Fire and Shadows

Princess Celestia’s POV

She took Twilight. The vampire took the filly I call my daughter. I love everypony in Equestria, but there are some who are closer to me than others. The closest thing I have to a daughter is gone. The thought of what they might do to her sickens me, and I can’t risk losing her. She is an Element Bearer too, and the loss of her, her friends and the Elements will mean that the vampire has an even greater chance of winning. But my little student…

That vampire has Tartarus to pay.

The only pony who has been able to lessen the pain is Aurora, High-Priestess of the Guardians of Sunlight. I had originally thought that the group had died out centuries ago, but I found out a few weeks ago that they were not just surviving but thriving, and that they care for Equestria just as I do.

I’m waiting outside the church. From the street, it looks quite unassuming, with the stained glass windows being the only sign that the building is significant. Inside, however, it is beautiful, and everything they have done is for me. I’m ever so grateful for what they have done to show their respect for me.

The front doors open, and I’m ushered into the entrance hall by two pegasus stallions. They take me into the church proper, and everypony in the large room turns to look at me. I’m not startled, though. I’ve done this enough times over the last fifteen hundred years or so to get used to it.

I walk down the aisle in the centre, towards Aurora. Her fur is pale blue, and her eyes are green, not purple, but in so many ways she reminds me of myself. Her mane is wavy and pastel pink, like mine at her age. She’s about the same height as I was at her age. Her white and gold cape looks like a wedding dress, except it has my cutie mark on the back. She’s more beautiful than I was at her age, definitely. And she’s so sweet and wonderful, and despite being the High-Priestess of this church that was founded over a thousand years ago by a group of admirers, she sees me as so much more than The Princess of Equestra, and so much more than the Alicorn of the Sun.

She told me the other night when I walked through Canterlot with her that no pony who has ever lived could fill her heart with such joy as what I bring her. She confessed that she had loved me for a long time, and only hoped that we could grow closer in time’s due course. She would hardly be the only individual to confess her love for me over my lifetime, but she is one of the few whom I have genuinely loved back.

She smiles as I reach the front of the hall and walk up the steps to the altar. “Princess Celestia, it is an honour to have you here,” she says with glee.

“And it is an honour to be here, High-Priestess Aurora,” I reply. I look down at each and every one of the faces in the hall, all of them waiting expectantly for me to say what I came here to tell them. My face falls slightly. “If only it were in times of peace, in times when I could spend longer here with all of you.

“What I am about to tell you is not allowed to reach the ears of the wider public. I am here to inform you of a terrible tragedy and ask of you all a huge task. For some of you, this may be a little hard to swallow, and you may find yourselves disappointed with me due to some of my actions, but-”

“Disappointed?” Aurora interrupts. “Princess, I’m sure you misunderstand us. Nopony is perfect, but if we were disappointed in you, we wouldn’t be gathered here today. And I am sure that all of us are willing to step up to the plate and do whatever you need us to do.” She closes her eyes and bows before me.

Seeing her there is such a welcome sight. She, at least, respects me, and the rest of the church are likely to do as she says. I am safe.

“Thank you, Aurora, I appreciate it,” I continue. “Unfortunately, the noble Bearers of the Elements of Harmony were recently taken into the custody of the Crystal Empire, and the Element Bearers have been arrested and imprisoned.” I pause to allow everypony to process this. “Furthermore, to the north of Equestria there is some unrest amongst the ponies. I care deeply for everypony, but I fear that the dark magic that has claimed the Crystal Empire may be spreading, and I need to stop it. But I can’t do this on my own.

“I need a group of strong-willed individuals to travel north with a group of my Solar Guards to the places where the unrest is at its worst. Your presence may help some ponies to feel more comfortable around the Solar Guards and improve negotiations with them. However, you also need to be prepared for the worst-case scenario, which is a fight breaking out. I hate the idea of sending ponies into high-risk situations, but my hope is that you will be able to calm things down before they get to that stage.”

“Are there any volunteers?” Aurora inquires.

Around seventy ponies stand up, and Aurora herself raises her hoof.

“Remain standing if you are or have been a part of the Royal Guard or have had any combat training in the last five years,” I order.

A few ponies sit down, and I count the remaining faces. Fifty seven ponies, including Aurora. I do actually recognise some of them from the Royal Guard, but I have never met the majority of those who are here today. I find myself smiling, though. Fifty seven willing volunteers to pick from, and I only need a small group.

“I need fifteen of you to travel north to a small town. The pony in charge of the place has been in correspondence with the two ponies who think they rule the Crystal Empire. My advice is to negotiate before you get into a fight, but if they are too far gone to come around, don't be afraid to be forceful.”

“Hmm, I am happy to go there, as I’m lucky enough to have been given training by some of the current and veteran Royal Guards in here,” Aurora tells me. “There are at least twenty five Solar Guards here who have volunteered, Princess.”

“That is wonderful,” I say, smiling. “But I think a few of them might have put their names down already, actually.”

“There's two or three from the Inner Circle here, Princess. Have any of them volunteered?”

“There are quite a few ponies from the Inner Circle who will be joining the ponies you select, Aurora.”

“That knocks Sunny Flare and Comet Trail off the list, then. But wait... I know she isn’t in the Inner Circle any more, but what about Astral Charm?”

“Astral Charm?” I ask, surprised. “I thought she was… Never mind.” There are more important things to do than wonder how she and her family survive in the most impossible situations. “How long has she been here for?”

“A couple of years now. Of course, the church wasn’t as big then as it is now.”

“I didn’t see her amongst everypony else, but if she would like to help out I would be happy to have her back.”

Eventually, I am given a list of fifteen ponies who are able to travel to the villages which have been the most troublesome. My mind is at ease, for all of them have been trained by Solar Guards or had experience working in the Royal Guard in the past. What has surprised me the most, however, is the presence of a few bat ponies, including Astral Charm. I had assumed that all of them hated me, but the fact that a few of them still care so much that they would come to this church and put their names forward for this mission means a great deal to me. Perhaps not all of them should be called vampires. Perhaps I can win back a few of them.

As long as they aren't told the entire story of the unfortunate events surrounding Golden Sunset, I can still succeed.