Before the Pillars, Star Swirl the Bearded was looked to for confront by all the ponies, after a foul war with the North. Tired, Star Swirled decided to take on an apprentice to rule the ponies after his retirement. He wanted the pony to have the heart of an earth pony, the wits of a unicorn, and the courage of a Pegasus. Yet, no ordinary pony could take over the land, only a pony with the purest intentions for their subjects. So, to him was brought a prophecy. When the sun met the moon, a foal would be born. A foal with a pure heart, to fulfill the prophecy and live on to rule.
 
However, there was problem. Star Swirl only expected there to only be one foal, only to find another filly, with black splotches around her blue coat. He was conflicted, thinking he had to choose a filly. Yet, the earth pony mother insisted that he take both, insuring that the lesser pony could not take care of her children. As Star Swirl looked down upon the foals, what he saw was the sun and the moon. Two rulers was better than one, thus, he took the fillies to the castle. He raised them, telling them about their mother, and teaching them all he knew. As they grew, them bond between them grew stronger, as Star Swirl grew weaker.
 
One day, the day that would test everything, Star Swirl gave the sisters a test. A test to prove that they had the wits of a unicorn, and the heart of an earth pony. Celestia, with flying colors, passed the test, and was gifted a brilliant horn in her honor. However, as Luna was given the test, she struggled to figure out what to do, tears pricking at her eyes, until she gave up. Star Swirl looked down at her with sad eyes, turning away from her. To make matters worse, the test was given in front of hundreds of ponies. The ponies found Luna weak, not fit to rule, making her shun away. Celestia, however, was praised, and adored. As days went by, Celestia was following Star Swirl around everywhere, listening to his stories, learning from his experiences, even as Luna locked herself I her room, with nothing but the comforting whispers of a certain shadow to cheer her up.  
Luna was given the test months later, and this time, passed, and was finally gifted a horn. Some ponies cheered, others scowled, seeing as she was a moon pony, and moon ponies were feared by most.
 
Celestia, as a final test, had to raise the sun to be gifted her wings. Star Swirl was confident in his student, but not so much in Luna, who had to raise the moon. In a heated sweat, Celestia ignited her magic, and focused on the star. It found its place in the sky, earning both of the ponies a smile, Luna was only left scowling as she backed away into the castle. Celestial was as happy as could be, until it was time to receive her wings. She could not see her sister anywhere, and insisted on finding her, before Star Swirl said that her gift needed to be seen by her ponies. So she obliged, forgetting Luna, and earning her final gift. A pair of beautiful wings. Celestia became the first alicorn known to history, and her sister was to follow behind her. As the sun was set, Star Swirled was stunned as Luna raised the moon without flaw; what Luna didn’t tell anypony, is that she had help from a certain shadow.
 
As Celestia grew accustomed to her new duties as a Princess, she started to notice Star Swirls reluctance. He was growing more tired by the day, but acted as if he, nor anyone else, noticed it. However, she spoke nothing of it. That was, until the day he vanished.
 
She was left in a heap of stress and anxiety, worrying for her mentor. Hours turned to days, days turned to weeks, and eventually years. Celestia ruled by Luna, now having to learn from Star Swirls books and journals. However, none of it was going to prepare her for what she had to do next. Luna had been pushed past her breaking point, and transformed into the myth known as Nightmare Moon. With tears, Celestia had to use the elements of harmony of trap her sister in the moon, until the day that she would break free.
 
So, Celestia ruled without her mother, mentor, and sister. Alone, and heartbroken, with a fake smile plastered on wherever she went. Until the day she decided to do something she had never considered. She wanted to do as Star Swirled had done, and thus opened a school of magic, for all ponies. There, she met a certain purple unicorn filly, who she saw herself in, willing to follow her mentors every move. After the course of a few years, she was ready to send her prized student away, to make a title for herself, and perhaps a friend or two. Both were reluctant at first, seeing as they had a close bond, and Celestia was not ready to lose another pony in her life, but she had to do what has to be done.
 
She sent her on her way, and was left alone again, in a quiet castle.