Celestia's Lover
Chapter 1 of 9
Canterlot Castle was quiet. Night was in its darkest state, and Princess Luna was off protecting Equestria's skies by light of the stars and moon. within the confines of the two sister's luxurious estate, Princess Celestia was nestled amongst soft, white, bedsheets, sleeping with idle thoughts. The light breeze of that night carried her curtains inward, the nearly transparent white fabric riding happily toward the center of her large bed chamber, lapping like waves.
Princess Luna floated elegantly not too far away, her broad wings suspending her in the air as she drifted around, bright blue eyes scanning the night sky for anything out of the ordinary. She was happy to be the princess of the night, no longer condemned to a life of separation from her home and from her sister.
Guards tracked silently on their hooves through the long and empty halls of the castle, insuring that there was nothing to disturb the sleeping princess, or anypony who may desire to cause her harm. In the recesses of the castle, there were no guards to patrol the dusty and unused attic spaces. In the eves of Canterlot Castle were the things that society no longer needed or wanted: out of style garments, blankets, and the occasional piece of furniture. Predominately, these attic spaces were empty and sealed. One space through, contained something of extreme importance.
Long ago it had been stored there by the two princesses, neither of them desiring to look at themselves in its reflection and recall the painful memories that went along with it. To cover it, a filthy bit of fabric was tossed over the mirror's top. It was large, extending from the floor to above most ponies heads. Suddenly- without provocation- the cover blew off of the mirror, revealing its dirty and timeworn surface. The corner's were chipped and filthy with corrosion, the surface of the mirror grainy and warped by the endless cycles of hot and cold. The wood was cracked and dry, greatly in need of care. The ornate features were loose and on the verge of breaking away, the frame splitting at the joints: this mirror, being over one thousand years old, would not last much longer.
The surface slowly turned black, the mirror itself jostling slightly. As if the castle itself was trembling, the mirror shook and bounced, the wooden legs clacking harshly against the floor. Then, a hoof reached out from the mirror, touching the floor and marring its dusty surface. After one hoof, came another, and then a head. A unicorn stallion tore himself from the mirror, landing roughly on the floor and panting. He stood up, looking back at the mirror and watching as the frame failed, the mirror housed within falling to the floor and shattering into a pile of scraps. The chattering of the dilapidated mirror breaking apart grew silent, the stallion standing and shaking the dust off of his coat, coughing slightly. He searched the floor as if blind, feeling for a hatch to the castle below.
The stallion found it, lifting the slate cover and pushing it aside. He smiled, his pine green eyes lit with success, his mind brimming with the hope he'd felt for a very long time. He rocketed down the spiraling stairs, nearly tripping as he reached the bottom. Before him: a large wooden door. He jiggled the handle, disappointed to discover that it was locked. He produced a key, resting its head in the chamber of the lock and twisting. He smiled, the door opening with a creak. He stepped out, moving from unfinished stone to the high polished marble of Canterlot Castle, his hooves resting on the red carpet that traveled down the hall's center. The unicorn stallion saw no guards, and chose to proceed. He trotted down the hall with purpose, as if he himself lived within the castle's walls and knew where he was going.
He continued, nearing his goal. He approached a guard, the armor clad stallion turning and stepping in front of him. "Halt! Who are you? This is a restricted area!" The stallion stepped back some, mentally cursing himself for not offering an introduction. "Pardon me, but my name is Sombra. I'm looking for..." The guard stepped back, immediately rushing in the other direction. He ran his hoof through his mane, adjusting his crown and carrying on. He didn't make it far. A squad of guards stood before him, separating the king from his goal. "Get back!" They shouted, pointing spears at him, knowing their mere weapons were nothing against his dark magic and diamonds. King Sombra shook his head. "Please, I must see Princess Celestia!" When they refused to step aside, the stallion transported himself so that he was around them, rushing down the hall toward the princess's bed chamber.
A pegasus guard pumped his wings as hard as he could, adrenaline shooting through his body. The guards were extraordinarily outmatched by the great and evil King Sombra. "Princess!" Shouted a deep voice, the alicorn mare turning to face her guard. "It's King Sombra! He's returned and has infiltrated the castle! We believe he is attempting to harm Princess Celestia!" Princess Luna gasped, placing her hoof over her mouth in fear. She narrowed her eyes and darted toward the castle, afraid of what might come to her sister.
The king pushed on, trying to open her door but discovering it to be locked. He searched for yet another key on his ring, the sight of fast approaching guards making his hooves tremble. The keys fell to the floor, the stallion standing back and blasting the door open with his magic. Princess Celestia stirred, her eyes wide at the sight of a stallion she thought she'd never see again.
Princess Celestia lifted up her body, turning to face him. "Is it really..." He nodded, stepping forward and closer to her bed. "I've come back for you, my love." Princess Celestia sighed, her hoof draped across her forehead as she fainted in her bed. "Celestia?" King Sombra pounced to her bedside, cupping her body against his chest, one hoof lightly touching her chin so that he might look upon her face.
The guards reached the door, seeing that the king was holding their princess. Just then, Princess Luna flew in through the open balcony doors, her imposing wings spread as she stared angrily at the stallion. "Luna! I'm so glad you are here, I've come back!" The princess softened her gaze, taking half a step forward as she analyzed his body. The stallion's grey coat, his blue-velvet cape with fluffy white trim, his green eyes, the purple cravat he wore between a tall white collar; it was him. She swallowed, standing completely still in complete amazement. "Sombra?" He nodded with a happy smile, revealing his sparkling white teeth.
The guards stood back as well, lost. Princess Luna smiled back at him, stepping forward and looking over her sister. "I think she fainted..." Princess Luna nodded, signaling for the guards to fetch a doctor. "It's good to have you here, King Sombra. Tomorrow, you'll have a lot of explaining to do. The ponies of this universe believe you are... dead." He smiled. "Ah, but I am not of this universe." Princess Luna nodded, watching as the stallion slid onto the corner of her sister's bed, lightly holding her body by his side comfortingly.
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Celestia's Lover