Prelude

Chapters

A Story
Knowing
Life Changes
Retribution
Chianna
Choices
Heritage

A Story

A flash of light and a boom of thunder were all that signaled the coming storm. Deep in the western forest a pony covered in a brown cloak trotted briskly through the slight overgrowth. In the equines mouth the pony carried a basket. Inside, covered up in a white blanket lay a small dark blue alicorn foal. The baby’s mane shone softly from the glint of the moon. The foal rested soundly, never knowing the goal of the one whom carried him. The pony started to pick up her pace as the impending rain started to slowly fall from the sky.

Elsewhere a dark blue stallion stood upon a stone work balcony. He looked up into the clouded night sky as the rain began to dance around him. A solid white mare stood in the doorway of the balcony and the bedroom they both shared. “Evening, please come back inside before you catch a cold.”

“There is somepony out there Solaris. Somepony from our past.” He then turned and walked back inside before closing the doors behind him with his magic.

“Evening who else could be out there? Anarchy is sealed away thanks to Azure’s sacrifice. Gaia disappeared and we have not seen her since. She was probably so grief stricken over her loss that she could not come to terms with it. We offered her a place here with us but... well.”

The stallion sighed softly as he walked over to the large fireplace before looking into the flames. “They were our friends Solaris. I can not feel that we may have betrayed them.”

The regal alicorn mare walked over to her stallion and nuzzled into him. “It was Azure’s choice. Gaia knows this, I am sure she would say the same if she were here.” It was then that a light knock came to the door of their bedroom.

“Enter.”

The door slowly pushed open to show a young alicorn filly. She was white like her mother but her mane and tail were in four different colors. Her magenta eyes peered into the room as her head poked passed the door. “Mother? Father is it ok if I can talk to you?”

“Of course sunshine please come in, your father and I were just talking about some things. What is it you want to talk with us about?”

“Well...

The rain was coming down heavier now and the pony was frantic to find the little foal some kind of shelter. Sure enough she had come upon a small village. She looked about from home to home searching for the right place her the baby till one caught her eye. The windows were still lit so some pony was still awake. Quickly she place the bundle down at their door and wrapped the baby tighter before she looked up and saw a castle in the distance. “They will watch out you, help to guide you.” The tiny foal then started to squirm and softly cry.

“Oh no no shhh its ok. I’m here my little star, momma’s here.” She brought her snout into the bundle to which the foal gently clung to and giggled softly. The pony in question smiled and closed her eyes as tears ran down her face and mixed with the rain upon the ground. "I will always be watching over you my little foal, even if you can’t see me.”

“Grow up big and strong my little Lunar. I love you always.” With that she kissed the foal’s head and rapped on the door before taking off into the darkness. She turned back only once to the the little dark blue hooves reaching out to her. In that moment all she wanted do was run back and scoop the foal into her hooves and never let him go. But she knew that if events in the future were to be prevented, that she had to do this. It was with a heavy heart that she ran as the door to the house opened.

“Is somepony there?” The stallion looked about before glancing down and noticing the small foal. “Moon’s light who could have left such a newborn out in this weather.” The stallion took the handle within his mouth and walked inside closing the door behind himself.

“Night, who was it?” A unicorn mare stepped around the corner and into the hall noticing a basket in her husband’s mouth. The pegasus stallion walked over to the coffee table that was in the middle of their living room and placed the basket upon it and peered into it.

“Somepony just left this little foal at our doorstep. There seems to be no note just a name, Lunar Star.”

“Well come on, we have to get the poor thing out of these wet blankets.” No sooner then did she start to remove then then she nearly jumped back in shock.

“Andromeda what’s the matter?” The stallion looked into the basket and his jaw hit the floor. “Well I’ll be, its an alicorn foal.”

The small wings upon the foal’s side folded and flexed open as the baby Lunar tried to get up. Andromeda then walked back to the basket, the initial shock over. She gently took the little foal into her hooves and looked the little foal over. “He dose not seem to be too bad.” Just then the little Lunar sneezed.

“Poor thing must have caught a cold in that rain. Come on, lets get him warmed up and some food in his belly.”

“Well that is quite the thought Tia.”

The little filly smiled broadly. “My teachers thought so too, they said that it was a different way of looking at the way the world around us works.”

Celestia’s mother and father looked at each other as the small family sat around the fire. “But I have to ask though if I can, I over heard you two talking about about someponies you knew.”

Again the two alicorns looked at each other before looking to their daughter. It was Solaris that started to talk. “Well sweetheart your father and I are not the only ones of our kind, long ago there were a great many of us.”

“Your mother is correct. Our kind lived on an island known as Eden. It was a beautiful place that held great magic from the world itself. We lived peaceful lives then and thanks to the magic that was granted to us, we did not worry about the passage of time. But like so many things there was one that thought such power should be hers alone. Her name was kept secret.”

Celestia sat before her parents and listened closely to the story that both her parents were telling her. It was tale that was long kept secret but they thought that their daughter ready to understand of their origins.

“This mare wielded dark powers far too great for one pony to bare and as such she lost her mind. She destroyed everything in her path, whole lineages were lost till only a hoof-full of us remained. It was in that one moment that your mother and I along with our two friend’s Azure Sky and Gaia fought back and sealed her away for all time but at a terrible cost. Azure Sky gave his life to the seal placed upon the mare and his mare Gaia disappeared a short while after. It was then that your mother and I, along with Gaia, left our home to find new lands and we had.”

“So how many alicorns are left?”

Evening Star thought for a moment tapping his hoof on his chin, before answering. “Well we used to number in the thousands, after we left Eden... there were only me, your mother and Gaia so three.”

The little filly could not believe what she had heard. Their kind, that is to say that alicorns were not native to the place that they now called home. “Do not think too much on it sunshine. It happened a very long time ago. All that matters now are the well being of the ponies that look up to us to guide them.”

Andromeda and her husband Night Hawk sat in their living room, a roaring fire going in their hearth. Night Hawk was reading a book from their collection while Andromeda rocked back and forth in the chair she sat, holding the baby Lunar and bottle of warm milk. The little foal lightly suckling upon it as the unicorn mare smiled. “Night, do you think he might be the king and queen’s?”

The pegasus looking up from his book. “I don’t think so. If he was, I am sure that they would have sent the guards looking for him.” Night Hawk set his book down before getting up and walking over to his wife and their new guest. “I suspect that they have no knowledge of whom he is.” He lightly brushed away the foal’s mane to look into his face.

“Night I say we should keep him. I mean we have always wanted a foal of our own. Besides that... he needs a home and ponies whom love him.”

The stallion nodded. “I can understand that.” The mare then pulls the bottle from the foal. He tried fruitlessly to get it back and when he couldn’t, he started to sniffle and softly cry.

“Shhh it’s alright little one. Hush now quiet now it’s time to rest your sleepy head. Hush now quiet now it’s time to go to bed.” The mare’s voice was soft in tone as she sang to the crying foal. “Drifting off to sleep, leave the exciting day behind you. Drifting off to sleep, let the joys of dream land find you.” Lunar’s cries soon calm into soft sniffles and then from there he yawned, feeling the tiredness of the day slowly get to his tiny form. “Hush now quite it now it’s time to rest your sleepy head. Hush now quiet now it’s time to go to bed.”

Night Hawk chuckled softly as the foal yawned again and slowly closed his eyes before gently falling asleep. “You see, I told you you had a voice that could sooth any beast." Andromeda smiled to her husbands before slowly standing and holding the little foal in her hoof. She slowly walked over to the now dry basket that Lunar was found in and laid him gently in it. Softly she wrapped him up in a new blanket and gently kissed his head.

“Sweet dreams little Lunar.”

Celestia lay on the large round mattress that was her bed. Her having already come to tuck her in. The light of the moon shining through her glass doors that lead out to a small balcony. Her head lay upon a cylindrical pillow but the princess was doing anything but sleeping. She look into the fire of her hearth and gazed at the flames as they danced their dance. Her thoughts still on what her parents had told her just hours ago.

“Is all that they said true? Are we all that remain of a once powerful race?”

The more she wracked her brain around the idea the more her restlessness grew. She tossed and turned trying her best to get to sleep yet try as she might, sleep was just shy of her. Finally giving up her thoughts she took a deep breath then let it out. Closing her eyes it took her another hour or so before her body decided it had had enough and gave in, allowing her to sleep.

Knowing

In the weeks coming since the little foal was found by the couple, Night Hawk was called back to duty at the castle. Lunar had not yet grasped the idea that his surrogate father had work to do and started to cry softly for him. “Shh hush now my little stallion. daddy will be back come this evening.” The unicorn mare leaned down into basket they used as a makeshift crib till the foal was old enough to have one. Upon her snout drawing close enough, the little colt looked up and lightly clung to her snout as she nuzzled his belly.

“You are just so precious my little one. Never change.”

Once Lunar had release her muzzle, Andromeda looked for the plushie dragon that she had made for him only a few days ago. Looking under the table in which the basket was set she spied it. But before she was able to grasp it within her own magic, it was wrapped in a faint purple glow. Knowing that it was not her own, the unicorn looked back to the basket and noticed that the foal’s tiny horn was glowing. The small plush toy floated over to Lunar before he clutched it within his tiny hooves and nuzzled into it.

“Well at least this you did not pick I or your father up this time.”

Meanwhile, Night Hawk was trotting through the halls of the castle donned in his royal guard armor. He did not wish to be away from the newest member of their family but the stallion had a duty to uphold when he swore service to the crown.

“Hey Night Hawk. It’s good to see you again.”

He stopped in his patrol and turned around. Standing behind him was a filly Celestia. He smiled and dipped his head respectfully. “It is good to be back little princess.”

“Is miss Andromeda going to be coming back also?”

Night shook his head. “Not as of now, which was why I was on my way to speak to your parents. Andromeda is at home taking care of our little foal.” Celestia smiled wide at this and started to bound around.

“Oh wow I didn’t know you were expecting.”

“We aren’t young princess, a foal was left on our doorstep so we took him in.”

Celestia had stopped her bouncing and looked up to one of her parent’s guards. “What kind of pony would do that to their foal?”

“I am not sure princess but it matters little now. Lunar is our foal and there is nothing we would not give him.” Celestia nodded and accompanied Night as he made his way through the castle to the throne room. It was there that the two ruling ponies were holding their court.

“Next petition please.”

Night Hawk walked in before anypony could say anything further. “Your majesties. I would like to petition lady Andromeda’s absence.”

Evening Star looked to his wife and then back to his guard. “To what reason do you make such a request Night Hawk. Keep in mind that you wife is one of my wife’s personal bodyguards.” Night dipped his head low before speaking once more.

“I understand your highness. But she is very busy right at this moment and wont be able to return to work till such time as it is appropriate.”

Solaris rose from her throne beside her husband and descended the small ramp to the floor below. “And what time would that be Night Hawk?”

“Till their foal is old enough.” Both of her parents and Night looked to the little princess. “Night told me that they found a foal on their doorstep some nights ago.”

Evening Star rose from his throne. “Is this true Night?” The pegasus nodded. It was then that Solaris looked to her husband, could the force he felt those nights ago had been their friend?

“We request to see him if that is quite alright with you.”

“I do not see a problem with it. The sight of new faces might be a bit much but I don’t think is something that would too much to handle.”

Both Solaris and Evening Star nodded. “Well in light of everything so be it. We grant thee our blessing Night Hawk. May thy foal know only peace and joy.”

The white mare looked up to her husband. “My love perhaps it best if one of us go. Celestia can come with me while you take of things here." Evening Star nodded.

Back at home, Andromeda was busy in the kitchen getting lunch ready for herself and a bottle warmed for Lunar. The bottle of milk sat in a pot of slowly heating water while the unicorn mare prepared a sandwich for herself. Lunar however lay in his basket and played with his plush dragon. He held it above himself as he pretended that it was flying in the open sky, giggling as he did.

Andromeda looked back to the little foal upon the table and smiled. Eventually the young colt would become curious as to why his mother and father looked different then he did but until such time as that came about, she was just enjoying the time they spent together.

However as she was just sitting down to feed the little foal and eat her own meal, a knock came to the door. “I wonder who that might be.” Lunar could have cared less, he was too busy playing with his stuffed dragon toy to even notice. As she opened the door it was the postmare delivering their mail. Some was from Night Hawk’s mother in Airia, asking him why he could not have settled for a pegasus mare to which Andromeda shook her head. She knew Night’s mother never truly like her because she was a unicorn and felt that unicorns should stay with their own kind. There were others from relations from either side of their family. None had yet heard about the tiny foal they found at their doorstep, least not yet anyhow. The only ones that knew of Lunar’s existence were those that lived in town.

She closed the door and walked back inside and ate her meal before picking up the tiny foal in her magic, along with the bottle and trotted over to the chair before sitting upon it. She place the young alicorn is her lap and gave him the warm bottle of milk, that is before she tried to pry the dragon plush from his near death grip. The alicorn was quite stubborn when it came to what he wanted they found out but it was nothing that was not normal for foals his age.

As she was feeding Lunar, another knock came to the door. She quickly carried Lunar in her hooves and placed him back into his basket before answering the door. “Yes can I help... you?” Standing before her was Queen Solaris, with her daughter by her side.

“Your majesty I was not expecting you, please come in.” Andromeda stepped to the side and allowed the two royal ponies entry while two guards stood at the door.

“Please forgive the intrusion Andromeda but we heard from you husband that you found a foal some nights ago and we came to see him.”

“Why yes we did. It was raining quite heavily when my husband noticed the basket upon our doorstep. The poor thing was soaked clear to the bone, so we brought him in and took care of him. Our original thought was to take him to the local orphanage but we decided against it. We thought it must have been fate that he was given to us.” She lead the large alicorn over to the basket by the warm fire. Lunar for his part just stared up at the queen with a look of confusion. That is until he saw a second face. It was Celestia’s.

In that moment, something clicked between the two of them. The young princess may have only been five years old at the time but a deep connection was formed between them when their eyes locked. Solaris had seen it too, there was something about this little colt. Lunar just giggled happily, and opened his tiny wings.

“Mommy, he’s like us.” Solaris nodded.

“That he is my sunshine.” She the looked to the unicorn mare. “What is his name?”

“Lunar Star your highness.”

The shock finally hit the little princess as she squealed in delight. “Mother don’t you realize what this means? We aren’t the only ones anymore. There have to be more out there somewhere.”

“Perhaps sunshine but for now you must calm yourself, you do not wish to startle the poor colt do you?” Celestia shook her head. “There are a few things Andromeda that you will have to know about alicorn foals. Unlike unicorns as you well know, our powers far exceed that which would be normal to the common pony. As your husband had told us, Lunar is showing signs of magic fluctuations. As you also know, unicorn foals only start showing these signs in eight to ten weeks where as alicorns show signs even as soon as they are born. Sun’s light I could not tell you the trouble I had gone through when Celestia was born.”

“Hey!” The filly protested.

Andromeda nodded. “Yes I had always wondered about that.”

“Now then, what have you been feeding him?” The queen asked before she sat down beside the basket.

“Enriched cow’s milk you highness.”

“I see. While as good as a mother’s milk, cow’s milk lacks the magical enforcements that help ponies such as alicorns to grow. Might I suggest enhancing it with your own magic, that should suffice I believe. It need not be a lot, just a little here and there.”

Using her own magic, Solaris picked the young Lunar up from his basket and gently clutched him within her wings. “Alicorns at a young age are normally held like this in their mother’s wings. It is to give them a sense of security and peace. Since you do not have wings I take it that you have held him within your hooves close to your chest?”

Andromeda nodded.

“Good, he will undoubtedly make the same connection. Another thing...” A soft coo emits from within Solaris’s wings to which all three look down and seen the baby Lunar snuggled into his feathery bed.

“Aww he’s so cute.” Celestia smiled upon him.

Solaris could not help be smile herself. It had been a long time since Celestia was able to do that and she missed it. As if by sheer instinct, she leaned down and nuzzled the little foal. She nickered gently and brushed the foal’s mane from his eyes.

“Forgive me, mother’s instincts.”

“Oh it’s quite alright your highness. I may not be Lunar’s biological mother but I do know of a mother’s instinct.”

Solaris allowed Lunar to rest within her gentle and warm wings as the two mares continued their conversation. Celesita sat beside her mother, never taking her eyes off the little Lunar. “Once he is capable of flight I would suggest you have your husband teach him the basics. Normally even for alicorns it takes a few years before their wing muscles are strong enough to hold them aloft. Other then that Andromeda, taking care of an alicorn foal is the same as any other. With the right amount of love I feel he will grow into a fine stallion one day.”

Solaris then softly placed the now sleeping Lunar within his basket and covered him up. She nods to the unicorn before she and Celestia depart.

It was early evening and Night Hawk had already retired for the day and returned home as the chariot carrying Solaris and Celestia returned. Evening Star was in the den reading one of the few books they were able to save from their homeland as his wife entered. “So what did you find out?”

Solaris was silent for a moment before she spoke in a soft tone. “Mane of the purest silver like his mother. Eyes of the heavenliest purple like his father. His coat was the deepest of blue.”

Evening Star placed a bookmark in the page to hold his spot before closing the book and getting up. “The child’s name?”

“Lunar Star.”

“So it is Gaia’s and Azure’s son?” Solaris nodded.

“There can be no doubt.”

“She must have used her magic to pause the pregnancy until she was sure it was safe. But why now? We left Eden over fifty years ago. Surely she could have found someplace suitable?”Even had a confused look upon his face.

Solaris shook her head. “I don’t know but there is something else.” She walked over to her husband and whispered into his ear. He soon jumped back with a shock.

“Are you certain of this?”

“I would not have thought so unless I seen it with my own eyes. Lunar and Celestia share a Destiny Bond.”

Evening then sat where he stood. “You know what this will mean don’t you?”

“Only the makers know what it means. It is not rare among our kind but it is uncommon. Perhaps our daughter has found her life mate.”

Evening Star sighed softly as Solaris nuzzled into his chest. He smiled to her as he opened his large wings and wrapped them softly around the white mare as she scooted closer to her husband. “Do you truly believe what you say?”

“The eyes never lie my love. Whether they know it or not, they are connected.”

Life Changes

Slowly weeks become months and months slowly become years. It was now the middle of summer and Lunar was out playing by a nearby creek with his best friend. The two enjoyed the cool waters as apposed to the heat from the high summer sun. All this of course was under the watchful eyes of Andromeda.

“Hey Tia watch this.” Lunar had closed his eyes and his horn glowed. A few feet away, a similar glow was taking place on the water’s surface. Before long, a large glob of water rose into the air.

“Oh wow.” That was all she would be able to say before the blob of water smacks her in the face and completely soaks the young princess. He winced and fell onto her haunches and hung her head. All Lunar could hear was soft sniffles, as if she were about to cry.

“Oh horsefeather Tia, I’m sorry. It was just all in good fun.” Fun was right because the white filly tackled her friend into the water and the two rolled down the shallow embankment before coming to a stop and slowly getting to their hooves. Both laughing like there was no tomorrow. The two friends continued their games until Andromeda called the two of them in for lunch.

“So how is your baby sister?”

“Luna is just that, a baby. She cries a lot but that’s because she needs a lot of care. She looks a lot like you, I mean your coats are the same color.” Lunar chuckled deeply.

“Aww feeling outnumbered sun princess?” Ever since Celestia received cutie mark which was indeed a sun, Lunar had always teasingly called her ‘Sun Princess’.

“Oh come on Lunar, you know I can’t really move the sun, only mother can. I got this because I love the daylight. It shows off all of the different colors all around us like a painting. I see you still haven’t gotten yours yet though.”

The colt shook his head. “No, mom said that I have to be patient and that it will come to me in time. But I see every filly and colt my age has theirs already. They make fun of me Tia, calling me a ‘blank flank’ even worse they would sometimes call me ‘princess’s pet’. It’s not fair, why do I have to find what makes me special so late?”

Celestia looked to her friend and wished that there was something she could do to ease his pain. The only thing she could think of was to open a wing and drape it across his back. “Well well if it isn’t the princess’s loyal pet. Did she teach you any new trick?”

“Leave me alone Sky Shine. I don’t even want to deal with you right now.”

The pegasus colt laughed along with two others that were with him. “Aww what’s wrong too upset about us calling you a blank flank, because that’s what you are.”

Celestia had had enough, princess or not nopony picked on her friends. “Shut up. How dare you talk to him like that.”

“Did I upset her royal highness? Maybe you should hang out with us instead of being around a blank flank nopony.”

Lunar’s head was hung down and his silvery mane covered his face. His body shook slightly before he threw his head up showing every pony his glowing eyes. His silver mane fluttered as if the wind was whipping past it. “Enough!” His voice boomed with raw power. “I have had enough of you and your friends. If all you can do is pick on a pony for not having a cutie mark then maybe I should remove yours!”

The pegasus stepped back in fear as Lunar’s horn glowed with power. Before he was able to even get a chance, the pegasus and his friends took off running. Once they were out of sight, Lunar’s power faded and his mane returned to his side.

Celestia was standing beside him in awe. “Lunar are you ok?”

“Lunar Star!” Andromeda came galloping down the path before she stopped before the two. “I was just coming to get you when three colts ran passed screaming about you trying to remove their cutie marks.”

“Miss Andromeda those three colts were picking on him.” Lunar again hid his face behind his mane as once again, the filly placed a wing over his back. “He really wasn’t going to do it, just to scare them.”

The unicorn sighed softly. “Well anyway it’s time for lunch.” The two young ponies followed close behind her. “I am grateful to her majesty to allow you to spend time with Lunar. He has had a rather rough time making friends.”

“Mother thought it would be good that we get to know one another. I don’t really know why but I’m glad she said yes. Lunar has become one of my dearest friends.”

Lunar and Andromeda waved goodbye as the chariot carrying the young princess took off back to their castle in the distance. Night Hawk was just appearing on the horizon as the two walked back inside. “Well come on Lunar your father will be here any moment and we need to get dinner ready.”

“Ok mom I’ll set the table.” Using his magic, Lunar opened one of the many cupboards and removed three plates, placing them around their dinning table.

“Evening every pony.” Night said as he opened the door to their home and walked in, closing the door behind him. He removed his armor, placing it upon a rack on the one side of the living room next his wife’s. “So what’s for dinner?”

“Mom said she was making cheese ravioli with basil tomato sauce.”

“Oh really well that sounds delicious. Can’t wait till its done. I also seen the princess fly past before I got home.” Lunar nodded.

“Yeah she came to visit since she didn’t have classes today. We had fun down by the creek and I showed her the trick mom taught me.”

Night smiled to Lunar, ever since they first took the foal they found into their home, he never once regretted it. To him and his wife, Lunar had been a blessing to them. Before they had found the foal, it was discovered that Andromeda could not bear children. It devastated them both but more to Andromeda. She was weeping all that day and into the next.

“Foods ready.”

Night chuckled. “The wonders of having a wife that knows magic. Cooking always takes less time.”

Andromeda came trotting into the dinning room from the kitchen with a steaming pot held in her magic and placed it upon the table. She lifts each plate and fills it with a generous serving. “So Lunar when are you planning on asking the princess out?” Lunar promptly spit out everything in his mouth and covered the table.

“Lunar! Honestly, cover your mouth next time.” Andromeda scolded as she grabbed a rag to clean off the mess.

“It’s dad’s fault, he made me do it with that question.” Lunar then took his glass into his magic and slowly started to drink from it.

“What question? About you asking the princess out on a date.” Lunar choked and put his glass down and started to cough.

“Dear with you give the poor boy a minute.” Night Hawk chuckled deeply.

“I’m sorry Lunar.” He patted his son on his back.

“She’s just a friend dad that’s it. We hang out that’s all.” Night nodded his head.

Night had fallen over their little town and many were asleep in their beds when the alarms went off from the town watch. Lunar jumped from his bed before his mother came running into the room panting and wearing her armor. “Mom what’s going on? What’s that noise? And why are you wearing your armor?”

“There is no time for that Lunar, you must hide, now.”

The little colt shook his head. “No, whatever it is I can help, I want to help. Please mom”

Andromeda just shook her head. “No Lunar you are still too young and your magic is not as refined. You need to stay hidden.” Screams and insane cackling echo into the night from outside.

“Go Lunar, now!” Lunar quickly ran into his closet and closed the door. The screams of ponies and cackling of whatever it was outside continued. His body shook with fear before he heard the shouts of his mother and father. He knew that there was nothing that they were afraid of and if they weren’t afraid then he shouldn’t be either. Gathering up his courage, Lunar bolted out of his closet and out of his room. He ran through the house and bursts through the front door before coming face to face with the carnage.

Bodies of ponies and some type of canine lay strewn all over the dirt street. Blood pouring out of wounds and coating the ground. The little alicorn started to hyper-ventilate the more bodies of the villagers he seen. “Look here Mick, we got ourselves a small fry.” Lunar turned and standing before him was one of those canines. It stood on two legs and had some type of clothing, like a vest upon itself. Around its neck was a black spiked collar. Its fur was the dingiest of grey and it sickly yellow eyes had Lunar frozen in place.

“We don’t need no shrimp Rover, get rid of it.”

The canine cackled before raising one of his clawed hands. “Sorry kid but you got to die.” Lunar closed his eyes waiting for the blow but all he heard was the canine whimper. Once he opened his eyes a pony dressed in armor stood before him.

“Mom!”

Andromeda was panting heavily. “Lunar I thought I told you to stay hidden!” As Lunar looked his mother over, he saw that there was an arrow sticking out of her side.

“Mom you’re hurt.”

The unicorn shook her head. “Don’t worry about me just...” She could not even finish her though as another arrow wizzed by and struck on her side. She dropped to the ground but tried to raise to her hooves. The pain the colt could see was great. When she could not raise again, the little colt was at her side.

“Mom, mom please I can help. Please let me help.” Tears were streaming down the little colt’s face. All around them was chaos, screams of the injured and dying rang out into the night.

“You must live my little star. Always remember Lunar, even thought I am not with you I will forever be watching you...” The unicorns heart slowed and with the last few beats, she died.

“Mom? Mother!? MOMMA!” The death of his mother kick started a chain reaction within the little colt as his mane bellowed by an unknown force. Magic surrounded him in bubble of pure energy and he opened his eyes, sending shock waves or raw magic in every direction. every canine that was caught within the waves was instantly turned into ash. Those that were able to get away ran off screaming into the forest.

Those at the castle must have heard the alarm because Evening Star and a large platoon of soldiers had arrived to witness the little colts power. Once the initial shock was over, Lunar magic surge subsided and he was lowered to the ground. He sat there crying heavily over the body of Andromeda.

The large alicorn looked around to see the devastation. “Gather up any survivors. I want a full report. You!” He pointed to one of his captains. “Take as many ponies as you will need and hunt down those dogs. But make sure to bring me their leader. The rest you can do with what you want.”

Once everything was set in place, Eveing Star slowly walked over to the crying. He gently sat behind him and looked down to the colt. “Your highness please you have to help my mom. I tried to wake her but she won’t get up. Why won’t she wake up?”

The large stallion shook his head. “I am sorry Lunar but your mother has gone to Elysia. There it is always sunny and she will not hurt anymore.” Lunar then turned and burried his face into the king’s chest. He quickly wrapped the sobbing colt in his wings and held him there. Another guard walked up beside the alicorn and whispered into his ear.

“Are you certain?” The soldier nodded. Lunar however did not hear anything over his cries. Evening looked down to the now orphaned colt and a single tear worked it’s way from his eye and streamed down his face before falling off his cheek. Without thinking, he took the colt into his magic and placed him upon his back. “I am taking this one to the castle. Continue to look for any survivors, I will be back.”

“What about momma, I can’t just leave her.”

“Do not worry Lunar, your mother will be well taken care of.” With the opening of his massive wings, Evening Star took several great beats and was airborne. He flew fast back to the castle. There Solaris, Celestia and even baby Luna were wide awake after the alarm sounded. It did not take the stallion long till he landed on a balcony that lead into the King and Queen’s bedroom.

“Evening what’s that all about? Why did you bring Lunar here?”

Evening was quick to catch his breath and allow Lunar to dismount before answering. “There was an attack on the village. A Diamond Dog raiding party slaughtered everpony we saw. They may have taken captives to work in their mines though I am not sure.” He then walked over to Solaris and spoke softly into her ear. She quickly brought a hoof to her muzzle and her eyes welled up in tears before looked to the little colt. His head was hidden by his mane but the shaking of his body and the soft sniffles were all to prominent.

“I have sent out search parties to find any pony they can as well as hunt down those accursed dogs.” Celestia walked over to Lunar, she had not heard what it was that her father told her mother but from the way Lunar was acting, it could not be good. She lightly wrapped her friend in her hooves and held him close. Once that happened it was like a switch had gone off and he cried openly.

Even for such a young alicorn, Luna knew this emotion, pain. Her mother and father watched as she lifted herself with her magic and floated over to the saddened colt and wrapped her legs around his back and nuzzled into his neck. Evening and his wife watched as their youngest daughter understood all to well what was going on and tried to do her part to help comfort whom she thought of as a friend.

“I have to get back, can you make sure that he is taken care of?” Solaris nodded as Evening Star took to the air. “I’ll be back once everything is done and we have gathered up the dead.” He then took off back to the village in the distance.

“Come on girls, lets get Lunar into bed. I am sure he needs his rest.” The two sisters did not move until Lunar did, well Luna couldn’t anyway.

Once he rose to his hooves, he followed close behind Solaris through their bedroom and into the hall. She lead them down the long corridor and down an adjacent hall till she stopped by a door. “This was meant guests of high standing but seeing as you are going to be staying here Lunar, this will be your room. Celestia’s is just down the hall there. I will issue one of my attendants as your caretaker for when Evening Star and I are not available.”

“Thank you your highness.” He spoke in a weak voice, almost a whisper. He slowly walked into the room as Luna was picked up off his back. She wiggled her hooves helplessly trying to get to her friend.

“It’s ok Lulu, I’ll stay with him.”

“Make sure he gets some rest Celestia understand.” The filly nodded and closed the door behind them.

Once the small princess turned around she saw Lunar sitting by the fire. The colt was still slightly shaking and the images of just moment ago replay in his mind. The open wailing of earlier were now just soft sobs. In one night, the colt’s life had been turned upside down. Celestia softly trotted over to her friend and sat beside him. She placed an open wing on his back and lightly nuzzled his cheek.

“I feel so cold.”

“Please Lunar, don’t think about it. It’s not good to dwell on what you can not change.”

The younger colt shook and rested against the filly’s side. “I miss her already.”

“Then you will always miss her but she will always be with you. As long as you remember the things she taught you, you will never be apart. For you are apart of each other.”

Retribution

It was a cold autumn morning as Lunar sat in front of the headstones of both his parents. They were both buried with distinguished honors in the face of danger and laid to rest in the royal cemetery. He sat there with his head low before the two graves. “How long has he been sitting there?” Solaris asked as she came upon the side of Autumn Breeze, the attendant she had assigned to Lunar’s care.

“He hasn’t moved all morning, not even for breakfast. I can’t say I know what he’s going through because I never lost my family the way he did. But it must have been very traumatic.”

“Evening told me that when he arrived the little one was encased in his own magic. I suspect from the reports that he may have witnessed his mother die before him. Only something of that magnitude I believe would have caused it.”

The unicorn looked upon the young alicorn. “Maker’s love, to have gone through such a thing and still be able to function.”

“We alicorn are more resilient then one might believe. Still there was little to be decided when I heard. Evening and I can never take the place of his mother and father, nor do we wish to but we will guide him as if he were one of our own nonetheless. And besides, it would break Luna and Celestia’s heart if we sent him away now.”

Autumn looked up to her queen then back to the colt. “Yes I have seen that the princesses have taken a shine to him.”

Solaris nodded to Autumn before slowly approaching the morning colt. She gently sat beside him and he could see her out of the corner of his eye. “Oh hello your majesty.” The colt’s voice held little emotion. Could she blame him? In a matter of a few hours his family and all that he knew was gone.

“Listen to me young Lunar. I know that this is a trying time for you but you must be strong. Your mother and father would not want to see you sitting here day in and day out morning over them. They would want you to live you life.”

Lunar’s head lowered. “I know all that your highness.”

“Then what seems to be the matter?’

The young colt started to shake slightly. Solaris saw this and draped one of her wings over him. “I couldn’t save them. I wanted to, had to, needed to but I just couldn’t. My magic is too weak to do much of anything aside from a few spells. But that still dosen’t excuse the fact that there should have been something, anything that I could have done. I mean look at me, I’m like Tia and Luna and even the king. Aren’t we suppose to be powerful ponies?”

Autumn watched as her queen moved around behind the colt and wrapped her wings lightly around him. “Lunar we alicorn maybe a wise and ancient race but we are still ponies of this world, still prone to difficulties that growing up brings. Yes our powers are greater then any unicorn but that dose not mean we are born that way. Evening Star and I were just like you when we were your age. There were a great many things we couldn’t do till we were older.”

Lunar remained seated between the queen’s wings for a time before a stallion walked up beside her and spoke into her ear. “Yes I understand.” She slowly rose to her hooves and looked down to the still trembling colt. “Come Lunar, there is something you will want to see.”

Solaris had lead Lunar into the castle and up a flight of stairs, Autumn Breeze was by his side as they turned down a hallway. The queen stopped by a set of large doors before two unicorns opened them to reveal the large throne room. Along the far wall sat the throne, of which Evening Star sat. Two guards held chains in their magic connected to a canine. He wore a red vest and spiked collar around his neck. When the doors opened he turned his head around and Lunar froze in his tracks. He knew just what this thing was.

“You have eluded my troops for far to long mongrel. Your pack as it were is gone, cast to the winds. You are all that remain of that raiding party that destroyed a nearby village.”

“Ha you can not prove that.” His voice was bizarre, a mix of guttural growling and gruff speech.

“Oh no? I happened to have a witness whom can claim you were part of that group.”

Solaris gently nudge Lunar with her wing to coax him to step forward. The colt looked up to her as she tilted her head to the group of ponies within the throne room. Lunar looked back and gulped as he walked into the large room. All the eyes of the ponies whom filled it were upon him. Their whispers, some were too low to hear but other...

“Look at him he looks just like the king.”

“Who is he?”

“I can’t believe it.”

One of Evening Star’s advisor looked up to him. “Sire why have you hidden an alicorn foal from us, surely he should be...” The stallion raised a hoof to silence the unicorn.

“I understand your thoughts my old friend but know that I had not a hoof in this. And I do believe the thought of lifting him to royal status is a possibility but only if he wishes it. For now let us proceed.” The elderly unicorn nodded.

“Now Lunar I know this is difficult for you but is this the one that attacked your home?”

Lunar stood before the throne and turned to face the canine in chains. He looked up into those slickly yellow eyes and then he felt that same fear and frozen in place. He body trembles as he stands there but then something deep inside him sparked.

The air within the throne room started to spin, slowly circling around the colt. “Sire what’s going on?

“I’m not sure. Lunar are you alright?”

The colt’s head was hidden by his mane and his body shook before lifting his head and opened his eyes which glowed a brilliant white. He flared his wings which threw every pony against the walls. Even the king and queen were thrown off their hooves before the colt lunged for the downed canine.

“IT WAS YOU! YOU TOOK THEM FROM ME! I HATE YOU!” His voice boomed throughout the room well into the castle. The little colt was lost in grips of anger and rage as he pummeled the canine in the face repeatedly. “I HATE YOU,YOU MONSTER!”

Because of the tremendous surge of magic coming off the colt, only Evening Star and Solaris were able to get close to him. Tears were streaming down his eyes as he continued his assault upon the canine. The queen eventually reached him and took the colt into her wings to which his magic faded and he clutched her foreleg, crying heavily. From the stands, the ponies of the royal court were all shouting about the colt’s actions. The canine was battered and bloody upon the throne room floor but still very much alive.

“Every pony be silent. I know what has happened here but you all can not in good standing expect me to arrest a child for lashing out at the one responsible for his family’s death.”
The stallion slowly and menacingly walked up to the canine as he tried to scurry away from him only to be stopped by the wall.

“Consider that the final act you will ever know.” Evening Star looked around him. “An attack on any pony of this kingdom is an attack on the crown itself. Rover of the northern Diamond Dogs you have been found guilty of the slaughter of this kingdom’s citizens. Therefore I sentence you to death. May the Makers have pity upon you, for you die at dawn. Take him away.” Two earth ponies griped the chains, hoising the canine to his feet and carted him away.

Solaris nudged the still shaking and tearing colt from the room. They did not want to put anymore due pressure upon the stallion then was already there. Lunar sat in the middle of the hall with his head down. Autumn had looked up to her queen then to the colt. “Should we?” She asked in a hushed tone. The queen simply shook her head.

Night had finally fallen upon the land and Celestia lay within her room. She had heard Lunar’s shouting from her place in the observatory but by the time she had gotten there, Lunar was no where to be found. Her mother told her it was just something the young colt had to get off his chest but it was still troubling her. Lunar was her closest friend and she could not sleep unless she knew she did all she could to help him. So the young princess climbed out of her bed and crossed her room to the door. She opened it and peeked her head out, looking up and down the hall for any guards that maybe on patrol.

Seeing that the coast was clear, she ventured out of her room, closing the door behind her. She cautiously made her way down the hall till she was just outside Lunar’s door. Placing her head upon it she could hear soft sobbing from inside. It broke the princess’s heart to know that her friend was still suffering from all that has happened. Very gently she opened his door and stepped inside then closed the door behind her. Before she took a step further, her ears perked and she heard what she thought was singing.

“Come stop your crying, it will be alright. Just take my hoof, hold it tight. I will protect you from all around you. I will be here don’t you cry.” As she walked further into the room she seen that the singing was coming from Lunar.

“For one so small you seem so strong. My hooves will hold you, keep you safe and warm. This bond between us can’t be broken. I will be here don’t you cry.” Celestia continued her slow and soft approach till she was just a few feet from him.

Lunar sat upon the window sill staring up at the stars in the sky. His silvery mane gently fluttered in the breeze from outside. His indigo eyes never taking their gaze of the slowly moving stars.

“For you’ll be in my heart, yes you’ll be in my heart. From this day on now and forever more. Yes you’ll be in my heart, no matter what they say. You’ll be here in my heart....always.” Celestia continued to watch him before something caught her eye. Upon his flank was a crescent moon and a star....his cutie mark. When had he gotten it? How?

“It was a song my mother sang to me at night, kind of a lullaby. Whenever I would hear it I knew that no matter what, she and my dad were always with me. Hmm? Oh my cutie mark? Yeah I got it when I made those.” He pointed up to the two stars just beside the moon.

“I figure your dad is going to be mad at me when he finds out but, I don’t care.”

“Wait, you made them? How, I thought only father could make them.”

Lunar just shook his head. “I don’t know. I just kept thinking of mom and dad. Next thing I know, my magic takes over and two balls of light form on either side of me before shooting up there.”

“Can you make anymore?”

Lunar nodded. “I’m sure I could but... I’m just not in the mood right now. I am sure you heard it right, my little out burst?”

“I would not be surprised if the whole castle didn’t hear it. What happened?”

Lunar sighed and hopped off the window sill. He still stood close to it however. “Your father found the leader of the those, Diamond Dogs he calls them?” Celestia nodded.

“Anyway when I first left my home that night, he was the one I ran into. He would have killed me if mom hadn’t broad-sided him. I just I don’t know what came over me. When I saw him I frozen, I was so terrified but then something just....snapped. I tore into him Tia., my magic took hold and knocked him back before I jumped on his and just pounded my hooves into his face. I would have killed him if your mom didn’t stop me. I was just so angry, I wanted to kill him. I truly did but when your mom grabbed me I realized my mom and dad would not want that kind of thing looming over me.”

Celestia walked over to her friend and lightly placed her hoof under his chin. “Look Lunar, no matter what happens you will always have me a Luna beside you. You are our dearest friend.”

Solaris and Evening Star were sitting in the den the next morning when Astranima, Celestia’s attendant ran into the room.

“Your highness, princess Celestia is not in her room. I looked all over the castle but I couldn’t find her anywhere.”

Solaris and her husband took off out of the room and through the castle. The two ran with incredible speed that the unicorn mare was having trouble trying to keep up. They burst through Celestia’s bedroom door and look about the room for her. “Dear maybe we should ask Lunar if he has seen her.” The stallion nodded his head and the two of them galloped down the hall and opened Lunar’s bedroom door, only to be met with a sigh that brought smiles to their faces.

Upon the floor, their daughter lay curled up, Lunar was laying beside her and had his head over her neck and a wing covering her. The three ponies silently watch the sigh as the two of them slept peacefully. “She must have come to check on him during the night.”

“Didn’t seem like she wanted to leave him from the looks of it. Maybe we should just let them sleep for a while longer.” Evening Star nodded his head and they filed out and closed the door softly behind them.

Chianna

“So she had a son?” Solaris nodded before a much larger dragon. The one in question was covered in sapphire blue scales from the tip of her snout to tip of her tail. Her underbelly was covered in opal colored scales. The spines that ran down her back were the deepest of green. She lay within the throne room and looked down to the alicorn mare with golden slit eyes.

“Evening Star and I had both confirmed it. She must have become pregnant before Azure’s death then used her magic to stall the child’s development. But for fifty years Chia, we still can not understand why she would have waited that long.”

The large dragoness scratched her chin. “You say your daughter and Gaia’s son shared a bond?”

“Yes, we call it a Destiny Bond. It’s a connection that links two alicorns together throughout their life span. As I told Evening, it’s not rare among our kind but it is uncommon. Nearly all cases of two alicorn sharing such a bond end up becoming life mates.”

“And those that don’t?” The dragoness lowered her head to the queen. Solaris sighed softly.

“It’s only happened once that I know of and it was the reason that we had to leave our home. The reason that Evening, Gaia and I were the only ones that survived. There may yet have been others but we have not felt their presence.”

Chia nodded her large head. “I will take from your sighing that this pony had such a bond with one of your friends, the one whom sealed them no less.”

“Yes. She and Azure Sky shared such a connection but at the time Azure was already in love and married to Gaia.” It was then that Celestia came bursting through the throne room doors only to stop dead before her mother and the dragoness.

“Celestia Dawnstar I thought I told you to knock before entering a room.” Solaris scolded.

“I’m sorry mother but there is a ghost in the eastern corridor. I went looking for Lunar and Luna and it chased me down the hall. Oh hi auntie Chia.”

The dragoness chuckled deeply, lightly making the walls shake as she did. “I suspect a young colt and filly may have had a hoof in that apparition. Be at ease child, there is no ghost in this castle.”

“Are you sure?” The young princess whined to which her mother nodded.

“Yes Tia, Chia is correct. It may have just been Lunar and Luna playing a joke on you.”

For that the princess stormed out of the room as the dragoness shook her head. “To be young again.”

It was sometime later and the dragoness sat out in the courtyard as Luna and Celestia chased Lunar all around the place. The soft crunching of leaves and blades of grass caught her attention and she turned her head. “Oh good morning Evening Star.”

“Good morning Chianna. I take it that you have spoken to my wife already?” The dragoness nodded. “So then you know of Lunar.”

“I spoke with him briefly.” She watched the three of them as Celestia tackled Lunar to the ground before Luna pounced him and the two princesses started to tickle the downed colt and made him give a fit of laughter.

“He sounds just like his father and looks just like his mother. Though I heard from Solaris that he was raised by mortal ponies.” Evening nodded his head.

“Two of our best. Both were cut down in a Diamond Dog raiding party.”

“Filthy beasts they are. Always looking to steal our jewels.” The stallion sat beside the large dragoness as she looked up to the sky.

“So I guess you will be staying for the fall festival?” Chia nodded.

“How long has it been Evening?” The stallion thought for a moment. How long had they known the dragoness. They left there home now well over sixty two years ago by then the four friends were adults. It took the stallion to remember.

“Well lets see we found you wounded in the forest of Eden over what, two hundred years ago? So over two and a half centuries. But before you ask, yes I know Solaris and I did not have any foal till well after we left. We were fairly adventurous then and the thought of children did not pass our minds till well after we left. But what of you? Surely you must have had hatchlings by now.”

The three friends laughter echoed through the inclosed courtyard. One of Lunar’s feathers had fallen out and was quickly scooped up by Luna as she ran after her sister. Celestia screaming and running away before Lunar popped in front of her and she slammed into him. The two elder ponies tumbled for a few feet before they were both pounced on by Luna.

“I have yet to find a suitable partner. Most are too enthralled with their own hoard to even take the time to find one. Which makes it harder on our kind thanks to our greed.”

The stallion placed a hoof to his friend’s shoulder and smiled. “No matter what Chianna, you will find that special somepony and when you do, you will know that they were meant for you.” Evening then rose to his hooves and turned before heading back inside of the castle.

It was middle of the night and Lunar was sitting on the window sill of his room. Celestia had once again crept in during his singing and was now resting peacefully upon the rounded bed that was the colts. The fire in which Autumn had started for him, burned within the fireplace and casts its warming glow throughout the room. He looked up to the twin stars that shown brightly beside the moon. A sound of flapping wings breaks the colt from his trance as the large dragoness ascends to his window. “Good Evening young Lunar. I wonder if I might, ask you to join me for a night flight.”w

“But what if Tia wakes up and I’m not here? She would wonder where I went.”

The dragoness softly chuckled. “It is as they say.” Lunar looked at her in a bit of a confused expression. The dragoness shook her head. “The princess will be fine young colt, you have my word. Right now she sleeps soundly.”

The colt looked back to the sleeping princess before opening his wings and joining the dragoness out in the night air. Chianna smiled as the colt flew out to her. “It maybe best to climb upon my back since I can fly faster then you.” Lunar did as instructed and landing upon her back and folding his wings. He latched onto one of her spines before she turned and flew off into the night.

“Where are we going?” Lunar shouted with a mouthful of dragon spines.

“You will see young colt.”

The dragoness flew over the dense forest before diving into the trees and landing with a resounding boom as she hit the ground. Releasing the spine from his mouth, he looked around himself. He had not been this deep in the forest before, mostly because Evening Star and Solaris did not want them to come this far but because he was with Chianna he thought it might be ok.

“Where are we Chianna? I don’t think I’ve ever seen this place before.” Lunar took a few steps and looked around himself. Before him was a large pond which glistened in the the light of the moon.

“This is the Pond of Starlight. When the light of the moon shines upon the water, the stones within the ground reflect that light back and twinkle like stars.” She slowly walked up beside the colt and sat beside him. “Evening has told me that he did not see those two stars beside the moon one night and the next night they were there. Not to mention that when he saw you that day, you had your cutie mark. Now were I an ignorant dragon I would think this mere coincidence. However being as I am not I believe that those two stars are because of you.”

Lunar sighed deeply and nodded his head. “Yes, I made them. I don’t even know how I did it. I was just singing a lullaby my mother used to sing to me when I was a foal. The next thing I know two balls of light form in front of me and shoot to the sky. The only pony that knows about it is Tia, well and now you.”

“Do you think you make another?”

Lunar looked up to the dragoness. “Won’t evening Star be mad?”

Chianna shook her head. I don’t think he would be that mad. Besides it is you special talent.”

Lunar nodded and closed his eyes. His horn started to glow softly at first and his mane began to billow behind him. His dark blue coat started to sparkle as the magic around his horn grew in intensity. Chianna watched as it seemed like his body turned into the heavens themselves. Before she knew it, a small ball of light formed before him and grew at a steady pace. The light of the orb grew in strength and the dragoness had to shield herself with her wing.

Lunar then tilted his head skyward and the orb shot of into the heavens. Chianna lowered her wing and watched as the star too into the sky. It placed itself within a cluster of a few other and formed what looked like a pattern of some kind.

“So he was right.” Lunar’s form slowly started to turn to normal but his mane remained floating behind him much like Celestia’s. The colt took a deep breath to regain himself as he looked up to the dragoness.

“Who was right?”

She smiled softly and lowered her head to the colt’s height. “Evening Star thought that it was you who made those, for they will be needed in the future. But that there...” She pointed to the twinkling pattern of stars. “You made that with that one little star. Like Evening Star you can control them.”

This made the young colt start to panic. “Oh no, oh no oh no oh no. He’s going to be really mad at me isn’t he? Probably throw me out of the castle. I won’t be able to see Celestia and Luna again.” Tears started to trickle down the colt’s face. This made the large female dragon shake her head and fold her wings around the trembling pony.

“Lunar, Evening will not be mad with you, trust me. If anything he may even teach you. Don’t always jump to the worst case scenario. Come, I’ll take you back to the castle.” Chianna lowered herself to the ground and allowed the colt to climb back up before he clamped onto one of her spines. With a few wing beats, the dragoness was airborne and headed back for the castle.

It didn’t take the pair long before they returned, Lunar hoped off of Chianna’s back and onto his window sill. “Remember Lunar. The Starlight Pond is a special place, no pony outside the royal family knows about it.”

“But I’m not royalty.” At that the dragoness giggled and flew off. Lunar looked up to the moon and the two stars beside it. He admired his work before climbing down and closing the window. He slowly walked over to the sleeping Celestia and laid beside her. The white filly shivered against his cool coat. Lunar used his magic and covered them up as he lay his head next to hers and closed his eyes, letting the soft touch of sleep take him.

Choices

“We could get into a lot of trouble big brother.” Luna said as her and Lunar snuck into the bathroom with some pink mane dye.

“Come on Luna, don’t you want to get back at Tia for turning you into a Pretty Pink Princess Pony.”? The little princess grimaced at the name. It was what her elder sister called her after she had gotten out of the bath one day and screamed as she saw herself in the mirror. Her entire body from the tip of her horn to the tip of her tail was all covered in pink dye. Celestia was the one behind the prank and when her parents found out, needless to say they were not very happy with her. But they could not hold back their own laughter either.

“So how much do we put in?”

Lunar squirted nearly half the dye into Celetia’s shampoo bottle before closing the cap. “There, that should do it now when she comes in to wash her mane, won’t she be in for a surprise.”

“Are you sure she will today?” Lunar nodded.

“If there is one thing I have learned it’s that Tia can be a bit predictable. At least when it comes to taking care of her mane anyway. Now come on lets go and wait for the fun to start.”

“Are you sure that’s what you want to do?” Solaris looked to her husband as he looked up to a stained glass window.

“Yes. I believe it to be the best course of action, not only for our daughters but for the rest of Equestria. You know as well as I that even if we were to send him away, Celestia would be sure to follow him, perhaps even Luna as well.” The stallion and mare both stood within a large hall. Each window was adorned with a stained glass mural of epic deeds long past.

“But to name him a prince, would that not create unrest among the nobility? I mean they are just a bunch of squabbling unicorns looking for status but still, they do hold a lot of sway.”

“Then what would you have me do Sol? Have him remain in the castle where he can be manipulated by any pony looking for position?” The mare shook her head to her husband’s questions.

“No I am not saying that. I am saying why don’t we have him enlist in the guard, least that way when his training is over with he can not be tainted. Then maybe that would be the best time to proclaim him one of our successors, along with Tia and Luna.”

Evening Star sighed deeply. “Gaia left him for a reason. I do not know yet what that reason is but I do know that it was hardest thing she had ever done. Lunar is the only evidence the Azure Sky even existed and I don’t think she would have given him up lightly.”

Solaris leaned against her stallion and rubbed her head gently under his chin, making sure not to poke him with her horns. “My love, we do not need to know that reason now. Lunar is a fine colt, and with the help that the guard and you provide, I believe he will one day become a strong leader.”

“So Chianna told you then did she? About how Lunar can can generate stars, even manipulate them.”

The mare giggled softly as she lightly ran her tongue under her husband’s lower jaw. “There are many things she has told me my love. But yes, she has told me of Lunar’s abilities. I think it would be best if you taught him how to control such power, well let me restate that, Lunar and Luna.”

“She has started to show signs?” The mare nodded. “Children of the two most powerful houses in Eden, why am I not surprised?”

“Only problem my dear is that we are not in Eden anymore. I have already been showing Tia how to use her powers. Once Lunar and Luna take hold of theirs, it will only be a matter of time.”

Evening’s ear dropped at the thought of what they would have to do. “Would it be so hard to remain upon the world? To watch our daughters live and grow into the kind of ponies we hoped they would one day become?”

“It is unavoidable Evening. My parents maintained the sun since before I was born, and your’s the moon and stars. When our daughters become strong enough we will have to tell them the truth. We are that which we control and that when the time comes, we will have to return from whence we came. We will not be gone, not in the truest sense. We will still be around to guide them and protect them but they will need to learn to fend for themselves. I know it might seem like we would be abandoning them but we won’t.” Solaris then leaned up and softly pressed her lips to that of her mate, kissing his deeply as only she could.

Their private moment was broken by the loud scream of their eldest daughter. The two regal ponies were about to gallop to her side before they heard her shout out. “Lunar! Luna! Just you two wait till I get my hooves on you!" Both just smiled and shook their heads.

Lunar and Luna ran through the halls of the castle with a rather angry white filly with a now pink mare in hot pursuit. “Come on Luna before she catches us.”

“I’m coming big brother.”

Both Lunar and Luna ducked and weaved passed guards and servants alike before Lunar ends up slamming into Autumn. She was carrying a tray of glasses within her magic before being bowled over by the running colt and tossing the glasses into the air. They all hit the ground with a resounding crash. “Lunar are you ok?”

The colt groaned and shook his head to remove any disorientation. His eyes shot open as he looked behind him and seen Celestia gaining ground on them. “Oh geez, come on Luna. Sorry about the glasses Autumn but we got to go.” The colt got to his hooves and took off back down the hall with Luna on his hooves.

“Lunar get back here! Hi Autumn.” Celestia said as she bounded over the recovering unicorn and followed after Lunar and her sister. Lunar and Luna turned the corner and at the end of the short corridor was a set of open doors leading to a balcony.

“There is our exit Luna.”

“But I can’t fly good yet.”

Lunar chuckled. “That’s ok Luna, you hop onto my back.”

“O-ok” The little filly was a bit hesitant but she knew that Lunar would not do anything to hurt her so she trusted him. Sure enough however, Celestia rounded the corner and seen just where the two were headed.

“I honestly don’t know why you are so mad Tia, pink suits you.” Lunar laughed as he stopped on the balcony and allowed Luna to climb up onto his back. She firmly wrapped her hooves around his frame before Lunar opened his wings.

“Lunar, don’t you dare!”

With a smirk on his face and a quick wink He beat his wings, slowly becoming airborne. “Why Tia whatever do you mean.” Laughter ecohed into the air from both Lunar and Luna. The filly turned her head and waved to her elder sister.

“Bye big sister!”

Celestia stamped her hooves into the stonework of the balcony. She knew that she would not be able to catch them now. Ever since Lunar learned to fly, he was always the faster one between them.

“GET BACK HERE!”

Lunar and Luna both laughed as the colt flew threw the warm air. “Did you see her mane and tail? Oh it was so funny.” Luna nuzzled into the back of Lunar’s neck as she held onto him. “Thanks big brother.”

Lunar looked back as he gently drifted in the breeze. “Hey it was the least I could do. She practically turning you into cotton candy. Tia always prized her multi-colored mane and tail so she deserved it. Though I suppose we are going to get an earful from your mom and dad when we get back but it was totally worth it.”

Luna was the first to look at their surroundings. The trees and plants, everything then that they were used to. The tree were all gnarled and twisted, the plants...just didn’t seem right. “Big brother, where are we?”

“I don’t know. I’ve never seen stuff like this before maybe we are near the mountain. Colts and fillies in the village used to tell stories about the forest near the mountain. Some say it’s haunted, others think it’s a monster that live here.”

Luna began to shudder upon Lunar’s back. “I want to go home big brother, let’s go home.”

“In a minute Luna I want to check this place out.” Lunar took only a few steps before the bushes started to rustle and the sound of growling and odd noises echo through the trees. Lunar looked about them in a frantic state. “Maybe you’re right, lets go.” The colt turned and ran off at full speed, Luna clung tightly to his back. Once the colt had a big enough of a clearing, he took to the air. Both Lunar and Luna gave a sigh of relief.

“That was scary Lunar.” Lunar nodded in agreement to her.

“I’m sorry Luna, I didn’t mean to scare you like that. Just someplace new and I guess I got curious.” It did not take the colt long before the castle was in sight. The balcony the two took off from coming into view. Luna rested her head upon the back of Lunar’s neck and close her eyes slowly. He smiled to her as he flapped his wings fast to slow his descent before touching down upon the balcony.

“Luna, we’re home.” The little filly hopped off the colt’s back and trotted off. Lunar however turned back and looked up to the sky. The white puffy clouds hung lazily in the blue air.He then turned and headed off after Luna.

“You did what?!” Solaris was furious at what she had just been told by both Lunar and Luna.

“I didn’t even know that’s where we were at first.”

“That is no excuse Lunar. You knew better then to enter the forest at the foot of the mountain. What if Luna were hurt or worse? It would have been your fault because you took her to a place that Evening and I forbade the three of you to go because of the dangers. I can’t believe you would even think to explore those trees.”

Lunar sat in the middle of the throne room, his head was hung so is not to look at the scolding mare. Solaris for her part paced back and forth before the colt, she was rather mad that Lunar would have taken her daughter to such a dangerous place but more then not she was worried for them both. Lunar had been living in the castle for going on five years now and both she and her husband had grown quite close to the young colt.

Luna was sitting in front of Lunar and before her mother took her place beside her. Lunar then clutched her mother’s hoof. She was not trying to put Lunar on the spot, quite the opposite. She didn’t want Lunar to be scolding like he was. “For the remainder of the day I want you to go to your room and stay there till dinner.” Solaris turned and was headed back to the throne when her ear twitched and she turned her head to the colt still sitting there.

“Excuse me?”

Lunar threw his head up and looked directly into the mare’s eyes. Tears streaming down his face. “You’re not my mother!” He then turned and took off, busting through the the throne room doors and taking off into the sky and left Solaris and the softly crying Luna alone.

Lunar sat by the grave of his parents. “Why did this have to happen? Why did you have to go?” He hung his head and grit his teeth. He squeezed his eyes tight, trying to stop the tears from coming but it never worked. The colt just sat there as a sound of feathers and hooves landed behind him.

“I thought I would have found you here.”

Lunar looked over his shoulder to the stallion behind him. “Hello you highness.” He then turned his head back to the gravestones. Evening Star smiled softly before sitting behind the colt and draping his wings over him.

“I thought after so long a time Lunar would have learned that you don’t need to address Solaris and myself by our titles. You know Lunar, Solaris was not trying to take the place of your mother, nor I to take your father’s place. But like our daughters, we only want to keep you from harm’s way.”

“But what if I don’t need your protection? Luna was safe with me. I am a big pony after all and I can take care of myself and Celestia and Luna if need be.” Evening shook his head as he sat with colt before him. Autumn Breeze, Lunar’s caretaker had also been looking for the colt as well after she heard that he had disappeared. She trotted up the hill within the cemetery and seen that the stallion had found him first and stood there waiting.

“I will speak with Solaris and see if I can’t remove the punishment she gave you. But you however have will have to apologize to her for the way you acted.” Lunar nodded. Evening then got up and and turned to see both Solaris and Autumn standing at the bottom of the hill. Walking over to the two ponies he nodded to Solaris as she slowly walked over to the colt.

“Lunar? Forgive me, I may have over-reacted.”

The colt shook his head. “No I was the one whom over-reacted. I should not have said what I did and it was wrong. It’s true you aren’t my mother but you were only looking out for Luna and I. I know I should not have gone to the mountain but I wanted to see what it was like. The colts and fillies always spoke of it and I just wanted to see it for myself.”

“Well let’s agree to forgive each other and move on with the day alright? As for Celestia’s new mane and tail color...” Solaris smiled. “I think it looks good on her.”

Heritage

Lunar had just left the library after what seemed like the most shocking moment of his young life. He was trying his best to wrap his mind around what had just happened and it was hard to do so. Both Celestia and Luna seemed to be just as surprised but once the shock wore off the two mares giggled and leaped around their friend. However the young colt had to excuse himself in order to try and collect his thoughts. It was not something that had to be taken lightly. He didn’t understand what Evening Star meant when he said Lunar was of the House of Elidar.

Sighing deeply, the colt with head held low walked from the library and into the main section of the castle. He had come down the gilded staircase that made up the center of the room and exited out into the front courtyard. Many of the gardeners and grounds keepers were busy going about their duties tending to the vast array of flowers and trees that littered the grounds.

As the young colt made his way through the grounds of the castle. He just wished things would have gone back to the way they were. He wanted to be back home with his mother and father, back in their village. It may have been small but it was home.

He soon stopped beneath a large willow tree and sat down. All he could do was think about what had happened and what had transpired…

1 hour ago

Autumn Breeze had just come from the inner courtyard of the castle. Trotting behind her was Lunar, Celestia and her sister Luna. She was sent to actually fetch Lunar but both princesses were enjoying his company, more to the point that the three of them were playing tag. Once Autumn had gotten the young colt to follow her, both Luna and Celestia were curious as to what their parents wanted with their friend.

The unicorn mare guided the trio of friends through the winding castle corridors and stopped in front of a set of large oak doors. “Their majesties are inside Lunar and they asked that I come get you.”

Lunar looked up to the mare as if to ask what they wanted him for but Autumn just shook her head. “I don’t know what they wished to ask you. All they wanted me to do was to come a get you.” Lunar then looked to the door and walked forward, pushing the doors open, both Celestia and Luna following close behind.

The room in which they entered was the royal castle’s library. Books galore covered the walls and shelve of the room. A large stained glass window allowed in a multi–colored array of lights that lay upon the carpeted floor. The library itself was sectioned off in two tiers, the first being the ground floor and the second being accessed by two spiral staircases. Evening Star was looking through several books at once as his wife was upon the ground floor, laying close to the fireplace and reading a book of her own. Lunar cleared his throat and gathered the attention of both regal ponies.

Evening was the first to speak, placing the books he was looming through back upon the shelves in which he took them. “Ah Lunar I see Autumn was able to find you, good. There are things that the three of us need to discus.” It was then that he noticed his two daughters. “As much as your mother and I would have liked to speak with Lunar alone I suppose it would not hurt for you two to listen as well. Celestia you already know of the subject in which we will be talking about but we must ask you to remain quiet, This is something that Lunar must know.”

Lunar nodded his head and sat before Solaris as Evening Star descended the stairs and walked over to his wife. “A very long time ago on an island far to the northwest the first of our kind were touched by the magic of the world. Its power was so great that it changed us, molded us into what you now see. At first we were nothing but common Earth ponies but over time and exposure to the world’s magic we grew wings and then our horns in order to control our magic. So powerful was our race that by the grace of the Maker we were granted immortality, thus the Alicorn race was born.”

Lunar nodded his head in agreement. He had never really known of race he was apart of till he was just five years old. He had come to his mother and asked her so many questions about why he was so different then all the other foals of his class. Was he some kind of freak pegasus or a weird unicorn. It was before he met Celestia and his mother told him just what kind of pony he was. She had told him that he was a symbol of harmony, a combination of all three major pony tribes. That is what the ponies of Equestria believed anyway. Only he was now seeing that it was not true.

“Over the many years our kind prospered and so did our magic, so much so that over time we no longer needed to absorb the magic of the world, our bodies could generate all the magic we would ever need. Our horns became our amplifiers of our magic and life upon our island home was peaceful. Sometime before that the island was split into four parts, each being ruled by a family of powerful Alicorns. These four families kept the peace on our island. They were the House of Astaria, Coranus, Elidar and Zypheron. These four Houses were as such because they held sway over the very forces of our world.

Astaria as its name may suggest was the guardians and controller of the stars as well as the moon. Coranus controlled the life giving sun. Now I know what you were taught as a child, that the unicorns were the ones that controlled the sun and moon but that is simply not true they held very little influence over such objects. The House of Zypheron controlled the winds of the world, and finally that bring us to Elidar, House of the Earth.”

Celestia sat beside Lunar on his right, Luna on his left. The three friends stared at the elder Alicorns in thought. “But then why have I not seen any more of us? The only other Alicorns I know of are in this room.” Lunar wanted to know, he had to know. Solaris and Evening Star looked to each other then to the colt.

“Well Lunar that is because before you were born, Solaris and I thought we were the only ones of our kind left. You see over one hundred years ago there was a mare by the name of Summer Wind. She shared a special bond with a stallion by the name of Azure Sky.”

“Just what kind of bond?” Lunar was a bit confused on that point.

“It is a bond between two Alicorns known as a Destiny Bond. To those that share it, the two become intertwined and eventually become a mated pair. Summer and Azure shared such a bond, however Azure was already in love and married to another mare from the House of Elidar, her name was Gaia.” Just then the door to the library opened and in stepped a unicorn mare. She carried a tray with several teacups and a teapot behind her in her magic.

“I’m sorry to interrupt your majesties but I thought it might be best if I brought you some tea.” The unicorn mare had set down the tray she was carrying and placed the five saucers upon it , with the teacups to follow. She then took the porcelain teapot and very gently filled each cup with the hated liquid. Lunar didn’t really care much for tea but Celestia and Luna seemed to enjoy it and it was for them that he tolerated it.

Once the mare was finished, Solaris had dismissed her. Each Alicorn too their respected cup within their magic and held it aloft in front of them. “Now where was I?” Evening thought for a moment before regaining his thoughts. “Oh yes, Summer had pursued Azure in an attempt to court him but Azure continued to refuse her. As I said he was already in love with another and even if he were not married I doubt he would have agreed. Summer Wind was furious and swore that she would get Azure to love her one way or another. It was then that she began to tamper with the very magick of the world. She believed that if she had enough magic, that she could will Azure to love her. Many times she was stopped from doing so but ultimately her perseverance won out and she was able to taint it with her jealousy and hatred. This changed her from the mare she once was into a creature of untold vengeance and anger. She was no longer Summer Wind, she was now and forever would be known as Anarchy Shade.” The stallion then took a light sip from his tea cup before continuing his tail.

“Anarchy swore vengeance upon Azure and anypony associated with him, which meant Gaia, Solaris and myself. But of course a creature of anger and hatred would not be satisfied with just that, so she also turned her malice upon her race, damning them for what she believed was a curse. Using her newly enhanced powers she slew every pony in her path till only we remained. It was then in that desperate time that Azure felt that since he was the one she wanted most, that he would sacrifice himself so that the rest of us could escape.” Evening sighed deeply. “It was one of the hardest decisions he had ever made. He would give up his life to seal Anarchy within the realm of darkness but at the same time he would be leaving behind his mare. We pleaded for him to reconsider but in the end it did little to change his mind.”

“What did he do?” Throughout the entire story Lunar had taken it with a grain of salt. He was not sure if he could believe such a tale but then why would the king and queen lie to him. Even Celestia and Luna seemed to be enthralled by the story.

“Azure used all the magic he could muster to stop Anarchy. When it was over, the two of them were weakened but Azure had a job to do. So he tapped into a power that very few can and should ever use, Life Energy. By using the very energy that gives life to all things, Azure created a rip in the fabric of space/time and cast Anarchy into it then he closed the rift before she had a chance to escape. Doing this helped save what little of our kind remained but at the cost of his own life. Gaia, Solaris and myself left the now desolate and barren island that was our home and traveled east. It was nearly ten years before we set hoof in Equestria. The ponies of this land admired us and thought us to be the epitome of Harmony in the world. We were given everything even though we did not ask for it.”

“But why are you telling me all of this? I mean does this have something to do with me?” Lunar asked. He was uncertain as to what the king and queen were getting at by tell his all this but he knew it had to lead somewhere.

Both Evening Star and Solaris nodded. “Indeed it does Lunar so allow me to continue and I shall tell you. Gaia had stayed with Solaris and myself for some time before one day she simply disappeared. We had no warning and clue where she might have gone. We both knew that even though Azure had been gone for nearly two decades at that point, she had still not gotten over his passing. For thirty years we feared we might never see her again, until one night. I was just raising the moon when I felt a familiar aura on the winds. I knew somehow it was our friend Gaia but I could not be certain that is until a few days later. It would seem that night was a special one because a foal was found on the doorstep of two of our best guards. My wife as well as Celestia went to see this foal upon hearing about it from the foals adoptive father…..Night Hawk .”

Lunar gasped and his body slowly shook, his father’s name was Night Hawk. Evening nodded to the young colt. “I see you have pieced it together. I know this may not have been the way you wanted to find out about us, nor your origins Lunar but it is your heritage and your birthright. You are the son of Gaia and Azure Sky as well as a member of the House of Elidar.”