//------------------------------// // Prophecies and Beginnings // Story: My Little Pony: Pillars Of Discordance // by Ace_Wildcard //------------------------------// Prologue Chapter: Prophecies and Beginnings The distant roar of thunder approached, fierce winds chased a pair of shadows as they warred vigorously over Canterlot Castle. Windows shook and shattered as a white blur cratered into the ground, one of it's wings bent and it's entire frame shook with effort to stand. Mud stained her flowing, pink mane and horn bringing a chill as the gale blew past them. A crown laid by her armored hooves. The alicorn gazed skyward, looking for the foe that brought her down. "L-look at you, sister....so weak...you can't even...can't even take another step," Another alicorn mocked breathlessly from the midnight sky, her coat shining black under the moonlight. She kept to the air, choosing not to tax her worn legs anymore. "Your...a relic now," she heaved, "and...it's time for a new age...The night...shall reign forever!" The floating alicorn took a breath before trying to raise her front legs for show, but to no avail. Pieces of ember and soot flaked of her helm with each wing beat. Her determined light-blue, slitted eyes stung from the smoke and sulfur that permeated her charred helmet, yet she kept her menacing glare on her sister below. Fear crept up her spine as the white alicorn realized she was out of option. Whatever caused the night princess to turn against her was beyond her power to correct. She was left one last spell and the fact gripped her heart tightly, but she steeled her resolve and stood tall against the howling winds. She whispered quietly at first, concentrating her magic for one last assault, before calling out to the figure above her. "Luna...my dear sister," she pleaded, "Please...forgive me." "I am not Luna," In her blind rage, the night princess did not see the glow of jewels surrounding her. "I am Night. Mare. Moon!" The light encased and jolted her out of her madness. "Sister..." she wheezed, "What is this?" "Your punishment." the white alicorn closed her eyes as she shot one last blast of magic to finish the spell. The sounds of Night Mare Moon's frighten screams stabbed at the sun princess's core. Then the winds ceased blowing, bringing silence to her ears. She opened her eyes and watched a speck of light ascend to the sky until it reached the moon. Pain and guilt that had been building inside her burst out as she cried out when the dot of light exploded with a loud blast. "LUNA!" The Princess shot up from her slumber with sweat matting down her mane to her neck. That dream again. It was the same dream she had every night since that damnable night for the past- There was a loud rapping on her chamber door breaking her thoughts from the nightmare. Within seconds, Celestia was out of her bed and began fixing her appearance. "Do not enter. Just one minute," She asked through her door. The quilt she slept under tucked itself in, guided by the same magic that brushed her hair and adorned her in her royal armor. Right as she looked like herself again, the doors swung open as a robed pony calmly trotted inside the solar princess's chamber. He was an old pony with a beard the seemed to curl unto itself as it extended from the bottom of his jaw. His robe was covered in stars, crescent moons and cosmic winds. The rim of his hat and the hem of his robe jingled with golden bells as he trotted back and forth at the door to the princess's bedroom. A wooden clack upon the marble floor accompanied his stern, quick strut. Celestia was shocked to see her timeless friend, Star Swirl the Bearded. "St-Star Swirl, why didn't you send a message I would have-" The robed pony raised a hoof pausing the princess in mid-sentence. "My dear princess, there's no need for formalities I'm only here for a quick visit. Being forced to bear a burden such as yours, raising both sun and moon now, it's a wonder you still take the time to consider preparations." Star Swirl interrupted. "Now Star Swirl, there is no burden to it at all. And I could at least have the chefs whip up one of your favorite meal," the solar princess explained, but the archmage merely shook his head. "Celestia, I'm only here to deliver a message. And while I do appreciate the thought, I'm more worried about you. It's only been a few weeks since you banished your sister away. The same sister who stood by you since you were both foals, the same one who helped you bring Discord to justice. Your only living flesh and blood to this day." "I'm aware of all these facts, but I did what I had to because she lost who she was. And while I do thank you for worrying about me, I'm more than capable to run the country without her as well as deal with any political business and threats that needs to be dealt with. And if that's all you have to say then you've done your job, and may return to your home," Celestia kept her voice calm as she stressed the last sentence to Star Swirl, but the look in her eyes told him he was striking nerves. "Many things will come to pass after this millennium of peace. Tell me, the Elements of Harmony, have you been able to use them again?" Celestia pondered the question he gave, diverting her gaze to the marble floor. Since that night, the elements have turned to stone and remained inert no matter the amount of magic she pushed into them. Last she saw of them was back in the royal chambers where she and her sister used to reside. "No, they will not take my magic. I've tried many time to connect to them but still they..." she paused returning her gaze back to her guest, "Why do they just lay there now?" "In the time to come, the Elements will find new owners, new vessels, to be used by. The bonds that you had with them were broken the second you banished your sister, for she was also a part of them was she not?" Celestia turned away and nodded, unable to stand look back into Star Swirl's ever knowing gaze much longer. "Once the new holders of the Elements come of age, the spells that have kept your sister and your foulest foe sealed away-" The princess shot up an alarmed look, "Discord? But he's still imprisoned. Locked in stone for as long...," Celestia allowed the warning to sink in as she resumed her regal appearence. "As I....hold onto...the elements..." "Yes, the spells will be broken. And they will return. Not all at once, but soon afterwards. That is why I must tell you now to look for them, the new Elements of Harmony...as well as the emergence of the Pillars of Discordance," the archmage finished. This latest detail piqued Celestia's curiosity enough to inquire, "Pillars of Discordance? I've never heard of them. What are they?" Star Swirl shook his head and smiled somberly. Celestia, for all the things she has seen, always felt unnerved when he smiled that somber smile. "I'm sorry to say, but I've not a single idea. Only that they will used against you if you cannot find them first. My message to you is to look for them, for they all will play a part in a much bigger scheme." With that, Star Swirl began to walk to the door. Celestia stood there by her desk, her composure spoke of strength but her eyes still begging for answers. "If there is one thing I can assure you my dear princess, it's that your sister will return, and she will be herself once more if you do what I've told you to," Star Swirl announced without turning back toward Celestia. He left her chambers, closing the door behind him by magic, allowing Celestia to drop her mask as she laid her head on the desktop. Her face contorted from her stern composure as she fought back the yells and screams that welled up in her breast. This was much for Celestia to take in; but with breathing and silence, she quell the stress that her new day started with. She had a sun to rise, a schedule to keep, an appearance to uphold, and heralds she must now keep an eye out for. But of the questions that plagued her life to this day, one stood out at that moment: Who or what are the Pillars of Discordance?