"Alright little whippersnapper, off to bed." Granny Smith ordered and Applebloom groaned in disappointment.
"Aw Granny, can't I stay up just a little longer? Pleeeeaaase??" The filly pleaded but her grandmother stood firm.
"Sorry honey, it's getting late and tomorrows a long day." The older pony said. "Yer going to need your rest as much as possible my little apple seed."
Applebloom pouted and Granny gave her a small smile. "Aw chin up my little apple cake, if ya get ready and into your bed as quick as possible, I'll tell ya a story before bed."
Applebloom's expression brightened and the filly was upstairs and getting ready at a speed that would have Rainbow Dash impressed. Granny always told the best stories.
With her teeth brushed, face washed and her PJ's on, Applebloom dove into her bed as Granny settled into the rocking chair they kept in her room for such occasions. With filly and mare settled in their places, Applebloom could hardly contain her excitement.
"So what story are you going to tell me Granny?" She asked excitedly. "Are you going to tell me a story I know like the Founding of Ponyville or the Tales of Timber or are you going to tell me a story I've never heard before?"
The old mare hummed thoughtful as she considered her options. "Hmmmm, have I ever told ya the tale of Bonnie and Faust and how they created the world?"
Applebloom's eyes widened and she shook her head fervently. "Not yet you haven't." She said with no small amount of excitement.
"I haven't eh? Well then settle down you silly filly and let's get started." Granny said. Immediately, Applebloom bundled under her blankets and grabbed a stuffed teddy bear she kept for occasions like this (it was a family heirloom that my grandmother, mother and sister had) and Granny Smith cleared her throat to begin
In the beginning before there was light and harmony, there was nothing. Just a big ol' empty void and Bonnie herself. Now as you can imagine, being all by your lonesome can get rather lonely. So Bonnie set about creating a world. Gathering dust and compressing it, she created a world on which she could create. From there she molded the first ponies from clay and paint and gave them a world on which they could flourish.
These ponies were very grateful to Bonnie and set about living, growing and spreading. Bonnie was happy with her creations and in time she bore a daughter which she named Faust and when she was old enough, Faust helped her mother lead and nurture this world.
But as time passed, these original creations grew dark and became corrupted. This angered Bonnie and Faust and after many failed tries to point them in the right direction, they agreed that there was no other choice than ta start over. First they had to wipe the slate clean of course.
Faust descended to the doomed planet first and swept up the good ponies who didn't deserve to be destroyed. Mostly the children with some adults that weren't irredeemable. Then when she was clear Bonnie laid waste to her creation, burning everything till even the very planet was naught but ash and cinders. And when she was done, Bonnie gathered the ash and cinders and turned it into ink which she gave to Faust.
"Here my child, take this and use it to create a new world much better than before." She said as she presented the ink bottle to Faust.
"And what of you mother?" Faust asked as she graciously accepted her mother's gift.
"Do not worry my child, for I shall become the foundation on which you shall create your new and better world." She said, and with that, Bonnie became the planet upon which Faust would create this world.
Honoring her mother's wishes, Faust dipped her wings into the ink and began to create. She created mountains and seas, forests and deserts, lakes and streams. She even created other races aside from the ponies to share this new and glorious world with. Griffins, dragons, minotaurs and more. She loved them all, but most believe that Faust and Bonnie were always partial towards ponies since they were made in their image.
She also made other deities to help govern the world. Gods of life and death, the sun and moon, order and chaos and many many more. In some versions of this tale, order and chaos predate Bonnie and Faust and helped create both worlds. Nopony is sure which tale is true and Discord isn't talking, but I'm getting off topic. When Faust was satisfied with her creation, she brought the survivors to the new world.
What happened next?
Don't interrupt, it's rude. Now as for what Faust did next, I would think that was obvious. She stayed and taught our ancestors. She taught them many things, how to grow food and defend themselves, what plants were good and not good to eat and more important skills they would need to survive and flourish. She also taught them to love and tolerate one another and gave us the golden rules with which we were to lead our lives.
When she taught our ancestors all she could, she gathered them together and declared that her part had been done and it was time for them to stand on their own four hooves. After giving them a finally warning to head her teachings, Faust vanished. Many believe that she disappeared into the Aether where she remains to this day watching over us like a loving mother.
"...And that is the story of how the world as we know it came to be." Granny concluded and Applebloom looked up at her in awe.
"So is that why after Applebuck season, we bury some of our more choice apples and give thanks ta Bonnie?" Applebloom asked.
"That's right Bloom." Granny Smith confirmed. "Bonnie is the earth mother and the original mother of ponykind. Seems only right to pay our respects by giving her some of the fruits of our labors. After all if it weren't fer her, we'd have no earth upon which ta grow our apple trees."
"So is Bonnie still alive?" Applebloom asked tiredly and Granny moved over to the bed to pull the blankets up.
"Of course she is." Granny answered. "She may have become the world on which we live, but she's as alive as you are. She's just asleep which is what you need ta be right now."
Applebloom yawned. "Night Granny."
"Night child." Granny said as she pressed a kiss into the little filly's forehead. "And always remember this. There's always life wherever ya go. From the richest soil to the hardest rock, there will always be life. Ya just need ta look hard enough ta see it."
Applebloom let out a small sound of confirmation as she curled up, closed her eyes and began to sleep. Her job complete, Granny quietly exited the room and switched off the light, plunging the room into a darkness that was only illuminated by the moon and stars. And as the little earth filly slept, she dreamt of kind warm faces belonging to two alicorns. One with a bright red mane and the other with a golden blonde mane.
A/N: And that my friends is my creation myth. Now for those of you wondering how I borrowed from Aztec mythology, let me explain. The ancient Aztecs had this belief that the world they lived on was the fifth world created by the gods. The others were all destroyed or something. I'm not entirely clear on the details so don't shoot me if I did it wrong.
Anyways, I took this idea and decided to mesh it with the fact that the current MLP generation is the fourth generation. And yes I know it doesn't make sense because there were three generations before that but I thought it would be too excessive for Bonnie and Faust to lay waste to the world three times. Anyways, I hope you liked. This beautiful picture is Let the Rainbow Remind You by JaDeDJynX.