The moon rose gently as night fell on Equestria. All appeared solemn on the surface but beneath lie a deep rooted fear and anticipation of what is usually a joyous occasion, The festival of the two sisters. Princess Celestia noticed her worried sister gazing at the moon and approached her.
“Luna is everything alright?” Celestia asked.
Luna turned to look at Celestia,” I’m just worried about the eclipse. Of all the days it had to return why today?”
“Don’t worry Luna everything will be fine. Even if things go wrong it will work out in the end, it always does.”
Celestia turned in for the night after a long day. The sisters decided to return to Canterlot for the festival of the two sisters due to a potential impending storm, one that will test the bonds of friendship and family.
A cloaked figure can be seen approaching Canterlot castle. It slowly creeps towards the royal guards protecting the front gate.
“Who goes there?” The armored pony asked.
The mysterious guest remained eerily silent and raised her hoof full of a strange powder. Suddenly the guards became lethargic at the sight of the dust. They collapsed on the ground leaving the castle entrance unguarded. Light emitted from the horn of the unicorn causing her to become invisible. She crept into the castle which has long since changed since her last visit one thousand years ago.
The shrouded unicorn continued on through the hallways with only the moonlight as her guide. She found a door which bore the element of magic and knew it was the room she was looking for. As she subtly entered the bedroom she noticed the sleeping purple Alicorn. On the table was an amulet matching the picture given to her.
The sun rose the next morning signaling the start of the big day. Twilight Sparkle was startled awake by Spike who frantically entered the room.
“Twilight it’s almost time for the festival to begin and you overslept!” Shouted Spike.
“Oh no I have to go raise the sun,” Twilight looked at the nightstand. “Where’s the amulet!?”
Spike hovered over the nightstand, “didn’t you leave it hear last night?”
“Wait I just realized something, if the amulet is missing how is the sun up?” Asked Twilight.
Celestia entered the bedroom, “Don’t worry Luna and I have already taken care of it.”
Twilight was relieved by Celestia’ news. The three of them headed to the throne room where Luna was having a conversation with one of the royal guards.
Celestia approached Luna, “Luna is everything alright?”
“It appears that there was a breach in the castle last night,” Luna explained.
Twilight gasped,” do you think this break in has anything to do with the missing amulet?”
The royal guard turned to Twilight, “it’s not just that. The Alicorn amulet is missing as well.”
Princess Twilight sets Equestria on high alert and warns everyone to keep an eye out for anything suspicious. Using Spikes's dragon breath, Twilight sent a letter to her friends back in ponyville requesting their presence in Canterlot.
Meanwhile in the Castle of the two sisters the cloaked unicorn makes her way into the abandoned library. She throws off her cloak to reveal her identity to the alicorn amulet. She chants some unfamiliar words in old ponish causing the alicorn amulet to emit a red magical aura.
"Oh Queen of shadows reveal yourself to me!" shouts the blue unicorn.
A shadowy mist emerges from the alicorn amulet, "foolish unicorn, do you really think that your worthy of my blessing? State your name."
"Persephone your highness, former student of Princess Luna," the blue unicorn replied.
The black mist circles around Persephone as if it were closely observing her, "how do you know of me?" It asks.
Persephone removes an old worn book from the shelf behind her, "it started one thousand years ago right before the fall of Nightmare Moon."
One thousand years ago there lived a studios unicorn named Persephone. Her magical aptitude was above that of basic unicorn magic. Not wanting her magical potential to go to waist she studied hard through the night and became obsessed with being the best. She accomplished many things on her own and without the help of her friends and family. However, there was one thing she lacked as a filly, her cutie mark. One day she took a chance and decided to enroll herself in Celestia's school of magic.
Unaware of how the enrollment process worked, she wondered into the entrance exam room where she sat in front of a panel of judges. Not knowing how to prove herself she frantically looked around the room to improvise. As she gazed out the window she could see the sun setting. She focused long and hard and closed her eyes. As her horn lit up the moon began to rise in the sky as the moonlight shined across the sky she began to glow. When Persephone opened her eyes she was shocked to see a cutie mark of a star and moon on her flank. The administrators jaws dropped in aww at the sight of a pony other than Princess Luna being able to raise the moon.
Unfortunately, because of her age Persephone still faced the penalty of losing some of her power due to raising the moon. Persephone was disappointed in the cutie mark she desperately longed for. As Persephone lowered her head in shame she herd the sound of hoofsteps approach her. She raised her head in shock when she realized that it was none other than Princess Luna herself.
"Princess Luna what are you doing here?" Persephone asked.
Luna smiled sweetly, "I have been searching for a pony with your abilities for a long time."
Persephone cocked her head in confusion, "What do you mean, any unicorn can raise the sun and moon at the cost of losing their magic?"
"I believe you have much potential and with a little training you could have the power to raise the moon without losing your magic." Luna replied.
"Where would I even begin?"
Princess Luna placed her hoof on Persephone's shoulder, "I would like to make you my personal pupil."
Persephone's jaw dropped in awe. She graciously accepted Princess Luna's offer unaware of what the princess's true intentions were.
