Archangel

Chapter 1: Dreams

Luna woke up screaming and backing away into a corner. Her mane a disheveled mess, her coat matted and covered in cold sweat, and her eyes bloodshot. She kept screaming out for the beast to stop, but there was no beast.

“It’s ok Luna, I’m right here.” Celestia hushed her younger sister.

“NO! Stay away from me... STAY AWAY FROM ME!” She cried out with all her might. Celestia calmly walked over to her sister as she curled up defenselessly into the corner, desperately trying to merge with the wall behind her.

“It’s ok Luna. Look,” Celestia took her hoof and gently turned her face to meet with her eyes, “See, there is no monster here. It’s me, Tia.”

Hyperventilating, Luna took in her surroundings. She was back in her room. Her bookshelves teeming with ancient knowledge and wisdom, the still burning fireplace, and the curtains hanging over the massive windows leading to the balcony. There were Documents and treaties spread all around her abacus on the floor next to some cushions. She was in her royal chambers. Calming down, she turned back to her sister...

“Tia...” She sniffled.

“That’s right Luna, I’m right here.” Luna lungs forward and wraps her arms round her sister in a tight embrace.

“I thought I lost you.” She replied in between sobs, “The big black beast... tearing you apart... blood everywhere... PLEASE DON’T LEAVE ME!” She cried out and hugged her older sister harder.

“You dreamed about that time didn’t you?” Luna nodded her head and sniffled, “It’s just a bad dream, Luna. See look,” She lifts her sister’s head to meet her eyes, "I'm here, I'm right here with you. And I'll be here with you day and night, sun and rain, until the stars themselves gutter out. I promise." Luna smiled.

Behind Celestia were a few of the day and night guards. Their expressions mixed and uncertain. Their thoughts were on her. They had never seen their princess act in such a manner before. Just then two ponies came barreling into the room...

“Your Majesties!” He came to a stop several feet away from the two alicorns, “We heard screaming and we came as fast as we could. Is everything alright?”

“Auntie, is everything ok? Is anypony hurt?” Celestia just smiled and let a small laugh.

“Yes, everything is alright Shining Armor, and no Cadence, nopony is hurt. Luna just had a very bad dream. I will take care of things here. I’m sorry you all woke up at this late hour. You all may return to your chambers.” Shining Armor, Cadence, and the few Lunar Knights and a couple Solar Guards bowed and made their way out of the room, shutting the doors behind them.

“Luna, how long have these dream haunted you? Even after a few thousand years you are still having these dreams.” She thought about it, “They never stopped have they?” Luna just shook her head. Celestia sighed.

“It’s ok Luna. Dreams pass in time. As long as I am here, those dreams mean nothing. I will always be here for you.” Celestia continued to comfort her sister. It helped by lessening the pain, but the scars will always be there and will never heal. They say that scars will heal over time, not these scars. Even after thousands of years they are still fresh, constantly opening up and bleeding.

‘How could I make her feel better... Oh I know!’ Celestia slowly broke the embrace.

“Wait right here Luna, I’ll be right back.”

“O-ok...” Luna sniffled.

Celestia slowly got up and went to her room. She ran to her walk in closet and rummaged through its contents, ‘Now where did I put... Aha!’ She pulled out a long hard case. She opened the lid to see that it’s package is safe. With a satisfied sigh she closed it and carried it over to Luna’s room. She never moved from that spot.

“Luna, why don’t you come over and sit down over here while I get set up, ok?” With  another sniffled she nodded and sat across from her sister, her head still hung low to the floor. Luna smiled and opened the case again. She then lifted the old antique out of its case, a nicely preserved, two thousand year old cello.

She set it down on its side next to a chair and went back to get her bow. There were a variety to choose from, but she eventually settled on the bow an old friend gave her, a simple, yet elegant, black bow. She tightened it carefully to make sure that she didn’t over tighten it. As she did, old memories came rushing back to her. She remembered how he was so precise and over obsessive about how to tighten a bow.

That was an understatement. They spent full days practicing how to tighten the bow properly and the right amount. Something about curvature and tension, but then he just settled on how it felt to the player.

She rosined her bow carefully and generously, making sure that there is an even amount all along the hairs.

When she was finally done, she sat on the chair and positioned the cello in between her legs. She tuned the strings to their designated pitch from highest string to lowest, A, D, G, and C. ‘Ah, perfectly in tune. Now let’s see if I still remember how to play...’

She closed her eyes and remembered one of her sister’s favorite songs.

She played it out. With each passing note she remembered all of the good time they had together. Her family and her friends. Their laughs and their fights. It all came out. Luna could feel it too.

She listened to the song, one of her many favorites from them. It calmed her nerves all the bad dream and memories slowly washed away.

When the song was finished, they both smiled.

“Thank you Tia. That was beautiful.”

“That’s what sisters are for.” She set her cello down and laid down next to her older sister.

“Tia?” Luna mumbled. As she was able to quiet down.

“Yes Luna?” She replied.

“I miss them. All of them. I really wish they were here right now.” Celestia chuckled and gave her sister a playful jab.

“Oh Lulu, you’re such a baby sometimes.” She then sighed, “I miss them too Luna. I miss them too.”

“Tia?”

“Yes Luna?”

"Do you ever wonder if we'll ever see them again?” Celestia never expected that.

From what she remembered of them, they were the best friends a friends could ask for. They joked and laughed, they taught us many things, and they were always there for them. No matter how deep in trouble they were, or any of them were, they would always step in and help us. They lifted us up to more than what we could ever be, but they were mortal...

“Luna... I don’t think they will come back. Yes, they have been gone for long spans of time,” She remembered that night, that very night she banished her own sister to the moon, “But because of us, they will never come back. I’m so sorry Luna.”

“I know Tia, but it’s not our fault alone. We lied to each other, stole from each other, and we tore each other apart and yet, they stayed with us through it all. They tried to lead us down the right path, but we ignored and rejected them.” She got up from her corner and moved to her balcony. She sat down on the cold marble and looked to the stars.

“Even though we did all those things to them, I know that they’re still out there, somewhere where they are needed most.” She let her head drop, “I just only wish that our family would be together again, and now that they are gone, that day will never come.”

“That’s where you are wrong Luna.” Luna looked up at her sister, confused, but she saw the look on her face. Her eyes are filled with a righteous anger, “Have you already forgotten what they taught us? Have you ever thought that you are giving up too soon? Luna, we have all of eternity to live in this world provided that almost nothing can kill us, but time separated from them only makes things worse.” Celestia walked over to her sister and took a seat right beside her.

“Perseverance. One of the many things that they had taught us. They had persevered through it all Luna. From the beginning to the very end. That is how we should live our lives. If we ever want our family to be together again, we will have to fight for it, and prove to them that they all have made a grave mistake. Just as we have.”

“Do you really think we can do that?” Luna asks.

“Yes, I do my dear sister.” She looked over the horizon. Dark shades of red and orange started to appear.

“Now go to bed Luna,” Luna hesitated.

“But what about the moon?” Celestia gave her a warm smile.

“I’ll lower the moon for tonight. Just get some rest and remember, I’m right here if you ever need me.” Luna smiled.

“Thank you Tia.” With that she was off to bed.

With her horn alight, she lowered the moon to make way for the sun.

Twilight yawned loudly and looked over to her side. Below her was her number one assistant, Spike, still sound asleep. The whole scene reminded her of how a little filly or colt would be sleeping, curled and cuddled underneath a layer of a soft, warm blanket. His face was one of peace and serenity. She smiled at the sight and looked at the clock. It read 7:03 in the morning. Looking to the calendar next to it, it read May 13, 1001 C.E. ‘Wow. Still can’t believe that the Grand Galloping Gala was a week ago! I honestly thought that we messed it up, but Princess Celestia said that we actually made it fun! But I feel kind of bad: Princess Luna couldn’t show up.’

She shook her head to block out the thought and stretched out her limbs. With a simple sigh, she got out of her bed, ‘I’m so glad that I took some time off.’ She looked around her old apartment in Canterlot. It felt good to be back in her old home. She looked back at Spike to see if he had woken up. Much to her surprise he was still sound asleep, snoring away like there is no tomorrow. ‘Well, time to make breakfast, since Spike is still asleep… I think I’ll make myself something special today.’

With a smile, she crawled out of her bed and trotted down the stairs to the kitchen. When she arrived, she brought out the usual pancake mix and put some into a bowl. She then added other ingredients to the mix and stirred. After it reached the right consistency, she went back into the pantry. ‘Let’s see here… where does he keep the… Aha!’ she brought out a bag of semi-sweet chocolate chips. She added in a good amount and resumed to stir the mix, careful to not over mix it while trying to equally mix in the chocolate chips.

She then went over to the cupboard next to the refrigerator and scanned through its contents. ‘4 inch skillet, no… 5 inch, no… no… no, no ,no… 9 inch stainless steel skillet. Perfect!’ Her horn lit up with a soft hue of lavender and grasped the frying pan. With skillet in her telepathic grasp and readied pancake mix, she turned on the stove and placed the pan right on top. Once the pan got hot enough, she carefully poured the batter onto the pan, just enough to cover the bottom. While that was left to cook, she thought of other things that she could treat herself with.

Her face lit up and she went to the fridge. ‘Hmm… maybe I should make something for Spike too.’ Rummaging through its contents, she found what she was looking for under Spike’s stash of Aqualites. She took out the gems and there it was… Hay Bacon Strips.

She turned back to the stove and flipped the pancake, nice and golden brown. She turned on another burner and added another skillet. With the pan hot, she placed 3 hay bacon strips… ‘Well… I guess a couple more wouldn’t hurt anypony would it?’ then added a few more onto the pan. She then cut the Aqualites with her magic and placed them in a bowl.

After about another 5 minutes, breakfast was done right as the little baby dragon walked down the stairs, the aroma awakening him from his slumber. His mouth was dripping with saliva as he smelled the scent of freshly cut Aqualites, one of his favorites.

“Good morning Twilight.” He said with a smile, happy to see that he didn’t have to make breakfast.

“Good morning Spike!” she replied. “Did you sleep well?”

He nodded his head, “Yeah, I guess. How about you?”

“Yeah. I slept like a foal.” She set the last of the food onto the table and sat herself in her usual chair.

After they started their meal, Spike asked, “So since we don’t have anything to do today… what are we going to do?”

Twilight swallowed before talking, “Well, I was thinking of just doing some reading for today. How about you just take the day off to do whatever you want to do?” She took another bite out of her warm chocolate chip pancake. She closed her eyes and savored the taste of the warm and fluffy texture and flavor of the pancake while contrasted with the melted, gooey-goodness of the sweet chocolate chips. Such bliss.

Spike thought to himself. ‘Time off… Well since I have nothing to do today I guess I could…’ then an idea popped into his head.

“I think I’ll go out and help out Donut Joe. It’s been a while since we hung out together.”

“Alright, just be sure to be back before it gets dark.” Twilight said after she swallowed another piece of her breakfast.

“Ok! I gotta go and get ready!” He walked out of the room and into the closet to get his ‘work clothes’.

She took a bite out of her hay bacon strips savoring the crispy, salty goodness, ‘Hmm… what should I read today? Mathematics? How about the mysteries behind Quantum Magic theory?’ When Spike came down looking clean and polished, an idea popped into her head.

“Spike, can you find a book on Equestrian history? Any book on that subject would do just fine.” Spike gave a little nod and entered into the library in search of the book of Twilight’s interest. She finished off her breakfast with a cold glass of orange juice. The ice-cold, liquid running smoothly down her throat giving her the shivers after she downed the glass. ‘Ah, now that’s the stuff!’

Spike came back into the kitchen with a book in hand. Twilight levitated the book out of his hands and read the title,

‘Myth and Misnomer: A Study of Ancient Prophecy and Records... ’

“Thanks Spike!” She said to him as he went out the door. She set the plates and silverware into the sink. When she was done, she went back to the library to get her saddlebag. With the book placed neatly in the bag, she walked out of her library and looked for a spot to read.

For the most part, the search for the perfect spot to read went uneventfully. She walked along the familiar streets from her foalhood. Here and there, she saw some of her old friends. She stopped to talk to them, catching up on what’s new or just to say hello. She continued her walk down the streets of Canterlot until she came across a park. The same park that she used to go to when she studied under Princess Celestia.

There is tree that created enough shade for her to lie on the ground comfortably. A small pond and a river sat next to it, running along through the rest of the park. As she settled down, the sound of birds chirping their morning songs filled her ears along with the rushing water of the small river nearby. Relaxed, she took out her book and started to read.

          Time passed as she enveloped herself in the book. It started off about how Discord came into power and how the princesses defeated him. It was all relatively familiar to her, until she spotted a reference she’d never heard before. Under chapter 7: “Lesser Known and Unsubstantiated Figures” there was a lone entry to something called a Titan.

"The Titans appear only in the earliest pony works, dating back to the pre-monarchy period. They are depicted on stone tablets as black, hulking figures, with rigid angles like statues or armor. After the banishment of Nightmare Moon, all such records cease, and the Titans are never again mentioned except in second hoof repetitions of earlier legends."

‘Hmm, that’s strange. Why have I never heard of them before. Maybe there is something in the library that would help me.’ She packed up her belongings and trotted back to her apartment. Along the way, the curiosity of her discovery nagged at her. Twilight considered herself a fairly well read pony, so it was strange to find a gap in her knowledge. Then again, when Spike had asked about dragons, she'd never realized how little was written on the subject. How much of the world was she blissfully unaware of? As these thoughts ran through her head, she arrived at her front door, fumbling for her keys. When she opened...

“Princess Celestia!” Sitting on her cushions reading a book was none other than Princess Celestia herself. She glanced up from her book and looked at Twilight meeting her with a smile of her own.

“Well hello my faithful student. I’m not intruding am I?” She asked, already knowing the answer to it.

Twilight shook her head, “No no no! Not at all! Well, may I ask why you are here, exactly.” She said with a sheepish smile.

Celestia closed the book and levitated it over to its rightful place back on the shelf, “Well, I am here to ask a favor from you and your friends.”

“Oh! Sure! Anything Princess!” She said with a smile.

“It is about my sister, Luna. She has been very... ill lately.” Her face dropped into a frown, her face becoming very sullen.

“What do you mean by that Princess?” She asked cocking her head to one side.

“She has been having these dreams lately, nightmares really, and it is taking a toll on her both physically and mentally.” The regal Princess lifted her head, “Which is why I want to throw a party for her tomorrow night. Not a party of two but a party with the ponies that care for her. Twilight Sparkle, will you and your friends help me?”

“Why of course!” She said. Her face beaming with a smile that would cut her face in half. “That is a wonderful idea! We would be honored to organize the party with you!”

“Thank you, Twilight. You don’t know how much this means to me.” The white alicorn said with a smile. She walked over and nuzzled her protege getting the same gesture in return.

“Oh, it’s nothing really. When should I send for my friends?”

“Tomorrow morning. They will have to whole day to prepare. I want this to be the best party she has ever had. It will take some time to plan it all out. And I am sure that a certain pink pony will know just what to do.” She said with a smile as she remembered all of the little pink earth pony’s shenanigans.

“I will Princess. Oh this is so exciting! I’m one hundred percent positive that this will cheer Princess Luna right up!” She trotted in place, hardly able to keep her excitement from escaping.

“Thank you Twilight. Now if you'll excuse me, I have an appointment to get to.” She started to walk to the door.

“Oh, wait. I almost forgot, I have been meaning to ask you about something..” She said snapping out of her excitement.

“Yes, what is it Twilight?”

“Well, I have been reading an old history book about ancient Equestria and I came across something strange. They are the six dark figures that helped you dethrone Discord and help banish Nightmare Moon. I have never read anything else on them before. I was wondering, well, if you can tell me who they were and what they are.”

Celestia thought about it, “Have a seat Twilight.” She told her student and she obediently obliged. “Before I tell you anything, you must swear to never speak of it to anypony nor can you write any of this information down. This information is very important.” Her expression was stern. It was made known that this is not something she tells anypony.

“I... I swear Princess Celestia.” Celestia then closed all the doors, windows, and any other openings before magically soundproofing the room. By the time she finished, Twilight was noticeably on edge, watching her mentor as she took a seat.

“Where to begin... As far as the history book says, they have been here ever since the time of Discords defeat, but they have been here for much longer than that.”

“How long have you known them?” Twilight asked.

“I have known them for as long as I can remember, though, they would leave for long spans of time. But they always thought about us. They were... our greatest friends.” She sighed, remembering all that they have been through together.

“They always protected us and Equestria, no, our whole world from danger. This is how we still have connections with the other nations, though they are small and running short, still connections nonetheless.”

“Where are they now your majesty?”

Her expression saddened and her head fell, “They are gone.”

“I’m so sorry Princess, I didn’t know...”

“It’s alright Twilight. While they were here, they brought happiness to all of us.” She then chuckled to herself.

“What’s so funny your majesty?”

“I remembered how they had an uncanny talent for music.” With that, she undid her spell and reopened all the windows to let the breeze in.

“That is all the time I have for you my student. I will send for your friends tonight after dinner.” She walked out to the balcony, “Get some rest my faithful student. You and your friends have a big day tomorrow.”

“I will Princess, and thank you for telling me all this.” She said from the balcony doors.

“You’re welcome Twilight.” In a flash she was gone.

Special thanks to:

Kriegor

SilentRunning

Menelaus Redz

NATOstrike

And a very special thanks to:

Between Lines

“Marron!”