Dear Celestia,
I Know I haven’t been truthful about my origins. You probably think me a spy sent from another dimension but that is far from the truth. 248 years ago I was a young adventurer who went from town to town seeking the next journey. Eventually I and my party came across a diabolical scheme to raise a great evil from Avernus, the Dragon Queen; Tiamat.
We followed them to their shrine and tried to intervene, but we had failed miserably. Having lost my friends to this ritual, I was now outnumbered and surrounded by cult members. It was at that moment when I met Ghillen, a gold dragon sent forth by Bahumut to stop the ritual. Seeing my predicament he picked me up in his claws and flew me south to Mt. Celestia where the order of Bahumut was based. I couldn’t let go of my newfound hatred so instead I learned to channel it became a paladin of the order, protecting the innocent and keeping evil at bay.
Tiamat wouldn’t be seen until five years later. In those five years I searched for a way to defeat Tiamat. Sometime in the second year I discovered the power held within arrows of slaying. Arrows Strengthened by magical properties that are deadly to the intended creature’s health. I had only managed to produce two of them to use against her.
Alas, luck was on my side on the morn when Tiamat arrived. Calling upon Ghillen to fly me closer, I used these arrows to deal a devastating blow to Tiamat then rejoined my brothers to finish the battle. Afterwards Tiamat realized her defeat and retreated to the shadows. Hearing of my great deed, Bahumuut gifted me with immortality under the condition that I return whenever called upon.
I then led the brotherhood for a while, but I grew weary of constant battle pursuing the study of magic instead. Upon learning a way to conjure my own portals to different realms and universes I saw it as an opportunity to learn more. Eventually I settled here and felt at peace.
It was naïve of me to believe that she would be gone for good. Now I must face her again. I don’t expect to ever return so I leave all my worldly possessions to the hatchling. I know it will be safe in your care. This key should open the door after I leave.
-Starswirl the bearded
Ps: DO NOT TOUCH ANYTHING IN THE RED TRUNK
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Four days later
Celestia read the letter over once more and cast her gave upon the tomes held within Star Swirls vault, “there has to be something in here that can help.”
Over the next few days she scanned through many tomes that she thought might have the information she needed. However, her efforts to find a solution yielded no results. She would have to wait for the banishment spell to wear off.
Not able to bear the guilt she felt for banishing her sister or the loss she felt due to the abandonment of Starswirl, who had no intentions of returning, she left the castle behind with the dragon egg and sealed Starswirl’s vault until further notice. She spent the next couple of centuries adjusting to her new role as princess of both night and day choosing to residing in a new castle carved into the side of a mountain named Canterlot. There she awaited luna's return.
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Starswirl, or Julien as he was known in this dimension, looked about him as he exited the portal. The waning crecent moon was barely visible through the cloudy sky. Snow drifted to the ground slowly, the fridgid air turning Starswirl’s breath to cloud. Mt. Celestia was directly in front of him by about two miles and if he strained his eyes he could just barely make out the revolving lights atop Starswirl Mountain to the west. He had to get to where he was going, and fast.
He figured that it would take him about a whole days walk if he were to travel on foot so he reached into his bag of holding and withdrew the horse figurine. He threw it down at his feet breaking it into three pieces. The pieces then dissolved into smoke, growing in size until it condensed and formed a real horse complete with saddle.
Starswirl clambered atop the steed and grabbed hold of the reins. Giving them a shake and shouting a brief “hyah” he set course to meet with the order at the base of Mt Celestia.
Arriving just as dawn broke over the horizon and flooded the valley below he was met with a gruesome sight. The Armies of Tiamat were already here laying siege to the citadel. The forces outside the gates clashed with the advancing kobolds hoping to repel the enemy attack. Above the city flew seven golden dragons waiting for Tiamat to show herself.
A sudden shout was heard and two kobolds rushed him from the trees behind causing his steed to rear in fright. Starswirl was thrown from the saddle and landed with a hard thud before one of the kobolds grinded him into the snow with his foot and leveled its sword at his throat. The other one walked over to him and gestured to the symbol on his armor before hissing out in draconic, “this one must be lost.”
“Let’s take it to the master to see if it has any inf-“ the kobold fell over as an arrow struck it square in the eye. The other backed away unsure of want happened until another arrow struck it in the shoulder allowing Starswirl to get up. Wasting no time Starswirl drew his sword and lunged at the reptilian beast plunging the steel through its armor and into its chest.
“Are you alright Brother?” Starswirl pulled his blade from the kobold turning the white snow into red and turned around to see who had saved him. The young archer was outfitted in leather armor, winter furs, and Bahumut’s sigil. The archer glanced quickly to his sword before going into shock, “wait a minute, you’re him aren’t you? Darrious said that he who wields the holy avenger would return one day to lead the order and force Tiamat to bow once more! Julien of Starswirl, the Champion of Bahumut!"
Starswirl sighed before cleaning his sword on the now dead kobold, “they didn’t have to make it sound that damn dramatic. Who even is this Darrious, trying to paint me as some kind of demigod?”
“But you’re Bahumut’s champion, aren’t you the one who single handedly drove Tiamat back into darkness? Haven’t you come back to help us?” the archer said his hope almost giving way to despair.
Starswirl went over to where he fell in the snow and picked up his bag of holding as well as the ebony horse figurine that had transformed back to its original state. He then turned to the archer once more, “Question one; I got really lucky with my aim when firing those dragon slaying arrows. Question two; yes, I am back to help the order slay the beast once and for all.”
He then paused looking up at the sky as an enormous shadow soared overhead. Tiamat the five headed dagon queen was flying straight towards the citadel, “but first we must evacuate the citadel!”
And so Starswirl and the archer raced against the dragon Queen to the citadel. The archer filled with hope and the wizzard filled with dread knowing that he was too late. Bahumut and Tiamat were about to face one another in a fight to the death.
Surely the order would put his name down in infamy upon their historic texts as the failed champion. If the order survives that is.
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Seventeen years before the return of Nightmare Moon
The morning sun rose steadily across the sky over Canterlot signaling the beginning of the day. The ivory towers rose high above the ground with its roofs of gold reflecting the suns light as Residents started their mourning routines preparing for what was going to be an interesting day. Today was the day of the grand galloping gala and unknown to all there was going to be a very unruly guest joining them tonight.
In the castle guard captain Cavalier checked her list once more to make sure all the preparations and guard assignments were met, the last location on her list being the main entrance. Rounding the corner of the stairway she was meet with the satisfactory sight of a well decorated grand hall with guards posted by both doors and ready for visitors.
She then went through the doors and into the throne room to see if the princess was there. Surely enough Celestia was sitting there writing last minute invitations. Cavalier stepped forward and floated the list over to Celestia with her magic. “Here’s the checklist princess. Is there anything else I could do for you at the moment?” she asked with a genuine cheer in her voice.
Celestia looked at the list and was about to dismiss cavalier when she noticed an empty check box, “why is there no guards posted outside the vault?”
Cavalier brought the list back, her cheerfulness fading a bit, “I ran out of guards to post and I figured that since it is already locked up tight that we could move those guards somewhere more important.”
“Then ill post you outside of the vault for this little oversight.” Celestia said in a serious tone before giggling, “don’t worry I’m sure it won’t be a problem. After all its just one night. Now run along and prepare yourself for tonight.”
Cavaliers cheer returned as she speed out the throne room and up to her quarters to get ready for the party. Meanwhile Celestia left the throne room to get some breakfast.
Later that day as night approached Cavalier went down the east wing corridor on her way to the ball room and was about to pass by the tower vault when she heard a loud crack followed by two more little crackles. She yelped then took off down the hall to get the princess. She speed across the ball room nearly tripping over her own feet. Spotting her in the crowd cavalier waded over to the princess who was in conversation with some of Equestrias’ high society. Celestia looked at cavalier in con fusion as the guard captain was in panic.
“Princess! There’s something moving in the vault!” cavalier managed to say somehow without screaming.
Princess Celestia’s look of confusion then morphed into realization. “Sorry everypony but there is something urgent I must attend to,” she said biding the small gathering farewell, “Cavalier, come with me and be on the lookout for suspicious activity!”
“As you command princess!” Cavalier grunted as she raced after the princess who was now already exiting the ballroom. Upon reaching the vault door they noticed a hole in the door no bigger than a bowling ball. “What could have done that?”
Celestia smiled, “the Dragon egg has finally hatched.” Her smile quickly faded however as she noticed the hole was made by something eating away at it. “But it apparently eats gold and is now missing."