Poodicus here to tell you that if you haven’t re-read the ending of chapter 19, then re-read it now, as this is an entirely different chapter 20 from the original one.

As the light faded, the feeling of a freight train hitting their heads had instantly struck Luna and Fiery, as everything they had once forgotten suddenly began to come back to them all at once. This had at first astonished the two, but what had gotten Celestia’s attention the most was not that at all, it was something entirely different.

Fiery’s form had completely changed from his old self. Now, his coat had become crimson red, as dark as the blood running in his veins. His Cutie Mark, a raging fire with a black outline to show against his red coat. His mane and tail were something that Celestia and Luna once saw long ago, as it had ranged in different colors altogether. Going from yellow, to orange, to white, to blue, his mane and tail looked as though it was a living flame. Each time he had moved, his mane would move, almost making the illusion of it being as if his back was on fire. But there was one more piece to his transformation, as he gained something on top of his head as well... A horn, just like a thousand years ago.

“It’s good to see you returned to your old form Fiery…” Celestia said in a soft voice, as he began to open his eyes, rubbing a hoof on his head from the massive headache he had just received.

As he began to rub his head, he had felt the new limb growing out of his head, but he was not shocked, no, he knew it was meant to be there. Luna had also opened her eyes at this point and looked over to the former-brown Earth Pony, now changed into a form she recognized instantly. “Fi… Fiery…” She stammered as she remembered everything from her past.

Fiery looked back at the Princess of the Night and began to tear up. “Lu… Luna… I… I remember…” He looked back at Celestia and spoke once more to the Princess of the Sun. “I-I remember… everything…”

Celestia smiled at him. “That’s good Fiery, very good… Then you also know of why I did what I had to do, don’t you?”

Fiery nodded at her question and spoke to her again. “A thousand years… You sent me into the future a thousand years to stop the destruction of our kind… To be reborn into a loving family that couldn’t have a child of their own…”

“That’s correct Fiery, I did…”
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Deep within the castle, the cry of a newborn foal could be heard. Inside the chamber that the cry was coming from, a pink unicorn mare with a purple mane, no more than twenty years old, was holding a tiny creature in her forearms, as red as blood. Soon afterwards, inside the room, the midwife was beginning to leave, as two special guests had wanted to see the new foal for themselves. “You may come in.” The midwife addressed them. “The child is sleeping, so I would like to ask you to keep your voices down.” The guests nodded. “Very well then, I’m sure the mother will like to see you your highnesses.” The midwife bowed and walked out of the room to allow for the guests to speak to the mother of the newborn foal.

Luna was the first one to walk up to the mother, smiling as she approached. “I’m glad to see you alright Starry.”

“Thank you your highness.” The mother replied.

“Enough of that ‘highness’ business Starry, you’re our friend. We’ve known each other for over 2000 years.” Celestia said in a soft voice to the unicorn that was lying in bed.

“That may be true Princess, but I was brought up and taught by your parents to always be respectful.”

“Oh nonsense Starry, if it’s just the three of us, you can stop the act.” Celestia responded to her.

The unicorn started to chuckle, trying her best to stifle it, in fear of waking her child. “Thank you Pri-“ Celestia looked at her with a glare. “Err, I mean, Celestia, I appreciate that, I truly do.”

“How is um…” Luna started.

“It’s a he Luna, if that’s what you’re asking.” Starry responded to her guest.

“I see, yes, how is he?”

“He’s just fine, thank you Luna. He’s just a little bit tired, as am I, having to go through that horrible experience.”

Celestia chuckled herself. “It might have hurt I assume, but it was worth it, wasn’t it Starry?”

Starry looked down at her sleeping child and smiled. “Yes Celly… It was defiantly worth it, and I wouldn’t give it up for anything in this entire world…”

“What’s his name? If you don’t mind me asking.” Luna questioned her friend.

Starry continued to smile. “His name is Fiery… Fiery Ember”

“Sort of ominous, don’t you think?” Celestia asked.

Starry began to chuckle some more. “Perhaps Celly, but I don’t think he will be any trouble at all… My little Fiery...” She said his name softly, as she brought her child up to her face to nuzzle him.

Celestia smiled at the scene and replied to her friend. “Very well then Starry, I believe you.”
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Luna was in her room, playing with a young child as they were bouncing a ball back and forth having fun. Watching them was Luna’s older sister, Celestia. Celestia smiled at the scene and quietly closed the door, heading back to her friend’s room to talk, as she had not seen her for days, always being buried under some papers that needed filling out. Celestia arrived at her destination and knocked. “Enter.” She heard through the door, and she walked into the room. “I haven’t seen you in a while Starry.”

Starry turned from her work to face the Princess and smiled. “Ah, Princess Celestia, it’s good to see you.”

Celestia only rolled her eyes, closing the door behind her with her magic. “How many times must I tell you Starry, when it’s just the two of us, just call me Celestia or Celly for short.”

Starry smiled. “Well excuse me Princess, I would, but we are not alone today.” She turned and motioned to their guest, which Princess Celestia finally noticed.

Standing there was the captain of Princess Luna’s personal guard, Captain Lunar Twister, as black as night, adorned in armor as grey as a thick fog, which his black dragon-like wings at his side. “Princess.” He said in a voice with no emotion and bowed respectfully.

Celestia gasped as she was shocked at the presence. “Captain! You must forgive me, I had no idea you were here.” She said, trying to calm herself. The captain stayed stoic.

“It’s alright Princess Celestia, I wouldn’t be good at my job if I could easily be sensed by even the most powerful of creatures.”

“You must forgive me Captain, but what are you here for?” Celestia questioned him.

“I could easily ask you the same question your highness, but then that would be showing disrespect. No, I came here because it seems my princess, your sister, has been spending some time with that child, and because of this, hasn’t been attending to her royal duties as much. I came here to talk to Ms. Skies to see if there was anything to stop him from seeing her, so that she might be able to go back to her royal duties like usual.”

Celestia only smiled and chuckled a bit. “Then it seems we have the same problem Captain, but for different reasons.”

“Princess?”

“I have come here to talk to my old friend about her child, not to scold her of course, or the child for that matter, but I would like to ask her what she thinks of it.”

Starry smiled at the princess, then turned to the Captain. “Captain?”

“Yes Ms. Skies?”

“Do you mind stepping out for a bit? I wish to talk to the Princess in private.”

“I’m sorry Ms. Skies, I cannot, not until we get this business settled.”

“Very well then Captain.” Celestia interjected. “Then by command of the royal family, I command you to step out of this room, while Ms. Skies and I talk in private.”

“I cannot do that either Princess. The only one I respond to is my princess, Princess Luna of the Night.”

Celestia only smiled. “Very well Captain, have it your way, but do not think that because you are here, that both I and Ms. Skies will acknowledge your presence.”

“Very well Princess, I understand.”

Celestia turned back to her friend and began to talk. “So Starry, have you seen anything lately?”

“Whatever do you mean Celly?” Starry responded while smiling.

Celestia only rolled her eyes while smiling. “You know what I mean Starry, I can see far, while you see near.”

Starry only started to laugh. “Very well Celly, I’ll tell you… Yes, I have seen something. I see the two of them falling deeply in love with one another, going through the years, growing closer and closer with each day that they spend with one another. All because of one event, one that shall happen soon… I do not know what it is, or what will happen, all I know is that it will happen soon…”

The Captain coughed. Celestia turned to him to humor him. “Yes Captain?”

“Excuse me Princess, Advisor, but who are you two talking about?”

Celestia turned to Starry and smiled, who smiled back. They then began to chuckle, as they covered their mouths with their hooves. Celestia answered him. “We are talking about her son and my sister of course.”

The Captain took a step forward in protest. “Forgive me Princess, but what do you exactly mean by all of this?”

“How thick-headed can you be Captain?” Starry asked him. “We mean exactly what she said, we are talking about my son and her sister falling in love of course.”

“Outrageous!” The Captain said in anger. “Cease this foolishness! How could you ever say that my princess would ever stoop so low as to fall in love with such a brat such as him?”

Celestia had stopped laughing and then turned to the Captain as he insulted not only her friend’s son, but her sister as well. “Captain!” She said loud enough to snap him into attention. “How do you know what my sister wishes?”

“Because! I am her knight! I do what is best for her!”

“And what, pray tell, is best for her?”

“To lead this country into a glorious new century, where we will step on anypony who dares to defy the royal family and-“

“Wrong Captain!” Celestia bellowed. “We are a nation of peace, not war. My sister has been alone for her entire life, because of ponies like YOU who keep her away from the ones who love her. No more! No more will she be denied her love for her country and for the ponies who love her. Now, if you excuse me Captain, I believe Ms. Skies and I have somewhere to be.”

“Celly?”

“Follow me Starry, all will make sense.” She said to her friend, as she began to walk out of the room, with Starry nodding and following.

The Captain stayed back in the room, frustrated, then left as well shortly after.
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“Where are we going your highness?” Starry questioned her.

“To my room, to discuss your premonition further.” Celestia answered, still frustrated with the Captain.

Starry stopped walking for a second, thinking about it, before going alongside Celestia as well. “What… What are we going to do about Captain Twister? I doubt he will drop this at all.”

“That is not up for us to decide Starry. That is up to Luna.”

“Very well Princess Celestia, I will do whatever you wish me to do.”

“Don’t Starry, I wish you to do what you want to do, not what I want to do.”

Starry looked up to her friend and smiled. “Very well Celly… I will do what I wish to do…”
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Captain Lunar Twister was walking down the hallway, angered, as he was remembering the conversation in the advisor’s room. ‘How preposterous, to think, my princess, nay, my QUEEN, to fall in love with nothing but a mere brat… Celestia thinks that she knows what’s best for my queen just because she’s her sister… She hasn’t been there for her during the nights that were cold and lonely for her… No, she is a being of darkness, she will rule this world with an iron hoof, and I shall help her do it, one way or another.’

As he was continuing to walk down the hallway back to his barracks, he had come across his Princess’s quarters, as was normal as the barracks were the same way. As he reached the giant door, he stopped and began to think, think of how he could get rid of the ‘problem’ once and for all. He began to smile devilishly as he came to a conclusion. ‘If Princess Celestia or Advisor Skies will not stop the child, then I have no choice but to take care of the brat myself.’

“You two!” He addressed the two guards standing outside of Luna’s door. “The Colonel requires your aid on the training grounds. Go at once to assist him. I will stand guard here until you two get back.” The two guards, being only lowly privates, saluted to the Captain and followed orders, going to the training grounds expecting the Colonel to be there. ‘Now that that’s taken care of…’ He thought to himself as he approached the Princess’s door.

He went up next to the door and put his ear to it, listening for what was inside. From the sounds he could hear, he heard the child and the princess still playing inside, oblivious to the Captain on the other side of the door. He smiled, glad that he could do this in a way that would make the princess understand him, understand what he was doing was not for him, but for her, or so he thought. He cleared his throat and knocked on the door three times, then spoke. “Princess Luna? It is I, Captain Lunar Twister. May I come in your highness?”

He heard the joys of playing stop for a second, hearing the hoofsteps of Princess Luna get closer as she walked to the door to open it. As she opened it, she spoke to the Captain. “Yes Captain? What is it?”

“Excuse me your highness, but Advisor Skies has asked me to tell you that she wants to speak with you in her chambers.”

“Did she say why?”

“No your highness, all she told me was to give you the message.”

“Oh, alright… Um…”

“Is there something the matter your highness?” Captain Twister asked in fake concern.

Just then, a small red colt came walking towards Princess Luna from insider her room. “W-what is it Lulu?”

Princess Luna turned to the small colt and smiled. “It seems your mother wants me to go see her…” The child lowered his head and frowned. Luna saw this and decided to cheer him up right away. “Don’t worry Fiery, I’ll be right back to play with you some more. I’m sure your mother just wants to ask me something small, until then, I’m sure Captain Twister will keep you company-“ She turned to face the Captain. “Won’t you Captain?”

The Captain smiled, everything was going his way. “Yes your highness, I will gladly look over young Fiery while you’re away. Don’t worry, I will take ‘very’ good care of him.”

“Alright Captain, you do that. I’ll g-“ But she stopped, noticing something amiss. “Where are the other guards Captain?”

“They were called by Colonel Chills to the training ground.”

“Did he mention why?”

“Unfortunately not your highness.”

Luna sighed. “Very well Captain. I suppose I should get going now, shouldn’t I?” The Captain only nodded. Luna turned back to Fiery to reassure him. “Do not worry Fiery, I’ll be back, and then we’ll be able to continue playing, okay?”

“O-okay Lulu.”

Luna smiled, then turned to the Captain and let him inside to her room to watch over Fiery. She waved goodbye to the young Fiery and began trotting off to the advisor’s room, unaware that Starry wouldn’t be there.

After Luna had left and closed the door behind her, waiting to make sure she was out of earshot, the Captain turned to Fiery and smiled. “So… This is the brat who is corrupting my queen… What right do you have being so close to her scum?” The Captain’s smile turned into frown, as he began to belittle Fiery.

“W-what do you mean?” Was all Fiery could get out, afraid of the Captain.

“What do I mean? Why, don’t you know?” Fiery shook his head. “Well then, that’s too bad, not knowing what your crime is, yet dying for it anyways.”

“W-w-when Lulu gets back, she’ll-“ Fiery started, trying to intimidate the Captain, but failing.

“W-w-when Lulu gets back, she’ll-“ The Captain repeated in a mocking tone, spat on the child. “What gives you the right to call her holiness ‘Lulu’? Despicable, completely despicable. My queen, to fall to such a low that she would allow a brat to call her such a disgusting name.”

Fiery began to tear up, afraid of the Captain, and being called names. “W-w-when Lulu g-“ He tried saying again, but this time was cut off as the Captain smacked his with his right hoof, knocking him to the ground.

“NEVER CALL HER HOLINESS THAT AGAIN SCUM!” The Captain yelled at the young Fiery, showing no caring for him. He stood over Fiery, seeing fear in the colt’s eyes. “You will pay for corrupting my queen in such a way.”

“I-I-I-“ Fiery tried to get out, but was kicked once more by the Captain.

“Silence! You have no right to speak vermin!” The Captain yelled at Fiery once more, and began to beat him some more, enjoying it more and more with each kick.
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At the exact same time as this going on, Princess Luna had stopped in her tracks. She just knew something was wrong.

As Princess Luna passed two of her guards, they stopped to salute, but then approached her as they saw something was wrong. “Fiery…” She whispered, then looked up to see if there was anypony near her. Seeing the two unicorn guards immediately, she pointed at them. “You two, follow me immediately, somepony is in trouble.”

The two guards snapped to attention and followed her immediately as all three rushed back to her room.
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On the other side of the castle, when Celestia and Starry were still walking to Celestia’s room, Starry had froze in her tracks, also sensing Fiery’s pain. “My baby…” She whispered to herself.

“What Starry?” Celestia asked her, but was confused as Starry turned around and began to gallop in the other direction. “Wait! Where are you going?” Celestia called out to her.

“To save my baby!” She called back. Stunned, Celestia quickly turned to follow her friend.
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Fiery was up against the wall, still getting kicked and stomped on the ground as the Captain continued. Just then, before the Captain could land another kick, the doors were blown open from an incredible force. He turned around to see who it was and yell at them, but recoiled, as he saw his beloved Princess of the Night standing there. “P-princess! W-what are-“

“What am I doing back so soon?” She answered him, seething with rage. “The better question Captain, is what you’re doing to a small child.”

He looked at the child behind him, then back at the princess, knowing he was going to receive no mercy for what he had done. There was only one choice for him. “I-I’m doing what’s best for you.” He got out.

Luna raised an eyebrow at the answer, while the unicorn guards went inside to retrieve Fiery. “Doing the best for me? By what? Trying to kill an innocent child?”

“This child is not innocent your highness. He has corrupted you, made you weak.”

Luna saw the guards get Fiery up in the air with their magic, then addressed them. “Guards, get Fiery out of here at once, take him to the infirmary. I do not wish for him to see or hear what I’m about to do next.”

“At once your highness.” They responded, and began to gallop out of the room.

The Captain saw this, and tried to stop them, only to be blasted back by a spell that Luna had shot off at him. He hit the back wall hard, almost knocking him out cold, but was able to cling to consciousness. “Why… Why are you doing this your highness?” He got up weakly, badly hurt from the one spell. “I am your knight… I promised to protect you… I swore to you that you would never become weak, that you would never fall…”

“No…” She said softly to him. “You promised you would watch me, to protect me from any harm, close or far. But this… this is going too far…”

The Captain coughed out some blood. It seemed that something internally was bleeding when he hit the back wall, or perhaps it was the spell that had done it. “I… I love you Princess… I only wanted to make you happy…”

“If you loved me Captain, you never would have sunk so low.”

“Nonsense!” He was able to yell out. “I did this because he was making you weak! You were supposed to take this land! Take this world! And rule it with an iron hoof!”

“When did I ever want that!?” She yelled back at him. “All I ever wanted was to live in peace! But…” She started to say in a softer voice. “But it seems you could not even protect me from that Captain…” The Captain stayed silent. She continued. “For your crimes Captain… I shall kill you myself.”

The Captain’s eyes went wide in fear. “N-no Princess! I-I’m sorry! I’ll never do it again!”

“Enough!” She yelled once more. “You have already chosen your fate Lunar Twister. You have harmed the one I held dear to me, in my name no less… No. You have chosen your fate…” Luna began to become darker, as a cloud of darkness rose from her.

As the cloud finally detached from her body, it began to grow glowing eyes and a mouth, smiling at the Captain. “W-what is that!?” He yelled at her, terrified of it.

“It’s your punishment.”

The cloud pounced at the Captain, opening its mouth and devouring the Captain. The Captain’s screams could be heard, begging for mercy, from the hallway as Celestia and Starry got closer to Luna’s room, hearing his bones being crunched from the shadowy beast.

As they turned to see the shadow beast devouring the Captain, they feared the worst. That was when Luna spoke. “One of my dogs had become rogue, so I had to put it down.”

Celestia stammered at first, fearing her sister for a moment. “L-Luna… W-what do you mean?”

“Captain Lunar Twister betrayed me, laying his hooves on young Fiery, claiming he did it in my name to benefit me.” She turned to her sister and Starry, tears running down her face. “He betrayed me Tia, and for that, he paid the ultimate price.”

“Luna…” Celestia called her sister’s name softly, as Starry began to look around the room frantically.

“Where is he? Where is my child?” She asked in panic.

“Do not worry Starry.” Luna said to her friend, wiping her tears away with her hoof. “I had gotten here in time to stop the Captain from doing any more damage to young Fiery. I had also brought some guards along with me to get him out of here. He should be in the infirmary as we speak.”

Starry began to tear up and thank the Princess as she bowed and finally ran off in the direction of the infirmary. Princess Celestia stayed back to talk with her sister. “Luna…” She called out. “What was that?”

“My most inner demons.” Luna responded. “Something that I wish is never seen again.” Luna began to cry once more, terrified of releasing such powers again, as her sister rushed in to be by Luna’s side.
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As Fiery was put in the infirmary, he had gotten beaten so much that his lips were busted, his nose was on the verge of breaking, his front two legs broken, and even a few ribs were broken. Such pain would have probably killed a child from the shock alone, but Fiery had fought it, refusing to go down.

On the first day, his mother came rushing in, wanting to see him, but the doctors would not allow it as they were using their best methods to heal him. If they didn’t, there was a higher chance of him dying by nightfall.

By the time they were done healing him, they had been able to repair most of his injuries. All that was left was the busted lip, and the ribs, now only bruised.

After finally healing him to the best of their capabilities, the doctors finally allowed Fiery’s mother to come in. She immediately rushed over to him and sighed in relief as she saw that he was fine. “Momma?” Fiery said to his mother, which had gotten her attention. “Why did the mean stallion do that momma?”

Starry sighed. “I don’t know Fiery.” She began to rub her hoof through his mane, as she sat next to his bed. “But if there’s one thing I do know Fiery, it’s that your very special to me, and also that the mean stallion won’t be coming anywhere near you again.” She said to him softly as she smiled.
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Luna had finally calmed down for Celestia, and the two of them began to go to the infirmary. As they got closer, they saw a black unicorn, very much like Captain Twister, but with a horn instead of wings, with navy blue armor instead of grey, indicating he was a part of Luna’s guard, was waiting for the two of them in front. Luna had gone in to address him, but was greeted by him first. “Good evening your highness.” He said to Luna.

“Colonel Chills, what are you doing here?” She questioned him.

“I came here as fast as possible when I heard what happened to young Fiery. I must apologize for the insubordination of the captain. It seems I did not train him correctly while he was still under my wing.”

“How did? Never mind, Colonel?”

“Yes your highness?”

“Is there some reason as to why you are here? Other than to check up on the child?”

“Actually Princess Luna, I have come here to speak with Princess Celestia.”

Celestia and Luna looked at each other with confusion, then back to the colonel. “Whatever you have to say to my sister, Colonel Chills, you can say to me as well.”

The colonel only smiled. “Normally I would agree with you Princess, but because of the subject that I want to speak about, I wish to speak with Princess Celestia in private.”

“As charming as that is Colonel, I have to agree with my sister.” Celestia stated. “Whatever you have to say to me you can also speak to my sister about.”

The colonel only sighed. “Very well… Because of what Captain Twister did, I wish to train young Fiery Ember in the art of combat, in case anypony else has the idea of attacking him out of pure jealousy.”

“Out of the question.” Luna stated.

The colonel sighed as he had expected this from his princess. “Understand Princess, I am not wanting him to become a soldier, I only want him to be able to protect himself in case somepony tries to take his life once more.”

“He doesn’t need any training, I’ll be there to protect him.” Luna said back to him. “If anypony tries to put one hoof on him, I’ll make sure that they’ll never see daylight again.”

“Luna…” Celestia began. “Perhaps what the Colonel is saying is right. Besides, it’s not our call to make, its Starry’s”

Luna looked at her sister, then at the ground. “I know sister. It’s just… It’s just I don’t want to even think of Fiery becoming violent, even if it is to protect himself.”

“But you won’t always be there to protect him Luna, you know this. For all we know, the Captain was only one of many who feel the same way, and the next time you aren’t next to him, they could take that chance.”

Luna began to cry once more. “I know sister, but… I just don’t want to lose him.”

“Then allow me to train him Princess. He will know how to protect himself, and I promise you, I will not do anything to change him.”

“As I said Colonel-“ Celestia responded to him. “It is not up to us to agree to it, but his mother. We are not the ones who gave birth to him, we are only ponies who wish to see him grow up properly, along with the pony who did give birth to him.”

The Colonel nodded at Princess Celestia. “Very well Princess Celestia, I shall go ask her. And Princess Luna?” Luna looked up to her knight. “I know you must be devastated at the fact that one of us has betrayed you, but do not be discouraged, as if there is any sign of this being any type of group effort, then they shall meet my magic and my sword.”

Luna smiled through her tears. “Thank you Colonel, and I’m sorry for doubting your experience.”

The colonel smiled back at her. “It’s no trouble your highness… Now, if you two will excuse me, I’ll go in and ask her.” He bowed to the two princesses and went into the infirmary to go to talk to Starry.

Inside, he had seen the mother talking to her child while she watched over him in fear of any more attacks. He went over to her calmly and tapped her on the shoulder, gaining her attention. “Ms. Skies?”

She turned around to see the colonel and recognized him. “Oh, Colonel Chills, how good to see you. You must forgive me, it’s just been-”

“It’s alright Ms. Skies, I heard about what happened. I promise you, if there was anypony else involved with this heinous act, I will personally track them down and see that they are punished for their crimes.”

“Oh, thank you Colonel, I appreciate it.”

“It’s no problem Ms. Skies, but I would actually like to speak with you about another matter.”

“Yes? What is it Colonel?”

“Actually Ms. Skies, I was wondering if we could talk in private.” The colonel motioned a little bit away from Fiery. Starry understood and nodded, following him over to a little bit to speak in private.

“What is this all about Colonel?”

“Ms. Skies, I would like to ask your permission to be allowed to train Fiery.”

“Absolutely not.”

The colonel sighed. “Ms. Skies, I know what just happened is scary, but I want to prevent something from this ever happening again to young Fiery. I am willing to allow him to grow up some before training him, and have some of my most trusted men to guard him until it’s time.”

“And how don’t I know that you’re just saying this to get close my son once more and finish him off?”

“Because Ms. Skies, I am not as childish as the Captain was, I vowed to protect Princess Luna. If that means that she treats a child as her own, then I shall lay my life on the line to protect him as well. The same goes for the men that would protect him, I will make sure of it.”

Starry Skies sighed, then looked back at her son who smiled in response, then looked at the colonel once more. “Very well Colonel, you have my permission, but pray that Queen Theodora have mercy on you if you or any of your men lay a single hoof on him, I will have all of your heads, do you understand Colonel?”

The colonel smiled at her. “Very well Ms. Skies, I know of what you’re capable of and I will make sure none of my men are stupid enough to try anything.”

“Very well Colonel… Is there anything else you need?”

“Nothing whatsoever Ms. Skies, that’s all I needed to know.” He saluted her and walked back out of the infirmary as Starry went back to Fiery. He walked out and saw the princesses still sitting there waiting for him. “Princesses?”

“How did it go Colonel?” Luna asked him.

“She’s agreed, and I’ve agreed to let him mature some before starting. Until then, I will have my most trusted men guarding him.”

“Very well Colonel, I hope you are able to make a fine stallion out of him.” Celestia stated.

The colonel began to chuckle a bit. “I am only training him to protect himself, nothing more your highness.” With that, he saluted the two of them and went back to his office where he had much paper work to still do.

Luna looked over to her sister. “Do you really think this is such a good idea Tia?”

“I know it is Luna. And don’t worry, I’m sure no more harm will come to Fiery. Now, perhaps we should go in and see how our friend and her child are doing.”

“Very well sister, lead the way.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The clashing of swords could be heard just outside the castle grounds as two young stallions were practicing their form. With one more clash, a black unicorn put a wall between the two, indicating to them that it was time to stop. “Very good you two, the both of you have been doing excellent using your magic wielding those swords, not to mention the art of fighting itself.”

A red unicorn named Fiery and a white colored unicorn adorned in golden armor, hiding his Cutie Mark, named Blade had put down their arms to take a break. “Thank you uncle.” Fiery called out to the black unicorn, known as Colonel Chills. Although not actually his uncle, he allowed Fiery to call him that as he had always been one in sorts. “But when are we going to start the real training?”

“Whatever do you mean Fiery? This is the real training.”

“That’s not what I mean uncle, I mean when are we going to out in the woods and learning to use our skills to actually fight? I don’t want to be cooped up in this castle my entire life.”

The colonel only sighed. “Fiery, how many times have I told you? I’m not training you to be a soldier, I’m tr-“

“Training me so I can protect myself, yes, yes, I know. But nothing bad has happened to me in almost eight years uncle, don’t you think I can go out on my own and learn to fight like the rest of my friends?”

“No Fiery, I promised both your mother and Princess Luna that I would do everything I could to help you protect yourself. What that also means is that I’m not going to give you the same training as the soldiers, as their training is more meant for survival in the battlefield, than it is in hoof-to-hoof combat.”

“But this is so boring!” Fiery complained. “Can’t you at least tell me how to use offensive spells or something? I’ve been doing nothing but sword training for three years now!”

“Perhaps he’s right Colonel.” Blade spoke up. “Perhaps it is time for him to start learning how to control his magic, I mean, his Cutie Mark is that of a raging fire, and you know he’s able to control the smallest of flames. Perhaps it is time to teach him how to use that fire for offensive purposes.”

“Oh, not you too Blade.” The colonel facehoofed. “Listen Fiery, I was your age at one point, and I remember wanting to do neat little magic tricks as well to impress all of my friends. You know what happened when I did get permission to do it?”

“No, what happened?”

“I almost ended up burning down an entire town with my carelessness. Now, after you get some water, I want you boys to continue your sword training.” The colonel only got more complaints from the two of them.

“At least allow me to learn some offensive spells Colonel, I’m five years older than Fiery.”

“Hey! No fair!”

The colonel sighed, knowing that at least that much was true. “Fine Blade, I’ll allow it.”

“Hey! Why does he get to do it but not me?”

“Because Fiery, he’s older than you, and I won’t get an earful from both your mother, and possibly both the princesses if he does something to himself, especially Princess Luna.”

“Then can’t you at least train me in SOME spells? I mean, come on! I’m so bored doing nothing but these lame sword tricks.”

The colonel finally gave in. “Fine Fiery, I’ll ask your mother and the princesses for permission to be able to train you in some defensive spells. But don’t think that if they say no coming to me crying about it will make me defy their orders.”

“Hey! I don’t cry!”

“Oh come on Fiery, that’s complete bullshit. Remember last week? When you went crying to your mother because I accidently nicked you with the sword on your hoof?” Blade teased Fiery.

“I wasn’t crying! I just had something in my eye. That’s all.”

Blade rolled his eyes. “Sure Fiery, whatever you say.”

“Why you… Come here!” Fiery leaped at Blade in a playful manner and began to wrestle with him, despite the colonel calling out to him to stop, unaware of the two sets of eyes watching him afar.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Princess Luna and Starry Skies were watching Fiery from one of the towers in the castle. “Seems like he’s having fun.” Starry commented.

“Indeed, it’s good to let him to have a little fun so he doesn’t burn himself out on training.” Luna said back.

The two of them sat there watching Fiery wrestle Blade, silent for a while, until Starry spoke once more. “How do you feel about him Princess?”

Luna turned to her friend and blushed. “Stop it Starry, you know well how I feel about him.”

Starry began to chuckle to herself a bit before replying to the comment. “I know Luna, I know, I just like to tease you is all. After all, it’s not every day you see a princess that’s over 10,000 years old to be in love with a colt that’s barely 1/1,000th that.”

“You’re one to talk Starry, you’re only 2,000 years old.”

“Because of your parents, let’s not forget. If it hadn’t been for them, I wouldn’t be here talking to you right now.” Luna looked down, turning her happiness into sadness, remembering her parents. Starry saw this and tried to cheer her up. “I know you miss them dear.” She said, putting a hoof on Luna’s shoulder. “But they did this because they wanted you and your sister to be happy.”

Luna looked back up at her friend, tears to beginning to form in her eyes. “I know Starry, but… It’s just painful to remember them.”

“I know dear, I know… I miss them as well…” She said while smiling at Luna. “But they died protecting you and your sister, never forget that dear.”

“I know Starry, but that doesn’t make it any easier. Them being killed by that… centaur, it just saddens me to no end.”

“I know Luna, but you must get passed it, otherwise it pains them in the afterlife to see you so sad. Besides, had they not transferred their life force to me at the last second, neither I or Fiery would be here right now.” Starry said, trying to cheer Luna up.

Luna looked back up at her friend, and returned her smile. “I suppose you’re right Starry… Thank you, really.”

“It’s no problem Luna. Now come, your sister is waiting for us in her chambers.”

“Very well Starry, lead on.” Luna issued to her friend, as she began to follow her to Celestia’s chambers. Outside, Fiery and Blade were being scolded by the colonel for goofing around when they were supposed to be practicing.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Starry and Celestia were inside Celestia’s chambers as they were talking about the recent visions they had experienced. “Are you sure about this Celly?” Starry asked the princess with worry.

“Yes Starry, I am sure. In the future, 1,000 years from now, our race will be on the brink of death, for what reason I do not know, but what I do know is that in order for our race to survive, I had seen two stallions. One of them I know for certain was your son, Fiery, but something was different about him…”

“Perhaps that makes sense then.”

“What do you mean Starry?”

“I too have had some visions. Two to be exact, one with my son, and the other without, both about the same tragedy.”

“What is it Starry? What will happen?”

“In one vision, I saw the three of us, you, me, and Luna. There was something about her, but I could defiantly tell it was her. Her form was different, has her coat was as black as darkness, and was as tall as you, with eyes like a dragon, wearing armor of war.”

“What… What is she doing in the vision?”

“She is fighting the two of us… She is able to get a hold of me, and imprisons me somewhere deep within the castle, where it is I do not know. You fight her and-“

“What!? I could never fight Luna! Never!”

“But this is not the normal Luna you love and cherish Celly, this is a monster of pure darkness, wanting to bring eternal night to our lands.”

“No… No, it can’t be true, Luna would never become evil.”

“Do not be so sure of that Celly, as all beings are capable of both good and evil, no one side or the other. But if you let me continue, I can tell you the entire vision.”

“I am sorry Starry. I-I do not wish for my sister to become some... some monster.”

“Do not worry Celly, it is neither of your doing that causes things to unfold in such a way… But enough of that, as I was saying, you are to use the Elements of Harmony on her, and thereby, banish her to the moon for a thousand years.”

“Elements of Harmony? But… But we haven’t used those for almost 500 years! Not since Discord tried ruling these lands.”

“Yes, I know Celly, but it is the only way to defeat the evil that will control your sister.”

“… Is there truly no other way?”

“… There is, but… it requires my son.”

“How so?”

Starry Skies sighed as she remembered the vision she had earlier. “My son, the one who loves your sister, and she loves him back… He is taken control by the same evil that would control your sister if you choose to not use him… Unlike your sister, he will not be able to be stopped, and he will ravage these lands with his flames.”

“So you mean we have to send him then.”

“Correct, otherwise this entire world will be engulfed by his flames, and there will be nothing to stop him, not even the Elements of Harmony.”

Celestia looked down and weighed her options. “On the one hoof, I must send Fiery to the future, locking both his and my sister’s memories until it is time to unlock it once more, and with his help, we will be able to save our race… But on the other hoof, if I do this, then I will be forced to banish my sister to the moon for a thousand years while you are kept in a dark prison deep within this castle, me not knowing where you are or how to get you out, as Luna would be the only one…”

“Correct, and if you don’t do this, then Fiery will destroy this world, and there will be nothing to stop it.”

Celestia sighed. “Is there truly no other way? They were to be married next year, and then to tell them this…”

“I know Celly, but it is the only way.”

“And what of you? How can you stand the fact that you would basically be dead for a thousand years?” Celestia asked Starry.

“I will be alright Celly, I have not lived this long just so I wouldn’t do anything important… No, I am willing to throw my life on the line, if it means protecting this world, you two, and my son.”

Celestia looked back up at her friend and smiled. “Very well Starry, I understand… Now, I suppose we should call them, shouldn’t we?” Starry only nodded. “Very well then…” Celestia got up and began to walk over to the door, upon which she opened it, revealing Princess Luna and Fiery standing there waiting to be invited inside. “You may come in now you two.”

As the two walked in, Luna spoke up. “What is this about Tia? Starry?”

Celestia was the one to answer. “This is about you and Fiery Luna, about your futures.”

Luna rolled her eyes. “Oh Tia, just because I’m younger than you doesn’t mean I don’t know what I want to do with my life with Fiery, right Fiery?”

“Indeed, we already know what’s going to happen mother, so there’s no need to council us on our lives.”

“That’s not what we’re here to discuss Fiery.” Starry answered the two of them, her voice slightly quivering. “We are here for a different matter.”

Luna looked at Starry, then Celestia. “Tia? What’s wrong?” She could sense the nervousness of the two.

“Luna… Starry and I have seen some… disturbing visions.”

Luna sat down, Fiery next to her, and became worried. “W-what do you mean disturbing?”

“Luna, Fiery, this might be hard for the two of you but… We are going have to do something drastic, to ensure the safety of the future.”

“What do you mean Aunt Tia?” Fiery questioned.

“Fiery, as I said, your mother and I have seen some disturbing images concerning both you and Luna.”

“But what about?” Luna questioned her sister.

“It… It is something that requires the two of you being split up, for a thousand years.”

“What!?” Luna got up and screamed at her sister. “What do you mean we’re going to be split up!? What’s so important that we have to be apart for so long!?”

“The matter of the survival of this world…” Starry answered.

“Wha… What do you mean mother?” Fiery was so worried. What could possibly be so bad?

“Fiery, I have seen the future, a thousand years from now to be exact. Our race will be on the verge of extinction. From what, I do now know, but what I do know is that you can save it.”

“If I can save it, then why can’t I just wait for it? I mean, didn’t you say that I was granted immortality when I was born? That that’s how it works with alicorn magic?”

“That is true Fiery but… A great evil will take over your body, and will use you to destroy this world if Celly doesn’t send you into the future…”

“And what of Blade? What of uncle? What of all my friends!? What will happen to them if I do go!?”

“They… They will be lost in the sands of time…” Celestia answered quietly.

“So you just want me to go into the future, a thousand years, which, by the way, I have no idea how that’s even going to work, and go there knowing nothing of it and living in a world without my friends!?”

“No Fiery, that is why we will be doing something to prevent anything like that from happening.”

“And how will you do that?” Luna asked. “I’ll still remember him, and not only that, what am I be doing for a thousand years if I can’t be with the one that I love?”

“We will be sealing your memories, erasing all memories of Fiery ever existing from your mind Luna. Do not worry though, as I said, I will be only locking them, not erasing them permanently. That way, when the two of you meet once more in the future, I will unlock your memories, and you will be able to fall in love again.” Celestia answered, hoping that they could at least take solace in that.

“But there is something else, isn’t there?” Fiery questioned. “What of the evil you spoke of? What will be happening to that?”

Celestia and Starry sighed. “That evil… That evil will be taking over another pony, one that is in this room.” Celestia told him. Her voice quivered from the thought.

“Who?” Luna asked.

“You, Princess Luna. You are the one who will be forced to succumb to the evil. I do not know how, or why, but you will be saved, I promise.”

“How? How will I be saved?”

Celestia looked at her little sister with sadness in her eyes. “First, I am forced to banish you somewhere for a thousand years. Then, after those thousand years, six mares, using the power of their friendship, will eradicate that evil from you using the Elements once more.”

“And after that, you will bring Fiery back? And we will be able to live together once more?”

Celestia nodded. “Yes Luna, I will, but you must understand why I am doing this.”

Luna looked at her sister, not with sadness, but with determination. “Sister… I may be upset at you and Starry for telling me to be apart from the pony I love, but… but if it is to save this world, and if I am able to see my love once more, then I am willing to give my life up for a thousand years.”

“Luna…” Fiery began. “Are you sure Luna? I… How do I know I’ll recognize you when we meet again?”

“You won’t when you first see her.” Starry started. “But when Celestia uses her powers to unlock your memories, you two will remember everything.”

“I… I see…” Fiery looked down, but looked back up quickly to ask one more question. “All I have is one request from you two.”

“What is it son?” Starry asked.

“Can… Can you give me and Luna one night?”

Celestia and Starry looked at each other, while Luna looked at Fiery, jaw dropped. “F-Fiery! Do you know what you’re asking!?”

Fiery looked at his love and replied to her. “Luna… I love you more than anything else in this world… That is why I wish to spend one night with you, to be in your warm embrace, just for one night.”

Luna began to blush furiously and looked away, but replied to him. “I… I suppose I can do that…”

Celestia and Starry nodded, agreeing that it would be alright. “Very well you two, we will allow it, but in the morning, we will lock both of your memories, and freeze Fiery in time so that when the time comes, Celly will be able to bring him back to Equestria as he becomes its savior.”

Fiery looked over to his mother and bowed. “Thank you mother, thank you Aunt Celestia.”

“It is no problem Fiery, you two love each other very much, and it is only fair for you two to have a night together, at least to make up for the fact that you two can’t get married now and all.”

“Yet!” Luna corrected her sister. “Not get married yet! Remember Tia, when we get our memories back.” She looked at Fiery and smiled. “I want us to live in happiness as I walk down that altar.”

Fiery smiled back. “I wouldn’t have it any other way Luna.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The next day, Luna and Fiery had gone to Celestia’s chambers once more so that they may have their memories locked so that their world would become safe, for the time being at least. Fiery was the first to go into the magic circle that would lock his memories, but before he went in, Luna called out to him. “I love you.”

He turned around to face her and answered her. “I know.” He smiled at her and turned back around to walk into the magic circle.

As he walked in, his mother asked him. “Are you ready son?”

“I suppose I am mother.”

She smiled at him and looked at Celestia. “Ready Celly?”

“I should be the one asking you dear.”

Starry began to chuckle a bit and spoke again. “Very well, let the ceremony begin.”

The room began to become dark, as the magic flowing through both Celestia and Starry began to glow around them as they chanted. As they chanted, the magic circle began to glow alongside them, and with a sudden flash, the circle made a bubble around Fiery. Neither Celestia nor Starry were afraid, as they knew this was supposed to happen. Fiery was uncomfortable, but trusted his mother and ‘aunt’. The only one scared was Luna, not because she didn’t think it was going to work, but because she was afraid of not ever seeing Fiery again.

As the bubble consumed Fiery, it had begun to change his form. He was starting to become younger and younger, all the way to becoming a foal once more, but something was different this time. This time, he was no longer a pony, but something else. He had turned into a hairless ape of sorts, as he cried out for his mother.

Celestia saw the pain in Luna’s eyes and tried to cheer her up. “Do not worry about him Luna, he will be taken good care of. As for Fiery…” She looked down at her ‘nephew’. “In a thousand years, he will not be reborn in this world, but in another.”

“Where sister?”

“A planet known as Earth, a place much worse than this one.”

Suddenly Luna got frustrated at her sister when she heard of this ‘Earth’ and how it was worst than Equestria. “Then why send him there? Why not let him live here, in the castle in the future!?” Luna’s yelling had gotten the baby Fiery to cry as the sudden noise frightened him. She noticed what she had down and lowered her snout next to his face and began to nuzzle it. “I’m sorry Fiery.” She said in a soft voice. “I did not mean to frighten you.” Luna looked back up at her sister after nuzzling Fiery and calming him down, then asked in a calmed voice. “Why would you send him to place worse than Equestria?”

“To learn the value of life, and to know that not everything is perfect.” Celestia answered her sister.

Luna looked down and spoke softly. “And why would you want to do that? Why not just make him reborn in Starry’s arms when it is time?”

“Because, Starry will be imprisoned by the evil, which you will have to free her. As for why I do not want him in the castle, it is because I have seen the nobles of the future and… They do not value life like they do now. I do not wish for Fiery to grow up to be like them.”

“I see…” Luna spoke softly again. “Then there is no other way then…”

“I’m sorry it has to be like this Luna.” Starry said to Luna. “I know how it pains you, to be away from your loved one…”

“Do you Starry? You do not even know who his father is.” Luna looked back up at her friend. “How could you possibly know how it is like to be separated from somepony you love?”

“Because Luna, I do know the father is, I just choose not to tell you.”

“Oh? And who would it be?”

“I do not think it is best for you to know.”

“Why not? Aren’t I going to have my memories locked away soon anyways?”

Celestia looked at Starry with concern. “Do what you wish Starry, I will not judge you.”

“Luna, I know what is like being away from the one you loved, because my love left me 2,000 years ago…”

“What is that suppose to mean? How could somepony from 2,000 years ago impregnate you 20 years ago?”

“Because… I was so devastated at Fiery’s father leaving me 2,000 years ago that… Queen Theodora offered to freeze the baby inside of me in time until I felt like I could finally get over his passing…”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean when Fiery’s father died in battle, fighting alongside your mother and father, I could not handle it when I found out I was pregnant with his child. I was about to take my own life when Queen Theodora came to me in my dreams… She told me that when the time was right, she would unlock the spell and let me bear my child… It seems the time for that was 20 years ago, for what reason I do not know…”

“You mean to tell me my dead mother came to you in a dream and allowed you to withhold your pregnancy until she felt like it?” Starry only nodded. “And what of my mother then? What of my father?”

“I do not know Luna, the last time I saw them alive was when you saw them as well, and the last time I saw Queen Theodora in any form was that dream… I have no idea if they’re still watching over us or not…”

Tears were streaming down Luna’s face. She knew she wasn’t going to be able to get anymore out of Starry, so she knew she would only have to live on what she was told. “Very well then.” She said while wiping her eyes. “Let us move Fiery so we can lock my memories.”

“Very well sister, but before that, we must lock Fiery up in time so that when it is time, I can undo the lock and send him to Earth to live there until it is time to bring him back.”

“Very well Tia. Get on with it before I regret doing any of this.” She said while sniffling and wiping more tears from her face.

“Very well Luna…” Celestia began to chant some more as the calm human baby on the ground began to glow. As he glowed more and more, he become so bright that Luna and Starry had to look away, then, with a flash, he was gone. After a few moments, Celestia spoke once more. “There… It is done… He will be born again in a thousand years, into a loving family who won’t be able to have children of their own.”

Luna finished wiping her tears before finally stepping into the magic circle. “Very well then, let’s get this over with.”

“Very well Luna, and I’m sorry about this.” Starry apologized.

“We are only doing this to protect this world.” Celestia added.

“I know.” Luna answered the two of them. With the same spell that they used earlier, the two were able to lock Luna’s memories, causing her to pass out in the process.

Celestia looked at Starry and asked her. “Do you think we did the right thing?”

“I know we did.” Starry replied. “I may not see my son for a thousand years, but that is only a small price to pay for us to save this world…”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Later that night, Celestia was asleep dreaming when she had gotten a very special visit from someone she knew very close. ‘Celestia, my dear…’

Celestia was shocked to hear the new voice, but she recognized it instantly. ‘M-mother?’

‘Indeed Celestia. It is I, your mother, Theodora.’ In her dreams, A dark green alicorn, as green as the grass of the earth, with a mane and tail as blue as the oceans, stood before her. ‘It has been a while my child.’

‘W-where are you mother!?’

‘I have come to your dreams to answer the questions you have been seeking my little Celestia.’

‘What do you mean mother, what are you talking about?’

‘Hush my child, and all will be revealed. The reason why I allowed your friend Starry to give birth to her son twenty years ago was because I wanted Luna to experience something she had never felt before, before she had been consumed by the evil known as ‘The Nightmare’.’

‘Where are you mother!? How are you talking to me!? Are you dead or still alive?’

‘I am very much alive Celestia, as is your father, Prologus. We will reveal ourselves once more when it is appropriate to do so.’

‘Why not now!? Luna and I miss you! And with the evil coming, I do not know if I could do such a thing to Luna…’

‘Do not fret my child, it might pain you to do so, but you WILL have the strength to banish your sister, and your friend Starry will live on, even if it is in darkness for a thousand years, she has already agreed with me that she is willing.’

‘You mean you’ve spoken with her?’

‘Indeed Celestia, and before you ask, I cannot tell you who Fiery’s father is, as it is not up to me to tell you. Now, I’m sorry Celestia, but my time is short, I must be going.’

‘Wait! Mother! Don’t go!’ Celestia tried reaching out for her mother with her hoof, but could not reach in her dream. ‘Don’t go mother! I need you!’

‘Do not worry Celestia, your father and I will be with you always, no matter what hardships you go through, we will be with you.’ And with that, the image of Celestia’s mother vanished, causing her to wake from her slumber, and then break down crying.

“Mother…”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Nightmare had finally come, taking over Luna. She had begun to ravage the castle in anger as she was led to believe that nopony appreciated her nights. She killed many of the servants in the castle, leaving nopony alive.

“Luna!” Celestia cried out for her sister. “Why are you doing this!?”

The new mare began to laugh manically. “Luna? No, that foal is no longer here…”

“What do you mean? What did you do with my sister monster!?”

“She is gone, just like I said fool. I am Nightmare Moon, and with my arrival, I shall bring this unholy world into eternal darkness, so it may be finally be glorious.”

“Are you insane!?” Starry called out, standing next to Celestia. “That would kill the entire world! One side would burn under the sun’s rays, while the other side would freeze to death with no warmth!”

“You say this, but unlike you, I will take care of my subjects and will allow them to live in my kingdom with no harm.”

“And you say that, but it doesn’t change anything! Nopony will follow you! Not even Luna’s guards have followed you monster!” Starry gritted her teeth at the Nightmare. “You will have nopony but yourself!”

“That may be true for a while, but once I have taken care of Celestia here, this world will be forced to bow down to me. But enough of that, I tire of your voice.” The Nightmare summoned a spell, throwing it at Starry. It engulfed her in the darkness, just like she and Celestia predicted, but it did not make it any less frightening.

“Starry!” Celestia called out to her friend.

Before she was cut off from the world, Starry called back to Celestia. “Do not worry Celly, just do what you must, and you will see me soon, I promise.” With that, she became engulfed in the darkness, being banished in it for a thousand years.

Celestia turned back at the Nightmare, now angered. “You take control over my sister, kill my subjects, and imprison my friend… You will pay monster.”

“And what do you expect to do about it?”

“She won’t have to do anything!” A new voice emerged from behind Celestia. She looked behind her to see Colonel Chills and Blade, wielding their swords. “Because we will take care of you ourselves!” Chills continued.

“Colonel! No! This is not a fight meant for you!” Celestia called out to him, but he only shook his head.

“Wrong your highness, I vowed to protect Princess Luna from all harms. It was my fault she has succumbed to this monster, so it is my responsibility to destroy it.”

“No! Don’t Colonel, you have no chance of standing against her.” But it was too late as the two stallions began to charge Nightmare Moon. With one swift motion, the Nightmare summoned another spell, this time, it was something that Celestia had seen before, eleven years ago. “No! Don’t do it!”

It was too late. The Nightmare summoned Luna’s most inner demons and released them onto the two stallions, killing them almost instantly. Celestia watched in horror as the two had no chance of surviving, and she did nothing but stood there frightened. It was then that she heard a voice, her mother’s. ‘I am with you my child, but you must strike now, as she’s distracted.’

“N-no, I can’t.”

‘You can, if you do not, then you will have no other chance.’

Celestia hesitated at first, but was able to summon the Elements of Harmony to her side. The Nightmare saw this but did not know of what threat it posed. “What is that? Your final act of desperation?”

“You killed the two closest to Fiery that he considered friends-“ Celestia started, almost whispering. “For this, you shall pay the ultimate price monster.”

“Oh? And what are you going to do about it?”

Celestia looked at the Nightmare in the eyes, with anger, and yelled. “Judgement shall be passed! You WILL be punished for your actions!

“What?” The Nightmare barely managed to get out, when suddenly, the six elements around Celestia began to glow, blinding her. “Wh-what’s happening!?” It cried out, now fearing the power of the light.

“Nightmare Moon, for the crimes you have committed against the royal family of Equestria, as well as ponykind, I hereby banish you to the moon.” Celestia said to the Nightmare, then shot the spell at it.

The Nightmare cried out in agony as the rainbow colored spell wrapped around her, forcing her to succumb to its power, and then finally being flung high into the sky, all the way to the moon. “I will get you Celestia! One of these days, I’m going to cut you into little pieces!” She was able to get out as she was thrown to the moon.

Theodora’s voice entered Celestia’s mind once more. ‘I’m proud of you Celestia. By using the Elements of Harmony, you have saved this world.’

‘That may be true mother, but because of it, I have lost my sister, my friend, and my ‘nephew’.’

‘All consequences, but do not fret, as you will see them soon enough.’

With that, the voice left Celestia’s mind, allowing her stand there, weeping over the lost of her friends and family.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

In a Chicago suburb, a mother and father were bringing their first child home with them. They got into the front door and walked inside with the child. The father brought all the stuff in from the car for the mother as she held the child in her arms.

As they got in, and got comfortable, the father spoke. “How do you feel honey?”

“I feel fine.” The mother looked up at the father, then back down at the baby. “But I think little Joseph is still sleeping from the car ride.”

The father smiled at his charming wife and his new born son. “Joseph… What a beautiful boy… I just know he’ll grow up to achieve great things…”

“So do I Stephen, so do I…”

Far from them, was a woman with beautiful, multicolored hair, hiding in the shadows. “Soon Fiery… Soon you will be brought back home, back where you belong.” And with that, the woman vanished without a trace.
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After remembering everything, both Fiery and Luna opened their eyes, dazed by the sudden return of their memories, and looked up at Celestia. Fiery was the first one to speak. “Celestia…”

“What? No ‘Auntie Celestia’ like from before?” She teased him.

He looked down in disbelief. “I-I don’t know what to think… After remembering everything, I…”

“Where is Starry Tia?” Luna asked? “Where is she?”

“You don’t need to worry Luna, don’t you remember? You freed her shortly after the party in your honor back in Ponyville after the Elements freed you.”

“But I mean where is she right now? I wish to apologize for what I have done and…”

“Yes, where is she Celestia? I wish to see my mother, my REAL mother.” Fiery demanded.

“All in good time Fiery. Right now she is in the gryphon capital of Windisfarne, doing a peace-talk. She will be back next week. Until then you will have to wait, as I’m sure she will be just as excited as you to see you after so much time.”

“But that still doesn’t explain so many things Celestia. What about my human life? What about Patrick? How does he fit in to all of this?”

“What about his guitar? Didn’t you tell me while my memories were still locked that you enchanted his guitar because it was request of his grandfather’s?”

“Wait, what?”

Celestia sighed. “Yes, Luna, that is true… Somewhat. It is true that I ended up bringing his grandfather here, but not for the reason I told you earlier. Besides which, he wasn’t the only one I brought along.”

“Who then? Who else did you bring Tia?”

“I brought Patrick’s grandfather as well. I told the two of them, before they had any children, of the importance of their offspring. I had enchanted Patrick’s grandfather with the reversal of what I had done to Fiery, and I had enchanted Fiery when he was still a child back in our old castle.”

“What did you do with my grandfather?”

“Nothing really, just told him that his daughter would give ‘birth’ to a boy that would save our race, and that it wouldn’t really be her child, but a child from 1,000 years ago.”

“And of the guitar?”

“I enchanted that as a gift, to tell him the truth. I only asked him not to play in public, otherwise it would probably be taken away.”

“I guess that’s understandable…” Fiery began. “But there’s still one more question Celestia.”

“’AUNT’ Celestia.”

“You know, it’s really weird saying that now, you know, since…” He looked over at Luna, who looked back at him. “I… Love your sister and all…”

“Don’t care, I miss it, and I want you to call me it.”

Luna giggled a bit while Fiery let out a huff. “Fine… ‘AUNT’ Celestia… I have one, no, actually two questions.”

“What are they Fiery?”

“Will the girls be able to recognize me at all? You know, since I’ve changed back into my old form?”

“Oh, I’m sure the girls will have no problem recognizing you. Sure, it might be a little hard to get used to at first, but I’m sure they’ll love you nevertheless.” Celestia responded to him.

“I… I guess so…”

“And the second Fiery?”

“I… I want to know who my real father is.”

Celestia looked at Fiery with a straight face and told him honestly. “I do not know Fiery, I really don’t. After all the time I’ve known her, your mother has never told me that. If you must know, your best bet is to ask your mother yourself when you see her.”

Fiery looked down in disappointment. “I guess…”

“But enough of that, I shall leave you two by yourselves to catch up.” Celestia began to walk away when Fiery called out to her.

“Wait Cel-“ She gave him a quick look back, giving him an evil eye. “Err, ‘Aunt’ Celestia.” She stopped giving him the evil eye and smiled.

“Yes Fiery?”

“What about the girls? They’ll be worried if I’m not there in the morning.”

“Don’t worry about that Fiery.” Celestia assured him. “I will send out a letter to all of them tonight, and tell them that you will be picking them up here in Canterlot when they get off the train tomorrow morning. I assume that all they need to bring is your guitar?”

“Err, yes, that’s right.”

“Very well, I shall go write the message now and send it out.”

He didn’t know how she was going to do it, but he nodded anyways, thinking he shouldn’t need to worry about it. Then another voice came. “Wait sister.”

Celestia turned back around to talk to her little sister once more. “Yes Luna? What is it?”

“I must know Tia… If you knew Fiery was a pony all along then… Why did you tell me that if he had sex, he was going to get his human emotions back?”

Celestia smiled devilishly at her sister before answering. “Oh Luna, if I told you, where would the fun be?”

“Come on Tia, I’m being serious here.”

Celestia rolled her eyes. “Alright Luna, if you must know, the reason why I told you that is….”

“Is...?”

“Is because I was just fooling around with you. Now, if you excuse me, I have a letter to write.” And she turned back around to leave the two of them to themselves.

Luna and Fiery stood there confused for a second before Luna she coughed, getting Fiery’s attention. “Ahem.”

“Y-yes Luna?”

“Perhaps we should go back into my room to talk and-“ But she was interrupted as her sister came back to give Fiery something real quick.

“Ah! Fiery, before I forget. This is a gift from Earth that I had gotten for you before I left once more.” She floated a box over to him, the contents of which shocked him.

“Wha?” Was all he thought as she gave him a carton of 24 boxes of cigarettes, each containing 12 cigarettes, resulting in 288 cigarettes altogether. He looked at the box, then back at his ‘Aunt’ and smiled. “Gee, thanks ‘Auntie’.”

“No problem Fiery, now if you excuse me.” She left as Luna looked at the box Fiery had just received.

“What are those?” She asked.

“Something to help me calm down.”

“What, am I not enough for you?” She asked him teasingly.

Fiery only rolled his eyes. “Perhaps we should take you up on your offer and go to your room to talk? Though it should probably wait until morning, as I do have to play tomorrow.”

“Of course Fiery, if you’ll follow me.” She began walk away from him, as he followed.
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Luna and Fiery had finally reached the doors of her room, where two guards were standing in front. Fiery recognized the type of soldiers right away, as they didn’t look very much different from the old days.

The two of them went into her room and when Fiery entered, he was astonished. Not because it was fantastic, but because he seemed to remember everything. It was an exact duplicate of her old room from the old castle. “I… I recognize this place…”

“Of course you do.” Luna smiled at him. “Tia had this room duplicated from memory from my old room of the old castle. We spent many a night in here together, didn’t we?”

Fiery nodded at her. “Yeah, we did…” He saw her go over to the bed and lay on top of it, seeing there was enough space for him as well. “Um, Luna?”

“Hmm?”

“Do… Do you mind if I join you on the bed?”

Luna looked back at him and smiled. She picked up a pillow with her magic and threw it at him. “Of course you can, but don’t try anything dirty, otherwise I may have to call the guards.”

He smiled back. “Don’t worry Luna, I won’t try to do anything without your permission. After all, we were supposed to get married at one point.”

At the word marriage, Luna’s smile turned into a frown. She laid her face onto one of the pillows and sighed. “We were suppose to get married, weren’t we?” She mumbled into her pillow.

Fiery walked over to her and laid next to her, putting a leg around her. “I know Luna, but… Times have changed. If it was possible for it to be just us two, I would gladly take that opportunity. But you heard your sister and my mother a thousand years ago, and you know what that disaster is now…”

“I know, I just… I just wanted you to myself…” As Luna said this, Fiery began to chuckle some, which got Luna curious. “What’s so funny?”

“Huh? Oh, sorry Lulu I-“

“Lulu?”

“Huh? Didn’t you say you wanted me to call you that a thousand years ago?” He asked her.

“Y-yes, I did, it’s just… I haven’t heard that for a while from your mouth is all…”

He smiled at her. “Well Lulu, if you must know what I’m laughing about, it’s because of what you said.”

“And what’s so funny about what I said?”

“Because, back on Earth, there was a man who once said that ‘Friendship marks a life even more deeply than love. Love risks degenerating into obsession, friendship is never anything but sharing.’ After you said that you wanted me to yourself, I don’t know why, but it reminded me of that quote. Which also leads me to believe this, do the girls love me? Risking their love to becoming obsession? Or is it friendship? Where they wish to share the experience of love?”

Luna stayed quiet for a while before finally asking Fiery. “Who said that?”

“Hmm?”

“Who said the thing about love turning into obsession?”

“Elie Wiesel. An author, philosopher, teacher, holocaust survivor.”

“Holocaust survivor?”

Fiery sighed. “Let’s just say it was something bad, and that nobody hopes something like that happens again.”

“Is it really that bad?”

“More than you can imagine Lulu… Now come on, we should probably get to sleep, Celestia will be raising the sun soon.”

‘That’s ‘AUNT’ Celestia to you mister.’

‘Oh come on! Give me a break! I haven’t been my old self for even thirty minutes yet!’

‘… Fine, I’ll let it slip this time, but you must call me ‘Aunt’ each time we talk to each other from now on, alright?’

Fiery mentally sighed. ‘Fine ‘Aunt’ Celestia, I’ll do that…’

‘Good… Goodnight Fiery.’

‘Yeah, yeah, goodnight to you too…’

“Arguing with Tia?” Luna asked him.

“Yeah… She’s really hooked on that ‘Aunt’ thing isn’t she?”

“Well, it’s going to be a while before we have any children, and even longer before those children will be able to speak, so I think she’s just trying to milk it for as long as possible.”

Fiery sighed once more. “I guess… Come on, we should get to bed now.”

Before Fiery got underneath the sheets and blanket and laid his head on the pillow, Luna reached in and kissed him on the lips. “Goodnight Fifi.”

He smirked at her calling him that. “Goodnight Luna… I love you…”

“And I love you…” She said softly as she lowered her head on her pillow, falling asleep on it, as Fiery did the same…
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Chapter 20 revised, and boy is it a long one. I hope this will make for a much better and exciting chapter, and I’d like to thank CrADHD and UraniumSpoon once again for helping me edit this chapter. Until next time everyone.