Legacy of the Sun

by Alexstrazsa

First published 2nd of March, 2012

This is the story of Celestia, and her life before Twilight.

Everypony knows of Celestia, the benevolent ruler of Equestria and bringer of the sun. However, things weren't always so peaceful and easy going for the princess. This is the tale of Celestia, and her past.

This was a NaPoWriMo submission, and at 12:00AM October 1st, 23,498 words had been typed. I will continue working on it and updating it. Also, at this point, it's so non-canon it hurts.

1 - A New Dawn

Chapter 1: A New Dawn
Age: 0

High in the sky, the brilliant sun shone above Equestria, casting it’s soft rays across the high mountains, with their snowy peaks; the rolling plains, filled with wildflowers and streams; and the lush forests, with their exotic plant life and woodland creatures. One forest, however, was much more vast than the rest, and was positively brimming with color and life. Bright leaves hung from tree branches, swaying gently in the passing breeze. On the ground, wild plants grew in all shapes and sizes, from tall ones to short ones to vibrant ones which became picturesque in nature. Accompanying the varied flora was its extraordinary fauna, ranging from small, playful fairies to large, captivating sea serpents, and even the intimidating celestial beasts. All of the creatures lived their lives fully and peacefully, enjoying the safe and inviting atmosphere that the forest provided for them.

The few groups of ponies that stumbled upon the lush woodlands found it accommodating, and their travels through it would be some of the most serene adventures they had ever experienced. Those who had the chance to observe the forest in all of it’s glory would say that anything that lived there would be able to live freely and flourish. To them, it was a breath of fresh air, much greater than the chaotic world outside the woodland. Their tales of grandeur would eventually have the forest drawn on maps and written in literature with a single, majestic name, fit to describe it’s pleasures: Everfree.

Nestled deep in the heart of Everfree Forest was a stone castle, standing alone on a cliff edge. The land it was perched on had long since been torn from the rest of the forest, most likely ripped apart through a great, primordial earthquake or similar sundering. Connecting the tracts of land was a simple rope bridge, hanging above a river which flowed gently at the bottom of the deep crevasse. Healthy green blades of grass blanketed the cliff side, occasionally glinting with morning dew that hadn’t yet evaporated.

The castle itself was modest in it’s construction, only containing four buildings which were connected via hallways to a central tower. Upon closer inspection, one would find great stained glass windows adorning some of the rooms, and simple yet effective wooden doors. The main structure was very tall, being the only piece of the castle that poked above the treeline. Crawling up the spire, in a neat and patterned fashion, were straightforward windows; two crossed beams, so that nothing unwanted - save for the occasional bird - could enter. Nearing the topmost section of the tower, the windows circled around, giving away the location of a room. At the eastern side of the chamber, looking out through the window, was an alicorn.

The rays of sun piercing through the window pulled a lustrous shine out of his dark, almost ebony coat. It very closely resembled the dark blue hue of the night sky, and if he were to fly during the cold hours of early morning, it would be as if he didn’t exist at all. On his flank, a single bright star was shown, surrounded by darkness that gradually faded away. Cascading from his head and seeming to float in an invisible stream was his sleek mane. The hair, which appeared more ethereal than physical, was shiny and obsidian in complexion. It wasn’t the gravity defiant movements his mane had which caught the eye, however, but rather the effect it had. Instead of a simple mane, his acted more like a view into the heavens, constantly changing based on his movements. As he stood still, gazing across the forest, the changing shape only altered the size and frame of the astral window.

Adorning his neck was a burnished, dark grey piece of armor. In it’s center was a deep topaz gem, cut into the shape of a half moon, and studded expertly into the metal. The sunlight glinted across it and sent light blue reflections across the stone in front of him. Similarly colored metal to his chest piece was also crafted into shoes, with baroque designs cut out of the metal. To complete the royal ensemble was a slate colored crown resting on his head, embellished with sapphire stones encrusted in it. He had personally crafted this armor many years ago, using the delicate finesse of his magical abilities.

The tall stallion held a proud expression as he looked over the forest, as a father would look over a child who was receiving a reward, for he was surveying his kingdom. Although godly in size and features, his face was beginning to show the creeping signs of his age. This particular alicorn had walked Equestria for over 3,400 years, and his piercing, brilliant cyan eyes had seen countless lifetimes of events. He remained silent for a long time, before he finally opened his mouth.

“It’s truly beautiful, isn’t it?”

His voice was regal and commanding, but at the same time calm and composed. When he spoke, it was with a knowing and wise tone, for he chose his words carefully. This alicorns name was Sonance, and it was only several hundred more years until he ascended.

Sonance’s ears perked up and rotated to behind him as he heard a lighter voice, but with the same sagely tone. It was light and dainty, with a determined undertone. Above all, the sound and nature of the voice drifted through his ears like music.

“Very, and it shall only become more lovely in time.”

The dark alicorn finally turned from the window and looked back to the origin of the voice, which was resting comfortably on a large, soft bed. She was a bright alicorn, and although in the shade of the room, still seemed to glow and shine. Some of the radiance was created through her wild, untamed mane, with locks of hair that flowed in numerous directions, never staying within a solid boundary. It’s shape was reminiscent of tongues of fire, freshly made in a blazing inferno, and the color was similar: a golden yellow in the middle which slowly transitioned into a warm orange. Her stunning mane and tail were like the sun itself was being channeled through her, a presumption that was supported even further by her coat color. She was covered in a light amber, which also appeared to give off a soft glow, but not quite as intense as her mane. Pictured on her flanks was an image of a ball of flame, with the fire spreading outward in all directions.

Similarly to Sonance, the soft auburn alicorn donned armor, though hers was a lustrous, reflective gold. Faceted onto the center was a blood red stone of garnet, cut into a near perfect circle. Polished golden shoes complimented the chest piece, carved with an intricate lace pattern and reaching up to her knees. Atop her head laid a small golden tiara, which brimmed with garnet, citrine, and gold beryl.

Below the crown were her compassionate, perceptive eyes, which held a luminous fuchsia color. As with her husband, she too was beginning to see the signs of her aging, and had been noticing them for years. Her name was Rhapsody, and she had been helping Equestria survive for over the same amount of time Sonance had: 3,400 years.

“It’s a shame we won’t be around to see it grow further.” Sonance said, walking to the bed. He leisurely climbed on the cushioned mattress and brought himself closer to Rhapsody, until their bodies were touching. Rhapsody smiled warmly and lifted a wing, embracing Sonance with it.

“Oh Sonance, we still have several hundred years.” Rhapsody replied, nuzzling her husband’s neck.

Sonance let out a peaceful sigh, allowing his thoughts to wander for a moment. “What you say is true.” He turned his head to his wife. “However, we’re going to need an heir.”

Rhapsody made no effort to hide the redness building in her cheeks, or the small grin sneaking across her mouth. “One heir may not be enough; perhaps we should have two?”

“You’ve always been ambitious, darling.” Sonance said, kissing Rhapsody on the cheek. “From the vast peaks to the endless oceans to our very castle, you’ve been the mind behind it all.”

“And you’ve always been the flatterer.” Rhapsody jauntily replied.

Sonance couldn’t help but chuckle at his wife’s cheeky honesty. “While that may be the case, my statement holds true. In six hundred years time, we’ll ascend into the cosmos, leaving our descendants to take care of Equestria.”

The soft amber alicorn laid her head against Sonance, getting into a more comfortable position. Some strands of her hair flicked and prodded at his mane, as if they wanted to dance around with their astral counterparts. “I know, dear. Perhaps, in several years, we’ll have a foal of our own.”

Sonance closed his eyes, his thoughts turning to the future. “I would love that.”

“Then it’s settled. We’ll bring forth a successor.”

Time went on, with Sonance and Rhapsody attending to the daily needs of Equestria and discussing the necessity of a successor. Their conversations ranged from the color of their foals coat, to the gender it would be, and even how many they were going to have. It wasn’t until three years later, on one early summer morning when the sun was just peeking over the horizon, that their first foal was born.

The day was brand new - still dark in the west, where the sun’s light didn’t quite reach yet. The beams of light that made it to Equestria lit up the scenery, casting a warm orange glow over whatever they touched. This included the castle tower, perched above the trees in Everfree. It was in this tower that the sun reached a mother finishing her ultimate struggle.

Rhapsody was sprawled out on the bed, panting from the exertion and strain she had to go through moments earlier. Her eyes were tightly shut, the agony having not yet subsided. Even though she was an alicorn, gifted with divine magical ability, child birth had still proven to be a strenuous and painful ordeal. Her coat was damp from sweat, and beads of it had gathered at her brow and were beginning to drip down her pale face. Silently, she thanked all the cosmos for being relived of the suffering.

Sonance had assisted with the delivery, comforting Rhapsody and helping her through the process. He offered words of encouragement and magical aid when he could, but beyond that, it was in Rhapsody’s hooves. She had proved herself more than capable, however, and after a mere seven minutes (Sonance had been nervously counting), the birth was an overwhelming success. The hours of labor that Rhapsody had gone through had finally bore fruit. After Sonance used his magic to administer a mandatory cleanup, he hurriedly wrapped the foal in a soft blanket and held it close to him. He crawled on the bed and sat next to Rhapsody, who was beginning to recover from her plight.

“You did so well, my dear.” Sonance said, gently licking Rhapsody’s cheek.

“I wouldn’t have done nearly as well without you.” she replied, looking to him and offering a smile. Her luminous pink eyes were beginning to moisten, solely from the exultation she was feeling at the moment.

Sonance leaned down and gave her a light kiss, before asking, “Would you like to see her?”

Rhapsody nodded in agreement. “Of course. I want nothing more right now.”

The night alicorn brought the small bundle of blanket over to Rhapsody, and gently pulled back the cloth. Her eyes glistened and tears began to steadily flow out as she looked upon her newborn. The foal slowly opened her eyes, revealing two magenta irises that sparkled in the dawn’s light. Her coat was a majestic alabaster, with just a hint of rose red in it. Finally, the young one’s mane was an eye catching pink, that was slightly wavy and flowed down her back. Poking out of the hair was a tiny horn, and on her back was a pair of feathered wings, not quite big enough for flight yet. She was everything that the couple could have hoped for, and the tears falling off both of their faces was more than enough to prove that fact.

“She’s absolutely gorgeous.” Sonance said, wiping the moisture from his eyes.

“She is. She really is.” Rhapsody agreed, sniffling.

Sonance pulled the sheets away from the foals flank, revealing a cutie mark already in place. It depicted the sun, showing a yellow circle surrounded by distorted orange triangles. The sight of it caused Rhapsody to gasp, and put a hoof to her mouth.

“My, she already has her mark. She’s been destined from birth.” the dark alicorn looked closer at the mark, studying it and observing it.

“It’s lovely.” Rhapsody said, also looking at the image. “She’s meant to raise the sun.”

“I think it’s more than that.” Sonance said. “It might be much greater than just raising the sun...” He shook his head and smiled. “Only time can tell, and we’ll be gone long before that.”

“Whatever her destiny is, I’m sure she’ll make the best of it.”

“I’m sure she will.”

“Sonance, what shall we name her?”

Sonance closed his eyes, lost deep in thought. He looked at her cutie mark, envisioned what he thought of her destiny, and considered her future place in the world. She would be regent of the sun, bringer of light, and princess of Equestria. She would grow to be a powerful alicorn, maybe even exceed them, and one day join them in the endless cosmos. Sonance pondered all of this for moment, then opened his eyes, knowing the answer to his wife’s question. He looked down at the foal, then to his wife, and smiled. With his prevalent wise, profound, and determined tone - that only time and experience could have forged - he proclaimed a single word:

“Celestia.”

2 - Learning Stages

Chapter 2: Learning Stages
Age: 200

Many years had passed since the world changing day that Celestia, heir to the throne of Equestria and bringer of the dawn, had been born. The Everfree forest had shown signs of it’s continuing age, with many of it’s trees growing closer to the bedroom of the castle. The forest was still vibrant and full of life, very similar to the young princess who grew up around it.

Celestia crouched in a small bush, peeking her eyes out at a butterfly which lazily flew to a flower. It slowly flapped it’s wings as it landed, showing off its elegant patterns and colors. The princess licked her lips and bent her legs, before pouncing out of the brush at the insect. The small creature was smart enough to quickly move, however, and Celestia only manged to land in a flower bed and lose her balance, tumbling to the ground. She brought a hoof to her face and wiped a lock of pink hair out of her eyes before watching the butterfly make its way to a far off tree. She gave a defeated frown as she got up, but soon became fascinated with a bright yellow flower and trotted towards it.

Being an alicorn, Celestia’s aging process was greatly slowed, which is why the two hundred year old pony was still but a young filly. She had just begun her life in the time it took many generations to live and die. This fact wasn’t known to the princess, however, as the family kept quiet in the deep woods. To Celestia, her long life was perfectly normal, and her parents would prefer it to stay that way - at least until she were an adult.

It wasn’t long before Sonance found himself in the small clearing that Celestia was playing in; he had heard her giggling long before he spotted her. He couldn’t help but a find a smile overtake him when he saw the tiny filly chasing after birds and other woodland creatures, in a vain attempt at a game of tag.

“Come back here, mister bird!” Celestia called, running after a blue jay gliding through the forest.

Sonance leaned against a tree and silently watched his daughter enjoy herself, not wanting to spoil the moment. After the avian had flown past the treetops, Celestia huffed and turned around, quickly spotting her father. Sonance waved a hoof as their eyes met.

“Daddy!” she squealed in delight, rushing over to him with a wide grin. The young princess nearly tackled his leg as she embraced it, nuzzling him affectionately.

“Hello there, little one.” Sonance said, kneeling down so he could be eye level with her. “Are you having fun?”

“Yeah! I just wish the birds wouldn’t fly so fast.” she gave an adorable little pout.

“Someday soon, you’ll be able to fly with them.” Sonance replied.

“You really think so?” Celestia asked.

“I know so. In fact, I think it’s time for some flying lessons.”

The little alicorn’s eyes lit up at the notion of learning how to fly. She had always watched her mother and father take wing, often to gather food, and questioning when she would learn was a near daily occurrence. “Oh, yes, yes, yes!” she cheered.

Sonance’s horn lit up and he gently lifted Celestia onto his back, making sure to be careful with her. He stood up and began walking towards the castle, which was only several hundred feet away.

“Daddy, when can I fly as good as you?”

“Oh, I’d say a few hundred years.”

Celestia melodramatically groaned. “A few hundred? That’s really long!”

“It is a long time, but flying takes practice and patience.”

“If I try real hard, can I be good at it sooner?”

Sonance lightly laughed. “I suppose you could.”

The two of them went to a small courtyard, tucked inside of the castle, for Celestia’s flying practice. Sonance went through the basics, showing her how to properly lift off, how to control her height, speed and descent, and how to land safely. However, despite the small alicorn’s efforts, her wings weren’t quite strong enough for her to stay afloat for more than a few seconds. Her diligence didn’t go unrewarded, though, as Sonance offered to play a game of hide and seek with her when they were finished. After a fit of running around and laughing, the two of them laid next to each other in the soft grass. It was then that Celestia asked a peculiar question.

“Daddy, why was I born with my cutie mark?”

The inquiry was a surprise to Sonance, who had to think about what he was just asked. He turned his head to Celestia, who was staring at him inquisitively. Her small head was cocked to the side as she patiently awaited his answer.

“Well...” Sonance started, bringing a hoof to his chin and rubbing it. “I think it’s because you’re a very important pony.”

“How?”

“Here we go.” Sonance thought. He rolled over onto his stomach and stood up, Celestia following suit. “Come, Celestia. Let us talk.”

“Okay!” she said, walking to his side.

They began their light walk through the courtyard, entering one of the buildings. “You see, Celestia, someday, you will rule all of Equestria.”

The little filly’s eyes widened at the statement. “Wow, really?!” she exclaimed.

“Indeed. When you were born and your mother and I saw your cutie mark, we believed that you would also raise the sun.”

Celestia looked through a nearby window to see the sun’s rays shining over some plant life and parts of the castle. Her gaze drifted upwards, into the sky, where the intense, bright orb hung. “I’ll be able to move that?” she said, not able to believe her fathers words.

Sonance nodded. “Of course, just as your mother and I do. However, she tends to deal with the sun more often than myself.” He noticed himself starting to drift off topic. “Regardless, one day, you will be princess of Equestria, and the only one able to bring the sun up for dawn.” Their idle walking brought them in front of the castle now, near the rope bridge hanging across the gulch. Sonance slowed to a stop, then looked down at his daughter. “Would you like to learn how to raise the sun?”

“That sounds hard.” Celestia said, scrunching up her nose.

“Oh, it’s not so difficult with a bit of practice.” As if to demonstrate the ease, Sonance’s horn glowed for a moment, and the sun seemed to move ever so slightly along it’s course. “I’ll have to push that back later...”

“Wow...” Celestia said, her mouth slightly hanging open. The dark alicorn gently brought a hoof to her chin and shut it, with a grin.

“It’s a bit of a feat, at first. You should try.”

“Do you think I can do it?”

“I believe in you, Celestia.” He knelt down next to the princess, and used his hoof to motion to the bright sun. “Just imagine that you’re taking a mighty hoof, and pushing the sun along it’s way.”

“Um... I’ll try.” Celestia closed her eyes and focused, pointing her horn in the direction of the sun. It gained a soft glow, as her magic was being channeled through it. She felt the strain as she attempted to push the great star forward, and it’s increasing difficulty caused her to spread her hooves out and brace herself, as if she herself was pushing the star. The glow intensified, and slight sparks began to jump out; a clear indicator of the amount of effort this little filly was putting forth. Sonance eagerly watched as Celestia attempted the impossible task set forth, almost inspired by her diligence and perseverance. Finally, she gasped and fell to the ground, her horn returning to it’s regular, matte color.

“Did... did it work?” she asked, not even bothering to look up. The small alicorn was much too tired from the attempt.

Sonance gave a light hearted laugh as he delivered the unfortunate news. “I’m afraid not, little one, but you certainly tried!” He helped Celestia to her hooves, allowing her to lean against his leg for support. “Don’t fret, someday it will come naturally to you.”

“Daddy, I think I’m done trying to move the sun right now.”

“That’s okay, my dear. Later, you can try moving the moon.”

Her eyes widened, the dread of having to try and move that heavenly body as well washing over her. “Not that, too!”

Sonance laughed, using his magic to place the tired princess on his back and walking back into the castle. “We’ll practice that some other night.”

Celestia let out a high pitched yawn, and curled up on her father’s back. “Okay...”

“You should always try and practice your magic, Celestia. One day, your mother and I won’t be here to raise the sun and moon for Equestria.” Sonance pursed his lips immediately after saying his last sentence, silently contemplating if he had just revealed too much for the young alicorn.

“I don’t really get it.” she said, allowing a wave of relief to fall over Sonance.

“That’s fine. You’ll understand in the future.”

The two of them were silent as Sonance walked through the stone hallways. Sooner or later, him and Rhapsody were going to need to let Celestia know what would happen in four hundred years time, but they just didn’t know how to tell her. It was a puzzling ordeal that pained Sonance every time he thought about it. He would need to think on it.

Sonance reached the entrance to the tower, where he let Celestia down. She rubbed her eyes a bit, still tired from the sun raising attempt, and wobbled slightly as she touched the ground. Sonance eyed her carefully to make sure she wouldn’t topple over, and after confirming she would be alright, spoke.

“I’m going to go out into the forest now. How about you play in the courtyard while I’m gone?”

“Alright, daddy.” she said, starting to perk up.

“Stay safe.” Sonance said, giving her a hug before trotting off. Celestia then thought about what to do, after her father went on his way. She looked to the courtyard, then behind her to the stairs leading up. In her little mind, she formed a plan to get some answers.

Celestia’s ‘plan’ consisted of walking up the stairs and consulting her mother on the issue. While not the most complicated of actions, in her mind it was a genius idea. She reached the top of the long flight of stairs, panting as she walked into her parents room. Although she slept here as well, the abundance of things belonging to her mother and father were enough to label it as their room. She found Rhapsody sitting at a desk, using the sunlight coming through the window to illuminate the paper she was writing on. Hearing Celestia’s breaths, she turned around and looked at her daughter.

“Celestia, my love! What brings you here?” The soft auburn alicorn got up and embraced Celestia, even curling her wings around for extra comfort. Celestia particularly enjoyed when her mother did this, as it made her feel warm and safe - though she was shy in speaking of it.

“I wanted to ask you about my cutie mark.” Celestia said, looking up and smiling at Rhapsody. There was no denying her daughter’s plea.

“What about?”

“Well, I asked daddy about it, and he said that it means I’m gonna be really important, but I don’t know why.”

“Come here, my young Celestia.” Rhapsody walked to the southern window of the room, which was overlooking one of the small structures in the castle. It was barely visible through the trees, but still remained noticeable because of it’s contrast in color. The light amber alicorn levitated her daughter on her back, so that the princess would get a better view through the windows.

“What about my-”

“Patience, little one. Your father and I believe that one day, you might rule Equestria for the greater good.”

“So my cutie mark is about being good?” Celestia raised an eyebrow, this answer clearly not what she had been expecting.

“It might be.” She took hold of Celestia and let her back down on the floor, then laid down herself. “To be honest, we don’t know exactly what your cutie mark means, darling.”

“Aww...” Celestia let out a disappointed groan.

“One day, you’ll figure it out for yourself. I’m sure of it.”

“I hope so.” the small alicorn replied, looking down and lightly pawing at the floor. “Can I ask another question?”

“Of course you can.”

“Daddy says that one day you and him will have to leave. Is that true?”

Celestia was too young to notice the quick look of surprise flash across Rhapsody’s face. She clearly hadn’t prepared for a question like this. For now, all she could do was answer the best way she could, and hope her daughter didn’t keep pressing the issue.

“This, too, is something else you learn in time, my dear.”

The white alicorn pouted, still not satisfied. She wasn’t very fond of all of the waiting she had been told to do recently, whether it be for finding out what her cutie mark really meant, why she was born with it, and if she would be able to raise the sun and moon. Rhapsody noticed the look of disappointment in her daughters eyes, but was unsure of what to tell her.

“Thank you, mommy. I’m gonna go downstairs and play now.”

“As you wish.” She leaned down and nuzzled Celestia, ruffling her pink mane. “Stay safe, dear.”

Celestia left the room and begun the long descent down the staircase. “I guess if mommy and daddy say I’ll know one day, then I’ll just wait.” she thought, as she walked down the steps. There was too much on her young mind, and right now she wanted nothing more than to explore through one of the mysterious parts of the courtyard. She had always loved to explore.

The shadowy alicorn gave a heavy sigh as he entered the room at the top of the tower, mane flowing loosely behind him. “What are we going to tell her, Rhapsody?”

“I’m just as lost as you are, my dear.” she replied, looking out one of the windows. Her horn flashed as the sun dipped behind the horizon, leaving only the bright moon making it’s way into the sky.

Sonance practically fell into the bed when he approached it, stretching his limbs out and pulling off his armored shoes. They fell to the ground with a hollow clang, which echoed throughout the stone room. “I want her to know the truth, but I fear she’s too young to understand.”

Rhapsody crawled onto the bed and cuddled next to her worried husband. “Sonance, my lunar prince, perhaps time will solve this problem.”

“Do you really believe that?” Sonance turned to his wife, frowning. “She deserves to know what the ascendancy will entail.”

“You worry for her, don’t you?”

“Of course I do. I’m just not certain she’ll be able to rule Equestria alone when we’re gone.”

Rhapsody sighed and laid her head on Sonance’s silky mane. “Our little sun princess might get along well with a little moon princess.”

“Is that what she needs? A sibling? She certainly wouldn’t be alone...”

“I think it might be just what we’re looking for.” she gently kissed the dark alicorn’s cheek. He returned the affectionate gesture, unfurling his wing and wrapping it around her.

“Hopefully, this will help her. All I want is for her to be happy.”

“As do I, Sonance... as do I.”

The faint sound of tiny hooves clopping against stone alerted them to Celestia’s approach, and they silently nodded; an agreement to stay quiet about the predicament. In four hundred terribly short years, the two of them would learn whether they had made the right choice or not.