Take note that the next chapters will be in third-person.

Celestia stared off into the evening sky carefully watching the sun and trying to position it correctly into the sky. She strained a little to keep it into that position, and released her grip on the sun. She once again gazed into the sky with her eyes and looked bak to see her sister approaching.

"Ah, there you are Luna.", she smiled warmly.

Luna smiled back and kept walking forward.

"Hello sister. Have thou position the sun in the thy sky correctly?", she asked.

Celestia nodded.

"Now, it is time for you to do the same with the moon."

Luna nodded with a grin and her horn started to glow. A small white spot rose into the sky and began to head towards the sun. Luna concentrated with all of her might to push the moon in front of the sun.

"Would like some help little sister?", Celestia asked in a half-concerned and half-mocking tone.

Luna shook her head and continued to concentrate. The moon began to overlap the sun and the sky was filled with a seemingly unnatural, yet beautiful darkness, with a white ring in the middle of the sky.

"Wow, it's beautiful, sister.", Luna said through her amazed eyes.

"I think this could be the best we have ever done for a solar eclipse.", Celestia replied.

They continued to watch the amazing sight that some ponies had only seen a few times in their whole life. Everywhere in Ponyville, ponies looked up at the sky and pointed at the eclipse. Many gazed in awe. Young fillies were confused. Others saw this as a blessing from the princesses. Yet, all stopped what they were doing to look.

Celestia then looked down at her sister proudly and spoke.

"I'm very glad we could share this moment together. I had to admit, while you were banished to the moon, I was very lonely in Canterlot. I'm so glad that you have returned."

Luna smiled up to the taller Alicorn.

"As am I..."

They both shared a warm hug, and continued to watch the eclipse. Sister and sister together.

Suddenly, a migraine slashed across Celstia's mind and caused her to collapse to the ground screaming in pain. Luna recovered from what just happened and turned to her sister.

"Celestia?! What has ha-", Luna was abruptly cut off by another migraine searing into her head and forced her to drop to the ground in agony.

"What's happening?!", Celestia screamed.

"Thy don't know!", Luna replied through the pain.

Then, she managed to open her eyes and stare off into the eclipse. Suddenly, she knew something wasn't right. The eclipse had two gleaming red spots on it. And the way they were pointed and seem like slashes, they seemed to form two blood red eyes staring down at Equestria.

"Sister! Look!"

Celestia opened her eyes and stared off into the eclipse. It took her a few seconds to realize what was happening.

"No...i-it can't be..."

"What sister?"

"He's returning."

Two royal guards rushed onto the balcony and helped the princesses up.

"Please...summon Twilight Sparkle at once...", Celestia said before passing out.

--

Twilight walked through the gates of Canterlot, with Spike at least carrying 75% of the books and scrolls that Twilight decided to bring.

"Spike, I can take some of those off your hands if you want. You don't need to carry that much. We passed Rarity already.", Twilight spoke up to break the silence.

"Wha...we did? Did she see me carrying all of this heavy stuff?", Spike asked suddenly.

"Uhhhh...no. She didn't."

"Urg, fine."

Twilight's horn began to glow as the numerous books and scrolls came off of Spike's hands and onto Twilight's back. She immediately stumbled with the weight.

"Wow, I really did pack a lot. Thankfully, I know I'm prepared for the test that Celestia has to throw at me!"

"Uh, all of this just for a little test?"

Twilight's eye twitched and she whirled around to face Spike, despite the immense weight on her back.

"A little test? Just, a LITTLE TEST?! Are you serious?! This could mean the future of me being Celestia's student! And-and...actually, I don't know what the test is about. But, I always come prepared!", Twilight said triumphantly.

Spike rolled his eyes.

"Now where have I seen this before?", he said sarcastically.

The two continued through Canterlot, and noticed that there were quite a bit of guards. And, they were armed. Twilight couldn't remember when the guards had been armed with weapons on patrol in Canterlot for quite a while. The guard's eyes never left Twilight, and she was sure that they were all following her. She came to the doorway and walked inside to proceed to Celestia's throne room. Once she was inside the throne room, she smiled at the sight of Celestia. Celestia could only manage a weak smile back. Immediately, Twilight knew something wasn't right.

"Celestia, I'm ready for the test you have to give to me! I've studied up on..."

"Never mind that Twilight. There is something bigger on our hooves at the moment."

Celestia stepped down, and Twilight noticed that she had bags on her eyes and she limped a bit when she walked.

"Princess! Are you okay?!"

"I-I'm fine Sparkle, but I must show you something. Come outside."

Twilight walked off after Celestia, after telling Spike to "Stay". Twilight continued the walk upstairs and meet Celestia at the balcony. She took her side by her teacher.

"Twilight, look.", Celestia pointed at the eclipse.

"Yes, it's the eclipse. What's so...what in Equestria?", Twilight stammered when she saw the two glowing red eyes glaring down at the two,"Celestia, what's that? Did you do that?"

"No Twilight."

Celestia remained silent for quite a while, until she spoke up after a minute.

"I believe it is time for you to know one of my darkest and most kept hidden secrets."

Twilight gasped.

"Celestia? Are you sure?"

Celestia nodded and instructed Twilight to follow her. Celestia's horn began to glow, and in a split second, they were in a dark area in Canterlot that Twilight didn't recognize.

"Wha? Where are we? I don't recognize this place in Canterlot."

"That is because nopony has ever known of this place except for me and my sister, Luna.", Celestia said to Twilight while walking towards a massive vault.

"Why go through all that trouble to protect this place? Do any guards ver come here?"

"No, they aren't even aware."

Twilight stared at the vault that Celestia was trudging to.

"What's that Celestia?"

Celestia just walked up to the vault and closed her eyes. Her horn glowed golden, and the whole door before then began to shift it's position, as if it were one giant lock. Every section of the door turned and shifted until a very large "CLANG!" was heard. The door began to rumble, and quite a bit of dust came off of it and flew around the two. Twilight sneezed, yet Celestia was not disturbed by the dust. Celestia walked in and used her magic to clear the dust, revealing a small black crystal, sitting on a pedestal. Celestia took the crystal and instructed Twilight to come back to the throne room. Twilight obeyed and Celestia teleported them back. Once inside, she instructed the guards to leave and prevent anypony from coming anywhere near the throne room.

"Isn't this a little too much security?"

"Listen Twilight, for I'm about to tell you something that I have not told anypony else."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes Twilight. Now listen."

Celestia fired a blast of energy into the crystal. The crystal began to shake and it shot out another beam of light at the floor, allowing an image to grow on the floor, similar to the images that Twilight saw when she learned of the Crystal Empire. Twilight jumped back at the sudden image and stared up at Celestia.

"Twilight, I had a brother."

Twilight's eyes suddenly widened.

"You had a brother?! Wow! I wished I could meet him-"

"Twilight, trust me when I say you wouldn't."

"Really? What's wrong?"

"A little over one thousand years ago, before Luna fell to Nightmare Moon, I looked up to my older brother, Eclipse. He was a natural-born leader and was very smart for himself. He constantly wanted to make a perfect world in which we could live in, but he nearly succeeded."

"Nearly? What happened?"

"He used the wrong Elements. He turned to the Elements of Corruption, the original Elements."

The image on the ground showed six stones, but with different images.

"Wait, I thought that the Elements of Harmony were the only Elements to exist."

"No, those weren't even the original Elements. The Elements of Harmony were created to combat the Elements of Corruption."

"Why did he seek out the Elements of Corruption?"

"He believed that Equestria had to be molded with force. If he got a hold of the Elements of Corruption, then nopony could stand in his way. But, the sad thing was...that he was doing this for me and Luna. I remember when he had finally harnessed the Elements of Corruption, oblivious to the true power that the Elements held. Once he tried to use them, they were absorbed into his body, becoming one with him, and turning the brother that I once loved into an abomination that saw every living thing as something to eradicate. I tried to reason with him, but he lashed out and tried to kill me. And...to this day, I still believe he was responsible for laying that curse on Luna which eventually led to her transformation to Nightmare Moon."

Twilight gasped.

"Your brother did that?!"

"Yes, Eclipse did. And he tried to kill both of us, believing that he could force his way to the throne and gain complete power."

"Unbelievable...", Twilight shuddered.

"He nearly defeated us, and me and Luna had to do what was right and imprisoned him in a stone and banished him to the Chasm of Shadows. I always regret that I had made hat decision, but deep down, I knew it was for his own good. And, I had learned that if Eclipse was to ever return, this would happen.", Celestia said while pointing towards the glaring solar eclipse.

"Wait...ECLIPSE IS GOING TO RETURN?!", Twilight freaked out.

"Unfortunately, yes. But, there is a way to prevent his return. In the Chasm of Shadows, you must use the Elements of Harmony to destroy the stone Eclipse is imprisoned in. I could not do it myself as I had to use the Elements to defeat Nightmare Moon shortly after."

Twilight looked down at the floor.

"Twilight, I need you to take your friends to the Chasm of Shadows and prevent Eclipse from ever rising.This is a very dangerous mission. He is sealed with the abominations of his own make, and you must go under heavy escort. Are you up for the task?", Celestia asked.

Twilight again looked at the floor, and looked back up.

"I-I don't know. He's your brother. And...what if we can't do it?"

"Twilight, you and your friends had changed Nightmare Moon back into Luna, you have released your friends from the trance of Discord, you have done quite a part in defeating Chrysalis, and King Sombra..."

"Alright Princess, I kno- I mean, we know.", Twilight blushed.

Celestia did not change her look.

"Okay Celestia, we are up to the task.", Twilight said proudly.

"Yes, but be warned, Eclipse's creations still lurk the Chasm of Shadows, and you must wear your Element Amulets at all times, or the lingering essence of Eclipse will posses your body."

Now Twilight seemed more afraid.

"O-okay Princess. I'll get everypony together so we can stop Eclipse!", she said before she teleported to Ponyville.

Princess Celestia continued to look up into the sky at the solar eclipse that had refused to give way. The crimson red eyes continued to glare down at Celestia.

"Why brother?"

--

"So wait. Yer' tellin' me, that Celestia has a brother?!", Applejack demanded.

"Yes! I know it seems unlikely, but Princess Celestia said we have to go to the Chasm of Shadows and destroy the Eclipse stone. We don't have much time, and as soon as Rainbow Dash gets here, I'm teleporting us to Canterlot."

"Well, I've certainly waited long enough. Isn't Rainbow Dash supposed to be the 'Fastest Flyer in all of Equestria'? She really ins't living up to her name now.", Rarity fumed.

"Yay! Roadtrip!", Pinkie Pie squeed.

"Pinkie Pie! This is serious! Equestria is at stake! We could be destroyed!"

"Oh, well... Capt. Pinkie Pie reporting for duty!", she boomed while giving a military salute.

"That's better...I guess.", Twilight face-hoofed.

"Oh. There they are. If, anypony want's to pay attention.", Fluttershy said inaudibly.

The five ponies looked into the sky, and saw a familiar cyan speck in the sky with a trail of rainbows coming behind her, but to her right, there was a larger figure with large and pure white wings. It didn't take the ponies long to recognize the other silhouette.

"Why's Ben coming?"

"Beats me."

The two touched down in the middle of the group and recovered from their landing.

"Well! It took you two long enough!"

"Heh, sorry. Your 'invitation' came a little late.", Ben said.

"Alright, now that everypony is here, we now need to head to Canterlot.", Twilight broke the comment.

"Wait, what about Ben?", Rainbow Dash pointed at the human.

Ben looked down at Rainbow Dash a little funny, and she kind of slunk down. Twilight failed to notice this as she was weighing wether it was wise to take Ben or not. She then considered to take Ben as she readied the teleportation spell.

"Wait, what are you doing?", Ben asked.

"I'm preforming a teleportation spell. Can I please have some silence?"

Ben kept his mouth shut. Twilight's horn started to glow, and a purple aura began to surround the group. Ben looked at his hands, and they were fading away from view. In an instant, a flash of light enveloped the mares and he human.

--

The six mares and the human teleported straight into Princess Celestia's throne room. Immediately, Ben didn't feel so pretty.

"Oh god, I think I'm gonna hurl..."

Ben mustered up all the strength he could store and forced his stomach down. Ben shook his head and caught up with the six mares. They continued to walk until they came face to face with Celestia. She walked down from her throne and the mares bowed in respect. Ben looked at the formalities and just did a Japanesse-style bow. Celestia seemed satisfied and looked over to Ben.

"Um...what's Benjamin doing here?", Celestia asked.

"Uh, your highness. I thought it would be wise for him to hear in on the situation.", Twilight explained.

Celestia's expression changed into a small frown.

"I prefer that the human does not go along.", Celestia stated.

"I think it would be a wise decision.", another voice spoke up.

Everypony and Ben turned to face a familiar scaled pegasus.

"Corrosive? What are you doing outside of your quarters?", Celestia demanded.

"I was curious. Now, before you chew me out, hear me out. The human is practically a living arsenal. If you take him along, he would completely negate the need for a military escort."

"Wait? What is all of this about 'Eclipse' and 'Military Escort'?", Ben asked.

Celestia sighed.

"Time is running out. Ben, come with me. I'll have to summarize everything."

Ben nodded, and Celestia told him her long kept secret.

--

"Unbelievable."

"I know. Now that he could rise once again, will you help in bringing him down?"

Ben looked at the floor, the quickly looked up.

"As a former Marine, I will do everything to protect the innocent and stop the ponies who threaten them."

Celestia nodded.

"Thank you. And...oh, here come my hand-picked royal guards."

The group turned their heads and striding into the throne room, were three unicorns and two pegasi. They stood at attention and drew their swords, spun them in their hooves impossibly, and stamped the ground while slinging their swords on their back. They all stood at attention once more and shouted,"AttennnnnnTION!" The sheer multitude of their voices shook the whole room and caused Fluttershy to slink back down a bit.

"Before you stand Fire Mane, Golden Blade, Raptor Eye, Righteous Light, and Captain of them all, Shining Armor.", Celestia called them off. Apparently, Twilight had recognized the one named "Shining Armor".

"Twilight!", Shining Armor called out and ran for her.

"Shining!", Twilight cried with delight.

"I'm so glad to see you again sister!"

"Wow! It's been quite a while!"

I smiled at the bonding between those two. I brought up memories about my brother. And for once, it didn't pain me.

"Please, you must depart now if you have a chance to stop Eclipse!", Celestia yelled over all of the rest of the ponies and the one human.

"Wait, how are we going to get to the Chasm of Shadows?", Ben asked up.

"I have a Zeppelin we can use. It can fly us there in a few hours at the most.", Shining Armor explained.

"Alright. Let's pack up and go."

Ben managed to heave his duffle bag over his shoulders and checked to make sure everything was in there. After smiling at his preparations he headed towards the Zeppelin where everypony else was waiting.

Before Ben could board the airship, Corrosive came up to him.

"Benjamin, I'm coming along."

"You? Why?"

"I have to make sure my sister is safe. Also, Equestria is my home and everypony else's, so i must do what is right and help destroy Eclipse. And...I have fought one or two of his creations before."

Ben stepped back.

"What the- you have?", he stammered.

"Yes. And they are as ugly as they are dangerous."

Ben nodded.

The two boarded the airship unaware to what was waiting to be unleashed at Equestria.

And the true story begins...