The Crimson-Red Star

Princess Celestia gazed out an open window in silence; she was overlooking the city of Canterlot from her bedchambers, the moon bathing the city in an illustrious whitish blue. The wind was pleasantly crisp and refreshing on her pristine white coat, and it filled her nose with a redolent, relishing scent, like how the earth smelled after a rain shower.

She closed her eyes for a moment before reopening them, then turned to a nightstand. Papers lay stacked upon it, of worries and concerns about the tremors affecting her dear nation. A burst of anxiety suddenly shot through her, and she took a moment to recollect herself.

Next to them was Raven Inkwell. The princess cracked a small smile; her dutiful friend was resting her head atop the nightstand, a couple of papers littered around her on the floor. She was letting out soft whinnying snores after attempting to stay up late with Celestia to assist her in getting through the plethora of documents, but her strength had finally given way, and she fell into the rapturous embrace of sleep. Watching her helped calm her worries.

Turning away from the window, Celestia coats Raven's body in magic, levitating her with ease and settling her down on the bed carefully. She tucked her friend in, stroking her mane softly. "Thank you for your aid, Raven," Celestia murmured into her friend's slumbering ears, which twitched once or twice before becoming still again. "Have a good night's sleep."

Princess Celestia headed back to the window and continued to stare out to the city once more. She thought about her sister, Luna, who had gone away to investigate the towns, cities, and any other areas affected by the tremors. It's been a few days since her sister left and already did Celestia began to miss her dearly. It seemed only yesterday she got Luna back on that fateful night, when Twilight, who was her pupil then, had gone with five other ponies to save her sister from being Nightmare Moon.

Many days had passed before then, and many, many years. There was blame, regret, self-hatred, and an unprecedented amount of sorrow and grief, all contained for a thousand years. When Luna was saved and returned, Celestia never wanted to let her go. Now her sister was out in the world again, searching for any clue that could help solve the mystery of the tremors. And Celestia was here, not knowing how far Luna went or how she was. She didn't know when her sister would return or if she even will.

"Stop scaring yourself," she chided softly, hovering a hoof across her chest and letting out a long exhaling breath. "Luna is not the little filly you once knew. She's older now; wiser. She can look after herself. But still, I..."

Shaking her head from these thoughts, Princess Celestia closed the window, suddenly feeling exhausted. She cantered to the side of her bed and sat down on the floor, laid her head next to Raven's and closed her eyes, inviting a world of sleep.

Opening her eyes, Celestia stood amongst a black void, the only source of light coming from her body. She peered down at the black surface and saw her reflection, shimmering and swaying. It was water, but she did not feel the dampness around her hooves. She had to be dreaming, but she found it perplexing. She wanted to dream of Luna or Flare Brimstone, but as she searched around the black void, there was nothing as far as her eyes could see.

"It's rare that I don't dream," she murmured to herself. "I have so much on my mind that it is nearly impossible to dream of nothing." Then she became confused. "So, what is going on here?"

A small sudden spark ignites in the near distance, catching Celestia's attention. It was a meager flame, though strong and seemed to burn everlasting. Entranced by the flame, she cantered toward it slowly, the burning light warm and inviting. When she approached it, the flame was a darkish red color, and the heat it irradiated was unnatural. But it looked beautiful, as if she had never seen something more beautiful in her entire life.

Celestia reached out with a hoof to touch the flame, her eyes swamped by its beckoning, flaring light. However, just before her hoof could grace even a fiery wisp, she regained her senses and swiped her hoof away, feeling shocked by the flame's allure.

"What manner of magic is this?" she questioned warily, veering her head around the void; there was nothing but darkness. She stepped away from the flame, feeling a tad unnerved. "What is this? Where has my mind taken me?"

Celestia heard the flame sputter and cackle, and she turned sharply to face it. The flame began to swirl and expand, its unnatural heat steadily increasing, twisting and morphing until it resembled the shape of a pony, a mare specifically, standing as tall as Luna.

The mare had a long horn and massive wings. She wore a sumptuously ornate amber-red dress that burned brightly with a pleasant glow, a long charcoal-colored mane, a wonderous coat mirroring a sunset, and clear crystal blue eyes that shimmered faintly with a scarlet light. Celestia could feel a daunting amount of power and magic emanating from this pony, but at least she knew one thing for certain: This was no mere dream. Not a regular one.

The gorgeous mare stared wordlessly at Celestia, never blinking. There was an intense and almost child-like focus in those scarlet-blue eyes.

"Who are you?" Celestia asked the mare curiously. If she was indeed dreaming, why would she dream of a pony she never met? "How are you here?"

The mare just tilted her head, dead silent and stone still for long moments. She then, rather suddenly, cantered forward until she was right in front of Celestia. The mare studied her closely, her oddly colored eyes scanning the princess's figure with absurd, unnatural quickness. She moved around her, examining at her wings, peering closely at her white coat, studying her cutie mark, scanning her magic-flowing mane and tail; everything.

"Are you...looking for something?" Celestia asked the mare, but her question seemed to be ignored. She was beginning to feel a tad awkward. "What are you looking for?"

When the mare made her way in front of Celestia, she backed away a few feet, leaned her head forward toward the black watery surface, and stared at it. Celestia looked down and saw nothing, even her own reflection was gone. Looking back, she saw the mare rear her head, something large building in her throat and making its way into her mouth. She then, without warning, vomited violently, spewing forth a deluge of lava from her mouth. The sudden, immense brightness nearly stunned her.

It spread around the princess quickly, surrounding her in an ocean of molten fire, and with the mare's horn glowing a dark red, rose it above them both, and created a spherical dome of lava. Seemingly amazed and appalled by this obscene feat of magic, Celestia attempted to teleport out of the lava dome to safety but found she couldn't. She was trapped, confined in a cage of molten lava with an alicorn of terrifying magic.

"What...?" Celestia murmured, bewildered that her magic didn't work. She gazed wide-eyed at the mare, who was staring eerily back. "What... What did you do?"

"Survive," the mare whispered, her silvery silky voice making its way into Celestia's ears. "Before the dream ends, show me your strength."

Without warning, the mare blitzed forward in a sudden whirl of bright, dark-red flames. Thinking quickly, Celestia casted a shield for protection, but it shattered immediately, propelling her with such sheer force, she crashed hard onto the black surface.

Celestia groaned painfully, picking herself up and coughing once or twice, her body giving off steam.

This mare means to murder me! Celestia thought to herself, dumbfounded. That magic is...not natural, it can't be. And why did it hurt so much? I should be stronger than this!

Weaving a magic circle in front of her, Celestia rears her head back and blew forth air through it. A searing torrent of fire came from the other side towards the mare, engulfing her in a roaring pillar of flame. But mere seconds later, the flames were blown away by a powerful gust of wind, and the mare stood unaffected.

Celestia was shocked. "Who are you?!" she demanded, her horn glowing for another attack. "Why are you here?!"

The mare responds by opening her mouth again, but instead of more lava, it was a billowing, creeping cloud of jet-black smoke, covering the lava dome in its thick haze. Celestia saw the smoke wreathe around her body and she suddenly buckled, almost losing her balance. She felt weakened, being sapped of her physical strength and losing power in her magic.

Celestia took a shuddering step back, swaying on her hooves but fighting to stand. She could feel her life slowly draining away. "Why are you doing this?" she demanded.

"Those spells you weave are not enough," the mare told her, looking bemused. "There... has to be more here. You have not yet embraced the flame?" She shook her head, seemingly disappointed. "Such lost magic, wholly ignored of its full potential and reduced to pitiful embers. Why would you wield fire magic if you are unwilling to embrace its power, sun goddess?"

Celestia narrowed her eyes, suspicious. "Fire magic is destructive, laced with temptation, and must be tempered with years of dedicated training, unless the caster wishes to lose herself," she retorted. "I have forgone my training centuries ago after mastering a spell I wish I hadn't; I was young and curious. Too curious. Fire magic is dangerous. I will not let the flames consume me!"

The mare shook her head again, not able to understand. "You shun such latent potential, tied down by morality and fear." A low chortle escaped her lips. "You have the capability to transform into a more powerful version of yourself, and yet you choose to not harness it. That spell you mastered... I know it."

Celestia's eyes grew wide. "How did you know?"

"With my eyes, I can see it," she responded, her scarlet-blue eyes shimmering with an unnatural light. "There's a flame within you; it festers deep, fettered and caged, yet unforgotten." The mare took a step forward. "One day, you will call upon that magical form whether you desire it or not. The earthshakes are just the beginning."

"What do you know about the tremors?" Celestia asked. This was her chance for some kind of answer to explain what's been going on. "Why are they happening?"

"They are naught but a prelude, but this is about you," the mare said, her hooves instantly bursting into flames. "I want to see how strong you are."

Celestia didn't understand. "But why?" she asked, unable to see the sense in fighting. "You were trying to kill me!"

The mare gave a light smirk. "Of course, how else would one's strength be tested if not pushed to the brink?" Her eyes began to glow an eerie red. "Little filly, won't you show me your flame?"

The mare's large wings became outstretched, and manifesting on the wingtips were magical spherical orbs, charging in a fiery, near-blindingly effulgence. Then they transformed into streams of bright burning light, and was shot from the wingtips, swirling through the empty air towards Princess Celestia.

Celestia punched her forehooves together, creating a red spark, and bathing them in an intense flame. She surged forward and deflected the streams of light with perfectly timed strikes, the beams of light hitting the watery black surface, exploding.

"That was quite adequate," the mare praised. "Show me more."

The mare's eyes lit up white and a thin beam erupted from them. It struck Celestia hard, yet she managed to block it, but she was struggling. She clenched her teeth; she tried to hold on, trying to direct the beam away, but the laser was too strong, and she was blown back again, crashing hard.

Celestia groaned and panted, suddenly short of breath. She had to do something, or she'll lose. The effect of the black smoke was gnawing at her strength, and she was rapidly getting tired.

The mare shook her head again, seemingly disappointed. "Why do you suppress the glorious magic of fire?" she questioned, genuinely confused. "You should be stronger than this; you studied fire magic since your adolescence, did you not? Despite your neglect of the magic, you should be more."

Celestia struggled off the ground. "I... realized how... how dangerous it could be," she said, coughing. "I had a dream once, of the one that lies inside me. It tried to claw itself out through my dream and take over my body, but it was thwarted by my sister's intervention, and I was able to regain control.

"Since then, I made sure to master that spell so that the other me couldn't try to fight back; I chained and caged it. After that, I ceased all of my training. I was fearful of losing control. And besides, I do not need to rely on that particular spell to protect and serve my ponies."

The mare just sighed. "I had felt a kinship with you, sun goddess, I really did," she said, landing on the watery surface. "While you taught yourself the ancient arcana, I was born from it. We were connected in our ties with fire magic."

"Born?" Celestia echoed. "What are you?"

The mare chuckled. "Born in flame, molded into what you see now; a construct," she said.

At least she got some measure of information. "Why are you doing this?" Celestia asked.

"It is mere indulgence and curiosity guiding my hooves, I assure you," she replied, waving a dismissive hoof in the air. "I wanted to see the flame being wielded by you, but you seem to disregard such beauty. It is a shame. But I am not yet finished with you."

The mare's horn glowed, and a torrent of flame shot from it towards Celestia. The princess charged forward, horn first, determined to fight back. She had to end the fight somehow, but she knew that whoever this mare is, will not be beaten so easily. Celestia wasn't sure if the mare could be beaten, but she had to keep fighting.

Colliding with the intense torrent of flame, Celestia manages to pierce and split it in two. She kept charging forward, harder and faster, coating her hooves in blistering fire. She had never needed to use so much of her fire magic before, but she had to tap into the depths of her training and bring out old spells she hadn't utilized in centuries.

When she could see the mare through the gush of flames her horn had rent, Celestia leapt into the air, the fire around her hooves quickly engulfing her body into a massive orb of flame, and she began her fiery descent toward the mare, coming down like a meteor.

"Now that is what I was looking for; finally!" she exclaimed excitedly, laughing. "Just think what you can do if you didn't shun this magic, sun goddess! Doesn't it feel amazing?!"

The mare didn't even try to defend herself, in fact she spread out her body to welcome the attack head-on. It struck her hard, engulfing her body in a massive fiery explosion, blowing away all of the lava around both her and Celestia, dissipating it into oblivion. When the fire subsided from Celestia's attack, she was standing over the body of the mare, panting.

The mare was as still as stone, and seemingly, hopefully, deftly beaten. She stared unblinking at Celestia's panting figure. The princess of the sun was weakened and tired; never before had she needed to exert herself so much in centuries. Not even her sister could have forced her to fight like this or Flare Brimstone, and it all happened so quickly; the fight was brief but so painful, and Celestia felt as if she would keel over any second.

"Why did you stand there?" Celestia asked the mare, still panting. "Why did you let me hit you?!"

The mare wasn't smiling anymore; her stone face conveyed none of that seemingly passionate emotion mere seconds ago, as if it had never been. It was so abrupt that Celestia felt even more unsettled than she had been.

"I was enraptured by the flame's beauty," the mare whispered, her voice layered with reverence. "A student who abandoned her studies could still wield fire magic so adeptly is more than just admirable. It is glorious." Her eyes snapped to Celestia's. "It is a shame you never finished. You are strong, both physically and magically; you are an alicorn layered with potential."

"Enough about the magic!" Celestia spat crossly, slamming a hoof close to the mare's face, but she did not flinch. "Why are the tremors happening around my nation? How did you invade my dreams?! Answer me, please! Ponies are getting scared; I don't know why or how this is happening!"

"I can go where I please, and I told you the tremors are nothing but a prelude."

"A prelude to what?!" Celestia demanded. "Cities and towns and villages are being struck by these tremors. I feel they'll grow in intensity if nothing is done about it. Tell me what you know!"

"Something is coming," the mare answered numbly. "Something glorious and grand." Her unique eyes shimmered with sudden emotion. "It's beautiful..."

"What is?" Celestia pressed. "Have you seen it? Is it the one responsible for the tremors?"

"Oh, I have," the mare whispered, shuddering with anticipation. "When it comes back, you'll see beauty in its grandest form!"

"Comes back?" Celestia echoed, confused. "Has something like this happened before? What else do you know? Tell me!"

"No," the mare spoke. "No, no... you will see eventually."

Celestia narrowed her eyes. "What do you know that you are not telling me?"

"Anything I have to say will not help you in any meaningful way," the mare answered, but it just made Celestia even more vexed. "You can't prepare for this; what will transpire cannot be prevented." The mare's eyes began to glow an eerie red and a blazing scowl suddenly found its way on her face. "Not this time."

"What do you-"

Before Celestia could question her further, a flash of light engulfed her vision, and she found herself being flung back with such incredible force that it knocked the wind out of her. She slid on the watery surface to a sickening halt.

"You've done well to survive, little filly," the mare praised, standing up and straightening her dress. "Unfortunately, it is time to depart. We will meet again, but in the waking world when the time comes. Farewell."

A flash of light overcame Celestia's vision, prompting her to look away. When the light subsided, she suddenly found herself awake in the real world, and she could hear Raven Inkwell's voice and feeling her tug lightly on her coat.

"R-Raven?" she sputtered in confusion, groggy with sleep.

"Celestia, you need to raise the sun," she told her, looking disconcerted. "I've been trying to wake you up, but you haven't been responding at my attempts to do so. I was going to go get a doctor."

Celestia was confused. Was it already time to raise the sun? But that couldn't be, she wasn't even asleep for ten minutes. And she didn't feel rested at all, in fact she felt aches all over her body.

The fight took place in a dream, so why do I still feel pain?

Celestia stood up from the floor, almost losing her balance if it wasn't for Raven supporting her. She suppressed a cough and tried to control her breath. Though weak and in pain, she could slowly start to feel her strength returning.

"Goodness Celestia, what's wrong?!" Raven asked, sounding worried. "You look as if you've been in a fight."

"It feels like it," she mumbled. "Don't worry, I am well. Get me to the window, will you?"

Complying, Raven helped guide Celestia over to the window where she was looking out previously before she had the dream. She raised her head and used her magic to slowly bring the sun into the sky. Closing her eyes, she felt the warmth of the sun on her pristine white coat just over the horizon. Somehow, it helped dull the aches she felt.

"Celestia?" said Raven after a stretch of silence. "Are you okay?"

"I am," she answered, turning away from the window and towards her bedroom door to leave.

"What about the documents detailing the tremors?" Raven pressed, trotting over to the nightstand. "We can't ignore these. And where are you going?"

Celestia wanted to go to the royal archives. After facing that mare in her dream and learning just a little about what's going on in Equestria, she wanted to check if there were any books that could be of help. But regular books wouldn't be useful at all; Celestia needed to peruse the restricted section of the archives to maybe find the tiniest hint of answers.

The mare spoke of something that was coming. Something like this has happened before, but it had to have occurred before Celestia was born. Some of the books in the restricted section of the archives date back before her inception. Perhaps one of those books could be useful.

"Grab the documents from the nightstand and come with me," she told Raven Inkwell. "We are going to the archives."

Raven scrambled the documents together in a neat pile, then she balanced them on her back. She trotted up to Celestia, curious. "Why are we heading there? Do you think some of the books can help us?"

"Yes, I do," Celestia said. "The dream I had gave me a few ideas."