First Timeline
The skies above Wonderveil were choked with thick black smoke. The sun was barely visible, hidden beneath clouds rising from homes devoured by flame. Fire roared upward, consuming everything in its path without mercy.
Screams of the people echoed from every direction.
"Help us!"
"Save my child!"
"Monsters! The monsters have come again!"
Streets once filled with laughter now lay buried beneath bodies, spilled blood, and fallen rubble. The soldiers of Wonderveil fought until their very last drop of blood, yet their numbers dwindled ever further.
The royal palace — once standing tall and proud — now stood on the brink of collapse. Walls were cracked, pillars fallen, and the great royal banner that once fluttered so proudly had been reduced to ash.
Everything began after the execution of Princess Elowen.
The executioner's blade had severed her head before the eyes of all her people. Elowen's defeat marked the very beginning of Wonderveil's ruin.
Following her death, Alice no longer hid her true nature. She transformed into something terrifying and monstrous — devouring humans without mercy. Every life she consumed made her magic swell ever stronger.
Worse still — the great dragon guardian of Wonderveil was also slain. Its death shattered the ancient magical barrier that had protected the kingdom for ages. Beasts and horrors from beyond the borders poured in unstopped.
Wonderveil had finally fallen.
…
Deep inside the crumbling palace, only two souls remained.
Princess Celestia.
And Charles.
Charles stood several paces behind her. His clothes were torn and frayed from battle; his face was streaked with dust and dried blood.
Celestia stood with her back turned toward him. Her eyes were hollow and empty, fixed upon the burning city spreading out far below the window.
Night winds carried the heavy stench of smoke and blood.
Tears slipped slowly down her cheeks.
"I… failed…"
Her voice was so faint it could barely be heard. She could still see her sister's face just moments before the axe fell. Elowen had managed to smile gently at her one last time.
"Do not blame yourself…"
Those were her final words.
Yet Celestia had been powerless to save her.
Charles looked upon her bowed form with deep sorrow and sympathy. Even though nothing could be saved now, he had chosen to remain by his princess until the very end.
"Princess Celestia…"
She did not answer.
Charles drew a long breath before speaking again.
"What… what should we do now?"
Silence stretched heavy between them, broken only by the distant crash of falling stone outside.
At last Celestia spoke softly.
"I intend to change everything."
Charles frowned in confusion. "How could such a thing be done?"
Celestia closed her eyes for a moment.
"I will return to the past."
…
Charles froze completely. "Travel… through time?"
Celestia nodded slowly. "I shall rewrite Wonderveil's fate."
Without further explanation, she turned and walked out of the great hall. Charles hurried to follow her.
They passed through corridors already half‑ruined, until they halted before an ancient iron doorway.
Celestia raised her hand. Several glowing white runes appeared upon the metal surface.
Click…
The heavy door swung open on its own. Beyond lay a long stone staircase leading deep underground.
Charles swallowed hard. "I never knew such a place existed."
Celestia gave no reply — only began descending the steps. The deeper they went, the quieter everything became; only the echo of their footsteps drifted through the stillness.
Minutes later, they reached a hidden chamber. Dominating the far wall stood a clock of colossal size — almost filling the entire room. Its hands hung perfectly still. Around the walls lay old maps of Wonderveil, shelves filled with dusty books, and royal artefacts long forgotten.
Celestia walked toward a carved wooden chest marked with the royal crest. She lifted the heavy lid. Inside lay nothing but a single pocket watch made of pure gold, glowing softly with its own faint light.
Charles stared in wonder. "That is…"
Celestia lifted it gently. "I will rewrite my own past."
The moment her fingers touched the metal, brilliant white light flooded the whole room. Charles instinctively raised a hand to shield his eyes.
"Princess… do you possess the power of light itself?"
Celestia nodded. "I do." She gazed down at the watch resting in her palm. "This power alone is far too weak to defeat Alice… but…"
"…it is strong enough to turn back time."
Charles still struggled to understand. "Your Highness…"
"I shall turn back the flow of time."
He fell quiet for a moment, then offered a small, faithful smile. "If that is truly your will… then I place my trust in you completely."
Celestia returned his smile. Then she pressed a tiny button set into the watch's face.
Tick…
Instantly — the whole world froze. Flames roaring upward hung motionless in mid‑air. Smoke drifted no further. Wind ceased to blow. Dust swirling above the ruins remained suspended perfectly still. Charles stood frozen like a statue.
Only Celestia could still move. She held the watch tight against her chest.
"Please… take me back… to the days just after my parents passed away."
The hands began to spin — backwards.
Tick…
Tick…
Tick…
Every turn pulled the whole world along with it. Ruined buildings lifted themselves upright once more. Great fires shrank to tiny sparks before vanishing entirely. Smoke faded little by little. Time flowed in reverse.
No cost was demanded of Celestia — for only the royal bloodline of Wonderveil could ever wield such an artefact.
Moments later… everything dissolved into blinding white.
…
Celestia opened her eyes slowly. She found herself standing inside her very own chambers. No scent of blood lingered here. No cries echoed in the distance.
Instead… birdsong drifted soft and sweet upon the breeze. Sunlight poured in through the open window.
She looked down — the golden watch still rested safely in her hand.
"I never truly believed… it would work."
She quickly tucked it deep within her clothing. Her gaze fell upon a calendar hanging upon the wall. The date was exactly as she had wished — just a few days following the death of her mother and father.
Tears welled and spilled over again.
"This time… I will save everyone."
Without wasting a single moment, she ran from her room, hurrying down palace corridors with a smile she had not worn in what felt like an eternity.
At last she reached the royal gardens. Sitting upon a stone bench amidst blooming flowers — a woman with long golden hair, enjoying the soft morning air.
Elowen.
Still alive. Still smiling just as she always had.
Celestia's breath caught in her throat. Tears flowed freely now, impossible to hold back.
"Elowen…"
The voice called out — and Elowen turned toward her. Her expression softened instantly.
"Celestia?"
Seeing her sister whole and living before her eyes, Celestia ran forward without a second thought, caring for nothing else in the world.
..............
Shortly after Alice's sudden appearance during Wonderveil's founding festival, the mood within the palace began to shift. Though the celebrations carried on as planned, deep questions weighed heavy upon both princesses' hearts.
That very evening, Elowen summoned Celestia to her private study. She closed and locked the door securely, then carefully examined every corner of the room to ensure no one hid or listened unseen. Only once fully satisfied did she walk toward her desk.
Upon it sat a steaming pot of tea and two small cups. Elowen poured tea into both, then handed one to her younger sister.
"Drink something first."
Celestia nodded faintly. She held the cup tight, yet her thoughts drifted far away. Elowen clearly saw unease written across her face.
"What truly troubles you, Celestia?"
Celestia drew a long, steadying breath.
"Sister… what I am about to tell you may be very hard to believe."
"Then tell me anyway — I shall believe you."
Celestia looked straight into her eyes.
"We are not living within the very first timeline."
Elowen frowned in confusion.
Celestia began recounting everything — exactly how Wonderveil had crumbled into ruin; how its people had fallen one by one; how the great guardian dragon had been beheaded; how monsters had overrun the whole kingdom; how Alice had stood behind every act of destruction… and finally, how Elowen herself had been publicly executed before all her subjects.
The longer the story went on, the graver Elowen's expression grew. She never once interrupted. Only the soft crackle of fire in the hearth broke the silence filling the room.
When Celestia finished speaking, Elowen set her cup down slowly and carefully.
"So… Wonderveil fell because I died?"
Celestia lowered her gaze. "Yes. You failed them all."
"No — I did not fail." Celestia shook her head firmly. "Everything happened because of Alice. She is no ordinary witch. I am certain she manipulates people and creatures alike to advance her schemes."
Elowen leaned back in her chair, sorting through every new piece of information.
"Celestia… you hold the power of light."
"That is true."
"Then — why not simply defeat her yourself?"
Celestia gripped her cup tighter still. "I tried. But Alice's magic ran far deeper and stronger than mine. I still cannot fully master my own gift… which is exactly why I travelled back through time. I intend to grow powerful enough before history repeats itself."
Elowen nodded slowly in understanding.
"Very well — listen closely. Never speak of this power to anyone. Not even to Nyx. Not Silas. Not even the most loyal creatures or servants. Keep it a secret buried deep. The fewer souls who know, the harder it becomes for enemies to plot against you."
Celestia nodded in agreement. "I promise."
Quiet stretched between them for a moment, until Celestia spoke again.
"Then… what must we do to uncover the true traitors hidden among us?"
Elowen looked her straight in the eye.
"First — what makes you so certain traitors exist at all?"
"The Magic Forest."
Elowen's brow furrowed deeper. "Only our royal line knows of that place. I never spoke its name or location to Alice."
"Yet she knew exactly where it lay," Celestia answered grimly. "Which means… someone has been leaking royal secrets straight to her."
Elowen gave a thin, knowing smile. "That alone proves your theory beyond doubt."
She stood up and walked toward the window, gazing out into the night sky before speaking again.
"I have a plan."
Celestia smiled faintly. "I was hoping you would."
Elowen turned back toward her.
"First: We shall pretend to be bitter enemies. We must make everyone believe our bond has snapped completely. If traitors see the royal house divided, they will grow bold — and begin to move openly."
Celestia nodded slowly. "That makes perfect sense."
"Second: I shall rule with a stern, unyielding hand. Anyone who dares speak ill of you shall face my wrath. Criminals shall be punished without mercy or hesitation."
Celestia smiled gently. "That troubles me not at all. If they speak against me, they insult you as well. And as for wrongdoers… I welcome such justice entirely."
Elowen laughed softly. "You really are an unusual one."
Her expression turned serious once more. "And you… what part shall you play?"
Celestia set her cup down upon the table. Her smile remained soft — yet held something deeper beneath its surface.
"I shall remain exactly the Princess Celestia everyone already knows: gentle‑hearted, quick to trust, seemingly innocent and naive."
Elowen lifted one eyebrow. "You intend to make them look down upon you — to think you weak or foolish?"
Celestia nodded. "The more they underestimate me… the sooner they reveal their own weaknesses. I want Alice. I want every traitor. And I want every soul who plays me for a fool… to believe they have already won. Because that is exactly when they will make their fatal mistake."
Elowen could not help but smile proudly. "You… are far more dangerous than I ever was."
"Everyone sees only my kindness," Celestia replied calmly. "They forget that kindness does not equal ignorance or foolishness. And truly… I still believe you are far better suited to rule as Queen."
Elowen shook her head gently. "Let us speak of the throne only once Alice has been defeated. For now… our priority is saving Wonderveil. I shall continue training in arms and combat. You must focus entirely on mastering your light magic. When the time comes… we shall stand and fight together."
Celestia clasped her hands, eyes shining with resolve. "Agreed."
Elowen added one final note. "Soon I shall leave this palace entirely — take up residence within the old fortress far away. That way everyone truly believes we have fallen out beyond repair."
Celestia looked concerned. "How shall we send word to one another? Messengers or birds would surely arouse suspicion."
Elowen smiled confidently. "Fear not — our family possesses a special means of communication. Messages travel directly between us, carried by no creature or soul. But… every note must bear a secret code known only to us. Without it… we shall assume it has been tampered with or forged."
Celestia's eyes lit up with admiration. "That is brilliant. I never guessed you had prepared so far ahead."
Elowen smiled with quiet pride. "Of course. We are no longer merely playing to win… we are laying a trap for our enemy."
Celestia reached out her hand. Elowen took it firmly in hers. Sister gripped sister's hand as one.
Unknown to anyone else… that very night, the two princesses set in motion a grand design — one destined to rewrite the fate of Wonderveil forever. And from that day onward… every quarrel, every dispute, every misunderstanding between them was nothing more than a carefully‑crafted performance — all to lure traitors out from the shadows.