Author's note: Well, this is my first official story here. I wrote this last year and forgot about it until this year for my school's Art/Illustration/Writing class. I continued writing it for that class, and had to rush a bit to finish it in time for my final project. I was heavily influenced by the books Firebringer, Lord of the Rings and Mists of Avalon, so don't be surprised if you see some influences in my story. Anyways, on with the story!
Oh, and one of these days I'll make up a character guide that gives a brief description of the characters and what they look like, so nobody gets , on with the story!

The Moonstar Unicorn

Morning had dawned on the Monster Valley in the land of Mystic. The leader of the unicorns, a magnificent gold stallion named Phoebes was already up and talking to the Lunar Riders- a group of stallions that protected the herd. "Is everything well Captain Wibe?" Phoebus asked in a tenor voice. The coal black unicorn nodded. "Yes, my lord. All is peaceful. I do not know why you are so worried" he told the golden stallion. "Neither do I my old friend. I feel as if I should be on the alert for I sense a storm is brewing. I must go see my wife, she's due to foal." Phoebus admitted before galloping off to the thicket where Ariane lay.

An indigo unicorn walked up to Wibe. "Is everything in place?" Wibe demanded. Sophus nodded. "Yes, my lord. All we need is a diversion". "Good. I shall meet with the Dark Riders in an hour. We have much to discuss." He smirked before bending down to graze.

"How is she, Shirin?" Phoebus asked the priestess. Shirin was a mare with a green coat and a brown horn. "Ariane is fine and she has foaled already. It is a filly" Shirin smiled. "Phoebus?" Ariane called weakly. "I'm here" he said and walked into the thicket. The silver and lavender mother lay on the floor with her neck draped protectively over her daughter. "May I present the Princess of the Lunar herds, Seren?" she smiled and stood up. A tiny unicorn foal with a light blue mane and a silver coat blinked up at them. Her horn, still only a stub was a silver-blue. "Dear Artemis!" Shirin breathed. "What is it?" Ariane and Phoebus asked. "Look at her right hind leg" the old mare whispered.

Staring, mother and father saw a golden crescent moon shining up at them. "It's the prophecy!" the priestess of Artemis breathed. "Nonsense" Phoebus rolled his eyes. "Don't be so sure, my lord. Remember:
Fear shall fall over the herd when the Sun hides
For the Lord of the Lunar herds will be usurped
Killed by a simple act of treachery,
from a once loved friend.
Then the unicorn's hearts will be bruised and shattered
Artemis shall wake in one who is born to set her people free
Look for the One on whose hindquarter is marked of crescent
Despair and sadness will be her fate
Driven out by unicorn's anger, fear and hate
Among the Three Peoples,
Friendships shall be made, and yet they will be betrayed
From the ashes of shadow shall come Eight
Who will fight for the Light,
Moon and Sun together shall defeat the Dark One"
"Lady Priestess, it's only a legend." Phoebus scoffed. "Phoebus, sometimes legends are true. But, you are the King." Shirin whispered as he turned to leave " Ariane stopped her husband. "Be careful, please. An eclipse is scheduled for tonight. You know they are bad luck." He sighed "I will. Do not fear for me" he reassured her.

Turning to Shirin, he asked "How is Kira's foal?". Kira was Shirin's younger sister. The priestess lowered her head sadly. "Stillborn, my lord. It was buried an hour ago near the Sacred Trees" "I am sorry Shirin" they said sadly just as a trumpet sounded. "Athena's Flute? At this hour?" the stallion narrowed his amber eyes. "Go, my lord. It seems there is an important matter" his wife nodded. "Alright.. but Shirin, please stay with her or have someone to stay with her." he nuzzled Ariane and Seren.
"My sister Kira and Eldred were coming to visit, anways. We will look after your wife and daughter" Shirin reassured him. The king nodded and drapped his head over Ariane's neck in a gesture of goodbye. Looking down at Seren, he licked her forehead and rubbed his head against hers before going off to Athena's Grove.

On his way to the council, he spotted his general, Bearach, brother to a mare named Lo'ni. "Why are the Lunar Riders being called without my permission?" Phoebus demanded. "I do not know my lord. Only 50 of the 100 Solar Riders are waiting for you. I've heard rumors that the rest are with Captain Wibe, waiting" he admitted. "Wibe? So it is he who called us to the Grotto? Athena's flute is only to be sounded by the King's permission!" Phoebus was outraged. "Come, to the grove we go!" he continued and took off at a canter, Bearach only a few feet behind. They flew toward were the Lunar Riders stood assembled. Both stallions noticed that the sky was getting darker and darker by the minute. Unbidden, the lines of the prophecy ran through his head. "Fear shall fall over the herd when the Sun hides....." the noble king whispered as he led his army towards the council.

When he arrived, he saw Wibe taking with a few of the Lunar Riders.
"What is the meaning of this, Wibe?" Phoebus demanded, stamping his feet. Out of the dark shadows, 50 unicorns behind the black unicorn. "The meaning is this, oh mighty Phoebus: You are being usurped. Attack!" Wibe reared and charged straight at the unsuspecting Lunar Riders. Turning swiftly, the gold stallion reared, his horn blazing as the eclipse began. "Friends! We go to defeat the traitors!" he called out and charged. To those who lived to see the end, Phoebus was shining like the Sun itself in the midst of that war. 'Apollo, Artemis, I ask not for you to save my life but only to protect my dear Ariane and Seren.' Phoebus prayed seconds before he reached Wibe. Coal black met gold as the Solar Riders faced Solar Riders

The rest of the herd shivered as they herd the noise from the battle. "What's going on, Eldred?" Ariane asked the LoreMaster, trying to peer out into the gloom. "I do not know my Queen. Please, try to rest" he said. Kira was laying nearby, her eyes vacant. Seren was sleeping peacefully next to her mother, unaware of the doom about to befall them "I don't like this. The eclipse is a bad sign" Shirin said worriedly. Eldred looked up too. His brown eyes too looked worried. "The Prophecy. Oh Gods, protect Phoebus. Protect us all" the LoreMaster whispered.