Hello. My name's Maelstrom. I'm a pony living in Equestria. Well, maybe "living" is too strong a word. Let's go with "surviving." You see, Equestria is a world that is inhabited by all sorts of wonderful and amazing creatures, but primarily, by ponies. Things used to be great. Everypony lived in harmony, and the only real threats were ancient foes come back to try to take over, or the occasional hydra attack that threatens to destroy a town, or something of the like. Well, not anymore. You see, Many years ago, before I was even born, there was a bit of a falling out with the unicorns and the rest of ponykind. And it wasn't over something petty, like, "Oh no, the unicorns drank all the cider!" or "I lost my favorite hat! The unicorns must've done it!" No. Actually, it could be interpreted as something petty, given your viewpoint. It was because, in all their stupidity and arrogance, the Unicorn Circle, a conglomerate of Equestria's most powerful unicorns, decided that they just needed more power and influence. So, they decided to do one of the most idiotic things any pony has ever done. They tried to manipulate magic to create life. Yeah, you heard me. Create Life. Except they couldn't, because as science says, you can't make something from nothing.
So they never succeeded in creating new life. Instead they borrowed it, and I can assure you, it wasn't friendly. It was called "the Unassailable," at least, that's what we've heard. As soon as it entered our reality, it started tearing ponies apart left and right. Nopony was left standing. Those who tried to flee were destroyed. Those who tried to fight were destroyed. The tower in which the Circle was stationed was destroyed. What I'm getting at, if you haven't noticed, is that everything within a mile radius was utterly and completely annihilated. So, that was the fall of the Circle, and the beginning of this nightmare.
The Unassailable didn't stop there. It moved on to destroy the nearby village. It razed the place to the ground. Little blot you wouldn't even find on a map. Nopony that wasn't directly involved with the place even remembers the name. But there were a few survivors. And they said it wasn't just one creature. There were many. Too many, by all accounts. One survivor even said that when the biggest one ate somepony, a few seconds later it would puke that pony back out, but they weren't the same. No, they were something different. They had the same shape, but they weren't recognizable from the pony that they were. They were something new, hideous, and with a desire to kill. These were nick-named "walkers," since they seemed to be the dead, walking again. Then more stories of these things started cropping up as they spread. And one thing in particular stood out. The fact that almost all of the stories were almost identical. And then we started receiving reports of new types of creatures, things we've never even heard of.
So, as some of you reading this might have guessed, the unicorns were to blame for this. Why was the entire race of uncorns blamed when only the Circle was responsible? Because in times of crisis, a sad fact is that ponies will latch onto anything to blame for their troubles. And since the ones that caused this new catastrophe was the "Unicorn" Circle, the pegasi and earth ponies blamed the unicorns. Granted, I understand why this was, but that doesn't mean I agree with it. It was an act of ignorance, but then again, what else is new?
But I digress. The scourge of the Unassailable was spreading up from the south like a plague, and nopony knew what to do. But, as luck would have it, we happen to be governed by two immortal Alicorn Princesses. They dispatched three legions of Canterlot soldiers to quell these new monstrosities.
It was a slaughter.
The soldiers inflicted more casualties than anypony had hoped, but in the end, it was futile. The soldiers were like any other ponies, and were easily turned into mindless thralls. And the apparent addition of armor and weapons only made what they turned into more powerful. These armor-plated brutes came to be known as "Vanguards," for their habit to be at the fore-front of major assaults. That's probably when things took an un-expected turn for the better. They stopped. After seven long months of death, misery, and chaos, they stopped. The Unassailable, with its armies of monstrosities, simple retreated, back to the destroyed site of Unicorn Tower.
But we knew they would be back. Militias started rising. Recruitment drives for the Canterlot armies were on over-drive, and a nation-wide alerted was issued, advising ponies to stay away from the southern region, which aptly became known quite simply as, "the Forbidden Zone." Everypony was on high alert, bracing themselves for when the nightmare might descend upon us next. But it wouldn't be for another year. But in the meanwhile, ponykind took this as the perfect time to ostricize a part of their race. At first, unicorns were merely shunned, or treated with disgust and disdain. Bosses started treating their unicorn workers terribly, unicorn foals in schools were hated by their fellow students, and unicorn owned and operated businesses started recieving less and less customers. And this was all just in the first month.
In the second month, a curfew for all unicorn citizens was established, though nopony had heard of the decree from Celestia. Many doubted there even was one. But it happened nontheless. Still, all of this didn't matter when pegasi or earth ponies needed their help. I mean, how hypocritical is that? Anyway, unicorns were still allowed jobs and miltary service, because the economy needed to keep moving and magic was a valuable commodity, even if it was treated with disdain and suspicion. Then the third month rolled along. Unicorns started being beaten publicy. Many lost their jobs, and became homeless. But still, unicorns were allowed to serve in the military. And finally, in the fourth month, unicorns were completely shunned from society. This is where it gets really bad. Since the Unassailable hadn't shown its ugly mug for four months, everypony assumed the things had simply left to terrorize some other country. So they decided they didn't need unicorns anymore. Every single one was "honorably discharged" no matter what, despite rank. Many a unicorn general was lost that day from this purge. Unicorns were forced under house arrest, but this was only temporary. Soon, they were all transported to new facilities that were seemingly constructed over-night, designed to house large amounts of ponies. This is where many unicorns were moved, to "safeguard the general populace from harm." Unicorn children, however, stayed at their schools, if they were large enough. This was so they could be "protected and educated for the good of ponykind, as the government saw fit." At least, that was the public story. The real story however, was much worse. They wanted unicorn children seperate from their families so they couldn't be taught "dangerous and harmful magics" by their parents.
Everypony seemed happy for a time. Well, except the unicorns. But then the unthinkable happened. One month more went by. And on the very date it all started, when the first of those wretched creatures appeared in our realm, they came back. After exactly one year since their arrival, they came back. The Unassailable were on the march again. Our newly created armies moved out to to meet them. They were met with surprisingly, much success at first. But after a month of battles, they were being pushed back. After the second month, the Unassailable had taken half of the land they had given up. After three more months, they had taken ball all the land they had given up, and a little more. But then they were pushed back again. Although they had incurred terrible losses, the Royal Army had pushed the beasts back. And then, two months later, after much hardship and death, they left again. The Unassailable had gone back to where it started, yet again. Many started to see the pattern. And that's when they realized, that the Unassailable might be going on a time-table. Fight for seven months, then recuperate for five. At least, that's what the general idea was. And that was true. As was expected, they returned, five months later, to begin anew. Oho, but this time we were ready. We knew how to fight them. We knew many of their tricks. This time, in those seven, long, grueling months, the army, along with the militias, fought back this horde of monsters. But when the third time that the Unassailable reatreated back into the confines of their forest, the army was weakened from the prolonged fighting. Many wished that Celestia and Luna (the two Immortal Alicorns) would go forth and destroy the Unassailable where they lived. Many went to Canterlot to petition the two to help their subjects in their time of need. But their pleas were fallen on non-existent ears.
The two Sisters had disappeared. They were gone, evaporated like air. And coincidentally, it was on the day the Unassailable retreated for the third time. Nopony knew what to think of this. It was the first time in thousands of years that the Alicorns had simply gone. So, the closest royalty that they had was thrust onto the throne, to help repair a beleaguered nation. Princess Cadence and her husband Shining Armor, had became the new rulers of Equestria. They weren't ready for this new burden, but Celestia knows they did their very best, and apparently it was enough. Attacks by the Unassailable were cut short the next time. Instead of the long seven months of war, and the short five months of rebuilding, the times were switched. Then it became five months of battle, and seven months of healing. Some ponies believed it was due to the fact that their new leadership was very capable, while others believed that the Unassailable were being thinned out and didn't have the numbers for another prolonged assault. A few even believed that Princess Luna and Celestia had known what their subjects wanted before-hand, and had entered some ethereal realm to battle the leadership of the creatures. This did not explain why they had been gone for more that a year.
This is where I come in. Literally. This is when I was born. You see, as I mentioned, my name is Maelstrom. I think that's my name because I have such a stormy personality, dark and foreboding, and liable to lash out at you with some lightning. Granted, I'm not ALWAYS like that, but I do have my moments, admittedly. Oh yeah, one other thing. I'm a unicorn. Shocker, right? After all those things I told you about that the rest of ponykind had done to us, you'd expect that the "hero" of this story would've been a stalwart earth pony, or a graceful pegasus? Nope. I'm a magically-inclined unicorn. Even got the horn to prove it. Anyway, I was born in one of those slums that I spoke about, where they keep the general unicorn population. I was taken from my mother as a foal, only one month after my birth. I wasraised ina school far from there, Canterlot Academy, actually. They didn't seperate unicorn children from earth ponies or pegasi, because they felt it would be too blatantly obvious that the ponies in charge were trying to keep down a part of their race, and that they also didn't want to spend the extra bits for entirely different schools. Also, I think that they enjoyed watching us squirm. The other foals at the school treated us unicorns like dirt. While they left at the end of every school day, we lived night and day there. Because even at school we were treated seperately from the rest of society, many unicorn children banded together in an attempt to beat the "heat," as it were.
I was a bit of an exception. Even among the other unicorns there, I was an outcast of sorts. I mean, that isn't to say I was totally shunned from everything. I socalized, on occasion. But no one there was really any one I liked. At all. The majority of the regular students acted like pompous jerks that treated us unicorn students like dirt, while the unicorns set themselves up as martyrs for our people. Anyone who didn't agree with them was the enemy, and I fell under that category. I didn't agree with any fighting between the two groups. Granted, I like a bit of scuffle, but not the kind of fighting they did. Plus, I always hated going out among the "normal" students. As if being set a part by my horn (who honestly wouldn't notice the thing?) wasn't enough, all unicorns had to wear these cyan-colored, see-through dress gown things. They looked absolutely gaudy. The only redeeming qualities, in my opinion, were the facts that they were made of silk (rather nice of my evil overlords, wouldn't you say?) and the addition of hoods. Let me tell you one thing. I absolutely adore hoods. They were the best innovations in clothing ever made. And hoodies? Best article of clothing, ever. Ponies mostly go naked, But frankly, I love wearing jackets and hoodies. Unfortunately, the officials at the school didn't like us unicorn students having personal possessions. Thought it might make us feel "normal." Not that we were allowed to go out and shop, but some of us were able to find "ways" of "acquiring" things we wanted. I was one of those ponies. Money doesn't come easily at the Academy, but you'd be surprised what one can find at the school after-hours that other students might have accidentally left behind. Yes, it was stealing, and no, I don't have any moral justifications for doing it. I was a stupid kid at the time, and the things I could get with a few velvet bows and a couple diamonds were rather nice. I found a designer's catalog once, and I saw the most amazing hoodie I will ever see. Some ponies might look at it and think it's terrible, but I loved it. It took a couple weeks of scrounging and trading, but I managed to get somepony to get it for me. It was the most beautiful thing I've ever seen. It was mainly blue, my favorite color, with black added to it. It was plaid in design, but not all-the-way plaid. It's hard to explain, you'd have to see it for yourself. It was light but thick, perfect for keeping out heavy weather. The hood was lined with cotton, rather common but it felt great anyway. I valued this jacket more than anything else I had, and Celestia damn anyone who thought of stealing it to the deepest pits of Tartarus. I never wore it among the regular students because I knew it would be confiscated if any of them saw it, but once they left, I was free to wear it as much as I liked, for I knew the guards wouldn't care. Yes we had guards at a school. I told you things were rough.
But that's not the worst thing. We weren't allowed to study magic. Magic! The very thing unicorns have that nopony else has! The school had books on it, of course, but those were restricted and forbidden to all but the Principal herself. Ha, but did that stop me? By Luna's flank, who do you think I am? Some wimpy school-boy who flinches at all the bullies and hands over his lunch money? Hay, no! Every night I broke into the restricted section and pored over those books like my life depended on it. In fact, my life did depend on it, and do you want to know why?
Because one day, I was going to break out of this hole. If it was the last thing I do. I mean, yeah it wasn't all bad. But still. That place was a prison, anypony could see it. The only reason I stayed as long as I did, was because of her, my best friend for my entire life, Aurelia.
She's a pegasus, all white fur, like myself. She's got the most beautiful orange eyes you'll ever see, and her mane and tail were colored a deep green and blue. She's my best friend in the whole world, my only friend. She's smart, I can tell you that. Always reading up on stars, the sky, weather, or anything else that has to do with pegasi. She told me she wants to be a top weather pegasus, and not just a regional manager. No, she wants to be one of the top weather pegasi. You know, tho ones who oversee everything. It was a great dream, and I was proud of her for thinking big. She's also kind and sweet. I mean, you'd have to be, to befriend a unicorn. I actually feel kind of bad for her, but if she heard me say that, she'd kill me. Being friends with a unicorn isn't very good for your social life. I hear about how ponies pick on her for being friends with me from other unicorns. She never tells me herself, doesn't want to burden me most likely. But I find out anyway. The only thing I ask for: names. You see, I may not be the most motivated unicorn in the room, but if some ignorant fool messes with my friends, well, let's just say you better bring a bucket and a mop because there's going to be a mess when I'm through with them. Of course, I don't use magic in my fights. That would put me in so much trouble if anyone found out I could use magic. I learned how to brawl and buck like an earth pony, but my being a unicorn puts me at a disadvantage, because we aren't built for that sort of thing, us being more magic prone. Or, we used to be, anyway. And Aurelia finds out every time I have a fight. She tells me that I shouldn't do this, that I'm only causing more trouble for myself. The way I see it: I don't have much to lose anyway, what does it matter? But she doesn't listen. She's too worried about me, instead of herself. I think that's what causes me to get into these fights. She looks out for me, so what kind of a friend would I be if I didn't look out for her? And so, that's what I have to say for her as a summary. Smart, beautiful, and is the knidest pony you'll ever meet. Some may think I like her in that way, and maybe I do. Who couldn't? If you've met Aurelia, you'd know what I mean. But nothing's ever come of it. We've both heard the rumors, but they're not true. Like all great protagonists, I've never asked her about it, and she hasn't asked me. I have no idea where it could go, but in all honesty, I don't see much of a future with her. I'm a unicorn if you remember, so I'm not really allowed to go anywhere. Besides, now that I think about it, there isn't any way she would ever love a unicorn. Yeah, we're friends, good friends at that, but it doesn't mean she's interested that way. So I don't ask her about it. Too awkward, in my opinion. But now I'm blathering. Let's get on with the show. It's twenty-two years after the first insurgence of the Unassailable, and seventeen years after my birthday.
My birthday's today, and it proves to be the most exciting one yet.