Princess of Fire

A red unicorn stallion lay beside Luna. No one was around, so they lay together, kissing. The moon was high in the night sky, and the stars twinkled in the black.

   "Inferno," Luna said, breaking away, "We both know we shouldn't be doing this."

   The red unicorn opened his eyes. "I know. But love has led to this," he said.

   "We cannot be together, not forever. I'm... I'm immortal. I cannot die," Luna looked at Inferno and nuzzled him affectionately.

   "My memory is not yours alone," Inferno said gently.

   Luna raised her head. "We may have tried, you lovesick foal, but alicorns cannot birth."

   "Love is powerful," Inferno chuckled. "And so are you."

   He kissed her, then stood. "Dawn is approaching," he said. "I will see you tonight."

   But Luna did not open the castle door that night to see her beloved stallion. Instead, chanelings swarmed the castle. It was all Luna could do to escape. Her sister followed her to the edge of the forest.  Only then did Luna remember her stallion, the bulky red unicorn whose twins were in her stomach. (This she was unaware of.) Celestia held her back. Luna wept, knowing her lover was gone.

      A dark blue alicorn lay on the ground. But huddled next to her were two baby fillies. One was red. Luna was reminded yet again of Inferno. The other was the mothers copy, cave her black mane.

  Her once shimmering mane had lost its sparkle. Her sister was worried. Celestia trotted over and knelt beside Luna.

  “Luna,” She breathed. “What are their names?”

  Luna took a deep breath. “Comet... And D-Dusk...”

  There was no need to ask which was Comet and which was Dusk.

  “Sister...” Luna rasped. “Find somepony for my foals... Somepony who will love them like a mother.”

  “No, Luna!” Celestia said quietly, but forcefully. “You will get to raise them!” Tears sprang into Celestia's eyes.

  “Tia,” Luna said. "Alicorns can birth, but the price is very steep. I am willing to accept my fate." Tears rolled down her cheek. "Love is powerful."

  “W-where is the F-f-father?” Celestia asked, choking back sobs.

  “Among....” Luna gasped for one last breath. “Among the dead.” With that, Luna sank into the ground, dead.

  Celestia cried next to the body before picking the twins up. Her horn glowed, and her sister joined the stars, a new constellation.

  “Don’t worry,” Celestia whispered. “Twilight shall protect you.”

   I galloped through the fields, Dusk close at my hooves. The scent of grass filled my nostrils, and dark brown dirt went flying as I ran. My breathing was heavy, but my hooves didn’t ache, my legs were just as they had been when I was standing, looking at the land before me. Dusk had started running at me. Playfully, of course. My red coat was like a torch. Dusk’s dark coat was like a blob of night in the day. Her cutie mark, outlined with white, was a blue, five pointed star. I had no cutie mark, which was annoying.

  “Dusk! Comet!” It was Twilight.

  I turned and galloped toward her.

  “Girls,” Twilight said, “I don’t want changelings to see you!”

  “Why would they come here?” I asked.

  “They look everywhere!” Twilight said sternly.

  “I think we should put up a force field,” Dusk suggested.

  “I can’t,” I said bitterly. “My cutie mark isn’t in magic, like you and Twilight.”

  “Girls!” Twilight yelled. “Just get inside and eat or something!”

  We both trotted inside, glaring. Instead of eating, Dusk retrieved a book from the shelves and began reading.

  “You’re just like Twilight,” I said.

  “Is that a bad thing?” Dusk looked up from her book.

  “It means you’re an Egg-head,” I smirked.

  Twilight walked in. “You would be better off not listening to Rainbow Dash,” She said. “I need to go to Sweet Apple Acres. The changelings have it under heavy security." That was why Twilight had left her home. Celestia's last assignment for her most faithful student.  "I won’t be back for a while. Do you think you can handle that?”

  “Yup,” I said. Dusk nodded.

  Twilight turned and walked out the door. I watched as she disappeared past the hills then ran to the door.

  “Comet!” Dusk cried. “You can’t go out! We have chores!”

  “They can wait,” I said, walking outside.

  I found myself looking at a black pony, with holes on its hooves, a curved, sharp horn, and clear wings, also with holes.

  I knew what this was; It was a Changeling.

  Slowly, I backed away, too afraid, too surprised, to do anything except stare and back away. The changeling followed me in, smiling, hissing. I heard a scream that must have been Dusk.

  The Changeling erupted into green flames, and it was me. I stared at me, and it charged.

  I leapt aside just in time. Three more Changelings flew in and landed on the ground. I charged the nearest changeling. Just as I tackled it, it erupted into the green flames. I jumped back.

  Dusk screamed again. I looked at her and saw a changeling dragging her out the back door. I charged after her, flapping my wings.

  I pictured fire... Red flames engulfing my wings... I glanced at them as I burst outside. They were flaming, alright. I spread them and flew up, looking for Dusk.

  The only thing I saw was a swarm. A large group of changeling surrounded me. I knocked them aside and flew in the direction of Canterlot. That was where they were taking her. Chrysalis.

  I crouched in the sewer underneath Canterlot. The very tips of my wings were on fire. It never hurt; It was a soft warmth that spread through my wings. My mane could catch fire, too.

  I peeked outside the sewer. Dusk! She was trotting outside the castle. I hesitated. Something was wrong...

  Her cutie mark... It was usually blue... Instead, it was black. Her entire body seemed to be darker, blacker. Her blue eyes were a bright green.

  Suddenly, she stumbled and fell. Her foreleg glowed, and when it faded, it was black, with a hole in the center.

  I leapt from my hiding place. "Dusk!" I said.

  Dusk wheeled around, baring her fangs. "Dusk is gone!" She hissed. Dusk erupted into flames and was a changeling.

  I backed up, and left Canterlot, tears streaming from my eyes.

   I was sobbing at the edge of the Everfree Forest when she came. The alicorn stroked my mane, tried to comfort me. I looked up at her. She was tall and majestic, with long, flowing rainbow mane. I knew who she was. Princess Celestia.

   "Comet," She said. Her tone was kind and gentle. "What has happened?"

   "Dusk..." I sobbed. "She is a changeling."

   My aunt nodded. "Let me take you to a place where you'll be safe."

   Tears still flowing, I followed her through the forest. The grass waved in the summer wind. The trees rustled. Birds chirped. Yet I was deaf to all of these, distracted as I thought of my sister.

   My sister who fed off of love. My sister who deceived to gain power. My sister who was lost.

   I followed the alicorn into a small house.

   "I am your aunt, Celestia." The alicorn said. She set a plate of apples before me.

   I ate, though I had no appetite. Then I went to sleep.

   I dreamt that Dusk was not a changeling. That we were running through the fields. Then I was surrounded by flames. Green flames like the fire of a changeling. Changelings surrounded me, and I turned into one.

   I woke up. How long was I sleeping? I didn't really care. I curled up and something caught my eye. My cutie mark. Fire. I felt no joy, no thrill at the sight of it. I only felt sorrow.