The Eclipse

by The One who Rose

IN the land of Equestria a Prince is born, but this Prince's life is not all silver spoons and crowns, follow Prince Calliso on the path of his life full of trials and turns.

1. Chapter 1

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The Eclipse

By The One who Rose.

Prologue

All of Canterlot was abuzz with excitement and celebration. All throughout the town there could be hear excited whispers among all of the ponies present.

"The Prince is born! The Prince is born! The son of Luna!" many from near and far came to witness the colt when he was first revealed to the world, Fancy Pants himself, the father of the young prince, stood outside of the chamber where his son was being born, protecting him and assuring any who came to see him that everything was alright, that Luna was in the best of hands.

Then came Princess Celestia, whom approached the father of her nephew in a manner of slight excitement, still containing her royal strictness.

"Fancy" she acknowledged him and he bowed low opening the door to the Princess. When Celestia entered the room she saw the young colt that her sister had just given birth to. His baby blue fur and black mane were slightly fluffed up from where the doctors had cleaned him with a towel. His eyes were closed as he leant against his mother, his head tucked under her leg.

Celestia stopped a foot from the stable, a few from her sister's side "Well, Luna, this is your child, yes?" Almost in response the small colt opened his eyes and raised his head, his bright blue eyes shining with innocence and comfort. Luna smiled at her sister.

"Well of course it is" Luna leant down and nudged the little colt forward, he looked up at Celestia. The Princess smiled down at her nephew.

"What is his name?"

"Callisto, the moon" Callisto scooted back toward his mother and cuddled up to her, Luna smiled down at her son and Celestia nodded.
"He is quiet nice, would you like to present him now?"

"I would love to" Luna nuzzled her son and he slowly stood, wobbling on his little legs. Luna nudged him forward and they began to walk forward together, Luna smiling down at Callisto as they walked, Callisto looking up at his mother as they walked, observing her walk and replicating it as best as he could on his wobbly legs.

The Prince was walking well until he lost his footing and fell forward, hitting the ground, he began to cry before Luna helped him back to his feet, nuzzling him gently.

"Shhh, you're okay sweetie, you're okay" Callisto looked up at Luna and she noticed the small horn that had been revealed when his mane had parted. Luna quickly adjusted her son's mane and they continued to walk, Fancy Pants was already standing outside when they arrived, and when Fancy saw his son his eyes filled with love.

Fancy smiled and announced to the crowd that had gathered.

"Now presenting, the Prince of Equestria!" Luna smiled and nudged her son forward to where he stood in front of his father and mother, though Celestia suddenly got a look of anger on her face.

"Stop!" Celestia walked forward and glared down at Callisto who looked up at her with a scared look. Celestia moved his mane to reveal his small horn, his wings were clear against his sides. The crowd was silent in shock.

"A male Alicorn!" Celestia exclaimed loudly and then glared at Luna

"He cannot stay here" Celestia told Luna, whom replied in a whisper,

"Please sister just let him stay, we will not teach him to use his magic, just please don't hurt him, look at how innocent your nephew is" Celestia looked down at her nephew, who was in return looking up at her with a look of fright.

Celestia sighed as she looked down at nephew, she closed her eyes and shook her head slowly.

"Okay Luna, he can stay, but if he does anything wrong or anything that harms Equestria then he will be taken and banished from here" Callisto walked over to his mother and stood between her legs.

"I understand" Luna replied to her sister and Celestia nodded before walking away. Luna led her son back into the castle and Fancy Pants followed.

"A male Alicorn, Luna you know the rule about male Alicorns in the Solar Empire" Luna sighed and looked down at her baby, who was looking up at her with a confused look. Luna leant down and kissed his head before replying to Fancy.

"Yes, I know about male Alicorns, they are sentenced to death in the Solar Empire" Luna replied to Fancy who was looking very nervous indeed.

"Well, maybe we should clip his wings, make him not an Alicorn anymoe"

"You want to kill your own son slower than my sister would"
"No Luna, it's not that"

"Then tell me Fancy, what is it"

"I don't want to be blamed and put to death too!"

Luna was stunned by what Fancy had said, and this was written clearly across her face. Fancy looked down then back up at Luna before walking away, his tail swaying slowly behind him. Luna leant down and nuzzled her son gently, affectionately.

"Don't worry sweetie, mommy won't let anyone ever hurt you, I promise" Callisto leant against his mother after giving her his attention while she said this, his bright eyes slowly being covered as he began to doze off. Luna nudged her son forward so she could at least get him to his room before he fell asleep. Callisto jolted out of his doze and slowly walked forward, and when they reached his room Callisto lay down, resting his head on his hooves. Luna retrieved a blanket and gently draped it over her son with a sweet caring smile on her face, her eyes filled with the deepest love for her son.

The birth of the Prince marked the beginning of something new in Equestria, but no one would know this for many years.

Chapter 1 Six Years Later

Callisto played outside in Canterlot, frolicking in the meadows with the royal children. Callisto had grown considerably in six years, nearly full size he was almost as big as his father. On this particular day it was Callisto's sixth birthday, and he was enjoying having some fun before his father called him in for the party. Luna was watching her son from a hilltop while relaxing, she always worried about him after what Celestia had said about him, when her sister had threatened her son.

Luna sighed when that thought came to her mind, just like any mother she wanted to protect her son as best as she could, but his home was Equestria, if she took him away, to the moon or some other place, it would break his heart.

Luna sighed and then she heard Fancy call to Callisto from the house that his son and he shared.

"Callisto! Come in son, it's almost time for your party!" Callisto turned with a happy smile and galloped over to his father who smiled as Callisto entered the house. Luna slowly stood and walked into the house, smiling at Fancy as she did so, he returned her smile and Luna sat down next to her son and kissed him on the head.

"Happy birthday sweet baby" Luna whispered to Callisto who looked up at her with his bright blue eyes, full of intelligence and innocence. Callisto leant against his mother looking down then back up at her.

"You're going to stay, right mom?" Luna smiled down at her son and leant her head against his, their horns crossing.

"Of course sweetie, nothing means more to me than your birthday, it was the best day of my life, the day you came into this world and made my life so much different" Callisto raised a brow and Luna smiled down at her son.

"You made my life different but you made it so much better sweetie, having you around and in my life has made this so much better, if you weren't here now I don't know what I would have done with my life" Callisto smiled at her and said plainly.

"You would keep ruling the night of Equestria mom, just like you always have" Luna smiled down at him and whispered.

"Sure, I could have kept doing that, but think about how long I've been doing that, and then I have you and my life becomes interesting, when my sister begins to rise with the sun I am excited because I know I get to come home, I get to come and see you as you wake up and I get to spend time with you, I have somebody to love outside of being the controller of the night. I have a reason to live"

Callisto smiled at his mother and Fancy Pants smiled at his son as he did so. Callisto leaned back on his haunches and looked up at his mother.

"So, do I get presents?" Luna smiled down at her son and with a kind gentle laugh she replied.

"Well of course honey, you've always gotten presents haven't you?" Callisto nodded slowly and smiled.

"I'm excited" he replied and Luna chuckled.

"I can tell" she replied and grinned.

"Fancy, would you mind giving him his presents?" Fancy Pants nodded and set his son's presents on the table in front of him as Celestia entered with two members of her royal guard behind her. Luna raised a brow as Celestia set down the present she had in her mouth on the table and nudged it toward Callisto.

"Happy birthday nephew" she said plainly and looked over at her sister.

"Luna, may I speak to you" the Princess asked and Luna glanced at her son who looked up at her with a confused look.

"Uh, sure, I'll meet you out there" Luna replied to Celestia, who nodded and walked out of the cottage. Luna sighed and stood up muttering to herself.

"This is going to be interesting" she thought and exited the cottage, leaving her young son sitting there with his father and his presents.

Celestia stood outside, looking up at the sun as she stood there, she glanced back at her sister and sighed softly.

"Luna, we need to talk about your son, and this is serious, there is a big problem" Luna raised a brow and retorted.

"Well let me guess, you're still angry that I gave birth to an alicorn, as if I could control it"
Celestia rolled her eyes and turned to her sister.

"I don't care that it is you that gave birth to him, if anyone had given birth to a male Alicorn I would have said something, and you know the rule, male alicorns have to die at age sixteen if not before then" Luna sighed and nodded, and then Celestia continued.

"Why out of all of the children you've had before is Callisto so special to you, why is it that you are attached to him so much that you would not let him go, not let him die."

Luna looked down at the ground and then back up at her sister. "Because I knew from the very moment that I figured out I was pregnant that he was special, I just wanted to love him and protect him as long as I can, and then you….you spared him" Celestia sighed and looked up at Luna.

"I did, and you've had six years with your son" Luna stepped forward.

"And I look forward to having six more, Celestia please don't take him away from me" Celestia approached Luna, her bright eyes meeting her sister's own dark ones.

"Luna, Callisto has magic that he may not be able to contain, look if something happens to him and he releases it he could seriously harm somebody, and I don't want that. Luna I care for my nephew…and I don't want to see him die, but I can't be sure that you aren't teaching him to use his alicorn magic, and if you are something could happen, Luna he is trouble for the entire kingdom, and if he does something terrible he could kill every single one of us."

Luna stood up tall, squaring herself, getting a determined look in her eye.

"He will not harm anybody sister, I know this to be true of my son, he is as gentle as a lamb and would never hurt a soul, not even an insect, sister he cares for everything in this land just as you do, just as I do" Celestia sighed and whispered.

"Luna, we cannot let him live so long that he knows what is coming, at the age of sixteen he will have earned his mark, he will most likely know how to use his magic, he could rebel, fight against us, fight against what's happening to him, Luna someone with that much power could kill us both, Alicorns can kill other Alicorns" Luna frowned at her sister.

"Celestia, I know that, I know the rule of what happens, and I know what an Alicorn can do to others like them, I know that if Callisto turns dark he could kill us, but he loves us both dearly, and if I know anything I know that love can conquer darkness, you know this as well do you not sister"

Celestia looked back at the cottage where her young nephew was sitting, waiting for his mother to return, spending time with his father, living life.

"I know Luna….I know that darkness can be vanquished by love, but what if it becomes too powerful for him?" Luna sighed and rubbed her hooves against her head, thinking, trying to find a way to completely convince Celestia that Callisto would never harm Equestria or the both of them.

"Sister, I won't let him be overpowered by darkness, and if it seems he is beginning to be overpowered then I swear I will do what is right."

"You would kill your own son, you would do this for the wellbeing of Equestria?"

"I will not kill my son sister, but I will bring him to the light, make sure he does not stray from the path that you walk, the one that I walk with you now, you understand that I love you dearly, though not as much as I love my son, I won't ever kill him" Celestia nodded.

"Well, I suppose that I thought as much, killing a child is terrible, and doing so would cause you great grief, especially since you and your son have been together and you have been caring for him over the last six years" Luna nodded in agreement and Celestia did so as well.

"Okay sister, I believe you have made your point, let us go back inside and celebrate the birth of your son, it will be magnificent, let us forget about this and just enjoy living life with Callisto" Luna smiled and nodded before they both walked back toward the cottage.

Luna opened the door and found her son hopping around between the royal guards, looking up at them and asking questions in quick gibberish, though the guards seemed to be attempting to answer his questions as quick as Callisto could ask them.

Luna laughed softly and leant down to her son's height, she noticed out of the corner of her eye that Fancy was not paying attention, Luna rolled her eyes and said to Callisto.

"Callisto, would you like to open your presents?" Callisto looked up when he realized his mother was watching. Callisto bounded over to his mother and hugged her around her legs. Callisto smiled up at his mother.

"Can I open them down here?" Luna smiled down at her son and moved the presents onto the floor.

"Of course you can" Callisto sat back on his haunches with a smile and slowly opened his first present, which was Celestia's. Callisto peeled the wrapping paper back and smiled as he saw a thick book there with "A Complete Set of Stories for Colts and Phillies" Callisto bounced up and down excitedly.

"Mom can we read this later?" he asked with excitement looking toward Luna, who replied with a smile on her face.

"Of course sweetie" Luna kissed Callisto's head and then nudged her and Fancy's present toward him. Callisto tore open the present and grinned when he saw a set of flying goggles, he looked up at his mother with a grin.

"Does this mean?" Luna nodded.

"I'm going to teach you how to fly" Callisto grinned and reached up to hug his mother, who returned the hug happily, he then hugged his aunt who smiled down at him.

"Oh, and nephew, I'd like you to see this" Celestia said walking Callisto over to the front door and opening it. Outside Applejack, Twilight Sparkle, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, Pinkie Pie, and Fluttershy along with others were all outside. Pinkie Pie grinned and bounded up to Callisto, bowing low to him and then looking up at him.

"Happy birthday Prince Callisto!" she exclaimed and hugged Callisto tight. Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes and pulled Pinkie off of Callisto. She smiled slightly and bowed her head to Callisto.

"My apologies Prince Callisto, she gets excited when there's a party" Callisto rubbed his neck where Pinkie Pie had her arms around him.

"Well um, I'm glad she is" he said and Applejack trotted over and bowed to Callisto.

"Come along with me Prince Callisto, you must be hungry" Applejack said as she led him off into the party, Luna watched with a slight smile on her face and Fancy came up beside her and put an arm around her.

"Well, being his parent sure is going to be interesting. Yeah?" Luna smiled at Fancy and nodded in agreement.

"It sure will be."

Chapter 2 Six Years Later

Callisto walked around inside of the library of the Solar Empire, unknown to him Callisto only had four years left in Equestria, even though he idnt know this he still made the most out of his life.

Callisto approached a stack of books and pulled the top one down to examine it before he sat down and began to read. Most people in Equestria knew that if you wanted to find the Prince the library was the place to look. Callisto spent almost every day there, and then every night in the forest when he wasn't sleeping as he tried to improve his flight.

Callisto combed through the words of the book, absorbing every one of them, savoring it and turning it over and over in his head as though he were trying to imprint the word on his mind forever. For every word he saw, for every scent of an aging book that wafted up to him, for every time he heard himself flip the page, felt the coarse paper on his hooves, he could almost feel his intelligence growing, expanding inside his mind and giving him so much more knowledge, but Callisto always wanted more.

Callisto gained the most knowledge when he was going around the library on an early winter day, escaping the cold and the snow in the depths of the library, he pulled a book off of the shelf and read the title. "The Complete Constitution of the Solar Empire" Callisto raise a brow before sitting down all the books he had been carrying and opening up this book that contained in their pages the rules and operations of Equestria's ruling empire. Callisto wondered what could be contained in this book, what truth and what knowledge, wht could he learn? What would he see when he opened this thick volume bound in the coarsest leather?

Callisto carried the book over to one of the tables at the end of the aisle he had been walking in and set it down on the table. The young alicorn opened the book slowly to see that the first page was a stamp, a stamp of his aunt in front of a blazing son, below the stamp was written "Solar Empire of Equestria" Callisto turned the page and found the table of contents, detailing all the different rules and operations, how things were to be run and how things were to be done.

Callisto read through the Constitution slowly, finding first the article that protected the right of Princess Celestia to right and enforce laws. The second article detailed Celestia's right as a ruler, and then the third protected Celestia's power as a judge of the kingdom, being the only one in the kingdom who is allowed to sentence someone to death. Callisto looked at the last word and wondered why it was there, he couldn't see his aunt killing anybody….not even hurting somebody being how she was, so nice and caring.

Callisto flipped the page of the book and found that the next part of the Constitution protected the right of the people, there were the important ten listed in this order.

1. Every Pony has the right to speak freely while not in the presence of a Royal.

2. Every Pony may use his or her magic in defense of his or her self if it is truly necessary to their survival.

3. Every Pony has the right to turn away a royal guard of the Princess in a time of peace.

4. No Pony will be searched without reason, and the same shall not be done so excessively.

5. Every Pony shall be given a trial by the Princess if a crime if committed.

6. The Princess shall give trials at all times unless she is partial to the accused.

7. No Pony shall be punished in a cruel way, such as torture.

8. The power of the people, if in majority, can bring a case once again to the Princess to be judged again.

9. No Pony shall be treated unfairly in trial or in the royal palace due to their family.

10. No Pony shall be treated unfairly in trial or in the royal palace due to their race.

Callisto smiled to himself, the rights weren't badly written, and at least Celestia gave her people those, some emperors could be so much crueler.

Callisto's thoughts of Celestia's kindness began to fade as he turned through the book, not much until he found one page that him hard. It was titled.

Male Alicorns, a threat that must be destroyed.

Now, Callisto wasn't much when it comes to knowing what all the Ponies he meets are, but he knows what he is, a male Alicorn. Callisto read the article slowly, it went a bit like this.

"All ye who see this, let it be known that on the fifteenth day of winter in the nine hundredth year after the banishment of Luna. Princess of the night, Princess Celestia of the Solar Empire decreed as such.

"There shall be no alicorns in this world besides myself, I realize now that the power of my kind is too much for some to handle, and too much still for an alicorn to be raised without a proper Alicorn parent to teach them how to control their magic and their powers. And seeing this I say that effective immediately all male Alicorns shall be executed while the females shall be bought to me. And from here on if a male alicorn is ever allowed to survive his birth and beginning years of his life he shall be executed on the first day of his sixteenth year"

Callisto was stunned by the words that he had just read, his own aunt had ordered his execution before he was even born. How many others had been born like him, how many other male ALicorns had been born, and why was it that he was the one who was allowed to live? Why didn't Celestia spare any other of the male alicorns.

The true realization hit Callisto hard, he realized that the only reason he was still alive was because his mother had begged for his life. He could see it, Celestia finding that her nephew was an alicorn and about to order his execution before Luna pleaded with Celestia to let him live, that Luna would protect him. Callisto began to mentally break down when he realized he only had a few years left, four short years and then Celestia would order his execution no matter what.

"Well, maybe she won't….maybe she'll let you live, I mean you are her nephew" a small voice said inside of his head. Callisto looked down and muttered to himself as he backed away from the Constitution, his thoughts racing, frantically searching for something to give an explanation to why he was still alive…and to find a way to convince Celestia to spare him. Celestia, his aunt, she had to spare him, she loved him, didn't she?

Callisto sat down and put his front hooves against his head as slow tears began to stream down his cheeks. Just like any child, he didn't want to die. He thought he could live forever. Callisto looked around to make sure Celestia wasn't near, as she could often be.

"Why…why did she spare me, will she do it again?" he whispered as he closed his eyes as an attempt to stop his tears.

Callisto looked up when he heard someone enter the library, and then he heard his mother's soft voice call to him.

"Callisto? Callisto?" she called and he stood up and ran through the library until he found his mother, throwing himself at her and sobbing into her chest when she held him. Luna looked down at her son with a deeply concerned look.

"What's wrong?" Luna asked gently caressing her son's mane. Callisto looked up at his mother with slight tears in his eyes still, which he quickly wiped away to be spared the embarrassment of crying in front of his mother.

"I found the Constitution of the Empire….why didn't you tell me I was going to be executed in four years?" Luna continued to look down at her son before she closed her eyes and sighed.

"Callisto…I didn't want you to only care about that for the rest of your life, and just think, your Aunt spared you when you were younger….maybe she'll do it again" Callisto shook his head and looked back down at the floor.

"I don't want to die" He whimpered and Luna pulled him tight to her, shushing him as she did.

"You won't" she said in a determined voice and Callisto looked up at her with a look in his eyes that asked her how she would do this.

"Celestia will listen to me, I made her a promise and I kept it, if she breaks her bargain then there will be nothing short of a riot"

"Over my death…" Callisto replied and Luna sighed, patting her son gently on the back.

"Trust me Callisto, you're going to be alright, I swear this to you, that I will not let you die" Callisto sighed and nodded as his mother patted his back gently.

"Alright, now let's go home, your father wanted to talk to you"

"Alright mom" Callisto walked out of the library with his mother. He kept his head hung low, as though he were afraid of anyone seeing his horn, of knowing what he was, though he already knew that every pony in Equestria knew what he was, ever since Celestia had announced it so loudly at his birth.

"Can I fly home mother?" Luna smiled at her son and grinned, always happy to see her son fly.

"Of course, go right ahead" Callisto grinned and ran forward before taking off into the air, unfurling his wings and rising high into the sky, his eyes closed tight.

Callisto flew through the air, the wind whipping through his mane, Callisto smiled to himself, no matter how bad things go there was no way that anything could ruin the time when he was in the air, when he could fly free and be happy as thoughts flowed through his mind, as he felt everything go rushing by him in a blur, knowing that at this time that nobody could harm him.

Callisto grinned as he saw his father's house come into view. Callisto slowly descended into the yard, tapping his feet on the ground slowly to make sure he had his footing back. Callisto then walked into the house and smiled at his father, who was reading a book at the table in the living room.

"Hey son" he said with a smile and Callisto sat down across from his dad with a smile.

"Hey dad" he replied. Callisto and Fancy faded into conversation for the rest of the evening.

Chapter 3

Callisto walked downstairs, it had been two years, two long years since he had discovered that he would die when he was sixteen, though he had worried for the past two years and not told anybody but his mother, Callisto felt it was time to turn to his father for answers about his fate.

Callisto walked around the house, looking for his father until he finally found Fancy sitting in the parlor of the house, paging through a book with a smile on his face, seeming to enjoy the book that he had laid in front of him. Callisto walked up to his dad and tapped him on the shoulder with his hoof. Fancy jumped a bit before turning around and smiling at his son.

"Callisto, son, how are you?" Fancy asked as he closed the book he ha been reading and leant back. Callisto looked down at the ground and sighed in worry before answering his father with a look of wonder.

"Well dad, uh, I read something a while ago….and I need to ask you about it" Fancy smiled and crossed his front legs over his chest, pleased that his son finally came to him to ask about something rather than going to Luna, who had grown distant lately.

"I read the Constituion of the Solar Empire" Fancy's eyes instantly widened to become the size of saucers, he knew what his son had read, and he knew what his son wanted to talk about.

"Son, whatever you read I can tell you that it's not true"

"It said that I was going to die in two years dad. It said when I turn sixteen I am going to die."
"Male Alircorns son, it only said male Alicorns"

"I AM a male Alicorn dad!" Callisto showed his horn to his father, the horn had grown larger in the past few years, becoming more than twice the size of his old horn. Callisto spread his wings to display to his father as well, glaring at him.

"Wings and a horn, that's an Alicorn right? Or am I something completely different, is my magic a fraud, is my flight a fluke? Why can't you recognize what I am, why can't you see what's going to happen to me, why won't you help!" Callisto said this all quickly and was left panting softly after he said this all, Fancy sighed and put an arm around his son.

"Son….I'm sorry, I can't imagine how this must feel, and I'm sorry that I haven't talked to you about it…..but I can't help you" Fancy whispered to his son before patting him on the back.

"Why can't you help me dad, why won't you tell me how to make it easier to survive this, why can't you tell me how to try and convince Celestia that I deserve a chance at life!" Fancy looked down at his son with a fond look in his eyes, seeing his own son's eyes begin to fill with tears, Fancy felt his doing the same.
"Son….for the past years your mother and I have continually attempted to convince Celestia that you deserve a chance, trust me we have, but Celestia is afraid of your power, she is afraid that if you are allowed to live past the age of sixteen, when your power will become fully revealed to you, that you will kill her and take over the empire. Celestia also fears that if your magic turns you evil that you will kill your mother and even the rest of Equestria, Celestia thinks you will destroy our home"

"I would never destroy Equestria! This is my home, this is where I live, this is where you and mom are, hurting you or any of my friends would kill me, if I knew that I had hurt either of you I would never be able to come back, I would never be able to forgive myself. Dad can't I just explain that to Aunt Celestia, can't I explain how much I care for you and her and mom and everyone else in Equestria? Wouldn't that be enough? I mean….that would have to be enough, wouldn't it?" Fancy sighed as he saw tears begin to streak their way down his son's cheeks, and he understood, nobody wanted to die, especially at such a young age.

"Son….you may not ever hurt Equestria, you may even refuse the thought, but there is always that one variable, if you turn dark, if the magic overpowers you and turns you evil you won't be able to control your actions, the magic will control everything you say do and think. You could kill the people you love the most without wanting to" Callisto shook his head, his tears falling from his face.

"I refuse to! I refuse to ever turn dark! I refuse to hurt anybody!" Fancy pulled his son into a gentle hug, Callisto cried against his father's chest Fancy sighed and whispered to his son.

"I'm sorry about what I said my dear son, but keep hope…look bright to the future and look for the light at the end of the tunnel, look for the one thing that keeps you positive in this life, the one thing that keeps you grounded o your emotion when you need it the most. Who keeps you in this world, what keeps you grounded my dear son?"

"Celestia" Callisto replied quickly and Fancy raised a brow.

"Celestia keeps you grounded, keeps you positive?" Callisto nodded before adding.

"Well uh….her and Princess Cadence" Fancy nodded slowly.

"I understand how Cadence would do so, considering how long she has cared for you" Callisto nodded in reply and Fancy smiled down at his son with a slight nod.

"Son, I know all of this is terrible, and I know, I know that you probably would have felt better if you had spoken to your mother about it first, but I must say I am grateful that you came to me for answers and for consultation, you must understand, I love you son, I hope you know that" Fancy smiled and Callisto looked up at his father, Fancy wiped away his son's tears and Callisto whispered.

"Dad, I know you love me, and I'm sorry that I go to mom so much for answers, but you're so busy….I love you too dad" Fancy smiled and patted his son on the back.

"I hope I've cleared some things up for you son….would you like to take walk in the woods to clear your mind?" Callisto raised a brow as Fancy mentioned walking in the forest, Callisto couldn't imagine his father anywhere but in a fashion studio, or maybe in their house…or anywhere else, just not in the forest.

"Uh…are you sure Dad?" Fancy smiled down at Callisto.

"Oh, I may be a man of high fashion and dignity, but that doesn't mean I won't take a walk in the woods with my son"

"Oh….well uh, if you're really okay with going into the woods I would love to take a walk with you dad" Fancy smiled and stood up with his son.

"Then let us go, yes?" Fancy asked before opening the door and walking out of the house. Callisto was hesitant at his father's enthusiasm but then decided just to enjoy it before his dad went back to being all stuck up an with his mane in a knot.

Callisto walked out of the house and joined his father before they began to walk toward the forest, Fancy commenting on little details of beauty as they passed the trees in the woods, how the leaves were just beginning to change color, bathing the forest in a spectrum of different light made by the sunlight filtering through the leaves.

Callisto smiled at his dad's vivid description of the forest, of all the colors and the light and the texture and it all. Callisto searched to see the detail for himself, but he couldn't seem to do so, he realized that his father just had the talent for paying attention to detail, to know what a certain shade of a color was exactly, what a certain texture could be compared to.

Callisto began to realize that life was not only about the big things that happened, but everything that mattered in the picture. The details that made up the picture of someone's life were what mattered, sure everyone would see the big picture, the label that the person bore for their life, what they were, what they knew, what they were strong and weak with. The true judge of a person's life though was the details, what the person did with what they had. If a pony wasn't that very smart but saved somebody people would see the label, but below it they would see that the pony was not that bad no matter what other people had thought about him or her, their actions made them who they were, not what they were.

Callisto walked up to a flower and examined it, seeing how the colors didn't just blend into each other, but as the light hit each and every single pigment the color seemed to change depending on how much light was on the petal. The world was not one color, not overlapping, rather the colors and the shapes and the sounds and the feelings, they all blend into each other, become one big picture.

This world, this time and this place, everything made it what it was, every person an every place and every love, they painted the picture for the universe, for the observers to see in truest detail, the life of every pony and their actions.

Callisto smiled to himself and Fancy approached him with a smile upon his own face.

"It is amazing, isn't it son?" Callisto nodded slowly and looked back at his Father, who was standing there with a smug look.

"We were thinking of the same thing, right dad?" Fancy nodded with a grin and replied.

"The detail does have effect on this universe son, no matter how big or how small" Callisto nodded in reply and looked around him once more, seeing all of the color in all of the spectrum, he loved this so, he loved seeing the world through the eyes of someone who had no worry, who only wished to live his life as long as he could and as well as he could, making every moment count.

Fancy smiled down at his son with a look of pride in his eyes.

"My dear son, I want to let you know, no matter what happens, no matter what Celestia decides, you have been such a great detail in my life, and I love you. I always will. No matter what."

Chapter 4

Callisto was sitting in his room reading a book on astronomy that his mother had given him. He smiled as he read about all the constellations in the sky, about the moon, and all the stars. Callisto loved astronomy, he loved how you could make pictures of the stars, just like he could make pictures of the clouds that he flew in, it was all so interesting to him, so lovely.

Callisto looked out of his window to see the moon, he knew his mother was gone right now…but he wished she were here. Callisto loved his mother, loved her more than anyone, and he knew if he ever needed her that he could turn to his mother, and that she would help him through whatever was wrong.

Callisto sat his book down and began to pace, he had only eighteen short months to live. That is, if he couldn't convince Celestia of his innocence and good ness. Callisto sighed and rubbed his temples as he sat back. He looked up to the moon once more, and he knew that his mother could not help him, not right now. Callisot looked then to the palace of Princess Celestia, and he knew what was the best thing to do, he would speak to Celestia, he would convince his aunt to save his life, to spare him and let him live his life.

"Are you sure that's the only reason you want to see Celestia?" Callisto's inner voice asked and he sighed, he really just wanted to see Celestia, it had been so long since they had last visited, since he had last seen his aunt.

Callisto stood and balanced on the window before hopping out and spreading his wings, he began to fly up and away from his home. He smiled and closed his eyes, leaning his head back as he felt his mane unfurl and flow as the wind ran through it. He flew over the skies of Equestria, spinning and looping in the air, feeling his wings being buffered by the wind, he loved it all, he loved flying, it was the best thing in this world for him, and he would never stop.

Callisto laughed as he flew over the palace, the royal guards looking up and yelling at him, it wasn't very proper for a Pegasus to fly over the Princess's palace. Callisto grinned before swooping down in front of the guards so they could see his horn.

"Hey guys, mind if I go in and see Princess Celestia?" the guards looked at each other and nodded with a slight smile and an apology to the young prince.

Callisto smiled and walked into the palace, looking around at the elegant columns and the portraits, everything about Celestia's home was interesting, and he loved it.

"Aunt Celestia?" he called and didn't receive an answer. Callisto rolled his eyes and walked through the halls of Celestia's palace, looking in every room he could find, he eventually opened a door and found it to be a library, Celestia was sitting inside, leafing through the pages in her book using her magic. Callisto smiled and said to her in a smiling tone.

"Well, always in your books right Aunt Celestia?" Celestia looked up and saw Callisto standing in her doorway. The Princess smiled and beckoned her nephew in.

"Welcome nephew, what a beautiful night for you to visit me on, but may I ask why you come into my palace at such a late hour?"

"No reason really….I just wanted to talk about something that I think you would know the most about" Celestia raised a brow as he said this.

"Really? Pray tell what you mean my dear" Callisto stood across from her and replied to her with a slight edge to his voice.

"I read your Constitution, and I saw what you said about Alicorns" Celestia sighed as she heard Callisto say this, releasing her magic on the book she looked up at her nephew.

"And you wish to ask me about it?"

"Yes that is precisely what I want"

"Well Callisto, I'm sorry but I cannot tell you about the laws that I have made" Callisto raised a brow.

"Not even about the one that is going to kill me in less than two years" Celestia looked down and sighed, closing her eyes and whispering.

"It's not against you exactly Callisto, it's against all male Alicorns"

"And there's more than one? Because as far as I know there's no help group for troubled Alicorns, especially not males!" Celestia glared at her nephew.

"No pony shall speak to the Princess in this manner"

"Well it looks like I just did, and I want answers Celestia, I've worried about this for the past four years of my life, my father gave me his theories on your thoughts, but I want to hear it from you, why is it that you would let me live at birth, but yet you won't let me live when I'm sixteen"

"That is for me to know, and you to not find our Callisto, I am the Princess, and my word is law"

"You don't think I know that, you don't think whatever you say has to be done? Has to be followed like it's some word from a goddess?"

"I am the Ruler of the Sun Callisto, just as your mother is Ruler of the Moon" Callisto bowed his head and looked up at Celestia, his eyes narrowing.

"My mother does not make a law that calls for the killing of innocent children, and the only kind of their breed that is, I am the only male Alicorn in existence, and you want to kill me off, would you do that if you had a child, if he or she were an Alicorn?"

"I would never kill my own child"

"Yet you would murder your own nephew? That you would murder the child of your sister just because you are afraid?"

"I am not afraid of you Callisto" A tear formed in Celesta's eye and she bowed her head.

"I am not afraid of you…and I don't want to kill you, but you have no idea of the power that you possess child"

"Then why don't you let me try to use it so I can figure out how powerful I am?"

"Callisto…..if you use your power you could be overpowered by it, become evil, and you'd have two years to develop your power, do you have any idea what problems that could cause?"

"But what if I learned to master it, harness it, learn how to use it for good, couldn't I be of help to you, couldn't I help you and my mother?" Celestia shook her head slowly and looked her nephew in the eyes.

"Look Callisto, I made up my mind many years ago when your mother turned evil, and I will not change it now…..not even for you" she said the last part looking away from her nephew, looking down at the floor as well.

Callisto slowly walked over to his aunt and whispered to her.

"Give me a chance….please, Aunt Celestia give me a chance at life, that's all I want, I want to be able to live, meet a nice mare and have foals, I want to be able to live…." Celestia sighed and closed her eyes and whispered softly.

"This can be attained in your dreams, and in the life you live in the beyond" Callisto stood tall and replied to his aunt with determination in his voice.

"Living a life in the beyond is not the same as living a life here and loving every single moment of it while I'm alive, do you not know that Aunt Celestia? Do you not understand that I want to live, that in the beyond I don't have the experience I do here? I want to leave something behind, something that people will remember me by"

"Callisto, people will always remember you, no matter where you go you spread cheer and happiness, no one will ever forget that, think about it, do you really think after all the people you've made happy, after all the children you've taught they someone will forget you? Callisto, we will all remember you"

"Until you make them all forget so they won't rebel, right? Think about that Celestia, you just admitted how people love me in this place, what would happen if I died, don't you think people would be angry, don't you think people would want an explanation, think about that. If I'm loved they will rebel think about it" Celestia glared daggers into her nephew.

"I believe you should leave now Callisto, and until you are ready to the apologize you shall not be allowed to come back here, by order of the Princess you are banished from the walls of my palace until such a time that you see that you were wrong in your actions against my law" Callisto got a stunned look on his face at this, what had he just done.

Celestia opened a window using her magic and beckoned him out.

"Leave now Callisto, I will see you when you see your wrong" Callisto bowed his head as he walked over to the window, spreading his wings slowly as he stepped onto the windowsill, he looked back at Celestia who glared at him and pointed out the window.

Callisto sighed before leaning forward, falling out the window as he spread his wings to catch him and raise him up above the clouds, he felt tears come to his eyes and they were whipped away in the wind as he flew away from Celestia's palace, away from Canterlot.

Under the light of his mother's moon Callisto flew, drifting over the air and gliding on the currents, trying to lose himself in the air, find his way to a place where he could be at peace, a place where he could finally think, where he could ponder over what he had done.

Callisto finally landed in a forest, his hooves hit the ground running and he slowed as he ran before he came to a complete stop in a meadow, the moonlight shining behind him and silhouetting him in the night. Callisto stood there, the solitary prince. The Lone Prince of the Night.

Chapter 5

The night surrounded Callisto like a blanket on a cold winter night, the chill in the air could be felt clearly by him despite his thick coat, he could see each star twinkling in the sky, as though they were waving to him, some bowing to the Prince of the Night. Callisto looked then to the ground, to see the wind blew the grass to make it seem as though even the grass under his hooves would bow to him. Callisto looked straight up at the moon then, and he knew everything he had done this day, it would not be reversed, he would never earn back Celestia's trust as it had been. No, that was over now.

Callisto continued to gaze into the vast emptiness of space and began to wonder what would happen if he left, if he went into the stars and never returned, what would people say, would they even miss a male Alicorn? Callisto began to feel deep pain growing inside him as though it were a bleeding wound, e shook his head to attempt to clear his head of the thoughts of all the people he loved and cared about turning away from him, some of them standing around him with sad looks in their eyes.

"I don't want this! I didn't ask for this!" Callisto exclaimed, yelling it to the moon as he felt his throat tighten.

"Why will they kill me for something I couldn't control, I didn't want to be this….I didn't even get a say" Callisto bowed his head and walked around the meadow, he could feel something reaching out to him and touching his mind, it seemed as though this presence was trying to comfort him but at the same time…..show him something.

Callisto attempted to shake off this feeling, at the time he did not want to have something happen to him, he already had the knowledge of his death in his mind.

Callisto felt voices call into his mind, both of them faint, but strong, they both sounded as though they were strong with the power of darkness. The voices of a unicorn and a Pegasus, calling to him.

"Who are you?" Callisto whispered and he felt voices return to him in his mind.

"I am the King…the King of the Crystal Kingdom" Callisto looked around to see where the voice was coming from and began to shrug it off as a trick of his mind until he looked again to his front where a large Unicorn stood, his black coat blending into the night, but his crimson red eyes stood against it with striking contrast.

Callisto knew this Unicorn's face, but he couldn't quite place it. Callisto looked him up and down and asked.

"What's your name?"

"Those who know of me call me Sombra, child"

"What are you doing here, you were….well you were killed years ago."

"As long as someone remembers me I will still linger on, and it seems young stallion, that you remember me indeed" Callisto nodded slowly.

"Uh…yeah, indeed I do remember you, I don't know how anyone could forget the guy that enslaved the Crystal Empire for a thousand years, but I must ask, why are you appearing to me"

"Young Alicorn, I am appearing to you because I feel darkness inside of your heart, pain from someone that you cared for who hurt you, how does it feel, does the darkness feel good as it clouds your mind young Alicorn?"

"It works like a painkiller…but I know it won't last long, I will wake up tomorrow and still feel the pain of what Celestia said, it doesn't matter what I feel right now, only what I feel in a few days, weeks, months time."

"Well….I believe it will always be the same"

"You're also dead" King Sombra's nostrils flared n anger but then he seemed to calm himself.

"Do you not think I know this child? I felt myself being destroyed after all"

"Oh well, uh….sorry" Callisto then heard a voice that had a slight echo to it in his head as well.

"You never were good with children, were you Sombra?" Callisto looked back and saw a large mare, taller than he was by nearly two feet….and he thought she was a unicorn, though her horn and her hooves were ridden with holes.

"Be quiet Chrysalis, I'm getting through to the boy" Sombra glared as Chrysalis walked around to stand at his side, she smiled at Callisto and bowed slightly.

"It is a pleasure to meet you Prince Callisto, I am Queen Chrysalis" Callisto raised a brow.

"So are you two…." Chrysalis cut him off before he could finish.

"Not in a million years child" Sombra laughed to himself and muttered.

"Wouldn't be saying that if I were you."

"Oh yes Sombra, and why is that?"

"Oh, well if you don't recall you wanted companionship in he next life that we live"

"Oh be quiet that's an arrangement" Callisto rolled his eyes at the two supposedly evil unicorns arguing in front of him.

"Well you guys may not be married but you sure do argue like a married couple don't you" Sombra laughed and smirked at Chrysalis.

"The kid has some sass, some flair, I like that" he said and Chrysalis shrugged with a smile. Callisto raised a brow and looked at them once more.

"So uh, is there a point to this? You two appearing to me? Or is it just something you did on a whim" Sombra glared at Callisto.

"Now, you see child too much sass really gets annoying" Callisto shrugged and Sombra put his arm around the boy.

"Alright, so I guess we should tell you why we're here and such, I see that you" Sombra beckoned to Callisto's horn "are an Allicorn, and we know what happens to an Alicorn when he turns sixteen"

"Yeah, I die"

"Oh, but maybe we can change that Callisto."

"Okay, give me a way that we can change that and I will consider listening to you"

"Well, there's always finding a way to teach you the magic that you could unleash on Celestia, if you use your magic on Celestia then she would have no choice but to give into you and let you live, there is no magic that is more powerful than that of an Alicorn who is just beginning to discover his powers, or did they never tell you that?"

"Well, of course they never told me that, they just said they didn't want me to go dark, didn't want me to turn evil" Sombra and Chrysalis both laughed.

"Well of course they don't want you to turn evil, don't you know that evil magic is the most powerful kind of magic? So much power in the magic of darkness that not even Celestia and Luna together could harm you. You could become a god, and the gods always fear when one who is more powerful than them will take over" Callisto sighed and looked around.

"So uh….. you guys want to teach me magic"

"Yes"

"But….you're dead" Sombra and Chrysalis both glared at him.

"Yeah, thank you for continuously reminding us of that"

"Well uh, I think I'll be heading home now, will you guys be here like, tomorrow?"

"Of course" Callisto smiled and spread his wings before ascending into the air. Callisto flew off again, this time struggling as he was exhausted from the night's events, and so he didn't notice when he had begun to fall asleep as he flew. With his eyes closed Callisto could not fly as well as usual and could not pay attention, which is obvious, and he ended crashing into a hovering Pegasus who was floating and watching animals play.

The Pegasus squealed as Callisto crashed into her and they tumbled to the ground together. When they hit the ground Callisto opened his eyes and noticed that the young Pegasus was looking down at him with a embarrassed look, she was sitting on top of Callisto from where they had landed, her pink mane was ruffled slightly.

"Erm….uh….hello Prince Callisto" Fluttershy bowed to Callisto and he smiled up at her.

"Oh….hey Fluttershy" he replied with a smile and Fluttershy backed off of Callisto, who stood up and smiled at her.

"Uh, sorry about crashing into your Fluttershy, just got kinda tired while I was flying"

"Oh, well that's okay…do you think you can make it home?" Callisto looked at his wings, he could flutter them barely, he sighed and shook his head, Fluttershy smiled caringly.

"You can stay over with me if you want Callisto"

"That sounds nice…thanks Fluttershy"

"Oh it's no problem, follow me" Fluttershy smiled and lead Callisto back toward her house, he follow behind tiredly.

Chapter 6

When Callisto woke up the next morning he was in a soft bed with the blanket pulled up to his chin, so much unlike how he usually slept, and when he woke up he realized why. Next to him Fluttershy was facing the other way in the bed, curled up with a peaceful smile on her face.

Callisto blushed deeply as he realized he had slept next to Fluttershy the entire night. Callisto slowly slid out of the blanket and stood there as he looked for something to write a note with. Callisto found a pen nearby and picked it up before writing down.

"Fluttershy,

Thank you very much for letting me stay over last night, I really don't think I could have made it home on my wings, and it was ridiculously far to walk, but I really should be getting home, my dad is probably worried about me, if you ever want to hang out sometime I'd really like to, hope to talk to you soon.

Sincerely,

Prince Callisto"

Callisto then set the pen down and walked out of Fluttershy's house. He looked around at all of the animals crowding around Fluttershy's house as they waited for her to wake up so they could see her. Callisto smiled at a bunny and patted it on the head with a smile, it looked up at him with an annoyed look in its eye and he smiled nervously.

"Heh, sorry about that" Callisto said before continuing on back toward Canterlot. Callisto smiled and spread his wings before jumping into the air, as much as always the air felt good against his fur, especially in this early morning air. Callisto looked back at Fluttershy's house and smiled slightly to himself, he really did hope that he could see her again, he enjoyed the time that he spent with her.

Callisto smiled and kept flying as his father's house came into view he set down, wiping his hooves on the mat before coming through the door.

"Mom? Dad? I'm home" Callisto called and he heard Luna come down the stairs and when she turned the corner she sighed in relief.

"Callisto, you really had me worried" she commented before smiling slightly at him.

"So where were you last night?"

"I was out in the forest and got tired, on my way back I bumped in to Fluttershy, figured out I was so tired that I couldn't fly and I ended up staying at her house" Luna smirked and raised a brow.

"Are you sure that's the only reason why you stayed over?" Callisto blushed brightly and exclaimed.

"Mother! Of course it is!" Luna smiled and Fancy Pants came downstairs with a smile.

"What's this I hear about?"

"Callisto stayed at Fluttershy's house last night."

"Hm, nice" Fancy said with a laugh and began to make breakfast for his family.

Callisto sat down at the table and looked down.

"Uh do you think it would be alright if I go to see Cadence mom?" Luna smiled at her son and shrugged.

"I'm sure she would like to see you, it's been what, three years now?"

"I think it's been four mom"

"Then I am certain Cadence would love to see you" Callisto smiled and stood up.

"Well I'm going to head over there if that's alright" Fancy nodded as did Luna. Callisto stood up and walked out of the door before spreading his wings and beginning to fly again, he flew toward the Crystal Empire which made him smile with excitement, he was going to see Cadence, his foalsitter, he had missed her so much since he had last seen her.

Callisto landed in the Crystal Empire's castle and walked around calling out.

"Cadence? Cadence?" he heard a faint reply and began to walk towards it. Callisto found Cadence in the crystal gardens and smiled at her.

Cadence grinned when she saw Callisto before she jumped up and galloped over to hug him.

"Oh Callisto it's been too long" she said with a smile brushing his mane out of his eyes.

"You've grown up so much, it's amazing, can you use your magic now?" Callisto sighed and shook his head slowly.

"Mom still won't let me use my magic" Cadence sighed and patted Callisto on the back before gesturing for him to sit down.

Callisto sat down next to Cadence and she smiled at him.

"So, how has your study been going, and your love life, and your friends?"

"Oh, well my stood has been going really well, I can't really say much for my love life, and I have a lot of friends in Ponyville and Canterlot"

"And don't forget that you have Shining and I here"

"I know that I have you both here, it's just that I find it hard to get time to come and visit you guys with all the things I do"

"Studying the stars?" Callisto smiled and nodded.

"You know me too well Cadence"

"Well of course I do, I'm the one who taught you the constellations did I not?"

"You're the one who taught me everything about the stars Cadence" the Princess smiled at Callisto and replied.

"I know hon, I'm just being modest"

"You're always modest Cadence" The young princess laughed and stood slowly.

"Come Callisto, let us go on a stroll through the garden, I remember how much you used to love admiring the crytals"

"I still do" Callisto replied as he and Cadence began to walk, Callisto looking around at the various crystals growing out of so many different places.

"So, how is your mother Callisto? How has she been?"

"Mother has been doing very well, though I don't get to see her as often as I once did" Cadence smiled at her Alicorn friend.

"I know the feeling dear Callisto, but you do know she loves you just as much as she used to, yes?"

"Of course I do Cadence" Callisto replied looking at one particular gemstone, a shining emerald, Cadence stopped and looked at the same crystal with a smile.

"You know Callisto, I remember you telling me that when you proposed to a girl that you wanted your engagement ring to be made out of that crystal" Callisto smiled fondly, his eyes closing halfway in wonderment.

"I remember that…do you still think that could be possible?"

"Why of course Callisto…I mean, erm you know the law right?" Callisto nodded and bowed his head, his eyes closing slowly.

"Yeah, I know the law, but in case I want to keep that as a chance"

"I understand, Cadence can I tell you something?"

"Of course you can Callisto" The young Alicorn looked up at his former foalsitter, the woman who was just like his second mother.

"Last night, when I was in the forest, Sombra and Chrysalis appeared to me, they tried to make me use my magic, they want me to hurt Celestia"

"Oh my….Callisto you do know what this means right"

"It means they are trying to make me evil like they are, but Cadence I want to admit something, I want to tell you the reason that I will never go dark"

"Okay, go on" Callisto looked down with a nervous look in his eyes before looking back up at Cadence.

"Because of you, and my mother" Cadence raised a brow before smiling at Callisto.

"Are you telling me that I am the reflection of light in your mind? Of good?"

"Yes, you and my mother, you are both what helps me cling tight to the light, you are both the things that keep me anchored to good and keep me from ever being negative, because I know if I need you, either of you, you will be there for me" Callisto then hugged Cadence, who hugged him back with a smile on her face.

"Thank you Callisto, that means so much to me."

"No Cadence, thank you, thank you so much for loving me and taking care of me in my childhood, for being there for me when I needed you" Cadence looked up at Callisto and smiled.

"I always will be".

Chapter 7

No matter how hard Callisto resisted over the next few weeks he could feel himself being pulled back to the forest, he didn't know why exactly but it felt like the two who dwelled there had ropes around him and were dragging him back.

Callisto eventually gave in, flying back toward the dark and gloomy forest, but not before stopping at Fluttershy's house first. Callisto knocked on the door with a smile on his face and when Fluttershy opened the door she was already returning the smile.

"oh, hi Callisto" Fluttershy said and bowed her head to him.

"What bring you here?" Callisto smiled and leant against the door frame.

"Well, I was in the neighborhood and decided it'd be nice to come and see you."

"Oh, thank you, are your wings doing better since a few nights ago?"

"Very, and thank you for that by the way" Fluttershy smiled at Callisto and stepped aside so he could come into her house.

"It's no problem, you really did seem hurt." Callisto shrugged as he walked around the house, examining everything as he and Fluttershy chatted.

"Sorry that I wasn't there when you woke up, I was worried that my parents would get even more mad than I thought they already were"

"Oh….it's alright, I wasn't really expecting you to be here when I woke up anyway"

"Why was that? I mean is that really the kind of guy that I come off as?" Fluttershy stood next to Callisto and looked down at the reflective table with him, both of their faces reflected back up at them.

"No Callisto, it's not that, it's just that you're a Pegasus and a Prince, why would you stay in a place like this?"

"It's nice, cozy and warm and full of a kind of kindness ha I just can't describe, it's like I can see all of your happiness floating around in the air in front of me, and then there's the fact that your house us just so nice, it's the kind of place I would like to live in"

Fluttershy blushed slightly when Callisto said this and he smiled at her.

"You're blushing"

"I know"

"Why though?" Fluttershy looked at him and smiled.

"I guess that nobody has really complimented my house before" Callisto was about to reply once again but he felt himself being pulled to the forest, which was so close he could see it.

"I-I'm sorry Fluttershy, I have to go now" Callisto started to walk back toward the door.

"Oh, well….okay, I mean, you'll come back around soon right?"

"Yeah, yeah of course" Fluttershy opened the door for Callisto as he walked out, a slight smile still on her face.

"Have a nice night Prince Callisto, if you need anything I'm here" Callisto nodded at her before turning to walk away as she shut the door behind him.

Callisto looked back at the house he wished he could have just stayed there all night, it was much nicer being in a nice house with a friend like Fluttershy than being outside and dealing with two dead Unicorns who wanted to change the very being that you are.

Callisto walked back into the clearing that he had found the first time he was in the forest, Chrysalis and Sombra were standing on the other side, their backs turned to him for the moment, and they seemed to be examining the stars together, the king and queen very quietly conversed with each other until Callisto cleared his throat.

Sombra and Chrysalis spun around and then smiled when they realized it was Callisto, perhaps they were expecting Fluttershy with a herd of hopping bunnies.

"Welcome back, Prince of the Night" Chrysalis said to him before bowing, which King Sombra did in return.

"Uh, hi, so, you guys were going to teach me magic right?" Chrysalis smirked but nodded.

"We will teach you how to use some of your power Callisto, but when you begin there is no return, you could turn dark, do you understand that?"

"I won't turn dark" Chrysalis and Sombra exchanged looks before directing their gaze once again to the young Alicorn standing in front of them.

"Alright Callisto, we're going to start off simple, maybe teach you a few levitation tricks, the kind of thing you use in your everyday life to carry things and such"

"Alright, well lay it on me" Chrysalis nodded and responded to Callisto.

"Alright Callisto, first we have to unlock your magical ability, first focus your mind, focus it on using your magic, on your horn, the source of your energy." Callisto nodded before closing his eyes and concentrating on his horn, as he was distracted Chrysalis and Sombra began to toy with his mind from the outside.

Callisto opened his eyes suddenly and a gleaming light glowed from them, the light of magic that coursed through his body.

Chrysalis and Sombra grinned maniacally. The power had finally been released, Callisto looked around, his glowing eyes observing everything, seeing the aura that radiated from every single thing in the world.

"Pick up the rock over there" Chrysalis said gesturing to a large boulder. Callisto focused and saw his own magic begin to surround the boulder. Callisto picked the boulder up and threw it across the field, it landed with a might crack next to Sombra, who smiled manically.

"Excellent boy, excellent, you seem to have a very good hold on your powers already" Callisto nodded with a slight smile. Sombra walked over to Callisto and patted him on the back.

"I believe with our help is that you will become one of the most powerful in this world, you will rule this world, and we will be your advisors" Callisto smirked at them.

"Yeah, yeah maybe that could work"

"It will boy, don't doubt us"

"I'm not"

"Good, now pick up that tree, throw it across this field" Callisto picked up the fallen tree and smiled before throwing it across the field, it was impaled into the ground like a javelin, Callisto laughed.

"Now that was awesome, fun"

"That was good Callisto, do you feel like this is fazing your ability at all, do you feel at all drained?" Callisto smirked and shrugged.

"You know Sombra, I've never been exhausted so I think that I'll just keep doing this until I get so tired I just can't do it anymore"

"Well, that sounds good to me" Callisto nodded and picked up more objects that were lying around, casting them aside, to and fro like a small child throwing a tantrum, he was enjoying it though, he found it interesting that he could move these things, that he could do what he wanted and control things without even touching them.

Callisto set down all of the objects when he was finished and smiled at Sombra and Chrysalis before saying to them.

"Well, I'm going home, you two have a nice time together" Chrysalis and Sombra both glared at the young Alicorn as he walked away.

"The boy is a nuisance Sombra"

"Yes he is, but the will become the most powerful of all of us, and he will raise us to power as well"

"You better hope he does".

As Callisto was walking through the forest, having realized that he really was drained when he had left the meadow, he looked up and saw a manticore on the path, Callisto picked up the manticore and threw it to the side.

Callisto watched the manticore go sailing off and then felt himself get very dizzy. Callisto felt himself sway slowly, he closed his eyes and then collapsed on the path, breathing shallowly.

Callisto woke up slowly the next morning, he realized he was not on the path anymore, instead he had once again woken up in a bed, and again he was sleeping next to a Pegasus, Fluttershy.

Callisto looked over at her and realized that she was already awake.

"Good morning Prince Callisto" she said with a smile and Callisto smiled nervously.

"Good morning Fluttershy"

Chapter 8

Fluttershy looked up at Callisto with a smile, a nervous one but it was still a smile.

"I found you on a path last night Prince Callisto, you seemed drained, what happened?"

"I was flying all night, flew for so long that I couldn't do it anymore, had to walk, on the way home I guess I just collapsed from exhaustion"

"Oh, I see" Fluttershy smiled up at Callisto and slid out of the bed, standing up and yawning.

"Did you sleep well Prince Callisto?"

"Please Fluttershy, just call me Callisto" Fluttershy blushed slowly and smiled at the Prince.

"Thank you…..Callisto" Callisto smiled and stepped out of the bed, Fluttershy admired his stance, the way his mane flowed gracefully, how all of his fur seemed to sparkle with a slight amazement, she was amazed at how the prince could look so amazing, without even trying it seemed, Fluttershy began to blush as she realized what she was thinking.

"What's up Fluttershy?" Callisto asked as he raised a brow in inquiry to Fluttershy.

"Oh…um nothing, it's nothing" she said while smiling at Callisto, who nodded and walked over to her.

"Fluttershy, why is it that every time that I end up in the forest, you find me?"

"I guess you're just lucky Callisto" Callisto smiled and nodded with a slight shine in his eyes.

"It seems that I am, I am very lucky that you are the one who finds me Fluttershy" Fluttershy blushed deeply when Callisto said this, but she smiled at him with a sigh.

"Fluttershy, are you daydreaming over me?" Callisto asked with a smile and Fluttershy jumped.

"What, no I wasn't…I mean, no….I, I wasn't fantasizing" Callisto smiled and walked with her around the house.

"So, do you want to take a walk in the forest Fluttershy?"

"Oh, um I would like to do that, but are you sure it's safe for you to go back in the forest? Because uh….no offense, but it seems that every time you go in the forest, you pass out"
"That's true, well would you like to just take a walk in Ponyville then?" Callisto smiled and Fluttershy's eyes widened.

"Prince Callisto, are you sure that you want to go into town….I mean, royalty is a big thing in our town, people won't leave you alone"

"That's alright, I can just ignore them" Callisto replied as he opened the door for Fluttershy.

Fluttershy blushed and walked out of the house with Callisto, they walked side by side on the path as angel hopped beside his master, or mistress.

Callisto walked through the forest with a smile as Fluttershy walked next to him, it had been awhile since Callisto had been to Ponyville.

Fluttershy looked over at Callisto with a smile and asked him.

"So, are you sure it's alright if people are all over you when we get into the village?"

"Oh that's perfectly fine Fluttershy" Callisto said with a smile.

"As long as you don't go away just because they're coming around me" Fluttershy smiled nervously at Callisto.

"I'll try" Fluttershy replied with a blush and a slight wave of her mane.

When Callisto walked into Ponyville he realized just how right Fluttershy had been, ponies ran at him and buzzed with excitement, all of them bowing before swarming him with excited chatter.

Questions were wildly hurled at Callisto by the mares of the town before a loud thunder clap made them all jump and run away, Callisto looked up and saw none other than his friend Rainbow Dash sitting on her cloud, smirking down at him.

"Looks like you owe me one Callisto, or is it ten now?"

"Nice Dash"

"Well, what are you doing in town, and with Fluttershy?" Fluttershy blushed and looked at the ground at her hooves.

"We're just strolling, having a good time"

"Don't act like that Callisto, I've seen you and her in her house these past two days"

"Wait….how?" Fluttershy asked blushed as she asked and Dash smiled down at her.

"Well, I come and check up on you every once in a while" she said with a wink and Fluttershy nodded slowly still blushing.

"So you two are just, "friends" right?" Callisto nodded but Dash noticed the blush in Fluttershy's cheeks.

Dash swooped down and picked up Fluttershy before carrying her to a cloud, Callisto sat below them with a surprised look on his face.

"Fluttershy, do you have a crush on the Prince?" Fluttershy blushed and whispered.

"No…no I don't have a crush on the king, well I mean maybe a little…..welll…yeah…I think I do"

"That's awesome Fluttershy! Are you going to tell him?"

"Uh…well, uh maybe….I mean no…maybe" Rainbow Dash shook Fluttershy gently.

"Oh come on Fluttershy, it's obvious that he likes you. Why don't you just tell him?"

"Because….he's a Prince"

"Yeah, and?"

"Well, I'm not a princess, he would never think of being with me Rainbow" Rainbow Dash looked off the cloud, down at Prince Callisto who was sitting down below, waiting for them to return, clearly respecting their privacy.

"Oh come on Fluttershy, give it a chance!" Fluttershy looked down and saw that Callisto got up and looked around, as though he were in a daze before he began to stumble toward the forest. Fluttershy raised a brow before swooping down in front of him and waving her hand slowly in front of his face.

"Callisto?" Callisto looked up at her and smiled.

"Hey" he said and Fluttershy whispered.

"Uh, where are you going? I thought we were going too spend the day together"

"Oh, yeah, uh I just remembered that there's something I need to do, I'll catch up to you soon okay?
"Oh, uh okay Callisto" Fluttershy replied and with that Callisto walked by before taking off and flying toward the forest. Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash watched him go with confused looks on their faces.

When Callisto landed in the meadow again Sombra and Chrysalis were waiting for him with amused smile.
"Well, greetings little friends" Sombra said with a smile. Chrysalis responded in kind. Callisto walked over to a rock, picking it up and throwing it into the woods.

"What is wrong with me. I almost had a chance to get with Fluttershy, and then I just up and walk away." Callisto turned on the two and yelled.

"What did you do to me?" Sombra walked forward and put his hand on Callisto's shoulder.

"Callisto, you must understand that I know how you feel, I was born an Alicorn, I was never allowed to use my power, Celestia even clipped my wings, my own mother clipped my wings. All I felt was betrayal, and so when I found a way to use my power all I felt was distance, I was distant from every person, I was away from everything, I didn't see anyone else, I didn't love, I didn't feel, Callisto this is what is happening to you"

"No. No I won't let that happen" Callisto yelled at Sombra.

"Why didn't you tell me!?"

"Because child, if I had told you then you would never have tried child, you must understand that all I want is for you to recognize your full power, which will help you live"

"No! All you want is my power!" Chrysalis laughed.

"Come now Callisto, calm down, all that we took away from you is a mare, not your family, and this is the price you have to pay for power, do you not understand child, power comes at a cost, and this is the cost you must pay" Callisto yelled.

"No! No! I will not let that happen!" Callisto yelled as he turned and ran from the forest, begging for the voices of Sombra and Chrysalis to fade into the darkness.

Chapter 9

Callisto finally broke through the dark shrub of the forest, crashing into Fluttershy as he flew out, when they hit the ground Callisto had her in a tight hug, Fluttershy was blushing brighter than she ever had before.

"Fluttershy I'm so sorry that I ditched you earlier, please forgive me"

"Oh….um…..uh, I forgive you Callisto" Fluttershy whispered and smiled up at him. Callisto smiled and sat back before helping Celestia onto her feet, she wobbled uncertainly before looking up at Callisto with a nervous look in her eyes.

"Uh Callisto"

"Fluttershy, I need to ask you something" Fluttershy's eyes widened and she whispered.

"Oh, um okay" she whispered. Callisto smiled to her and asked quietly.

"Fluttershy, I've really, really, started to care about you these last few weeks, months I mean, and I wanted to ask you if you would like to go on a date sometime" Fluttershy made a cute little noise and whispered as she looked down toward the ground.

"Oh….um…I, I would like that" she said so quietly Callisto could barely hear her.

"Was that a yes?" Fluttershy nodded with a slight blush. Callisto smiled and hugged her tight.

"Thank you so much Fluttershy! Excuse me for a bit, I need to go talk to Celestia, I'll be back soon" Callisto said with a smile before taking off and flying towards the palace of Princess Celestia.

The Guards beckoned for Callisto to land and he did so, landing gracefully in front of the two who said to him.

"Princess Celestia has decreed that you are not allowed to be here Prince Callisto"

"She said I'm not permitted to be here until I apologize to her, which I really can't do with you two standing in front of me" the two guards glared at Callisto and said.

"Unless the Princess comes out here you will not say anything to her, you are not allowed in" Callisto rolled his eyes.

"Oh, well that's a shame isn't it" he says before picking up a stone with his magic and throwing it against one of the walls. The guards both looked over and glanced back at Callisto.

"Stay here" they both said firmly before going to inspect the noise, Callisto smirked and pushed the door open, walking through with a smile on his face. Callisto walked through the same halls he has walked through nearly two weeks ago, nothing seemed different, but there was a different atmosphere, instead of happiness all Callisto felt was a deep sense of disappointment in anger. Callisto began to ascend the stairs but was stopped when a loud voice rang through the hall.

"You think that you can just walk back in here when I banished you?" Callisto looked up and saw Celestia standing there. Callisto smiled nervously and bowed.

"My apologies Princess Celestia" he whispered and she yelled.

"What did you say to me peasant?"

"I said I am sorry Princess Celestia, I am truly sincerely sorry for what I said to you, I see your side of what you said now, and I'm sorry" Callisto closed his eyes as he waited to be hit by some kind of magic that would send him to a dungeon, or maybe to the moon, or maybe a dungeon on the moon.

All Callisto felt though was a gentle hoof on his head and a whisper from Celestia.

"My dear nephew, you are forgiven" Callisto looked up at Celestia and saw that there were tears in her eyes.

"Callisto I am so sorry about what I did…I did not want to banish you, I just got so caught up in the heat of the moment that I guess I lost sight of who I was talking to, my wonderful nephew that I would do anything for."
"Anything?" Celestia sighed and whispered to Callisto.

"Why is it that you beg of me so much now, why didn't you ask before, as soon as you knew, why do you ask now?"

"Because Aunt Celestia, I think I may have just fallen in love, for the first time in my life I'm in love" Celestia's eyes widened and she whispered.

"In love? With who?"

"Well….uh, Fluttershy" Callisto replied in a whisper. Celestia nodded slowly and smiled at her nephew.

"That is…..most wonderful Callisto, I am glad that you have found somebody to love"

"Now do you see why I want to live Aunt Celestia?" Celestia sighed and whispered to him.

"Okay nephew, I will consider this, I promise" Callisto smiled and hugged Celestia, who wrapped her own hooves around her nephew.

"Callisto I am glad that we have resolved our differences, now we can go back to being a happy family"

"Thank you Aunt Celestia" Callisto replied with a smile and whispered to her.

"Would you mind if I work for you here in the castle?" Celestia smiled and replied to her nephew.

"Oh that sounds great Callisto, come in tomorrow and I'll let you start working"

"Thank you so much Aunt Celestia" Callisto replied before turning and walking out of the palace, he flew to Fluttershy's house, she was sitting outside taking care of her animals. Callisto landed next to her with a smile before walking to her side and whispering.

"Hey Fluttershy" Fluttershy jumped and made a loud noise, Callisto held out his arms and caught her when she came back down.

"Erm…sorry about that" Callisto said with a smile and Fluttershy whispered, looking at Callisto's chest.

"Oh, uhh…..it's okay Callisto" she replied and closed her eyes. Callisto smiled at Fluttershy and set her down gently.

"Fluttershy, I wanted to ask if you'd like to meet my parents"

"Oh, I've already met Princess Luna, and Fancy Pants"

"I mean uh, would you like to come see my house?"

"I sat it when you were born" Fluttershy replied, pawing the ground and looking up at Callisto.

"Well uh, how about you come over and we could hang out" Fluttershy smiled nervously and replied.

"I would like that Callisto, why didn't you just say that in the first place?" Callisto smiled with a nervous look in his eyes.

"Well uh, I really didn't want to be that obvious about it" Fluttershy smiled and walked over and stood next to Callisto.

"Would you mind leading the way? It's been awhile since I've been to Canterlot"

"It would be my pleasure Fluttershy" Callisto replied before taking off slowly, making sure Fluttershy could follow him, seeing how she didn't fly much.

It seemed though that the young Pegasus was good enough, she and Callisto flew slowly toward Canterlot, Callisto smiled at her as they flew.

"Do you enjoy flying Fluttershy?"

"Yes, I do quite enjoy it" Callisto leant his head back with his eyes closed as he flew, his dark mane blowing majestically behind him.

Fluttershy looked down at the ground beneath her and Callisto smiled over at her, flying sideways as he watched her, the only true difficult way of flying that Callisto had managed.

Canterlot soon came into view and Callisto smiled at Fluttershy.

"There it is, my home"

"I always thought Canterlot was interesting" Fluttershy said with a smile and Callisto shrugged.

"It's a nice place" he replied and they landed. Callisto and Fluttershy both walked through the town, Fluttershy looked around with wonder. Callisto smiled at her and whispered.

"I hope you like it with my parents" Fluttershy laughed nervously and replied.

"Callisto, I always love it when your parents are around, your mother is so sweet and your father is so gentle" Callisto smiled and opened the door to see that Luna and Fancy were brewing a potion, Luna looked up and smiled a Callisto.

"Hey sweetie, come in" Fluttershy and Callisto walked into the house and Luna said to Callisto.

"I see you bought Fluttershy home, nice, nice"

"Luna we have a-" BOOM, the potion exploded and Luna laughed nervously.

"Well….that wasn't supposed to happen."

One Year Later

Chapter Ten

Callisto walked through the castle examining things and writing down if anything was broken or out of it's place, which was his job as Celestia's assistant, to do whatever she asked really.

Callisto wrote the information that a portrait's border had been cracked and continued to walk, smiling and nodding at the royal guards as they passed.

Callisto was walking still when he came to the library, he saw that Princess Celestia was having a conversation with Luna, and so Callisto pulled the door shut slowly. The young Alicorn continued then to walk through the castle, humming to himself with a smile on his face.

Callisto felt a flash of heat and he looked up with a smile. Sitting there was a letter bound with silk ribbon, it was addressed to him. Callisto half smiled before he pulled the string away, the letter unfurled in front of him and he read it.

"Dear Prince Callisto,

Twilight Sparkle here, of course who else would have a dragon to send a letter by ash magic, anyway, I wanted to ask you how things are going in the palace and how Celestia is doing, oh and I wanted to let you know that Fluttershy is doing good, she misses you though, you should come around when you can, I think we all miss you.

Sincerely,

Twilight Sparkle."

Callisto smiled to himself as he read this but sighed softly as he thought about Fluttershy. Callisto missed Fluttershy too, it's just the fact that as the assistant to the princess he didn't have as much time as he used to. Callisto made a mental note to head to Ponyville right after he was done today to head over and see Fluttershy. Callisto sighed when he said that and rolled up the letter before he stuck it into the pocket of the jacket he was wearing.

Callisto resumed walking through the palace, passing by all sorts of expensive art and furniture, eventually Callisto just turned around and walked back toward Celestia's study, his dark eyes shut in thought as he walked, though he was using something similar to a sonar with his magic.

Callisto walked between two guards who came his way without opening, his eyes, rounding corners and navigating with no effort. Callisto walked into the library moment's later and heard Celestia say.

"Sister I am sorry, I love Callisto, but I am still ashamed that he is an Alicorn, an Alicorn that we do have to kill" Callisto felt his anger rise when Celestia said this and he walked into the room.

"What is that supposed to mean?" he asked with a loud voice and Celestia looked over at him with a surprised look.

"C-Callisto"

"No, stop, I just heard you say that you have to kill me, that you are ashamed of my existence" Callisto felt a dark presence growing deep inside of him, but he pushed it away for the moment as he stared Celestia down.

"Callisto you must understand what I am trying to say, I love you, I love you as my own my dear nephew"

"You love me as much as Sombra, well you clipped his wings" Celestia's eyes widened and she whispered.

"Where did you hear that?"

"I read it in a book" Callisto lied and Celestia sighed shaking her head slowly and saying to Callisto.

"Yes, I did clip Sombra's wings, but I could feel the darkness inside of him that was there all along, I could not let him have access to the full power of an Alicorn."

"Is that why you made your law, because your son was born dark and you wanted an excuse to kill him?"

"I didn't want an excuse to kill him, I just wanted to protect Equestria from another one of him, you know what he did don't you Callisto, he imprisoned the Crystal Empire"

"Yeah, I know that, but does anyone really deserve to die just because they possess a power, or because they were born in a certain way. Doesn't everyone deserve a chance? Maybe if you had nurtured Sombra and given him more love he would have gone light, you never know"

"I do know Callisto, trust me I do know" Callisto glared at her and replied.

"How is that exactly, explain to me why you couldn't nurture your son and try to help him go light, maybe the reason he went so dark is because you didn't give him any of this."

"I tried my best Callisto! You have no idea how hard I tried to make Sombra good, I wanted my son to be on the side of light and rule with me, but Callisto it was just not meant to be, Sombra resisted my every advance and all of my pleading for him to let me help" tears began to fill Celestia's eyes as she thought back to the days, long, long ago when she remembered her son, a boy who reminded her much of Callisto.

Celestia looked up at Callisto and begged quietly.

"Please try to understand the reason I have had for everything I do, I know that someday maybe everything will be better, there will be a day when a male Alicorn may live and be happy in Equestria."

"And it won't start with me." Celestia cast her gaze upon the ground before shutting her eyes and sighing. Celestia nodded and said.

"You are much too powerful Callisto, I'm sorry but you will be another of the males who will be executed, your clock is ticking, you have your time" Callisto felt the darkness that had been rising inside him this entire time suddenly grab hold of him.

Callisto felt like he was pulled back into the darkest corner of his mind, he was sitting there and was looking into the darkness. A young pony walked through the darkness of his mind, smiling evily.

"Well, hello Callisto, pleasure to finally meet you"

"Who are you?" Callisto asked looking at the pony with his black fur and baby blue mane, as though someone had taken Callisto's colors and flipped them.

"Well Callisto, you and I know each other very well. Very, very well in fact. I am your dual personality, I am the darkness that Sombra and Chrysalis spoke of, inside of you ever since Celestia first made you regret yourself for being an Alicorn I have been growing and becoming stronger."

"What is your name"

"Let's call me Shadow, your shadow" Callisto nodded slowly, still looking his opposite counterpart up and down with a look of caution.

"Fine Shadow, I am sorry, so very sorry but I believe this is my body, I have lived in this body for fourteen years, you've been here for what, a year?"

"Yeah, and I think I need my turn, don't you?" Callisto glared at Shadow and replied.

"No, I don't think you deserve a turn, I think you need to go away completely, leave my mind so I don't have to deal with you."

"Oh come now Callisto, just because you have been dominant for so long doesn't mean I can't get a chance" Shadow laughed before darkness began to spread, trailing up the walls of Callisto's mind.

"And another thing, there is so much more of me, I am stronger than you, better than you, and faster than you"

"Shut up, go away" Callisto growled and charged at the other Alicorn, who smirked and flipped Callisto up before slamming him down, Callisto hit with a heavy thud and a loud oof.

Callisto looked up at his dark counterpart and glared.

"So, you know magic better than I do, probably because you were born from it"

"or maybe it's because you didn't use yours enough"

"Not my problem" Shadow laughed before he disappeared, leaving Callisto in the dark recesses of his mind. Callisto looked around with a worried expression before he realized that Shadow was gone, and that meant Shadow was outside of his mind.

Outside of Callisto's mind it had been mere moments that had passed when suddenly Callisto's body began to change, the fur of his mane and body reversing so he looked exactly the opposite of his normal self.

"Callisto?" Celestia asked nervously and Shadow grinned before laughing.

"Oh, not quite your majesty, how about I just go ahead and leave, let you chill"

"Who are you!?"

"I guess you could call me your son, after all, you created me" Shadow replied with a maniacal grin before flying out of Celestia's palace in a flash. Celestia quickly followed him.

Thank you for reading the first quarter of this book, I am the author as well as my friend Baron Hankins being the co-author, and if you leave a review please leave a positive review for him, he's going through some rough stuff right now.