Alicorn: The Lost Princess

The dark clouds miraculously cleared, and the entrance to the cave was now visible. The light of the setting sun still shining. Celestia sat alone in her tears, but her solitude was short lived. Soon, Twilight Sparkle bound into the cave followed by Cadence. “Celestia!” They shouted in unison.

Celestia wiped her tears from her eyes, comforted by faces that were, to her knowledge still on this plane. She rose, but was still shaken and unsure. “How can I be sure you’re really my friends.”

They stopped, hooves basically squealing at the suddenness of their halt. The pair shared a confused glance. “What do you mean?” Cadence asked abruptly.

Celestia pointed her horn angrily, “I won’t be tricked by you twice!”

The pair toddled backwards away from her, but refused to bolt believing they could prove they were… who they were.

“While I would love to watch you tear each other apart, I have a better idea!” The booming, unfamiliar voice rang through the dimly lit cave. It was recognizable to Twilight, but the other two linked in confusion. A glowing orb of light burst into glittering particles as her hooves met the rocky ground. Before them stood the last Alicorn, their search seemingly concluded here. “Let us work together!”

Twilight bolted to the front of her pack, swinging blades of magic threateningly. “She’s evil!” She declared aggressively. “She was trying to convince me to help her bring eternal night!”

Celestia rubbed the moisture from her eyes and cheeks and pulled behind Twilight, followed promptly by Cadence. The stranger chuckled, her laugh seemed sincere and not in the least bit menacing. “You think, because of my appearance, I am the mare in the moon?” She slowly approached them, menacing and intimidating, but truly skipping as she went. “I understand, ponies for ages have sought to find me, the fable of the last Alicorn so intriguing. When you’re all alone out here… you come up with stories to scare onlookers away.” Twilight raised her head to get a good look at her. “So tired of being a spectacle…” she raised her large dark wings. “Now I see I am not alone.”

Celestia worked up the nerve to speak. “You’ve lived here… alone?” She asked, voice shaking, not from fear, but from sadness.

The other mare looked her over, white coat and gently motioned mane, only just coming into her truest form. This was evident. The dark one was observant. “I know who you are.” She said suddenly, not exactly answering the question. “I am sorry to say they have passed on. They gave up their power so that I-“ she gulped back her emotions. “That I could become an Alicorn in their place.”

The three Equestrian Alicorns yielded, stepping down from their offensive positions. “So… you were the first?” Cadence asked. The answer was affirmative.

“Then why did you want me to join you in ‘ruling the world’?” Twilight asked, still not entirely convinced.

The pony sat flat on her behind. “It was a test. I offered each of you something you want. For you, it was power. Cadence, belonging, and Celestia, Family.” She looked up at the cave walls. “You were all loyal and refused to give in… that is how I knew you were the ponies I’ve waited for.”

In the orchard the sun had set. The Apples and Sparkle family hid out, but not no avail.

Shining burst from the trees. “I’m sick of this hiding, they are not coming!” He began making his way back up toward the farm house. Spike and Big Mac taking off after him. “And even if they were… I’m tired of running I’ve got to fight back.”

Big Mac’s mouth made a flat line, confused and somewhat in agreement. Spike was smaller, but ran to keep up with the older stallions. “What can we do?”

The orange mare joined them in their uphill race. “Where in the hay do yall think you’re going?”

Shining stamped his foot into the dirt. “I, for one, am going to join the army in this town so that we can fight back, this war isn’t won yet. I’m going to fight back!”

Big Mac looked at the trees, then at his sister, remembering small Apple Bloom hiding somewhere in the trees. He wondered what his father would have done… “I’m goin’ too.”

Spike clung to Shining’s tail, catching his breath. “Well I’m a guy too, so I’d better go.”

“Spike! You’re just a baby!” Shining Armor rebutted.

Spike waved him off tiredly, “a baby dragon.” He emphasized the final word of the sentiment. “I can handle myself.”

Apple Jack’s eyes narrowed. “Well don’t think y’all are just going cause you’re a bunch of men.” She trotted in place, “I’m goin’ with ya’.”

Pinkie Pie banged her hoof against the Mayor’s private residence. When the door opened, a butler revealed himself. “To what do we owe the pleasure, Miss Pie.”

Pinkie Pie aggressively shoved Fluttershy forward. Peaking through the heavy bangs over her eyes, Fluttershy murmured her reason for interruption, but nopony could hear her.

Pinkie Pie waved wildly. “Listen, the Pegasus city was attacked and the weather factory was destroyed. Which is hot, hot, HOT mess for every pony, and the Government? The governor?” She looked back to the yellow mare, who nodded in the affirmative. “Yes he sent her with a letter requesting our assistance, because working together is the only way to stop the Unicorn Kingdom from concurring the entire world!”

The butler stated in disbelief. “Well…” he looked back, revealing the mayor who stood behind him.

“Let them in.” She said, rather fatigued.

The mother clutched her new born son to her chest. Rage, bitterness, pain, and loss plagued her mind. Her horn smoked and sparked, a blast of flame erupting in her anguish.

It’s true, she hadn’t meant to start the fire, the fire that burnt down half their small city. It was uncontrollable, a mother’s heart burdened not only by the loss of her husband but in the cruelty of her son being banished. It could not be contained.

And so, they were faced with a dilemma. Rebuild their down, with a delinquent mother and cursed son on the loose… vendetta strong to her chest for the royal family. Or the King and Queen could turn to the oracle in Gusty the Great.

So, the king and queen left. Their declaration held no value after their abdication, so his mother brought him up there as she’d intended.

And without their rulers, the village fell to ruin. But, to Sombra’s benefit, he was raised there without banishment. Sure, the land was a shell of its former self. Buildings left toppled after families refused to reconstruct, preferring to follow in their leaders footsteps and take their leave. The scar of the fire a reminder of a woman scorned and her need to protect her child.

Inevitability, they became the last of their kind. To their knowledge, it was. And the prophecy proved defeated…

“You could have all you’ve ever dreamed, my son. Though, the ties that bind you to this land will hinder you from reaching your true potential.” The ghost’s lived within his mind. Haunted by the voices of the past, often taking the appearance of what he believed to be his own father. “There is a land not far from here…” his whole life he’d battled the demons telling him of this great destiny. His mother grounding him in her goodness and repentance. “Though the pain you must inflict… onto yourself… you are not equipped for.”

The mare protested none, looking back toward her son as he approached from behind. “Sombra, you’re just in time dinner is almost-“ he looked different, disheveled and- she couldn’t quite put her hoof on it. He was wounded in two places, and that what when it clicked for her… that was the last time she’d seen her son.