Hello guys!

First, this fan fiction was inspired by the fabulous animations Lullaby for a princess, The Moon rises and Come little children. Go and watch them on youtube, you'll recognize some parts in this story.

Second, this story will be told through rather short chapters (usually 1k words or less, sometimes more) and tells Luna's slow descent into madness through the eyes of an OC. Be prepared!

Third, it doesn't really respect canon in the sense that I quite like the idea of Celestia having a pink mane before Nightmare Moon, and pale Rainbow only after using the elements. Same for Luna and my OC.

Fourth, this is just the prologue. First chapter will be posted next week.

Fifth, if you're following Lonely Souls...I'm still writing the next chapter, but since I don't really watch Naruto anymore, it's kinda hard. But don't worry, I still intend to finish it.

Disclaimer: I don't own My Little Pony, Luna, Celestia, or the cover image, but I do own the picture of this chapter.

Without further delay...read and enjoy!

Fate has been cruel and order unkind

She…didn't know what to do.

The painting was obviously very old; the paint had paled somewhat, giving Luna's coat an almost pink colour instead of purple, just as Celestia's mane had turned white from the passing of Time. And yet, someone had taken great care in covering the masterpiece with a veil, ensuring it would survive the years to come. The slight alterations couldn't be helped, as the painting had to be at least a thousand years old, if Celestia's pink-turned-white mane was any indication.

But Twilight Sparkle didn't understand. Here, under her curious eyes, three alicorns stood etched on the canvas –two of which she knew very well, even if they were a millennia younger. The third one however, standing on the right corner, was no one she knew.

The young mare had a feeling she was related to the princesses. They had the same eyes, the same ears, the same features…details easily overlooked, but which stood glaringly obvious to her scholar eyes. The alicorn had a beautiful light blue coat –maybe dark blue in reality, she couldn't forget it had paled- and a black mane which fell softly over her eyes, and a star-shaped cutie mark, atop two crescent blue moons. Smaller than Celestia but taller than Luna, she stood regally on the side, and while the two sisters were looking at whoever had drawn their features, she on the other hand seemed to be watching over them, a look of tranquil happiness in her sapphire eyes. The three posed before the throne room in the Castle of the Sisters, she recognised the great red draperies and the red carpet. But it did not answer her question.

Just who was this alicorn? Why had she never heard of her –from books, or even from the sister themselves?

Had she passed away?

The title seemed to say so. On the frame at the bottom, an obviously distraught hoof had carved Illusions in a broken writing, barely readable through the jagged edges of the letters. Whoever she was, it spoke of a time long gone, of a happiness that had not lasted. And if she knew her history well –which she did- it had to be soon before the Nightmare Moon fiasco. If, by odds, the painting hadn't been finished before it, then it was no wonder it had been called illusions. But still it did not tell her who it was.

Twilight felt conflicted. If Celestia had never spoken of her, surely she had a reason, right? And this painting had been hidden deep in Canterlot's archives, far away from prying eyes; yet it had been carefully protected. It could only mean it was dear to her heart –and maybe too painful to keep it in her rooms. Could she ask without fearing the consequences, or would she reopen closed wounds? Princess Celestia has never been angry at me for researching. Surely this time won't be different? She thought. Her curious mind now desperately wanted to know. She could not help it.

The alicorn carefully lifted the painting with her magic and turned around. She wouldn't rest until she knew, that much was certain.

She just hoped she wouldn't start another tragedy she wasn't ready to face…

Celestia, for once, wasn't in the throne room, but speaking with Luna in her office. They both noticed her before she could turn back and forget she had ever found the painting, forget there had once been another alicorn, one who, for unknown reasons, was no longer here. Celestia greeted her, but the purple alicorn didn't pay attention, focused on both princesses. They had both known this alicorn, had both wept for her loss…because if she wasn't here and she had never heard about her, where else could she be but gone? It was probably a sorrow they'd rather forget, a pain they did not want to remember. Twilight suddenly felt bad for digging what would undoubtedly be a sore subject for the both of them. What had she been thinking? Seeing them both, talking peacefully like the sisters they were…what right did she have to mention something they had both long moved on from?

"Twilight? Did you need something?"

Her mentor's voice shook her out of her thoughts. She swallowed.

"I…found something…in the Archives. And…I was wondering if…maybe…you could shed some light on it? If you want to, of course, I wouldn't disturb you otherwise…" She trailed off, as she noticed the sisters were now looking at the hidden painting. Celestia's eyes turned melancholy, and Luna gasped.

"Is this…what I think it is, sister?" Celestia gracefully rose, her magic taking over Twilight's and lifting the veil. The scene was revealed to the three, and the purple mare could swear she saw tears in Luna's half-lidded eyes.

"Yes, it is…" Celestia whispered. "But Time has damaged it a bit. Let me show you what it looked like…"

The painting glowed a brilliant yellow, and Twilight recognised a restoration spell. Before her eyes, Celestia's mane became a vivid pink, the unknown alicorn's coat a deep blue, the draperies turned crimson red, the landscape through the window was suddenly clearer and more realistic. The light faded, and Twilight admired the new colours and fully appreciated the artist's talent, who'd artfully frozen the scene on the canvas. It looked as though the younger Luna was going to come out of it with her sister at a moment's notice, followed by the watchful eyes of the last protagonist.

"I had never seen it finished…" Luna breathed. "It's so beautiful…"

The painting was gently lowered against the wall before them, and the two sisters gazed longingly at the scene. Twilight was reluctant to break what was obviously a moment of reminiscence, but…she had to know.

"So…Who is she, exactly? I've never heard of a fifth alicorn before…"

"She is our sister, Staria. She raises the stars every night." Luna's tranquil voice made her arch a brow.

"Is? She's still around, then? Why have I never seen her –nor heard about her?"

"It's…complicated." Celestia admitted, a dark expression taking over her usually cheerful features. "The full story will take a while to tell, so you might as well make yourself comfortable, Twilight."

The young mare sat on a nearby chair, tucking her tail in between her legs. She had a feeling it would be hard for the three of them –she had been right. It was a painful subject for the Princesses, as told by Luna's misty eyes and Celestia's far away gaze. The Sun Princess turned to her sister.

"You will have to help me for this, Luna," she said. "I never knew her nearly as much as you did." Luna inclined her head in agreement. The atmosphere of the very room took on a melancholy feel, an echo of time long passed, a millennia ago.

"Back when we were children, before we took the crown..."

XxxX

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