Silent was fast asleep when suddenly a vision came to him of Princess Luna, now with a starry mane and taller than she had been when he had left Canterlot. Silent noticed that the room that he was in was not the same as what he had fallen asleep in.
Greetings, Silent Trail. We have come to you in this dream-state for your first lesson. However, We would ask that you answer a couple of questions about how you have acquired your skill in changing your form. As We have noticed, you do not follow the Illusion magic of changing in the eyes of ponies, rather, you change completely.
“Yes, Princess. I mastered my techniques from the highly esteemed teachers in Morphopolis, outside the borders of Equestria, in the land of the Changelings. I never met their queen, Chrysalis, but I learned from those that she had taught directly. I have always been able to change, however, ever since I was a young colt living in Ponyville. The one thing I could not change was my cutie mark, and whenever I would change, I would always be a blank-flank.”
Indeed. We thought that your skills were too similar. But nonetheless, we still believe you to be loyal to Equestria. Our tests of your loyalty came back true.
“Princess, if you don’t mind my asking, how do you know Chrysalis? You said that the skills were similar… and that you only knew of one other who possessed the cutie mark. Who is the other pony? Also why do you talk with the modern Equestrian dialogue?”
We shall answer your last question first. It is because we are in your Dream-state, and you interpret Our speaking into the language that you understand best. You still hear Us say “We and Our” because that is Our identity. Concerning our knowledge of Chrysalis, it is because she is an Alicorn, just like Celestia and just like Us. Indeed, there is an Alicorn for each division of Magic, Illusion, Alteration, Destruction, Restoration, and Conjuration. We are the Alicorn of Illusion, Chrysalis the Alicorn of Alteration, and Celestia the Alicorn of Destruction. The Alicorn of Restoration is in training to inherit the Crystal Empire once again, in order to bring it out of the chaos of anarchy. Does that answer your questions?
“Yes, however, it adds a couple of new ones. Why, if Chrysalis is an Alicorn like you and Celestia, does she not look like a normal Alicorn? Also, who is the Alicorn of Conjuration? I assume that they are not on good terms with you or Celestia because Conjuration is a banned subject in Equestria?”
Chrysalis does not look like Our Sister or Us because she chose that way long ago. She desired to be feared, not loved, so she changed her form to match her heart. Her followers, all Unicorns, decided to match their leader’s appearance to some degree and eventually, after generations of mutations of changing forms, became the “Changelings” you know today. Chrysalis then decided it was time to go from a co-ruler with the rest of the Alicorns to a supreme ruler. Her folly was soon realized when her forces were over-run. Celestia, being the elder of the Alicorns, decided it was best to split up the realm of Equis into different kingdoms. We were the youngest at the time and wished that Our kingdom be combined with Celestia’s. She agreed and so the kingdoms were set. The Crystal Empire, a land in the North, mountains rich in minerals, to the Alicorn of Restoration. The barren lands on the Western edge to the defeated Alicorn of Alteration. Equestria in the middle to the Alicorn of Destruction and the wide plains of the South to the Alicorn of Illusion, who then gave the land into the care of her dear Sister. To the Alicorn of Conjuration was given the Mountains of the East, so that it may continue its workings in the deep caves, unseen by any of the others.
“I know not of this Crystal Empire. All that is in the North is barren Tundra with some small towns. However, that is irrelevant for now. What is the lesson that you came to teach me?”
We have come to teach you the way of the Mist. It is not illusion, per-se, but it can be used quite often in your line of work. We believe that you have seen Us use it before, when the Nightmare had possessed Us. It is a skill of Ours, though, and not its skill. Let Us give you the knowledge.
Silent could feel his mind begin to whir as Luna showed him what was necessary to use the spell. He could feel the magic swirl around him in his own dark blue magical aura and could feel his entire body become one with the Magical Energy that all Unicorns possessed. He knew that this was just his mind becoming the Mist, yet at the same time he knew that it would feel the same way when he transformed the rest of his body.
In order to use it, one must first feel the air around them. One must feel their essence and transfer it into their magical aura. After that, one will be freed of the forces keeping them down on the ground and will be able to fly around with ease. Use it when you need to escape, when you can think of no safe place to teleport. It will serve you well, but use caution. Not all ponies will take kindly to seeing the mist, as We have used it when the Nightmare was with Us.
“I can feel it. It’s so, freeing. How long will I be able to keep this up?”
It will last for as long as you wish. Think of it as changing forms into something else. It is exactly like that, only you will have no physical presence.
“Thank you, Princess. I believe this will come in handy. I had another question. What is the history of the Alicorns?”
We began our existence many millennia ago, when this land was still taking shape. Before any pony had walked upon this land. We were placed here by some higher existence to watch over this realm. We are truly the sister of Celestia, however the others We consider Cousins. The Alicorn of Restoration was to care for the nourishment of the lands, restoring not only the animals, but the plants as well. To her was given not only the power of healing physical injuries, but healing emotional tears, as well. Her personality was perfect for the job she had to do. Celestia always envied that gift, although her maturity made it so she did not act upon her envy. Celestia was given control over the Sun, the most powerful non-living thing in existence. To Us was given the powers of the Night. We were tasked with raising the Moon and Celestia gave us the power to align her stars as we saw fit. To the Alicorn of Alteration no task was given, she was an agent of whatever she wanted to do.
“And what of the Alicorn of Conjuration? You seem to have skipped over them and mentioned them only in passing.”
You seem very interested in her.
“Well she is a mystery. I am only seeking for knowledge.”
Very well. The Alicorn of Conjuration is perhaps the most corrupt of the Alicorns. She was given the ability to raise anything she desires from the dead and to create new creatures. Soon after Celestia gave her the Mountains of the West, she, with her new army, comprised of Griffins and Manticores, marched on the borders of Equestria. Celestia knew that the only way to stop the army without killing was to separate the army from their commander. We called upon the Alicorn of Restoration to help us with an ancient magic so powerful it would claim the life of even the most powerful unicorn. We stopped time long enough to capture the Alicorn of Conjuration and Celestia took her to the Sun, an eternal prison of fiery torture. The time-stop spell took its toll on only the Alicorn of Restoration, and she was stuck in an everlasting time-loop, much like a phoenix. To this day, the Alicorn of Conjuration is still up on the sun, no doubt planning her revenge on Celestia. But as long as Celestia’s magic is unmatched, she will stay imprisoned.
“I didn’t know Celestia was so powerful. So out of the Five Alicorns, only Four are in the Realm of Equis. Thank you, Princess, for sharing this piece of history with me.”
You are very much welcome. We shall return to teach you more, but for now We bid you farewell. Again, beware of the perils of using the Mist.