Clockwork, found a strange sight. He had snuck out of bed, armed with an invisibility cloak, and stalked his adoptive mother to a secret place.

He was curious, often too his detriment, but mostly it led to the salvation of pony-kind... but this... he should not be here for this.

He wanted to know what scandalous thing his new mother got up to. What the castle staff refused to talk about... just where she went every night.

He had followed her out of the castle, through the Ever-Free Forest, and to the castle of the two sisters... and wish he hadn't... because here, Clockwork realized he wasn't on a grand adventure.

His new mother, was crying. As she lowered her sun, her true body, she began to raise the moon, and sing... it was such a beautiful song. Full of sorrow and longing... that it forced the young Stallion to weep.

Fate has been cruel and order unkind, How can I have sent you away?

The blame was my own, the punishment, yours. The harmony's silent today.

But into the stillness I'll bring you a song, And I will your company keep. 'Till your tired eyes and my lullabies, Have carried you softly to sleep.

Once did a pony who shone like the sun, Look out on her kingdom and sigh. She smiled and said, "Surely, there is no pony, so lovely and so well beloved as I."

So great was her reign, so brilliant her glory, That long was the shadow she cast. Which fell dark upon the young sister she loved, And grew only darker as days and nights passed.

Lullay moon princess, goodnight sister mine. Rest now in moonlight's embrace. Bear up my lullaby, winds of the earth. Through cloud, and through sky, and through space.

Carry the peace and the coolness of night. And carry my sorrow in kind. Luna, you're loved so much more than you know. Forgive me for being so blind.

Soon did that pony take notice, that others did not give her sister her due. And neither had she loved her as she deserved. She watched as her sister's unhappiness grew.

But such is the way of the limelight. It sweetly takes hold of the mind of its host. And that foolish pony did nothing to stop, The destruction of one who had needed her most.

Lullay moon princess, goodnight sister mine. Rest now, in moonlight's embrace. Bear up my lullaby, winds of the earth. Through cloud, and through sky, and through space.

Carry the peace and the coolness of night. And carry my sorrow in kind. Luna, you're loved so much more than you know. May troubles be far from your mind. And forgive me for being so blind.

The years now before us, Fearful and unknown, I never imagined, I'd face them on my own.

May these thousand winters, Swiftly pass, I pray.

I love you, I miss you, All these miles away.

May all your dreams be sweet tonight. Safe upon your bed of moonlight. And know not of sadness, pain, or care. And when I dream, I'll fly away and meet you there.

Sleep,

Sleep,

Sleep.

Celestia's ears twitched, hearing the sound of crying. It took her a moment to recognize the tears.

Sighing, "Come on out Clockwork," She encouraged her young ward. But when the boy refused to move, she insisted, "I'm not mad." She promised. But still no movement.

She followed the sound of weeping, and gently used her magic to feel for an enchanted item.

Clockwork had been favoring those, once Celestia started his formal education on magical crafts.

She had hoped they would offer distraction from his inventions. Giving him a more believable field of study. So he could create things ponies actually had previous knowledge of.

However, it just made everything worse. As the colt began blending magic and science.

Regardless, it was simple enough to find the cloak, now that she suspected one was there.

Removing the cloth, she found her charge, with tears, streaming like a river down his face.

The boy immediately started nuzzling her, sobbing for her... before swearing, "I'll help you get her back..."

That's when Celestia fully understood the implications. Her deal with a true Celestial entity...

Contained within this child... was the knowledge of a god. It was buried deep. Like the very memories of his godhood... but they were there. His inventions were proof of that.

And Celestia was faced with Temptation.

She could build a true utopia. Unite the races herself... No longer having to concern herself with prophecies and visions... She could have her sister back... centuries before she was supposed to... she need only ask... and the god would give it happily... because he loved her...

That realization... shattered her. This child loved her, as any child loves their care giver. She was a shameful pony, just for thinking of abusing such a bond.

"You mustn't clockie." Celestia began wiping the boy's tears away. "There are a great many prophecies in play. My sister shall return to me, you needn't concern yourself."

"Prophecies?" Clockwork sniffled.

Celestia sighed, feeling she had to give him an explanation. One wrapped in truth, well hiding her true motives. "All ponies have magic, and while the magicks of Earth Ponies is more subtle. It is just as powerful as the other tribes. Earth ponies can enhance their physical power, through their magicks. Can tend an orchard of trees, to bear fruit monthly, instead of every other year... and are some of the most powerful seers known to exist.

"An Alicorn isn't just a winged Unicorn. They hold magic of all three tribes. I have seen glimpses of the future. A champion will arise, and lead our world into a Glorious utopia. With her first true act."

Celestia looked up at the moon. "Being restoring my sister to me... freeing her of the dark magics which cloud her mind. Even reforming our brother, in all but blood, Discord... I see so much, and while there is always the chance these things will not come to pass. I see so much good. For not just Equestria, but all of Equus."

Then, after speaking the truth, Celestia blatantly lied, "Your interference risk that utopia. Some good done now, will lead to this champion never raising."

She spoke truthfully. "My sister is safe, as she slumbers in her true body. The moon is her, as I am the Sun... it doesn't matter..."

Clockwork jumped to a conclusion that could fix so many issues of him in her care... and once again leave him miserable. "Do my inventions threaten this future? Is that why you're so against them...?"

Celestia longed to jump at the chance. It was the perfect way to keep both the boy, and her world, safe... but looking at the young colt... at how crushed he was by the very idea.

"Just be mindful of what you bring into this world." Celestia set guidelines. "Avoid weapons, and things that will make too big a Splash, in pony culture. Like any more improvements to transportation. But we should be fine. We are still fine." Listing the things that would be the most obvious to see from space.

Clockwork gave a hesitant nod.

Author's Note:

These Lyrics were taken from the song, on YouTube, titled "Lullaby For a Princess"

While the idea that it was related to a Prophecy, taken from "Harry Potter and the Prancing of Ponies" by "The Guy Who Writes" over on the site "FiM Fiction (dot) net".

It's a "HPMoR" inspired fic... and probably the best I have ever read. Even if you don't like ponies, I can't recommend it enough.