Chapter 1- The Day They Took Her Home
It was one regular day. That is a regular day for ponies thousands of years before the generation we have followed today. So the day's chores were more taxing, discipline was key, cutie marks were pressured out of children, not their destinies but their parent's bragging rights were important many thousands of years before present day. The young generation was firmly ruled by elders. If you did not respect them you would simply not have a home. Formalities and manner of a pony, even say a little filly...were fundamentals of society. Even of Princess Celestia, a jokester and informal royal that we know today. Immortal ponies did not even exist then, and alicorns had appeared seemingly out of nowhere, as an unexpected mutation of the rulers, Pamphilos and Euthalia. Celestia was the miracle child, and proved to everyone that any child the product of two very different types of parents could be possible. Pamphilos, the father was a strong, tall and agile white Pegasus pony, who had a will of steel to match his strength.
He was determined to have Euthalia for himself and determined to have her married with him. Euthalia was a quiet, tiny but studious unicorn who was quick to submit. This made the marriage easier than Pamphilos thought the pursuit would be. Euthalia was not marrying for love. Like most mares of this olden era, she was marrying so she would be cared for. Even love marriages between two royals were still unheard of. Euthalia especially needed Pamphilos' charity. The young filly was half commoner, because Euthalia was a teenage orphan who begged before Pamphilos married her. He had hand-picked her based on her sweet looks, and not even bothering to judge the young mare's integrity inside. Celestia was strong, tall and growing like a stray watered weed, white as ever and even had her father's smile and political charm…deep inside she held her mother's integrity threatening to burst out as she matured, as on the outward side she only held her mysterious rainbow mane.
Pamphilos wanted another child nearing Celestia's fifth birthday, but Euthalia was thinking of something other than the traditional way of bringing her next child into the world. Her charitable spirit wanted to share their world with a pauper just as Pamphilos had kindly offered her charity and shelter in return for Princess Celestia's entrance to the world. An orphanage had just opened up and she wanted to adopt a baby filly as it tugged at her own orphaned heart. Celestia and Pamphilos even more so were wary of adopting. It was not a popular practice. The orphanage remained full and often orphans would stay orphans until adulthood, just as Euthalia had never been adopted since before she had memories. Euthalia maintained her stance for a baby in the orphanage, because even if she saved one child from that life, it would be one life less tortured. Finally Pamphilos folded because of the PR statement it could make about how he supposedly cared for his wife. The fans and common ponies and papparazo made their way with them on their little field-trip to the new orphanage in town, eager to witness the possibly life-changing events.
"Where are the baby fillies and colts?" "These are what orphanages look like?" "I want a baby one Phi." "Silence you mares! We will find this out in time. Now come, let's away." Pamphilos cooly pushed his wife and daughter out of their reverie in the front room. Not like it might have happened in the present, they snapped into place at his will. Mares always had to know their place in the olden ages. "Forgive me father." Celestia quietly trembled. "I may forgive you once you snap out of your childishness. Royals are not children. They never were children, they are always behaved. And…" "Oh hush now, quiet now! Don't you frighten my Celestia. She's not all royal yet. She's got to have some time and room to grow." Pamphilos groaned and gritted his teeth, knowing he had to keep up gentlemanly apperances with Euthalia in public. That was her one and only weapon.
"Yay Mom!" "Royals do not yay! We will discuss this Euthalia." Discuss was a rough code for beat, and Euthalia gulped, hushing at once. She did not want Celestia to see anything at least. It was too much for her young eyes, and Pamphilos' silent weapon was that he could hold this threat over her head. "Ok." She said, becoming the agreeable wife again. Pamphilos asked the mare nun on duty to take them through to the baby's room, but they were first shown the toddler's room as part of the policy. "I understand you wanted a baby…but the orphanage is currently overwhelmed with toddlers. Babies are rare. As policy please take the time to check the toddlers. They are just as good as our baby fillies and colts." The mare kindly told them. "No! We wanted a baby!" Pamphilos roughly boomed in the mare's face, making her shudder. "Calm Phi. Sure we can browse the toddlers." Celestia tugged at her mother's mane. "Yes Celestia, please don't do that." "Ignore her." Pamphilos pushed Celestia out of their way. "Calm. What is it?" "Um…I think this filly is pretty? Can I keep her Mom?"
She pointed at a small black unicorn with a mane a dark navy shadow-like shroud, sparkles flowing through it. The filly was napping and looked very peaceful. Celestia grinned cheesy at her parents and shook the bars. "Wait…don't…" But the filly woke up and nuzzled Celestia's chest, giggling. "I want it!" Celestia cheered and the crowd that had gathered behind them cooed at the scene. "We gotta get her, we just gotta!" Celestia jumped up, all but forgetting her formalities. "Celestia remember the 'f' word." "The f word? Oh that f word! But please could we take this fitting young filly?" "Let's. What is she called by?" "We don't usually have the most spectacular of names. We take name changes as well. She was named Nightshade originally." "We should have a name close to Nightshade, to pay a tribute." "You are Celestia, the keeper of the Celestial world, and she should be…Luna, the keeper of the night." "That's cute." Celestia agreed. "A little short perhaps?" "Luna Pamphilos Augusta?" Euthalia rolled her eyes. "Fine. It's settled. Welcome Luna." He held her up for the press to take a photo. Soon spread all over town was Luna's welcome, on the front of the premier papers. Welcome Luna.
When the press were gone and Celestia was home alone she would run straight up to her room. Home life was not nearly as glamorous as her life outside. She would hide from the muffled cries of her mother as she was beaten for a punishment. This time Celestia was given a nod and her new sister was placed into her arms. She flew upstairs with the toddler filly and shielded her ears to the struggle. Luna's eyes were wide and the filly clearly didn't understand what was going on, at two she had yet to talk. But she knocked Celestia's horn with her hoof to get her attention, her grin mirroring Celestia's earlier one. "Oh you. Hello…I'm your sister Celestia speaking. Do not pay attention to the fussing downstairs…I really should know not to react like this in front of you. Oh," She sighed and placed the tiny filly on her feet. The filly cocked her head, puzzled.
"You are such a cutie! Anyways how about we play a game? Yes?" Luna nodded her head quickly. Celestia stroked her head. "Ummm…you draw something on my book. I have to guess what it is in…ten guesses yes?" Celestia slowly said with some hand gestures and then confirmed Luna understood. Luna nodded and took the pencil out of Celestia's hand swiftly. She drew a picture of two fillies, one larger than the other. Celestia would never say it but she knew what it was instantly. She gave a few dummy guesses. "Friends?" Luna shook her head no. "Mother and daughter?" It was still no. "Cousins?" No again. "Sisters." Luna enthusiastically nodded and tackled her head. "Ok ok quit it—I mean stop that at once…" Celestia giggled, her composure breaking. "Ce-Ce…" Celestia's eyes widened. "Yes?" "Ce-Ce-we-sti-ah. Cewestiah sis-tuh!" "Ce-le-stia sis-ter." Luna rolled her eyes and made a grumble noise. "Oh ok I guess I should give credit where credit is due. Your first word!" Celestia showed her excitement. She put Luna on her back. "Hold on young filly!" And with that she took her for a gallop around the grounds, but before they could get out Celestia gasped, and Luna's head clicked to the direction she was staring.
"Ce-lestia…hospital…your…urghh…father…out to drink…aaaaah….ale…cider…" Celestia growled lowly in anger at her father. Clearly he had done this to her. "Luna. Luna. Close your eyes. Luna?" Luna's eyes were open and bulging with horror and tears. "Oh Luna, please. Close your eyes sweetheart. You'll…sleep. Sleep and it will all be over." Celestia closed her eyelids and hid her sister in her mane almost instinctively. She gulped when she saw the source of the blood. He'd been rougher than usual. Somehow her father had gotten so mad he'd ripped the limb off. "Umm…Mom…" "Yes." "Look." She turned her mother's head to the limb. A scream reverbated from the house. "Oh of Roxana and Solona…my almighty strength! Celestia leave Luna. Run. Run to the doctor!" She rushed her knowing it might be too late to save her back right leg.