Redemption of the Sun

Redemption

of

The Sun

Prologue

October, 20th Year of the 8th Age.

Twenty-one years had passed since the day when the Sun Princess had succumbed to the same force that had created Nightmare Moon over one thousand years prior.

By her own will, not by the power of the elements, Celestia was drained of the majority of her power. Though the choice was hers, the elements were still the catalyst of her decision. When the bearers attempted to use them, something strange happened.

When the Elements of Harmony were first made by whatever beings of power forged them, part of their function was to protect their bearers. Celestia being a former bearer of all six elements, their power had no idea what to do with her. Thus, when the elements were used against her, the results were... less than exemplary.

~Twenty-one Years Earlier~

"Go ahead, my faithful student! The Elements can't stop me!"

"I'm sorry, Princess. This is for your own good."

The six bearers rose into the air as they faced their fiery Goddess in the darkened throne room of Canterlot Castle. Dust swirled around them like eddies in a river. When their eyes opened, they flared white with power. A twisting beam of rainbow light burst forth...

Then something went wrong.

The power of the Elements seemed almost confused as it warped and imploded in on itself. The bearers fell to the ground once more. Nothing had happened.

The orange mare with three apples on her flank stumbled and fell sideways. "Twi...? I ain't feelin' too good..."

The pink one likewise fell. "Wow. It's really hot..."

When all but the lavender unicorn were unconscious, that one fell too. Before hitting the ground, she managed to catch herself with her knees. A single tear hit the stone beneath her. "Princess...? Make the burning stop..."

The flaming alicorn before her faltered, and took a single step forwards. A step not of malice, but of concern. The flames that wreathed her features died to embers. "Twilight? Are you alright?"

"It hurts Princess! Make it stop!" With a scream of anguish, she finally gave in to the energies searing her from within, her horn clattering as her head impacted the floor.

Celestia ran to her, and crouched by her side. "Twilight!?” The mare had stopped breathing. “I'm sorry Twilight. I didn't know that this would happen. I didn't... I... What have I done?" She left the fallen corpse of her former student, and turned to look out at the flaming skies through one of the broken stained glass windows. The majority of the world had been marred by the power of the sun in Celestia's final battle with her sister a few moments before the Elements had arrived. Only a few thousand remained alive.

Luna meanwhile, had slowly limped her way into the room from where she had been defeated earlier. She stopped in shock when she saw the bodies of the six mares on the floor. Celestia turned at the sound of her sister's muffled gasp, and began to make her way to her sibling, head lowered in submission. The Princess of the Moon watched as her sister blinked the tears from her eyes and whispered, "It wasn't me. I swear I would never hurt them. I would never hurt her. It was the elements, sister. They did something to them."

Luna shook her head. "You were willing to murder all those others to further your own power, why not her too!?"

"She was like a daughter to me! She was the only one who loved me for who I was, not for my position as Princess. I wanted the others to love me..."

"What in Equestria could have possibly caused you to think that this would do so!?"

"I don't know! I just thought... I don't know what I thought. Now I'm more alone than ever before... Sister, if you will still let me call you that, I can't fix this..."

"What is left to fix!? The world is in flames!"

"There are still some, and they will need our guidance- No. They will need your guidance. Sister, I offer you all of my power to save my little ponies. I beg of you, make things right again."

"I will do my best... Sister. What of you?"

"Since the Elements failed to exile me, I shall do so myself. I will hide my identity, and live amongst the people. I'll help them where I can."

"That's a wise decision. I don't think that they would take kindly to your presence otherwise."

"I know. I don't expect anypony to forgive me, but perhaps one day I will be able to find redemption."

~Present Day~

A unicorn in a dark cloak walked through the market in the pine woods outside of what had once been Vanhoover. The morning mist swirled around the mare, who's white fur and pink mane were only just visible under the cloak.

Despite the early hour, the market was already bustling. In the time since the end of the last age, most ponies had elected to live alone amongst the trees in the few parts of the world that were still green. Markets such as these had sprung up as places where ponies could catch up with old friends, and share news.

The mare, who was trying not to be noticed in the crowd, paused as she caught the tail end of a conversation between two stallions some thirty hooves away. "-is cruel thinking. Princess Celestia will return one day as a beacon in the dark, and when she does, she deserves our forgiveness."

"How can you say that? You were there, you saw when the sky opened up and rained fire down upon us. Monsters don't deserve second chances."

"Everypony deserves a second chance."

As the second stallion left, shaking his head, the mare approached the first, a sky blue unicorn with a near-white light yellow mane. "I'm sorry, I couldn't help but overhear. Did you say that you think Celestia deserves forgiveness? After the horror of watching our families burn?"

"I'm sorry ma'am, I meant no offence. I'm simply a believer in second chances and... Wherever she is, I don't like the idea of her being alone. That's what started all of this in the first place, and everypony should have friends."

"That's okay. I don't really have an opinion on the matter, but I'm pretty sure that this is the first time I've ever heard somepony willing to forgive her."

"There's actually more of us than you'd think, but there's still a few like that guy who think that she was just pure evil. Most ponies know that wasn't the case."

"If you don't mind me asking, what happened to you on that day?"

"I was with my parents in Canterlot when it happened, just a foal at the time. It's mostly a blur, but I remember the screams, and I remember watching as a beam of solid sunlight came flying from down the street. It missed me, but both of my parents were just... gone. Celestia landed in front of me- I don't know where Princess Luna was- and she looked at me. For some reason my first emotion wasn't fear, it was sadness. Sadness for her when I thought of what could have driven her to that point. I could see the pain of what she had done in her eyes."

"That's when you decided that she deserved another chance? At the same moment that she had killed your parents?"

"Yeah. It's a bit strange, but I could tell that she was hurting. I know that she still bears that pain now."

"Yes... You're probably right."

"You know, after that day, I bet I could recognize those eyes anywhere."

The mare quickly averted her gaze, and answered with sudden urgency, "Is that so? Well, I've got things to do, bye."

Before she could go, the stallion placed a hoof under her chin and forced her to look at him. "Those eyes. So beautiful, but so filled with pain..."

The mare blushed and cleared her throat. "Yes, well, I really should be going."

"Very well, but if you ever need a friend, just ask around for me. The name's Daylight."

As she turned to leave, the mare answered, "Thank you, but I do fine on my own."

"I'm sure you do. But I'm also sure that you need somepony to talk to. I truly hope that you change your mind."

The mare looked back over her shoulder, violet eyes beginning to fill with tears. "I really want to believe you, but I can't. Goodbye. I don't think you'll be seeing me again." She paused, seemingly unwilling to move on. "I'm sorry about your parents. I'm sure Celestia feels horrible about it."

"Celestia shouldn't feel that way. I forgave her long ago. If you're really going to leave, just remember, I'll be here."

Wordlessly, the mare wiped her eyes with one hoof, then continued away, disappearing into the misty crowd.