Prologue

Princess Celestia, the alicorn that ruled the kingdom of Equestria, and whose royal duty was to control the course of the sun, was sitting in the private gardens of Canterlot Castle. Taking advantage of the end of the day, she enjoyed the fragrance of a cup of steaming tea. She turned her attention to a unicorn mare to her left who was facing the Sun, her back turned toward Celestia. "Do you really have to leave today?” the Princess of the Sun asked, her voice serene and thoughtful. “I think I speak for everypony when I say that we would like you to stay. If you stay here, then your journey should no longer be necessary."

"Tis not my modus operandi, Celestia," answered the unicorn, her tone dull and detached, as she stretched her left foreleg towards the sun as if to grab it with her hoof.

"Wouldn't you like to share one last cup of tea? I received a whole box from Japony a few days ago. The one you like so much."

Her expression didn’t light up at the offer. "This stop-over has lasted far too long."

Celestia watched her for a moment in silence, her gaze softening before she turned away from the unicorn and toward a table. "I understand," she said, setting the cup on its saucer. Her horn glowing, she levitated a letter to Ponyville and cast the spell to send it on its way. The alicorn looked down at her tea and after a moment of silence, she said: "Just remember one thing, Pepper: I'm glad you came."

The unicorn whipped around, horn glowing with a scarlet aura. As she focused her cold stare on the target of her imminent attack, the halo turned purple interlaced with green, revealing her dark intent.

Before she could have a taste of her tea, Celestia was hit by the bolt of magic, vanishing into thin air. Her regalia fell to the ground, the last bit of evidence that the princess was ever there.

Pepper approached the spot where Celestia had been and claimed her due, yet ignoring the golden regalia glittering in the sunlight. Her horn illuminated with glowing magic, she opened a portal that led to another reality. Just as she was about to leave, she noticed Luna stepping into the garden. "Oh, Luna, good timing."

Princess Luna, whose royal duty it was to watch over the night and control the course of the Moon, smiled at first. But the alicorn noticed quite quickly the regalia abandoned on the floor next to the cup of tea on the table. She turned to the unicorn, worried. "Where is my sister?"

The unicorn did not turn to answer the question. "Should anypony ask thee, I am gone, and thy sister is a goner," she said as she walked through the gate.

"Pep-" Luna didn't have time to finish her word. Pepper had closed the gate behind her, and Luna found herself alone in Canterlot's gardens. "Celestia?" she called instead, but no one answered. Only the birds kept chirping as if nothing was wrong. "The shortest jokes are the best," she said loudly, hoping for this to just be another prank. A summer breeze blew but the princess felt only the cold embrace of fear. With a strong downward stroke of her wings, she took off to fly over the gardens. Her gaze swept the place but she saw neither Celestia nor Pepper. Yielding to fear, she shouted using the Royal Canterlot Voice. "Pepper? Celestia? Enough! Enough!! Tis not the least bit of fun! Show thyselves! Pepper?! Celestia?! CELESTIA!!"

Author's Note

Huge thanks to Luna Nightshade for the help provided which allowed me to upload the english version of my fiction on the website today!