//------------------------------// // Decay // Story: Potential // by Crisslunarflame //------------------------------// Decay... After the limbs of a Great and Noble tree have been tainted, they will begin to rot the tree from the inside. Even if those limbs are removed completely, some of the mold and disease will remain, eventually dooming the tree's very existence... Slowly, but surely, this Great and Respected tree will begin to decay... ... Soon, life in the Country had returned to normal. Chrysalis and her army of minions had been banished, far, far away, and the remaining four Alicorns ruled as proudly as they ever had. For a time, the subjects led prosperous and joyful lives, frolicking in the warm, sun rays, and enjoying the gifts of the starry, romantic night. Giving blessings and thanks to their noble rulers, they made good use of their lives, given by Equesalis, and their ingenuity, given to them by Flamentia. Flamentia had been the Element of Generosity, as she generously gave the pony subjects the gift of Knowledge; to create and to sustain. Her most treasured gift to them was fire... the very same substance that made up her radiant mane... ... However, the subjects of the Alicorns could not hope for a prolonged existence of blissfulness. Eventually, that to would come to and end... ... The four remaining Alicorns tried their best, they really did. The simple fact was, that they were not suited to the two extra Elements in the way that their predecessors had been. Put simply, the Element of Laughter was made by and for Discuerdo, and the same for Chrysalis and the Element of Kindness. They were simply... welded to their beings, and although they were not deactivated, they would never again be used to their full Potential. So, although Kindness and Laughter were spread throughout the Country, other elements... Such as Despair and Cruelty were brought into being. One of the worst things about Despair, is that it changes ponies. It warps their very being, and gives them twisted, kniving, ideas. Some of these ideas were to use Elements against each other. ... Some of the ponies who had existed during the Reign of Discord had not been completely cleansed of his Despair. These ponies eventually used their intellect and intuition to create ideal... unfathomable abominations, with which to harm others. These feelings for ... desire to hurt... kill.., These cam from Cruelty... And, for a time, Cruelty seemed to rage between the subjects themselves. First, they used fire. They used it to awaken long slumbering Ursa Majors... They used it to burn down houses. Villages. They used it to kill. ... Distraught, Flamentia brought herself upon these despicable ponies, she tried to make them see reason, to make them take back these monstrous deeds. She pleaded, she did not understand why, why ponies would use her beloved inventions to harm one another. In scorn at her weakness, these ponies sneered, and disgraced her. The jeered, made fun of her, they offered her to join them, to become on of their association. In fury at the very notion, Flamentia called for her Royal Guard. In anger, she ordered that all of them be brought to the castle, and forever banished in the caverns beneath, with no hope of escape. Using her powerful flames and dark magic, she concocted an inescapable Prison of Mirrors, surrounded on all sides by flames... the very weapon created by herself, but utilized by these very ponies, and at last, to bring down their destruction. Those ponies were never heard from again. ... When Equesalis had heard of what her sister had planned, she forced her way into the caverns, in hope of saving any, at all, of her beloved subjects. Though they had become evil, she could not bring herself to harm or let any harm come to them. They... they were her sole creation. They were her being. Her Element. They had become her very soul. Arriving in the Prison, she realized that it had been to late. None of them were able to be saved... Their fate had long since passed. With the tears glinting in her eyes, Equesalis turned and flew, straight through the magical fire that Flamentia had created. Reaching the palace gardens, she collapsed, injured and poisoned, as she had not known what these flames could do to her. ... The flames had been enchanted. By Flamentia, they had been used as a weapon against those who had abused it... and she had enchanted them so there could be no escape. They were poison. They disabled the nervous system, and then attacked other important systems of existance. They shut down the bodies, one step at a time. There was no cure. ... When Luna, Celestia, and Flamentia found their sister later that day, she was lying in the gardens near the statue of Discord. Sobbing, she lay at his feet bubbling incoherently. In a panic, they rushed to her, in shock at the terrible burns on her body. Flamentia, realizing that this was her doing, raised her horn to try and quell Equesalis's pain. Jerking her head up, Equesalis rasped, "No! Sister, it is not thy place to restore mine honor!" Struggling for breath, she continued, "It was never my Destiny to lead the Country. This.. this... my time... it has come. It is the time for a new leadership, not one of my rule. It is the Destiny of you to rule the Land... Peacefully, as sisters should." She looked at Luna as she slowly slipped into unconsciousness. "Lun... Luna... It will be your duty to control the ponies... You... you are..are.. The Element of Loyalty... y-you will stay loyal to the subjects, forever..." In a sudden surge of strength, she pushed up, and seized Luna, gazing madly into her eyes. "Promise me! P-promise... me.. me... L-lune... prom-promise me..." She trailed off, as she then locked eyes with the others. "Cel...celestia... you need t...to stay strong... for me.... for Luna... Flamentia you need... to... promise... p-prom..." With these last few words, and a sudden gasp of agony, Princess Equesalis, the Firstborn of the six noble Alicorns, was no more. ... In sorrow, Flamentia did not stay even for the burial. She was... ashamed... Staying locked in her personal chamber, she never came out... never made any contact with other ponies. ... Not long after Equesalis's passing, the other two sisters found that Flamentia had left. She was nowhere to be found. ... Flamentia had left no remembrance of herself, but for her Element... The Element of Generosity. In shame, Luna and Celestia decided that it was best for the Elements to be locked away... someplace safe... undisturbed. They knew that Flamentia was in a state of Mourning... and they would all need time to recover. Eventually, life in their Country went back to a semi-normal... Knowledge of the other Alicorns as nothing but a myth. Flamentia would never return to her sisters. Luna and Celestia would never cease their search. ... Milannia later, Flamentia had yet to be seen. .... Eventually, a name was given to the governed country. In remembrance of their sister, Luna and Celestia called it "Equestria". Equesalis had fulfilled her Destiny. She had truly earned her Name, and it was then given to a word, a beloved word that would be used by everypony for generations to come, all in happiness. Equesalis had lived, and she had dies, and she had planted a seed of hope within every pony she ever met. Now, it is up to them to see if they grow into a tall, health tree. ... Author's note: Well, I'm not exactly sure how ell people will like this, but I do... so yeah. I think that this is a pretty good stopping point, sorry of it's a bit brief. I just think that it works better if it is brief and to-the-point. Next chapter will be out soon. ...