"Starswirl!" Luna screeched. She pounded furiously on the door of his hut. "Starswirl, please open up!"
Aurora put a consoling hoof on Luna's shoulder, trying to appear that everything was under control.
The blue unicorn opened the door, looking thoroughly surprised. "What on-" His eyes narrowed behind his glasses. "Quick, get inside."
Aurora entered the hut, glancing at everything familiar. The old scrolls piled up by the window, the kettle boiling some concoction. The desk with the hole her horn had caused when the dragons came. An official Royal Canterlot map, spread across-
"Oh, dear." Starswirl glanced around his home, levitated a hefty book from under the scrolls, which landed with a massive thud that startled the alicorn sisters. He began furiously flipping the pages, mumbling, "There's got to be a counterspell. There has to be!"
"What's wrong?" Luna asked, her voice shaking.
The old unicorn took one last glance at his book before staring at the sisters. "I'm sorry, you've both been cursed."
"What?!" they cried in unison.
"It's nothing too serious. You won't die. But…if anypony says your names, whoever cast this thing will be able to find you."
"Discord," Aurora breathed.
Starswirl stopped turning to his kettle. "What did you say?"
"Discord," Luna repeated, her voice cracking at the end. "He-"
Never before had Luna or Aurora seen the anger and passion that consumed Starswirl in that moment. He flew into his private quarters, the sounds of him rummaging through books and the countless knick-knacks he had collected over the years very much audible through the tattered green curtain that separated the two rooms. He returned with an ancient, dust covered, book, solemnly placing it on the table. He opened the book, and beckoned the two sisters closer.
Aurora gasped and backed away from the book as she saw what the pages contained. There, perfectly sketched, was Discord. She swore she saw his one sketched eye wink at her.
"Your grandparents warned me about him when they took me on as Royal Wizard," Starswirl sighed. "They called him a Draconequus. He's in Equestria now?" He gazed out the window, a faraway look in his eye that Aurora had never seen before.
"Yes. And he's taken over Canterlot!" Luna cried. "And he-"
Starswirl abruptly turned and pulled the two of them in close, his jingling bells ruining the serious moment. "Listen to me, my faithful students. You need to hide. Make sure nopony says your names, even among the two of you. Discord will find you. There's only one thing that can stop him. You have to find the Elements."
Glancing at her sister, Aurora saw the same worry that was mirrored on her own face. Before she could clarify what exactly these "Elements" were, Starswirl pushed them out of the hut.
"You have ten minutes," he said firmly. "I'll say your names and hopefully give you girls time to hide somewhere. No matter what, you must keep running. Do not stop until you are sure you are safe. Now go. Hurry!"
Aurora caught the pained look that Starswirl gave them. Despite his urgings, Luna tearfully gave Starswirl a hug. His expression softened as he hugged the younger alicorn.
You must protect her. Startled, Aurora whipped her head around, trotting in an anxious circle, looking for the source of the voice. She saw the unicorn give her a long, meaningful look. He was still hugging Luna, but he was looking squarely at Aurora. She needs you. Be strong. She gave Starswirl a firm nod. He nodded in return and released her sister.
The pair took off, flying towards home. The road was familiar, as were all the trees and noises. Yet something had changed. Aurora felt certain that just behind that next tree, Discord would appear and snatch Luna away from her. The forest no longer felt safe. As the castle rose into view, a lump formed in her throat. Her mother and father were not there, awaiting their arrival. They would never be there to welcome them home. Out of the corner of her eye, she spotted the silhouette of a pony with its wings spread. For a moment, a rush of hope, something she never thought she would feel ever again, rose in her chest. The figure dove down to the sisters.
It was just Skyheart, one of the guards. Aurora felt her heart sink. She was stupid for thinking that there had been some chance that her parents had survived. Skyheart seemed to notice her disappointment because he asked, "What's wrong?"
Luna gave him an angry look, and opened her mouth to speak. She stopped herself, and spoke softly. "We…I…there's-"
While she admired her sister's bravery, time was of the essence, and if Luna tried to explain, Starswirl's plan would be for nothing. While she hadn't considered the safety of her servants, she now felt it would be unfair and selfish of her to simply leave them to Discord. "You need to tell everyone to leave the castle. Now. Don't ask why! Just get everypony together and get somewhere safe! Hurry!"
Skyheart wore an expression of confusion and worry. Nevertheless, he saluted to the sisters and flew off.
"Should we grab anything?" Luna asked
"No. We need to get going. We haven't got much longer, and Starswirl-" she remembered what had happened in the throne room in Canterlot. She envisioned Starswirl, battling Discord when the unicorn's horn disappeared. Before her imagination could envision what would happen next, she called out, "Philomena!"
The baby phoenix flew out an open window and down to Aurora. She cocked her head to the side.
"Go to Starswirl and help him! You have to stay with him!"
Just as Luna was about to protest, the tiny phoenix took off down the trail to their teacher, tiny flames appearing under her wings.
Using her wing, Aurora guided Luna to a part of the forest neither of them had explored before. Rather than fight their way through the tightly knitted trees, the sisters took off into the sky and flew over the forest below.