June 4th, 1057 of the 4th era, Canterlot Castle
Today is the day. It had to be today didn't it? Shining Armor and Princess Cadance had travelled to Canterlot to see Twilight and the rest of Shining's immediate family. It had been two years since Tirek's defeat, and in that time Cadence became pregnant with Shining Armor's foal. Eight months had passed with numerous visits to the Doctor, and it was predicted that in just one more month she would give birth. At least... that what was supposed to happen. The Princess's water broke during their stay at Canterlot Castle. There was a large commotion as Celestia summoned one of her throne guards to find a doctor as quickly as possible, with express orders to bring him to the castle. Nearly an hour passed before a doctor burst through the doors to Princess Cadance's chambers, immediately setting up his medical equipment to administer care to the soon-to-be mother. Cadence's screams of pain echoed through the bedroom doors even though they were firmly shut, beginning to draw a crowd of various members of the castle staff.
"You're doing good, just breathe in and out… in and out..." The doctor's voice trailed off in conjunction with Cadance's screams before the Princess began again with renewed vigor.
Shining Armor stood outside the bedroom chambers nervously pacing back and forth, his heart beating at a million miles per hour in his chest and his brain running just as fast. Would the child be alive? Would his wife be okay? These thoughts flashed into his mind as his hooves began to wear down the varnish on the marble floors. Luna took one look into his tear-rimmed eyes and placed a hoof onto his back, stopping his motions.
"Princess Cadance will be alright, we are sure of it. And you will be an incredible father." Luna calmly whispered. Shining took a deep breath, closing his eyes. After what seemed like an eternity, he nodded.
Luna was the only one to keep him company during this time. Princess Celestia was at a meeting with diplomats from Griffonia and sadly could not be taken away from the negotiations, Twilight Sparkle was inside the bedroom holding Cadence's hoof, and the rest of Shining's family were still on their way.
Three hours passed, three long, grueling hours for both mother and father, but suddenly the Princess's screams ceased completely. As soon as the doors opened slightly Shining pushed himself into the room, startling the doctor on the other side. On the bed Cadence, sweating with tear-stained cheeks, was smiling while holding a small bundle in her hooves. Shining Armor's hooves slowly carried him to the side of the bed, and he gazed into the sleeping face of his firstborn colt. Shining felt the hooves of his little sister wrap around his barrel as she pulled him close.
"I'm so proud for you, Shining!" Twilight said to her older brother, congratulating him.
"Shining..." Cadence's voice cracked slightly as she looked with joy at her husband.
"Yes, Cadence?" Shining asked, leaning in.
"I love you, really I do, but... We are not having sex ever again!"
Those words were like gryphon talons on a blackboard to him.
"Why do you have to ruin the moment, love…?" Shining thought, laughing slightly.
Luna said nothing and trotted off to go get her sister. It didn't take long for Luna to make the trip to the Day Courtroom, where Celestia was currently presiding. With the sun starting to set, less and less ponies were entering the castle, so Celestia could now see the child. As the two trotted back together, Luna spoke up.
"It must be nice," Luna began, "to be a mother."
"Indeed sister, indeed it must." Celestia replied, sighing.
"Can I be honest with you, Sister?"
"Of course, what is on your mind?"
"I cannot help but feel some bit of... envy towards sister Cadence," she spoke quietly, her face obscured from Celestia's view by her mane.
"You're not the only one who feels that way."
Many ponies wondered why Celestia and Luna had never bore foals. It was more understandable to the general population that Luna—who had been imprisoned in the moon for a thousand years—had not found a suitor yet. But the bigger question was why Celestia had bore no foals in her life. She had many suitors over the years, coming and going, all being rejected by the Princess herself with no explanation. Mares and stallions alike vied for her hoof, so the thought that the Princess was only attracted to one specific sex was out of the question. The truth, however, was something not many ponies knew. Alicorns are inherently barren.
Pureblood Alicorns have a 'grace period,' a short period of time in which an Alicorn can bear foals, spanning roughly one to two years. Princesses Celestia and Luna, being the only two pureblood Alicorns in Equestria, were the only barren Alicorns. Princess Twilight and Cadance were able to continue their menstrual cycles as they ascended to the Alicorn state after birth. Back when the world was ruled by Alicorns, the grace period was the evolutionary reason purebloods could not synthetically alter the population as they were immortal. Now, however, pureblood Alicorns were a remnant of the past. The vast majority had died in the war that marked the end of the 3rd era, The Dracon-Equine War. The war left both Draconequus and Alicorns all but extinct, leaving only Celestia, Luna, and Discord.
Princesses Celestia and Luna were entrusted with ruling the fledgling nation of Equestria at the age 27 and 25, which for a pureblood is still at foalhood until full maturity at 50. In their first years ruling the nation, they devoted everything to rebuilding a torn land, leaving them very little time for courtship. What little they could get was spent on making love in the hopes of children so that they could have their own joy of motherhood. However, before either Celestia or Luna could be conceived, Nightmare Moon invaded Luna's mind. When Luna was banished in the year 55 of the 4th era, the workload was doubled on Celestia. All of Luna's tasks fell squarely on Celestia's shoulders; raising and lowering the moon, diverting traffic from Night Court to Day Court, and appointing cabinet members were simply a handful of the shoes she had to fill. By the time attitudes in Equestria were beginning to return to a calmer state, it was already too late for Celestia to ever have children of her own, and as for Luna—trapped on the moon—there was no hope of her ever having the chance to conceive either.
And so, with no other options, Celestia waited for Luna's return without the option of having a son or daughter of her own to train and teach in the ways of the Princesses, instead throwing herself headlong into her new responsibilities.
The sisters made their way back to Princess Cadance's quarters. Opening the door, Celestia trotted to Cadance's bedside to get a long look at the newborn colt, then turned to Shining Armor, smiling.
"Congratulations, General." Shining Armor's mouth curved into a smile, nodding quickly and bowing his head.
"Thank you princess," he breathed. "I'm humbled that you gave me the position."
"I would not give it to somepony that could not handle it. But I'm getting off topic." Celestia turned her attention to the newborn foal. "What is his name?"
Cadence and Shining Armor looked at their child. "His name is Corinthian Hoplon." Cadence spoke.
Corinthian Hoplon, a half Unicorn, half non pureblood Alicorn. He maintained the appearance of a unicorn even though he was part Alicorn. His coat was white like his father's, his mane was light blue with a light yellow accent running down the center, and his eyes were the color of lavender like his mother's.
"He's beautiful," Celestia commented.
"Excuse me, your Majesties," the doctor butted in, "but may speak for a moment about the condition of the foal for one moment?" He adjusted his glasses as the occupants of the room turned their attention to him.
"He's, he's alright… isn't he?" Cadence's voice rose nearly an octave by the end of her sentence, her eyes becoming dinnerplates.
"The foal is fine as of right now," the doctor explained, "but a premature foal could develop some problems later on, I would like to stay here for the night to keep an eye on him... if that's alright."
"Of course, doctor. I will have some attendants prepare a guest room for you," Celestia responded. "Guards?"
A second passed and two guards in full bronze armor entered the room.
"Yes, your Highnesses?" the guards stood ready to receive their orders.
"Would you kindly show the doctor to one of the guest rooms, please?"
"Yes, of course, Princess." They bowed down then stood back up, one of them gesturing with a hoof for the doctor to follow them. "Right this way, sir." With that, the guards showed the doctor out, shutting the doors in the process.
"With your permission, your Majesties, would you be so kind to give our son your blessings?" Shining Armor asked the Princesses. Celestia answered by closing her eyes and smiling as she began to lit her horn, stepping close to Corinthian and placing her horn on his forehead.
"With this blessing of mine, may your days always be bright so the darkness will never harm you." Celestia stepped away from Corinthian to make room for her sister, who touched her horn onto the newborn foal's forehead as well.
"With my blessing, may your nights always be peaceful, and your dreams filled with wonder." Luna stood up, smiling to the new parents, before stepping back from the side of the bed.
"I have a blessing to give him as well," Twilight spoke, lighting her horn and placing it where her fellow Princesses had.
"My blessing I give to you, little nephew, is one day you will meet your true friend who will always look after you, and who you will always look after for in turn. The two of you will be separable only by death."
Once all three of the Princesses had given their blessings to the newborn colt, Princess Celestia gazed out the window to the horizon.
"I'm afraid I must depart," Celestia said, "it is time for Luna and I to bring in the night." Saying their last farewells, Princesses Luna and Celestia left the room, trotting up to their balcony to raise and lower their respective celestial bodies. Once the night was brought, Celestia bid her sister goodnight before turning in, leaving Luna to preside over Night Court.
A few uneventful hours had passed and Luna was getting bored. There was a surprising lack of nightmares tonight plaguing her subjects, however this left her proud of herself as she was doing an exceptional job at dispelling them. Unfortunately, this did nothing to abate her severe boredom, so she decided to visit the Royal Observatory.
Not many ponies came to Canterlot Castle during the night, but Luna preferred it this way. When there were no nightmares to dispel, she preferred admiring her night rather than dealing with the problems of her subjects, that responsibility she gladly gave to her sister. Of course it didn't mean she didn't enjoy helping helping her subjects, it only meant she hated dealing with problems such as land and labor disputes, taxes, and—the one she despised the most—dealing with the Dukes and Duchesses of every province in the country. She preferred to help her subjects on the more personal level, entering their dreams and meeting their problems headlong.
However, her nights did get lonely at times. She still felt they were still somewhat unappreciated, what with not many ponies out enjoying them. Sure, there was nightmare night, but that was only once a year. Luna mentally kicked herself. The Princess had to stop herself from feeling those jealous urges that got her banished before. Maybe it wasn't jealousy... maybe it was simply Luna wanting somepony she could share her night with.
During her stargazing that night, something unexpected happened, something nopony could have expected or could understand.
An Aurora Borealis formed above the castle; blues, greens and purples intertwining to make a masterpiece of color, floating in ethereal winds above the city below.
"Impossible!" thought Luna, "There is no scientific way an Aurora can form this far South!"
Luna knew that this was not natural, only magic could have created it. But as suddenly as it appeared, it was gone. Luna quickly grabbed a piece of parchment, a quill, and an inkwell, beginning to record everything she had saw.
Date: June 5th, 1057 of the 4th Era
Today, at 2:17 A.M, a strange sight appeared in the night sky of Canterlot, an Aurora Borealis. For one to form this far south is unheard of in Equestria. While observing I noticed that the aurora was abnormally large, as it covered the entire night sky. I also noticed that one of the stars, particularly the Northern Star, was shining brighter than usual. For fifteen minutes this went on until the Aurora disappeared. I know that this was not natural by any means, I suspect that this could be the work of powerful magic. I will consult my Sister and the other Princesses about this.
After she finished recording the event, she heard a shout from elsewhere in the garden.
"A MONSTER!" That voice could only belong to a member of the Royal Guard. Luna turned her body in the direction of the commotion, eyes widening.
"GET AWAY FROM US! JUST GET BACK!" That voice did not belong to a guard, but to a mare.
"SOUND THE ALARM!" A bolt of red magic shot into the air, travelling several hundred feet up before exploding in a vibrant display of color.
"An emergency flare…?" thought Princess Luna, her eyes scanning the gardens for any sign of commotion.
Warning bells began to ring all over the castle. Guards could be seen with iron-tipped spears in hoof rushing towards where the flare was fired. Luna figured the worst and flew into the air to assist the guards in whatever they were up against. But when she arrived at a cluster of guards, Luna was shocked. A strange looking, bipedal creature that stood much taller than an average stallion was standing in the middle of a ring of guards. She wore a white gown complete with a blue silk sash and pendant that hung from her neck. Her eyes were the color of hazel, and her long, brown mane was kept in a braided bun. In her arms, she was carrying something wrapped in a red blanket and holding a short blade in her right hand. She pointed the sword to the guards who were reciprocating by pointing their spears in her direction. Luna looked at her and saw that she was bleeding profusely from the right side of her abdomen, staining her gown blood red. However, it could not have been one of the guards that hurt her as there was not a drop of blood on their spears.
"What in Equestria?" Luna thought aloud. "First the Aurora, and now this? This cannot be a coincidence…"
The female swung the blade in her right hand in front of the guards.
"Get back! Don't you whorses dare think I won't use this!" She shouted, using a racial slur on the guards.
One of the guards fired a bolt of magic at her armed hand, disarming her and causing the creature to yelp in pain. She fell onto the grass and the sound of a crying child could be heard... it was a child that the female was carrying, bundled in her left arm. She held the child close to her and began to cry. The guards started to move in towards the creature, ready to subdue her.
"Shhh…" the creature cooed, "it's ok my baby, it will be over soon..." She closed her eyes and waited for the spears to come.
"Guards! Stand down!" Luna ordered, the Royal Canterlot Voice shaking the guards to the bone.
"But Princess," one of them protested, "this creature could be dangerous!"
"Do not make us repeat ourselves!"
The guards moved their spears into a more neutral position, though their hooves were firmly grasping at the handles of their spears. Luna took a few careful steps towards the creature, getting closer. She knelt down to meet her eyes.
"You do not have to be scared," the Princess whispered, "we promise we will not harm you."
"Liar!" the creature shouted. "If you want to kill me then just kill me!" The creature's eyes were clamped shut and tears began to roll down her cheek. Luna had to think of something to calm her down.
"If we wanted to kill you, then why did we tell our guards to lower their weapons? That would not make sense if that is what we wanted." Luna had punched a hole in her logic. The female was starting to calm down a little bit.
"But, why?" the woman gasped. "I thought King Cosmos wanted me dead. Or, did Prince Astrum convince him otherwise?" Luna stood back up, shocked by the names she had just heard.
"How... how do you know those names?" Luna asked, her eyes widening.
"What do you mean?" the creature asked, eyebrow raised. "Of course I would know the heads of the ruling Alicorn family…?"
"Father… grandfather…" Luna thought to herself, scanning the ring of guards around them. "What in Tartarus is going on?"
The names the creature had mentioned were her father, Prince Astrum, and her grandfather King Cosmos. Astrum had told Celestia and Luna stories about their grandfather, King Cosmos, long ago. Unfortunately, Cosmos had died before Celestia was born.
"What is going on here?!" came a shout from behind Luna. Princess Celestia broke through the circle of guards with Princess Twilight and Shining Armor.
"Princess... what is that?" Twilight asked hoping to get an answer. Both Celestia and Luna looked towards the creature, their mouths shut tight.
It was at that very moment the creature collapsed with the child in her arms, held close to her stomach. Princess Luna gasped and leaped into action.
"Sister," Luna cried, "this mare is hurt! She needs help, now!"
Celestia did not ask questions, turning to her guards. "You three, take her inside and go find the doctor. The rest of you prepare a room for her. You are dismissed."
"Yes, your Highness!" came the immediate reply. One team of guards picked up the creature while the other went to find the doctor. Princess Luna picked up the child with her magic and headed inside, followed closely by her sister and Princess Twilight.
After two hours had passed, the doctor stepped out of the room and trotted in front of the Princesses.
"How is she?" Luna asked.
"I was able seal the wound and stop the bleeding. But... her wound was badly infected. The bacteria has already spread to the rest of her body."
"Meaning what?" Princess Celestia demanded.
"She only has a few hours at best. I'm sorry I couldn't have been more of an assistance..." Celestia sighed, bringing a hoof to her face
"You did what you could. You're dismissed, doctor."
"I'm truly sorry." The doctor bowed and left.
"Well... now what?" Shining Armor asked.
"We need to see if we can get any information from this mare, we have no idea what is going on here, and she is the only source of information we have." Celestia's magic grasped the doors, ready to pull them open. "Sister Twilight, General Armor, I ask that you allow me and Sister Luna do the talking." Celestia then opened the door to the bedroom and walked in with her entourage.
The creature was in bed, resting as the group of ponies trotted towards her. When they got closer the female looked up, noticing them in the room for the first time.
"How are you feeling?" Luna asked, putting a hoof on the bedframe.
"Tired... Were is my son?" she demanded.
"Do not worry, my niece Princess Cadence is keeping an eye on him. She is a mother as well, so you do not have to worry about him." Celestia's tone of voice was enough for the female to trust her.
"... thank you."
"We did not get the chance to properly introduce ourselves," Luna spoke. "My name is Princess Luna, what is yours?"
"My name is... Theodora, Theodora Elissa Kaisahr."
"What a strange name," Luna thought, looking about the room. By the looks on the other's faces, they were thinking the exact same thing.
"It's nice to meet you... Theodora, my name is Princess Celestia, and this is Princess Twilight and General Shining Armor."
"Hehe…" Theodora laughed, "I still don't understand why ponies have the weirdest names."
"And yours isn't?"
"Why did you people, oh... sorry, you ponies help me?" Theodora asked.
"You were hurt, what kind of ponies would we be if we had not?" Luna responded.
"But our country is at war with you." Celestia raised an eyebrow.
"War? What war?"
"The war between Ponies and Men."
"Men? As in humans? Like... from ancient mythology?" Princess Twilight began. Once she saw the look on Celestia's face, she blushed. "S-sorry…"
"It's fine Twilight," Celestia breathed. "Theodora, can you tell me what year the war began?"
"July 28th, 1914 of the 2nd era." That shocked everypony in the room. That was a date more than three thousand years ago.
"This would explain why she knows of our father and grandfather," Luna thought.
"Where exactly do you come from?" Luna asked, diverting the conversation in a different direction.
"I was born and raised in Dido, one the largest cities in Polaris. Why are you asking me these questions?"
"I know that this is going to sound strange but, the year is 1057 of the 4th era." Luna informed her.
"What? But that's..." Theodora's eyes travelled to her bedspread and she gripped it violently for a moment.
"Theodora," Celestia asked, "can you tell us how you arrived here?"
"Um... Yes. I was with my husband, Alexander Julius Kaisahr, he is... was... a senator and a general back home. We came to this continent by sea from the East to settle a city for our empire. The Emperor and the Senate gave my husband the task of finding this fairy tale called The Tree of Harmony."
The occupants of the room shared a meaningful glance before allowing Theodora to continue.
"But... we never found the tree, and my husband decided to use the city as base for his armies to try and end the war. I was with child at the time, and a few months after my son was born on March fifteenth, the city we had settled in was sacked. The ponies came in and burned everything down. I barely made it out alive with my son... my husband was not so lucky." A few tears rolled down her cheek as she recalled the events she went though. "I went up a mountain to try and get away from the bloodshed. But when I summited the mountain… the last thing I saw was an extremely bright light coming from the Everfree Forest."
"Sister..." Luna began, "is it possible for the elements to send away an entire race?"
"It's possible, however I would never have thought the elements would be able to do that," Celestia answered.
"Princesses," Theodora caught their attention, "I may not know what is going on nor will I know... but I do know that I'm dying."
"No, do not talk like that, you will make it out of this." Luna lied, placing a hoof on the human's shoulder.
"You're a bad liar, honest people always are. You know that I don't have much time to live. Before I pass from this world, can you promise me something? I know we've only just met, but you're the only ones I can turn to."
"Of course," Luna answered without hesitation, "what is it?"
"It's my son... Nicholas Octavius. When I'm gone he will have no one to protect him. Please, I beg you, look after him for me."
Celestia and Luna looked at each other trying to read each other's thoughts. Luna nodded to her sister and Celestia nodded back.
"Very well, we have heard your wish. We shall do our absolute best to look after him." Celestia's words eased Theodora's suffering beyond measure.
"It's strange, having to trust you, but I no longer have a choice... do I?" She then took off her pendant. "Give this to him when he's old enough to understand." Luna took her pendant. It was shaped as an eight pointed star. Luna knew the eight-pointed star motif could only symbolise the Northern Star. "Thank you, you put a mother's heart to rest. I can sleep easy now." And with her final words, Theodora closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep for the last time. Princess Luna lit her horn and casted a spell over the sleeping human.
"Sister...?" Twilight began.
"We gave her a dream spell," Luna preemptively answered. "In her last moments she will experience the most wonderful dream she will ever know. We do this to ponies who die in their sleep to help send their spirit off. You would not know about it… it is not something we enjoy speaking of."
"I think it's time we should leave," Shining armor spoke, turning her back on the sleeping human. "Let her rest." He opened the door and trotted through, sneaking one last gaze at the human before departing.
The rest followed, leaving Theodora to pass away peacefully. None of them saw the human smile.