other events only merited one Princess, even if the others tended to show up anyway. Pinkie Pie’s Pie Party Palooza, birthdays, and other small events.

Today, however, was a relatively special day. To one mare, it wasn’t all that special, just another day of the year after several thousand years of living. To her new friends, more accurately, her students’ new friends, it was still special. A birthday for one of the Royals. Again, just another day to add yet another number to her seemingly endless life cycle. After twelve hundred and twenty nine years, one would assume birthdays would lose all meaning. They would assume correctly. Looking up at the calendar her student had given her as a gift, she amended her thought. Twelve hundred and thirty years.

Today was, to Pinkie Pie, the big “One Two Three Birthday”. Celestia had to smile as Pinkie bounced around throwing streamers around the throne room, all of which dangled perfectly so that 1 2 3 was displayed in pink, golden yellow and sea green, with a white 0 at the end. The same colors as Celestia’s mane, tail and coat. The streamers they dangled from was the same color as Celestia’s eyes, with additional streamers hanging off of them in alabaster white.

She had to smile as an errant bounce had Pinkie landing on Celestia’s back, the Princess of the Sun barely twitching as the pink mare slipped, landing sprawled across Celestia’s shoulders. “Oops. Sorry Princess Birthday Mare.” She said and Celestia just smiled, lifting Pinkie off of her with her magic.

“It’s quite alright Pinkie Pie. Thank you again for throwing me this party.”

“Anything for Twilight’s favorite teacher.” Pinkie said, pouncing and hugging Celestia. Several guards attempted to intervene, but Celestia waved them off. Celestia returned the hug and Pinkie bounded away, tossing more streamers as she went. Celestia smiled as Pinkie bounced and felt an ever so gentle nudge to her side. Either Fluttershy or the ever worried mare Tempest Shadow. Turning around, she found herself muzzle to muzzle with the latter. She knew why Tempest would be nervous around her. Having turned her to stone, as well as having turned Luna to stone and nearly caused her demise, it was understandable why the mare would be withdrawn.

“Yes Tempest?” Celestia asked and Tempest scuffed her hoof slightly.

“I... um... I wanted to wish you Happy Birthday, Princess.” Tempest said and Celestia smiled.

“Thank you very much. I am glad you could attend.” She said and Tempest smiled and bowed before walking off to join her former minion Grubber. More accurately to keep him from eating all of the pie. Celestia watched her leave, smiling that Twilight had made yet another enemy into a friend.

“She is quite the mare.” A voice said near Celestia’s ear, causing the nearly ancient Alicorn to jump.

“Cadance. Don’t do that.” She said and Cadance couldn’t help but giggle at her aunt.

“Sorry. I’m so used to moving silently with Flurry Heart, so she doesn’t wake up the second I set her down for her nap. It’s just become second nature.” The Princess of Love said and Celestia sighed then returned to watching Tempest berate Grubber. The cake wasn’t justfor him after all. It was a party, everyone needed cake. “Anyway, as I was saying, she is quite the mare.”

“That she is. But don’t get any ideas, dearest niece. I do not need a relationship clouding my...”

“Aunty, you of all ponies can handle the complexities that is a relationship alongside your own royal duties.” Cadance said and Celestia clamped her mouth shut. “Besides, Tempest ran an army. I’m sure she would understand your sudden needs to disappear.”

“I suppose you are right. But not tonight. And I will be the one to approach her. Do not use your magic Cadance.”

“Yes Aunt Celestia. Now, if it’s alright with you, there’s a barrel of apples waiting to be bobbed.” She said as she raced off, getting in line behind a group of fillies and colts to wait her turn. Celestia laughed as her sister approached her from behind.

“Happy birthday sister.” Luna said, nuzzling into Celestia’s mane like she used to when she was a filly.

“Thank you Luna. Have you seen them yet?”

“I have not seen the images of mother or father yet, though I did see several non-ponies searching for you earlier.”

“Non-ponies? Such as?”

“Two vulpines and a trio of lupines. Not Timber-Wolves.” Luna said, looking over towards the snack table where it looked, for all the world, like the foxes and wolves were about to maul each other. Or Grubber, who was unfortunate enough to be between the two of them. Sighing, Celestia walked over to them and stopped just far enough not to be noticed.

“We got here first, wolves. The Princess is duty bound to see us first.” One of the foxes said and the wolf at the front snorted.

“Right, like what you foxes have to say would be important. You’re safe and cozy in your magically hidden cave fortress.”

“It is not a cave, you ruffian. It is an earthen amphitheater.” The fox with the eye patch said and the wolf waved him off. With a wing? Wolves can have wings? Celestia blinked, looking at the wolf a little more closely.

“Cave, amphitheater, you’re still underground. We wolves have our tower, above ground, hidden from prying eyes by our own magic.” He said and Celestia cleared her throat as she saw the fox start to bristle.

“Gentlemen, I was informed you were searching for me?” She asked and the wolves turned to her, their leader starting forward only to be cut off by the fox. Celestia sighed, hoping the wolves wouldn’t want to start a scene in front of the birthday mare.

“Princess Celestia. Joyous tidings on your day of birth. I do wish our meeting were more... personable... but our escorts to Canterlot tend to be rather crude and brutish.”

“Hey.” The wolf snapped and the Fox sneered at him.

“We have brought you a gift. Traditional silks from our homeland for crafting into luxurious gowns.” As he said this, his companion stepped forward and produced a scroll. Celestia tilted an ear and look from the scroll to the fox. All he did was smile and nod at his companion, who opened the scroll, revealing strange symbols nopony in Equestria had ever seen before, cut his paw on a tooth, and smeared the blood on the circle the symbols formed. A burst of smoke appeared. When it cleared, a chest sat on the scroll.

“Amazing...” Luna said as she looked at the scroll. “Teleportation Magic using symbols and blood.” She said and the first Fox laughed a little.

“Not to correct royalty, Princess, but it is not magic. In our culture, that amazing trick is called a Jutsu. Many of my people can use Jutsu, but only those of us who are part of the royal lineage may use summoning and sealing Jutsu.” He said and Luna nodded, staring at the chest.

The fox smiled as he pushed open the chest, revealing the silks that earned almost a moan of ecstasy from Twilight’s friend Rarity. “A mare of fine taste.” The fox said, hearing Rarity. Rarity blushed as the fox closed and moved the chest out of the way. Unrolling the scroll further, he smeared more blood on a similar symbol. Smoke burst from the scroll, clearing quickly to reveal a pyramid of twenty gold bars. “Gold from our mines. You may melt it down into Bits for monetary value.” He said and Celestia nodded as one of her guards retrieved the gold, carrying it over to the side. The fox smiled at the guard before unrolling the scroll further. This time, the symbol revealed looked like a spiral with the same markings as the rest of the scroll crossing over it. Like a cross, or chains.

“What is that one?” Celestia asked and the Fox smiled at her.

“Nothing dangerous, I assure you.” He said as he smeared his blood over the locks, his tails, four of them, waving wildly as the spiral began to glow from under his paw and out to the edges. The “chains” slithered away and Celestia shielded her eyes as the smoke exploded from the scroll this time. When it cleared, thanks to Luna flapping her wings hard, Celestia stared up, and up and up, at an absolutely massive snake. Hearing a squeak, Celestia barely noticed when Twilight suddenly appeared under her, hiding from the snake. “This is our final gift to you Princess. A Summon Beast.”

The snake bowed its head, a head adorned with crown like scales and markings that looked like a mask. “He is known as Hebi.”

“A pleasure to meet you Hebi.”

“You must make a contract with him to accept the gift, Princess. Just a small amount of your own blood, as well as your name, written here.” He said, tapping a spot on the scroll near more symbols, apparently writing, in a line down. Celestia nodded, allowing one of her guards to prick her hoof with a quill, which she gripped with her magic, writing her name. Almost immediately, the writing changed to theirs, as well as more blood flowing from the injury on her hoof to form a hoof print below her name. “And it is done. Enjoy your birthday, Princess.” He said as he rolled up the scroll. Hebi bowed and vanished in a burst of smoke. “He will return at your call. If he does not, one of his family will. Signing the scroll allows you to summon one of his family or him. It depends on the amount of Chakra, or in your case magic, that you put into the concentration to summon.”

“Are you done? Is it our turn yet?” The wolf asked and the Fox sighed and turned to glare at him.

“Yes. We are done. Ruffian.” He said and the wolf smiled and walked forward as the Fox left. Celestia sighed and turned to look at the wolf, only to realize she didn’t have to look down as she had with the slightly shorter fox. The wolf was as tall as she was.

“This is... disconcerting...” she said and he just smiled.

“I do understand, Princess. We are predators after all.” He said and Celestia’s ear twitched. “Ehem... anyway... our gifts. First...” He said, tapping his claws on the floor. His companion stepped forward, dragging a chest behind him. Celestia sighed. More gold. Kicking the front of it, Celestia watched as it opened. To reveal platinum. Not gold. Her eyes widened at the sheer amount of the overly precious metal.

“Not even our mines here in Equestria have this much platinum. Where did you find it?” She asked and he smiled.

“We have our own mines, Princess. This is all yours. A gift from our king.” He said and Celestia nodded as two of her guards, staring at the platinum reverently, carried the chest away. “Next.” He didn’t have to tap his claw this time as his companion stepped forward. “Him.”

“What?”

“He is our second gift to you. Our strongest, most skilled Battle Mage.” He said and the other wolf bowed his head before standing straight. The more Celestia looked at him, the more she noticed about him. His fur wasn’t entirely black. Around his eyes were grey markings, almost silver, that looked almost like a mask that had been cut off under his eyes. Eyes that glimmered as yellow as the fires burning on the candles of her birthday cake. He was the wolf with wings that had been arguing with the foxes earlier.

His one furred shoulder had a silver marking on it that looked like a cutie mark. A sword whose blade was surrounded by the same star mark Twilight had on her rump. A magical blade? His other foreleg was solid gold, held together at the joints by magic “What is his name?” Celestia asked and the wolf leader looked over at him.

“Knight Shadow.” He said and Celestia blinked and glanced over at Luna, who had nearly dropped her cup of apple cider on Applebloom’s head the minute the wolf’s name was given. “What’s the matter Princess?”

“Nothing. Nothing at all. Welcome to Canterlot, Knight Shadow.” She said and he bowed before breaking off from his escort to venture over to the punch table. Grubber gave him a wide berth, but the others at the table just stood in place. Until his eyes gave off a jet black glow, levitating a cup of cider to his lips. The moment his magic appeared, every creature near him moved away. “Wings and magic? An Alicorn wolf? Is that even possible?” Celestia thought to herself before smiling at the other wolf. “Thank you for your generous gifts, as well as coming to my party.”

“You are welcome princess.” He said, bowing before walking away to mingle with the rest of the crowd.

“Twilight.” Celestia said, her eyes sliding to Knight.

“Yes Princess?”

“Can I ask you to keep a close watch on him? Something about him seems familiar and yet... he gives me a strange feeling.” She said and Twilight nodded before walking to join Knight. Brave as ever, both as a Princess and the barer of the Element of Magic. Celestia couldn’t be prouder of her dear student.

“I also have a gift, Celestia.” A wizened voice said behind her and she smiled and turned around to look at her own teacher. Starswirl the Bearded. His beard was cut slightly shorter than normal, as was his mane, but he still wore the robes and the silly hat with all the bells.

“And what is your gift, my dearest teacher?” She asked and he turned and nodded. Celestia watched as Rockhoof, one of the Pillars of Equestria, approached with a mirror on his back. A mirror she recognized. Somnambula and Flash Magnus followed at his sides, Meadow Brook and Mistmane behind them.

“I have successfully repaired the portal in this mirror. Now, it shall be open throughout all of time.” Starswirl said as Flash and Mistmane lifted the mirror off of Rockhoof’s back and set it down. As soon as it was set down, it wavered like a pool of water and Celestia watched as a mare she hadn’t seen in a very long time stepped through it.

“Sunset.” Twilight said as she hugged her friend, who was still standing on her hind hooves.

“Hi Twilight. Thanks for letting me know to be ready at the portal.” She said as she allowed Twilight to help her back onto her four hooves. Looking up at Celestia, she smiled. “Hello Princess. Happy Birthday.”

Celestia smiled, a single tear escaping from her eye. “Thank you, Sunset Shimmer.” She said as she hugged the one student she had failed.

After the tear filled reunion, the party went on just as Pinkie Pie had planned. Bobbing for apples lead by Applejack, who won naturally. A quick race around the gardens, led by Rainbow Dash, who narrowly beat Flash Magnus while still getting beaten, thoroughly, by Spitfire. Rarity and Mistmane discussed how best to utilize the Foxes silk, eventually deciding on gowns for Princess Celestia, Princess Luna, and Twilight. There wasn’t quite enough silk for a gown for Cadance, but Rarity promised that what was left would go towards allowing her to eventually replicate it to make more.

Fluttershy and Rockhoof had hit it off quite well, to the mild annoyance of Discord, spending all of their time in the garden with the critters, the ever watchful eyes of Discord on them. Shadow, for his part, had remained near the punch bowl, frequently refilling his drink, always keeping his eyes on Celestia. More accurately, her mane. “Hey there Sugarcube.” He heard from beside him, causing him to jump and nearly spilling the punch.

“Crap...” he said in a language no one had ever heard before and Applejack blinked.

“Uh... what was that?” She asked and he blushed, his ears going flat against his head.

“Oh. Sorry. Ah... language of magic from back home. I’ll... teach you sometime.” He said and she waved him off.

“No thank ya. Ah can’t do magic anyhow. No horn, see.” She said as she removed her hat.

“I don’t have a horn either, but I can do magic using those words.” He said and she looked up at him. “You don’t believe me.” He said and she shook her head. “Alright. Follow me.” She smirked as she followed him outside to the courtyard. Seeing them leaving the room, Twilight and company followed, shortly followed by the rest of the party, Celestia included.

“Alright, we walked to the courtyard. Really magical.” Applejack said as he waved a wing in front of her, stopping her.

“Stay right there. I don’t want you getting burned.” He said and she quirked an eyebrow as he walked to the middle of the courtyard. “All of you stay there.”

Twilight stopped next to Applejack, Celestia pulling up beside her as he stopped in the middle of the courtyard and looked up.

“Yol Toor Shul!” He shouted in a language different from the last, the sound echoing through the courtyard as a wall of fire erupted from his mouth. The entire crowd watched in awe as the flame soared into the air, disappearing when it had gotten out of sight. “There. See. Magic.”

“That wasn’t any magic I’ve ever seen before.” Celestia said and he shrugged, looking at Spike.

“The dragon there knows what I said, don’t ya little guy.” He said and everyone’s eyes turned to Spike, who immediately froze. The attention of the entire party was on him.

“He...he’s right. I know exactly what he said...” Spike said and Twilight was immediately there with a scroll and quill. “Yol Toor Shull. It means Fire Inferno Sun. It’s Dragon language.” He said and everyone turned to look at Shadow before jumping as a nearly inaudible sound struck their ears. A quill hitting the floor.

“Twilight dropped her quill!” Rainbow Dash shouted and everyone turned to look at Twilight, who had in fact dropped her quill. Her concentration had shattered. But she wasn’t looking at Spike. She was looking at Celestia. Everyone followed her gaze and a collective gasp echoed through the courtyard. Celestia’s mane had been blown back by the force of the spell. Her right eye, and the right side of her muzzle, were completely different from the left.

While the left side of her muzzle, and her left eye, were normal, the same that everypony had seen every single day, the right half of her face was far different. Her eye was pitch black, save for a single point of magenta light in the middle of it, and her mouth looked as if it had been ripped nearly to the back of her jaw, razor sharp teeth evident under the skin, a jagged fang behind where her lips connected. “Princess?” Twilight asked and Celestia, as if finally realizing everyone was staring at her, turned to look at her. As both of her eyes took in the area, she realized why they were staring. Covering her face with her wing, Celestia looked around the courtyard, as if searching for a way to explain, before her horn lit and she vanished, the force of her teleportation knocking everyone to the ground.

“What in tarnation was that?” Applejack asked as she stood up, collecting her hat from off of Fleetfoot’s head.

“That was Celestia. My sister.” Luna said as she stepped up to them. “What you all just saw is the price she had to pay for her immortality. Keeping her magic in control takes its toll. That is the result.”

“There are other ways to gain immortality, however. Right Princess?” Knight asked as he approached, as if completely unfazed by what he’d just seen. Luna merely nodded. “Perhaps you should explain these methods. Before some ponies here decide to form an angry mob to demand explanations from the clearly distraught Princess of the Sun. Their guardian, and to some their surrogate mother.” He said and she sighed and sat down.

“You should all sit down for this. It is a lengthy tail... and one I am sure many of you would like to hear.” She said and almost everypony sat down. Everypony except for Twilight. She didn’t say it, but she wanted to stay standing. No matter the reason why Celestia looked the way she did, Twilight still saw her as a second mother, as well as her teacher, mentor, and one of her very first friends. Whatever the explanation, Twilight would go comfort her teacher.

Author's Note

Just an idea I've had rolling around in my head for a while. And before any of you say "No, we've seen both sides of Celestia's face"... I know. Just a fanciful idea I had. So sue me if I wanted to do something fun. Also, I'm using this as a different canon for how my OC, Knight Shadow, is introduced to Twilight and company. Also Also... where the "Skyrim Spells" come in, unfortunately you all can't see it, but on my computer, it is in fact in Dovahkiin language from Skyrim. And where he says "crap", it is Daedric. Kinda wish you all could see it, cause it'd add to the mystery and "strange-ness" of Knight and his people. As far as the Foxes... I've got this idea that the Fox Clans are all of Neighponese (Japanese) origin, and so their magic is a lot like the Jutsu from the show Naruto/Naruto Shippuden/Boruto. So... prepare to see a lot of references, in the form of Jutsu, to Naruto.