Vivat Reginaby AndromidusChapters0 - "Of Two Sisters"1 - "Starfall"2 - "The Night and Her Star"3 - "A Castle in the Sky"0 - "Of Two Sisters"“Of Two Sisters” The moonlight wavered as heavy, snow-laden clouds cut across the sky. A gust of wind sliced along the tree line, a shadow casting itself on the white sheets below. Their cowl and scarf whipped against the push of the air. Tall pines formed a veritable row of jagged teeth, threatening to swallow those who dare approach. The thump of paws hitting freshly laid snow broke the silence. They snaked their way to a lump. An ancient tree towered above it, branches shrouding the entire spot in darkness. Brushing their talons along the rock to remove the blanket of snow, they unfurled a pendant wrapped around their wrist. They paused for a second, hesitating. It shimmered ever so beautifully in the light. Golden wisps bursting from an orange orb. It was ancient. Older than the creature that currently held it by centuries. It was something lost to time, obscured by the wrath of a tyrant who plunged her world into shadow. If it was shown to any random who roamed the streets, they would pass it off as a silly looking ball. But to those who knew the story... to those who fought tooth and claw to preserve the history... the medallion was more than that. It represented hope. A light in the sea of darkness. The celestial body of the sun. It was carefully laid on the rock, fitting into contours invisible to any eye. With little fanfare, the area was bathed in a flash of light. As it dissipated, all that remained was the rock, pine, and snow. It looked as if the area had never been disturbed, no indentations on the fresh layer of snow and the white still calmly piled on the pines. Out of it all, the trinket and creature nowhere to be found. Somewhere far, somewhere a room whose location was guarded by secrets that were to be taken to the grave, the same creature appeared in a burst of sparks, trinket carefully wrapped back and concealed in its cloth. They rolled their shoulders and practically bounded out of the space, rushing through the halls. They paused in front of a door and peered through the small glass. Papers were neatly stacked... the light was on but nothing moved on the inside. A glance to a doorway tucked behind a bookshelf obviously noted it was open, but that meant nothing. It was dark and the light was off. They quickly opened the door and flicked the light switch off. It was empty. No one was there. So that meant... They soon found themselves standing outside of a small bedroom, staring at an elderly griffon and a little chick who was getting pretty big for her nest. The little bird ruffled their feathers and chirped. “Grandpappy, where do you go each night when I sleep?” “Oh, little chick. That is something I cannot tell you yet. Perhaps you could ask your father when you’re older.” The grizzled rooster patted her on the head. “Now rest, young one. You are still growing and need all the sleep you can get.” “But Grandpappy! I’m not sleepy yet. I’m still very awake, see?” She flapped her wings, barely achieving any lift to hover above the floor. “I don’t want to sleep.” “Hahaha! I see you inherited your mother’s energy, huh?” “Mhm!” “Here, you know what? Let me tell you a story. I think you’re old enough for this one,” he offered. She gasped and started bouncing up and down. “A story! A story! I love stories! Which one are you going to tell me!? Is it Seraphine the Warrior Princess…? Or… or what about August and the Golden Locks!? Or is it Jade’s Wish!?” “No, no. None of those, little chick. I will tell you something new,” he chuckled. He picked her up by the scruff and padded over to her nest. Gently laying her down atop it. He nestled in beside her. “It is the story of the Two Sisters.” “Oooh! That sounds exciting.” She tapped a claw against her beak. “What’s it about?” He gently smiled and nuzzled her neck feathers. “It is quite the tale. Now settle in and I’ll begin.” A long time ago, in a land full of light and harmony, lived a land ruled benevolently by two goddesses, related by blood; sisters. They were the sister of the sun and the sister of the moon. Each had responsibilities for their respective celestial bodies. They each had their own separate duties to accomplish. The sister of the sun would interact with their subjects more frequently, as her job demanded it. She was the diplomat. She was kinder, softer and exerted an aura that creatures flocked to. The sister of the moon was tasked with leading the great armies that shielded their fair land. She was colder, prone to anger, and scary. But she loved her ponies no less than her sister. Together, they protected their kingdom from those who threatened their subjects. Whether it be the encroaching armies or a manner of evil creatures. Together, they ensured peace remained dominant in their land. Those who lived there experienced prosperity and success unrivaled. Every species was accepted under their rule, so long they followed the rules set by the sisters. They were fair in their judgments and never turned away a creature in need. It was a time of harmony, indeed. But one day, the mad god arrived. He threw everything into disarray. He conquered the fair kingdom faster than any army they had ever faced. Harmony and order became chaos. The creatures who lived there cried out for their protectors. And that cry they most certainly heard. The sisters prepared their weapons. They were strong together. With harmony on their side, they approached the mad god to depose him. It was a battle of the ages, one of both body and mind. They were forced to solve strange riddles, face towering monstrosities, and fix problems before they were allowed to face the mad god. Completing his trials, they arrived at his throne. However, during the fight with the mad god, he asked the sister of the moon a set of questions. A set of questions that lingered in her heart and her mind. “Who do your subjects love more? Your sister or you? Do they care at all for what you do?” She knew it was a trick in the heat of the moment. That it was to weaken her resolve. She replied adamant, “That is irrelevant, you only want to worm discontent between me and my sister!” She brushed it off and continued fighting. Together, they summoned the powers of harmony and sealed him away for good. The chaos left and harmony filled the land once more. The subjects of the kingdom rejoiced. Perhaps everything was fine. So they returned to their great city to announce the news. However, when they arrived, the subjects praised only the sister of the sun, believing her to have saved them by herself. The sister of the moon reassured herself she had been in it for the sake of seeing those under her happy. That she did not care for recognition or fame. But the words of the mad god lingered. So she looked. Everywhere she went, she only instilled fear when she simply wanted to mingle. When she went into the history books and scrolls to read of their achievements, she was always kicked out of the spotlight. It was always about her sister. They commended her for her sun and the warmth it brought. Whenever the sister of the moon looked for herself, she was painted as the monster, a ruler to be feared. After all, her moon only brought the cold and darkness. Slowly, but surely, anger and resentment festered. The words of the mad god played over and over in her head. She could not help but feel jealous of her sister, who had everything she thought she never wanted. That she could live without. The love and adoration of her subjects. One day, she had left the castle they lived in to greet her subjects. Perhaps her lack of interaction simply alienated her. She had touched down amongst the orphanages to greet the foals and the chicks, as she always loved the young ones. She expected warm acceptance. The only thing she received was screams of fear and crying children. Distraught, she left. Her presence brought nothing but hate. She sought out her sister to seek her guidance, surely, her only family would be able to help where others could not. But when she went to her sister, she had seen the love and care her other half received. She approached her sister, only to get waved away. Even her own family could not care that much about her! That day, she snapped. Angered, she sought out her darker magicks. If she could not be loved, then she would be feared. The sister of the moon also decided that if she removed her sister, then there would only be one pony her subjects could turn their adoration to! She rallied the forces loyal to her moon and stormed the palace. As the battle commenced among those who were once brothers on the field, the sister of the moon confronted her sister. The sister of the sun, confused as to why her own kin was attacking her, asked her a question, “Dear sister, why do you fight against me with our own subjects? For what have I done wrong?” Bitterness in her voice, the sister of the moon replied, “You have everything I want! You have stolen away all the love that should be shared! To them, I am nothing more than a dirty rag to be tossed aside! No longer, I have considered the words, and I shall take what is rightfully mine!” So they fought, sister against sister. One with the intent to kill, and the other to subdue. The sister of the sun did not want to hurt her sibling, they were family after all. Despite her best efforts, the sister of the sun was losing. In an act of desperation, she attempted to use the weapon used to stop the mad god. As they powered up and the sister of the moon was held under her hoof, she was prepared to make the sacrifice. However, the sister of the moon used their familial connection. “Sister… do not do this…” For just a single moment, the sister of the sun hesitated. In that single moment, the sister of the moon struck. She had slain the sun. The sister of the moon then made the ultimate choice. If her subjects were to truly love her, they should only respect one celestial body. She threw the sun away and declared eternal night. There was only room for her. “That story, huh?” a voice asked from the doorway. They pulled their scarf off and let the cowl down. “Don’t you think it’s a little dark for a bedtime story?” she huffed. “Not in the slightest. Little chick fell asleep before I even got there.” They snorted. “So then why’d you continue all the way to the end?” He stroked the ruffled plume of the sleeping griffon. “Just to make sure she’s actually asleep. Don’t want her getting upset because I happened to stop.” He carefully lifted his wing away as to not wake her. “So, Grizzy, what brings you here?” “Came by to let you know you left the light on, ya’ old codger!” she chuckled. “Besides, is it so wrong for me to want to check up on my daughter?” “I know you’re here for another reason.” He silently made his way to the doorway. “You never want to confront me otherwise.” She blinked and glanced in another direction. “Firelight was captured,” she murmured solemnly. “Lunar guards got him during one of his runs. Someone must’ve tipped them off, the plan was foolproof!” He gestured with a single talon, laying it on the tip of his beak. “Shhh. There are chicks sleeping, Grizelda. Let’s go to the outside, where she can’t hear us from there.” The old griffon lifted the lantern by the bedside and wished a good night. “Do they know?” he asked with a hush. “That he was with us? No.” Grizelda sighed. “Firelight followed all of our safety measures and protocols. He even did the 3-4-1 to ensure that they couldn’t trace anything back to HR.” “The 3-4-1…” he parroted, with a hint of sadness in his gruff voice. Stopping in the middle of the hall, he placed the lantern down and held a clenched fist to his chest. He murmured a quiet farewell salute in the old language. Grizelda stopped to do the same. After a moment of silence, they continued. “We’re doing a small procession in the main hall if you’re interested. And I know you. I’ll be sure to give him the symbolic burial,” she said. “Since you’re quite busy and all.” “No, let me. I trained him from a ruffian on the streets to the best runner we had in the history of the HR,” he said. “It’s the least I could do for him… now I have to rearrange my schedule.” As they began the slow journey to the biggest room in the base, the conversation died off. All they could hear now was the quiet flickering of the lantern. “Father, I just don’t understand what part of the operation went wrong. It was smooth sailing for the first half…” “No plan ever survives contact with the enemy, my chick. You must respect that.” “We have several contingencies in place for that! We didn’t have to lose a good pony today.” “Sometimes things never go according to what we planned. Life is not an arithmetic question with a single, solid outcome.” Idle conversation rapidly filled the background as they neared the destination. As of now, they had exited the residential section of the base. They stopped as they came upon the small gathering in the main hall. Some had already taken their seats, while some spoke in the front, recounting tales and speaking soliloquies. Most notable of them all was a pony wearing a black cloak. The griffons excused their way past the assembled group. “Dreaded Whisper. It’s always pleasant seeing… part of your face. I didn’t think you would come back here. How goes your missions?” “Sir Axel,” Dreaded said in return. “I came back to pay respects for Firelight. He may have been rash and… slightly annoying, but he was a vital part of our cause. And good, to answer your second question. I’ve managed to distract enough of her forces for the other branches to operate freely. I most likely have that night captain screaming in confusion.” “I know, you always come back to pay your respects to the fallen… just didn’t think you would come here specifically…” Axel rolled his shoulder to work out a sore joint. “Gah, I’m getting too old…” he said, clutching the limb in question. He turned around to leave. However, the griffon noticed those among them stare at him. They shuffled awkwardly in place as their leader held his shoulder. “Well, I guess since I’m here anyway, I may as well say my piece.” The crowd parted to allow him access to the podium set up in the hall. A simplistic coffin had been placed right in front of it, adorned with Sunblossoms. Axel coughed to clear out his throat and announce he was going to speak. Once they had calmed enough, he spoke. “It never gets any easier, does it?” he asked, looking into the eyes of those assembled. “Watching those we loved and knew so well... vanish in the blink of an eye. You would think it would hurt less each time. Members of our meager resistance, both new and old, this is not new to us. Never has, never will. And so, at each loss, we ask ourselves, why we continue to fight even as the world tears at us. As it tries to destroy our spirits.” There were silent looks shared amongst the crowd. “We fight to preserve a memory. An image. A legacy. We fight because we know what was lost. What everything could be once again. That future we strive to work slowly for hangs on the strings that lay upon your necks.” Axel’s claws clenched the board of the podium. “A future where we’re free from the oppression of the Lunar Tyrant. For an innumerable count of years, her dominion has never moved from its spot above our greatest mountains.” No words were spoken. The griffon shook his head. “I’m getting off track. Someone, please remind me when I do that, I believe I’m growing senile in my old age,” he joked, earning a couple of laughs. Once that died down, he started. “Today, we lost another member of our cause, something of which that you are all clearly aware of. It never gets easier having to bury those we fight alongside with. Sometimes we don’t even get a body back, such as today. And it always gets harder to recruit more to fill our dwindling ranks.” He drew out an exhale. “Firelight. I first met the pegasus back in Stormwind. He was a small-time thief, good at stealing things. I saw that he had promise and a… spark, something that I’m sure I’ve told many of you time and time again.” “I saw that we could repurpose that spark for a better cause. Use his skills for the greater good, rather than for simply scrounging by. Together, we taught him all that we could, trained him to the peak of his skills, and forged him into a pony all of us could respect. Sure, he was hotheaded and troublesome at first, and still kinda was even to his… ‘death’.” He chuckled morosely alongside a couple others. “However, he always made sure to complete his duty and do the right thing. I probably bet he fought kicking and screaming even as they caught him.” “...” “Even though he may not... have died in the traditional sense, his sacrifice by performing a 3-4-1 was a sacrifice of the highest order. We all know the consequences of the word getting out. We all probably would hesitate when the time comes to ensure that. He displayed courage and strength unrivaled in his final hour… so even though as he forgets us…” The graying griffon looked to the crowd, all holding a combination of stoic faces—and a pair of glowing eyes in Dreaded’s case—which waited. “We shall never forget him!” he bellowed, body propped up on the podium. The crowd roared and stomped their hooves or cawed out. Once the cheering had settled, he quickly announced, “I’ve always been a bird of a few words and that is all I have to say. If anyone else wishes to speak, I am done.” Axel nodded and made his way back down to a waiting Grizelda, who tapped her claw impatiently on the stone floor. “I thought you said you were busy?” “Meh. I can squeeze it in. Let your father do the moral speeches. They always make everyone feel good.” “Mhm,” she smirked, unconvinced. To which her expression turned objective as she handed him a pink crystal. “Listen, Broken wants to talk to you about something important.” She began walking away but snapped her claws together as she remembered something. “The note said to use frequency four this time.” “Thank you, Grizzy. I’ll be up in my office if you need me.” “Whatever. Just go make that old unicorn shut up already. I swear, somehow all of you get more annoying in your advanced ages.” He smiled at her good-natured joking. It seemed even in these dark times she could make good light of a situation. He waved and greeted those he happened to pass by, each of them tired and hungry, but awake enough to reply back. Closing the door behind him, Axel turned the light in his office on. Padding over to a surface, he notched the crystal into the ever-familiar socket and twisted the knob. It flickered to life on an adjacent wall. A circle spun on the projection as the magical artifact began connecting with its other half. A second later, another familiar sight graced his eyes. His beak fell open as he realized the gravity of what was happening. “Broken, you’re contacting me from in there!? It’s that serious!? What happened!?” “Shush, you old rooster. I’m fine in here,” the sophisticated accent snarked. “So if it’s not a serious kind of emergency, then what are you calling from in there for?” “Well, I believe it’s important. Tell me, Axel, what do you think of tonight?” “What?” He snorted. “Is this some crazy unicorn thing again? It’s... sad. I got the report we lost a runner today. One that I had personally trained as well.” There was an awkward silence. “I… I did not expect that kind of answer, I apologize for my… bluntness. Please send my regards to the rest of your branch.” He sighed. “I suppose you wouldn’t really know much about the significance of tonight. It’s much more a pony thing than it is a griffon one.” He fixed the glasses to his face and grabbed a book with his magic. “Really now? I’ve lived here my entire life. Throw it at me.” “Do you know the prophecy of the Brightest Night and the Guiding Star?” he asked, skimming through the contents of a book. Axel held a blank look on his face. “Er… ah… shit…” he stammered. “Well, now I feel woefully uneducated and stupid. I also think my ego took a good hit.” “Gah, do not blame yourself, I just wanted to see if you've ever come across such things. But, I suppose not. This kind of thing is heavily regulated by her Highnesses’s special forces. Our branch also tends to keep it to themselves.” He stopped at a page. “Here. Read it for yourself.” He levitated the book in clear view of the crystal. Axel murmured as he went through the lines. “Alright,” he said, finishing the last bit. “So what does this have to do with your call? I get that this pony is important to our cause…” “There has been a rumor circulating around the castle for some time now. I hadn’t really put much weight into it, although Queen Night had been acting strangely in the recent months… so I didn’t believe what they had to say. Rumors and all that. But tonight, it’s been confirmed. This really is a double subject,” he murmured. “Tonight, Equestria now has an heir to the Lunar throne.” “You’re kidding,” Axel said in disbelief. “I am not. That aside, I believe that foal Queen Night has given birth to is the one alluded to in the prophecy.” “There’s probably a bunch of other ponies being born tonight. What makes you say that? And this brightest night thing, hasn’t it happened before? What about the foals then?” he pressed, unconvinced. “It has been particularly vague with its approach, that I can agree on. However, there is something that does make me confident in all of this.” Broken conceded. “I know for certain that the foal is an alicorn filly. If that isn’t a large enough sign, then I do not know what is.” Axel was speechless. First, it had been mentioned Queen Night had given birth... but to an all-powerful being such as an alicorn? He took a moment to reorient himself. “This is huge. An alicorn heir… and they’re supposed to be the one who saves us all? If I’m not mistaken, Broken, they’re the foal of our sworn enemy.” “It’s simply speculation. I could be wrong after all,” the unicorn admitted. Axel was about to reply, but he held up a hoof to stop him. “But fate has a funny way of working things out, my friend. We shall see in due time.” The veteran gave pause, contemplating something. A moment later he looked back up. “I won’t hold my breath.” 1 - "Starfall"“Starfall” “It is said upon the brightest night, shall the guiding star be born. With her birth, the land will be enveloped by a change. for she shall become the light that will nurture the dying embers, and from those dying embers emerges the spark of hope, that will reignite the solar fires of a time long past, and bring us day once more.” When I thought of death, I never assumed it would be so boring. I never had that moment where my life flashed before my eyes and I got a complete recap of the ups and downs of my life. There wasn’t any crazy flashing of light/swirling space tunnel and portal to another dimension where I was slated to live out the rest of my existence. No higher power and golden beams of light welcoming me into a land of heaven. Nope. I got jack-shit. I guess Hollywood did a really good job of cranking your expectations beyond a reasonable level. So, props to them. So for the past eternity—I can’t really tell time in a place where no sun or moon rises… or anything to gauge off of really—I’ve been stuck in the infinite black, floating in the abyss. I have vaguely limited muscle movement… which totally freaked me out when I first found that out. I panicked for what I think was an hour or so and struggled to do anything to move a limb. Which then segued into me freaking out about breathing and concerns about eating. I fretted about a lot of things in the first… I’m just going to say “days” of my imprisonment here. It took a while for me to get over my mortality and accept my existence as non-material being living in a state of nothing. I still try and move every now and then, just to check with myself that I am indeed, still something. Strangely enough, sometimes I can feel warmth on my extremities or hear whispers in the wind. Distorted, spooky horror-movie style whispers, but whispers nonetheless. I could do without those though. Sometimes, I like to recall past events in my mind and go through them. I mean, my memory isn’t exactly top-notch, but I can still remember things that had a notable impact on my life. Most of it just tends to be memes that won’t actually be any help, though. They are quite good at stemming the boredom, that I’m going to admit. Just me, my thoughts, memories, and my memes. What a terrific combination. So I also think I’m starting to go insane, considering I’ve been talking to myself on a much more frequent bias. Creepy whispers are not helping either. Which would probably worry me, but I’m slowly slipping into crazy-ville, so I think I could care less… although I’m not certain. I wonder when the crazy people voices are going to start coming in? I mean, that’s what happens to people isolated from any form of stimulation, right? Yeah, I think that’s probably going to happen— Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhh…!? WHAT THE HELL IS THAT!? Okay, scratch stimulation, I do not want to be groped by something very restrictive and squishy! I take it back! I take it back! Oh sweet—! I CAN FEEL IT ON MY EVERYTHING. No, no fuck this! I want out, right now! Uuuggghhhh…! It’s warm!? Why is it warm!? warm Whatever undulating mass that was currently moving me around was clearly working overtime. It squished… urrgghh! Shivers down my spine! It’s getting brighter… so much brighter…! It hurts!? Why does it hurt!? Why does everything hurt!? Pain…! So, so much PAIN! Fuckfuckfuck! Sto-hah-hop! No more, please… slick Noises. Perceiving so many different things, all flooding my poor sensation deprived self. It’s been too long… too much all at once… one at a time... p-please! Feelings. Both physical and mental start flooding in. Smells. Tang of something slimy… blood… it… blood? Chemicals… hospital? Was I in a… a coma? The pulsating feelings… it’s overwhelming… coherent thought… I can’t…! Was… I really… ever dead…? NOISES. pain Too… too much…! Harder… ...think…? ...only pain… confuse bright cold ... soft warm ... noise voice sharp … no more “Your Highness, it’s over. It’s a healthy alicorn filly!” the nurse announced, wrapping the foal up in a blanket. However, there was no response from the Queen. Which was odd, considering that she was awake. She was not in shock or in pain. She was listening for something. The dark alicorn had dared not to speak, as something felt wrong. Was it the compromising position she was in that unsettled her...? No, she decided. It had to be the sound, or the lack thereof. Before, the cacophony of bringing life into the world dominated the ears, screams from contractions, the urging shouts from the doctors and the scurrying hooves of the many ponies. Now... it was deathly silent. There were only the soft breathings of the medical staff and foal along with the beeps from their crystal equipment. Her foal hadn't come in bawling like many of the births she had witnessed. This was an outlier. A discrepancy in her experiences. “Give her to me!” she demanded. “Why isn’t she crying? Is there something wrong with her? Tell me!” “W-Well, Queen Night, I think your daughter must’ve been asleep during the procedure… it’s nothing we should be concerned about, we’ve had several cases of the foal being asleep during labor and after birth,” the doctor gulped. “W-We can monitor her for any further developments if that is your wish.” “You better hope on your life it is nothing I am to be concerned about,” she seethed. Inwardly, she was relieved somewhat. The pony they had procured for the occasion was the most capable practitioner alive, in a way, she trusted his judgment. She waved a free hoof to the door. “Now leave. I wish to… have a private moment with my daughter.” “Your Highness, w-we must stay i-in the case of any complications—!” “Did you not understand what I said? Do you have fluff in your ears, doctor?” The dark alicorn asked, a dangerous edge in her voice. She gestured a little more forcefully this time around. “Go stand outside by the door. I’ll rip it off its hinges if I see the moment anything goes wrong... or do you question the skills and wisdom I’ve accumulated over my long life?” “N-No, Queen Night.” The doctor replied, quickly fleeing through the door. The rest of the staff finished what they could and followed with the same pace. Her slitted eye tracked them as they scurried away, the door shutting with a click. Now, she was relatively alone with her daughter… as alone as she could get with her entourage constantly tailing her. She knew they were unnecessary, no foe could ever hope to match her. Lord Tirek had been a hassle… and the mad god was always a worrisome topic… but there were no others who could hold a candle to them. The Royal Bodyguards were more deterrents than anything. She sighed and worked out a kink in her leg. Content, she snuggled further into her cloud-bed. For a moment, she basked in the peaceful moment of holding her beautiful new daughter in her leg-cradle. She brushed the fold of the blanket that fell on the baby’s forehead. The foal’s fur was still slick with amniotic fluid. Gently as she could, she grasped the edge of the blanket and slowly wiped it away. The foal wriggled and made a cute gurgle as contact was made. It made her heart flutter. In her cradle, she held an innocent being. She held a new life. But there was something that made this so special compared to everything else. She had been the one to give birth to it. She had been the one to toil for over a year, hiding the frequent mood swings and bouts of anger. The cravings for the strangest combinations of foods. The cramping and the sleepless nights. She was the one responsible for this foal’s first breaths on this world. She had a daughter. “I have a daughter…” she whispered, almost as if it couldn't be true. Her foal’s mane was a familiar baby-blue… and her coat was an exquisite charcoal-gray. Her eyes were closed, but she knew it would be deep blue. It slept so peacefully. Without a worry in the world. It warmed her insides. “For as long as I am, I will protect you, my little princess. I shall never let harm fall upon you…” she said, almost dropping to a whisper. “And I will I always ensure that you know you are loved. I will shower it on you to the best of my ability. Never will you be alone.” That last declaration made her think back to darker times. She was interrupted from her thoughts as the filly made a low babbling noise and instinctively nuzzled her mother’s fur. “I know what I should call you...” She smiled, adjusting her grip. “From this day forward, you shall be known as Lodestar, for you are my guiding light.” She pressed her long, spiraling horn to the foal’s contrasting nub. She slowly weaved a specialized dream spell. "I shall grant you the finest of sleeps, my young one. Rest easy.” 2 - "The Night and Her Star"“The Night and Her Star” I flailed awake, taking in greedy gasps of, sweet, sweet air. My eyes were wide and I was frantically looking around. I looked to the left. The blinds covering the window weren’t drawn and I could easily see a sprawling city lying under the blanket of the night sky. The light must be playing tricks on me. I blinked. I just woke up. I patted my chest to confirm it. I could feel the sensation of being thumped right above the breastbone. Underneath that? I could feel my heartbeat. This was unreal. I’m alive… So was it a coma this entire time? It had to be. There was no other reasonable explanation. Is that what a coma’s like? Stuck within the recesses of your own mind, chained in a wake of shadows? I glanced out at the twinkling stars. Slowly but surely, I could feel the fear weave its way into my head. It was absurd to even think about, to even consider, but I couldn't help but do it. Dark whispers flitted in and out. Don’t tell me it was something drastic. Don’t tell me I was asleep for years on end. Don’t tell me I missed years of my life wasting away on a bed. M-Maybe when someone comes around, I can ask who’s the president…! Y-Yeah… everything will be a-okay! I shivered. I’m not all the great at motivating myself, am I? I sighed. At the very least, I could observe my surroundings to pass the time. I sat up as best as I could to get a better view. It smelt like a generic hospital room… but it looked way too nice to be a hospital room… I couldn't really see the floor, but the walls surrounding me are layered in a fine… ebony wood polished to a sheen. It’s been tastefully decorated, too. The ceiling has a nice criss-cross pattern going on as well. This is way too nice to be a hospital room. Am I in someone’s house!? I could feel my fear spike again. That, however, started to die down once I spot a heart rate monitor laying inert to the side. The more I start looking, the easier it gets to discern the things I missed. If it wasn’t for all the medical equipment tucked away in corners, I would’ve totally freaked out that I was indeed sleeping in someone’s house. You know… now that I also think about it… my home looks crummy in comparison to this single room. That totally bummed me out. One, out of jealousy that a damn hospital room looked this nice, and two, I'm hoping it’s not going to cost me a fortune simply being in here. I fell back into the comfy confines. Worry about crippling medical debt later. My thoughts rolled back into the situation regarding my self-assessed predicament. Were the whispers worried family members and hospital staff checking in on me? Should I just relish the fact that I’m not dead? I don’t want to sound ungrateful… no, I’m already moving into the whining territory. I should be content with being able to breathe again. To be able to see again. To hear and smell! “Perhaps I’m being too pessimistic after all,” I whispered aloud. Well, that’s what I thought in my head and planned to say to the world. Instead, my mouth babbled nonsense. “What?” Gibberish, again. “Nononononono, what’s happening? Why do I sound like a baby!?” I gurgled. In the corner of my vision, I saw something. I lifted it up in front of me. My mouth fell open as I stared in utter disbelief. It simply couldn't be true. There was no way this was physically possible. I shook it. I felt the movement. I did it again to confirm it was indeed, real. It… had to be. At first, I thought that coming back into consciousness or the mess in my body had numbed the feeling of my extremities… but this? I could've never expected. My hand had become a hoof. A goddamned hoof. Authentic with smooth as silk dark gray hairs, terminating in keratin. Although, it looked rounder than a normal horse leg. The space dividing the hoof and leg was less pronounced, almost to the point of merging with it. It looked awfully familiar. I traced it back to its origin point. There was no peachy skin that I had grown up with. Just more of the same horse hair. There was a conclusion sitting in the back of my mind. But it was so absurd and impossible that I reasonably couldn’t accept it. I wanted to… so badly say yes, however. But I didn’t want to lie to myself that this was all nothing but a dream within a dream. Or, to better put it, a dream from a nightmare. But a dream couldn't be so vivid. It couldn't be so… lifelike. My quiet breaths, the rise and fall of my chest, the encompassing warmth of a blanket, the individual strands of hair sticking out… a dream couldn't do all of that. It had to be true. I was reborn as a fuckin’ pony, wasn't I? That… I don't know… this… this has to be a dream come true but… I stared at the baby hooves in front of me. It was unbelievable. And sometimes I would consider this too. What would it be like to be a pony? How awesome would it be to be living in Equestria!? I choked. Living. The word echoed in my mind and jumped around my skull. I had another life before I was brought into this one. All those people I left behind. My friends. My “first” family. I won't forget them now, would I? Were my memories going to start replacing themselves as I grew older? Memories made you who you are. I didn't want to be erased. I could feel the tears slowly welling up in my eyes. My vision became blurry as water began obscuring everything. I took a shuddering breath. I'm just being… irrational. It won't be that bad. I dabbed my watery eyes on the blanket. I flopped to stare back at the intricate ceiling. Was it really worth leaving everything behind? No… but… here I was being ungrateful again. People would kill for a situation such as mine, and here I am crying about… about everyone I “left” back on Earth. I still couldn’t get over the shock of it all. I felt the first tear streak down my face. I should be happy! I should be glad I got a chance that was only thought about and described in the works of fiction! Yet I couldn’t. Did that make me weak? I didn’t know. I was so lost in my own thought, I hadn’t even felt the shifting of weight as I was picked up and turned around. I only realized when the world had become obscured by a black blob and radiant, swirling deep-blue abyss. “Already awake, and the first thing you do is silently cry. Oh, do not fret my child. I am here. Sh-sh-sh.” I’m completely shot out of my reverie as the booming voice spoke. I blinked away the tears to focus. As the image increases with coherency each shut of the eye, my shock slowly begins to rise. Finally, I’m rendered speechless as I lock eyes with another thing straight out of fiction. Her fur, black as any starless night, gleams in the light generated by the lamps. Her mane full of stars billows in an invisible breeze. A long, spiraling spear juts out from her forehead, snaking out from the confines of her hair. Slitted irises watch my every movement. I’m staring at the Mistress of Nightmares herself. I slowly begin to shake in fear. What did she want with me? Was I going to be killed? Did she know that I wasn’t a simple baby? “Oh, no, no! Do not cry! Stop crying! Mother is here. There will be nopony here who could harm you. You are safe.” She said something again. I saw her mouth move and words come out. Either I couldn’t understand her because she spoke a completely different language… or my baby ears weren’t developed enough for them to understand anything. What did she want from a baby? Suddenly, my world became a sea of warm, black fur. Engulfed in endless rows of fluff. Here… it felt so warm… and so nice. I could stay here for as long as I drew breath; that this place was somewhere where even the apocalypse posed no threat. Without any input, I snuggled further into it, cooing. What fuck are you doing? I stopped. This wasn’t right. Why would I even be doing something like this? She is dangerous! My mind was sent spiraling further into confusion. I should never have even thought about feeling safe near her! It's probably stupid baby horse pheromones recognizing its mother or something… wait. Waitwaitwaitwaitwait, hold the phone. No… My new mother can't be Nightmare Moon… can she!? I think a week has gone by, and with that time—during the times that I was awake—I've gotten a better grip on my sanity and sort of come to terms with everything. I can also conclude with a fairly concrete verdict. It's official. She has to be my pony mother. Never mind the fact that I feel safest whenever I'm closer to her, she doesn't leave me alone for very long. If I wasn't worried about trying to adjust being the child of an Equestrian supervillain, I would think she’s quite overprotective. It also got easier to discern when she carefully spun me around in faced me in the direction of two mounds sitting in between her legs. I would vehemently have refused to even commit to such an action, as degrading as it was to be forced to find sustenance via breastfeeding, my baby-half totally wouldn't have any of my shit. It was hungry, it recognized and smelled food, and it acted appropriately. It was depressing to have to yield to my own basic needs like that… My eating habits aside, my feelings toward my current situation were a tornado of emotions. I was a pony, which was amazing. However, I was a baby pony, a foal; not really sure how to feel about this. I lacked most of my control for most of my faculties—interestingly, was also the way I found out that my gender botched itself when translating into a pone. I also didn't know how to feel about losing my masculinity. Was that also a worthwhile trade-off? Moving on, I now happened to rely completely on another being to be fed, was physically weak and thus required attention almost twenty-four seven. I could barely even move beside the occasional wriggle (damn you developing muscles!). My emotions were also completely out of my control, sharp and vivid memories were enough to send me bawling in tears. Momma Moon was more than willing to accommodate for everything. Which happens to transition into my next point. Nightmare Moon is awfully nice for a villain. She’s always snuggling me or doing some other baby stuff. She happens to talk a lot in horse-speak (Equestrian?), often choosing to speak in softer tones. I think she's trying to reassure me and keep me contented, as you would for any newborn. Horse-speak also happens to be a fairly melodic sounding language, which was a surprise. Does that explain why ponies can break out into song so easily? Back to the point. Nightmare is sending me some mixed signals. Is this an alternate universe where the friendship brigade managed to bring back her back and successfully reform her? Because if that is, that's probably pretty cool. Or is it another universe where Celestia is the villain!? That sounds pretty epic. So that would mean this is what Luna would end up looking like when she’s had a thousand years to gather strength! Talk about a drastic makeover. I snorted and giggled. “Oh, what do you find so funny, my foal?” she said again in the alien language while smiling. She looks so… happy. I gurgled and bopped her on the nose as she came closer to nuzzle. “Ah! Feisty. We share much in common!” She connected her mouth to my stomach. Oh no, don’t tell— The Mistress of Nightmares, the Lightbane, the Dark Alicorn: Nightmare Moon, started motorboating my belly. I began laughing like crazy, squirming and twitching to get away. Every time I curled over and caught a glimpse of her eyes, they held a layer of pride and joy. After a minute of “torture”, she relented and held me up in her hooves, Lion King style. “You are my blessing, little Lodestar.” You know, this ain’t that half bad. I could get behind supporting nice Nightmare. I wonder if she’s a misunderstood villain here? Oh, the possibilities. 3 - "A Castle in the Sky"“A Castle in the Sky” The weak light crystal illuminated the whole of the desk and nothing else. The curtains had been drawn, faint wisps of the outside finding their way in through small gaps. The room itself had been gouged of any possible light aside from the crystal, leaving everything as if it was a stormy night. All of this was done intentionally, of course. Night felt far more at peace in the embrace of shadows than anything else. Her eyes flicked to the foal lying bundled in her forelegs, playing with a strand of her mane that strayed into the filly’s grasp. Her daughter surpassed so many expectations, something that was to be and at the same time, not to be anticipated. There was a layer of pride and shame running through her as she considered things. The foal was barely two weeks old and a mountain of expectation had been tossed onto her head. But that made sense, didn't it? Her daughter shared her blood—her alicorn heritage, blessed with the peak of equine perfection. It only made sense that holding a pedigree of this magnitude would leave a pony with a burden. And, it would be wise not to forget that she already held massive amounts of magic power and potential, some of which would only grow as she discovered her aspect as an alicorn. So it came to no surprise when Lodestar had woken up shortly after her birth, already gazing into her world with foal-like wonder. Or at the very least, she was not surprised. That had been thirteen nights ago. Now, her daughter looked absolutely ready to burst out of her fuzzy confines and explore. It was strange to see her growing up so quickly. Was she like this back when she was no taller than her own daughter? A flash of a familiar face worked its way into her mind. She hissed. Lodestar backed off, clearly frightened by her sudden change in attitude. She quickly remedied that and softened her features. “Oh, no, no, no! You're fine, my star. It was just... something else,” she cooed. Her foal cooed back once she realized nothing was wrong and snuggled closer. Nothing felt more fulfilling than holding her foal close to her being. Night relished in the warmth she held and brought. She floated in this rapture for a scant few minutes until the world called her back. Her eyes refocused to the low light of the room. She rolled the shoulder carrying Lodestar and took a deep breath, staring blankly at the small stack of papers laid on top of the desk. It seemed no matter where she went, her work still managed to follow her in some form or another. Running an empire had its positives and negatives, mountains of paperwork being one of them. She mumbled as the desk inadequately held it all. Maybe she should've requested to have one of her tables transported here. Or perhaps transfer to the castle already. She had elected to remain within the hospital so the doctors could check for any outstanding problems or defects. While the medical staff at the castle were masters of their craft, they were not trained specifically with foals in mind. It also happened to give her the opportunity of spending much more time with her daughter. Which she greatly appreciated. The alicorn truly wanted to imprint that no matter what happened, she could turn to her and know she had someone who loved her. Unlike… I… She sighed and grabbed another lock of her hair and jiggled it in front of her. The foal giggled and tried to catch that as well. Aside from Lodestar’s speedy development of her muscles and size for a foal her age, everything turned out fine. Mostly fine. It was her eyes. Those ever so familiar eyes. Now that she was thinking about it again… She couldn’t help but stare at the irises that haunted her so. The same shade of magenta… Night snarled. Her face contorted into one of fury and repressed emotion. Even in her state of death, her sister had the gall to rob something so precious from her. She had stained her beautiful daughter with her mark, forever leaving a permanent reminder. Oh, how she hated it so. But she couldn’t even consider harming her child just because her sister’s taint was scrawled across her. That… that would be giving in. It would be the same as letting her sister win. Allowing her to have the last laugh. That… Night could not let that ever happen. She would persevere. No matter how much those eyes— The alicorn caught a silhouette move from beyond the door, the shadow bobbing behind the glass. Without much to announce their presence, the figure quietly slipped into the room—their magically silenced armor did little to add any noise. Slitted eyes and glowing yellow irises met with her’s as the pony gave a silent salute. “Captain Nightshade,” she stated calmly. The guard took off their helmet and tucked it into the crook of their foreleg. “Your Highness,” they replied, taking a brief curtsy. “I come with… unsatisfactory news.” Years of leading her country had taught her that her forces were not infallible, nor were they always capable of performing at peak efficiency at all times. Her left eye twitched, betraying the irritation hiding underneath her regal gaze. However, that didn’t mean she could feel moderately upset at most setbacks, especially if one of her captains had to come to her specifically. That insinuated that an order she directly made had encountered a problem. A small sneer appeared on Night’s face. “I see. What is it exactly that went wrong?” She could tell from underneath her captain’s mask of stoicism, the mare was nervous. She clearly did not want to be the one relaying the message. “A messenger reported that one of the event planners organizing part of the parade for your daughter had unfortunately met with an accident. He will be unavailable for an undetermined period of time. His assistant has taken up the duty, however, their efficiency is not up to par. Or, supposedly, it looks to be that way.” Night wordlessly stared at her subordinate. The captain subtly shifted the weight of their body around, clearly uncomfortable. “I… see.” The light gulp they made almost went unheard. “What would you like to do, your Majesty?” “What would I like to do?” she asked cryptically. All was quiet as Night drifted into her thoughts, weighing options. Eventually, she turned her full attention to Nightshade. “I suppose my daughter’s official introduction can wait. It would not hurt her to acclimate to a larger group of ponies, either.” She paused. “Very well. Ready my carriage, we leave for the palace in two hours.” Something big is happening, although I’m not sure what. There’s been a surge of ponies moving, much more than I’m used to regularly observing. Some of them happen to be reoccurring faces, such as this well-dressed pony, a distinctive-looking thestral knight (of course Nightmare Mom’s going to have those guys!), some nurses, and a pony in a lab coat—which is probably just a doctor. It’s sorta kinda exciting to try and guess what might happen based on that mixed-bag of characters. Because if it equates to a change in scenery, I’m all for it. I mean, it’s still amazing to think about being a pony, but to be honest, being wrapped up in a blanket and coddled day-to-night can get… fairly boring. Quick thing to note; haven’t seen any actual sun, sunsets, or sunrises. For all the times I’ve woken up, it’s been to the nighttime sky. Although I don’t really complain. It’s actually quite beautiful. Tapping a hoof on my chin, I wondered about my biology. Maybe it’s because I just end up sleeping through the day? Kinda like a nocturnal animal. That would make some sense. I sighed and pawed at a flowing piece of my mother’s mane. Sometimes I could catch her working while I’m awake, filling out stacks of papers while reading. She’s got some crazy multi-tasking abilities. However, when she does realize I’m awake, she finishes whatever she’s doing and plays with me. On the topic of my parent, Momma Night does try her hardest to entertain whenever I do happen to be awake, offering me games one would perform for a budding child. To which, I must admit, totally had me interested and hooked for the first few times. Damn you baby brain! How can peek-a-boo be so awesome!? But, with enough repetition, that becomes old as well. So now here I was, flicking my hoof back and forth on the bundle of stars wafting in front of me, bored out of my mind, waiting until the Sandman would gracefully take me. Wait, human folklore, not pony. I pursed my lips. I twisted my head to face Nightmare Mom, who was intently writing something on a chart. Does that make you the Sandpony? She caught me staring and paused. She turned her head around to face mine and smiled as non-threateningly as she could. I giggled for some reason and attempted to bop her on the nose. Her response instead brought me closer and we locked horns for a moment, before ending with a kiss on my forehead. That was… not what I was going for, but, alright. She returned me back to my original position. That, however, upset the balance that was my new hair, flopping it directly into my line of sight. I pouted and batted it away to make sure it wouldn’t bother me. Content, I began retreating into the fluffy cocoon. I really wanted to know when the excitement would come along. My ears flicked to the sound of a knob being twisted, with my head following suit not long after. Speak of the devil. Standing in the doorway at a respectful distance was the thestral knight from before, flanked by two generic looking guards. Mom glanced at them once before returning on her work, keen on finishing whatever she had in front of her. Either that or she doesn't really care enough to make eye contact. The ponies at the door patiently waited, standing ramrod stiff. I cocked my head to the side to try and get a better view, much to my avail, does not work in the slightest. I settled with being able to sort of see them through a starry-blue filter. My ears flicked—which was a weird sensation—as I picked up sounds. It sounds like… singing. Oh. They’re talking between each other now—speaking in the lyrical horse language. I’m still far too inexperienced in both senses to try and even begin deciphering what they have to say. Even then, I’m still all too unsure how baby horses in this reality learn how to speak. I just hope the previous knowledge stuffed in my head doesn’t interfere with anything. That would be disastrous. I mean, transitioning from fluently speaking a completely different language and bipedalism could either be the easiest thing in my life or the hardest. I can only hope it’s the former. I’m also banking that being a newborn would help me absorb things easier. If not, then I’m going to have to put all I can into adaptation. Don’t want to be the one sticking out like a sore thumb. I could feel everything around me shifting—Mom was getting up. I retreated further into the blanket-wrap, a part of me terrified that I was moving so much. The doors were pushed open and held in the crook of my mother’s foreleg, we stepped out into the public space. But why was I so scared? Why was I frightened by a change of scenery? Hadn’t this been what I wished for? Something new… I whispered in my mind as I looked down the hospital corridor. This was my chance to see the pony world with my own eyes. Experience it in the flesh! And the terror washed away, instead replaced by droves of newborn curiosity. Marveling at the simple things and wowed by the slightly-less simple, I eagerly took what was offered. As I babbled away, we marched down the hall. Ponies quickly moved out of the way as we passed, bowing their heads in what was probably respect or staring in shock at something. Was it me? I wondered if it was. I tilted my head and looked up to mom, who stared straight ahead, stern look wrapping her face. She looked so different. It was strange, really, to see the change in personality. I squeaked at her, accidentally conveying my confusion. And for a second, under the empress visage of her’s, Mom cracked the tiniest of smiles. The roof above us vanished, replaced by the endless canvas of stars. There was chatter and gusts of wind gently buffeting my fur. I could hear the commotion of the city. There were so many new smells and sensations. For the first time in my new life, I tasted the outside. It was all so fleeting, however, as I found myself in a fancy interior alongside Mom. “I’m sure you can see it all, my little star. Do take it in! When you’re older, we shall rule this kingdom together, as mother and daughter!”she said, most likely directed at me. In response, I only stared blankly at her. “Oh, look at me, talking to my newborn as if I expect them to completely understand me,”she giggled? “I wonder how early you may begin talking? You’ve been babbling already, much faster than the doctors could’ve expected!” She raised me up to eye level and squished her cheeks. “Who’s my little expectation-breaker? You are! You are!” She barked what I assumed was in happy laughter and nuzzled me. I cooed in excitement from her words, waving my stubby hooves up at her. After that, we continued the ride in relative silence. The staccato fall of hooves, clacking of the carriage wheels, and the lack of anything keeping my attention meant… meant that… my mouth opened up in a yawn and my eyelids drooped. It was really good… at making me want to… sleep. Maybe… maybe I could sleep right now… Yeah… That sounds really good... I suddenly jerked awake when my body started shifting around. Unlike a regular child who would’ve ended up bawling, I was only confused and the slightest bit annoyed that I had been unfairly ripped away from rest. I looked at the source of my confusion, who was smiling and the tiniest bit oblivious to what she had done. “Oh, Lodestar, here,” she said, twisting me around and lowering the blinds of our transport. She moved to the edge and together, we stuck our heads out. “This is one of my favorite views.” I bet this must be something important. There was nothing but the same dark-gray stone buildings that went by, accompanied by the occasional greenery as I looked outside. Sure, it was cool to look at the architecture, but that truly wasn’t my kind of thing. Did she want to show me the pedestrians? They looked just like the Canterlot nobles I remembered from the show. Horses wearing clothing was pretty funny and cool. I eeped as the carriage tilted up. I looked to the sides and saw a fancy bridge support frame lining the ends of the road. Was I supposed to be impressed by… The… No way. No fucking way! My eyes grew wide as I to process what exactly I was seeing—because I could barely believe it was true, everything I knew simply couldn’t accept it! As all the background fell away, there was a sea of a white, pockmarked by craters running to the horizon. It had an almost angelic glow to its surface. That itself was beautiful to gaze longingly into. But that wasn’t what stole my breath. Beyond that horizon, lay a simple, azure circle, dominating the expanse in all its grandeur. However, describing it as an orb would be doing it true justice, if that was what I thought it was. Clouds were swirled on the surface. Beneath those twisting vapors, layered in uneven veins and shades of white, sprawled what looked to be continents. Holding it all together were oceans of blue, massive in size as they claimed their stake on the orb. Altogether, it glowed against the black of space while stars danced around it. This was a planet. No! Wait, that would be the wrong word. Rather, it was the pony planet, laid bare before me, open for me to gaze longingly. I propped myself on the window frame as I inched out as far as I could. I stared into it for as fleeting the moments were, savoring each millisecond I was mercifully allowed. Regretfully I watched it vanish behind a cluster of buildings as the bridge came back to the earth. As mother tucked a hoof under me and dragged me back in, I still had yet to run it all out of my system. I had done something that so many of those who looked to the stars could only hope and vicariously watch through a medium. A dream of mine, or perhaps, the dream of many, had been fulfilled. She was talking and saying something to me. But even as I understood nothing, I still had the option to listen. This time I didn’t. I still had to think about what this all meant. A thought bubbled to the forefront of my mind. If it was possible for my eyes to go any further than they already had, it certainly felt like they did. If this wasn’t all fake. If this wasn’t simply an illusion. There was only one place you could see something like this. I was looking at a planet from the perspective of the moon. We’re on the moon.
0 - "Of Two Sisters"“Of Two Sisters” The moonlight wavered as heavy, snow-laden clouds cut across the sky. A gust of wind sliced along the tree line, a shadow casting itself on the white sheets below. Their cowl and scarf whipped against the push of the air. Tall pines formed a veritable row of jagged teeth, threatening to swallow those who dare approach. The thump of paws hitting freshly laid snow broke the silence. They snaked their way to a lump. An ancient tree towered above it, branches shrouding the entire spot in darkness. Brushing their talons along the rock to remove the blanket of snow, they unfurled a pendant wrapped around their wrist. They paused for a second, hesitating. It shimmered ever so beautifully in the light. Golden wisps bursting from an orange orb. It was ancient. Older than the creature that currently held it by centuries. It was something lost to time, obscured by the wrath of a tyrant who plunged her world into shadow. If it was shown to any random who roamed the streets, they would pass it off as a silly looking ball. But to those who knew the story... to those who fought tooth and claw to preserve the history... the medallion was more than that. It represented hope. A light in the sea of darkness. The celestial body of the sun. It was carefully laid on the rock, fitting into contours invisible to any eye. With little fanfare, the area was bathed in a flash of light. As it dissipated, all that remained was the rock, pine, and snow. It looked as if the area had never been disturbed, no indentations on the fresh layer of snow and the white still calmly piled on the pines. Out of it all, the trinket and creature nowhere to be found. Somewhere far, somewhere a room whose location was guarded by secrets that were to be taken to the grave, the same creature appeared in a burst of sparks, trinket carefully wrapped back and concealed in its cloth. They rolled their shoulders and practically bounded out of the space, rushing through the halls. They paused in front of a door and peered through the small glass. Papers were neatly stacked... the light was on but nothing moved on the inside. A glance to a doorway tucked behind a bookshelf obviously noted it was open, but that meant nothing. It was dark and the light was off. They quickly opened the door and flicked the light switch off. It was empty. No one was there. So that meant... They soon found themselves standing outside of a small bedroom, staring at an elderly griffon and a little chick who was getting pretty big for her nest. The little bird ruffled their feathers and chirped. “Grandpappy, where do you go each night when I sleep?” “Oh, little chick. That is something I cannot tell you yet. Perhaps you could ask your father when you’re older.” The grizzled rooster patted her on the head. “Now rest, young one. You are still growing and need all the sleep you can get.” “But Grandpappy! I’m not sleepy yet. I’m still very awake, see?” She flapped her wings, barely achieving any lift to hover above the floor. “I don’t want to sleep.” “Hahaha! I see you inherited your mother’s energy, huh?” “Mhm!” “Here, you know what? Let me tell you a story. I think you’re old enough for this one,” he offered. She gasped and started bouncing up and down. “A story! A story! I love stories! Which one are you going to tell me!? Is it Seraphine the Warrior Princess…? Or… or what about August and the Golden Locks!? Or is it Jade’s Wish!?” “No, no. None of those, little chick. I will tell you something new,” he chuckled. He picked her up by the scruff and padded over to her nest. Gently laying her down atop it. He nestled in beside her. “It is the story of the Two Sisters.” “Oooh! That sounds exciting.” She tapped a claw against her beak. “What’s it about?” He gently smiled and nuzzled her neck feathers. “It is quite the tale. Now settle in and I’ll begin.” A long time ago, in a land full of light and harmony, lived a land ruled benevolently by two goddesses, related by blood; sisters. They were the sister of the sun and the sister of the moon. Each had responsibilities for their respective celestial bodies. They each had their own separate duties to accomplish. The sister of the sun would interact with their subjects more frequently, as her job demanded it. She was the diplomat. She was kinder, softer and exerted an aura that creatures flocked to. The sister of the moon was tasked with leading the great armies that shielded their fair land. She was colder, prone to anger, and scary. But she loved her ponies no less than her sister. Together, they protected their kingdom from those who threatened their subjects. Whether it be the encroaching armies or a manner of evil creatures. Together, they ensured peace remained dominant in their land. Those who lived there experienced prosperity and success unrivaled. Every species was accepted under their rule, so long they followed the rules set by the sisters. They were fair in their judgments and never turned away a creature in need. It was a time of harmony, indeed. But one day, the mad god arrived. He threw everything into disarray. He conquered the fair kingdom faster than any army they had ever faced. Harmony and order became chaos. The creatures who lived there cried out for their protectors. And that cry they most certainly heard. The sisters prepared their weapons. They were strong together. With harmony on their side, they approached the mad god to depose him. It was a battle of the ages, one of both body and mind. They were forced to solve strange riddles, face towering monstrosities, and fix problems before they were allowed to face the mad god. Completing his trials, they arrived at his throne. However, during the fight with the mad god, he asked the sister of the moon a set of questions. A set of questions that lingered in her heart and her mind. “Who do your subjects love more? Your sister or you? Do they care at all for what you do?” She knew it was a trick in the heat of the moment. That it was to weaken her resolve. She replied adamant, “That is irrelevant, you only want to worm discontent between me and my sister!” She brushed it off and continued fighting. Together, they summoned the powers of harmony and sealed him away for good. The chaos left and harmony filled the land once more. The subjects of the kingdom rejoiced. Perhaps everything was fine. So they returned to their great city to announce the news. However, when they arrived, the subjects praised only the sister of the sun, believing her to have saved them by herself. The sister of the moon reassured herself she had been in it for the sake of seeing those under her happy. That she did not care for recognition or fame. But the words of the mad god lingered. So she looked. Everywhere she went, she only instilled fear when she simply wanted to mingle. When she went into the history books and scrolls to read of their achievements, she was always kicked out of the spotlight. It was always about her sister. They commended her for her sun and the warmth it brought. Whenever the sister of the moon looked for herself, she was painted as the monster, a ruler to be feared. After all, her moon only brought the cold and darkness. Slowly, but surely, anger and resentment festered. The words of the mad god played over and over in her head. She could not help but feel jealous of her sister, who had everything she thought she never wanted. That she could live without. The love and adoration of her subjects. One day, she had left the castle they lived in to greet her subjects. Perhaps her lack of interaction simply alienated her. She had touched down amongst the orphanages to greet the foals and the chicks, as she always loved the young ones. She expected warm acceptance. The only thing she received was screams of fear and crying children. Distraught, she left. Her presence brought nothing but hate. She sought out her sister to seek her guidance, surely, her only family would be able to help where others could not. But when she went to her sister, she had seen the love and care her other half received. She approached her sister, only to get waved away. Even her own family could not care that much about her! That day, she snapped. Angered, she sought out her darker magicks. If she could not be loved, then she would be feared. The sister of the moon also decided that if she removed her sister, then there would only be one pony her subjects could turn their adoration to! She rallied the forces loyal to her moon and stormed the palace. As the battle commenced among those who were once brothers on the field, the sister of the moon confronted her sister. The sister of the sun, confused as to why her own kin was attacking her, asked her a question, “Dear sister, why do you fight against me with our own subjects? For what have I done wrong?” Bitterness in her voice, the sister of the moon replied, “You have everything I want! You have stolen away all the love that should be shared! To them, I am nothing more than a dirty rag to be tossed aside! No longer, I have considered the words, and I shall take what is rightfully mine!” So they fought, sister against sister. One with the intent to kill, and the other to subdue. The sister of the sun did not want to hurt her sibling, they were family after all. Despite her best efforts, the sister of the sun was losing. In an act of desperation, she attempted to use the weapon used to stop the mad god. As they powered up and the sister of the moon was held under her hoof, she was prepared to make the sacrifice. However, the sister of the moon used their familial connection. “Sister… do not do this…” For just a single moment, the sister of the sun hesitated. In that single moment, the sister of the moon struck. She had slain the sun. The sister of the moon then made the ultimate choice. If her subjects were to truly love her, they should only respect one celestial body. She threw the sun away and declared eternal night. There was only room for her. “That story, huh?” a voice asked from the doorway. They pulled their scarf off and let the cowl down. “Don’t you think it’s a little dark for a bedtime story?” she huffed. “Not in the slightest. Little chick fell asleep before I even got there.” They snorted. “So then why’d you continue all the way to the end?” He stroked the ruffled plume of the sleeping griffon. “Just to make sure she’s actually asleep. Don’t want her getting upset because I happened to stop.” He carefully lifted his wing away as to not wake her. “So, Grizzy, what brings you here?” “Came by to let you know you left the light on, ya’ old codger!” she chuckled. “Besides, is it so wrong for me to want to check up on my daughter?” “I know you’re here for another reason.” He silently made his way to the doorway. “You never want to confront me otherwise.” She blinked and glanced in another direction. “Firelight was captured,” she murmured solemnly. “Lunar guards got him during one of his runs. Someone must’ve tipped them off, the plan was foolproof!” He gestured with a single talon, laying it on the tip of his beak. “Shhh. There are chicks sleeping, Grizelda. Let’s go to the outside, where she can’t hear us from there.” The old griffon lifted the lantern by the bedside and wished a good night. “Do they know?” he asked with a hush. “That he was with us? No.” Grizelda sighed. “Firelight followed all of our safety measures and protocols. He even did the 3-4-1 to ensure that they couldn’t trace anything back to HR.” “The 3-4-1…” he parroted, with a hint of sadness in his gruff voice. Stopping in the middle of the hall, he placed the lantern down and held a clenched fist to his chest. He murmured a quiet farewell salute in the old language. Grizelda stopped to do the same. After a moment of silence, they continued. “We’re doing a small procession in the main hall if you’re interested. And I know you. I’ll be sure to give him the symbolic burial,” she said. “Since you’re quite busy and all.” “No, let me. I trained him from a ruffian on the streets to the best runner we had in the history of the HR,” he said. “It’s the least I could do for him… now I have to rearrange my schedule.” As they began the slow journey to the biggest room in the base, the conversation died off. All they could hear now was the quiet flickering of the lantern. “Father, I just don’t understand what part of the operation went wrong. It was smooth sailing for the first half…” “No plan ever survives contact with the enemy, my chick. You must respect that.” “We have several contingencies in place for that! We didn’t have to lose a good pony today.” “Sometimes things never go according to what we planned. Life is not an arithmetic question with a single, solid outcome.” Idle conversation rapidly filled the background as they neared the destination. As of now, they had exited the residential section of the base. They stopped as they came upon the small gathering in the main hall. Some had already taken their seats, while some spoke in the front, recounting tales and speaking soliloquies. Most notable of them all was a pony wearing a black cloak. The griffons excused their way past the assembled group. “Dreaded Whisper. It’s always pleasant seeing… part of your face. I didn’t think you would come back here. How goes your missions?” “Sir Axel,” Dreaded said in return. “I came back to pay respects for Firelight. He may have been rash and… slightly annoying, but he was a vital part of our cause. And good, to answer your second question. I’ve managed to distract enough of her forces for the other branches to operate freely. I most likely have that night captain screaming in confusion.” “I know, you always come back to pay your respects to the fallen… just didn’t think you would come here specifically…” Axel rolled his shoulder to work out a sore joint. “Gah, I’m getting too old…” he said, clutching the limb in question. He turned around to leave. However, the griffon noticed those among them stare at him. They shuffled awkwardly in place as their leader held his shoulder. “Well, I guess since I’m here anyway, I may as well say my piece.” The crowd parted to allow him access to the podium set up in the hall. A simplistic coffin had been placed right in front of it, adorned with Sunblossoms. Axel coughed to clear out his throat and announce he was going to speak. Once they had calmed enough, he spoke. “It never gets any easier, does it?” he asked, looking into the eyes of those assembled. “Watching those we loved and knew so well... vanish in the blink of an eye. You would think it would hurt less each time. Members of our meager resistance, both new and old, this is not new to us. Never has, never will. And so, at each loss, we ask ourselves, why we continue to fight even as the world tears at us. As it tries to destroy our spirits.” There were silent looks shared amongst the crowd. “We fight to preserve a memory. An image. A legacy. We fight because we know what was lost. What everything could be once again. That future we strive to work slowly for hangs on the strings that lay upon your necks.” Axel’s claws clenched the board of the podium. “A future where we’re free from the oppression of the Lunar Tyrant. For an innumerable count of years, her dominion has never moved from its spot above our greatest mountains.” No words were spoken. The griffon shook his head. “I’m getting off track. Someone, please remind me when I do that, I believe I’m growing senile in my old age,” he joked, earning a couple of laughs. Once that died down, he started. “Today, we lost another member of our cause, something of which that you are all clearly aware of. It never gets easier having to bury those we fight alongside with. Sometimes we don’t even get a body back, such as today. And it always gets harder to recruit more to fill our dwindling ranks.” He drew out an exhale. “Firelight. I first met the pegasus back in Stormwind. He was a small-time thief, good at stealing things. I saw that he had promise and a… spark, something that I’m sure I’ve told many of you time and time again.” “I saw that we could repurpose that spark for a better cause. Use his skills for the greater good, rather than for simply scrounging by. Together, we taught him all that we could, trained him to the peak of his skills, and forged him into a pony all of us could respect. Sure, he was hotheaded and troublesome at first, and still kinda was even to his… ‘death’.” He chuckled morosely alongside a couple others. “However, he always made sure to complete his duty and do the right thing. I probably bet he fought kicking and screaming even as they caught him.” “...” “Even though he may not... have died in the traditional sense, his sacrifice by performing a 3-4-1 was a sacrifice of the highest order. We all know the consequences of the word getting out. We all probably would hesitate when the time comes to ensure that. He displayed courage and strength unrivaled in his final hour… so even though as he forgets us…” The graying griffon looked to the crowd, all holding a combination of stoic faces—and a pair of glowing eyes in Dreaded’s case—which waited. “We shall never forget him!” he bellowed, body propped up on the podium. The crowd roared and stomped their hooves or cawed out. Once the cheering had settled, he quickly announced, “I’ve always been a bird of a few words and that is all I have to say. If anyone else wishes to speak, I am done.” Axel nodded and made his way back down to a waiting Grizelda, who tapped her claw impatiently on the stone floor. “I thought you said you were busy?” “Meh. I can squeeze it in. Let your father do the moral speeches. They always make everyone feel good.” “Mhm,” she smirked, unconvinced. To which her expression turned objective as she handed him a pink crystal. “Listen, Broken wants to talk to you about something important.” She began walking away but snapped her claws together as she remembered something. “The note said to use frequency four this time.” “Thank you, Grizzy. I’ll be up in my office if you need me.” “Whatever. Just go make that old unicorn shut up already. I swear, somehow all of you get more annoying in your advanced ages.” He smiled at her good-natured joking. It seemed even in these dark times she could make good light of a situation. He waved and greeted those he happened to pass by, each of them tired and hungry, but awake enough to reply back. Closing the door behind him, Axel turned the light in his office on. Padding over to a surface, he notched the crystal into the ever-familiar socket and twisted the knob. It flickered to life on an adjacent wall. A circle spun on the projection as the magical artifact began connecting with its other half. A second later, another familiar sight graced his eyes. His beak fell open as he realized the gravity of what was happening. “Broken, you’re contacting me from in there!? It’s that serious!? What happened!?” “Shush, you old rooster. I’m fine in here,” the sophisticated accent snarked. “So if it’s not a serious kind of emergency, then what are you calling from in there for?” “Well, I believe it’s important. Tell me, Axel, what do you think of tonight?” “What?” He snorted. “Is this some crazy unicorn thing again? It’s... sad. I got the report we lost a runner today. One that I had personally trained as well.” There was an awkward silence. “I… I did not expect that kind of answer, I apologize for my… bluntness. Please send my regards to the rest of your branch.” He sighed. “I suppose you wouldn’t really know much about the significance of tonight. It’s much more a pony thing than it is a griffon one.” He fixed the glasses to his face and grabbed a book with his magic. “Really now? I’ve lived here my entire life. Throw it at me.” “Do you know the prophecy of the Brightest Night and the Guiding Star?” he asked, skimming through the contents of a book. Axel held a blank look on his face. “Er… ah… shit…” he stammered. “Well, now I feel woefully uneducated and stupid. I also think my ego took a good hit.” “Gah, do not blame yourself, I just wanted to see if you've ever come across such things. But, I suppose not. This kind of thing is heavily regulated by her Highnesses’s special forces. Our branch also tends to keep it to themselves.” He stopped at a page. “Here. Read it for yourself.” He levitated the book in clear view of the crystal. Axel murmured as he went through the lines. “Alright,” he said, finishing the last bit. “So what does this have to do with your call? I get that this pony is important to our cause…” “There has been a rumor circulating around the castle for some time now. I hadn’t really put much weight into it, although Queen Night had been acting strangely in the recent months… so I didn’t believe what they had to say. Rumors and all that. But tonight, it’s been confirmed. This really is a double subject,” he murmured. “Tonight, Equestria now has an heir to the Lunar throne.” “You’re kidding,” Axel said in disbelief. “I am not. That aside, I believe that foal Queen Night has given birth to is the one alluded to in the prophecy.” “There’s probably a bunch of other ponies being born tonight. What makes you say that? And this brightest night thing, hasn’t it happened before? What about the foals then?” he pressed, unconvinced. “It has been particularly vague with its approach, that I can agree on. However, there is something that does make me confident in all of this.” Broken conceded. “I know for certain that the foal is an alicorn filly. If that isn’t a large enough sign, then I do not know what is.” Axel was speechless. First, it had been mentioned Queen Night had given birth... but to an all-powerful being such as an alicorn? He took a moment to reorient himself. “This is huge. An alicorn heir… and they’re supposed to be the one who saves us all? If I’m not mistaken, Broken, they’re the foal of our sworn enemy.” “It’s simply speculation. I could be wrong after all,” the unicorn admitted. Axel was about to reply, but he held up a hoof to stop him. “But fate has a funny way of working things out, my friend. We shall see in due time.” The veteran gave pause, contemplating something. A moment later he looked back up. “I won’t hold my breath.”
1 - "Starfall"“Starfall” “It is said upon the brightest night, shall the guiding star be born. With her birth, the land will be enveloped by a change. for she shall become the light that will nurture the dying embers, and from those dying embers emerges the spark of hope, that will reignite the solar fires of a time long past, and bring us day once more.” When I thought of death, I never assumed it would be so boring. I never had that moment where my life flashed before my eyes and I got a complete recap of the ups and downs of my life. There wasn’t any crazy flashing of light/swirling space tunnel and portal to another dimension where I was slated to live out the rest of my existence. No higher power and golden beams of light welcoming me into a land of heaven. Nope. I got jack-shit. I guess Hollywood did a really good job of cranking your expectations beyond a reasonable level. So, props to them. So for the past eternity—I can’t really tell time in a place where no sun or moon rises… or anything to gauge off of really—I’ve been stuck in the infinite black, floating in the abyss. I have vaguely limited muscle movement… which totally freaked me out when I first found that out. I panicked for what I think was an hour or so and struggled to do anything to move a limb. Which then segued into me freaking out about breathing and concerns about eating. I fretted about a lot of things in the first… I’m just going to say “days” of my imprisonment here. It took a while for me to get over my mortality and accept my existence as non-material being living in a state of nothing. I still try and move every now and then, just to check with myself that I am indeed, still something. Strangely enough, sometimes I can feel warmth on my extremities or hear whispers in the wind. Distorted, spooky horror-movie style whispers, but whispers nonetheless. I could do without those though. Sometimes, I like to recall past events in my mind and go through them. I mean, my memory isn’t exactly top-notch, but I can still remember things that had a notable impact on my life. Most of it just tends to be memes that won’t actually be any help, though. They are quite good at stemming the boredom, that I’m going to admit. Just me, my thoughts, memories, and my memes. What a terrific combination. So I also think I’m starting to go insane, considering I’ve been talking to myself on a much more frequent bias. Creepy whispers are not helping either. Which would probably worry me, but I’m slowly slipping into crazy-ville, so I think I could care less… although I’m not certain. I wonder when the crazy people voices are going to start coming in? I mean, that’s what happens to people isolated from any form of stimulation, right? Yeah, I think that’s probably going to happen— Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhh…!? WHAT THE HELL IS THAT!? Okay, scratch stimulation, I do not want to be groped by something very restrictive and squishy! I take it back! I take it back! Oh sweet—! I CAN FEEL IT ON MY EVERYTHING. No, no fuck this! I want out, right now! Uuuggghhhh…! It’s warm!? Why is it warm!? warm Whatever undulating mass that was currently moving me around was clearly working overtime. It squished… urrgghh! Shivers down my spine! It’s getting brighter… so much brighter…! It hurts!? Why does it hurt!? Why does everything hurt!? Pain…! So, so much PAIN! Fuckfuckfuck! Sto-hah-hop! No more, please… slick Noises. Perceiving so many different things, all flooding my poor sensation deprived self. It’s been too long… too much all at once… one at a time... p-please! Feelings. Both physical and mental start flooding in. Smells. Tang of something slimy… blood… it… blood? Chemicals… hospital? Was I in a… a coma? The pulsating feelings… it’s overwhelming… coherent thought… I can’t…! Was… I really… ever dead…? NOISES. pain Too… too much…! Harder… ...think…? ...only pain… confuse bright cold ... soft warm ... noise voice sharp … no more “Your Highness, it’s over. It’s a healthy alicorn filly!” the nurse announced, wrapping the foal up in a blanket. However, there was no response from the Queen. Which was odd, considering that she was awake. She was not in shock or in pain. She was listening for something. The dark alicorn had dared not to speak, as something felt wrong. Was it the compromising position she was in that unsettled her...? No, she decided. It had to be the sound, or the lack thereof. Before, the cacophony of bringing life into the world dominated the ears, screams from contractions, the urging shouts from the doctors and the scurrying hooves of the many ponies. Now... it was deathly silent. There were only the soft breathings of the medical staff and foal along with the beeps from their crystal equipment. Her foal hadn't come in bawling like many of the births she had witnessed. This was an outlier. A discrepancy in her experiences. “Give her to me!” she demanded. “Why isn’t she crying? Is there something wrong with her? Tell me!” “W-Well, Queen Night, I think your daughter must’ve been asleep during the procedure… it’s nothing we should be concerned about, we’ve had several cases of the foal being asleep during labor and after birth,” the doctor gulped. “W-We can monitor her for any further developments if that is your wish.” “You better hope on your life it is nothing I am to be concerned about,” she seethed. Inwardly, she was relieved somewhat. The pony they had procured for the occasion was the most capable practitioner alive, in a way, she trusted his judgment. She waved a free hoof to the door. “Now leave. I wish to… have a private moment with my daughter.” “Your Highness, w-we must stay i-in the case of any complications—!” “Did you not understand what I said? Do you have fluff in your ears, doctor?” The dark alicorn asked, a dangerous edge in her voice. She gestured a little more forcefully this time around. “Go stand outside by the door. I’ll rip it off its hinges if I see the moment anything goes wrong... or do you question the skills and wisdom I’ve accumulated over my long life?” “N-No, Queen Night.” The doctor replied, quickly fleeing through the door. The rest of the staff finished what they could and followed with the same pace. Her slitted eye tracked them as they scurried away, the door shutting with a click. Now, she was relatively alone with her daughter… as alone as she could get with her entourage constantly tailing her. She knew they were unnecessary, no foe could ever hope to match her. Lord Tirek had been a hassle… and the mad god was always a worrisome topic… but there were no others who could hold a candle to them. The Royal Bodyguards were more deterrents than anything. She sighed and worked out a kink in her leg. Content, she snuggled further into her cloud-bed. For a moment, she basked in the peaceful moment of holding her beautiful new daughter in her leg-cradle. She brushed the fold of the blanket that fell on the baby’s forehead. The foal’s fur was still slick with amniotic fluid. Gently as she could, she grasped the edge of the blanket and slowly wiped it away. The foal wriggled and made a cute gurgle as contact was made. It made her heart flutter. In her cradle, she held an innocent being. She held a new life. But there was something that made this so special compared to everything else. She had been the one to give birth to it. She had been the one to toil for over a year, hiding the frequent mood swings and bouts of anger. The cravings for the strangest combinations of foods. The cramping and the sleepless nights. She was the one responsible for this foal’s first breaths on this world. She had a daughter. “I have a daughter…” she whispered, almost as if it couldn't be true. Her foal’s mane was a familiar baby-blue… and her coat was an exquisite charcoal-gray. Her eyes were closed, but she knew it would be deep blue. It slept so peacefully. Without a worry in the world. It warmed her insides. “For as long as I am, I will protect you, my little princess. I shall never let harm fall upon you…” she said, almost dropping to a whisper. “And I will I always ensure that you know you are loved. I will shower it on you to the best of my ability. Never will you be alone.” That last declaration made her think back to darker times. She was interrupted from her thoughts as the filly made a low babbling noise and instinctively nuzzled her mother’s fur. “I know what I should call you...” She smiled, adjusting her grip. “From this day forward, you shall be known as Lodestar, for you are my guiding light.” She pressed her long, spiraling horn to the foal’s contrasting nub. She slowly weaved a specialized dream spell. "I shall grant you the finest of sleeps, my young one. Rest easy.”
2 - "The Night and Her Star"“The Night and Her Star” I flailed awake, taking in greedy gasps of, sweet, sweet air. My eyes were wide and I was frantically looking around. I looked to the left. The blinds covering the window weren’t drawn and I could easily see a sprawling city lying under the blanket of the night sky. The light must be playing tricks on me. I blinked. I just woke up. I patted my chest to confirm it. I could feel the sensation of being thumped right above the breastbone. Underneath that? I could feel my heartbeat. This was unreal. I’m alive… So was it a coma this entire time? It had to be. There was no other reasonable explanation. Is that what a coma’s like? Stuck within the recesses of your own mind, chained in a wake of shadows? I glanced out at the twinkling stars. Slowly but surely, I could feel the fear weave its way into my head. It was absurd to even think about, to even consider, but I couldn't help but do it. Dark whispers flitted in and out. Don’t tell me it was something drastic. Don’t tell me I was asleep for years on end. Don’t tell me I missed years of my life wasting away on a bed. M-Maybe when someone comes around, I can ask who’s the president…! Y-Yeah… everything will be a-okay! I shivered. I’m not all the great at motivating myself, am I? I sighed. At the very least, I could observe my surroundings to pass the time. I sat up as best as I could to get a better view. It smelt like a generic hospital room… but it looked way too nice to be a hospital room… I couldn't really see the floor, but the walls surrounding me are layered in a fine… ebony wood polished to a sheen. It’s been tastefully decorated, too. The ceiling has a nice criss-cross pattern going on as well. This is way too nice to be a hospital room. Am I in someone’s house!? I could feel my fear spike again. That, however, started to die down once I spot a heart rate monitor laying inert to the side. The more I start looking, the easier it gets to discern the things I missed. If it wasn’t for all the medical equipment tucked away in corners, I would’ve totally freaked out that I was indeed sleeping in someone’s house. You know… now that I also think about it… my home looks crummy in comparison to this single room. That totally bummed me out. One, out of jealousy that a damn hospital room looked this nice, and two, I'm hoping it’s not going to cost me a fortune simply being in here. I fell back into the comfy confines. Worry about crippling medical debt later. My thoughts rolled back into the situation regarding my self-assessed predicament. Were the whispers worried family members and hospital staff checking in on me? Should I just relish the fact that I’m not dead? I don’t want to sound ungrateful… no, I’m already moving into the whining territory. I should be content with being able to breathe again. To be able to see again. To hear and smell! “Perhaps I’m being too pessimistic after all,” I whispered aloud. Well, that’s what I thought in my head and planned to say to the world. Instead, my mouth babbled nonsense. “What?” Gibberish, again. “Nononononono, what’s happening? Why do I sound like a baby!?” I gurgled. In the corner of my vision, I saw something. I lifted it up in front of me. My mouth fell open as I stared in utter disbelief. It simply couldn't be true. There was no way this was physically possible. I shook it. I felt the movement. I did it again to confirm it was indeed, real. It… had to be. At first, I thought that coming back into consciousness or the mess in my body had numbed the feeling of my extremities… but this? I could've never expected. My hand had become a hoof. A goddamned hoof. Authentic with smooth as silk dark gray hairs, terminating in keratin. Although, it looked rounder than a normal horse leg. The space dividing the hoof and leg was less pronounced, almost to the point of merging with it. It looked awfully familiar. I traced it back to its origin point. There was no peachy skin that I had grown up with. Just more of the same horse hair. There was a conclusion sitting in the back of my mind. But it was so absurd and impossible that I reasonably couldn’t accept it. I wanted to… so badly say yes, however. But I didn’t want to lie to myself that this was all nothing but a dream within a dream. Or, to better put it, a dream from a nightmare. But a dream couldn't be so vivid. It couldn't be so… lifelike. My quiet breaths, the rise and fall of my chest, the encompassing warmth of a blanket, the individual strands of hair sticking out… a dream couldn't do all of that. It had to be true. I was reborn as a fuckin’ pony, wasn't I? That… I don't know… this… this has to be a dream come true but… I stared at the baby hooves in front of me. It was unbelievable. And sometimes I would consider this too. What would it be like to be a pony? How awesome would it be to be living in Equestria!? I choked. Living. The word echoed in my mind and jumped around my skull. I had another life before I was brought into this one. All those people I left behind. My friends. My “first” family. I won't forget them now, would I? Were my memories going to start replacing themselves as I grew older? Memories made you who you are. I didn't want to be erased. I could feel the tears slowly welling up in my eyes. My vision became blurry as water began obscuring everything. I took a shuddering breath. I'm just being… irrational. It won't be that bad. I dabbed my watery eyes on the blanket. I flopped to stare back at the intricate ceiling. Was it really worth leaving everything behind? No… but… here I was being ungrateful again. People would kill for a situation such as mine, and here I am crying about… about everyone I “left” back on Earth. I still couldn’t get over the shock of it all. I felt the first tear streak down my face. I should be happy! I should be glad I got a chance that was only thought about and described in the works of fiction! Yet I couldn’t. Did that make me weak? I didn’t know. I was so lost in my own thought, I hadn’t even felt the shifting of weight as I was picked up and turned around. I only realized when the world had become obscured by a black blob and radiant, swirling deep-blue abyss. “Already awake, and the first thing you do is silently cry. Oh, do not fret my child. I am here. Sh-sh-sh.” I’m completely shot out of my reverie as the booming voice spoke. I blinked away the tears to focus. As the image increases with coherency each shut of the eye, my shock slowly begins to rise. Finally, I’m rendered speechless as I lock eyes with another thing straight out of fiction. Her fur, black as any starless night, gleams in the light generated by the lamps. Her mane full of stars billows in an invisible breeze. A long, spiraling spear juts out from her forehead, snaking out from the confines of her hair. Slitted irises watch my every movement. I’m staring at the Mistress of Nightmares herself. I slowly begin to shake in fear. What did she want with me? Was I going to be killed? Did she know that I wasn’t a simple baby? “Oh, no, no! Do not cry! Stop crying! Mother is here. There will be nopony here who could harm you. You are safe.” She said something again. I saw her mouth move and words come out. Either I couldn’t understand her because she spoke a completely different language… or my baby ears weren’t developed enough for them to understand anything. What did she want from a baby? Suddenly, my world became a sea of warm, black fur. Engulfed in endless rows of fluff. Here… it felt so warm… and so nice. I could stay here for as long as I drew breath; that this place was somewhere where even the apocalypse posed no threat. Without any input, I snuggled further into it, cooing. What fuck are you doing? I stopped. This wasn’t right. Why would I even be doing something like this? She is dangerous! My mind was sent spiraling further into confusion. I should never have even thought about feeling safe near her! It's probably stupid baby horse pheromones recognizing its mother or something… wait. Waitwaitwaitwaitwait, hold the phone. No… My new mother can't be Nightmare Moon… can she!? I think a week has gone by, and with that time—during the times that I was awake—I've gotten a better grip on my sanity and sort of come to terms with everything. I can also conclude with a fairly concrete verdict. It's official. She has to be my pony mother. Never mind the fact that I feel safest whenever I'm closer to her, she doesn't leave me alone for very long. If I wasn't worried about trying to adjust being the child of an Equestrian supervillain, I would think she’s quite overprotective. It also got easier to discern when she carefully spun me around in faced me in the direction of two mounds sitting in between her legs. I would vehemently have refused to even commit to such an action, as degrading as it was to be forced to find sustenance via breastfeeding, my baby-half totally wouldn't have any of my shit. It was hungry, it recognized and smelled food, and it acted appropriately. It was depressing to have to yield to my own basic needs like that… My eating habits aside, my feelings toward my current situation were a tornado of emotions. I was a pony, which was amazing. However, I was a baby pony, a foal; not really sure how to feel about this. I lacked most of my control for most of my faculties—interestingly, was also the way I found out that my gender botched itself when translating into a pone. I also didn't know how to feel about losing my masculinity. Was that also a worthwhile trade-off? Moving on, I now happened to rely completely on another being to be fed, was physically weak and thus required attention almost twenty-four seven. I could barely even move beside the occasional wriggle (damn you developing muscles!). My emotions were also completely out of my control, sharp and vivid memories were enough to send me bawling in tears. Momma Moon was more than willing to accommodate for everything. Which happens to transition into my next point. Nightmare Moon is awfully nice for a villain. She’s always snuggling me or doing some other baby stuff. She happens to talk a lot in horse-speak (Equestrian?), often choosing to speak in softer tones. I think she's trying to reassure me and keep me contented, as you would for any newborn. Horse-speak also happens to be a fairly melodic sounding language, which was a surprise. Does that explain why ponies can break out into song so easily? Back to the point. Nightmare is sending me some mixed signals. Is this an alternate universe where the friendship brigade managed to bring back her back and successfully reform her? Because if that is, that's probably pretty cool. Or is it another universe where Celestia is the villain!? That sounds pretty epic. So that would mean this is what Luna would end up looking like when she’s had a thousand years to gather strength! Talk about a drastic makeover. I snorted and giggled. “Oh, what do you find so funny, my foal?” she said again in the alien language while smiling. She looks so… happy. I gurgled and bopped her on the nose as she came closer to nuzzle. “Ah! Feisty. We share much in common!” She connected her mouth to my stomach. Oh no, don’t tell— The Mistress of Nightmares, the Lightbane, the Dark Alicorn: Nightmare Moon, started motorboating my belly. I began laughing like crazy, squirming and twitching to get away. Every time I curled over and caught a glimpse of her eyes, they held a layer of pride and joy. After a minute of “torture”, she relented and held me up in her hooves, Lion King style. “You are my blessing, little Lodestar.” You know, this ain’t that half bad. I could get behind supporting nice Nightmare. I wonder if she’s a misunderstood villain here? Oh, the possibilities.
3 - "A Castle in the Sky"“A Castle in the Sky” The weak light crystal illuminated the whole of the desk and nothing else. The curtains had been drawn, faint wisps of the outside finding their way in through small gaps. The room itself had been gouged of any possible light aside from the crystal, leaving everything as if it was a stormy night. All of this was done intentionally, of course. Night felt far more at peace in the embrace of shadows than anything else. Her eyes flicked to the foal lying bundled in her forelegs, playing with a strand of her mane that strayed into the filly’s grasp. Her daughter surpassed so many expectations, something that was to be and at the same time, not to be anticipated. There was a layer of pride and shame running through her as she considered things. The foal was barely two weeks old and a mountain of expectation had been tossed onto her head. But that made sense, didn't it? Her daughter shared her blood—her alicorn heritage, blessed with the peak of equine perfection. It only made sense that holding a pedigree of this magnitude would leave a pony with a burden. And, it would be wise not to forget that she already held massive amounts of magic power and potential, some of which would only grow as she discovered her aspect as an alicorn. So it came to no surprise when Lodestar had woken up shortly after her birth, already gazing into her world with foal-like wonder. Or at the very least, she was not surprised. That had been thirteen nights ago. Now, her daughter looked absolutely ready to burst out of her fuzzy confines and explore. It was strange to see her growing up so quickly. Was she like this back when she was no taller than her own daughter? A flash of a familiar face worked its way into her mind. She hissed. Lodestar backed off, clearly frightened by her sudden change in attitude. She quickly remedied that and softened her features. “Oh, no, no, no! You're fine, my star. It was just... something else,” she cooed. Her foal cooed back once she realized nothing was wrong and snuggled closer. Nothing felt more fulfilling than holding her foal close to her being. Night relished in the warmth she held and brought. She floated in this rapture for a scant few minutes until the world called her back. Her eyes refocused to the low light of the room. She rolled the shoulder carrying Lodestar and took a deep breath, staring blankly at the small stack of papers laid on top of the desk. It seemed no matter where she went, her work still managed to follow her in some form or another. Running an empire had its positives and negatives, mountains of paperwork being one of them. She mumbled as the desk inadequately held it all. Maybe she should've requested to have one of her tables transported here. Or perhaps transfer to the castle already. She had elected to remain within the hospital so the doctors could check for any outstanding problems or defects. While the medical staff at the castle were masters of their craft, they were not trained specifically with foals in mind. It also happened to give her the opportunity of spending much more time with her daughter. Which she greatly appreciated. The alicorn truly wanted to imprint that no matter what happened, she could turn to her and know she had someone who loved her. Unlike… I… She sighed and grabbed another lock of her hair and jiggled it in front of her. The foal giggled and tried to catch that as well. Aside from Lodestar’s speedy development of her muscles and size for a foal her age, everything turned out fine. Mostly fine. It was her eyes. Those ever so familiar eyes. Now that she was thinking about it again… She couldn’t help but stare at the irises that haunted her so. The same shade of magenta… Night snarled. Her face contorted into one of fury and repressed emotion. Even in her state of death, her sister had the gall to rob something so precious from her. She had stained her beautiful daughter with her mark, forever leaving a permanent reminder. Oh, how she hated it so. But she couldn’t even consider harming her child just because her sister’s taint was scrawled across her. That… that would be giving in. It would be the same as letting her sister win. Allowing her to have the last laugh. That… Night could not let that ever happen. She would persevere. No matter how much those eyes— The alicorn caught a silhouette move from beyond the door, the shadow bobbing behind the glass. Without much to announce their presence, the figure quietly slipped into the room—their magically silenced armor did little to add any noise. Slitted eyes and glowing yellow irises met with her’s as the pony gave a silent salute. “Captain Nightshade,” she stated calmly. The guard took off their helmet and tucked it into the crook of their foreleg. “Your Highness,” they replied, taking a brief curtsy. “I come with… unsatisfactory news.” Years of leading her country had taught her that her forces were not infallible, nor were they always capable of performing at peak efficiency at all times. Her left eye twitched, betraying the irritation hiding underneath her regal gaze. However, that didn’t mean she could feel moderately upset at most setbacks, especially if one of her captains had to come to her specifically. That insinuated that an order she directly made had encountered a problem. A small sneer appeared on Night’s face. “I see. What is it exactly that went wrong?” She could tell from underneath her captain’s mask of stoicism, the mare was nervous. She clearly did not want to be the one relaying the message. “A messenger reported that one of the event planners organizing part of the parade for your daughter had unfortunately met with an accident. He will be unavailable for an undetermined period of time. His assistant has taken up the duty, however, their efficiency is not up to par. Or, supposedly, it looks to be that way.” Night wordlessly stared at her subordinate. The captain subtly shifted the weight of their body around, clearly uncomfortable. “I… see.” The light gulp they made almost went unheard. “What would you like to do, your Majesty?” “What would I like to do?” she asked cryptically. All was quiet as Night drifted into her thoughts, weighing options. Eventually, she turned her full attention to Nightshade. “I suppose my daughter’s official introduction can wait. It would not hurt her to acclimate to a larger group of ponies, either.” She paused. “Very well. Ready my carriage, we leave for the palace in two hours.” Something big is happening, although I’m not sure what. There’s been a surge of ponies moving, much more than I’m used to regularly observing. Some of them happen to be reoccurring faces, such as this well-dressed pony, a distinctive-looking thestral knight (of course Nightmare Mom’s going to have those guys!), some nurses, and a pony in a lab coat—which is probably just a doctor. It’s sorta kinda exciting to try and guess what might happen based on that mixed-bag of characters. Because if it equates to a change in scenery, I’m all for it. I mean, it’s still amazing to think about being a pony, but to be honest, being wrapped up in a blanket and coddled day-to-night can get… fairly boring. Quick thing to note; haven’t seen any actual sun, sunsets, or sunrises. For all the times I’ve woken up, it’s been to the nighttime sky. Although I don’t really complain. It’s actually quite beautiful. Tapping a hoof on my chin, I wondered about my biology. Maybe it’s because I just end up sleeping through the day? Kinda like a nocturnal animal. That would make some sense. I sighed and pawed at a flowing piece of my mother’s mane. Sometimes I could catch her working while I’m awake, filling out stacks of papers while reading. She’s got some crazy multi-tasking abilities. However, when she does realize I’m awake, she finishes whatever she’s doing and plays with me. On the topic of my parent, Momma Night does try her hardest to entertain whenever I do happen to be awake, offering me games one would perform for a budding child. To which, I must admit, totally had me interested and hooked for the first few times. Damn you baby brain! How can peek-a-boo be so awesome!? But, with enough repetition, that becomes old as well. So now here I was, flicking my hoof back and forth on the bundle of stars wafting in front of me, bored out of my mind, waiting until the Sandman would gracefully take me. Wait, human folklore, not pony. I pursed my lips. I twisted my head to face Nightmare Mom, who was intently writing something on a chart. Does that make you the Sandpony? She caught me staring and paused. She turned her head around to face mine and smiled as non-threateningly as she could. I giggled for some reason and attempted to bop her on the nose. Her response instead brought me closer and we locked horns for a moment, before ending with a kiss on my forehead. That was… not what I was going for, but, alright. She returned me back to my original position. That, however, upset the balance that was my new hair, flopping it directly into my line of sight. I pouted and batted it away to make sure it wouldn’t bother me. Content, I began retreating into the fluffy cocoon. I really wanted to know when the excitement would come along. My ears flicked to the sound of a knob being twisted, with my head following suit not long after. Speak of the devil. Standing in the doorway at a respectful distance was the thestral knight from before, flanked by two generic looking guards. Mom glanced at them once before returning on her work, keen on finishing whatever she had in front of her. Either that or she doesn't really care enough to make eye contact. The ponies at the door patiently waited, standing ramrod stiff. I cocked my head to the side to try and get a better view, much to my avail, does not work in the slightest. I settled with being able to sort of see them through a starry-blue filter. My ears flicked—which was a weird sensation—as I picked up sounds. It sounds like… singing. Oh. They’re talking between each other now—speaking in the lyrical horse language. I’m still far too inexperienced in both senses to try and even begin deciphering what they have to say. Even then, I’m still all too unsure how baby horses in this reality learn how to speak. I just hope the previous knowledge stuffed in my head doesn’t interfere with anything. That would be disastrous. I mean, transitioning from fluently speaking a completely different language and bipedalism could either be the easiest thing in my life or the hardest. I can only hope it’s the former. I’m also banking that being a newborn would help me absorb things easier. If not, then I’m going to have to put all I can into adaptation. Don’t want to be the one sticking out like a sore thumb. I could feel everything around me shifting—Mom was getting up. I retreated further into the blanket-wrap, a part of me terrified that I was moving so much. The doors were pushed open and held in the crook of my mother’s foreleg, we stepped out into the public space. But why was I so scared? Why was I frightened by a change of scenery? Hadn’t this been what I wished for? Something new… I whispered in my mind as I looked down the hospital corridor. This was my chance to see the pony world with my own eyes. Experience it in the flesh! And the terror washed away, instead replaced by droves of newborn curiosity. Marveling at the simple things and wowed by the slightly-less simple, I eagerly took what was offered. As I babbled away, we marched down the hall. Ponies quickly moved out of the way as we passed, bowing their heads in what was probably respect or staring in shock at something. Was it me? I wondered if it was. I tilted my head and looked up to mom, who stared straight ahead, stern look wrapping her face. She looked so different. It was strange, really, to see the change in personality. I squeaked at her, accidentally conveying my confusion. And for a second, under the empress visage of her’s, Mom cracked the tiniest of smiles. The roof above us vanished, replaced by the endless canvas of stars. There was chatter and gusts of wind gently buffeting my fur. I could hear the commotion of the city. There were so many new smells and sensations. For the first time in my new life, I tasted the outside. It was all so fleeting, however, as I found myself in a fancy interior alongside Mom. “I’m sure you can see it all, my little star. Do take it in! When you’re older, we shall rule this kingdom together, as mother and daughter!”she said, most likely directed at me. In response, I only stared blankly at her. “Oh, look at me, talking to my newborn as if I expect them to completely understand me,”she giggled? “I wonder how early you may begin talking? You’ve been babbling already, much faster than the doctors could’ve expected!” She raised me up to eye level and squished her cheeks. “Who’s my little expectation-breaker? You are! You are!” She barked what I assumed was in happy laughter and nuzzled me. I cooed in excitement from her words, waving my stubby hooves up at her. After that, we continued the ride in relative silence. The staccato fall of hooves, clacking of the carriage wheels, and the lack of anything keeping my attention meant… meant that… my mouth opened up in a yawn and my eyelids drooped. It was really good… at making me want to… sleep. Maybe… maybe I could sleep right now… Yeah… That sounds really good... I suddenly jerked awake when my body started shifting around. Unlike a regular child who would’ve ended up bawling, I was only confused and the slightest bit annoyed that I had been unfairly ripped away from rest. I looked at the source of my confusion, who was smiling and the tiniest bit oblivious to what she had done. “Oh, Lodestar, here,” she said, twisting me around and lowering the blinds of our transport. She moved to the edge and together, we stuck our heads out. “This is one of my favorite views.” I bet this must be something important. There was nothing but the same dark-gray stone buildings that went by, accompanied by the occasional greenery as I looked outside. Sure, it was cool to look at the architecture, but that truly wasn’t my kind of thing. Did she want to show me the pedestrians? They looked just like the Canterlot nobles I remembered from the show. Horses wearing clothing was pretty funny and cool. I eeped as the carriage tilted up. I looked to the sides and saw a fancy bridge support frame lining the ends of the road. Was I supposed to be impressed by… The… No way. No fucking way! My eyes grew wide as I to process what exactly I was seeing—because I could barely believe it was true, everything I knew simply couldn’t accept it! As all the background fell away, there was a sea of a white, pockmarked by craters running to the horizon. It had an almost angelic glow to its surface. That itself was beautiful to gaze longingly into. But that wasn’t what stole my breath. Beyond that horizon, lay a simple, azure circle, dominating the expanse in all its grandeur. However, describing it as an orb would be doing it true justice, if that was what I thought it was. Clouds were swirled on the surface. Beneath those twisting vapors, layered in uneven veins and shades of white, sprawled what looked to be continents. Holding it all together were oceans of blue, massive in size as they claimed their stake on the orb. Altogether, it glowed against the black of space while stars danced around it. This was a planet. No! Wait, that would be the wrong word. Rather, it was the pony planet, laid bare before me, open for me to gaze longingly. I propped myself on the window frame as I inched out as far as I could. I stared into it for as fleeting the moments were, savoring each millisecond I was mercifully allowed. Regretfully I watched it vanish behind a cluster of buildings as the bridge came back to the earth. As mother tucked a hoof under me and dragged me back in, I still had yet to run it all out of my system. I had done something that so many of those who looked to the stars could only hope and vicariously watch through a medium. A dream of mine, or perhaps, the dream of many, had been fulfilled. She was talking and saying something to me. But even as I understood nothing, I still had the option to listen. This time I didn’t. I still had to think about what this all meant. A thought bubbled to the forefront of my mind. If it was possible for my eyes to go any further than they already had, it certainly felt like they did. If this wasn’t all fake. If this wasn’t simply an illusion. There was only one place you could see something like this. I was looking at a planet from the perspective of the moon. We’re on the moon.
