The Beginning of Harmony

Chapters

Wings
Catch
Celestial
Secrets and Lies
Maelstrom

Wings

The sun crested over the horizon, casting a beautiful golden gleam on the early morning dew. The moisture clung desperately to the long grass in the fields and the trees encircling the bustling city. The scent of fresh grass and blooming flowers filled the air, mingling with the distant aroma of wood stoves coming from the city. This natural beauty was only outdone by the enormous wall that surrounded the metropolis, as if to embrace the city in an overly protective hug.

A lone Pegasus walked slowly toward the eastern city gate. The cool, crisp air brushed against her fur, while the chirping of birds formed a cadence with her hoofsteps. The blinding light behind her reflected a beautiful blue hue off her steel-colored fur. Her blond mane waved slightly in the gentle breeze. As she took in the sight of the towering city grew ever closer, she stared down at her trotting hooves. She hummed a pleasant tune that her family had passed down to her. the melody managed to be a small distraction from the imposing walled city that seemed ready to strike at any moment.

"Silverwing!" a voice called from behind her. She stopped her gentle hum, her nerves flaring briefly before being replaced by a sense of annoyance.

Silverwing quickened her pace, her fear of entering the Unicorn capital city surpassed only by her desire to avoid...

"S.W.!" exclaimed a vibrant teal Earth Pony as she dashed alongside Silverwing. The palpable passion in her voice rivaled only the relentless grind of Silverwing's teeth.

Trying to disregard her having shouted directly by her right ear, Silverwing came to an abrupt stop. She pivoted to confront the exuberant Earth pony. "Hey, Bright Breeze... Good to see you again," Silverwing replied, her voice carrying a strained veneer of friendliness.

Ever lighthearted, Bright failed to detect the unmistakable annoyance in Silverwing's voice. "It's been ages since we last met!" she exclaimed with a wide grin. "I've missed my best friend so much—I was afraid I'd never see you again," she added, her tone wavering between concern and elation.

Silverwing sighed audibly. "We're not best friends, and it does seem rather odd for an Earth pony like you to be friends with a Pegasi like me." Bright's smile faded, giving way to an almost exaggerated frown. Silverwing hesitated for a moment, before reluctantly echoing the familiar affirmation she'd uttered on every encounter with Bright. "Alright, fine, we're friends, Bright," she muttered, hurriedly satisfying the sensitive pony. she turned her attention back to their path, Silverwing walked alongside Bright toward the swiftly approaching gate.

Bright's quickly regained her positive demeanor. "You know, I'm glad that the unicorns only permit Earth ponies and Pegasi into the city for trade once a month. Otherwise, I would never get to see you." Silverwing gave her a slight smile in response as they finally reached the gate.

Two rough looking stallion guards stood at attention just outside the gate. Silverwing's looked about nervously, trying anything to fixate on other than the imposing blue unicorn, desperate to avoid eye contact. Similarly, Bright Breeze's vibrant energy waned noticeably as they stopped in front of the guards.

"Papers?" demanded the guard, while the other guard stood back, seemingly uninterested in the interaction, but still managing a small grin as he watched.

"Yes, of course," the two ponies replied in unison as they began to rummage through their backpacks. The unicorn's glare intensified as they fumbled through their belongings.

"You should have had your paperwork ready before reaching the gate. I have every right to reject your entry today," the unicorn spat out with disdain.

"There you are" Finally finished with her mad search, Silverwing grabbed her documents proving that she was in the pegusi merchant guild with her wing and thrust it towards the unicorn who was already looking through the identification of Bright Breeze. The second guard gave a small grin at the two ponies, while the blue unicorn gave a look of disgust at the out stretched wing.

"He seemed to hesitate before even taking the papers, the sound of magic whirring filled the air as he finally yanked them away with his magic. He studied the documents for an unusually long time before levitating them back to the pair. 'Your papers are in order, but I'm afraid I can't let you in today.'"

Silverwing and Bright Breeze gave each other a look of surprise. Silverwing took a step forward. "why not? Everything is in order and it's the first day of the month".

He shook his head. "Today is special, I can't let you in, it would..."

"Let them through," lazily interjected the bright orange guard, who had been lounging with a smug grin until now. She met his gaze. His right eye was a bright sky blue, and his left eye was a deep sunset orange, which softened his demeanor compared to his counterpart's.

He approached the other guard and seemed to stare him down for a moment before the blue furred guard relented and slowly nodded.

Both guards turned to face the towering steel door. With a glow from their horns and the high pitched sound of their magic, the doors shuttered open. A loud groan filled the air as steel scrapped against stone, finally reaching their resting position.

The two young ponies exchanged nervous glances and proceeded to trot through the open gate. With a loud clang, the door slammed shut behind them causing them both to jump.

Their nervousness brought on the odd behavior of the guards rapidly recessed as they found themselves in an odd scene. Unicorns ran about excitedly, each one with a smile on their face as they raced back and forth, oddly oblivious to their presence. Bright Breeze raised her hoof in an attempt to get some ponies attention. "Excuse me" she stated as a young mare raced by, oblivious to her presence. "Excuse me" she uttered in a slightly louder tone, but was once again ignored as another unicorn raced past. Silverwing stepped into the path of a rapidly approaching mare who came skidding to a stop just short of her. "What's going on?" She asked with a more assertive tone.

The unicorns eyes seemed to lock on her wings for a few seconds before returning to her face to find a bemused stare. The unicorn smiled, "today is a celebration of celebrations, even a bird brain like you should be overjoyed on such a momentous occasion." Leaving Silverwing with a stunned expression on their face as the unicorn sped off and left Silverwing stunned and speechless.

Bright Breeze stared blankly in response to the awkward exchange. "That was extremely rude for her to say" she said as shook off her shock at the unicorn's words. Silverwing was even more bewildered, her face was in static confusion. She snapped out of it as she shook her head breaking herself free of the absurdity of it. "Unicorns are weird. let's just get to market and deliver our goods".

The two mares turned back towards the main path, fighting their way towards the marketing district. "What is going on, and why are these so many ponies out of their homes?" She asked aloud. Bright Breeze didn't respond, nor could she do so regardless. The roar of the crowd around them was fairly deafening.

Finally, after navigating through the surging crowd they arrived at their destination. They stepped into the open space normally reserved for merchants. They expected to be greeted by the smells of freshly baked bread, the sounds of clinking metal as coins were exchanged and the faces of a deluge of angry merchants ready to trade with anypony brave, or parhaps reckless traders. Except today there were no vendors or stalls, no low hum of speech as ponies bartered and haggled. Instead in their place was a huge crowd of unicorns looking up towards the outer balcony of the castle.

Silverwing grumbled. "Why did the guards even bother to let us in if there was no trading going on today?" She thought aloud, as her frustration grew rapidly. Bright Breeze seemed to hear this and gave a slight nod. "Well, let's just leave then, we'll have to bring twice as many goods next month, it means we get to spend even more time together trading next month!" She said with a grin. Silverwing rolled her eyes. She began to turn away but before she could move, the crowd behind her surged, and pushed both ponies forward.

Bright Breeze shook her head. "I don't think we're getting out SIlver, just look at the crowd behind us." Silverwing turned her head to access their surroundings and it was true. It was tail to snout as more ponies shuffled into the marketing circle with hundreds of ponies streamed in by the minute. "Don't worry, I'm sure this will be fun" remarked Bright Breeze with absolute certainty.

Silverwing went to make a snide comment but was drowned out by the sound of trumpets. Their roar silenced the crowed as two ponies stepped out onto the exterior balcony and looked down at the crowd.

There were quiet murmurs from the surrounding crowd as two ponies stepped onto the balcony which hung over the crowd. "It's the prince and princess" one pony next to Silverwing whispered aloud to herself, "I've never seen them with my own eyes". Silverwing became a bit nervous at this realization. What exactly was going on she wondered as she looked up at the pair. The princess had an alabaster coat, the sun reflected off her bright coat with an overwhelming light almost as blinding as her radiant beauty. She smiled down at the crowd while giving a subtle wave with her hoof.

The prince on the other hood seemed reserved. He bore a striking dark blue blue coat, so little light reflected off of him it was almost like looking at the night sky. He slowly scanned the crowd with a stoic expression, he stopped for a moment to stare at Silverwing. His eyes felt as though they were piercing into her very soul. After a few seconds of what felt like an eternity he continued his scan of the crowd. He finally stopped his survey when the princess spoke up.

Despite her delicate appearance, her voice boomed through the crowd. "Thank you all for coming today to celebrate this momentous occasion - the birth of our twin daughters. The crowd erupted into a deafening roar. A guard standing behind the princess stepped forward, he hovered something towards the princess his horn. Silverwing was able to spot something wrapped in white blanket as it was passed to the princess. The princess lifted what she held above her for all to see as the guard pulled back the blanket to reveal a unicorn foal. "I'd like to introduce princess Celestia!" The crowds volume intensified into a deafening cheer as the princess held the foal above her. She bore a striking resemblence her mother, the blindingly bright coat, the beautiful purple and pink eyes and the pink mane. The foal started to cry, which prompted the princess to bring her back down. She gave Celestia a hug and pass her back to the guard.

A second guard similarly carried presumably the other foal under another white sheet. The guard approached the princess but paused for a moment, he looked over at the prince with uncertainty but was met with a firm nod.

He passed the foal under the sheet to the princess, who once again pulled away the sheet as she lifted the foal over her head for the crowd to behold. "Finally, I'd like you all to meet princess Luna!" She shouted, but the crowd did not echo the excitement in her voice as they had with Celestia and instead had adhered to a sudden tense silence. Thousands of ponies surrounded them but no sound could be heard. Silverwing scanned the young foal. She looked almost identical to her father, her coat was as dark of a blue as the night is long and she had the same piercing teal eyes, but something was off. A distinction that had driven the crowd Into their deadly silence.

The quietude was finally broken by an awestruck Silverwing. "She's a... she's a pegusi". The ponies around them seemed to suddenly realize the two weren't unicorns and stared at them with a vengeful fury in their eyes. A loud booing erupted from the crowed, the intensity growing more intense rapidly as a princess lowered Luna, her expression crestfallen as she passed Luna off to a guard who quickly whisked her inside. Silverwing turned to Bright Breeze, her eyes beamed with urgency, "we need to leave. right. now."

Bright Breeze nodded as they turned and began to push their way through the crowd. "Drop your bags, this crowed is turning ugly, we need to get out of the city immediately" reluctantly they tossed their goods to the ground, the entire reason they were in the city to begin with. Both ponies pushed their way through the crowed; being met with stares that felt like daggers as they pressed forward. After a determined effort they finally arrive at the gate, only to find it locked tight, and no guards present to magically open the huge steel door.

Bright Breeze feigned a smile, "how are we supposed to get out?" she asked nervously as her eyes darted about, finally landing on a set of stairs along the edge of the outer wall leading to top. "There!" she shouted, her voice was equal parts nervous and excited, "we can climb to the top and you can fly us down".

Silverwing froze. She shook her head and looked away. "Bright, I can't... I know it's weird for a pegusi my age to say this, but... I can't fly." She looked shamefully down at the ground. "My wings are unusually heavy." She stuttered out. "My wings have a strip of silver running through them, and it makes it almost impossible for me to fly. it's where I got my name".

Bright Breeze stared at SilverWing for a moment as she processed this new information. "Can you glide?" Silver gave Bright Breeze a curious look. "Can you glide?" She repeated. "We don't need to fly, we just need to get to the ground safely". Silver Wing gave a small nod. "Ok, that'll be enough".

This realization seemed to snap Silverwing out of her self pity. "Ok, let's go" she muttered as the two proceeded to ascent the stairs. Each step seemed to take eternity as the crowd below had not relented in their shouting and jeers. They Finally reached the top step and they were able to overlook the treeline below. Before she could breath a sigh of relief, Bright Breeze jumped onto Silverwings back, causing silverwing to grunt from the sudden strain on her body, eager to flee. Silverwing stepped over the edge of the wall, she would only need to glide for a few seconds to get to safety. She repeated that in her head a few times before she took a few short breaths and steeled her nerves.

She strained her muscles to lift her wings outward. she closed her eyes and took a step off the ledge. She felt her stomach shift upward as began to fall. To her chagrin, they descended faster than she had predicted, her body screamed as she strained to keep her wings outstretched and avoid meeting the ground with an abrupt stop.

Her efforts were not enough.

after a few seconds of gliding her wings gave out. Both ponies shouted as they began to free fall. with some semblance of maneuvering she had managed to steer them over a tree. They tumbled through the branches, and seemingly every branch struck them as they they fell before they hit the ground with a loud thump. They both groaned as they struggled to stand up. They patted themselves down to make sure there was no serious injuries but only found cuts and bruises, while the faint smell of pine gave the shaken ponies some semblance of solace. Silverwing rubbed her flank where a large branch had struck her "It's going to hurt to walk tomorrow" she said with a small smile before finally letting out a joyful sigh. Their ordeal was over. She turned to Bright Breeze. "Head back to your tribe and let them know what happened. This is huge news, I'll do the same with mine" she said with a stern tone before she started to trot away.

"Wait!" cried Bright Breeze causing Silverwing to look back. "Does this mean I don't get to see my best friend once a month anymore?" she asked with an excessive frown.

Silverwing Rolled her eyes. "We're not..." She paused to look at the stressed out Earth Pony. She saw the cuts and disheveled fur that now covered Bright Breeze's body. She paused and glanced at herself and finally came to the realization of how badly hurt they both were as she examined her cuts more closely, and how lucky they had been that they weren't hurt worse. "I mean, I'm sure we'll see each other again Bright" she said with a uncharacteristically warm smile, "Come on, let's go, we can trot together for a bit before we go in our separate directions. Bright Breeze smiled as they made their way away from the city side by side while Silverwing hummed her favorite tune.

Author's Note

Post prologue will be from the perspectives of Luna and Celestia.

Catch

18 years later.

As the first light of dawn crept over the horizon; the crisp cold of the night rapidly yielded to the warmth of the new day. The crisp morning air still carried a hint of dew, which mingled with the faint aroma of dry soil. The silence was abruptly shattered by a sharp, echoing shout. "I’m stuck!" Luna shouted as she dangled precariously from a third-story window.

Star Swirl and Celestia watched from below as Luna struggled to get through the third story window. Unfortunately, her rear had become lodged while attempting to squeeze through the narrow opening.

Celestia's mouth hung open, while Star Swirl couldn't stop himself from laughing.

Meanwhile Luna squirmed back and forth, trying to inch herself out of the clearly too narrow window. "Are you laughing at me?" demanded an annoyed Luna. "Celestia, please hoof him upside the head for me" she growled. Which seemed to only cause him to laugh even harder.

Celestia turned to Star Swirl, as though she was seriously contemplating Luna’s suggestion, but her thought was quickly forgotten as Luna continued to shout. "Be quiet; we do not want to be discovered by a guard," she whispered up at Luna. Star Swirl had come to his senses and placed his hoof over his mouth to muffle himself, but he continued his laughter albeit quietly.

After an impressive display of wriggling and the loss of numerous hairs from her flanks, Luna managed to squeeze through the window. However, she quickly realized to her dismay that she was on the third floor as she began to plummet.

Celestia had failed to take her own advice of quietude and shouted, "Flap, Luna, flap!"

She let out a desperate shout, her voice cut through the air. Luna tried move her wings, but her feeble attempts to flap her wings proved inadequate. As the ground rushed towards her with an alarming speed, a wave of panic surged through her. She wrapped her wings tightly around herself, she drew them close as if to shield against the impending collision. With her eyes squeezed shut, she braced herself for the inevitable impact.

But the impact never came. Instead, she was enveloped by the faint, reassuring sound of familiar magic. "Open your eyes, Luna," Celestia's voice came softly as it gently cut through the tension. Luna hesitated, and slowly opened her eyes. To her surprise, she found herself hanging upside down, held gently in place by a visibly anxious Celestia. With a delicate and reassuring motion, Celestia adjusted her position, setting her back upright with a soothing grace.

A grin spread across Star Swirl’s face as he looked at the disheveled Luna. “I taught her to do that,” he said with a touch of pride and his voice filled with overconfidence.

Luna shot him a fierce glare. “So she gets the advantage of some so-called brilliant teacher,” she snapped, her voice tinged with frustration. “And here I am, without anypony to teach me how to fly.” Star Swirl's grin faded, and he looked away, clearly taken aback. “Also, It’s odd that you’d want to join us. After all, you are our teacher,” Luna grumbled. Her frustration bubbled over as she muttered under her breath, “Having a magic teacher doesn't do me any good.”

“As a brilliant teacher, I’m only two years older than you,” Star Swirl said with a teasing smirk, oblivious to Luna's temperament. Luna’s glare seemed to intensify at his remark, her frustration was on the verge of boiling over. Just as she was about to retort, Celestia intervened. “Alright, enough of that,” Celestia interjected firmly. “The whole point of sneaking Luna out was for her to have some fun, not for you two to bicker.” Both Star Swirl and Luna nodded in agreement. “Now, let’s get going. We’re going to have an amazing time at the fair,” Celestia declared with uncontainable excitement. “I bet there’ll be cake!” said Celestia with intense enthusiasm, Luna’s eyes briefly darted to Celestia’s rear and lingered on her hindquarters for a moment before snapping back to her face. “Shut up, Luna,” Celestia said sharply, her tone carrying a mix of annoyance and embarrassment.

Luna chuckled softly, finding some cheer in her sister’s sugary obsession. “I didn’t say anything,” she said with a playful tone, as she started to trot toward the main road.

“Hold up a second,” Star Swirl said, his voice tinged with concern which caused Luna to pause. He swiftly removed his robe and draped it over her, hiding her wings and making her face less visible. “Sorry about this,” he added sincerely, the first genuine words he had spoken thus far. With a flicker of his illusionary magic, a false horn materialized at the top of her head. “Alright, let’s get going,” he said with a grin. “We’re heading to the fair to watch your sister get sick from eating too many sweets. It will be fun.”

“I heard that,” Celestia grumbled as they headed towards the direction of the loud crowd.

Luna looked down nervously, attempting to make herself appear small between Celestia and Star Swirl. Her heart raced at the thought of being discovered, fearing that it could mean being sent back to the castle—or worse. A shiver of anxiety ran through her as she heard a murmur from the crowd. “That’s the princess,” stated a voice as it cut through the crowed. Luna instinctively took a step back, trying to hide behind Celestia, her stomach sank as she feared she’d been identified—and she had only just left the castle she thought. To her surprise, a group of ponies approached her, only to walk right past. They stopped instead in front of Celestia, who was greeted with respectful bows. “Good morning, Princess,” one of them said warmly. “Thank you for gracing us with your presence at our humble fair.”

Celestia quickly put on a practiced smile. “Thank you, everypony. I hope you all enjoy the fair today,” she said warmly. With a few more friendly hoof waves, the crowd seemed satisfied and began to disperse. Luna let out a relieved sigh, her tension eased. Meanwhile, Star Swirl struggled to suppress a grin, clearly amused by the situation.

“Every time I go out, I get mobbed,” Celestia said with a sigh, her tone hinting at frustration. “It can get pretty annoying.” Luna shot her a dirty look. Oblivious to her sister’s mood, Celestia continued enthusiastically, “Let’s head to the food stalls. I bet they’ll have all sorts of cakes, pies, and sweets…”

“...and maybe some actual food,” Luna interjected, which Celestia to blush slightly.

“Yes, I suppose that too,” Celestia agreed with a giggle. As she began to trot in the direction of the enticing aroma of freshly baked goods as their hooves clicked rhythmically on the cobblestone streets. They entered the bustling food court, where stalls and stands stretched as far as the eye could see. Without pausing to survey the options, Celestia dashed to the first stall she spotted and eagerly began bartering for any sweets available.

Star Swirl chuckled softly. “I see where your sister's priorities are. Let’s find a place to sit. I’m sure your sister will get more than enough for all of us.” Luna nodded in agreement as they made their way to a table that smelled faintly of cheap food and bleach. As they settled in, Luna let out a frustrated groan. “This cloak is so awkward. I hate having to constantly hide these stupid things,” she muttered, giving her wings a gentle flap in annoyance.

“I think they’re cute,” Star Swirl replied with a cheesy grin. Before Luna could form a response to this odd comment, Celestia arrived, her hooves loaded with a monstrous array of desserts. She slammed them down on the table, It was though a deluge of the heaviest and most colorful rain had poured across the table in a chaotic display.

Luna and Star Swirl watched in horror as Celestia tackled the mountain of sweets with a voraciousness that could make even a manticore feel disgusted. Her enthusiasm for the sugar seemed as boundless as her is stomach is deep as the mountain rapidly eroded.

“Um… did you get us anything?” Luna finally asked after watching her sister eat for a moment, her voice tinged with concern as she watched her sister devour the immense number of sweets, but received no response. “As… interesting as it is to watch you gorge yourself, I didn’t sneak out just to see you make a glutton out of yourself.” Her comment, however, seemed to fall on deaf ears.

“Don’t worry, Luna,” Star Swirl interjected, his voice reassuring. “I’ve been working on a new spell that should help us here.” His horn began to glow faintly, accompanied by the familiar whirring sound of magic. With a soft popping noise, two hayburgers appeared before them along with a couple drinks. “It’s a new spell I’m developing,” Star swirl explained with a smile. “It’s called teleportation. It allows me to move objects instantly with magic, although right now, I can only manage to do it with small items.” He took a satisfied sip of his drink. “I do so love a good orange juice.”

“Thank you,” Luna said gratefully as she took a bite of her burger. “It’s nice to have something other than castle food once in a while.” Celestia paused her frenzied eating just long enough to give a subtle nod of acknowledgment before diving back into her rapidly diminishing pile of treats. Luna finished her own food just in time to see the last piece of cake vanish into the abyss that Celestia called her mouth.

“Let’s get more cake!” Celestia proclaimed with enthusiastic abandon, her eyes gleamed with joy.

"NO!" cried Luna and Star Swirl in unison.

Realizing she was outvoted, Celestia considered the next best option. “Alright, then, let’s go play some games. It’ll be fun!” She suggested with a bright smile.

Luna gave a small smile at the suggestion. “Let’s try that game,” she said, nodding towards a ring toss booth.

Celestia shook her head 'no' "those games are always rigged Luna."

Luna nodded confidently. “I know, but I have a plan to beat the system.” Celestia gave her a skeptical side-eye for a moment but ultimately shrugged it off and turned toward the game, and trotted in its direction.

A shifty-looking yellow mare stood at the ring toss booth, her forced grin barely concealed her eagerness to scam anypony—princess or not. “Good morning, Princess,” she said with a half-bow, her tone dripping with a false politeness. “Would you like to try your luck at this game of chance?”

Celestia eyed the mare suspiciously but tossed a few bits onto the table. In response, she was handed a trio of rings. With a flicker of magic, Celestia lifted the first ring, a familiar hum filling the air as her horn glowed brightly.

Celestia twisted her head as she instinctively leaned into the throw. The ring bounced off the tip of the bottle with a clang, eliciting a chuckle from Star Swirl and a sharp, dirty look from Celestia. Star Swirl quickly turned his head to hide his laughter. Celestia tossed another ring, then another, each one bouncing off decisively and was followed by insidious laughter from yellow mare. She turned to Luna with a resigned expression. “See? This game is impossible to actually win.”

Luna grinned smugly. “Try again,” she said confidently. “I’ve got a plan.”

Celestia looked slightly puzzled. She turned back to the counter and placed more bits on the table.

Celestia lifted the first ring and hurled it towards the bottle with a practiced flick of her horn. As she watched the ring curve through the air, she felt a sudden gust of air from behind her. The ring curved at the last instant and landed perfectly atop the bottle with a satisfying clink. Celestia turned to see Luna standing nearby, her face had lit up with a triumphant grin. In contrast, Star Swirl stood beside her, his expression was tight with anxiety. He shook his head vigorously at Luna, his eyes wide with concern as he tried to catch her attention.

“Go ahead, Tia, toss another ring,” Luna urged, her smile widened as she spoke. Her eyes sparkled with a malicious mischief, clearly eager to see if Celestia could replicate her previous success.

Celestia hesitated for a moment, her brow furrowing with uncertainty. Nevertheless, she tossed another ring. As she released it, she heard the distinct flap of a wing behind her and felt a gentle puff of air that seemed to nudge the ring towards its target. The ring sailed gracefully through the air, and landed precisely on the bottle’s neck. Meanwhile, the worker nearby shot a look of annoyance in their direction, clearly she wasn't used to anypony actually winning.

Celestia whirled around, her expression was a mix of frustration and urgency. She leaned forward and whispered sharply to Luna, her voice barely more than a whisper. “You have to stop,” she warned, her eyes darting around to ensure they weren’t overheard. “You’re going to get caught.”

Luna stuck out her tongue playfully, her voice laced with a teasing edge. “Of course, Tia,” she said, her tone dripped with sarcasm. “I won’t do it again.” Her sardonic grin did little to reassure Celestia, who remained tense despite Luna’s lighthearted demeanor.

Against her better judgment, Celestia turned once more to the so-called game of chance. She lifted the ring and sent it sailing towards the bottle, she watched it as it descended slowly. As the ring flew through the air, an audible flap and a rush of wind passed by Celestia. This time, however, the ring veered off course away from the bottle. A second, more pronounced flap of wings echoed from behind her, accompanied by a stronger gust of air as Luna tried to subtly adjust the ring’s trajectory.

The ring landed perfectly on the bottle, and Celestia couldn’t contain her excitement. She let out a small, triumphant jump, her eyes sparkling with delight. “I get a prize now, right? Is it cake?” she asked, her tone carrying a mix of eagerness and insistence. The mare overseeing the game stood momentarily stunned, her mouth agape.

“Pegasus!” the yellow mare shouted, her voice sharp as she pointed with an accusing hoof. Celestia spun around quickly, her gaze falling on Luna, who was scrambling to cover herself with the cloak, her wings peaked out from beneath the clothing. The cloak had slipped from her shoulders while cheating at the game, and had left her exposed.

The shout triggered a wave of panic, which caused unicorns to scatter in all directions. Tables, chairs, and food tumbled to the ground as ponies fled from the shouting. Amid the chaos, Star Swirl’s voice cut through the noise with a sense of urgency. “We need to get you back to the castle,” he urged Luna, understanding the gravity of the situation, she trotted towards the castle as fast as she could. Celestia and Star Swirl kept pace beside her, making sure her cloak was securely draped over her back as they moved swiftly through the chaos.

They were almost at the castle, Luna thought desperately, her breaths came in ragged gasps as she pushed forward. Suddenly, she felt herself lifted off the ground, her cloak wrapping tightly around her as she flailed helplessly in the air. Star Swirl and Celestia watched in confusion as, seemingly from nowhere, a dozen guards emerged from every direction. “Princess Luna, please don’t resist. We’ll get you back to the castle safely,” said a tall stallion, his voiced laced with authority. He gestured to the other guards, who gently levitated the panicked Luna, guiding her towards the castle. Celestia and Star Swirl moved to follow, but the stallion quickly blocked their path. “Both of you will be coming with me,” he demanded. Celestia opened her mouth to protest, but the stallion cut her off with a stern look. “This is a direct order from your parents, young princess,” he said firmly. “Follow me.” He turned on his heel and began to trot towards the castle, his gait was deliberate and commanding as he led the way. Celestia and Star Swirl exchanged uneasy glances as they followed closely behind, the weight of the situation settled heavily upon them.

Celestial

Celestia found herself adrift in a dark, infinite void. She attempted to use her magic to orient herself to steady her position, her horn flared brightly but even her magic had no effect. The vast emptiness around her made it impossible to distinguish up from down, and left her disoriented and helpless.

She took a deep breath and closed her eyes, desperate to calm her racing heart. Slowly, she exhaled, and gathered a sense of calm within herself. When she opened her eyes again, she felt centered and ready to face whatever strange phenomenon had engulfed her.

Almost as though space itself had responded to her newfound calm, she felt her hooves touch a newly solid ground. There was no sound as her hooves made contact with the ground; instead, a myriad of colors cascaded outward from where her hooves touched, spreading in every direction like a wildfire. These plethora of colors were unlike any she had ever seen before, nor could she even hope to even describe.

With a newfound semblance of confidence, she began to explore the dark void around her. Within the shroud, she noticed tiny specks of light that hovered around her. As her fear subsided, the darkness began to retreat as she stepped forward and in its wake a visceral sea of small points of light seemed to radiate in every direction.

A sense of belonging enveloped her as she stepped towards one of the stars. As she approached, she felt an almost motherly sense of love, as if this glowing object were her own foal, a precious life she was destined to protect. The warmth of this feeling grew stronger with each hoof step to fill her heart with an unshakable desire to protect whatever this was.

She reached her hoof forward, and held it close to the radiant light. Even without direct contact, she could feel its warmth, it pulsed as if it had its own heartbeat. In that instant, a profound realization dawned on Celestia. "These are ponies," she whispered, her voice was filled with bewilderment.

She looked around, her newfound sixth sense blossomed within her. She felt an awareness of what these points of light truly were. Unicorns, Pegusi, Earth ponies, stallions, mares, and foals littered the dark plane as far as her eyes could see, each one a shining beacon to bring light into the dark void.

These were all the ponies in the world she realized, each one was visible to her within this surreal plane. Each light represented a pony somewhere in the world. She spun in a circle, her eyes traversed the myriad of small beacons of light scattered across the void. Her gaze eventually settled on one particularly dark point of light, distinct amidst the glowing sea. She felt an inexplicable pull and she trotted towards the dim beacon, her hoof steps made no sound as they touched the invisible plane beneath her.

She raised her hoof towards the dark point of light. It felt unusually strong, its aura pulsed with a power far greater than most of the other lights. Despite its intense energy, its color was a dark blue hue, almost as dark as the midnight sky and far darker than the lights from all the other ponies. As she reached out, she sensed a profound sadness and confusion emanating from it, as if it were explaining an emotional turmoil. "Luna?" she whispered, her voice tinged with curiosity and concern.

Celestia suddenly felt as though she wasn't alone. She turned away from the object of her study and she frantically scanned around her and looked for the source of this perceived invasion with growing urgency. The sensation of intrusion gripped her. whatever had invaded this domain lay somewhere within her peripherals, and had chosen not to strike.

She sensed the source of the disturbance and spun around to face it. A beacon of light floated towards her, hovering just above her; it was larger and brighter than all the other lights in the void, and did not feel like a pony. While she had been able to see every pony scattered across the void, this singular light was the only one that seemed to stare back at her, its intense brilliance contrasted sharply with the surrounding darkness.

Panic surged through her as the point of light drew closer. Celestia tried to turn and run, but her hooves no longer felt as if they made contact with the ground. Desperate, she attempted to cry out, but no sound escaped her lips. Suddenly, she felt a jolt and found herself plummeting downward through the void at an impossible speed. The darkness around her grew brighter rapidly into a blinding light, and a distant roar gradually intensified, swelling to a piercing crescendo of a shrill screech.

Celestia suddenly felt herself come to an abrupt halt, the deafening noise dissolved into a cold silence. She slowly opened her eyes, and to her astonishment, she found herself back in her room. The familiar surroundings of her sanctuary greeted her: the soft glowing candles cast a gentle light across the walls, and the comforting aroma of lavender lingered in the air. The elegant furnishings and decorations seemed unchanged, as if the chaos she had just experienced had never occurred.

She sat up, her heart raced as her experience still lingered in her mind. She glanced around the room with a mixture of disbelief and relief. Was it all just a dream? No, that was impossible, she had never been asleep, whatever she had seen had happened in her waken state. She shook her head, desperate to reconcile the surreal journey with the tranquility of her surroundings.

Before she could fully explore her thoughts she heard a knock at her door. The same lead guard that had escorted them earlier stepped into her room. "Princess, your parents are ready to see you now. Luna and Star Swirl are already in their thrown room". Celestia nodded and stood up and trotted towards the door.

For the briefest of instants, Celestia felt a chilling sensation as though something was watching her from behind. She spun around quickly, but there was nothing behind her. "Is something wrong, Princess?" the guard inquired, his tone was filled with concern.

Celestia shook her head, and dismissed her unease. She walked past the guard, her heart heavy with an unfamiliar dread as she made her way towards her parents' throne room. The sense of being observed lingered to cast a shadow over her thoughts as she trotted through the corridors.

Secrets and Lies

Celestia followed the guard down the long corridor. The sound of their hooves clicked against the cold marble floor and echoed through the hall. The scent of polished wood and burning candles filled the wide hallway, and reached up to the top of the high vaulted ceilings.

At last, they arrived at their destination, where two massive doors blocked their entry. The guards stationed in front of the doors cast disapproving looks before they strained to generate enough magical force to move the heavy doors.

As the doors finally swung open, Celestia was met with a rush of cool, stale air which carried the faint tang of aged stone from the throne room. Her eyes fell upon her parents, Prince Apollo and Princess Selena, who sat regally on their thrones, their eyes locked on Celestia.

Celestia stepped into the throne room. The usually bustling activity of dignitaries, merchants, and elites was absent, replaced by an uncomfortable quietude. Luna and Star Swirl were already present, and stood solemnly before the thrones. Her mother and father glared down at them from their elevated seats as Celestia approached. The sound of her hoofsteps against the stone floor broke the silence and echoed in the vast chamber. She trotted with an uneven and uncomfortable gait, and finally came to a stop beside her sister. Luna seemed almost oblivious to her presence, as she stared blankly ahead, lost in her own thoughts.

Their parents stared down at them for what were only moments but felt like hours. Luna felt the nervousness welling up inside her, their glares cut through her like rigid knives.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, her father Apollo broke the silence. "Do you think we're stupid?"

Three heads shook in synchronicity, all wanted to give the right answer but were too afraid to speak.

"We knew that you had all left the castle almost immediately after you had snuck Luna out of her bedroom window" his tone was dripped with a firm anger as he retained his poise. "We opted to not immediately bring you back as we feared causing a commotion would play out terribly. We felt in all likelihood you would simply return on your own accord." He stated as he walked down the steps of the thrown, and stood firmly in front of Star Swirl.

Apollo, with his midnight-blue fur, towered half a head above Star Swirl. This height difference was accentuated further as Star Swirl shrank under Apollo's intense gaze, as he did his best to appear smaller and avoid eye contact. Star Swirl felt a sharp, magical tug as Apollo’s aura pulled his face up to meet the taller unicorn’s piercing green eyes. “What do you have to say for yourself?” Apollo demanded, his voice cut through the air with an edge of anger. Star Swirl opened his mouth to respond, but Apollo cut him off. “You present yourself as an exceptionally powerful unicorn, yet you fail to notice a dozen guards trailing you and my daughters for hours!” Apollo’s voice rose, each word punctuated with frustration as he spat the accusations with fervor.

“You are not their friend,” Apollo declared, his voice cold and unwavering. “You are merely a unicorn who happened to be born with an unusually large amount of magic. Your almost masochistic drive to study magic has earned you a place of responsibility. That’s why I assigned you as my daughters' protective consort." He paused, his eyes narrowed as he scrutinized Star Swirl. “However, I am now questioning my own judgment. Your actions have revealed that you are too young and inexperienced to fulfill such a crucial role effectively.”

“I’m so—sorry,” Star Swirl managed to stammer, his usual playful demeanor gave way to an expression of deep discomfort, a rare and somber side of him that emerged under the pressure.

"It's not his fault" interjected Celestia, her voice steady as she stepped forward, "it was my idea to sneak Luna out."

Her mother Selena finally spoke up, her voice tinged with frustration. “Your choices skills weren’t exactly exemplary either.” She shifted uncomfortably in her seat, the weight of the conversation evident in her posture. “You are well aware of our command for Luna to not leave the castle, and yet you allowed her to go anyway,” she continued pointedly. “We need to keep her here, where she can be…”

“But why?” Luna shouted, her voice echoed with frustration as she faced a stunned Selena. “I hate being locked in the castle all the time. I can’t live my life, I can’t learn about the world except from books, and my only two friends…” She paused to catch her breath, her eyes brimmed with emotion. “…are my sister and my teacher!”

The room fell silent for a moment. Their parents exchanged glances, their stern expressions softening as they shared a quiet understanding. Finally, Apollo spoke up, his voice carried a note of sincerity. “I’m sorry,” he said, pausing for several seconds as he collected his thoughts. The sudden stillness caught Luna, Star Swirl, and Celestia off guard. “We hate this too. We desperately want to let you leave the castle, but we know it’s not possible at this time.”

Luna stepped forward, which caused the guard to the right of the thrown to flinch slightly at the sudden movement towards the prince. However, he quickly reconsidered and returned to his relaxed posture. “If you know all this,” Luna asked, her voice shifted from anger to a softer sadness, “then why won’t you let me leave the castle?”

“Because you’re a Pegasus,” Selena stated bluntly. All the other ponies’ heads snapped in her direction. “The relations between the Unicorn and Pegasus tribes have grown increasingly strained over the past decades, and now we have almost no communication at all.” She let out a heavy sigh, the weight of her words palpable. “Our people have become more hostile and fearful towards Pegasi, and we worry that you might actually be attacked by our own ponies” The room fell silent once more, but this time the stillness was deeper; heavy with the gravity of her revelations.

Luna looked up at her mother, her eyes reflected a small, sorrowful tremor. “Am I the reason the relations between the tribes have broken down?”

Her father immediately responded, “No.” He took a deep breath, gathering his thoughts before continuing. “The relations between our people and the Pegasi have been deteriorating for decades, long before you were even born. The climate has shifted; the weather has grown colder year after year. The Pegasi blame us for using magic to make the whether worse, while our people blame the Pegasi for failing to control the weather. Both tribes are frustrated with the Earth Ponies for their worsening crop yields. However it's likely that nopony is at fault.” He paused to carefully consider his next words. “I’ll be honest: your birth did accelerate this tension,” he said, as he watched Luna’s eyes widen in shock. “But this outcome was always inevitable, regardless of whether you were born a Pegasus or a Unicorn.”

"Why haven't you tried to improve relationships with the other races then?" Asked Luna, a small hint of irritation in her voice.

“We have,” Apollo responded sharply, his voice tinged with frustration. “Your mother and I have been the primary force trying to reach out to the other tribes because of you, Luna.” Luna’s expression turned to one of shock. “But despite our efforts, we have been unsuccessful. Each attempt has only increased their suspicion toward us,” he continued, his tone heavy with defeat.

The room fell silent for a moment before Apollo spoke again, his voice carried a note of deep regret. “I’m sincerely sorry for this, Luna. We will continue to strive to make you accepted in society, but until then, we cannot allow you to leave the castle.” His words were laden with obvious sorrow, each one underscoring the weight of the situation.

Tears welled up in Luna’s eyes as she buried her face in the crook of her front leg to seek some form of comfort.

He stood in place, silent for what felt like an interminable stretch. All eyes were locked on him as all present waited for his next command. “Star Swirl?” he said, his deep voice carried a commanding authority to the young unicorn.

Star Swirl nodded and stood at attention, his posture militaristic as Apollo addressed him. “We handpicked you because we recognized your talent and potential,” Apollo continued, his gaze was piercing as he glared down at the shorter stallion. “Prove me wrong again, and you’ll be demoted. Your primary role as our magic advisor is to guard my daughters. Do you understand?”

Star Swirl did his best to maintain a stoic expression despite the cacophony of emotions that raged inside of him. "Yes sir" he responded quietly.

Selena offered a half-smile, her eyes softened with sincerity. “Please know that we love you immensely, Luna, and we are always working to fix things.” She looked away from Luna, her voice tinged with resolve. “We will resolve this eventually, I promise.”

Apollo nodded, his expression firm. “Guard, escort all three of them to their quarters.” The guard, who had been only half-listening to the conversation, perked up at the command. He nodded in acknowledgment as he stepped forward. With a nod of his head, he gestured for Luna, Star Swirl, and Celestia to follow.

The three followed closely behind the guard their gaits in unison. As Luna stepped through the large double doors of the throne room, she glanced back at her parents. Apollo had resumed his seat, his posture rigid. Both parents sat in somber silence, their heads bowed in quiet contemplation.

"Luna?" Asked Celestia from down the hall as all three ponies had stopped to wait for her.

She took one last look back at her parents before she trotted along side Celestia.

"Mom is lying about her promise" whispered Celestia, her voice low and troubled.

"I know" replied Luna softly.

Maelstrom

Celestia tossed and turned in her bed, restless and unable to find sleep. Her gaze fixated on the mural painted onto the stone ceiling above her; a vibrant scene depicted ponies of various races playing by a tranquil stream near the castle. It served as a poignant reminder of a time when peace reigned. She rolled onto her side, unable shake her parents' words that continued to echo in her mind. The weight of their expectations bore down on her as she grappled with the seemingly insurmountable task of helping Luna.

Celestia heard a faint whispering emanating from somewhere within her room, the words were too hushed to decipher, yet the sensation that they were speaking about her was unmistakable. "Hello?" she called out, her voice cut through the quietude as she sat up in bed. She strained her eyes as she scanned her large and gaudy room for a presence of anypony.

After a moment, she dismissed the whispering as her imagination and settled back onto her bed. She resumed her futile attempt to sleep, and her gaze returned to the ceiling mural. Then she felt it, that all to familiar feelings of being watched.

She bolted upright and stepped out of bed, her hooves clicked sharply against the cold, hard concrete floor. Her eyes darted frantically around the room, as she searched for the source of the unease that gripped her. Somepony—or something—was there, lurking in the shadows, as it silently observed her, unable to decide on which moment to strike.

Not wanting to figure out if this presence was one of malice, Celestia sprinted towards her door, the sound of her rapid hoof steps reverberated ominously throughout the room. While it was only several feet it felt like the longest sprint of her life. As she reached the door, her magic twisted the knob with all the force it could produce.

Then it was gone. Celestia stood frozen beside the door, her heart pounding and her breath rapid, but the oppressive stare of the unknown creature had vanished as suddenly as it had come. She no longer felt its eerie presence. Slowly, she turned to scan her room, her eyes swept back and forth several times before a wave of relief washed over her. Gradually, her pulse slowed, and her heartbeat steadied, a calming ease blossomed from the silence that now enveloped the room.

Any sense of peace was violently shattered as an explosion outside ripped through the air, tearing apart the fragile silence. The deafening roar reverberated through the castle, followed by the clamor of frantic voices and hurried hoofsteps just beyond her door. Celestia threw the door open to find a chaotic scene unfolding in the hallway; guards and nobles rushed back and forth, their movements a blur of urgency and alarm as guards shouted out orders to evacuate the castle.

"Celestia, are you okay?" Star Swirl asked as his voice cut through the chaos. Celestia turned to see him, his cape was askew and trailed behind him as if he had thrown it on in a frantic rush. His worried gaze met hers amid the turmoil.

"I'm fine" Celestia replied, "what's going on!?"

Star Swirl shook his head, his expression troubled. "I don’t know what’s happening, but we need to get you to safety," he stated with urgency.

In that instant, a thunderous roar erupted, followed by a second explosion. "That came from Luna’s room," Celestia said, her voice strained and urgent. "We need to find her." Without another word, Celestia sprinted down the hall and around the corner, and vanished from Star Swirl’s sight.

"Wait!" he shouted as he began to chase after her. Star Swirl raced down the tapestry-lined corridors of the castle, his eyes scanning desperately for any sign of Celestia. He rounded corner after corner, but she remained out of sight. His pace never faltered as he turned down one hallway after another, his frustration mounted as he continued to search in vain.

Finally, he caught a glimpse of Celestia’s pink tail as she rushed toward Luna’s quarters, rounding a corner just ahead of him. "Celestia!" he shouted, but she didn’t respond; whether she didn’t hear him or chose to ignore him was unclear. When he turned the corner, he found her standing still. She quickly raised a hoof to signal him to stop but he was unable to as he ran straight into her outstretched leg and she inadvertently knocked him to the ground. His body hit the stone floor with a jarring clunk, leaving him momentarily dazed and disoriented.

"Celestia, what was that for?" he spat, as he struggled to his feet as pain radiated through his body.

She didn’t answer. Instead, she lifted her hoof and pointed. Star Swirl’s eyes followed the direction of her gesture, and he gasped as he saw what she was pointing at.

The hallway leading to Luna's bedroom was gone. Rubble and debris lay scattered far below, the remnants of the castle’s collapse. A massive gap now separated them from Luna’s quarters. Celestia had narrowly prevented him from running off the edge into the chasm below, her timely intervention spared him a plunge into the wreckage.

Across the gaping crevice, Luna peeked anxiously from her doorway. She trembled as she gazed down at the destruction below. The air was thick with the acrid smell of burning wood, and the sounds of cracking and popping stone echoed ominously. With her room now isolated from the rest of the castle, Luna’s panic grew palpable. Star Swirl and Celestia could only watch helplessly, unsure of how to navigate this dire situation.

Without warning, a brilliant beam of white and blue light pierced the sky, its intensity roared as it rapidly descended toward the ground. The light blazed down from the heavens before striking somewhere outside the castle. The three ponies squinted against the blinding brilliance. In a split second, a tremendous roar erupted, followed by a deafening explosion. The ground beneath their hooves shuddered violently, and the floor under Luna trembled even more fiercely as the already unstable structure weakened further.

"You have to jump" shouted a frantic Celestia from across the gap.

Luna shook her head, and shouted back, "I’ll never make it!" Doubt clouded her thoughts as she considered her options. She could either attempt to escape through the window or try to leap across the gap. Either choice carried the grim reality that from her height; a fall would be fatal.

The sky flared with blinding light once more, making Luna squint against the searing intensity. The beam of light descended with a deafening roar from the heavens, its brilliance flooded the world around them before it struck somewhere just out of sight.

The floor quaked once more beneath them, but this time, the shaking floor did not return to rest. The ground beneath Luna continued to shift and buckle, as it threatened to collapse entirely. Taking a deep breath, Luna stepped back, leaning in backwards in anticipation then sprinted forward, her legs propelled her with all their strength. With a final burst of speed, she leaped, hoping to clear the wide gap.

It wasn't enough. As she leaped, it became clear that she wasn't going to cover the distance. Panic surged as she began to fall, the ground below rushed up to meet her.

Luna closed her eyes, bracing for the inevitable crash. A voice cut through the air. "Open your wings!" shouted Star Swirl. Instinctively, she became aware of her wings and spread them wide. She flapped desperately, but her inexperience only managed to slow her descent slightly. The ground below loomed ever closer.

Luna closed her eyes and flapped her wings frantically, her heart pounded with fear. Suddenly, she felt her descent stop, a warm aura enveloping her. She opened her eyes and saw Star Swirl as he strained to lift her upwards. She was just a few feet below the edge, and Celestia leaned over and stretched out a hoof towards her. Star Swirl continued to exert all his strength to lift Luna closer to the edge. Luna reached out and felt her hoof connect with Celestia’s. They clasped their forelegs together, and with a final, collective heave, Luna was pulled up high enough to grasp the edge. With one last powerful effort from all involved, Luna was flung forward onto solid ground, inadvertently knocking Celestia down. Exhausted, Luna lay beside her sister, as she gasped for breath.

Celestia pushed herself up from the ground and looked down at her sister, who was still gasping for breath. Star Swirl appeared dazed, having exerted a lot of magic. "Snap out of it, you two!" Celestia commanded with a newfound urgency and authority. "The castle is collapsing. We need to move—now!"

Luna stood up, her legs trembled as she steadied herself. Star Swirl shook his head rapidly, trying to clear the daze from his mind, and then nodded in agreement.

The three ponies moved swiftly through the castle, their hooves echoed in the eerie silence. They descended a winding stairway, the cold stone steps reverberated with each step. Emerging into a long, dimly lit hallway, they navigated left, then right, and left again, their path a maze of turns and corridors. The castle seemed deserted, the absence of other ponies starkly evident. It was clear that the castle had been largely evacuated, leaving only the remnants of hurried departures and the looming threat of collapse.

At last, they reached the front gate, which stood ajar, its massive double doors hung askew on their hinges. A lone female guard, with an orange coat and a blue mane, stood by the gate, her hoof extended towards the exit to direct the fleeing ponies. "Your parents are in the gardens," she called out, her voice urgent. "Go meet up with them!"

Without a word, they dashed past the guard and burst out of the castle. From outside, the full extent of the devastation became clear; massive sections of the castle lay in ruins, and the surrounding town was engulfed in flames. The distant sounds of panicked shouts and chaos filled the air as the scene of destruction unfolded before them.

At last, they reached the gardens outside the castle, where their parents were anxiously waiting. Their mother trotted forward, her face etched with relief and concern while their father only managed a smile of relief. "I was so worried," she said, her voice trembled slightly. "We weren’t sure where you were. They told us the castle had been evacuated, but we couldn’t find you anywhere." She reached out and drew Celestia and Luna into a heartfelt embrace. Luna managed a small smile and wrapped her own leg around her mother in a comforting gesture. The warmth of the reunion offered a brief respite from the chaos that surrounded them.

The heartfelt reunion was abruptly halted as a sudden crash nearby made everyone snap their heads in that direction. Standing there was a figure—a pony, or something that resembled one, but it looked profoundly wrong. It towered over the others, its mane and coat was a blinding mix of blue and white, it glowed as if it radiated light from within. Its neck and legs were unnaturally thin, almost skeletal. The creature's gaze fixed on Celestia, its eyes burned with a fierce, white flame as it stared at her. The flames seemed to flicker and seep from its eyes, casting an eerie glow that intensified the sense of dread."

Celestia clutched her head with her foreleg as an intense pain surged through her. The creature's voice echoed in her mind, a disorienting whisper she couldn’t quite decipher. The words remained a murky haze, just out of reach, as the agony overwhelmed her senses.

The creature let out a blood-curdling scream, causing Celestia’s parents to instinctively step between the the others and the new, ominous threat. With a grotesque and unnerving motion, the creature opened its mouth impossibly wide. It reeled back and then thrust its head forward, unleashing a searing beam of blue and white light from its maw. The powerful ray shot toward the group, its blinding intensity threatened to engulf them.

The beam of light sliced through the air, hurtling towards the group. Star Swirl wrapped his legs protectively around Luna and Celestia, and braced for impact. They shut their eyes tightly as the blinding brilliance of the beam saturated their vision. Star Swirl strained to conjure a protective spell, his horn burned with an intensity he had never before imagined. He channeled every ounce of magic he could manage as he struggled to protect the others. They could feel their fur begin to singe and the moisture from their noses and ears evaporate instantly as the beam closed in. Without warning, an excruciating sensation overwhelmed them. Their bodies twisted and stretched in agonizingly unnatural ways, and contorted into impossible shapes. A monstrous roar thundered in their ears, and even with their eyes closed their vision was saturated with blinding white light. Their senses were overwhelmed, as they drowned in a deluge of unbearable intensity.

Then, suddenly, there was no sight or sound—only an all-encompassing darkness.