//------------------------------// // Painful Memories // Story: Potential // by Crisslunarflame //------------------------------// Painful Memories Trees are perennial, long living, plants. Some of them can survive for up to thousands of years, with their bark growing thicker with each passing decade. Trees must also be strong to survive. All of their limbs must work together in perfect harmony for its being to exist in peaces. Equestria was not always as it is today. Most tales of old have been long since forgotten, or dismissed as mare's tales. However, these tales should not all be readily dismissed, because there are some ponies that will find the Truth engraved inside their boundaries. There is, one old, old myth, a legend, a tale that is remembered by a select few ponies. This, My Little Ponies, is the tale of the Six Noble Alicorns... Long, long ago, this planet was a desolate wasteland, with no ponykind. Equestria did not exist, and the only life in existence were small, primitive protists, and weak, prokaryotic organisms. It was a dark and dreary place, with no existance of seasons, day, or night. The small, humble life forms that evolved to survive in the weak atmosphere had no energy source but the distant stars. With no sun and no moon as a steady energy source, most attempts at life were thwarted and they went extinct. In fact, the "planet" that we know today was not even a real planet, it was more like a rough asteroid that was forever drifting in the endless void of Space. As the battle between sophisticated life and the harsh conditions of a roaming asteroid remained stagnant, immortal and supernatural variables began to set up the equation. Galaxia and Eos were star-spirits. Born of the explosion of matter in a Supernova, they were composed of pure energy, and were immortal. Their only purpose was to roam endlessly from star system to star system, creating life and future for planets. Chance being what it is, these two beings discovered the forlorn asteroid drifting in the vacuum of Space, and gave it a gift for which all of ponykind would eventually be grateful. They promised the planet a Future. Eos and Galaxia left the pitiful planet with six gifts. They had created six beings, life-forms that would later be known as Alicorns, and had left to them the task of taming the planet and allowing intelligent life to evolve. The six new beings were given names that, as yet, had no meaning. Their names would gain meaning from their actions as rulers, and how their created life saw them. As the Life developed a language, their opinions of the six rulers would determine the meaning that their names were given... The first of the six children was called, Equesalis. Equesalis was an Alicorn mare, and her coat was a soft, subdued pink. Her shimmering turquoise mane floated endlessly, as if in a constant wind, and complimented her intelligent aquamarine eyes perfectly. Celestia was the next Alicorn, and her coat was pure, radiant white. She had a long flowing mane, made up of various pastel colors, and wonderful deep pink eyes that seemed to be able to look into your soul. The next Alicorn sister was called Luna, and she seemed to be an opposite to her sister, Celestia. She was a dark blue mare, with an even darker blue mane, that seemed to have stars within it. Her deep blue eyes seemed intelligent and trustworthy, and gave her an aura of sophistication. The five sister's only brother was a handsome stallion named Discuerdo. He had a deep purple coat, and a deep blue flowing mane to accompany it. His eyes were the color of the the ocean, and constantly tinkled with a sharp humor. Chrysalis was a regal mare with a subdued magenta coat. With her flowing mane of violet, and deep purple eyes, she was, in many ways, the most beautiful of them all. The last Alicorn was called Flamentia, and she was a mare with a fiery orange coat. Unlike her siblings, Flamentia's mane looked as if it were composed of pure fire, and it cackled in the dark. Her eyes were a deep brown, as if they were trying to minimize he effect of the rest of her body. All of these Alicorns exhibited the same traits. They were significantly taller than the ponies that would someday inhabit the planet, and they had long, elegant wings and large, magical horns. This the ponies that were to be created would later possess these same trace, but distributed evenly throughout three races. The Pegasi would be in charge of maintaining weather and climate, so that the environment would survive. The unicorns would be able to successfully use magic to raise the sun and the moon (if necessary) and assist the pegasi with climate. Lastly, the earth ponies were responsible for growing food to feed all, and had a unique relationship with plant and animal life. The ponies would be created as such, so that if the last of the Alicorns died, the ponies would find it necessary to work together in harmony to survive and sustain life. The Alicorns soon found it necessary to discuss the creation of a habitual planet, and intelligent life. As these six siblings conferred with each other, it was decided how they would bring life to this planet, and who would be in charge of what. As the eldest and wisest of the Alicorns, Equesalis claimed the creation of the main intelligent life. Her creation included three races of ponies, with many sub-races such as zebras and buffalo. In honor of the creation of the first intelligent life, Equesalis's Cutie Mark appeared: A six-point star encircled by three smaller stars; to represent the love and magic used for the three races of ponies she had created. Celestia seized the creation of the sun creating a light-filled time that she called, day. This new solar energy prompted the growth of better developed plants and new, more complex beings began to evolve. In response to the creation of the sun, Celestia's Cutie Mark was a large, simple, blazing sun. Her younger sister, Luna, followed her sisters hoof-steps and created a new time as well. She created night, and the moon that would constantly overlook it. Luna's Cutie Mark became an inky black splotch interrupted only by a small, graceful moon in its center. Discuerdo became the creator of more complex plant forms, and forests. In turn, he created many complex animal organisms, such as squirrels and bunny rabbits. Becoming the "God of Woodland Life," his Cutie Mark was that of a songbird. Chrysalis was given the honor of creating new birth, for couples to rejoice in the tender young ones they were given. Chrysalis was bestowed with a Cutie Mark of a simple pale pink flower, representing the tender young fragile fillies and colts. Finally, Flamentia was in charge of gifting the young species with intelligence and ingenuity, so that they would be able to invent things for themselves, and progress. Her Cutie Mark became a simple flame, in honor of her most important invention: Fire. These six Alicorns were the original Elements of Harmony. In using powerful magic to create all of the pony life, Equesalis became the Element of Love... The Magic that is created between friends, lovers, and from mother to foal... Celestia was the Element of Honesty, like the light that showed the ponies the truth in what they could become. Luna became loyal, like the night is to the day, none is without the other. Discuerdo brought great joy to civilization with his woodland creatures, and became the Element of Joy, or Laughter. Chrysalis was given the Element of Kindness, in response to the kindness and love shown to the foals. And, with her generous inventions given to the ponies, Flamentia became the Element of Generosity. These were the original Elements of Harmony, and their bearers; their Creators. These Elements of Harmony, and the Cutie Marks that the Alicorns gained represented who they were. They also represented their Destiny, and who these ponies were meant to be. However, not all ponies wish to follow a "Destiny". Some do not believe that a Destiny is real. What happens when ponies try to break away from a "Destiny" that doesn't exist can oftentimes cause pain and suffering for others. Especially if that pony is powerful. Influential. It is easy for a powerful pony to neglect its responsibilities. It is not always easy for a pony to remember them... ...