prologue

My name is Galaxy Constellation, and I am an Alicorn princess. And, unlike my mother, Princess Twilight Sparkle, I was born this way. Few ponies know that there's a difference between Natural and Artificial alicorns. This difference… this is my dilemma.

You see, when Princess Cadance, my aunt, was a filly, Princess Celestia adopted her as her niece. (Not quite sure how that works, but oh well.) Aunt Cadance, as even fewer ponies know, was born as a Pegasus. As it happened later, Celestia turned Cadence into an alicorn for whatever reason I can't remember. (I'm really terrible at Equestria history, you know.)

Cadance was only a filly at the time… she grew older, however, and that confused many ponies, because alicorns are supposed to be immortal. Why didn't Cadance maintain the appearance of a filly, then? Does this mean that our beloved Princesses Celestia and Luna will grow old and die one day?! Pft, stupid question, obvious answer. Everybody knows that even Celestia and Luna were fillies once!

As soon as the ponies got that through their heads, they dropped the subject and stopped worrying about it. Alicorns are immortal, and that's that. Or so one would thinks. The truth is, Artificials do grow old and die. It's alicorns like me, Luna and Celestia that don't.

This becomes increasingly evident as Aunt Cadance's beautiful tri-colored hair starts to gray at the stems, as she gains these tiny little laugh lines.

It's like somepony pushes a big red "Panic" button when Equestria realizes this. The SBPP (Secret Bureau of Princess Protection) freaks, and they double the guards at the Crystal Palace (like that'll help anything.) Age isn't something you can fight against. But I guess they're just desperate to feel like they can help.

But enough about that. You get the gist.

So I'm angry. I'm depressed. And quite honestly… I'm terrified.

What would life be like without my mother? And my Aunt that I'm so close to? Not to mention my friends, or my cousins. With only Lady Sunbutt and her Moony little sister to keep me company, how will I keep my sanity?! I guess there's Uncle Discord, though. He's immortal, and he makes me laugh.

But that's only a little ointment to sooth the painfully deep wound in my immortal heart.

Because the day will come when I'm alone in this world. My mother? Gone. My friends? All gone. And what will happen when I run out of enemies? I'd mourn them as if they were my own children. And me?

I would be alone.