The Alicorn of Harmony

The former Princess Celestia tried her best to sleep. It was all she could do, because of Luna's unforeseen betrayal. That or try to understand why her sister would do this. She knew her sister, and knew of her jealousy, but she never imagined she would do anything like this. This was not the little sister she knew and loved.

Luna had asked Celestia too meet in her room to apologize, before this all started. Celestia was going to apologize too; for not spending enough time with her little sister. She didn't have any friends, being in charge of the night. When Celestia stepped into Luna's room, an enchantment activated and rendered her unconscious. When Celestia came too, she had changed into a normal unicorn, and Luna had turned into that monster "Nightmare Moon". Now she ruled Equestria with an iron hoof, and kept it in eternal night.

The former princess didn't see any of these events coming. Luna had been angry at her for not letting the night last longer, but Celestia thought she had gotten through to her. Made her understand that the ponies do adore her, and her night.

Celestia looked around the prison that was Luna's bedroom for the thousandths time, looking for some way out. Unfortunately Luna was the only being in Equestria who knew how Celestia's power worked. The complex enchantment didn't take away her power, that was impossible. It turned her into a normal pony. She was still at full strength, but her unicorn body could be destroyed if she used it. After two months of imprisonment, she could see her body was starting to decay. She had to find a way out soon.

Tears rolled down the princesses face as she thought of the cruel monster her dear, little sister had become. She also cried for her little ponies, afraid of what will become of them. She had seen strange bat-like Pegasi guarding the bedroom door at all hours. Had Luna started turning them all into nocturnal ponies, or was it some magical phenomenon that has changed them? If Celestia couldn't figure out some way to stop her sister and raise the Sun again, then the night would kill them all regardless. How could Luna not understand that nothing can survive without the Sun, even if the ponies adapt. Was her jealousy so great, that it blinded her from common sense?

Celestia ear twitched as she heard the unlocking of a door. She turned her attention to the bedroom door as it opened. Three ponies stepped in. Two were the bat-like ponies, clad in dark guard armor. The third was a dark orange coated unicorn stallion, wearing saddle bags that looked very heavy.

"Greeting your highness," the unicorn spoke up. "It is great to see you in one piece. Many ponies believe you are dead."

"Who are you?" Celestia asked, unsure of what to expect.

"My name is Gold Streak and... " The unicorn was interrupted by the bat-like pony on his right.

"I'm sorry your highness, but we are short on time. We need to get you out of here before Nightmare Moon realizes what we're doing."

"Your freeing me?"

The unicorn's horn glowed yellow with magic. Celestia could feel her body change, as he room's enchantment broke. Her form changed back to its regal shape and wings and a horn appeared on her. She was an alicorn again.

The unicorn chuckled, "We couldn't really resist, your highness. You have to admit; you are a princess, being held captive in a castle tower, just waiting to be rescued by a handsome stallion and his..." He glance at both of his companions and sighed. "Well... these things. It's all almost... like a fairy tale."

Celestia just gave an askance look at the unicorn. The bat-like pony left looked angrily at the unicorn. "We're not "things", we're noctrals!" he angrily stated.

"You're a mutated Pegasus, you twit," the unicorn retorted.

"Please, this is not the time for fighting, my little ponies," Celestia spoke up. "If you are here help, then our next course of action should be acquiring the Elements of Harmony. They are the only magic that can defeat my sister."

The unicorn slipped off of his saddlebags and dumped out the heavy contents, revealing the five stone orbs that were the Elements of Harmony. "Your welcome," was all he said with a big grin.

Celestia was in shock. "How did you get these from Nightmare Moon, Gold Streak?"

"Like my batty friend here said, we don't have much time. You need to take these, and defeat Nightmare Moon," Celestia saw the serious look in the unicorns blue eyes, and simply nodded

"You are right, but before I go, I must know both your names as well," she looked at the two noctrals.

"Warrant Officer Chain Lightning, ma'am," the one on the left answered.

"Warrant Officer Sword Strike," the noctral on the right did the same.

"Thank you both for aiding me and Equestria. When things have settled down, I will see to it you and all noctrals are treated as equals throughout Equestria. I do not know how my sister managed to change Pegasi like this; but you are all still my little ponies, and I will do everything in my power to help you."

The three ponies smiled, and covered their eyes as Celestia disappeared in a flash of light. "Well... looks we did it," said Gold Streak as he left the the bedroom.

"Hopefully," Chain Lightning sighed. "There are a lot of noctrals loyal to Nightmare Moon, but mostly out of fear. If Celestia keeps her word I'm sure they'll fall in line after she defeats that crazy witch."

"Yeah, I know most of them are just freaked," Sword Strike added. "Personally, I like the change. I was always a night owl before, the wings are awesome, and mares dig the glowing eyes,"

"Whatever; hey Gold Streak! How did you get the Elements of Harmony anyway. You really saved the day with that move, literally ?" Asked Chain Lightning, leaving the bedroom after Gold Streak.

Sword Strike followed his friend, "And break that enchantment? I mean if Nightmare Moon cast it, you must be a pretty powerful unicorn to just break it like nothing?" Both noctrals stared down the eerily empty hallway. Gold Streak was nowhere to be seen. "Where the hay did he go?" Sword asked.

Gold Streak hid in the shadows of main hall of "The Castle of the Royal pony Sisters". He watched as Princess Celestia approached the throne Nightmare Moon sat upon. He watched as they argued, watched all the ponies fled as Nightmare Moon attacked Princess Celestia, watched as Celestia used the Elements of Harmony on her sister, banishing her to the moon. The whole castle was nearly in rubble from the raw display of power Gold Streak had just witnessed.

"It's... started," Gold Streak thought out-loud. Gold Streak's eyes changed to two glowing, pure purple orbs. They glowed brighter as he foresaw the repercussions of his influence. He could see Nightmare Moon's return, 1,000 years from now. He could see her attempt to bring eternal night once more; and he could see her defeat at the hooves of six young mares, the true bearers of the Elements of Harmony.

"When the Elements of Harmony unite with their true bearers, the first seal will be broken."

"1,000 years... 1,000 years of more waiting," He sat in silence for several minutes, as he watched Celestia collapse on the ground, crying. Gold Streak felt sorry for the princess, now alone in the world.  "Don't worry you're highness, your sister will return... " A wicked grin broke across his face and he chuckled. "And so will... harmony."

Present Day

Aura sat in front of Commander Typhon's desk; waiting patiently, as he silently read the contents of a tan folder. She guessed it was her personal file, which frightened her. He was the earth pony guard commander, and only could of gotten her file from Fire Storm, the unicorn guard commander. Aura couldn't think of any reason why he would want to see her, or go to the trouble of getting her file; unless she did something really bad... to Typhon.

"Hmmm, Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns." Commander Typhon stated, after a couple minutes of silence.

"... What, sir?" Aura asked, coming out of her train of thought.

"You attended Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorn's, according to your file," he elaborated, setting down, what the commander confirmed to be, her file. "I've heard it's a hard school to get into."

"Uh... yes sir, it is," Aura remembered her entry exam with a shudder.

"Something wrong Aura?"

Aura shook her head of the bad memory. "No sir, I'm just a little curious why you asked to see me. I didn't do anything wrong, did I?" She asked bravely.

"What gave you that idea?" the commander asked. "Just the opposite, I called you in because I need the best of the guard for a very important mission. And from what Commander Fire Storm told me, your his best guard."

"Really? Well thank you commander." she was relieved she wasn't in trouble. "What's this mission exactly?"

"We'll get to that; now it says here you specialize in elemental magic. What does that mean, exactly?" Typhon asked, changing the subject.

"Elemental magic is the conjuration and manipulation of nature's power; like fire, water, wind, earth, and so on," she happily explained. She liked talking about magic, though it was hard to find a pony in the guard who cared enough to carry a conversation, even in the unicorn guard.

"Could you give a demonstration?" The commander asked.

Aura smiled widely, "I'd love to, what would you like to see?"

"Anything really; just don't set my office on fire," Typhon joked.

Aura chuckled, "Of course not, maybe some water magic first."

"... or flood my office, Aura," Commander Typhon retorted.

"Commander, your the one who suggested a demonstration."

"Fair dues," he admitted.

Aura's horn glowed a light blue, and suddenly Commander Typhon was completely soaked. The strange part was, he didn't feel any water dumped on him. One second he was dry, the next he was dripping wet. It was well... strange to say the least. Aura couldn't help but laugh a little; the commander wasn't amused.

"Aura, I'll be the first one to tell you every changeling needs a shower; but I don't think your moisture powers are going to be any help." He said sarcastically.

"Well I can do a lot more than that," a sly smile crept on her face. "Like fill somepony's lungs with water." The commander thought on this, and produced the most horrified expression Aura had ever seen a pony make. "Sorry commander, that was a bad joke," she apologized meekly.

The horrified expression slowly changed to a smile, then laughter, to Aura's confusion. When he finally stopped he said, "Actually that was pretty good, he-he... you got me; but please don't fill anypony's lungs with water. I don't even think the changelings deserve that," Typhon looked at himself, nearly forgetting he was soaking wet. "Could you get me a towel ensign?"

"No need commander," Aura happily stated, as her horn glowed again. Commander Typhon could feel the air around him get hotter, and noticed the water on him evaporating. "My special talent is manipulating temperature;" Aura explained. "Within certain area, I can raise the temperature to the point of igniting the air into flames, or freezing anything caught in the spell solid. It takes a lot out of me to do those spells  though, so I'm also skilled at using standard elemental magic. Although, I don't know how to fill lungs with water. I don't think there's actually a spell for that."

"That's impressive, I can see why Fire Storm recommended you," The commander praised, "I just have one last question, Why did you join the guard in the first place. A unicorn as talented as you could get a job nearly anywhere."

Aura frowned, "Isn't that information in my file, sir?" She asked, not wanting to talk about her reason's for joining.

"Yes, but your file was written by Commander Fire Storm," Typhon answered. "His report on you is accurate, but it's written from his perspective. I want to hear, from you, why you joined the guard."

"Well... I joined to protect Equestria. Same as most guards. Nothing much more to it"

"So no personal reasons, ensign?" Commander Typhon asked, trying to get her to open up.

"I... Yes sir," Aura took a deep breath. "When the changelings invaded Canterlot, I was... subdued very quickly. They surrounded me so fast and... well... " Aura trailed off, it was hard to think about that day. She had never seen changelings before that day and they terrified her still, but she toughed up and continued. "I joined the guard so something like that would never happen to anypony again... and so I wouldn't be scared of them anymore."

Typhon didn't say anything, but the look on his face somehow told Aura that he understood what she went through. He gave her a tan folder that had been sitting on the corner of his desk. It detailed sightings of changelings near the badlands, south of Equestria. "Princess Celestia and Luna have asked me to investigate these changeling sightings; and to find where exactly they came from, in the badlands. I want you to assist me with this mission."

"Really? Well, thank you sir. It's an honor," This cheered Aura up, though she hoped the commander wasn't just trying to make her feel better.

"Like I said, I need the best of the guard for this mission if there's going to be any chance at success." Typhon told Aura as if he'd read her mind. "Also, if there are any guards you would recommend, I'm open to suggestions. I want my guards to work well together."

"Hmm," Aura let out as she thought. The only pony she knew that well in the guard was Hammer Hoof. He was inexperienced, only graduating from basic training two months ago. But he was a good guard, and a good stallion. Plus in full armor, Hammer was a tank, being one of the biggest Pegasi in the guard. "How about Warrant Officer Hammer Hoof?"

"Hammer Hoof?" The commander asked Aura questioningly.

"Yes sir."

"Are you just recommending him because he's your friend, Aura?"

"No commander. He is a good guard, just hasn't had the chance to show it."

"Aura, this isn't a party. This is the most important, and dangerous mission either of us have been on.!" Typhon hit his hoof on his desk just for emphasis. Unfortunately, his hoof went straight through the desk with ease. Aura had to summon every bit of willpower not to laugh, as Typhon struggled to get his hoof out of the hole he made.

When he finally got it loose, the commander just sat in his desk, completely perplexed by what just happened. "My desk!" he yelled. "What the hay happened?! I didn't hit it that that hard!"

An explanation popped into Aura's head. She used her magic to levitate the desk, then flipped it over and laid it back on the ground. Both the guards could see a large sticker on the desk's underside with "MADE IN EQUESTRIA" written on it.

"Ahhhh," Typhon smiled, and let out an understanding sigh. He picked up the deceivingly light, poorly made desk, and chucked it out the window. He then sat back in his chair again, "What were we talking about?" He asked Aura.

"Um... I was recommending Hammer Hoof, " she answered. "For the mission."

"Oh yeah... " He remembered; though a feeling of stupidity washed over him. He realized he forgot to clean out his cheap desk before he threw it out. "Sure, he seemed like a decent guard. I'll check up on him later. Your dismissed ensign."

"Thanks commander, you just made a Pegasus really happy," Aura laughed as she saluted, and walked out the door.

Typhon gave frustrated sigh, "Do I have to buy a new desk now?"