//------------------------------//
// The Tale of the Long-Legged Mare 
// Story: Her Eyes Reflect The Stars 
// by Lynwood 
//------------------------------//

Once upon a time, long before Equestria, before the Princesses, even before the hearth's warming, there was a queen who ruled over a small kingdom of ponies. She was graceful and kind, and had long, slender, beautiful legs, and towered high over her subjects, whom she cared for greatly.

The Long-Legged Mare's kingdom was safe and prosperous. Crops grew so easily and plentifully that farmers merely had to cast their seeds upon the ground and they would bear fruit in a night and a day. Woodcutters had only to ask the trees to fall, and they would topple to the ground. Artists could touch their brush to their canvas and be filled with such inspiration as to create the most beautiful works the world had ever seen, and soldiers needed only to brandish their spears to drive their enemies away.

The Long-Legged Mare ruled from her palace built over a sacred spring, from which the waters of the kingdom's mighty River flowed. This River was none other than the River of Fate, and the Mare, who sat at its base, only had to dip her hoof into the River's mouth to guide the fate of her little ponies to their happiest, most wonderful lives.

However, there were some in the kingdom who desired more, who desired to dip their own hooves in the River and guide destiny for themselves. These wicked ponies gathered one fateful night and burst into the palace where the Long-Legged Mare slept. They slew the palace guards and made their treacherous way to the Long-Legged Mare's chambers, built around the spot where the sacred spring came forth from the World.

The wicked ponies sprang upon the mare and held her down. Then they took an iron from the Long-Legged Mare's own hearth and thrust it into the Long-Legged Mare's face, boiling out her eyes. This caused her such excruciating pain that she was filled with terrible strength. She threw off her attackers and stumbled to the pool where the River came forth, scooping water upon her ruined eyes.

The water of the River of Fate seeped into the Long-Legged Mare's wounds and changed her.

When the Long-Legged Mare stood and faced the wicked ponies, they were so terrified that they ran from the palace and fell to the ground, dead. Then the land shook, and a great chasm opened beneath the River and the palace, swallowing them into its depths. 

The kingdom soon withered and faded away, forgotten by nearly all.

Ever since then, the Long-Legged Mare has watched over the dreams of all beings from her palace buried deep under the ground. She does not rule dreams, no, as that is not her place. She merely observes the visions of those who are alone and those who suffer, watching and learning of their troubles and woes, and perhaps, if she deems them worthy, she dips the tip of her hoof into the River of Fate and gently, ever so gently, guides the pain out of their lives.

However, be wary, for her heart is still full of grief. If you ever spot her in your dreams,  pray she is not facing you, and if she is, look away and tell her that you are sorry, because even the slightest glimpse will bring forth her dark and endless rage. 

The End.