Alicorn: The Lost Princess

The morning came, and Celestia rose with the sun. Strangely, the new and unusual comrade they had acquired had awakened before the dawn. “Good morning-“ Celestia began, approaching cautiously.

The new mare turned slowly, she appeared so different without the metal armor. So soft and beautiful. “My name is Luna, you may address me as such.” She said, speaking so formally. “I know you have many questions for me.”

Celestia crept up and slowly sat beside her. “Hi Luna.” She said, there was a lull as it was clear she was thinking of what to say first. “What were they like?”

Luna looked up at the multicolored sky as the sun rise shone behind her. The contrast of her dark coat and mane against the bright and colorful backdrop was stunning. Her large wings rested partly open at her sides. “I know you were older, but you can’t remember, can you?” She pulled a sad smile. “They were wonderful, it was difficult… we lived among some of the most vile creatures, but somehow they always remained kind. Our mother was ill after my birth and our father had tried to teach me his resilience, but an alicorn teaching a mere Earth Pony proved to be rather fruitless.” Celestia was glued to her every word. “He knew, that I was foretold to transform, but they grew impatient. In giving up their power to me, I was able to take this form, but it left them vulnerable.” Celestia looked away, knowing the story had no happy ending. “But, you asked what they were like.” Luna continued. “Our mother always waited for you. She was loving and had a longing in her heart… I always wondered why I wasn’t enough, but I guess I cannot begin to fathom the loss it must have been to them. I wondered why they hadn’t split up, but if they had our ill mother and I would have never survived in the isle of the malevolent.”

Celestia spoke up finally, “I don’t resent them, I had a loving family.”

Luna nodded “No, I know.” She responded. “Our father was dark like I am. Brave and selfless.” She nodded. “And he trusted that Applesauce, your mother as you know her now, would give you a life full of love.”

“How did you know about Bright Mac?” She asked suddenly. “In your ‘test’, Bright Mac…”

Luna pulled a face at her own cruelty. “I’m sorry for that, I saw him in your dreams.”

Her biological sister furrowed her brows in confusion. “My dreams?”

“I can see the dreams of ponies, it was cruel of me to give you such hope.” She swallowed “I hope you can forgive me.”

Shining Armor, Big Mac, and Apple Jack sprinted through the town square. Spike clinging to the mane of his adopted brother, barely able to hold on at such a speed.

Clumsily, Big Mac’s hooves caught on a pebbled out of place, and ordinarily he was not very accident-prone. But, ordinarily he was not running with such urgency. As he tumbled he took Apple Jack with him, and as they both rolled, they caught their footing again by some miracle. In their falling, they lost their direction, and ended up plowing through a local flower stand. “Sorry, Rose!” Apple Jack shouted as she sped past.

On the cobbled plaza sat trampled flowers galore. The Rosie-maned pony began to cry. “My Roses!” She fell to the ground in anguish. “Not my roses!”

The huntresses scaled the forest bravely, despite it being the early morning, they faced very few foes. They had spent the night in camp, just outside the town, concocting a plan. The forest was large, but given their unicorn schooling, they recalled the Alicorn castle fable.

The reason they were safe to travel lay in Starlight’s magical prowess. While Twilight shone above every other student, Starlight was not far behind. Taking third place, though the second-place pony was no where to be found, Starlight was the most capable pony the king could find. And Trixie, with her rough and tumble performance and trickery, she was a good diverter. Both of them strove for excellence and being that their excellence was hardly awarded; especially when compared to other ponies… they each had a chip on their shoulder.

As the reached the castle, the sunlight shone through all the many holes in the ceiling. The rays of light creating a pattern of spots in the stone floors. A pony sat alone, cream in color, sat upon a throne, facing away from them. “Reveal yourself!” Starlight shouted commandingly.

Slowly the pony moved, she was obviously a mare from her size, but all that was visible was her limbs. “Starlight?” The confused and groggy voiced asked. “Did Professor Cinch send everypony out here to find me or what?” As she turned, her red and purple mane came into view. She pushed the glasses up onto the bridge of her muzzle.

Starlights eyes fell to a state of dissatisfaction. Trixie on the other hand was just happy to see some pony familiar. “Moondancer!” She cheered giddily.

Moondancer did not look all that pleased to see them. “What do you two want?”

Starlight unreservedly trotted closer. “We’re looking for Twilight and a group of Alicorns, you wouldn’t have happened to see any pony… would you?”

Moondancer scrunched up her nose, while ponies may have thought she’d gone mad, she had not become stupid. “Why are you looking for Twilight? I never thought of you two as being ‘friends’.”

Starlight smiled a fake smile. “Well, you know, competition in school can hold ponies back. But! After graduation we really found… we have more in common than we thought.” Her lies were effortless, and if Moondancer were some pony else, she might have believed them.

“Right…” Moondancer replied, “I have seen her, in fact.” She said, this was half the question she’d been asked, and after all, her answer was true. She went back the way you just came from, though, sorry you must have just missed her.”

Starlight could tell they were now in a combat of lies. Trixie, accepting her answer as the gospel truth, she began to leave the way they’d been. But, Starlight grabbed her and pulled her back. “I don’t believe you.”

“It’s a big forest.” Moondancer continued. “She could’ve gone anywhere.” Her tone sounded mocking. “Why don’t you tell me what you want her for and if I see her again I’ll let her know.”

“The Unicorn King sent us!” Trixie announced proudly. “To capture Twilight and the four Alicorns, and you know, I didn’t believe that any pony could even be anAlicorn, but we saw one. Didn’t we, Starlight?”

Her partner grumbled lowly at her willingness to expose their mission at any given moment. “Where do your loyalties lie, Moondancer? To the kingdom of the Unicorns… your home… or an old friend who’d drop you like a day old loaf of bread?”

Moondancer pretended to think for a moment, knowing full-well her loyalties lied with Queen Luna… and by extension, in defense of Alicorns as a kind, Twilight Sparkle. Moondancer aimed her horn, which was answer enough.

Starlight was far too fatigued to fight, but Trixie was able and willing. With a smoke bomb and light blast, the pair disappeared from her sight.

The unicorn king sat on his throne in silence. The mare approached him, only he didn’t exactly look her way at first. Lost in thought, or madness, or some other occupation of the mind.

This fine mare stood still, clearing her throat to draw his attention. He gave no look of distaste, for this mare, he had finally found some pony whose voice and presence was not an annoyance. “They have sent me here to inform you that the weather factory has fallen.”

The king turned his clouded eyes to her. The pure white fur, with never a spot on it, perfect purple mane always well-kept and never a hair out of place. She couldn’t have been an imposition even if she were horribly rude and destructive. She would still be adored by him. “Fallen psychically?”

The mare nodded in the affirmative. “To the ground.”

The king stood now, giddy with the small victory. “So, now is the time to rebuild it and make it a unicorn run-facility, oh yes that will be beneficial to our war efforts… and if the Pegasi can do it, we certainly can…” his voice trailed away looking over the beautiful mare, they had sent her to keep him in good spirits. He was aware, but he also was not complaining. “But you needn’t worry yourself with such matters. A mare like you belongs safe within the city… a mare like you…” he looked her over throughly “belongs on a throne.” She seemed to wince, though he didn’t notice, or perhaps he just didn’t care. “You’re free to go, Miss Rarity.”

“It will be better for us to fly.” Luna said opening her wings as she stood the clearing. “There are a pair of unicorns on the hunt for us.” It was a report that came as no surprise to them, Celestia had warned them.

Twilight hummed. “You three fly ahead, I’ll take the path by hoof.”

“It’s best for us to stick together.” Celestia insisted.

Cadence was already fluttering about, more than willing to fly the way back. “C’mon, Twilight. It’s not that bad.”

Twilight shook her head. “No I think I’d just rather walk.”

Celestia flapped her wings reluctantly “Twilight-“

“I just really don’t want to, okay?!” She snapped, starting the way back down the hill and into the forest on the ground. “I’ll meet you there okay, once I get down to the castle, I’ll teleport myself out… that way I can pick up Moondancer on the way. We shouldn’t just leave her out here on her own.”

“Aw yes, my one and only disciple.” Luna hummed. “Very well, Sparkling one. We are off.”