Long ago atop the world of Eques, the three pony tribes were birthed upon the land by the Great Creators.
The Pegasus Ponies, orchestrators of the arts and stewards of weather.
The Earth Ponies, forgers of stone and stewards of plant life.
The Unicorn Ponies, scribes of magic and rulers of the expanse.
Together, they maintained the order of their land, The Crown of Eques.
But one day, discontentment took root and resentment grew.
The Earth Ponies became selfish. Why should they sweat and toil every spring, summer, and fall. Every year. Only to give up third of their hard earned produce, too the Pegasi. Who do nought but sing and dance, all day long. And another third too the Unicorns. Who sit around playing with their magic, and reading their dusty old books.
The Pegasi Ponies became arrogant. For it was their blood and pain their race gave too fight off monsters and griffin raiders. To rearrange the clouds every day, and entertain the boorish Earth Ponies and snooty Unicorns.
And the Unicorns turned Haughty. Anything the Earth, or Pegasus ponies could do, a Unicorn's magic could do just as good, or better. The Pegasi's songs and dances were rife with crude and drab humer. The Earth ponies were dirty and smelly from the fields. And were ever they wondered, they always tracked filth and muck. Not caring for cleanliness and health of others.
So resentment continued to grow and fester. The three pony races came to hate the rolls they played for the good of their fellow Equines, and their hearts waxed cold.
Thru their hatred, the Windigos were born. Creatures of woe who fed on the scorn, and wove their icy magic into the winds, earth, and stone.
Despite the warm spring sun, the cold winds bit down hard on the fragile sprouts. The new crops withered and died despite all the skills the Earth ponies could muster. They grew furious at the Pegasi for not tending the skies. The Pegasi blamed the Unicorns for tainting the winds with troublesome magic, that thwarted their every attempt to wrangle the skies to their will. And the Unicorns starved.
Every new day of the year, compounded their resentment and hatred towards one another. So with every day, the snows piled higher and higher.
The Alicorn Goddess, High Empress of pony kind closed the book, and held it up to display it to her lone spectator.
"A Harthswarming tale." she said. Reading the title to the pony sitting at the table across from her. "Are you familiar with this story?"
The unicorn stallion, a veteran general with a tan coat and bright red mane and sideburns, lowered the teacup from his lips to regard the gilded tome. He wore a clean cut royal purple uniform. The stark white facings free of stains, every thread of gold trim in it's place, and every button polished to a near mirror finish, spoke of his regimental prowess.
"A Harthswarming tale" he answered in an even tone. Setting his cup on it's saucer before him with nery a clink. "Every foal from their first winter has heard that story your highness." He gave a polite smile as he turned his eyes to her. "I had never have guessed that you would call me away from my duties to celebrate Harthswarming. After all you are nearly ten months to early." She gave a polite chuckle at his quip
"No. Not at all my dear Hud." she said as she set the book squarely on the table between them. "It is not for the holiday for which I have called you here today. It is instead, the lesson held with in, I wish to address." He regards the book again, thinking on her words for a few seconds before replying.
"I am sorry your highness, but the book has been in print for over a thousand years. A revision of it now would be"
"The book is nothing." she cuts in flatly. "This Tale is more than words on a page. It contains a historical account of our ancestral origin. A saga of warning." she stats. Punctuating her words with taps of her hoof on the cover. The general quickly picks up on the seriousness of her words and takes another sip of his tea. Chewing over them carefully before answering.
"You believe Equestria is in danger of falling into disharmony?"
"Not imminently, no. But in a roundabout way, it is in danger." Taking up a scroll from her side, she passes it too him as she elaborates.
"I have received corespondents earlier this morning with disturbing news. The Prince's motographer has detected rising levels of unnatural thermal magic within the borders of the Crown." General Hud scans over the letter as she summarizes it's content.
"If my memory serves me right, the Crown is as of yet sparsely populated. Is it not still under Griffin rule? And what has the Prince have to do in all this" he asked
"Precisely what I thought when I received it. But then," she paused, and he caught a slight blush of shame as she floated out a forged iron tube with a security lock on it. "I remembered I had received this mid last year."
Undoing the lock, she slid out a strange looking scroll and passed it to him. Taking it in his magic, he inspected it carefully.
It was about three inches longer than the standard scroll. The parchment it was made from, was thicker than the usual equestrian paper. Almost twice the thickness of canvas cloth. The ribbon attached to the wax seal, was made from a fine weave of silver and gold wire. The seal, which had been broken, bore a griffin crest. Pictured there, was an image of a griffin. It's wings were outstretched with it's feathers pointing down. In it's right claw it held a scimitar, and in the left, a bundle of arrows.
Opening it, he beheld a flowing elegant script. The bottom of most letters ending in sharp swoops. It felt loose in his telekinesis, like cloth, but with a denser weight. The color was a motaled white, tapering to light brown at it's uneven edges.
"It's sheepskin, or goat. I'm not sure which." she told him. Noting his fascination with the material. Upon hearing her statement, he jerked his face away from it with a grimace.
"Um. I'm afraid I'm, ahem, not familiar with this script. what does it say?"
"Neither am I. But between my sister and my protosha, we have deciphered most of it. We believe it to be an ancient griffin tongue. Something to the effect of, "Rising of the equins from the make of ice and snow. Chill winds come with the beating of many hooves, to make war on the hearts of the ancients. Of unity, to build the pyres upon pinnacle of Crown."
"Well that's helpful." Hud said with a frown of confusion.
"Hum, Yes. I believe it's not important how the sentences are structured that's important. But the meaning behind them. Shall I demonstrate?" she asked, gesturing with her horn.
"Please do." Hud said, handing the scroll back to her telekinetic grip. Laying it out on top of the book in the center of the table. The Empress waves her horn across the words, causing them to glitter and sparkle to life. Hud watches in fascination as they shine up, projecting an ethereal three dimensional model of the Crown. A ring of mountain ranges, coming to peaks at the four corners. To the east of center, a mountain rises like a spire.
leaning in, he sees rendered in fine detail roads and rivers. Cities and hamlets. Then he sees a bright blue figure galloping in slow circles around the tall mountain in the center.
"Is this!?" he asks, looking up to her.
"A tracking spell? Yes. This scroll is a griffin technique to allow non unicorns to cast spells on demand. It is a different, yet somewhat similar way we use here in equestria to record spells. It was my sister who recognized the nature of it. Her memories of these ancient things are, hum," she paused to pick her words carefully. "fresher then mine."
"So then, this suggests the windigos are returning." his face gives a dour look as he regards the tiny equine galloping through the air.
"I believe so. Upon hearing this, I despatched the Prince to investigate." Hud cast a questioning look at her. "I know he is difficult to deal with on a personal level, but he has a talent to navigate the political and bureaucratic jungle in ways that even I can't fathom. Ever since he arrived, he has sent back reports of the political climate there." The general takes another sip of his tea as she floats out a bundle of scrolls.
"In these," she continues, indicating the bundle. "he informs me that a civil war has erupted in the land. A faction calling themselves stormwings, lead by a griffin named Balgriff, have started an open revolt against the established ruling class. This is believed to be the root of the rising resentment within the Crown."
"And this is were I come in?" Hud asked. As he poured himself another cup of tea.
"You are the sharpest sword in my armory." she answered with a nod. "I want you to take the army and end this revolt." she looked down at her cup and idly pushed the handle about with her hoof.
"As your premier military advisor, I must tell you that this move would be a mistake. The griffins are creatures of honor. An invasion force of that size would"
"In no way are you to present yourself in a conquering force." she cut in with a desperate look. "Go to the King, present yourself too him, and follow his commands as you would my own. If you are able to bolster his security, their kingdom will stabilize."
"If you are looking to bring harmony, then surely the Bearers of the elements,"
"No! I can't," she starts. Then takes a calming breath and continues. "She is too young to see the brutality of that land. She isn't ready yet."
"Then what about your sister?" he offered. "You yourself have said she is more familiar with the ancient traditions."
"My sister has only just returned. Her body has been healed, but I fear to send her away would prove too harsh a test for her scars. And my last student I fear is lost forever beyond the looking glass."
"Hm. The army is too big a force."
"General Hud. I feel that I must show a strong hoof. I need to demonstrate my concern for the outcome of this war." she said. Placing both of her hooves on the table to demonstrate her determination.
"And what of their duties they are currently dealing with? don't forget the minor insurrection that was resolved just a year ago. There's also the Empire's seal weakening. The changeling incision. Two regiments should suffice."
"I can't respond with anything less than seven." she retorted taking a sip at her tea. She stopped mid sip and added a cube of sugar.
"Three." he countered "Plus two squads of the new Buccaneers."
"Four." she hit back. Adding three more cubes to her tea. "Plus the entire Buccaneer regiment, and three contingents of Hussar Paladins." He watched with a frown as she continued to add sugar cubes.
"Four. One being the Buccaneers, and The Hussars." he finished with finality. Clapping his hoof down on the sugar jar. She stuck her bottom lip out in a pout.
"And three artillery crews?" she pleaded with a hopeful smile. He slid the sugar out of sight with a sigh.
"Your personal feelings about the royal beverage aside. No. It's too dangerous to carry them over the mountains."
"Use our airships then." she said crossing her forehooves. "I'm not budging on this. I'll have your second consolidate the rest of the army. You trust him don't you?" he thought for a few seconds, rubbing his chin. Then smiled an nodded in consent.
"It will take me a day to read over these, and requisition supplies." he said as he floated over the bundle of reports. "But I believe that I'll be able to leave before the end of the week."
Standing, he gave a bow and asked "By your leave your highness?" she answered him with a nod.
"Take this with you. You may need it." she said, rolling up the griffin scroll and slipping it back into it's canister. "It may prove useful." Taking it, he trots to the door. Turns and bows one last time before exiting the room.
Turning her attention back to the melting mound of tea-soked sugar, she pokes at it idly with her spoon. Taking a scoop, she pops it into her mouth and chews for a few seconds. Frowning, she jabs the spoon upright into the mound and pushes it away with her hoof.
looking out the window, her horn sparkles to light. The teapot grows hot and the room fills with a floral smell. Steam blows out of the spout as the tea boils away. Reducing to a brown stain, the pot is left to be mourned over by none. Save for the maid sent to retrieve the teaset.