Birthrights

Trust

        Celestia gazed into her mirror,but it did not reflect as a normal mirror, as you would expect, but rather reflected the events that had just occurred the small town outside Canterlot. She sighed, Luna... Don’t do anything you will come to regret...she thought, Not out of any reason but care for Luna. Luna herself believed that what she would come to do was good, she planned to give a new chance to these homeless, hopeless, foals.

        “Foals, might you all have names?” she asked the group she was soaring with.

        “No ma’am, we don’ got names,” the pink filly explained, “also, not to be rude, but could we land? I’m gettin’ mighty tired.”

        “Yes, we may, we have reached our objective, dear,” she responded, as she gracefully flew down to the clearing within the center of a forest, which we would come to know soon as the Everfree Forest.

        “So, ma’am, why did you take us all the way out here into the middle of plum nowhere?” the grey foal asked, looking a slight bit annoyed.

        “Destiny, my dear child, I hope for each of you to aid me.” She sighed, smiling at the cluster of foals, “Most pony folk shun the night and the shadow it brings, while you five embraced it. I wish to embrace you, as you so openly did me,” She finished, her voice echoing a tender melody. the foals were hypnotized, but not mindless, as cause of her words.

        “You five will learn your name and gain your Cutie Mark. You all will be my warriors, My own Wonderbolts. Much like my sister also has,” she continued, smiling at the foals, who seemed fairly excited about the idea. “What might you think of this?” the other ponies nodded ecstatically, proud to be picked by this royal mare.

~

        “Why does Tia get personal guards?” a young Luna complained to their guardian, a scribe and oracle.

        “She holds more importance, young one. in time you will have your points, but few will know your name,” responded the cloaked and ancient unicorn, which caused Luna to begin to tear up. Celestia, who was standing to the side, and bowing up, confronted the rude mannered oracle.

        “Luna is just as important as me! If she doesn’t get the same treatment as me, I don’t even want it!” she exclaimed aggravated. The elder in response, stood up and Celestia popped into the air, suspended by magic.

        “Learn your place, girl, you are not princess yet. You will be guarded and she will not, whether you choose for or against it!” The oracle demanded. Who looked menacing in the shadow of her hood, her horn glowed faintly beneath it. Soon she released her, Celestia made a noise akin to a growl, and walked out, Luna followed close.

        “I’m sorry, Luna, I tried...” She apologized, Luna looked down to the tiles as they walked.

        “It’s fine, she’s right, you're more important, you will raise the sun, while I merely raise the moon,” she sighed, stopping and sitting in the hall in between the two princesses bedrooms.

        “But the moon is important! It lights the black night for the creatures and ponies, it comforts the homeless in their depressing slumber. It creates beautiful images on rivers and lakes, and shifts the tides of the oceans for the fish!” she stated, attempting to cheer her down.

        “I know...” Luna whispered before she departed to her room to sleep. Celestia stood, having felt a new sensation, failure. She hated it.For this reason she did not sleep as soundly as the others in the palace that night.

~

Luna sat watching the foals flying in the dark forest swerving and dodging tree limbs with precision and ease.

        “Good, good! faster my children, you will be the fastest!” She commemorated. They began to try to fly even faster, one of them excelling much quicker, his dark color blending him with the shadows of the forest. He was a spirit.

        “Blue one, may I speak to you, please?” Luna requested, the foal lighting down in front of her.

        “Yes ma’am? Is there something you might need?” he responded, his voice and accent more regal than the other orphans.

        “You are well-spoken foal, and deserving of a name,” Luna commemorated, the blue pony maintaining his composure, but seeming very excited about it still.

        “The fastest of your friends, and the quickest through the shadows of night, I decree your name to be, Night Flare,” Luna regally announced, her voice flooding over the unlit clearing. “And you will lead your friends, as I lead you.” Night Flare bowed his head, and in a quiet voice, thanked the princess, and returned to flying. The princess once again, proudly watched them.

~

        The next morning, Celestia stood in the palace hall before five pegasi dressed in yellow and blue suits, The Wonderbolts.

        “Wonderbolts, I wish you to monitor Luna, I fear for her. She is confused on her emotions, so please watch her and protect her.” Celestia commanded to the Wonderbolts

        “Yes ma’am,” they responded in unison, and quick as lightning, departed from the palace to attend their normal duties, plus the most recent. Luna walking under them as they flew.

        “Hello sister, I have returned,” she greeted, Celestia responded with a nod and smile.

        “Yes, I see, where have you been off to?” she pried, hoping for the truth quickly.

        “I watched the towns, as I should, and patrolled the palace for threats. I found none worth note,” she lied, Celestia flinching when the instant she began it. “Now I am tired so I will rest. farewell, “ she finished with a yawn, and exited the palace hall quickly. Celestia sighing sadly, worried for her sister.A guard standing by had noticed her sigh, and spoke up with a honest question,

        “Is something wrong, ma’am?” the princess glancing over to him,

        “No, I am just hoping for small mistakes, and not massive failures,” she sighed in response. The guard, even though he did not fully understand, nodded his head and turned back to watching the palace hall doors.

~

 as morning approached, a young Celestia and Luna sat in the priors room upon her bed, flicking through a large brown book of rules with a royal crest embossed in gold upon it. The book they would have to memorize to become proper princesses and rule.

        “A princess must ALWAYS hold her head high, a sober princess will appear weak where a monument of power must stand,” Celestia read aloud, Luna vaguely listening.

        “Is something wrong, Luna?” asked the soon-to-be princess. Luna in turn, shook her head, muttering a feint “no,”

“I’m still stuck on that mean old oracle though...” she pouted, shoving her face into the sheets of the bed

        “Don’t mind her, she is exactly that, mean and old, even the wisest eyes can become blind,” Celestia bubbly joked. She noticed once more that her sister had not grown happier, so pulled her face and ears down and walked around grumbling in a deep mocking voice,

        “Gruh, I’m an old oracle, I tell the future and stuff, all of you must bow to me, or I’ll make you float!” She imitated, at which Luna quietly laughed at.

        “And either way, we are both greatly important,” she cheered. Though Luna still looked upset, so she proposed an offer, “How about you raise the sun, and I raise the moon and stars, I will even teach you!” Luna looked up and, smiling, nodded. They stood up and raced each other out to the palace deck.