Prologue
Canterlot
Over a thousand years ago
As always, the mighty roars of the sky announced his arrival. The air, which had been stagnant under the dark carpet of clouds, was suddenly torn apart by a thunderous rampage of lightning. The violent sparks that filled the sky drew the attention of the guards who stood before the gates of the Canterlot Castle. The members of the royal guard readied their weapons, gazing up to the skies. The source of the bellowing thunder was coming closer, galloping across the pitch-black skies.
However, an arrival of an old ally was something they were not prepared for. When the black clouds pulled away to reveal the form of Alexandrus, the Prince of Wild Conquest, it took the guards a few precious minutes to recover their bearings, and salute him.
A crimson cloak, adorned with gold and fur, rested on his back as a testimony of his authority. Alexandrus’s body, both tall and muscular, was protected by bronze armor, adorned with cuts and nicks. His face, as vibrant and full of life as ever, bore scars like his armor. There was not a single guard who had not heard the tales regarding those scars. The long one that went across Alexandrus’ face was from a mighty dragon of the north, the vertical one had been carved by a spear of a Neighponese barbarian, and the jagged ones he had received on his campaign in the east, in griffin lands. They were a proof of a legend that all the soldiers aspired to match.
Alexandrus’ short, sand-colored mane was buffeted by the storm, his maroon-colored eyes flaring in excitement as he watched the soldiers down below. His light brown coat was like a beacon amidst the thunder. The hooves of the mighty stallion ploughed with the lightning as he galloped lower and lower, descending to the ground from the skies. Finally, his legs hit the soil, giving one last echoing clap of thunder before quieting down.
The guards, though they saluted the prince who had arrived, did not know what they should have said. After all, Alexandrus had not been seen in Canterlot for well over five years. His sudden appearance was enough to even confuse the senior officer who had been inspecting the gates. The only thing the ponies could do was to stare in silence, waiting for Alexandrus to speak.
“Lay down your arms, soldiers! A prince has arrived!” Alexandrus boomed, as his fierce glare was enough to reflect back the blades that were previously pointed at him. “I, Alexandrus, have returned! The journey from the west, the land of Marecedonia, has been long! Thus, stop gawking and direct me inside! I wish to see my comrades!”
“Open the gates! Prince Alexandrus has returned!” the senior officer hurried to shout. “Open the gates for His Majesty!”
A loud rumble echoed in the courtyard as the chains of the gate were pulled back. Guards hurried to their posts, and the surprised soldiers, who stood atop the castle walls, shouted more orders. The gate was lowered in a surprisingly quick manner, primarily because the guards were afraid that the he would simply charge through it if he got impatient. From the tales they heard, Alexandrus was infamous for his impatience.
Guided by two guards, Alexandrus headed into the castle as if he still were one of its masters, like he had been so many years ago.Though much had changed during his absence, his pride simply refused to allow him to be confused. As straight as an arrow, and as destructive as a cannonball, Alexandrus would have rather broken through the stone walls before asking for directions from the guards. And they knew it. The ponies clad in golden armor hurried forth, always staying few steps ahead of the prince’s long stride. That way they could subtly guide Alexandrus, without dishonoring him.
The grand appearance, to the point of being in bad taste, had certainly stirred up quite the ruckus inside the palace. Soldiers who had been part of Alexandrus’ multiple campaigns cheered loudly as their former leader passed by, while most nobles scowled at the sight of the stallion. The barbaric ways of the prince had always been a subject of friction between his troops and the nobles. But whether it was with shouts of praise, or with grumblings of annoyance, the ponies of Canterlot castle gathered to see the arrival of the prince.
Servants and soldiers alike gathered onto the courtyard, and Alexandrus basked under their attention, stomping his hooves against the cobblestone as he made his way across the courtyard, causing bolts of lightning to shoot up towards the sky. This bravado was met with even more cheers from the soldiers, and Alexandrus roared in laughter, nearly drowning the echoes of the thunder. Servants hurried to light the torches, and ponies opened their doors to see who had arrived in such manner at the middle of the night. One of those curious ponies was the current captain of the royal guard, Whirlwind Lance. The stallion peeked from the doorway to the main hall, only to do a double take as he saw Alexandrus. Whirlwind Lance had served under him in the war, and he had ample experience with the prince.
Whirlwind Lance had seen the prince’s reckless charge against the forces of Discord during the siege of Canterlot, and he had seen his disregard of mending the wounded troops to pursue fleeing enemies. It would have been an exaggeration to say that the captain did not always approve of the things the prince did.
“Your Highness.” Whirlwind Lance greeted Alexandrus with a bow. “I am… glad to see that you have returned to Canterlot. However, I must inquire: Was it necessary to arrive in such a grandiose fashion? The ponies of Canterlot are tired these days due to the aftermath of the war, and from the task of rebuilding our capital. Causing them unnecessary stress with such a lightshow is-”
Alexandrus’ roaring laugh drowned anything else that Whirlwind might have been about to say. The prince smacked the captain on the back with his hoof, grinning from ear to ear. How somepony like him could possess such a great strategic mind, yet act in such a way was a mystery Whirlwind would never solve.
“Are you saying that I should arrive back to my homeland like a beggar who is unknown to the city itself? Hah! You’ve still much to learn, Captain,” Alexandrus said. “A royal’s return is announced with songs of revelry and victory. This is nothing but meaningless bravado, worthless etiquette which we must follow.”
“If it is meaningless, then why do you do it, despite the problems it causes?” Whirlwind Lance grumbled under his breath, silently enough so that the prince did not hear it.
“Now, bring me to Celestia,” Alexandrus said as they passed through yet another doorway, into one of the corridors that zigzagged through the castle. “She and I have much to speak of, the least not being the tidings I bring.”
“Tidings?” Whirlwind asked. “Has something happened? Is it Discord?”
“Discord?” Alexandrus grinned. “Worry not. All that is left of him is the stone-statue currently locked in the garden outside this castle. However, there is… something else.”
Understanding that the prince was not going to reveal anything more to somepony who was not a royal, Whirlwind Lance gestured to one of the guards, sending him off to find the Princess and announce Alexandrus’ arrival. Lance himself guided the prince into one of the royal visitors’ chambers. Alexandrus frowned when he saw where he was being led to, and Whirlwind could not help but smile. While the Prince had been part of the group that defeated Discord, nowadays, after his long absence, he was not given the same sort of treatment as the two who stayed behind to guide Equestria. Therefore, just like all political guests, Alexandrus was guided into one of these rooms instead of being taken straight to the Princess.
“Well then, Your Highness, I shall be taking my leave,” Whirlwind Lance quietly said and retreated from the room, closing the door behind him.
The captain had no desire to be with the prince more than he had to. There were many pressing matters at hoof, the least not being calming down the crowd that Alexandrus’ arrival had stirred. Cursing softly, he headed back to the courtyard, promising himself a drink after he was done. Though knowing the effect Alexandrus had on soldiers, calming down the crowd could last well into the morning.
Back in the chamber, Alexandrus was finally alone. He turned his gaze to the roaring fireplace that burned as hot as his gaze. It had taken many months to travel from Marecedonia to Equestria, but it was a journey he was willing to make. Now that the rebuilding had begun in even the western edge of the world, it was time to steer his gaze into other matters. Matters that were important not only politically but personally as well.
He had changed a lot during the past five years; Alexandrus acknowledged that himself. However, the change was only for the better. He sweated together with the citizens to rebuild the capital, listened to the grievances and joys of the citizens as their king and defended the country side-by-side with the citizens; all of it had taught him so much. And in return, Alexandrus had wanted to honor his teachers by doing what he could for them. His pride, the markings on his horn which announced his supreme rule in that far-away land, were the sign of the responsibility he had accepted.
But the most important change was that he was ready to face Celestia without faltering, this time.
The sound of the door opening behind Alexandrus was nearly hidden by the howling of the storm outside, but the sharp ears of the prince still caught it. However, instead of turning around to greet his old friend, Alexandrus relaxed his breathing, and opted to stare into the dancing flames before him. As ready as he was, he still wanted to take his time. This was not a thing he should rush.
Finally, the presence on the doorstep entered the room. There was slight timidity in her steps, as if she had been walking on a floor made out of glass. Alexandrus didn’t know why, but he guessed that maybe the pony who had entered clearly did not expect him to ever return. Or maybe that was just his wishful thinking. Nevertheless, Alexandrus realized it was finally the time, and turned around to meet his friend.
The white alicorn was as radiant as on the day they had said goodbye. Alexandrus felt a warm feeling spread in his chest as his eyes once again met the gentle, yet stern gaze of Princess Celestia. Her wings were folded, and her eyes told of many sleepless nights, yet she still managed to shine like the sun that was her domain. Her gallant posture, forever etched into Alexandrus’ memories, had not changed at all.
And what of Princess Celestia?
Her eyes were staring at Alexandrus with a hint of disbelief in them. She took a step, but hesitated in the middle of it. Eventually, she simply left a short distance between Alexandrus and her. Alexandrus felt like a complete stranger for a moment, as the alicorn’s eyes wandered all over him, judging him. That choking feeling was finally driven away as the stoic expression on Celestia’s face was replaced with a warm smile. She had accepted the truth before her eyes.
The final companion, the one Celestia had thought to be lost to the winds of the world, had finally returned home.
There were many things that Celestia could have said. Her thoughts were swimming with all the possibilities on how she should greet her old friend, now that they were face-to-face again. But out of all the possibilities, the sheer surrealism of the situation made her whisper the most illogical one.
“Dear Alexandrus… what has happened to your horn?” Celestia asked, unable to use the confident tone she always had.
Alexandrus grinned and gazed up at it. It was indeed somewhat strange looking. While the spiraling shape was the same as always, and though it had always been relatively thick when compared to normal horns, it now bore strange symbols.
“Oh, this? This is the way the ponies of the west mark their leader, which I happen to be nowadays,” Alexandrus answered and grunted.
Alexandrus noticed the way Celestia spoke was far more reserved than his. It had always been so, but this time, it was nearly impersonal. However, to his surprise, a strange smile passed on Celestia’s lips, and the next words were spoken more frankly, like a true friend.
“I see. You seem to have found yourself all sorts of adventures in the lands of far west, Alexandrus,” Celestia said. “I hope that everything went alright during the journey. Did you manage to drive away the last influences of Discord?”
Alexandrus sighed heavily, almost as if he was adjusting a burden that was still resting on his shoulders.
“Discord’s influence had spread far and wide. It took me nearly five years to clean out all the pockets of Chaos, and to re-establish the rules of Harmony. My powers have not been put to such a test since… well, you know what,” he said. “While I could have simply turned my back and returned here, it was my heart that stopped me. I could not leave the ponies of Marecedonia on their own. They needed a leader, somepony to show them a path to rebuilding their society when Discord was defeated. And as their leader, I have helped them to walk that path.”
“That is very commendable. At the same time I find it very easy to believe. It has always been in your nature,” Celestia said. “And I understand that these years must have not been easy for you personally either, which is why you have not been able to visit. Nevertheless, I am glad to see you again, my friend.”
Celestia brought her head downward to touch Alexandrus’ forehead with her own, and he returned the gesture. The two friends that endured through so many adventures together shared a connection that was deeper than words. Together with their four other companions, they had banded together to vanquish the evil that had nearly destroyed all creation. Even if Celestia had not spoken out her feelings, Alexandrus knew that she was glad to see him once more.
“It is not entirely because of my personal wishes that I visit you now, I am afraid,” Alexandrus spoke. “I am here for the future of the ponies of Marecedonia, and due to the promise I made during the celebration after the battle of Cammlope. You remember that promise, do you not, Celestia?”
“Of course I do. The banquet on the night after Discord’s defeat was grander than anything Equestria had seen. Then, it the middle of all the dancing and playing, you jumped on top of the table. From there, you declared that from that moment forward, you would be more honest with yourself,” Celestia said, laughing gently. Alexandrus grinned at her.
“Exactly! I promised I would never again constrict my spirit with something that I did not agree about. I wanted to live freely, as a stallion that understands and carries all his responsibilities, but never forcing himself to do anything he does not see as a right thing to do,” the prince proudly proclaimed. “And today, I’ve come to do something that relates to that. It is something that I promised myself a long ago. Alas, I was never able to fulfill that promise. Not until now.”
To his surprise, Alexandrus saw that Celestia was smiling. His little speech seemed to have both amused her and made her proud. Inciting emotions like that was one of the few skills of his that Aleandrus was proud of.
“Then what is it? What was this promise that you made for yourself, Alexandrus?” Celestia asked. It seemed that the Princess of the Sun was somewhat excited to hear his current goal.
“I’ve realized that I can no longer hide the truth, not after all that we have been through together,” Alexandrus spoke and took two steps towards Celestia. “My Princess, I want to you to finally understand my feelings. The feelings that I have been harboring for all these years, but have never had the courage to speak of. In other words, Tia…”
Alexandrus took a deep breath.
“…What I want to say is: I love you, Tia. From the moment we met, through all the battles we have fought, until the dawn of our victory! I have always watched your graceful form, both in the battlefield and during times of peace. And whether you were helping your subjects to rebuild their homes or engaged in the dance of death with the forces of Chaos, I have always admired you! Your pure heart, your brilliant smile, your incorruptible soul! You have always been the shining sun that I have raced towards, trying to reach it. And, now that I have finally caught up to you, I want to ask for your hoof in marriage, uniting Equestria and Marecedonia!”
Lightning struck the courtyard at that very moment.
Celestia remained quiet, not answering the Alexandrus’ proposal. The stallion saw that something strange moved in the eyes of the alicorn, something that he could not recognize. Was it shock? Melancholy? No, Alexandrus could not decipher the myriad of emotions that he saw on the face of his subject of admiration. There was only one he understood, for it shone from the depths of Celestia’s eyes with a painful light. It was disgust.
Eventually, Celestia’s expression turned into that of rejection. There was odd sorrow mixed into it, something like pained understanding. Confusion made way to determination, and suddenly Alexandrus found himself staring at somepony who he did not recognize. Somepony who was becoming something far more than the mare he had fallen in love with. Celestia seemed like a stranger to the stallion. A stranger looking fondly back at a memory of simpler times, denying the future that he suggested.
In other words, the mere idea disturbed her.
“I am… sorry, Alexandrus,” Celestia finally forced herself to speak. “I should have suspected that your feelings might outgrow the friendship that we have. Unfortunately, those feelings are not something I can return. Alexandrus, I see you as my friend, as a brother, even. But not… not in the way you hope me to. I am sorry. I am so sorry.”
Only thrice before had Celestia seen her friend unable to immediately recover from an emotional shock. The young prince had always been one to act first and think later, and he was never burdened with anything akin to regret. Thus, even if the world threw its worst at his face, Alexandrus never faltered, never backing down. He would sport that wild grin and charge forward, no matter what the obstacles.
But now, he simply remained there, unable to do anything else but to stare at the white alicorn in front of him.
“B-But Tia, I—“
“No, Alexandrus. I will not reconsider. I am sorry, but that is just how things are. You know that I would never, ever break our friendship, but that friendship is also where I will draw the line.” Celestia’s words were now a little more harsh. “You must understand and respect that.”
A pained expression rose to the stallion’s face and he turned around, his frowning eyes now reflecting the fire that brought light into the room. The flames inside of his heart were now bellowing out of control. The stoic pose he tried to adapt was just a ruse to calm down his raging heart. Never in his life had he been denied so coldly and so bluntly. If it was war, he had always found a way to negotiate the terms of victory and surrender. But now…
“Tia, what I want to say is that―“
“Yes, I know. The said marriage would also strengthen the ponies of both countries. But again, while I am ready to do my very best for the sake of Equestria, I am also an individual. That can never be changed,” Celestia said, and now her tone was becoming strict. “I know very well that they call you The Conqueror Prince, Alexandrus, but there are things that you cannot overcome no matter how hard you try. And this is one of them.”
What followed was a silence only broken by the howling wind. Alexandrus refused to meet the eyes of Celestia, opting to stare straight into the fire instead. Alexandrus was sure that just like always, the Princess must have wanted to make him see things her way. There was something pleading in the silence, as if she was reaching towards his back. But right now, that sign of friendship only served to irritate him further.
In the mind of the Prince of Wild Conquest, there was only confusion and brewing anger. He who had waited for so long, he who had stood by Celestia all those years simply for the sake of the Princess, was now, at the brink of peace, rejected? Had it all been for naught? Had he really been such a fool, thinking that the Princess could ever love him? The stallion’s teeth grinded together as he tried to keep the words he would regret inside of him.
Moments passed before Alexandrus finally spoke again.
“I understand, Princess Celestia.”
It was a cold voice, nothing like the vibrant tone that the stallion usually used. Celestia flinched as he addressed her with her formal title. With four simple words, Alexandrus had built a sturdy wall of dark steel between the two. Any sort of happiness that might have come from this supposedly joyous reunion, was lost from that moment forward. And in his mind, he felt strange satisfaction to strike back like this..
“Then I shall leave you be, Alexandrus,” Celestia spoke and took a few steps back. “I am sure the journey to Canterlot has been exhausting. And Luna would very much like to speak with you, too.”
The Princess of the Sun retreated while still holding her gaze at the stallion, but Alexandrus refused to turn around. His eyes were locked onto the dance of flames, reflecting the blaze within the darkness. Giving one hushed sigh, Celestia turned around and walked over to the door. She stopped for one last time before exiting the room, glancing at her friend.
But what her eyes met was, still, just the turned, distant back of her friend refusing her help.
“Goodbye, Alexandrus,” Celestia whispered.
And with that, the Princess of Canterlot exited the chamber. She managed ten whole steps before she collapsed against the cold wall of the castle. The smooth, cool surface felt like a relief from a terribly duty. Celestia could scarcely believe what had happened in the short time she had been in the chamber. The return of her friend, how he had changed and finally, a proposal? She had never been prepared for that.
Slowly, Celestia pushed herself up. She needed to seek for her sister. While she was younger than her, she had always known how to bring a smile to Alexandrus’ face. And now, more than ever, she was needed. Composing herself once more, Celestia headed towards her sister’s chambers, praying that she was still there.
In the royal visitors’ chamber, it seemed as if the blackness of the night had swallowed up the whole room. The only one left inside was the stallion with dark thoughts in his mind. His eyes moved from the flames to the storm raging outside. And just as the thunder and lightning ravaged the sky and earth on the other side of the window, so did boiling hatred draw cracks inside of Alexandrus’ mind.
This was the beginning of the tragic event that led to the separation of the Elements of Harmony, and eventual banishment of Princess Luna. Many centuries would come to pass, and these stories would turn into legends. They would finally fade from the memory of the ponies of Equestria, becoming simply myths from ancient times.
And it would take more than thousand years before Equestria would hear from the mysterious kingdom of Marecedonia again.