Fanfare broke the quiet halls of Canterlot castle as a decorated guard held a tattered looking scroll in his glowing field of magic. Before him was not a group, but a line. A single, solitary line of ponies. The variety of ponies were as wide as the diversity of Equestria itself. Some were dressed in pristine dresses, svelt suits and clothing of all sorts for a grande occasion while others simply wore nothing as though they had no obligations at all. Some appered nervous and sweated through their clothing, others appeared quite bored while others still conveyed numerous emotions. Soon, however, the fanfare ended, and the guard stepped forward to address the single file crowd. Behind him lie a door that seemed to dwarf all within the hall guarded by unicorn, earth ponies and pegasi alike. All were appearing identical in nature thanks to a clever charm imbued within the armor the wore. The scroll unfurled in his magical grasp as he cleared his voice to begin speaking. To the ponies watching, the guard was appearing to read some incredible declaration that might alter what fate initially plotted out.

To the guard, it was a sunday morning. He was told to read from the same scroll to any who had shown up every single sunday. In all honesty, he memorized the entire scroll a long time ago. If given the chance to learn a new language, chances are that he could translate it too. The guard often wondered why it was that he had to read to it, and had tried to rationalize it. He'd mostly settle upon the reasoning that it was for posterity. After all, this day was a day meant for the people of Equestria. The day of the Pony-Sisters court.

"Those of you who have come to meet with the high pincesses of moon and sun..." He began in a loud, confident voice.

Meanwhile within the throne room of the moon and sun, Princess Celestia settled in on her throne, hoping that today woul run as moothly as possible. She could recount many days passed that have left her more than drained. While the court wasn't new, it was only within the last decade did she decide that every court be sunday. The way it was dine previously was stressful for her kind of schedule as a princess. They were always on a random day of the week, and usually left more problems being started rather than resolved because it was normally a first come, first serve system. All a pony would need to do is show up to the court day and hopefully get a few moments time of their princesses. Now though, it was more refined. If any wished to have an audience with the royal monarchs, they would have to schedule an appointment and show up on the sunday specified. It was all an idea thought up by her faithful student turned princess.

Celestia loved the court for it allowed her a glimpse into the lives of her citizens. If there was a problem, it could be solved in a few short moments. At the same time though, she wished she could've simply gotten rid of the courts to begin with. Most of the problems she heard nowadays were petty complaints about neighbors, taxes, and general unfair treatment in their lax and easygoing lives. Celestia attempted to calm herself. She really wished today would run smoothly.

A small disturbance distracted her. She looked over to her right, and smiled. She wasn't alone this time. While recently in the past she was not alone, looking upon her dear sister, who spent 1000 years away from her home, sitting upon her throne that looked like the night sky made her feel more comfortable and ready for this challenge. She did not have to bear this burden in solitude...

Luna looked over to her sister with a gaze that spoke louder and clearer than words. It was the bond between siblings, and nothing like it could imitate it's wordless language. Luna's gaze asked, and Celestia's answered. It was time to begin the court.

Just like clockwork, the first meeting of the day came through the oversized doorway. Hoofsteps against the cool marble echoed in the large hall. The pony was dressed in a large, brown cloak, and had only a small sight of a muzzle peeking out from it. The Princesses were already intrigued by their first guest and waited in anticipation of what problem they could possibly solve for them. The pony stopped just a few feet from the embodiments of oon and sun and took a cusory glance around. Apart from the monarchs, there were guards stationed all around armed with spears. Their gazes were well practiced and hardened, portraying both calmness and power. Beside the princesses stood a unicorn with scroll and quill ready, to take note of what occurs within the court. Without further delay, the pony reached up and pulled back the cloaks hood.

"Ah," Luna gasped as a warm smile graced her features. "Miss Zecora. How faire you today?"

"Hello to you, Princess of the moon," the zebra replied with a respectful bow. "I am well, and glad to see you soon."

"As do I," Luna began. "Nightmare Night is grand, but short lived to say the least."

"What brings you so far from home?" Celestia asked. She did not want to rush the poor zebra who spoke in stylized prose, but did not want to have er other ponies outside wait too long.

"The answer you seek is my vexation, you see," she began again. "But it mostly concerns my hut of the Everfree."

"Is the wildlife too much?" Luna asked in a worried tone. "Perhaps that part of Ponyville should be guarded?"

"It was not a problem before," Celestia contemplated. "But then again, I was not aware of any who sought to live in the forest, so... I suppose..."

"Princesses please, I beseech you," Zecora said with a chuckle. "The brush is fine, guards are not due." The alicorns paused and allowed her to continue. "I will explain as best I can, so listen and try to understand."

"My hut is in the Everfree, yes it is true, but my concerns lie not with me or you. It lies with a foal named Applebloom. She visits me despite the near doom, taking the path of Quills and Broom."

The zebra let her somewhat cryptic message seep into the alicorns and waited for a response. Celestia wondered why it was the zebra had to speak in rhyme, but quickly disregarded the notion to focus on the problem at hoof. The problem was obvious. This Applebloom was a young pony who had formed a friendship with Zecora, and frequented visits from time to time, but the path must be- no, is in fact dangerous. It is much too dangerous for the foal to make trips.

"Tell us," Luna began, interrupting her sisters train of thought. "Could the path be widened?"

"From What I can see of the everfree, the best option is to let it be," Zecora answered.

"So if it's too dangerous to broaden the path..." Celestia mumbled. "Zecora, the problem is that path is too dangerous, but in what way is it hazardous?"

"The road is thin and very confusing," she replied. "Without light, the path, you will be losing."

"I see..."

"What if," Luna began again. "The were laid with bricks of glowing light, easily seen from far distances, but not offensive to the Everfree?"

"I believe that would be fine," Zecora said with a bit of hesitation. "But what clay of the Everfree would shine."

"Perhaps it does not need to be clay," Celestia responded. "It could be anything as long as it can mix with clay."

"Glowcap Dew," Zecora answered with a sile. "That will do."

"Fantastic," Celestia sighed, happy that this went very smoothly. "Shorthoof, Please make a note to contact the Equine Masons Guild to begin making the bricks and that them may need to alter a recipe or two."

"I thank you, my fair princesses. I now have a clear consciousness," Zecora said with another bow.

"Think nothing of it," Luna called. "And we look forward to the Nightmare Night this year!"

Zecora waved back to her alicorn friend and left the court room with a happier outlook. Next were a pair of stallion unicorns dressed in sleezy, cart salespony attire. While their outward emoton had recomposed, they could already feel their patience wearing They knew these stallions well, for almost every sunday they appeared at the court trying to sell some ludircous invention to the two princesses.

"Hello your highnesses!" One of them loudly declared while the other levitated some machine claoked in magic. Both had confident smiles upon their faces.

"My name is Flim, and this my Brother Flam!" he declared. "Have we got a deal for you!"

Hours passed within the throne room of Luna and Celestia. Both alicorns were more or less on a roll. They shut down a few petitions to tax more on the poor and wealthy alike, and there were those few nobles who came to complain and whine about their lives in luxury. Heck, there were even a few fundraisers that dealt with the homeless and foals who had suffered abuse. Those charities were the ones the eagerly signed themselves onto. After all, the next generation will shape the world.

Recently though, the princesses felt emotionally drained from their last complaining noble. Celestia herself craved at least some excitement during these. It didn't have to be like an invasion or world-ending disaster, but perhaps something like a stained glass window suddenly cracking in the middle of a meeting, or a guard passing out from locking their knees.

Seemingly on cue, the doors opened to a rather mysterious individual. Whomever they were, they definitely dressed to be mysterious indeed. They were in a cloak and walked towards them with an air of confidence. It was different from a noble's walk, for their walk was more snobbish and had nose pointed skyward. Before Celestia knew it, the pony had made to them.

Suddenly, the air seemed to turn a dreadful cold as the pony began in a low tone. "You're majesties," the ambiguos pony began. "Behold... I am..." A blast of thunder and radiant lights broke out in the room. It certainly obtained the princesses attention. Suddenly the pony's cloak flew away, revealing the caster of this magic.

"The Great and Humble Trixie!" the blue mare declared in a not so humble manner. The magically created fireworks died out out in a glittering shimmer, spelling out the name Trixie for a brief moment. She then ended it by making her hat appear out of nowhere and land gracefully on her head as she bowed. Celestia smiled softly, somewhat amused by the display.

"Greetings," she said with a bow of her head. "How may we be of service?"

Trixie, somewhat taken back by the straightforward question, stood up and cleared her throat. "Yes, well..." Trixie began with a somewhat tense expression. "I-If it may please your majesties, Trixie inquires if she may come to you seeking... erm..." Trixie swallowed hard. She had just thought of a word to use, but seeing that she would soon make a fool of herself quickly cut to the chase. "...employment?"

Celestia did not let her smile waver, but soon Luna asked, "Tell us, are thou new to the province of Canterlot?"

"Trixie arrived in her wagon a few nights ago, but..." Trixie began with sweat beading around her forehead. "It is not Trixie's first day in Canterlot, your majesty."

"Then thou must know of the proper way to seek a means of apprenticeship at this castle?" Luna asked with a confused look.

"Ah," the unicorn blanched. "Er... Trixie may... Um... It is..."

"If I may, Luna," Celestia interjected, turning to face her sister. "I would rather like to see what she has prepared for us." Turning back to face the blue unicorn, she nodded her to continue.

"Y-yes, well..." Trixie said in an attempt to get back on track. "It comes to the attention of Trixie that the life of royalty is long and laborious." Trixie began to pace before the sovereigns of the nation. "That is not to say that all lives of royalty are monotonous, but in the experience of others that Trixie has heard straight from the horses mouth, it can." Trixie paused to take a cursory glance at the monarchs to see if they were offended.

"Go on," Luna said.

"Well, Trixie happens to be an entertainer of various tricks and magic," the unicorn continued.

"I must apologize," Celestia sid with a raise of her hoof. "We do not need an entertainer in our court."

"O-oh..." Trixie sighed dejectedly. "Then, Trixie will use up no more of yo-"

"Now hold a moment," Luna declared. "We may have passed the time of jesters and soothsayers, we do have need of your talents."

"Would you please explain, dear sister?" Celestia inquired with a bit of shock.

"But of course," Luna replied. "You see, We have recently reopened a stage that used to behold great tragedies, whimsical comedies and suspenseful drama. There has not been many of the old scripts found to perform as of yet, but, as I do recall..." Luna said while thinking far back. "There was, in fact, a few whom performed grand music and shows of magical feat and prowess. Trixie, would-"

"YES!" the blue mare interrupted excitedly. "A stage that Trixie could perform on that has garunteed income? Oh heavens yes!"

"Excellent!" Luna said with rising excitment. "Shorthoof, please remind us to send word to Widelane Rd. Theater about Miss Trixie's performances." The unicorn scribe nodded and jotted a note down quickly.

"Thank you, your hignesses!" Trixie said as she began to depart. "Words cannot describe how happy you have made me!"

"Think nothing of it!" Luna called down the hall. With that, Luna leaned back, feeling a little proud of herself.

"You happy, Lulu?" Celestia asked with a smile.

"Most assuredly," the lunar sister replied. "I could not let my subjects go unhappy."

"Our subjects."

"You knowst our meaning..."

The alicorn sisters did not notice the next pony walking towards them until they made it to the foot of their thrones. The pony was covered in a thick, rough spun cloak that tattered and frayed near the end. It dragged against the polished flooring, hiding the body from their sight. The hood shrouded the visage of the pony as well. There was no real defining feature ofthe equine other than that it was a little larger than your average stallion of the guard. By the time the princesses noticed them, they were already caught off guard.

"My most humble greetings to you, princesses of the moon and sun," the pony said in a low, muffled voice as he kneeled lowly before them. "I throw myself upon your mercy and graces or the prescious time that I waste."

Luna and Celestia looked at one another in small apprehension. "Arise," Celestia said. "You need not kneel before us, my little pony."

"Still though," the strange equine began as he slowly stood. "I surrender myself to your mercies, knowing full well that there is none for a knave as I."

"Thou speakest as though you have committed treason of the highest degree," Luna responded worriedly. "If thou art repentful of thy ways, then thou shalt recieve our greatest mercies."

"You have right to say such, Princess Luna," the stallion replied ominously. "I wish I had that same right..."

"Enough," Celestia commanded with a calm tone. "What is it you bring to us this fine day?"

"A warning," the stallion responded, watching the tensing of the two monarchs.

"A... warning?" Celestia echoed. Her brow creased her normally unbreachable expression.

"Of what kind?" Luna inquired with a flat tone.

"A warning of prophecy," the stallion replied. To this both alicorns seemed to relax. Celestia seemd to do so most of all, for she had heard of fanatics and their doomsday theories. She was one who did in fact take everything with a large grain of salt.

"Oh really?" she replied with no amount of smugness being left out. "Well perhaps I could reccomend a place for which they will listen."

"I am no mad fanatic," the stallion replied in a concerned and edgey tone. "I have proof! My discoveries-"

"Please," Celestia interrupted. "I really believe you, but I'm afraid that-"

"The stars will aid her escape!" the stallion shouted loudly in a gritty and commanding voice that echoed of the walls. Celestia betrayed herself and glared.

"What did thou sayst?" Luna commanded in a serious tone.

"The stars..." the stallion began again, bowing his head lowly. "... will aid her escape. A prophecy stated by princess Celestia one thousand years ago. I ask you what basis this assumption- this theory was formed upon?"

Celestia and Luna stared silently at the cloaked stallion. Both were actually speechless, but soon Luna turned her head slowly to Celestia.

"... For whatever reason I had then," the solar monarch said aloud. "It was suffice enough to come true regardless."

"I see..." the stallion muttered. "Then, on those same standards, I beg you to listen to me. Just as there was a Nightmare Moon, another nightmare will begin..."

"That's preposturous," Princess Luna exclaimed. "The nightmare within was destroyed forevermore, and the Elements of Harmony are now within the Tree of Harmony."

"It is not based without thought your highness," he retorted. "With respect, your nightmare was not destroyed, nor has it ever been."

"Then show us the proof of your claim," Celestia said with a serious gaze. "Show to us your basis."

"Did you not justify yourself for your prophecy?"

"I will admit that I was within a position that no one would dare question me," Celestia clarified. "However, you are not in the same circumstances and must convince not only me but my sister as well."

"Easier said than done," the stallion grumbled. By this time, most of the guards were watching him very closely. "The Laws are incomplete."

There was a long moment of pure silence as the princesses seemed to absorb the information presented to them.

"What you are stating," Celestia began in a very irratated tone. "Ids that your prophecy is based upon Starswirl the bearded's Laws of Magic; the same unicorn who was my most faithful and dare I say, brilliant student; a unicorn whose achievements gave a better understanding of magic the likes ofwhich neither I nor my sister could provide; Are you saying that one of his greatest achievement was not satisfactry?"

"... Yes," the figure replied reluctantly.

"Upon what grounds?" Celestia demanded.

"That is..." the figure began hesitantly. "It's complicated."

"That is a foal's answer!" Celestia shouted.

"And justifying your reasoning for Nightmare Moon's return by using your position of power isn't?!"

"Who are you to question me?!" Celestia spat. "Who are you to question Starswirl?!"

"Reveal thyself..." Luna commanded calmly. "Remove thy cloak and thy shadows. You fear no judgement here." Luna gazed at Celestia. Celestia felt her anger being rapidly cooled by it. She had let herself become exposed. No pony on this living plane could have done so with that ease. She inwardly thanked her sister, and began to plan on repaying her for it.

"... I cannot..." the stallion replied in a despondent tone. "Despite your statement, I cannot disrobe. I am... unconvinced..."

"Do it, or We shall have thee escorted from our presence..." Luna rebuttled. "We shall also disregard what was said between us."

"I... I have... no other choice then..." the cloaked stallion sighed begrudgingly. "... I know that I am in no position to make a plea before you... but... I must ask that when I do, on your honor and title as protecters and sovereigns of Equestria, to... to at least indulge in my story regardless of what may occur."

"You are correct," Luna replied coldly. "Guards, please-"

"I swear," Celestia interrupted, earning an apalled look from her sister. "Please do not take offense, Luna. While it was your own promise to throw him out, it was not my words." Celestia gave a long look at Luna. It was not pleading, but it was one of determination. Luna understood, at that very moment, how hurt Celestia had been from the words of the stallion. The princess of the moon's wrath would be spared, but not the princess of the sun's.

Then, with a slow and methodical progression, the stallion before them began to remove his cloak. He first started from within his cloak it seemed, untying an unseen garb of worn winter clothing. They seemed to have been haphazardly put together. The monarchs noice the cloth boots and now had an explanation as to why there was no sound of his approach. They also saw traces of a dark grey body as more clothing was dispelled from the cloak. Then the stallion reached into his hood and began to pull out a long, wool scarf that fell to the floor in a heap. Finally, it came to the cloak. As the hood was drawn bck, the surprise in both monarch's expressions left the stallion wishing he was just escorted off the premises.

"I am Sombra, tyrant of the Crystal Empire," the grey stallion declared in a flat, regretful voice. "I surrender..."

Author's Notes:

Whew! Took me long enough to make this chapter. HOpe you like it! I'll work on the second chapter as quickly as I can catch free time.