Snow, cold and tainted with a hint of black ash from the smoke that infected the clouds above, gently drifted down to the land below and coated the earth in a thick sheet of frost.
Winter's touch approached, a touch that mimicked that of the grim, and threatened the life of all as the howls of Windigos echoed on the chilled wind. Time was running short for our herd as, even as we walked by, we would see the threat of winter presented to us in the form of those encased in ice, forever trapped in their bitter hatred that brought said fate upon them.
Thankfully, our harmony and unity as a group seemed to keep the wicked monsters at bay, but, we feared that one of us may fall prey to them if she continued to turn her back to us. Yes, she still remained among us but our words and our pleas fell on a heart frozen, like the land that surrounded us.
Norran's story only seemed to drive Athena further into isolation, she does not even speak to us anymore and oh how it woes my bruised heart to see her in this state. If our Athena ever fell prey to the frost how our hearts would shatter. I hope and pray that there is some scrap of the old Athena remaining as by the day I can see her grow darker.
Darker than the ash tainted snow showering down upon us.
*Current Day*
"Wait, it happened again!" Exclaimed Twilight, "Why does the story keep changing the way it's told? The beginning was vague and more legend like, the second more story like and this one like a personal account."
Celestia smiled at Twilight, giving Luna a knowing look before turning the book back to the first page.
"Oh there is a very good reason for that." She replied, turning the book so Twilight could see the inside of the front page. What she read seemed to both shock and surprise her. She read it aloud.
"This book is a recounting of the History of the Tree of Harmony and Queen Athena written through the eyes of those who witnessed the start and end of her rein. Norran, Palma, Zilo, Bun, Anomi and Athena. May their memory live on in their personal accounts collected in this book."
Twilight took a moment to process that before speaking further.
"So all this is first hoof experience? Then why was the beginning so vague and what does Athena have to do with the Tree of Harmony? I don't see a connection there..." She asked, seemly confused.
"Well, while we are not sure we assume it was just the story telling tactic used by Norran. He was more into telling Legends and myths which are pretty vague by nature. It could also be that they just did not know much about Athena's early life as well. The second and third chapter was written by Palma whom was known to be a very entertaining storyteller. Finally, the chapter we are on now was written by Zilo who was a doctor. She kept a personal journal where she kept accounts of medical research and of things that happened in her personal life, thus this chapter is told in a more personal light. It's actually quite interesting." Explained Celestia, "As for the Tree of Harmony and the connection it has to Athena, you'll have to wait until later on in the story."
"Then what are we waiting for!?" Asked Twilight, seemly even more excited than before as she cling onto a bunch of her pillow with a giddy look on her face.
"Hehe, you were the one who interrupted the story, Twilight. Let us resume." Replied Celestia, turning the pages back to the one she was on.
*Story*
No matter how hard I try, attempting to recall what occurred today leaves only few clear, most of it being hazy. Perhaps I should start at the beginning.
Finally, after many long days we made it to the mountain range leading into the Undiscovered West. We were overjoyed, of course, it meant that our journey would soon come to an end but we underestimated the very land itself. As we entered the mountain range a blizzard seemed to appear out of nowhere and only became more vicious and treacherous the deeper we got.
Even then I noticed something was odd about this blizzard. I was sure it had a magical source rather than a natural one. The wind pushed us but it did not howl, silent as the dead, and the snow, the ice, felt cold but we could not feel them hit our pelts. Finally, the snow already resting on the earth made not a sound under our hooves and claws. The only time a sound did emerge was the sound of stepping on solid rock, as if the snow was not there at all.
Nevertheless we took shelter in a small cave in one of the mountains, hoping the storm would pass even if it wasn't at all natural. We had no choice, the cold and wind was to overwhelming for us to bare. As you can imagine, this irritated Athena immensely but even she had no choice but to relent to the storm's wrath.
Hours ticked by, one by one, yet the storm kept raging on. Slowly, those of our herd began to grow more afraid as they speculated that perhaps this magical blizzard is the reason none ever return from the west. Even I admit, it was a troubling situation to be in.
We must have been in that cave for at least a day when a very handsome someone appeared at the mouth of our cave cloaked in flowing, dress like garb that had a magical gradient that made the fabric fade into fog. They were enchanting, to say the very least, but who they were exactly we could not agree on. Yes, I understand it's quite perplexing, it is even to us.
I saw this stranger as a very stunning, attractive male zebra, white and adorned in blue stripes with eyes as green as the richest leaves of a lush forest, yet, Palma saw this stranger as a gorgeous female seapony with fins that looked like butterfly wings, delicate, beautiful and skin the color of the deepest ocean waters. This logic seemed to hold true for all of our herd as they saw what I could only assume to be their preferences in the ideal version of their own species.
What we could agree on though is that they had a soothing voice that allured all that heard it. Indeed, it's voice was very welcoming, smooth, delicate.
"Come with me, I will take you somewhere safe and warm." They said, backing slowly away back into the blizzard.
I am not sure but I think that maybe this creature had put some kind of hex on us as all of us followed it back into the frigid storm. As we exited I failed to realize at the time, but now with foresight, recall that the snow was no longer cold and the wind no longer pushed us.
We might as well had been standing in a painting.
From here on, all of our memories are very vague and hazy, I cannot recall much. However, Athena was able to fill the blanks. You see, for her the stranger was a male alicorn, strong and sturdy in build with a coal black pelt. While, at first, she too fell for the allure of this stranger her logic began to brew in her mind.
Never have any of us, in the time of our lives, have we heard of an alicorn existing beyond Athena. When creatures saw Athena they saw a powerful being and looked upon her with both awe and fear, yet, not a single member of our herd showed even a hint of surprise at this male alicorn appearing, suddenly seemly out of nowhere.
I recall Athena asking me something along the lines of, "I never thought we would ever come across another Alicorn here. What an opportunity! Maybe I could learn more about why I transformed?!"
"Alicorn? Oh no, he is as graceful as one though. Such a majestic Zebra." I replied.
Athena says it was my reply that had shocked her. Something in her mind clicked, and, it seemed that the realization of what was going on hit her. Her eyes widened, the area suddenly morphed from a raging blizzard to a mountain, rocky trail dotted only with small piles of snow seemly from light snow fall.
Worst of all she saw the true form of the creature we followed. It was a vile, old, goblin like creature that was half fog and concealed in a white cloak. The realization caused her to pause for a moment but, in that moment, the creature took us into another cave. The moment her mind was able to catch up to the situation she galloped after us only to again stop in absolute horror.
The way I remembered it, we were walking into a lavish, large mountain cabin with about a dozen or so creatures sitting at tables, laying by a warm fire, dining, all with happy bright smiles but what was really around us...
The way Athena describes it, oh how absolutely blood curdling it was.
Creatures, frozen solid, with bones, still covered in flesh and blood, covering the floor of those the creature had devoured. Those happy smiles I saw were the faces of those tricked before us, frozen solid with the look of glee frozen forever upon their faces. Worse still, there were those still alive, trapped in a spell that kept them unable to move with their smiles stuck in the moment they were caught, but, their eyes, oh their eyes, they now saw the terrifying monster for what it was and could only watch in despair as another one of them was frozen solid, eaten like some sort of twisted Popsicle and their bones, blood and bits of flesh left for them to stare at in utter silence.
"Dear pony, what is the matter? I have a bath for all of you, a warm hot spring waiting. Wouldn't you like to warm your bones?"
The creature lead us into a pit of magic, the same magic it used to freeze it's other victims. But, Athena would not have it. The next thing I remember was Athena crying out.
"No Stop!"
Followed by a flash of blinding light.
Next thing I knew, everything went dark; we all passed out. Unknown to me Athena had blasted the creature directly with her magic which released us from the powerful hex.
The rest of the story was told by those frozen with magic, as , the moment Athena blasted the creature they were freed and watched the events following.
Athena stared, her face consumed in fear as her horn remained flared with her powerful magic. She watched the dust settled, shivering and breathing heavily as the creature's silhouette became clearer. Eerily, it spoke, it's voice distorted and cracked.
"Oh now why did you do that? What a treat it would have been to have you for dinner!"
The monster lunged directly at Athena, moving quickly and sinking it's jagged teeth deep into Athena's shoulder. She let out a loud neigh in pain, a sound I faintly remember hearing in my passed out state.
Next thing anyone knew both Athena and the creature were outside, tangled in a struggle as Athena flung the creature off her. Again and again she shot magic blasts towards it only to miss every time at the beast's blinding speed.
Again and again it lunged at her, biting her and slashing at her mercilessly until finally her fear washed away to reveal something more dangerous than any when it comes to Athena.
Her temper.
Her magic, usually purple in color, began to be consumed in a sickly green and black color as her patience began to wear out. Suddenly, in a show of pure power she unleashed all of her magic in a single, magic blast. It consumed everything in the area. Rock was pulverized to dust, plants turned to ash. Everyone was caught in the blast as it consumed even the mountain that held the cave we resided in. However, the magic did not hurt us, all it really seem to do was gently float us off the ground and hug us in a soothing, purple light.
The monster, however, was not as fortunate as the moment the magic caught it, it was completely engulfed and cried in pure agony as it was slowly burnt away. It was as if it was being hit by a powerful wave of heat, as if it approached the sun, as it's skin burned away, followed by it's bone until nothing remained except a pile of ash and a piece of the fabric the creature once wore.
Her magic spent Athena's blast slowly came to an end, retracting into her body to leave only flattened land where mountains once stood. She left a large gorge in the mountain range, effectively turning the middle section of it into a flat valley. Nothing in her magic was spared, nothing, except for us.
Even in her rage she could not bring herself to hurt us.
And while I don't remember the events that lead to us, standing in this flattened valley made by her I do remember one thing.
A simple thing.
When I awoke I saw Athena, I heard her, worry in her voice as she called out our names. She laid among our herd, waiting for us to wake up.
I remember, when I rose... she smiled at me and hugged me close, her eyes watery.