Perhaps no other period in Equestrian history is as shrouded in mystery as the reign of the Phoenix Queen. There are only a few select times over the millennia that Princess Celestia has ordered that historical records be sealed. Even fewer are the number of times that the Princess of the Sun has commanded that records be expunged and forgotten. To my knowledge, there is only one historical period where Princess Celestia personally removed all records of ever existing.
That period of course being the reign of the Phoenix Queen.
According to official documents, the one hundred and seventeen years between the banishing of Nightmare Moon and the so called Second Golden Age of Equestria never happened. There are no census records, no historical texts…
One wonders; what could have happened that could make our Princess so fully commited to making sure that nopony ever knows what happened over that century? What atrocity could have occurred? What darkness fell upon this land?
Only one clue remains.
This poem, author unknown, was found concealed inside the bindings of a book entitled ‘the Sun Shines Also’ by Shining Glory, a novel inspired by the events of Celestia and Luna’s ascent to the monarchy following their arrival in Equestria.
The parchment that held the poem was quite damaged, but I managed to salvage it well enough so that it is legible here.
It is the only window we have into the greatest mystery in our land’s history.
She reigned.
From the moon's fall
To the sun's return.
She reigned.
Her word was law
And the law was cruel.
She reigned.
Thousands were burned
And millions did weep.
She reigned.
The sun was hers
And she took it away.
She reigned.
Thousands did freeze
And hundreds rebelled.
She reigned.
The first rebellion was crushed
But more rose in time.
She reigned.
The princess returned
And thousands rejoiced.
The Phoenix was banished
By the sound of her voice.
History was altered
There wasn't a choice.
The wounds have all healed
But the scars still remain.
She reigned.