Where We Come From

Where We Come From

By Tallestbrony

Chapter 1 Stay Safe

Perspective: Princess Cadence

KRA-BOOOOOOOM

As a massive quake hits again I slam against the wall. I stand to my hooves and check the package on my side, fearing the worse. With a content sigh I continue running down the hall of the castle.

As I run, I pass squads of guards and dignitaries as ponies run in fear. When I make it to an intersection I slide to a stop. Before me is a massive crowd of ponies trying to gain access to one of the underground shelters. I look through the panicked seen before stomping a hoof down and opening my wings. With a powerful thrust I launch myself over the crowd and continue on my way.

I wish I could have helped them... I wished I didn't need to run... I wish I could use my magic....I wish I didn't have to fly right now, but we don't always get what we wish for. I just have to make it to my aunt as quickly as possible, they can help, they will know what to do..... I wish I had Shining here with me....

KRA BOOOOOOOOOOOOM

The next quake throws me into the air before slamming me against a near by window. I shake my head and pick myself up against, feeling blood falling from my forehead. I take a long look at my hoof and watch the blood trickle down my pink coat. How long has it been since they made contact... how long since they began the threats... how long will we draw blood until this all ends. When the blood dries itself into my coat I twist to look out the window as the screams of thousands of thousands of ponies fills my ears.

In the distance, far past Canterlot, a massive chunk of land lifts high into the air. The mass lifts up and towards us, towering well over the peaks of Canterlot before falling back down towards the ground.

KROOOOOM

The entire mountain side shakes as the land hits, forcing me to the ground again. I quickly get up and look out the window again. That was Ponyville. Oh... Twilight... please be safe.

A single tear finds it way out as I watch the blue sky begin to change. A streak of crimson red slivers it way around the sky, slowly taking over the entire sky. Soon the world around me turns red as the the sky fades to even deeper crimson. Only a small hole is left, leaving a source for the sun to shine through...

"Celestia." I murmur before taking off down the hall. I have to find her before they get here. I must...

"STALLIONS! TO ARMS!" Yells a guard as a group of castle guards charge past me, no doubt heading down towards what was Ponyville.

"SIR! SIR!" I yell to the leader as I try to catch up to him. He glances back to me before slowing down enough for me to keep up.

"Princess, please head back to the shelter! You are in no condition to..."

"Where is my husband!?" I demand, silencing the unicorn guard. I shake my head again as the blood begins to cover my face. The guard stops and takes a piece of cloth from his armor to bandage me up.

"He... he was on his way to Ponyville.... I'm sorry Princess. But I don't think..."

"No... no that can't be true!" I yell, making the guard pause. He motions to the others to continue on before coming to my side. I look down and shake my head as he rests his hoof over my shoulder.

"My lady, I can't say whether or not he is or isn't..."

"DON'T SAY IT!" I yell frantically as I begin to sob. He pulls me close and hold me lightly as I continue to break down. Shining is a smart stallion, he would have teleported out for sure. He can't be dead....

"My lady." He says as he pulls back and looks over to the sheets wrapped around my side. "We need to get to the shelter and..."

"Send me to Celestia immediately." I demand, only making him shake his head. "This is an order guard! Send me to her immediately!" I shriek, getting him to frown.

"Princess.... they can't..."

"It is up to them whether or not they do this. Now send me there NOW!" I demand, getting a low sigh from him as he begins to charge his horn.

"Very well, my lady." He says before the world around me burns from a bright light.

After a brief moment of my eyes burning I look around to find myself in the court room. The usually pristine white marble glowing red as Luna and Celestia speak to one another, staring out at what was Ponyville.

"...and fend for them sister. You have to keep them safe... or it will all be for not." Luna says as she stares out to the massive crater.

"Twilight said she was nearing completion. Lets give her a..."

"Ponyville has been destroyed sister! All over the world they attack! There is no more time. I must go now and aid our soldiers before its too late!" Luna yells back in protest. Celestia stands there for a moment, thinking deeply about what's transpiring. I watch those ancient eyes dart around the landscape below. I hold my breath as I wait for her to answer Luna. I know if she sends her there, that things are far worse then they appear.

"I know, but that doesn't mean I like it little sister. Very well. Take them there, and stay safe sister." Celestia says before taking Luna in a tight hug. As they hold each other, trying their best not to break down, I take another look out to the crater.

From the center of it a sea or what looks like black sludge is beginning to rise. A contingency of guards have taken form around the edge, holding the flags of our nation as they fly in towards the sludge. What is that stuff? Is.... is that what they look like?

"OK!" Luna says as she breaks off the hug. "I'm off... pray for us sister." She says before teleporting out of the room.

"I will.... please stay safe." Celestia says quietly as she continues to stare out to the crater.

"Um.... aunt Celestia?" I ask as I tentatively step towards her.

"I know what you're going to ask Cadence, and I can't allow it." She says as she turns away from the window and begins to walk towards the door. I run in front of her and hold my ground.

"Please." I beg as I step towards her. She shakes her head as she turns away from me, walking away as she tries to get around. I run in front of her again and hold my wings out, wincing from a sharp pain in my shoulders. "Please..."

"Cadence." She says softly as she steps towards me. "Everything will be alright. Things are... looking down now, but we will prevail. I promise..." Before she could finish I pull the sheet on my side and step towards her.

"Can you promise that he'll grow up happy? That he'll be safe, laugh, play.... find love? Can you promise me these things aunt Celestia?" I ask as I open the sheet, revealing my son.

Thanks to a spell that I poured all the magic I had left into he's asleep. I feel my heart stop as I see the back of the blanket stained with red. I pull him out and check the back, seeing the red stain the back of his head. I lay him down and press my ear against his chest, checking his pulse before looking back up to Celestia.

"Please." I beg again as I begin to tear up. "I... I can't let him stay here. They will come and... destroy him! Throw him from the walls... you have to send him!" I yell as I look back down to him. "There is no life here for him... for anypony..."

"CADENCE!" Celestia yells in astonishment.

"LOOK AROUND YOU!" I yell back. "How many ponies lived in Ponyville? How many more will come!? Do you really think I want this for my son?! I will forever hate myself for this Celestia, but it has to be done. Please! I beg you!" I yell as I fall over my son and cradle him, crying my heart out.

"Cadence," Celestia starts as she lays by my side. "Are sure of this? IS this what you truly want?"

"No. I want things to go back to the way they were before. I want my son to grow tall, have friends... have all of the fillies chase after him. But that world is gone now. Please. Send him there. Its his only hope for a life. Please." I ask as I cradle him for what could be the last time. Celestia doesn't answer me. Instead she stand and walks back to the throne. She looks over the set before looking back to me.

"I will wake him. Say goodbye to him." She says before looking back to the throne and pressing something under the hoof rest. The sound of stone grinding against stone fills the room as the seat slides into the wall behind. "But promise me one thing Cadence. If I do this, have no regret. Do it, and have solace in the choice you made."

"I will... I promise." I say as I nod to her, wiping the tears from my eyes. Celestia gives me a single nod before charging her horn as she begins to walk down the steps. I look down to my boy as her aura takes over him, waking him. He lets out a long sigh as he stretches his legs and wings out.

"Mmmmm.... Mama?" He asks as he looks up to me, rubbing the sleep from him eyes. "Mama, what's going on? Where are we?"

"*sniff* My colt.... my sweet sweet colt." I say as I rub his mane, grateful that Celestia healed him.

"I already told you I don't want to be sweet. I want to be brave like Daddy! Where is Daddy? Why is everything red?" He asks as he sits up and looks around the room; confused by his new surroundings.

"Son, auntie Celly is going to send you somewhere... somewhere far far away...."

"Is it auntie Twileys library? Cause last time I went there I had to read, like, five kagillion books!" He says with a bit of a pout. I laugh a little as I lift him up and hold him tightly, rocking from side to side as he just hugs me back. "Did I do something wrong? If its about the vase, that was all Spikes fault...."

"I'm not mad at you.... I just love you.... so much." I say as I begin to tear up again, scaring him.

"Mama... I don't like this." He says as he holds me tightly. "Can we go home? I want daddy..."

"Cadence." I look back to see Celestia standing in the center of the room. On her back is a large blackened metal device that has two bright blue light emitting from it. "Its time."

"Right." I say before setting my son down and resting my hooves on his shoulders. "We're going to send you far away..."

"What! NO!" He yells as he latches onto my leg. "I don't want to go Mama! I want to stay with you! I want to stay with Daddy! I'll go to auntie Twileys and read all of the books, promise! I..."

"Shhh." I say, silencing him. I bring my nose to his and nuzzle him a bit before looking into his eyes. "My son.... my sweet, sweet, brave son. When you get there you have to find a grown up, they'll know what to do. It's going to be scary at first, but you'll be a brave pony like Daddy. Be safe... my son."

"No..." He mutters as his eyes begin to tear up. Celestia walks behind him and sets the devise down. "I love you Mama."

"I love you..."

KRA-KROOOOOOM

"CADENCE!"

"MAMA!"

I'm not even sure what exactly happened. All I can see is a field of blurs moving back and forth. I feel a soothing warmth grow over myself as the world around me begins to turn dark.

Sleep... I should go to sleep now. Celestia will send him there, he'll be safe... sleep now.

As the world around me begins to fall to darkness I see a massive blue light shoot up through the castle. That's my colt.... my sweet sweet colt...

Stay safe...