The end began not with violence, but silence. A swollen and roiling darkness, old as the world itself, cascaded throughout Marenova as a ripple moved through a still pond.
Though the encroaching darkness engulfed much of Marenova, one stalwart bastion of light and hope stood, a seawall against the coming dark tides. From this fortress, the Alicorn Empress spread her love and radiance throughout Marenova.
Every scholarly pony had their own thoughts and theories on where the darkness came from. Some said a foalish wizard bargained with powers from beyond the stars, powers that wished to keep all of Marenova’s light for themselves. Few others believe the curse of Marenova came from a time warp spell gone horribly awry. The only thing known for certain was that the darkness grew stronger by the day, and that soon, all of Marenova would be consumed by it.
Delegates from the four corners of the planet were sent by their tribes to request aid and advice from the Alicorn Empress. To the great despair of the delegations, no assistance would be forthcoming.
*
The Great Speaker, a youthful earth pony with golden streaks running through his chestnut mane, raised his forelegs to motion for silence. “I know why you have come, great mares, stallions, and others.” Earth ponies, crystal ponies, unicorns, pegasi, griffons, and even a representative of the Tribe of Minos, all gathered to hear the Great Speaker share tidings of Marenova.
“The crystal ponies tell of their most productive mines, gone without a trace. Mountains disappearing beneath billowing black clouds. Raging thunderstorms race through the countryside, devastating crops and homes. As I know this from the leader of the crystal ponies, Gemini, so too have I learned of the same fate befalling all of Marenova.”
“But what is this darkness, Great Speaker?”
“What can be done?”
“What plan does the Alicorn Empress have?”
The Great Speaker raised his hooves once more, silencing the crowd.
“Brothers, sisters…friends. Our Empress…. is dying.”
Half formed gasps escaped the lips of every delegate present at the fortress. A sob rose from the back, the stuttering cries of a young mare further spreading unease among the crowd.
The Great Speaker gestured. “As her light fades, so too does the light of Marenova. Before this sickness overtook her, she beseeched me to find the one pony that could save our world. We have already sent for this great warrior. Only he can save the Empress….and Marenova.”
“Who is this warrior? Tell us, Great Speaker!”
A glimmer of hope reflected in the Great Speaker’s eyes. It was miniscule and fleeting, but it was enough for those present. “His name….is Auryn, of the Silver Plains tribe.
"He is the only one with the power to stop this destructive force, what some among you have begun to call the Nothing. We had hoped, beyond hope, that he would arrive this day to receive the wisdom of the Empress….”
The crowded parted, welcoming the arrival of a new delegate. But the pony calmly trotting forward was not a delegate at all; just a young unicorn foal, eyes forward and fastened upon the Great Speaker. Her dark brown coat gleamed in the castle’s light. Gold and silver strands of mane were woven together in a long flowing braid; her tail gently rocked back and forth with each confident step she took.
“Go home, young one. Now is not the time or place for a foal.” The Great Speaker stared at her, unspoken words behind his gaze, but the foal also returned the stare in kind, her intense, forest green eyes saying, I am here with a purpose.
“If you didn’t want me, then why summon me here to the castle?”
Confused murmurs ran diffusely through the crowd. Unease grew upon the Great Speaker’s face, as though he were witness to some great cosmic irony.
“We sent for Auryn the Stallion, warrior of the Silver Plains tribe. You are still a child, flank untouched by the Mark of Destiny.”
“There are no others named Auryn among my tribe. I am Auryn the Warrior, who slew eleven timberwolves with nothing but hoof and horn. As for my flank,” her head turning rearwards, “I cannot presume to know what path my destiny follows. Only the Empress in her wisdom knows of such things.”
Her face turned back toward the Great Speaker, unaware of the inner turmoil now gnawing at his thoughts. “If the Empress does not want me here any longer, I shall gladly return to the Silver Plains.”
Auryn turned in a slow about-face, stopping only as the Great Speaker’s pleas hit her ears.
“Please. Wait.”
She stopped, turning back to face the messenger.
"I bring you a message….and a gift, directly from the Empress herself.”
“And why could the Empress not deliver these things herself?” Irritation grew behind Auryn’s voice.
“The Empress is dying. The same strange malady which is affecting her is also destroying the lands of Marenova. Please receive this token of the Empress' blessings.”
The Great Speaker stepped forward. With eyes still upon Auryn, the Great Speaker retrieved a glittering amulet from within a coat pocket. A heavy silver chain held a pendant of two horseshoes; one gold, the other silver. Both horseshoes wrapped and twisted around each other, forming a complete and unbroken circle.
“This is the Hoofprint of Fate, brave Auryn. As long as your heart remains true to your quest, it shall keep you safe from harm. Now, Auryn of the Silver Plains, guard well this treasure.”
As the Great Speaker placed the talisman around Auryn’s neck, the amulet twisted and turned, expelling a bright light that faded to a glow. Auryn could feel the magical power pulsate through the Hoofprint as it tested its new owner for weaknesses or vices. Satisfied with its inquest, the amulet’s glow faded away, leaving the polished gold and silver surface to gleam only by the room’s own illumination.
“The Empress could not tell me where your journey would end, Auryn. She only spoke to me of its beginning. You must find the oldest, and wisest being in all of Marenova. His knowledge will help you on your quest.”
Standing on two legs now, the Great Speaker gestured to the east, where the last rays of golden sunlight disappeared as the Day Star dipped below the horizon. “Past the Shifting Sands of Eternity, on the edge of the Swamp of Despair, lives the great dragon Agammemnon. Seek Agammemnon’s council, and learn how to stop the Nothing.
"But this journey is yours, and only yours, to make. And you alone must be the one to banish the Nothing, and save all of Marenova."
“Now go, brave pony. The hopes, and dreams, of Marenova go with you.”