Once, long ago before the days of Equestria, in the times when the Ever Free forest ran wild and when the pony tribes of air earth and magic still quarreled amongst themselves there was the all but dwindling Alicorn tribe. Though much more reserved than the other tribes, so much so to the point where the other tribes hardly knew of their existence, they flourished with the few communities they had. The Alicorns were much more advanced in everything the other tribes were not, from magic to agricultural skills and they were ruled by the King and Queen of the Alicorns. However, as the days went by the Alicorn population began to decline; it would seem an unknown plague had taken hold of their great civilization leaving their population decimated due to mass infertility and inevitably…death. The King and Queen shuffled about, thinking of different courses of action. Unfortunately, quarantine was the only option in this epidemic, or for lack of a better term, pony-demic. They ordered their guards to move all infected to a portion of their land that was farthest from the kingdom.
Though, met by resistance every step of the way the infected were eventually pushed back and held at bay by the punishment of treason. After a year of peace, things on the side of banishment began to stir, the infected Alicorns began to grow more and more rebellious with each passing day, some even becoming desperate and attempting to sneak back into the kingdom for a better life, knowing they would die never the less. By this time, the royal family welcomed a new delight into their warm embrace as the queens’ newest daughter was born, her small white frame and multi-colored mane sleeping humbly in the warm of her mother’s side suckling peacefully. She was thus dubbed the name ‘Celestia’ for being born during the prime of the summer solstice. As the kingdom celebrated the birth of their new princess, the infected saw this as the opportune moment to try and force their way back to their beloved home. They gathered at the walls of the castle, slipping through, over, and even under them in their desperate attempt to succeed. Though many failed, being caught or killed by guards in the midst of their sneaking some succeeded. That being just enough to spell the doom of the kingdom once more.
Months after, the population of the king and queens domain remained rather stable aside from some unknown deaths here and there, the infiltrating infected Alicorns segregating themselves from the general population as much as possible. The birth of yet another heir was announced! The queen had delivered a colt though she was in dire conditions, it seemed that the birth of the colt had caused complications sending her into shock, nearly killing her but she rested as the danger of her life was ended now that she was more or less healthy, his infantile face calm and collected, not uttering a peep as he moved his head about. His short gray mane tossing around with a look of pure curiosity still presses against his mothers flank similar to how Celestia had done. He was gifted the name ‘Titus’ being born during the pinnacle of tidal fluctuations. Though Titus was as much an heir as Celestia, the king could not help but hold a feeling of spite towards him, seeing as the birth of Titus nearly killed his beloved wife. The king did not openly admit to disowning nor to hating Titus, though in his heart he knew that he did, his mind reeling with questions and accusations. ‘Why would I hate my own son? He’s done nothing wrong; he’s only a young colt. It was not his fault that my dear wife almost died, but I can’t help but hate him…” He paced about for days wondering, pondering, trying to fathom why he felt what he felt but could not place his hoof on it…it didn’t matter now anyways, two heirs had been born and the tasks of the royal family must be given out to them; for the sake of the world and balance. Years had passed, the Alicorn population remaining afloat as the infected continued to live alone, some already dying from the disease, but still enough remained. Some new refugees sneaking beyond the city walls taking shelter in cracks and crevices around the city. Celestia and Titus, now fully grown ponies, though it makes no sense that they have grown in such a sort amount of time there is actually a rational explanation. Alicorns, at the age of two go through an advanced pubescent stage causing them to mature ten times faster than the average pony. Though seeing as the royal family is of pure blooded decent, their maturity speed is doubled of that.
Their roles had already been explained to them. Celestia, gifted the powers of the sun, to rise bringing forth the morning and lowering to make way for night. Titus, gifted the powers of the moon, to rise and lower likewise. As Alicorn prophecy dictates, the powers of the sun are given to the eldest of the royal family siblings, while the youngest is given the powers of the moon. They had taken to their tasks with much excitement as it marked their maturity, every day since then Celestia rose her wondrous ball of elegantly radiant warmth. It kissing the cheek of the land it rested above in a carefree manner and as she lowered her sun Titus had raised his moon, its dark beauty nearly unparalleled as it hung like a tear in the face of the sky, the sight poetically breath taking. The day had come, long after the queen’s recovery from Titus’s birth. She was impregnated one last time, lying on the bed she pushed as servants rushed to and fro to assist. After, an hour or so a servant rose, holding a dark blue mare. Her mane seeming to made of the stars themselves as she squeaked in a quieted cry. The queen held her, the mare looking up at her with her indigo eyes innocently as she smiled and playfully reached for her mother’s hair. The queen smiled back, uttering a single name, “Luna.” Thus ushering in Princess Luna; named because of being born near the end of the winter solstice. The king was delighted, a new daughter was just the thing he wanted, but this did bare some grave news. The Alicorn prophecy says only the youngest of the siblings may control the moon, Titus must forfeit his right to control. Titus strolled into the throne room, his hooves clicking on the shimmering marble floor as he approached his father, his ears twitching calmly. He stopped at the base of the steps bowing down respectfully before asking, “You summoned me, father?” The king looked down at him, his face emotionless as he nodded though inside he still bubbled with hatred making an effort to remain aloof. “Titus, I have to speak to you. It’s about your new sister Luna.” Because of this Titus’s ears twitched yet again.
“Go on…”
“You must be stripped of your moon privileges Titus.”
To this Titus looked appalled, “Stri-? What?! Why?!”
"Alicorn prophecy demands it, only the youngest may have the honor of controlling the moon. That is no longer you.”
Titus then shot to his hooves, his face littered with the look of defiance. “You can’t do this! I am-” His protest cut short by an angry dismissive stare from his father as he shut his mouth, his brow furrowed in anger. After a short while the king started up again, “You will not fight me on this, it is how it must be whether you like it or not.” After a moment of silence the king spoke again, “You are dismissed, Ti-” to which the king was also cut short of, “Wait.” Inquired Titus, the kings ears perking, “Let me keep control, at least until she old enough to be able to control it…” the king starred at him for a long moment before replying, “Very well…I give you control until Luna’s maturity, dismissed.” Titus raised himself and shuffled out. His ears down low as he stared at the floor, though inside scrambling thoughts around as a plan began to fester in the recesses of his mind. Two years passed by slowly as the sun of Celestia and moon of Titus rose and fell accordingly. Luna, for the most part was now a full grown mare much like her sister, though different in stature. Her time was soon at hand, after a few weeks the power of the moon would be hers. Titus would be rendered a normal Alicorn, his mind clouded by anger as his plan began to connect one by one until finally he had it. In the later days, the infected ponies grew in numbers no longer bothering to separate themselves. Ponies began to openly become infected once again, just like the earlier days of the kingdom. It came to a point where even guards were coming down with the plague as it spread like wild fire from pony to pony with such magnitudes that the Alicorns began to drop like flies! The infection had reached the inside of the kingdom yet again with a renewed vigor even more violent than in the past nearly all of the royal family’s subjects died. As the days passed, the Alicorn race became nearly extinct with the exception of the royal family. The Alicorn Empire was lonely and desolate. The corpses of the once majestic Alicorns dotting the roads and buildings of the previously great empire. The only activity now being in the castle, as the royal family began to argue amongst themselves; excluding Titus.
Suddenly the throne doors flew open; the members of the royal family craning their heads over to see the intruder, there stood a tall gray Alicorn. His mane a bit messy even at the standards of a peasant Alicorn. Though his demeanor is regal none the less as he strode forward menacingly. His face warped into a malicious grimace as he stopped just before the thrown, not even bothering to bow before the king. The king looked at him. Slightly taken aback by his look of blame and searing hatred but then spoke, “Titus…Luna’s time to rein over the moon is soon to come. You understand this, do you not?” Titus simply looked at him, his royal eyes burning into his father’s very soul. “So it would seem.” then putting an emphasis of disgust on his next word, “Your majesty…” The king then continued, not particularly phased, “However, I shall say to you, I must take your rights to the moon early, as Luna will be receiving her privilege sooner than expected.” After hearing this, Titus’s eyes widened, his pupils shrinking as rage began to eat him from the inside out. “Not only do you take away that which is rightfully mine, but you also go and...No…you also DARE to break your promise?!” His tone rose to a scream, voice crackling from the emotion as his eyes locked on his father’s eyes. Celestia, Luna, and the queen all starred at him with horrified expressions Luna’s being the most disturbed of them all. Yet the king remained silent, returning an equally piercing glare to his son. “It’s because you hate me, you’ve always hated me! Don’t think I haven’t noticed, the way you’ve always looked at me! You only gave me power of the moon in the first place because you had to!” His eyes now welling up with tears, choking as he spoke. The king still remaining expressionless. “Yes. I always have hated you Titus. I will not deny that.” Spoke his father in a matter of fact tone. This was met with gasps from the rest of the royal family and Titus’s expression went blank. He suddenly looked up his expression eerily calm, “I will not give it up without a fight. I challenge you father to a fight to the death!”
Night air clung to the fur of the Alicorns with an iron grip, Titus and the king standing across the court yard from one another as the royal family stood audience, watching in horror. The king had to accept his sons challenge as royal tradition dictates, the king must meet all challenges of a royal family member for the right of the throne. This is exactly what Titus was after. They stood awaiting the other to move, Titus’s horn glowing a shady black, his magic ready to lash out while his father’s horn glowed a tantalizing orange equally equipped for combat. Titus made the first move, his horn glowing brighter than before as a ball of mist was hurled at the king; everything in the path of the mist froze solid, as it raced for him like a hungry wolf, as it lapped at the air. The king waved his horn, a transparent yellow semi-circle forming in front of him, the mist bouncing around it, missing the king entirely. The young prince charged, his head down and horn out, his father doing the same as they clashed. Their horns locked in seemingly perpetual melee, lashing at one another hoping to score a hit. Sparks from their glowing horns as they smashed against each other were sent rocketing to the floor. When finally the stalemate was broken, the king plunged his horn into Titus’s shoulder. As he let out a whinny of pain he buckled, but kept his ground none the less.
The prince being injured but still fighting, as they continued Titus took the king by surprise. He unleashed a bolt of lightning from his horn as the king charged for him, striking him in the side causing the king to bowl over, a scorch on his flank. Titus rushed over to finish the deed, met only by his father looking up at him huffing with a mixture of pain and disbelief. The prince, even through his blinding rage couldn’t help but feel a twinge of pity for his father. He seemed so old and frail now, this causing him to hesitate from the thought of actually killing his father. The king, however, had different plans. He used his horn to swipe Titus off his feet while he was distracted by his decision, as Titus fell, the king stood over him ready to end him when Luna shot from the rest of the family, her starry mane billowing as she sprinted.“Father! No!” shrieked Luna, the king instantly freezing as he saw Luna beside him, hot tears streaming from her eyes, her horn glowing dark purple as if ready to attack her own father to protect her brother. “Stop the madness!” she pleaded, her tears spattering on the floor as she spoke, her ears down in a submissive plea.
This was enough to melt even the king’s stone heart, he gave in and backed away. Luna rushing to help her brother up, letting him use her side for support. Titus looked at his father with one eye closed from wincing, his wound bleeding profusely as he panted. “I’m not done with you!” To which his father quickly snapped. “I am done with you, Titus! You are lucky Luna saved you when she did. You are hereby banished from my kingdom for two-thousand years.” Titus opened his mouth to protest, his injured leg raised to keep it off the ground when Luna placed her horn in front of his face shaking her head. He fell silent, only staring at him in hatred. “Come brother, I never wanted this to happen…” Luna stated meekly, but Titus only glared at her too, “Get away from me, this is all your fault.” Luna’s ears dropped, her face drenched in shock, tears welling up once again, Titus simply looked on. As he choose to not acknowledge her saddened look as he limped out of the castle on his three good legs. Celestia looked on at him, shaking her head in disappointment as Luna only looked after him through watery eyes.
The warming rays of Celestia’s delightful orange globe began to peak over the mountain top, cheerfully drifting down and kissing Twilight Sparkle’s cheek as she slowly opened her eyes into slits, gradually opening wider and wider. Her gaze meeting the end of her quilt, its design seeming as familiar to her as the back of her hoof. She swept it off of her with her teeth, placing each hoof on the ground and starring at her baby purple and green companion snuggled innocently in his basket. Her eyes tendered as she saw him, noting that Spike could use more rest before she pulled his small blanket further up his shoulder. She made her way down the stairs; her mood was delightful, as she had always been a morning pony. Trailing down to the library she opened her front door, the pleasant sights, sounds, and smells of Ponyville greeted her all at once, some ponies had already gotten up and were strolling about. Cheerilee on her usual rounds in the morning before school started, picking up supplies, Derpy Hooves on her usual postal route, flying clumsily about and knocking into almost everything. Twilight took a step out breathing in, today was going to be a good day, she just knew it!
Twilight paced about the shopping district, the sun had now crept further up the sky as several hours had passed. The district had become more populated and she soon stumbled upon Applejack’s shabby wooden stand, which by this time Twilight noticed that the sky had grown mysteriously dark, ‘Maybe the pegasei are just slacking off a little.’ Thought Twilight as she neared her friend though for some reason she doubted this as something in the back of her mind tried to warn her but she couldn’t place a hoof on it.
“Hey Applejack, how are you?”
The orange mare was turned at the time but once she heard the familiar intellectual sounding voice of her purple friend she turned after finishing with a customer.
“Well hey there Twi, I’m doin’ ay-okay, how ‘bout you? What’re you doin’ here all by your lonesome?” inquired Applejack, tilting her head in a curious manner as she smiled to her friend.
“Just going out for some supplies I needed in the library. Spike didn’t come though; he’s been a busy dragon so I’d thought I’d give him the morning off. Say, mind if I buy an apple or two?”
“No need sugar cube; this one’s on the house. Two apples commin’ right up!” Applejack exclaimed, her expression generous as she skillfully flipped two apples into Twilights saddle bag with her sporting blonde tail. Twilight smiled, she expected no less from the element of honesty, Applejack was a good mare, one of the best she’d ever met since her arrival in Ponyville about a year ago though she had four other friends that were just as good, she soon waved her hoof good-bye and was on her way but as she turned Applejack called after her, “Uh..Twi, y’all take care now, ya’ hear? Something feels kinda off so just be careful.” This troubled Twilight a bit but continued on. The sky had darkened even more than before, Twilight’s expression becoming slightly troubled, this was rather unusual, by now the weather patrol would have handled this. As she strode on, Twilight found herself walking along the outskirts of town, though the sky had grayed a bit in the pass few hours, if was still clear enough to enjoy. As she walked along, enjoying the sounds of the chirping birds and squeaking animals something passed by her, fast as bullet leaving a quickly dissipating rainbow trail behind it. Twilights eyes struggled to keep up with it as it darted about the gray sky. Eventually it paused on a cloud and she identified the pony none other than Rainbow Dash! The colorful Pegasus was flying about franticly, bucking clouds a fast as she possibly could, her face mixed with exhaustion and frustration.
As Twilight neared her friend she called out to her, “Hey Rainbow Dash!” A flash of rainbow dashed across the sky toward her, her carefully molded athletic figure tense with stress as she flew to Twilight Sparkle. “Twilight! You gotta help me, the clouds have been going nuts and the weather patrol staff is shorthanded! I’ve been working up here since earlier this morning, and the clouds just keep coming back!” Twilight looked about, her purple mane falling from side to side as she did. This was indeed not normal even on the cloudiest of days. “Okay, stand back!” Twilight commanded to her colorful friend as her horn began to shimmer with its usual purple glow as the Pegasus flew back, landing next to Twilight. Twilight’s eyes began to glow a faint violet also, as she was about to cast a rather large spell and in a second the clouds parted, giving way to the sun. Twilight and Rainbow Dash both smiled hopefully when almost as quickly as it had left the clouds zoomed back into place, this time more violently than before. Thundering and storming as if the suppressing magic filled it with resentment! Their beams of hope were wiped off their faces as a strike of lightning lashed out at the ground near them leaving a large scorch where fresh grass had just been. The blast’s shockwave knocked Twilight on her back as Rainbow Dash took to the skies, another bolt sailed from the agitated masses of gray right towards Twilight and she closed her eyes tight fearing the worse…was this really her end? Struck down by lightning and not even being able to say good bye to her closest friends?
The thundering strikes flew down and at that same instant Twilight felt the ground under her disappear. Though she was too afraid to even open her eyes, she noticed she felt unusually light. She thought to herself ‘Is this what it’s like be to be…’ She forced a disheartened gulp, ‘Dead?’ As the initial shock wore off she opened her eyes only to look down and see herself several miles from the Equestrian ground. She was alive! As she looked around for an explanation she saw someone she wouldn’t have expected. She gasped at her savior half in shock and the other half in inexpressible gratitude. Her friends flowing pink hair drifting in the wind as she sailed across the sky from the blast zone, noticeably struggling in carrying Twilight. They soon landed; the yellow furred pink maned Pegasus placed her gently on the grass near a cottage. Fluttershy was her savior! Which was quite the shocker, but she was grateful none the less. “Oh my, are you okay Twilight?!” asked Fluttershy in her usual hushed and submissive tone though more troubled than ever before. Twilight was still getting her bearings on the situation but proceeded to answer. “Uh…y-yes. T-thank you so much Fluttershy! Had you not been there I’d be…” She cut off as her pupils shrunk in fear from the recollection of what her fate could have been. Fluttershy put on a sweet face trying to calm her friend. “It’s okay Twilight, you’re fine now.” Rainbow Dash soon arrived on the scene, her rainbow trail following as close as ever before she landed gasping from worry. “Oh my gosh! Twilight, are you okay?! I-I tried to help you but I wasn’t quick enough! Oh, I’m sorry!”
“Its fine Rainbow, Fluttershy saved me. I wouldn’t have made it had it not been for her.” Remarked Twilight, to which Fluttershy just responded by stirring the rocks in the ground with her hoof sheepishly.
“How did you even get to her in time, Fluttershy?!” questioned Rainbow Dash who was genuinely intrigued.
“Oh….umm…I-I was just walking not too far away and I saw Twilight was in trouble, I just rushed as fast as I could to help her. I didn’t want her to get hurt, that’s all…” answered the gentle mare, her pink hair falling over one eye as she answered which exhibited to maximum levels of D’aww. Though their conversation was mutually cut short as they acknowledged the issue at hand; something was wrong. This was not natural so they decided to head into the Ever Free Forest and ask the one they knew most likely had the answer. As the trio traveled into the forest from Fluttershy’s cottage, the trees and undergrowth grew thicker and more eerie. The shadows of the trees were warping and contorting into the shapes of ghouls and other atrocities able to send a chill down the bravest pony’s spine. They pressed on, Fluttershy’s whimpers as frightened as ever, seeing as the mare was scared of pretty much everything. Being in the dark forest again after the Mare in the Moon incident seemed to frighten her even more. She huddled close to Rainbow Dash and Twilight who were almost equally as fearful. They soon came upon a hallowed out tree with various strange looking decorations. They knocked on the door of the tree, though there was no answer and staying any longer would probably make Fluttershy cry from fright. Just as they were about to turn they heard a rustle from inside and a familiar voice. “Who could that be, wishing to disturb me?” The door slowly creaked open revealing the black and white face of their friend Zecora, her shimmering golden necklace on as always. She looked down at the three, wiping her eyes sleepily with an equally black and white hoof stifling a yawn, “Oh my, what a fright. What do you ponies want at this time of night?” To which Twilight began to ramble on about the events of the day and how the sky was acting, all the while Zecora listened with various facial expressions to each event.
“Come inside young mares, perhaps we can figure out what gives you these scares…” was her final answer as she rounded about disappearing into her home, the three following. “So the skies have run amuck and you find yourselves stuck.” Stated Zecora with a final sigh as they circled around in her home. “Yes, we don’t know what happened, yesterday was fine and all of a sudden this happens! It can’t be natural Zecora; we figured you’d be able to help us.” Twilight replied. Zecora paced about deep in thought. She strode to her shelf of various books and began to dig through them in search of something that could maybe have an answer, but inevitably found nothing, “I am sad to relay that I have nothing for you this day. I am grateful for your trust in my loyalty but perhaps you should seek help from royalty.” Inquired Zecora as she pointed out her window to the general direction of the famous and regal city of Canterlot. The three nodded, and gave their thanks for the limited help the mysterious Zebra gave to them heading out the door and eventually (to Fluttershy’s relief) out of the forest. As they headed back to Ponyville, they discussed their preparations for departure, all the while keeping their sight glued to the relentless skies above which were still as mercurial as ever. Suddenly a small dot came from the clouds, slightly parting them only to have the hole plugged by another rushing wave of angry clouds. The dot began to draw closer and closer at an alarming rate. The size increasing as well as its detail, within moments a gold plated carriage pulled by two of the royal pegasei guards of Canterlot. They landed not far from the trio and one of them looked over to them. “Miss Twilight Sparkle, you have been summoned to Canterlot Castle by both Princess Celestia and Princess Luna collectively. You are to gather a Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Applejack, and Rarity to accompany you as they are relevant in this issue.”
