Our Kingdom


                                            >You stared at the ceiling, restless from having been left to languish in your quarters. You have been confined to them for over a week now, on account of some incident involving the elusive 'Master of Chaos' who - if the rumours circulating in the castle are to believed. Hasn't been seen since the elder council returned to Canterlot.

                                            >The whole affair had left an air of unease, the self-proclaimed ruler of Equestria disappearing without a trace would ordinarily be cause for celebration but the council had decreed that no one was to leave their quarters until further notice – which is why you're here right now; bored out of your skull.

                                            >You looked out the window, watching as the skies morphed and shifted - A swirling maelstrom of stars as the sun and the moon danced across the sky like they were playing tag with each other. You had learned since your arrival that day and night were concepts that were long dead. It would seem, despite the absence of Equestria's ruler the effects of his power still held the world in his chaotic grip.

                                            >The weather seemed more volatile than usual too; one moment there'd be clear blue skies overhead whilst at another time it could rain or snow within minutes of passing by. The seasons changed so quickly these days that many ponies simply didn't keep track anymore...

                                            >Though you supposed you should be thankful for all the chaos: after all, you probably wouldn't have lasted long otherwise. The only reason you were even in Canterlot was because you had crossed paths with a group of Unicorn scholars who upon learning you had no magic of your own decided to bring you here for magical study.

                                            >Though right from the beginning,  you knew this wasn't an act of kindness, your presence was barely tolerated and certainly not welcomed. In fact, the first few weeks passed by rather painfully before any of the Unicorns began taking interest in you beyond their own curiosity. Outsiders weren't exactly welcome amongst the unicorns. Especially non-ponies.

                                            >They treated you well enough though; gave you food, shelter and even clothing but every word spoken about you was laced with distrust.


                                            >Only one unicorn scholar you tried their best to make you feel welcome - Clover, she took the time to answer your questions when others refused to do so. You remembered asking her once:

                                            "Why does everyone treat me like I'm some kind of monster?"

                                            >She sighed and replied "Because they think you are."

                                            >You wasn't sure exactly what you expected the response to be. After all, you hadn't done anything wrong. But the words stung nonetheless.

                                            >"It's not entirely their fault, you know," She continued, "I've the heard stories just like everypony else, and none of them good..." Her voice trailed off and she fell silent again for several moments. Then she turned back towards you.

                                            >"I know it doesn't help much but try not let it bother you, alright? Most ponies, they're just set in their ways. Unicorns especially, we're stubborn as it gets but they'll come around eventually."

                                            >It wasn't much, but you appreciated the sentiment. Though you couldn't say that you really felt any better.


                                            >A knock on your door pulled you from your thoughts, you opened it to see Clover standing outside, she threw off her hood revealing herself.

                                            >"Hey there, Anon!" She said cheerfully, stepping into the room and closing the door behind her.

                                            >"I'm sorry I'm late but you won't believe what happened today!"

                                            >And so begins yet another conversation between two friends. You listened attentively while she told you how everyone had been summoned by the elder council earlier that evening for a meeting concerning the recent events and rumours.

                                            >"Well it turns out the rumours aren't true! Discord isn't gone he's in hiding!" She explained excitedly, "But that's not all, apparently there has been some sort of disturbance deep in the Everfree Forest - or at least that's what they said..."

                                            "You don't sound convinced..." You remarked.

                                            >"No, I'm not. Some of us wanted to go into the forest and investigate for ourselves but the elder council forbade it. Said they needed everypony here at the castle." She began to look concerned then.

                                            >"I could accept that if it were just a precautionary measure, but whatever was in that forest was enough to make even Discord think twice..."

                                            >"The whole room seemed unconvinced but they kept reassuring us that everything was fine. I'm sure I wasn't the only one who didn't believe them either. If something was powerful enough to scare even Discord, what chance did we stand against it?"

                                            >She stopped talking for a moment and looked away, seeming lost in thought.

                                            "So what will happen now?" You asked after a pause.

                                            >"They sent us all away with orders to return to our regular duties. Except for me."

                                            You looked at her curiously, "What do you mean?"

                                            >"They pulled me aside after everypony else had left and told me to bring you to them immediately."

                                            >Your heart sank, you were already afraid of the worst.

                                            >Clover noticed your expression change and added, "Don't worry, I promise nothing bad's going to happen. They're probably just wanting to talk to you alone. And besides, you're my friend, you can trust me, okay?"

                                            "Alright," You nodded slowly, trying hard to remain optimistic.


                                            >With Clover leading the way you made your way down the hallways of the castle, avoiding the stares of the scholars you passed along the way. She led you through a series of winding corridors and staircases and slowly the fine marble of the castle gave way to the dark stone of the mountain itself.

                                            >Eventually the passage ended with what looked like a large stone tablet embedded in the wall, its surface carved with various symbols and runes. Clover stepped up to it and placed her hoof on the center of the engraving, it came to life as she touched it.

                                            >The slab dropped a few feet and slowly began descending into the ground below, revealing a corridor that seemed to hold an unnatural darkness.

                                            >"Sorry Anon, this is where we part ways." Clover smiled apologetically.

                                            "You're not coming?"

                                            >"No, I was told to bring you to them but I'm not allowed to come with you. Just follow the path, you'll find them." With that she turned and started walking away, leaving you alone.

                                            >The Stone door began to raise back up into the wall and as it closed, you were plunged into darkness.

                                            >You stood there for a minute, uncertain whether or not to stay put.  As you took a tentative step forward, A crystal torch began to glow, illuminating the path ahead.

                                            >As you walked towards it you found another torch in a row began to glow as the first faded. You turned around to find you couldn't even see the stone door you'd come from. So you pushed on forwards, following the glowing torches.

                                            >Along the walls there were various carvings, most of which made no sense to you; some appeared almost like ancient writings while others depicted ponies and various creatures. Unicorns, you recognised but there were also pegasi and earth ponies.

                                            >You'd heard of them but you'd never seen them throughout your entire time in Equestria. Though for now you pressed onwards into the dark.

                                            >After what felt like hours of trekking through the endless halls, the torches finally came to an end by a set of wooden doors. pushing them open a loud creak echoed through the chamber. Peering inside revealed a a large circular space, it was surprisingly empty save for ornate carvings on the floor, You saw more of the crystal lamps lining the edge of the room though that barely helped lighten the gloom.


                                            >"Welcome, human." A male voice sounded from across the room.

                                            >Turning your gaze to the source of the noise, you could make out a figure sitting atop a throne at the far side of the room; dressed in a blue robe and wizard hat.

                                            "Um... hello?" You ventured tentatively, unsure of how to proceed.

                                            >The figure spoke again, "I am Starswirl the Bearded, and I speak on behalf of the Elder Council..."

                                            >As soon as he said that, two more thrones revealed themselves on either side of the room, each in their own alcove just like Starswirl's. You couldn't make out who they were due to the hoods they wore.

                                            >You looked around nervously. There was no sign of anyone else here apart from yourself and the three seated figures. You elected to bow your head slightly instead of speaking.

                                            >"I suppose I would be safe in presuming that Clover has taken the liberty of informing you about the meeting earlier today?"

                                            "Yes - uh, she said that Discord was in hiding? That-"

                                            >He cut you off mid sentence, "Yes - and I'm sure that as you are no doubt aware, his disappearance comes as quite a shock to us all." He paused, choosing his next words carefully. "However - It is clear that Discord's absence is merely temporary. He will return to Equestria and reclaim his rightful place as ruler of all Pony-kind."

                                            >There was silence for a moment, before you managed to muster up the courage to ask.

                                            "Sorry - but, I'm not sure how I could be of any help? What do you need me for?"

                                            >Starswirl sighed audibly and leaned back in his chair. "Discord's absence is surely by now - already becoming common knowledge amongst the populace. The centuries of chaos and unrest have left scars not so easily healed and it is almost certain that the three races of Equestria are now looking to settle old scores."

                                            >You mulled over his words but didn't reply.

                                            >"Equestria requires a new ruler. Someone capable enough to unite pony-kind under one banner once more. To restore order and harmony to our land."

                                            >The silence hung in the air for a few moments longer before a feminine voice from behind you interrupted.


                                            >"He's talking about us."

                                            >You turned towards the source of the voice and one of the other figures sat on the throne threw off her hood. She was a young mare, A unicorn with a dark blue coat and azure hair that seemed to sparkle in the dull light. She stared straight at you with piercing teal eyes that you could swear seemed to glow faintly.

                                            >Another feminine voice, from the last throne began to laugh. "Oh, you should have seen your face! You thought you was going to be king?!"

                                            >She threw off her own hood, she was a pale white Unicorn with a magenta mane. She laughed merrily, which soon proved contagious as the her blue counterpart joined in. The pair shared a brief moment of laughter together before falling silent once more.

                                            >"Yes, thank you for that input. Now, perhaps we might move onto discussing why we brought him here." Starswirl addressed both of them.

                                            >They seemed to stiffen up at his words but said nothing.

                                            >"As Luna so graciously pointed out - both she and her sister, Celestia, will assume the mantle as rulers of Equestria. However, they need a... unbiased third party to assist them during their reign."

                                            >Both unicorns exchanged glances, clearly confused by this statement.

                                            >"Given that you have no prior connection to Equestria, our history or culture. You have no such bias." He went on.

                                            >"That being said, neither do they..." His eyes shifted briefly between the two unicorns before returning to you.

                                            >"We require someone who can keep them in check and ensure that their rule remains fair and impartial."

                                            >Well that was unexpected. Not only had you just been entrusted with the future leadership of Equestria but you'd also just become their advisor.

                                            >Though the question remained...


                                            "Why are you trusting me with this?"

                                            >You weren't expecting a response right away and when you looked up Starswirl was still staring blankly at the floor. But then he raised his head and fixed you with those piercing eyes.

                                            >"Because... You're our only option."

                                            >The way he said it made it sound as though he had just realised it himself. Or maybe that was exactly what he meant. Either way, you decided not to press the matter further.

                                            >"I'm sure you're eager to make each other's acquaintance. So I shall leave you be. They'll be sure to come find me when they're ready."

                                            >With that he got up and strode out of the room without another word. Leaving you alone with your new companions, who descended down the steps to join you in the center of the room.

                                            >The three of you stood there awkwardly for a few minutes, until you finally broke the silence.

                                            "Hi..." You greeted hesitantly, unsure how to address them.

                                            >Celestia looked at you curiously, "Hello." Her voice was soft and melodious.

                                            >Luna however looked at you with curiosity, but said nothing.

                                            "My names Anon." You offered quietly.

                                            >"Celestia... and that is my sister, Luna." Celestia replied politely, gesturing to herself and her sister respectively.

                                            >Her sister meanwhile continued to stare at you, taking in every detail of your appearance with obvious interest. After a long moment of observation she spoke softly. "Are you really not from Equestria?"

                                            >You blinked at her sudden question. "Uh yeah, I mean - I'm not even from this world. I'm from a place called Earth."

                                            >"Earth... Interesting." She replied

                                            >"And you?" You asked, perhaps more open endedly than you intended.

                                            >The two of them shared a look before Celestia answered, "No, we're not from here. We're from... Somewhere..." She trailed off, searching for the correct words.

                                            >"Nowhere." Luna finished for her.

                                            >This was going to be an interesting conversation indeed...


                                            "I have to say this all seems rather sudden. I mean - I don't know anything about politics or ruling countries, or anything like that."

                                            >"That's not quite what Starswirl meant." Celestia interjected calmly. "What he wants is for us to just - talk. About things."

                                            "Like... What?" You inquired.

                                            >"Anything really, honestly it doesn't make much sense to us either since - well, we don't know anything about ruling anything either. But Starswirl thinks that if we just go out into the world - the other ponies will try and trick us into doing something stupid and then Equestria will fall apart again and Discord will get a chance to take power."

                                            "Well, I guess that makes sense but why wouldn't they try to trick me as well?"

                                            >Luna chimed in, "Well that's because you're not... a pony."

                                            >You frowned at her, "So?"

                                            >"So... They just aren't going to be interested in you. Outsiders aren't welcome in Equestria" She explained, seeming completely oblivious to her own words.

                                            "Oh... Right." was all you could manage in reply.

                                            >Celestia looked at her sister, "Good one Luna, I'm sure he won't take that personally..." she said sarcastically.

                                            >"Well it's the truth isn't it? He's not from Equestria." Luna shrugged.

                                            You raised your hand to stop them arguing, "It's fine, I've become used to it."

                                            >"Used to it?" Celestia queried, sounding genuinely concerned.

                                            "Yeah, I wasn't brought to Canterlot because I'm important, or useful. I was brought here because they wanted to study me." You explained, "But I can't say I've been treated badly. Everyone is just really cold towards me."

                                            >"Why'd they want to study you?" Luna asked, intrigued.

                                            "I don't have any magic which apparently, is really weird for anything here. Maybe that's why I'm here." You suggested hopefully.

                                            >"Maybe..." Luna conceded.

                                            >The silence fell upon you all for several minutes as you tried to think of what else to say.

                                            >"Why don't we show him around? Show him where everything is?" Celestia suggested, breaking the uncomfortable tension.

                                            "Sure, why not?" You agreed.


                                            >Celestia took the lead as she headed towards another door in the chamber, different to the one Starswirl had left from. Celestia reared up on her hind legs as she leaned on the door to push it open. The heavy oak wood groaned loudly as it swung inward revealing a corridor beyond.  It was lined with the occasional bookshelf and doors leading off to various rooms.

                                            >You followed along after her, watching as she walked ahead confidently. Luna walked beside you and you found yourself glancing over at her occasionally. She looked as if she was straining against something, though what exactly you couldn't tell.

                                            "Where is everyone?" You asked, taking stock of the empty corridors.

                                            >"Who?" Celestia glanced back at you.

                                            "The rest of the elder council? I thought they would have lived here too?"

                                            >"No, there's only Starswirl here, I don't know where the other two are." She admitted.

                                            "You're not part of the council?"

                                            >"I'm sorry?" She asked, surprised.

                                            "What?" You asked innocently.

                                            >"I'm not that old!" She protested.

                                            >Luna couldn't help but snicker at this. Much to Celestia's annoyance.

                                            "I just assumed that you were, since you and Luna were sitting on those thrones back there. I figured since Starswirl was you would be too." You reasoned.

                                            >"Oh... Right..." she trailed off as she realized her mistake. Turning away from you, she gave a short huff and resumed walking.

                                            >"It's only us and Starswirl here. Though we hardly even see him either. He spends most of his time locked away in his chambers studying." Luna informed you.

                                            >You nodded silently as you Celestia turned and reared up again, pushing open yet another set of double wooden doors. Inside it looked like a lounge area. There was a large couch in front of a fireplace with a table laid out nearby. In contrast to the halls outside it seemed rather cosy and homely.


                                            >"This is where we live, come on in!" She beckoned with a hoof.

                                            >You stepped inside and looked around, Luna wasted no time as she limped past you and plopped herself down onto the couch with a sigh.

                                            "Are you okay?" You asked, worried.

                                            >"Yeah... It's nothing..." She muttered, closing her eyes.

                                            >You closed the door behind you and made your way across the room. Celestia sat in one of the empty chairs and you moved over to sit opposite her. The warm crackle of the fire filled the air, sending small waves of heat through the room.

                                            >You watched Luna as she lay across the couch, her head resting on her forelegs and her cloak draped across her. Despite how tired she appeared to be she didn't seem to be sleeping. Instead she simply gazed lazily at the floor, her breathing steady but slow.

                                            After a minute of observing her, you felt compelled to speak up, "How did you hurt yourself anyway?"

                                            >"I tripped..." She mumbled absently.

                                            >Celestia interrupted before you could ask more questions. "Anon." catching your attention.

                                            >You met her gaze and she gently shook her head. Warding off any further questions with a stare.

                                            You leaned back into the chair, feeling slightly awkward having over-stepped yourself. "Sorry, I shouldn't have-"

                                            >She cut you off mid sentence, "It's fine."

                                            >There was a brief pause as the three of you stared at each other, uncertain of what to do next.

                                            "...so uh..." You started, "How exactly did you get chosen to lead Equestria? If you're not from here, that is."

                                            >"The same reason why you're here, we're... unbiased... unconnected to Equestria. Which means we should be able to rule over all ponies fairly. At least, that's the theory anyway..." Celestia explained, rather vaguely.

                                            "But you're both unicorns, that seems pretty biased to me." You countered.

                                            >She opened her mouth to speak, but Luna beat her to it.

                                            >"No... we're not." Luna corrected you, still looking off idly at the wall.

                                            >Celestia looked at her sister apprehensively, darting her eyes between her and you.

                                            >"Luna, Starswirl said not to!" Celestia shushed.

                                            >Luna stared at her sister for a moment as they shared a silent exchange before she finally spoke.

                                            >"Starswirl told us to trust him, so we will." She stated flatly.


                                            >Celestia held her gaze for a few seconds longer before letting out a deep sigh and nodding reluctantly. "You're right... It's just that Starswirl told us to keep it a secret from everypony and you're the first outsider he's let us see."

                                            "Don't worry about it." You reassured her. "So if you're not unicorns - what are you?"

                                            >"We're Alicorns." Celestia confirmed.

                                            "What's that?" You wondered aloud.

                                            >"We don't know..." Celestia trailed off, "That's just what we, uh... Are."

                                            >Celestia must have seen your visible confusion because she quickly added, "Don't ask us how we know. We just do."

                                            "Okay," You replied. Accepting her answer without comment.

                                            "So... what makes you different exactly?" You asked.

                                            >"We have wings, just like the Pegasi do. As far as we know, there's never been anything like us before." Celestia replied.

                                            "So, you're some kind of hybrid? Like a unicorn and Pegasus mix maybe?" You speculated.

                                            >"No, we came from -" She cut herself off, unsure how to continue.

                                            "Somewhere?" You finished for her.

                                            >She nodded slowly, "Yes, somewhere..."

                                            >They knew the answer but neither her or Luna said anything for a while. Each lost in their own thoughts.


                                            >Luna broke the silence with a pained sigh as she shifted on the couch, trying to find a comfortable position. "I can't even sleep..." Her voice cracked with exhaustion.

                                            >"Starswirl might have something to help?" Celestia offered meekly.

                                            >Luna didn't reply, instead she merely shifted again. A frustrated sound escaped her lips when she failed to achieve comfort.

                                            >"I'll go find him, he should have something..." Celestia stood up suddenly.

                                            "Should I come with you?" You asked, rising to follow.

                                            >"Uh..." Was all she managed as she walked over to her sister and began whispering quietly to her.

                                            >A moment later she turned back toward you.

                                            >"Could you... stay here? With Luna?" She asked nervously.

                                            "Yeah, of course." You assured her.

                                            >Celestia smiled gratefully, "I'll be back soon Luna, I promise." She whispered, giving her sister an affectionate nuzzle before making her way out the door.

                                            >She trotted out the door and soon her hoofsteps faded away down the hallway. You looked back at Luna who looked back at you with those striking teal eyes.

                                            >You looked away, looking around the room once more. It was surprisingly big considering it was a living space. Large enough that you could fit several beds within it easily.

                                            >Your eye caught sight of the large bookshelves lining the walls and you wandered over to inspect them.

                                            >Most of the shelves contained volumes of varying sizes. Some larger than others. Many of the titles read things such as 'History', or 'Philosophy' amongst other academic terms. Most of these books were old but there was one book that caught your eye immediately, it was a thick volume bound in black leather with ornate gold patterns along the spine.

                                            >You slowly pulled the book from the shelf, dusting off the cover as you walked back over to your seat by the fire. It depicted a Unicorn standing proudly atop a cliff face holding what looked like a bell above their head. There at the bottom was the title: Gusty's Gamble.

                                            >You looked up to find Luna watching you intently from across the room.

                                            "Are you alright?" You asked, concerned.

                                            >She nodded but continued to watch you with interest. Your eyes lingered for a moment before turning back to the book in your lap.

                                            >"What are you doing?" She asked curiously.

                                            "Just reading." You replied casually.

                                            >You flipped the yellow pages, looking for the first chapter. Untill Luna spoke again.

                                            >"What's that?" she asked.


                                            "Huh?" You blinked confused at the sudden question.

                                            >"Reading." She repeated, tilting her head quizzically.

                                            It took you a few moments to process what she meant. "Oh! Uh, well - reading is when you look at words on a page and you hear what's on the page in your head."

                                            >"Really?" Luna questioned, seeming genuinely interested now.

                                            "Yeah..." You paused before broaching the question, "Do you - not know how? To read - I mean..."

                                            >Her ears twitched at your hesitant tone and she tilted her head again, "No." she answered softly.

                                            "Well then, um - I guess you'll need to learn."

                                            >You had to think hard on how best to explain this to someone who hadn't ever learned how to read. But thankfully you'd gone through this exact thing yourself with Clover when she taught you Equestrian. So you had a general idea of how to break it down for her.

                                            "Do you mind if I sit closer? I can try and show you how I learnt it." You suggested.

                                            >She nodded, seemingly reinvigorated by the prospect of learning something new.

                                            >With that you moved over and sat on the floor in front of her, lifting the book to her eye level on the couch.

                                            >"What are all those little things? Those lines and stuff?" She asked, staring at the page.

                                            >It started to dawn on you that she didn't actually know anything about letters or writing. You definitely had your work cut out for you if you wanted her to learn this.

                                            "Those are called letters Luna, they make sounds when you say them." You tried to explain, "Didn't you... uh - learn that at school?"

                                            >"What's a school?" She echoed, raising a brow at you.

                                            "Okay... Maybe your parents taught you things at home? When you were younger?" You proposed, unsure what to make of this.

                                            >"What's a parent?" She asked, cocking her head again.

                                            "Oh - um..." You stammered, bewildered by how much she seemed to know while also not knowing anything herself.

                                            >Something was really strange about this whole situation. She was clearly an adult, she could talk just fine; she knew certain concepts but seemed completely ignorant of others. Something was greatly amiss.


                                            >As if sensing your growing concern Luna raised her head, "Is something wrong?" She asked timidly.

                                            "No... Luna, I'm just really confused." You admitted.

                                            >You had to get to the bottom of this. This did not make sense. How could she possibly know so many things yet have no knowledge whatsoever of simple things like letters and reading?

                                            >"Why?" She asked cautiously.

                                            "Luna. Do you mind if I ask you some, personal questions?" You inquired carefully.

                                            >"Okay? If you think it would help..." She agreed hesitantly.

                                            "How old are you?" You asked bluntly.

                                            >"I- I don't know." She answered truthfully.

                                            >This was getting stranger by the second...

                                            "How long have you known Celestia?" You pressed, hoping to get somewhere with this line of questioning.

                                            >"I've always known her. She's my sister." She replied evenly.

                                            "Where did you meet her?" You persisted.

                                            >She stopped for a moment, thinking hard before answering. "Somewhere..."

                                            You frowned deeply at her response, "And where is 'somewhere'?" You prodded.

                                            >Again she thought for a moment before replying, "I can't tell you."

                                            "Can't or won't?" You clarified.

                                            >"Both."

                                            "Alright, well... When did you meet her?" You prompted.

                                            >Another pause, "When I was born."

                                            "You remember being born? The day you were born?" You queried, stunned.

                                            >"Yes, Celestia found me..." She paused again. "Nowhere."

                                            You sighed heavily, "Okay... That doesn't help much either. What happened after you two met each other?"

                                            >She went to speak and then stopped, staring off into space, Luna remained quiet for solid minute tears beginning to form in her eyes "I don't want to talk about it..." she clenched her eyes shut tightly and buried her face into her forelegs.

                                            >You felt a growing knot forming inside you as you watched her start to sob silently. You gently reached out and rested your hand on her hoof, holding it gently.

                                            "I'm sorry... I shouldn't have said anything..."

                                            >She flinched slightly but allowed your touch as she shivered against your palm. After a while her crying slowed down until eventually she calmed down and lifted her head, sniffling loudly.

                                            >"I'm sorry..." She murmured weakly, from between her legs.

                                            "Please don't apologize. I upset you, okay? I didn't want to hurt you." You assured her.

                                            >"You didn't..." She replied softly, wiping at her eyes with her free hooves.

                                            >You wasn't sure whether to believe her or not, but she certainly seemed sincere, so you elected to remain silent instead.

                                            >Though you couldn't stop thinking about how all of this could fit together. What was clear was that whatever happened after she met Celestia was the key to making sense of it but for now it was best to just let it go...


                                            >The both of you stayed silent for a while, listening to the crackle of the fire. Eventually you heard steps coming down the hall. Celestia entered the room, Starswirl close behind her. He retrieved a vial from under his cloak and approached Luna.

                                            >"Drink this Luna, it will help with the pain." Starswirl instructed.

                                            >She stared blankly at him, unmoving.

                                            >He sighed tiredly, lowering the vial to her mouth and offering it to her.

                                            >She craned her head forward, taking the bottle in her teeth and began drinking. In a few seconds the liquid disappeared and she dropped the empty vial on the floor below. Returning to her slumped over posture.

                                            >"Thank you," She mumbled quietly.

                                            >"Try and get some rest Luna." Starswirl advised kindly. Then he turned his gaze to you, "I think you and I need to have a conversation."

                                            >His voice sounded strained and serious and you felt nervousness begin to rise up in your chest. You glanced over to Luna who appeared to be dozing peacefully beside you.

                                            "About what?" You asked warily.

                                            >"Everything." His reply left little room for interpretation.


                                            >You both left the two sisters behind, leaving them alone in their chambers. You walked alongside Starswirl as he marched with purpose through the halls. You kept pace with him, keeping your silence.

                                            >He waited until you were both well out of ear-shot before speaking again.

                                            >"What do you make of them?" He asked, not even looking at you.

                                            You hesitated before responding. "They're... unusual?" You finally offered.

                                            >He merely grunted noncommittally in response.

                                            >After walking for a few minutes longer in silence, he began talking again.

                                            >"And what is it about them that is so odd?" He probed further, still without looking at you.

                                            "Well..." You paused, trying to come up with something worthwhile to say, "They seem to have certain gaps in their knowledge... I suppose..."

                                            >"Such as?" He pushed.

                                            "Well, Luna can't read for one thing and she doesn't really seem to know things you would expect her to know things given how intelligent she seems otherwise..." You trailed off uncertainly.

                                            >Starswirl sighed wearily as he mulled over your words, "I see..."

                                            >You both continued to walk for another several minutes in silence, neither saying anything more. Finally you broke the tension with a question of your own.

                                            "When did they get here?" You asked.

                                            >"Just over a week ago. We found them outside the Everfree Forest, they looked like... They needed help..." Starswirl explained vaguely.

                                            "A week ago? You mean when you and the rest of the Elder Council came back to Canterlot? Where did they come from?" You asked, trying to piece things together.

                                            >"That's right." He confirmed.

                                            "So why all the secrecy? Why hide them away from everyone else?" You wondered aloud.

                                            >"We aren't hiding them. We're protecting them since - well, as you saw yourself, they are very... Naive..." Starswirl stated flatly.

                                            "If that's the case then I don't understand why you think they can rule Equestria. It looks like they barely know what goes on around themselves." You argued.

                                            >Starswirl shook his head slowly, "Their ignorance is their greatest strength." He responded cryptically.

                                            "How do you work that out?" You questioned.

                                            >"Because they don't know any better, they will treat all ponies they come across as equals." He explained. "It is only a matter of time before Equestria will begin tearing itself apart due to its internal divisions. And these two are the key to fixing it."

                                            "Surely there are others in Equestria who are better suited to ruling than those two." You objected.

                                            >"Yes - There is." He conceded. "But none of them are capable of doing so in a way that will restore harmony to the land. Only these two have the potential to unite all ponies under one banner once again."

                                            >You considered his words for a moment, wondering if maybe he had a point.

                                            "It's because they're Alicorns isn't it?" You surmised.


                                            >Starswirl exhaled sharply through his nostrils, clearly annoyed, "Interesting isn't it? How they can keep secrets between each other but not me."

                                            >The tension began to grow in the air between you and Starswirl. You weren't sure if he was angry or frustrated, though you suspected the latter. Either way, he was obviously unhappy.

                                            "I was going to find out eventually." You muttered defensively.

                                            >"Yes - I suppose that was inevitable... But that just illustrates my point that they're too naive for their own good." Starswirl countered.

                                            >"Though, to answer your question - yes. Them being Alicorns is why they are the only ones capable of ruling Equestria." he admitted reluctantly.

                                            >There was a short period of uncomfortable silence between you both. As you pondered upon the information you'd been presented with you became aware of the fact that Starswirl was waiting patiently for you to respond.

                                            "You said I'm supposed to advise them on how to rule Equestria... Yet makes you think I wouldn't try and take advantage of them?" You reasoned. "You don't even know me."

                                            >Starswirl began to laugh, a deep booming sound that echoed throughout the hallway.

                                            "Mind letting me in on the joke?" You asked irritably.

                                            >"Clover has told me all about you, Anonymous." Starswirl chuckled. "She is my apprentice after all..."

                                            >You felt like an idiot as soon as you realized what that meant. Clover had already told Starswirl everything about you...

                                            "...Oh..." Was all you could muster as you fell silent.

                                            >You couldn't help but feel somewhat betrayed by this revelation. Not only did Starswirl know all about you, but he knew exactly who you were, yet you hadn't even known him a full day.

                                            "So she was only being nice to me because of you?" You asked suspiciously.

                                            >"No..." Starswirl responded quickly. "She is simply a much kinder pony than I am."

                                            >"You should thank her the next time you see her, if it wasn't for her I wouldn't have even considered bringing you down here in the first place."

                                            >"And..." He continued "if I'm being completely honest, you being aware of how you could manipulate them let's me know you are the right pony - Uh... Man, for the task."

                                            >While his confidence was reassuring, you couldn't help but wonder why he wanted you to play such an important role in Equestria's future. If he trusted you to this degree, surely he must have a reason for choosing you?

                                            "Why not guide them yourself?" You inquired curiously.

                                            >"Because I am a threat to them. The other races will see that I am helping them and assume I am turning them against them. That being said, there's no guarantee that you'll overcome that hurdle either... But there's little choice..." He answered.

                                            "It's a gamble then..." You concluded.

                                            >He didn't say anything but you knew he agreed.

                                            >As the pair of you came to a halt in front of a door he turned towards you and spoke, "This will be your new quarters. I suggest you get some rest. Tomorrow is when all the real work begins."