Prologue
Far above the ground, spirits with the basic form of a horse were restless and hungry. It was hunger that was not easily satisfied.
There was a wide land with many different landscapes and - more importantly for these spirits - many, many inhabitants. These inhabitants also had the basic form of a horse, but they were smaller… and pastel-colored. As well, many had wings that allowed them to soar the skies or funny little horns that allowed them to manipulate the world around them in myriad ways. A few of these inhabitants even had wings and one of those funny little horns.
There was a feast awaiting the spirits in this land, but they had been banished long ago by some of the inhabitants who were long since dead. There was a special force or power keeping the spirits away from that land and their feast.
There were other places the spirits could feed, but this place was special. They had once been some of the very special inhabitants, and they had a special purpose in feeding there. That special force was in the way, though. They didn't know how to breach it and had long given up trying, but now… Now something was happening.
It was something advantageous for the spirits, and it was set in motion by some of those funny little inhabitants. The eagerness of the spirits grew as they became cognizant of this. Finally, they were going to achieve their desires...
* * * * *
On a very specific mountain, a very specific inhabitant of the land used her funny little horn to open the little wicker door in front of her. She had a mane and tail whiter than the driven snow - but with a two-tone purple highlight in each - and a coat of deep purple. Her sister, her cousin, and a few others were waiting around the long wooden table for her inside the little hut.
“What's the news?” asked her sister hopefully, who had a mane and tail of azure - with a highlight of turquoise - and a coat of violet.
She smiled, baring her teeth evilly. “I've figured it out. I know how to end it.” She motioned to her cousin, a stallion with mane and tail of royal blue with highlight of sea green and a coat of gray with overtones of purple. “But I can't do what you can do, and I need what you can do. I can't do what I need to do until you've done what you can.” The stallion’s face remained expressionless. “Also, we are going to have some guests soon.”
“What do you require of us, dear Sister?”
The smile only grew larger.
* * * * *
Elsewhere in the land, a tree twitched. It was not an ordinary tree, nor had ever attempted to appear as one. It was more living crystal than actual tree, and held in its branches the keys to the balance that the tree so sought to preserve.
Something was off-balance, and this very special tree knew it. Unknown to the tree was the reason it felt and fought to keep this balance, but it fought to keep it all the same. Long had it kept vigil over this land and its balance, and long would it continue. Many times had it called champions to restore the balance, at times even losing the Keys as its champions borrowed them as they fought to preserve the balance.
Its current champions were numerous, and rarely had more than two been needed to correct an imbalance at any one time. This time, however, it would require all of them. The tree sent its call...