“W-wow…” Was all Twilight could mutter in her shocked, entertained state. She was so absorbed in the story it was as if she herself was reading it.
A million different questions passed her mind, leading to her asking so many at once it overwhelmed even Celestia. She just watched as Twilight spoke, seemly without even taking a breath.
Finally, once the eccentric purple alicorn had finally paused for a moment Celestia booped her muzzle with her hoof and giggled in a teasing manner. This made Twilight blush in embarrassment, sitting straight up.
“Sorry, This story is just amazing! It’s so interesting!” She exclaimed, flapping her wings slightly as she spoke.
“I’m glad you like it Twilight. There is plenty more of it to tell” Replied Celestia, laying down on a soft cushion to get comfortable. Twilight followed her former mentor’s example and also took a cushion. This seemed to relax her some, a soft sigh releasing from her.
“So, what are we waiting for?” She asked, looking back at Celestia with glee. Celestia simply smiled at her eager rookie Princess for a moment before granting her that which she desired and continued to read.
*Flashback*
As the light began to retract back into the six friends it gathered around Athena and enveloped only her in it’s warming hold. Every creature present watched in awe as Athena’s body morphed before their eyes; her silhouette moving elegantly within the orb of shining light.
It was as if the light was an egg, enveloping the developing life within in it’s protective shell and, while it wasn’t the miracle of life these creatures witnessed, it was indeed a miracle all the same.
The magic light seemed to paint every single, individual feathers and attach them one by one onto the wings sprouting out from Athena’s back. As one feather attached another was formed and was also attached until it reached the very last feathers. Wings outstretched, Athena flapped them once within as her head swung up. Her hair, caught in the waving motion of the magic circling around her, grew longer into a majestic mane that moved like strands of silk.
From her forehead a horn began to form, appearing segment by segment until it reached the very tip.
The light flashed, flooding the area in a pulse of a light aurora. It lasted only a moment and, as it dissolved away, all whom saw Athena remained a gasp.
Wings sprouted from her back, a horn from her head, Athena had become that which had only been heard of in fables.
An Alicorn.
*Present day*
“B-but how is that possible?!” Asked Twilight, leaning over on her hooves in an attempt to look at the interior of the book. However, Celestia kept it just high enough so the pages remained in mystery to Twilight.
“There are some theories which we will explore. I ask only that you be patient for a while longer.” Replied Celestia, watching as Twilight plopped back down on her cushion, gathering up a bunch of it in her hooves to use as a pillow.
Seeing that her attention was once more on listening, Celestia continued to read.
*Flashback*
At first, Athena was just as baffled as those around her. Never had she experienced nor heard of the creature she had become. But, to those present, Athena was seen as one of great power.
The invaders, not wanting to risk unleashing the mythical powers alicorns were said to have, retreated back the way they came.
All were truly shocked, wondering what had occurred, that is expect Norran whom was well studied in the ancient legends of yore. While he would have loved nothing more than to educate Athena about her new form everyone knew that they would have to wait. Their refuge was discovered, exposed to the threat of invasion.
They needed to find a new haven, somewhere safe from the war. So, having gathered all whom resided in the refugee camp, the six friends lead the way to a new home. They knew not where they went nor when they would ever find a new refuge. However, now filled with a feeling courage and hope never known to them before the six friends refused to give up.
They marched their odd herd of creatures of all kinds across the land, venturing west through the Whitetail Woods into the Undiscovered West.
Palma would tell them stories of the west. She would speak of how no one dared venture that way as no creature had ever made it past the unnamed mountain range and returned. She herself, whom once lived in South Luna Ocean, would often see explorers dare to trek past this strip of land only to vanish forever.
Surely, if no one dared to go there then perhaps that would be the only place that their small herd would be safe. Such an idea was dangerous and, posed the possibility of certain death, but to them there were no better options. If they went they would have a chance to survive but if they stayed all would surely die in the pyre made from this land.
So, on they went with Athena and her friends leading the way. Thanks to Bun’s navigational skills they were never lost, traveling by starlight to guide their way, and with Anomi’s fighting skills they remained safe from the ravenous monsters that stood in their way.
The journey was long and very dangerous. Many times their herd would be attacked by those wishing only destruction on them, despising seemly even the idea of such a herd existing at all. Despite how hard they fought not all escaped the carnage.
While reaching the tail end of the WhiteTail Woods the herd ran into a giant Chimera. Despite Anomi’s best efforts the creature’s power was to great to overcome. Fear had reared it’s ugly head once more, paralyzing Athena in her tracks.
Anomi was severely injured, unable to fight any longer; the herd was in a frenzy, running around like headless chickens to escape.
The creature claimed two lives that night, the lives of Athena’s parents as they tried to rouse their daughter from her paralyzing fear.
It all happened in a single moment, one they were there, the next they were merely corpses on the ground with blood dripping from the creature’s claws.
Something snapped in Athena in that moment. Witnessing her parent’s deaths released from her a terrifying power that, in an instant, turned the Chimera, first to stone, and then to dust. The savagery of the world around her seemed to consume Athena in that moment as she turned everything her dark magic touched to dust. By some miracle she had not harmed any of her herd but with her own power she leveled a large portion of the Whitetail Woods, leaving a large chunk completely bare of any trees, plants or even grass.
Only when Zilo used a magic powder she made to force Athena into a slumber did her rampage finally come to an end. It was then the true power Athena possessed was made clear to everyone as they stood in emptiness, surrounded in a ring of trees.
When Athena roused, she was never the same. While she herself remained happy and caring to her herd all outside it were met with a gaze of utter hatred and bloodlust.
The very same she saw in the eyes of those griffons when they attacked her family just a year ago.