Author's Note

Made a few minor changes and corrections.

Chapter 1

Junus 15 999 ANF

It was a normal day in Canterlot, well as normal as it could be a few days before the Summer Sun Celebration, but it was with everypony getting ready to head to Ponyville for the ceremony. That was until gasps and whispers could be heard coming from Mane Street. The cause of the commotion was a giant of a stallion that was trotting resolutely up the street, his eyes locked straight ahead.

At a glance, he was at least two hooves taller than Princess Celestia, wide at the shoulders and carried himself with a confidence that only a trained warrior could. Not much could be seen of his coat since he wore a cloak, but from what could be seen, he was a storm mottled grey with a white mane and tail. A peculiar mark was a blaze of white that run from his forehead down almost to the end of his muzzle. One other detail could be made out about him. The way his cloak laid on his back, one could assume that a massive pair of wings rested there.

Not once did the mysterious stallion stop or slow in his march and it soon became apparent to his destination, he was headed to the castle. Arriving at the main gate, four of Celestia's best tried to stop him, but he simply swept them away with a wing. None was injured, but it was sobering to see them overwhelmed so easily. The main castle doors was his next impediment and the guards proved to be just as insignificant, except the doors had been closed and locked. Looking a bit miffed, he simply turned on his front hooves and kicked the doors with such force the castle shook on its foundation. Shaking his head, he muttered something under his breath before slowly cantering into the castle depths.

The throne room was almost at capacity from the nobles trying to get one last favour, tax break or whatever their greedy hearts desire was from the Princess before the break that came with the Summer Sun celebration. No pony knew of the events that was happening until during a small break in the proceedings, a strong quake was felt throughout the castle. It was almost instantly that guards started to flood the throne room. As nobles and the princess watched, Captain of the Guard, Spear Breaker approached the throne.

"Highness, we have a intruder."

"Description" she asked immediately, concern crossing her features.

"Large pony, at a minimum two hooves taller than you. Confirmed stallion wearing a cloak. Possibly a pegasus with a mottled grey coat, white mane and tail with."

"A white blaze going down to the end of his muzzle" she finished, her voice taking on a pained tone.

"H..how did you know" a surprised Spear asked.

"Do not worry about that right now. Do not engage him and open the throne room doors. He is not a threat to anypony here" Celestia ordered.

"But, Highness!"

"Do not test me Spear" she interrupted him. "He will not harm anypony in Equestria, besides, if he went on a rampage there's only one pony who could stop him and she's not here." Spear could hear the pain in his princess's voice and sighing, turned to follow her orders.

A few tense minutes later, the sharp clop of hooves could be heard. Entering the throne room the nobles and guards finally could see the true size of the stallion and needless to say, they was all speechless. As he stood in the doorway looking around, his gaze stopped momentarily on Celestia before something caught his attention. Moving a hoof up, he undid the tie for his cloak revealing his massive stature to all, but what really caused a collective gasp was the intricate set of wing blades he wore.

Moving down the aisle, his gaze never left a particular set of stained glass windows. Reaching the end of the aisle, he turned and stopped, staring at it in obvious pain before looking at the princess. Closing her eyes, she lowered her head as if acknowledging a unasked question. Flaring his wings in shock he took a couple of staggering steps backwards before falling to his rump, his quiet sobs being the only noise heard until the wing blades started glowing. The gathered ponies watched as Princess Celestia, her horn aglow, gently and lovingly removed the stallions arms with no reaction from him.

Celestia knew this day would come and it was as painful as she imagined. Sitting in front of her was her long lost brother in law. She knew without looking what window he was fixated on. It depicted the moment she had to banish her little sister to her own moon to prevent the Nightmare from destroying her and Equestria. She knew why he was here and knew despite his strength, they would need each other in the coming days. Lighting her horn, she gently began removing his blades. Setting them aside, a gasp was heard. Looking back, she watched for only the second time in all the years she had knew him, as his strength failed.

Nopony had seen her move. Nopony had ever seen the princess move that fast, but there she was sitting in the middle of the throne room without her royal regalia, holding the mysterious stallion to her chest covering him with her wings as he wept. What surprised them the most was the fact that she was weeping with him as if both was reliving a tragedy that only the two of them knew.

"Captain."

"Yes, Princess."

"Clear the throne room please, I need some time to calm him down, also let it be known that he will be afforded the same respect I receive" she paused a moment to collect herself. "After all, he is my brother in law and thus a Prince of Equestria."

When she said that, everypony witnessing the scene started wondering who the stallion was and what this would mean for them all.