Prologue

“Waiting”

Princess Celestia, the proud ruler of Equestria, was having a very keen sense of déjà-vu. She looked down at the letter held aloft by her magic with a grimace. The words flowed well together, the sentence structure was sound, but it lacked… something. Perhaps it was that she was not writing to her most faithful student in the way she had so many times in the past, or maybe it was that she was once again writing the words of another Alicorn. The same Alicorn who had dictated the last letter that had made her feel this way.

She looked up from the letter and gazed around her throne room. The magnificent chamber was temporarily devoid of guards by her orders, for it would not do for them to know that their Princess had the ability to answer letters before they even arrived. She smirked. Or for them to know that she knew somepony else who could… Her eyes shifted to the doorway directly ahead of her.

Any moment now.

As if by a cue, the doors glowed a smoky-silver color and swung open. A single cloaked figure entered the magnificent chamber, his black hood pulled up over his head.

Princess Celestia was once again struck by the feeling of déjà-vu. She remembered the first time this Alicorn had entered her throne room, incapacitating countless guards as if it were nothing and walking up to her merely to bow and announce his presence. Just as he did now.

“Princess.” The Alicorn’s voice was a deep, dark baritone. There was a slight edge to it today which would have gone unnoticed by anypony else, but when somepony has been your closest companion for almost a thousand years you begin to hear things others cannot.

“Ven, it is good to see you again. I take it that it is time?” The Princess looked at the cloaked stallion as he pulled back this hood, revealing a scarred face and strained eyes.

“It should be any moment now, if my calculations are correct, that is,” Lord Ven, high commander of the military forces of Equestria, watcher of the night, and the only reason that Princess Celestia had managed to stay sane for the previous ten centuries, was very stressed indeed.

“Well, I suppose that this is a cause for celebration then. With my sister’s eminent return and the arrival of the others, perhaps we can finally begin our final preparations.” The Princess stood from her throne and walked over to her grand window. Lord Ven followed closely behind, as they had many times before.

“I will not lie, I am quite looking forward to relinquishing control of the night to your sister. I would prefer to focus entirely on continuing the revitalization of our military, but having to protect Equestria for half of the year as well was guarding the dreams of a whole nation is rather taxing.” Ven flashed a lopsided grin. “I don’t know how you would have managed it without me,” he said with a wink.

Celestia laughed. It was the first time she had seen him smile in far too long. “I suppose I do owe you a debt of gratitude. I only wish that the population of Equestria knew about you. Living in obscurity is no way for one of Equestria’s greatest heroes to spend his life.”

Ven hung his head, any trace of a smile gone. “You know I don’t want that Tia. Fame was my goal a long time ago, but I’m somepony else now. I’ve changed, in more ways than one. You and Luna deserve the spotlight. I’m content to be your shadow.”

Celestia shook her head. After such a long time, she had come to expect Ven’s knowledge of just about any subject, up to and including the other Princess that he had never met, but that did not mean she was used to it.

“Well, I still don’t think that is the best course of action. What if we…” The ruler’s idea was interrupted by a bright flash as a scroll appeared in front of her.

“Ah, right on time.” Lord Ven picked up the scroll using his peculiar silver-grey magic and skimmed it. “Worded exactly as I expected. Here, take a look.” He handed the scroll to Celestia, who read the contents of the letter.

“Someday, I am going to realize that you are always right about these things and blindly do whatever you say. Or maybe I’ll just let you take over Equestria and go surfing at the beach.”

Ven grinned again. “My Princess, the day you do not doubt and test me is the day I begin to doubt and question myself. And I am not as good at it as you.”

Celestia allowed herself another chuckle. Their humor always was a cover for their stress, and today’s humor seemed oddly poignant to the ruler.

“So, you are certain that she is the sixth?” She inquired.

“Positive. You should be ready for tonight. I don’t think your temporary imprisonment will be particularly comfortable.” Ven looked out the window. “Give it another thirty seconds. We wouldn’t want your student to know that we already had written our reply. She might catch on.”

Celestia nodded. The two of them waited a short time, and then Celestia sent her letter with a puff of summoned dragon flame.

“So, now I just wait to be placed in a prison by the evil alter ego of my estranged sister. Wonderful. Are you going to take the capsule now?” Celestia turned back to face the other Alicorn once more. He nodded as he pulled his hood over his head.

“Yes. Have you finished the last alterations?”

“I have. The teleportation spell is completely attuned to the exact frequency you requested.” Celestia walked over to her throne and placed her hoof on a small orb on the back of the magnificent chair. A small grey cylinder popped out and was caught by her magic. She handed it to Ven.

“Perfect. I will take it there now.” He began to leave the throne room, but pasued halfway to the door. “Oh, and Tia?”

Celestia walked over to him and replied, “Yes?”

“Try to remember that you need to be captured by Nightmare Moon. Go easy on her,” he winked his unscarred golden eye at her as he exited the room.

Celestia then heard the odd sound of wind blowing that always accompanied Ven’s teleportation spell. She smiled slightly.

The ruler of Equestria walked back toward the window and looked out over the shining city of Canterlot. It was quite peaceful despite the hustle and bustle that always accompanied such large cities.

“Well, one can only hope it will stay that way… for a while, at least,” she said to no one in particular.

And one can only hope that Ven is wrong, and that all our preparations are for nothing. After all, who would hope for a war?

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