Chapter 4

Two Fillies One Destiny

In the early hours of night, the white castle with purple pointed roofs stood tall gazing down at the horizon and forest below. The inhabitants of the kingdom’s city were just starting to turn in for the night. In the library, of the castle, the king, a black Alicorn with a grey mane and tail sat at his studies; his golden eyes scanned through the pages of his book of enchantments. The candle gave an appropriate amount of light so he could see what he was reading. He was about to turn the page when, from the cracked doors, he saw something slide across the floor. He stared at the supposedly empty room and waited for the tall tell signs of his queen galloping down the halls at the same speed. Sure enough, a second Alicorn darted passed the cracked doors chasing after what looked like a cloud with wings.

“Celestia!” the Queen cried out to the air born filly. “Careful you might hurt yourself!”

The sound of their daughter’s laughs echoed in the halls as the king stopped reading and stood to assist his wife. Upon approaching the doors he once again turned his head to face the place where the object from before was hiding. With a sigh his horn glowed dark blue and he aimed his spell at the spot where the thing was and out came hovering toward him was a stuffed animal. He opened the doors of the library and was immediately greeted by the sound of flapping wings as his wife soared passed the railing still in hot pursuit of their daughter. The filly laughed cheerfully as she preformed a number of dangerous stunts that were sure to give her mother a heart attack.

“I guess it’s Celestia’s turn for flying this time around?” he called out to his wife as she shot him a mean look before chasing the delighted filly into the throne room.

From the halls behind him the king sensed that he wasn’t alone and turned to see a second filly. This one was dark blue with a small navy blue mane and tail. Her once light blue eyes were solid white. Her small horn glowed and with a small pop, she teleported and reappeared at the top the stairs. Dropping the toy, the king approached his second daughter with caution. It was quite common for newly born unicorns to go through a spark of strong magic, but in both of their daughter’s cases they went through moments of immense power from magic or being able to fly without any problems what so ever thanks to their wings. The kings horn glowed again as he cast an orb that gently encased the blue filly inside it and he carefully rocked the ball back and forth. The filly inside relaxed and closed her eyes drifting off into a peaceful sleep. Smiling to himself the king brought the magical orb to him. He looked at his youngest daughter in wonder as from the throne room, the sound of something crashing into the wall was heard and a few seconds later the laughter died out.

His wife came walking out with her crown tilted on the left side of her head and part of her golden mane hid a part of her face that was breathing heavily. Before he could make a remark she flew past him with the white filly tucked under her hooves. Back in the kids’ room, they gingerly placed the two fillies in their crib.

“These two are going to grow to be great flyers,” said the king thoughtfully.

“What makes you say that?” asked his queen a little waspishly.

“Did you see what our Celestia did back there?”

“Yes, and I’m glad I caught her when I did!” said the queen frowning. “I swear I almost fainted when she managed to pull out of her dive in time.”

The king thought he might laugh, but the look his wife gave him made him think twice before doing so. The two fillies turned in their sleep and muttered hard to understand words under their breath. The king and queen nuzzled their children before leaving and once they were back in the halls they stared at each other.

“Dear,” said the queen. “I’ve been thinking…”

“Oh, have you?” asked the king smiling at her. “What is it this time?”

“I think once the girls are old enough we should let them live like everypony else.”

“But they are not like everypony else,” said the king frowning. “They are born under royalty and above all, they are Alicorns.”

“Night Shade, I want them to have a chance at a normal life,” said the queen

“With their abilities?” questioned Night Shade. “Star Bright, it will be difficult for them to fit in. You’ve seen what they are capable of especially when it comes to magic.”

“Which is why they might be better off growing up without that knowledge!” replied Star Bright stepping in front of her husband so he could look her in the eyes.

“So in other words you want them to test their fate?” questioned Night Shade wondering if letting their daughters grow without their destinies was a good idea.

“I want them to live their lives as they see fit,” said Star Bright.

The two stared at each other. They wanted the best for their daughters of course, but having the two grow up with little knowledge about their true destinies was hard to swallow. Star Bright knew that one day one of their daughters would find out and when that happened what would they tell them?

“Come with me,” said Night Shade placing a wing on his queens shoulders.

Star Bright was hesitant at first, but she allowed her husband to guid her to the library where he levitated a book down from the highest shelf. Upon opening it, Star Bright saw the cover titled, “Alicorn Mythos” She had a sneaking suspicion of what this was all about and before she could say something to Night Shade the page he was looking for was found.

“Look at this,” he told her noting the title of the chapter, “Destinies after Birth”.

“Night Shade, you can’t be serious!” said Star Bright appalled by his meaning for bringing her to the library. “This is… It can’t be right! This book is…”

“Our races history.” Night Shade finished for her patiently. “While, granted some accusations are beyond the norm, most of what’s in hear is accurate.”

“I think your getting ahead of yourself dear." said Star Bright, her eyes were only on the black Alicorn in front of her. "The girls aren’t even of age yet.”

“But they will be and as their magic grows with them, it will only be a matter of time before it’s decided.”

Star Bright didn’t speak. She begrudgingly looked at the chapter in the only history book they had about their race as if it was something unpleasant she had found on her horseshoe. According to the legend, Alicorns don’t know their purpose until their magical abilities decide that for them; however, if they are not destined, then they will live normally without having to carry such a heavy burden. Well… As abnormal as it gets considering they have horns and wings instead of one specialty. Not to mention they live longer than anypony else. Night Shade sighed and closed the book.

“Listen, maybe you’re right. Maybe we should let them have a chance at a normal life.”

“Thank you,” said Star Bright, happy that he had seen reason and the two nuzzled each other.

Night Shade told his wife that he would be in their bedroom in just a few minutes before she left him to his studies. The king was lost in thought as the chapter on destiny under royalty kept popping up in his head. If their Daughters were to live without knowing of their supposed destinies then this book would have to hidden from them until the time was right.

Ten years later….

For the longest time, Celestia and Luna lived their lives without a care in the world. Celestia was known to her friends as a proud leader, but maybe, a bit too proud. While her abilities to stand out in front of the crowd brought happiness to her admiring fans. It also brought out a narcissistic side to Celestia. Luna on the other hoof was quiet and kept to herself most of the time, but even she had limits. When she wanted to be heard, she made absolutely sure of it when her voice rang out. This startled most ponies since they would have never expected such a small and quiet filly to be capable of such a powerful voice. When she and Celestia were being bullied she would use her vocals as her ultimate weapon against ponies that knew how to talk the talk but not in force it. Despite being Alicorns, the two girls had managed just fine. They had their share of friends and together they stuck up for each other and were willing to give a helping hoof to anypony in need.

One afternoon in Canterlot, Celestia and Luna had just finished with their magic training and galloped off to get started with their flying lessons. Since the two were Alicorns they had no choice but to take two classes instead of one like their friends. In order for this to work, their parents let them study magic under a blissful unicorn who seemed far too lost in dream land that it was a wonder of how she kept a serious attitude when the two girls had her lessons. Their flight training was being handled by the captain of the royal guard’s right hooved man, Snap Shot or as Celestia liked to call him, “Captain Grump.” Snap Shot was a young brown Pegasus with green eyes with a blue mane and tail. His armored chest plate and hooves shined in the suns light.

“All right everypony!” boomed Snap Shot who marched around the open field they were on. “Last week we worked on our wing strength. This time I want you to actually fly!”

“Alright!” Celestia said excitedly to Luna. “Now we can finally get started!”

“But once you are air born I want you to follow me, and pay close attention! Can I trust you can manage that Celestia?” he asked the white Alicorn who looked up at her instructor.

“I said, can I expect your full attention this time?” repeated Snap Shot.

“Of course, why would I ever want to stray off course?” Celestia implied.

This made Snap Shot glare at her before he backed away, spread his wings and began to stretch them.

“I trust you two have been preforming the wing exorcizes I wanted you to do.”

“Oh yeah,” said Celestia grinning sheepishly. “Wing ups, that thing where we have to stay in place for a while before we allow ourselves to drop and so on..”

“We’ll see about that,” said Snap Shot a little waspishly.

With one last stretch he began to pump his wings up and down in fluid motion. The two Alicorns followed his actions and began to flap their wings too.

“That’s it you two! Keep it up! Not too fast or you’ll be too tired to go anywhere once your off the ground! Good, now kick yourselves off the ground and… YOU’RE OFF!”

Snap Shot bent his knees down and once he sprung back up, he was hoisted into the air and soared gracefully above the two aw inspired Alicorns. The two girls did as they were told and bent their knees readying to kick off at a moments notice. As they concentrated they felt something growing strong from inside them and their heads felt light.

“Come on,” said Snap Shot eagerly. “We’re burning daylight!”

Celestia was the first to lift herself off the ground. She gave a small shriek as her body felt like it might fall, but when she opened her eyes and looked at what she was doing it was impossible to hold back her excitement.

“WAHOO! Luna you have got to try this! Its great! I feel so free up here!”

Luna looked up at her sister and she too kicked off the ground and joined the two ponies above her. It took a while for the two to gain balance and once they did, Snap Shot told them to fallow him. The two flew after their instructor as he led them through the sky. They flew past clouds and started to make turns. Turning at first was harder than flying in a straight path. The girls turned but stayed there for too long and plummeted only to be saved by Snap Shot who began teach them how to maintain balance when they turned. He watched them carefully incase they lost control and started hurdling to the ground again.

“Wait, this time for sure! I know I can do this Snap Shot!” said Celestia with a determined look.

Celestia made to turn again, this time she felt her body begin to tilt a little harder than it was supposed to and she pulled to the left a little to even out of the wind moving through her wings and coat. She felt as if she was a gliding on a cloud as the wind flowed across her body making her mane and tail flow behind her. The cold air made her face feel chilly but she didn’t care. Spreading her hooves out, she glided through the sky like knife through butter. Taking advantage of the moment, she climbed higher so she was inches from a cloud and wondered what it must feel like to go through one. She casually spun on her back and faced the large white flake. Reaching her hoof out she brushed the cloud making a line form as she soared passed it. She felt as if her hoof had just brushed up against the surface of a lake. She then turned back on her stomach and flew to her instructor and sister who eyed her with impression. Before Snap Shot could say anything, Celestia came speeding toward them and in an instant she zoomed by leaving a beleaguered instructor behind in the dust.

“Celestia, get back here!” he hollered after her. “You’re going too fast!”

Celestia couldn’t hear him and the farther away she went the more she wanted to find out what else she could do. She turned back and headed toward the two stationary ponies. The closer she got to them, she heard Snap Shot’s enraged voice call out to her as she flew passed them once again. This time she ascended, going as high as her wings would take her. She stopped when she felt the air thicken and she hovered there for a while taking in the sights. The Castle was seen clear as day and in the horizon behind her the Everfree Forest lied undisturbed. She aimed herself to where she thought her sister and Snap Shot were and dove. She felt the icy air fly passed her as she gained speed. Before she knew it she felt like something was thickening around her. It was becoming more difficult to stay in control! She tried to stop, but it was no use! The air locked around her and the next thing she knew was that she was sent hurling in the opposite direction like being shot from an enormous slingshot. The world was spinning and try as she might she couldn’t regain control. Celestia stopped spinning but she was out cold by this point and her body was plummeting to the ground below. Snap Shot saw that something was wrong and quickly sprung into action and zoomed after the falling filly! Luna cried out to her sister feeling completely useless as she watched her head in for a crash landing. Suddenly Celestia’s eyes opened a fraction to see the sun. Her eyes focused on it as her head felt light again. Her eyes closed and her wings reacted on their own. They spread out and she soared up just in time to Snap Shot’s height!

“Celestia are you alri… Hey!”

Celestia glided above him and stopped. She hovered facing the sun. She raised her front hooves and looked up at the sky. Snap Shot stared worriedly at Celestia, but then to his disbelief the sun started to lower and in a matter of seconds it was pitch black and they were stuck in a dark starless night.

“Luna! Luna, where are you?!” hollered Snap Shot.

He didn’t have to wait long for a reply. He heard the sound of somepony crying and quickly headed to the source. His outstretched hoof found something soft and he felt around for a hoof to take.

“It’s ok Luna, I’ve got you,” he reassured the filly that stopped crying. “Come on we need to find your sister.”

He pulled, but Luna didn’t budge. He tried again with no result. Before he could ask what was the matter he saw two bright white eyes staring directly at him. He yelled and let go of Luna’s hoof. The dark Blue Alicorn just hovered there like her sister and before he could reach out to her again, she raised her front hooves out as well and a new source of light was slowly making its way into view. The moon started to rise and with it, the stars followed; scattering across the blackened sky. The sisters drifted to the ground gently and the moment their hooves touched the grass they snapped out of their trance. Celestia was the first to open her eyes and speak.

“Wha… What just happened? I, what a minute... When did the moon come out?!”

Snap Shot stood frozen to the spot. He couldn’t believe what he had just witnessed. He looked at Celestia trying to find the right words, but Luna gave a soft groan and she too opened her eyes, which were back to normal.

“Snap Shot, what happened?” Asked Celestia again and added with grin. “Mom and dad won’t be happy with you if we trained till night fall!”

Suddenly the outline of two larger ponies came into view. They landed gracefully on the grass field, but their neat landing didn’t match their serious looks of purpose.

“Your majesties!” cried Snap Shot as he bowed to the two Alicorns who had just arrived.

“Mom, Dad!” said Celestia surprised by their sudden arrival. “What are you doing out…”

“Which one of you did it?” asked Night Shade.

Author's Notes:

Sorry for the delay in these next chapters. We have been very busy these past weeks. Hopefully we will be able to bring two more chapters out this weekend.