//------------------------------// // Chapter 19: Myth and Magic // Story: The Tale of Two Sisters // by Underwood //------------------------------// No matter how experienced one is with traversing a swamp, the mosquitoes still bite the same. As the group ducked and weaved their way through the muggy jungle, the ponies’ formation naturally shifted, with Sweet Blossom and Rootin’ Tootin’ falling to the back, while Princess Luna found herself at the head with Meadow Flower. Despite remaining attentive to obscured skittering noises and careful hoof placement, conversation inevitably cropped up between the paired ponies, which lead to more intimate conversations than experienced by the trio on the way here. “Have you travelled far, Petite Bleue?” Meadow Flower asked, breaking her long silence since the stallion’s arrival. “Oh, me?” Luna stumbled, surprised by the sudden address. “Quite far, I suppose, yes.” “Sweet Blossom mentioned you comin’ through the Southern Hills on your way here, which last time I checked was the opposite direction from Canterlot—though you can’t be certain of anything these days, maudit ce bétaille. Sounds like you’ve been away from home for quite some time.” “Canterlot isn’t our home, not really. To be honest, I don’t remember it at all. My sister and I were smuggled out a long time ago, back when Discord attacked. Though for you-” She stopped herself, wondering just how much of their time-altering shenanigans she should reveal, or could even explain, for that matter. “We grew up in a small seaside town called South Sea Post, sort of. Like I said-” “Long story,” Meadow Flower finished for her with a smirk, before shaking her head in disbelief. “To think our world is so small after all.” “What do you mean?” Luna half-grunted as she was forced to take a high step over an exposed root. “South Sea Post is where I called home for many years, too. Raised ma petite fille there, before she moved back to the bayou ahead of me, back before Discord attacked. To think he would come to such a sleepy little village…” She pondered for a moment, connecting mental dots. “Tonibas! Were you the reason he came to the village? You must have arrived when I left with that kind gentlecolt almost to the day!” “‘Gentlecolt’?” she asked, both genuinely curious and trying to avoid digging herself into a deeper hole than she already had with this subject. Meadow smiled, thinking back to the stallion who had entered her life out of nowhere and somehow convinced her to return to her daughter in Haysead Swamp within days of meeting. “We both have our stories, ‘seems. There were many bizarre happenin’s in my last days at South Sea… Perhaps I should not even be surprised that Princesses were one of them.” Luna laughed uncomfortably, hoping the topic had passed. As they continued on, a hazy memory drifted into Meadow Flower’s mind, obscured in all but feeling. Glancing back as they traversed the swamp path, she felt a strange tug as she caught a glimpse of Celestia’s pale coat and pastel-pink hair. She looked forward again, noting a similar feeling about Luna’s pale purple coat and dusty blue mane, as if seeing her in a different light, though she couldn’t put her hoof on it. She shook the feeling off, chalking it up to her ageing mind, and returned her attention to the path ahead, changing the topic. “If I may be so bold, what is it like being an alicorn?” The blunt question caught Luna off guard, not only by candour, but the existential realisation it posed. She had spent so many years of her life training to become an alicorn, seeing it as her only real goal in life—besides defeating Discord, of course—that she had never really considered what it meant for her to finally be one. She had celebrated when it happened, of course, taking her time to appreciate her new wings, and even flying them out of that pit… But what did it really mean to her? What did it mean to be her now? It felt strange to acknowledge, but… she was technically another race now, right? A different species? She had always felt the pressure of being a ‘chosen one’, to put it like they do in storybooks, but now she truly was different to everypony else... No longer a unicorn, more than a pegasus… Was she even still ‘Luna’ any more? “Pardon, I did not mean to insult you. It was nothing more than an idle thought,” Meadow apologised, having read the awkward silence. “Oh, uh, no, it’s not... I just don’t know, really, to be honest. I don’t- I mean, I do feel different, having wings now-” She looked back at her own body, spreading the feathers she was suddenly very aware of. “I don’t really know how to put it into words.” She looked up, remembering that her horn was still hidden behind a now unnecessary enchantment and released it. “Of course, how silly of me to ask. How do any of us feel being the way we are? I could no more tell you what it feels like being old compared to when I was your age. We are ourselves, non? No more, no less.” “Well, I wasn’t always an alicorn—it only happened recently, actually; like, a week ago.” “Mon bleue! Such things just ‘happen’? I had no idea one became an alicorn. Est-ce une sorte de… ‘princess’ thing? Or should I say, ‘royal blood’?” “It’s a long-” She stopped, chuckling at her own repetition. Pushing a branch aside, she thought back to one of the many days of preparation their mentor had put them though. “Starswirl told us that anypony can ‘become more than they are’ by ‘facing hardships with a pure heart’, or something like that, so I don’t think it’s just a ‘princess thing’. All I know is that for me… it just happened.” “And did you face hardships, Petite Bleue? Have not we all?” There was a hint of bitterness to her question, though it wasn’t aimed directly at Luna. “I suppose so, but nothing other ponies haven’t faced before. I don’t know what makes me special, it’s not something I ever asked for… I would give anything for every pony in Equestria that has suffered to gain these powers, so we could all stand up for ourselves against Discord… But for now, it’s just me and my sister.” “Excusez-moi, I did not mean it as an accusation.” Meadow Flower took a deep breath and thought deeply about why she was acting this way. Was it a sense of weakness—that if she’d had the strength to defend her daughter, perhaps things would have gone differently? The thought that anypony could become an alicorn if only they suffered enough was enough to turn her stomach. Was her suffering not valid? Had she lived in pain for so long for nothing? Shaking the intrusive thoughts from her mind, she called back to Celestia in an attempt to focus on the present. “And what of you, Grande Blanche? When do you get your wings?” Celestia sneered at the back of Meadow’s head while holding aside some low-hanging vines. If it was supposed to be a joke, it was not funny. “I'm waiting for the right moment.” Meadow Flower’s lip curled in amusement, already understanding the tension between the two sisters. “By the way,” Luna began, choosing to leave the last topic far behind. “You mentioned that you go to Silent Pines to gather herbs. What herbs are important enough to travel so far for?” “Oh, this an’ that. All flora is unique to its environment; the same ingredient can differ in its effect or taste dependin’ on when and where you pick it. Unicorn scientists would have you believe that everything is definable, that success relies in knowing the minutia ahead of time, but I find the uncertainty of alchemy liberatin’. There’s a pride that comes with making somethin’ work with your own four hooves, non?” “Alchemy? I thought you were an apothecary?” “Ç'est kif-kif. One day you’re brewin’ tea, another you’re distillin’ tinctures. I am different things to different ponies, mon amie. ‘Selon le temps’, as they say. This is why they call my Meadowbrook ‘Mage’, you know?” Luna shook her head. “Honestly, a filly your age not knowing the Mage Meadowbrook? I thought she inspired all mares your age, at least ‘round these parts.” “Sorry, we were… petrified, for quite some time.” “Mon bleu, for how long?” “You said it yourself-” Luna’s voice became dry and her eyes glazed over. “Ever since Discord attacked South Sea Post...” “But that was… Zut alors. You were in stone for twenty-nine years?” Luna’s silence spoke volumes as she recalled those final moments, readying to fight Discord with Starswirl by their side—the last time they would ever see him. “Then you wouldn’t know, would you… About her, or the pillars, or Starswirl… I’m sorry.” The alicorn remained silent as she brushed past a large fern. “Long before my time, ponies ‘round these parts used to call my kind ‘sourciers’, on account of us usin’ nature’s source for our cures,” Meadow Flower continued, hoping to redirect the filly’s attention. “Maybe some saw our ways as magic, which is how the name spread to unicorns, but things came full-circle when ponies saw my Meadowbrook work her ‘magic’ on those in need, pony and critter alike. She had a remedy for everythin’; things even I ain’t seen before,” she chuckled dryly. “Ain’t no magic in it, just a lifetime of study and practice, but I guess that can seem magical to those who don’t know, just like them old days. That’s how she came to the title of ‘Mage’. “Her mask became somethin’ of a symbol,” she continued, talking faster as she tried to keep pace with the quickening steps of the filly ahead of her. “It’s too bad we left so quickly; many have asked to see her mask, but I keep it safe. I would have liked to introduce you, though. Masks were a big part of our culture long ago, said to hold the spirits of their owners. I’ve tried to keep the practice alive, but I fear that one day ponies will see my masks and those of our ancestors and not know their significance. They say you die twice, you know: once in body, and again the last time your name is said with meanin’- And please, mon amie, slow down,” she gasped, slowing to a stop before hunching over. Not realising she had become so focused on walking, Luna turned back to check on Meadow Flower. It seemed they had pushed a fair way ahead of the others, too, so a break was for the best. “Bien,” Meadow panted, putting her hoof on the alicorn’s shoulder. “Regarder, I have somethin’ that may interest you.” Catching her breath, she straightened herself and opened her saddlebag, pulling out a thick and well-worn tome, on the front of which was a mouthdrawn snowdrop. Holding the book in her knee, she flicked through its browning pages, past many inserts and hoofwritten notes, before stopping on an illustration of a thick-stemmed white flower, with a bulbous, drooping head. “This, vous voyez, is known as Basilisk's Tear. Though I have never had need to brew it myself, it is said that squeezin’ the ever-closed petals releases a single drop of potent depetrification elixir from its pistil, no reagents needed! It’s like a potion from nature itself; c'est incroyable. One of only a hoofful of flowers to ever behave in such a way.” “That’s incredible.” Luna studied the image closely, taking in every detail on the page. “Oui, and the best part?” “It’s in Silent Pines?” “Exactement!I thought it just propaganda from his followers, but if that beast is truly petrifying those who would stand against him, this little flower could be invaluable on your journey.” “This is fantastic, thank you!” Luna’s eyes glittered, her sour mood already forgotten. “Of course that depends entirely on whether his magic behaves in the same way as magic we know… But it can’t hurt, non?” “Wait, what’s this part?” Luna pointed to a note written entirely in the bayou’s language next to a roughly drawn image of a cockatrice. “Oh, that, well-” She cleared her throat. “The reason they don’t grow in these parts is because this unique mutation is thought to only occur when the flower is fertilised by cockatrice droppings. As such…” Luna looked Meadow Flower in the eyes, not wanting to finish her sentence. “Cockatrice sightin’s are rare, mon amie. As long as you get a sample first and keep an eye out, you should be fine,” she attempted to reassure the filly, though the fact of the matter was that she had never recovered a sample herself because it simply wasn’t worth the risk. “Just don’t look look them in the eyes, n'est-ce pas?” “I’ll keep that in mind, thanks.” As Luna answered, Celestia appeared from behind a fern leaf, looking relieved to have finally caught up. “Can you perhaps not run off on your own? You’re the only one who knows their way through this blasted muck,” she snapped. “Désolé, it shan’t happen again,” Meadow apologised, tucking away her precious book before taking the lead once more, leaving Luna to walk beside her sister. “What was that about?” Celestia asked. “Nothing important, but there’s a flower we should look out for when we reach the forest…” The remainder of the swamp trek played out in relative silence, finally broken when their guide spotted the golden glow of sand between the trees. If for no better reason than the view itself, the party emerged from the wooded shade to stare out across the sea of hazy yellow before them. Just like the first time they had seen it, the heat and glare generated by the desert sand despite the twilight sky above them took the sisters by surprise, forcing the less experienced ponies to shield their eyes. “Nous voilà,” the lilac pony announced, taking a deep breath of much fresher air than she was used to, akin to a swig of pure spring water. “We can remain beneath the canopy as we travel north. It may be slower than the path, but more comfortable. Your hooves will thank you.” Without caring for the view, Rootin’ Tootin’ immediately began walking north, the path clear this time, soon followed by Meadow Flower and Celestia, leaving Luna and Sweet Blossom at the back of the pack. As the two took long strides over the unkempt outer-jungle grass, it didn’t take long for the blonde terran to strike up conversation. “Y’know, until Ah met you, Ah never dreamed I’d get to visit this swamp, much less Central Equestria! Well, Ah dreamed, of course, but never thought it’d actually happen.” “I’m sorry you didn’t get to spend much time in Haysead, we thought your uncle would show you around and take you home himself,” Luna apologised. “It’s okay, Ah was prepared to go home alone anyway, but then one thing lead to another and now this adventure’s become even more excitin’ than I could’a hoped!” Luna smiled weakly, feeling that this mare’s presence was both a liability and unavoidable. As lovely as she was, Luna didn’t want this sweet mare to be put in harm’s way, and that’s exactly where they were going, but she also felt like she wouldn’t take no for an answer. “Ah was losin’ mah mind, spendin’ every day of mah life between those rocks; cookin’, cleanin’, minin’—there’s only so much a pony can take! But then you two came along and gave me an out, if only for a short while, and- and Ah just wanted to thank you, Pretty Blue.” “I’m sorry, what?” Luna blinked with a confused laugh. “Pretty Blue… Ain’t that yer name? That’s what Meadow Flower called ya’.” She blinked again before snorting into laughter, leaving the terran confused. “No, that’s not my name, I honestly don’t know why she calls me that.” As her amusement faded, retroactive social anxiety set in. “Did I never introduce myself? We’ve been together for days!” Sweet Blossom shook her head with a smile. “Why didn’t you ask?!” “Seemed rude to, Ah suppose. Figured it’d come up sooner or later—that’s how Ah learned Celestia’s name—plus what with y’all being Princesses and such.” Luna groaned, having to stop just to cover her face in embarrassment. Of all the social faux pas listed in ‘A History of Royal Etiquette’, not introducing oneself was top of the list, short of poisoning the cucumber sandwiches. She began walking again once the flush had faded from her cheeks. “I am so sorry. My name is Luna, and Celestia is my big sister, of course. I- I’m so unused to meeting new ponies, it never even occurred to me, despite literally reading the book on it. I didn’t even introduce myself to Meadow Flower until she asked, and then she went on to call me another name anyway. I’m so bad at this—I’m really sorry.” “Ain’t nothing to fret about, Luna! Don’t worry yourself none. Oh, uh-” Sweet Blossom stopped in her tracks and bowed deeply, immediately flustering the smokey-blue alicorn. “W-What are you doing?! Get up, please!” she hissed, not wishing the others to see the embarrassing display. “Just felt right, Ah guess, this bein’ our formal introduction and all, Princess Luna,” she beamed as she stood up. “Such a pretty name, too! And hay, in the stories granny used to tell me, princesses always had somepony else to introduce them anyway, so don’t worry ‘bout forgettin’.” She wasn’t entirely wrong; it was the Master of Ceremonies’ job to introduce guests as they arrived, though that didn’t extend to the host—but that was neither here nor there right now. The two resumed trotting, quickly catching up to the unaware ponies ahead. “A princess should be the epitome of decorum and a shining example to all others,” Luna quoted from the book as she straightened her posture. “I need to think more about my image, especially when I introduce myself to new ponies. Even if we are not on the throne yet, I must never stop being an example to everypony; that is my Royal Duty.” “Sounds like an awful lot a’ pressure to put on yerself, Princess. Yer too young t’ be worryin’ ‘bout that kinda stuff.” “I do not have time to be ‘young’,” she snapped, suddenly acutely aware of her responsibilities. “The fate of the entire world rests on my sister andmy backs. We have no reinforcements or safeguards, it is just us… Just us.” She trailed off, brought back to thoughts of Starswirl as her head lowered. “Ah’m sorry, Princess, Ah know you’ve got a lot you gotta deal with… Guess that’s why ya sister’s so grouchy, too. There’s an awful lot ridin’ on yer success, huh? Ah can’t even begin to imagine what that must be like. The biggest responsibility I’ve ever had is cookin’ the food on time.” “Celestia’s always been moody, but since she heard about Unc- Uh,Starswirl, she’s been unreasonably mean, especially to you.” She sighed. “I’m sorry, you don’t deserve it, and I’m sure it’s not because she doesn’t like you…probably. Don’t take it personally.” “Ah don’t; don’t you worry ‘bout me, Princess, Ah’ve stayed cheery through worse. Some ponies can get real nasty passin’ through Old Mac, ‘specially after we started taxin’ them.” “You don’t have to call me ‘Princess’, you know. Just Luna is fine,” she smiled. “Well then, ‘Just Luna’,” she grinned cheesily, “you can call me Sweet, or Blossom, or Sweet Blossom, or Sweet Pea, though only Uncle Rootin’ calls me that.” Luna giggled as the pair continued north through the shaded grass next to the dirt path. Meanwhile, Celestia had been telling Meadow Flower her life story, having just explained their isolated lives within the time-bubble, with no regard to what might be considered confidential. “I had no idea that was even possible,” Meadow Flower exclaimed, shaking her head in disbelief. “To spend that much time living together—trapped together... He truly was like a father to you, non? Had I known you were that close, I would not have been so brash earlier.” “He was our uncle, but not by blood. I guess you could say he filled that role in our lives growing up, though it felt more like exactly what it was: being imprisoned with your tutor.” She would never openly admit to enjoying the non-stop studying, of course, especially considering the freedom it cost them. “Our real father passed our care on to him before Canterlot fell, though neither of them could have known it would come to this. It’s not like I have any fond memories of him, either...” “Nopony could predict this madness, mon amie. Such is the nature of that chaotic bétaille, taking what it pleases with no rhyme, reason, or mercy.” “I resented Starswirl for taking all those years of our lives, studying every single day just to fail…” She told herself aloud, grimacing, though really it was herself she blamed for their loss to Discord, and by extension Starswirl’s end. “But hearing that he had… passed… I’m still struggling to process it.” “I know that feeling well, chérie. It has been twenty-nine lunes now, and there still ain’t one day I don’t think about her—ma bébé. All those years you spent resenting your uncle for being over-protective, I spent resenting myself for being too passive, for lettin’ her away. Somewhere between those two must be what a normal family is like,” she chuckled dryly. “When it comes down to it, was he any less of a parent than I was? Perhaps it is I that did not rise to the role of mother.” “I don’t think that’s true. If you weren’t a good mother, you wouldn’t still be blaming yourself for your mistakes.” Meadow Flower nodded in reflection with a huff and a wry smile. “You and your sister really are somethin’ different, Grande Blanche. I never gave much care to the royalty up north—it felt like a world away to us in the swamp—but if the King and Queen were anythin’ like you two, I’m startin’ to see what everypony else saw in them.” Celestia gave a crooked smile to the bittersweet compliment. There weren’t many ponies who could understand what it was like for strangers to know your parents better than you did, let alone not being able to confirm or deny anything about them. The only memory she had of her mother was a warm feeling and a kind smile, and nothing less than the opposite of her father, but who’s to say that’s really how they were? The scraps of memories she had of them was nothing compared to the lives they must have led before she was born… Perhaps once they had discovered the fate of Starswirl, she might look into the history of their parents and the kinds of ponies they truly were. “Some ponies can move on, some can chalk it up to experience, while others simply blank it from their minds,” Meadow Flower continued. “But there are a few, like you and I, I feel, that choose the suffering; to remember. We seek to atone for our mistakes when it’s already too late to make amends. In our suffering we honour them, and do better by the world in their memory. Am I wrong?” The Princess frowned, thinking back to the last few weeks. Was that really what she was doing? “I blame myself for losing to Discord. I’m the older sister, the prodigy, the one that aced every test… I trained almost every day of my life for that moment, and I failed miserably. I stood no more of a chance against him than the helpless filly I was back at the palace. I failed Luna, I failed Starswirl, and I failed all of Equestria. How many have suffered because I was too weak to stop him that day in the desert?” Meadow Flower remained silent. “My mother, my father, Starswirl, all the ponies that gave their lives protecting us—your daughter—How can I possibly live up to their expectations? Honour their memories?” She lowered her voice further. “Sometimes I wonder… Maybe I could bring them back, if I became an alicon. They lost their lives so meaninglessly, and maybe together we-” “Stop right there, ma chère,” the terran commanded, though retaining her measured voice. “There are few things truly wrong in this world, but interferin' with the Carousel a' Life is just about the worst thing imaginable. We may not like the cards fate has dealt us, but if this is the natural order of things, then that’s how it be. What is gone is gone. Gone. Treasure the things you have while you have them, then treasure your memories of them after.” Her voice softened as she reminded herself that she was talking to a hurting child. “We’ve all had these thoughts in our darkest hours. ‘What if-?’… It’s okay to wish things were different—would that it were that way—but you’re a powerful unicorn, one day an alicorn, and you might just have the means with which to make a terrible, terrible mistake. I know it hurts, believe me, I do, but life is the one thing in this world that must never be tampered with. Ain’t nothin’ natural that can come back from the other side, you remember that.” She looked the princess in the eyes as they walked, though they had glazed over as she sullenly dragged her hooves, deep in dark thought. “We have a sayin’ on the bayou: ‘Que sera, sera’—‘What will be, will be.’ Don’t matter how strong, wise, or rich you are; your fate will always find you. It may not be fair who or what we lose, ma chère, but because of it we will fight harder an’ live smarter. There was meanin’ to their lives so as long as we live ours in their memory.” Meadow Flower looked up at the orange and blue sky peeking through the canopy. Perhaps if somepony had said those words to her so many years ago, she might not have lived such a pitiable life full of regret and time lost. Perhaps this was her fate, to pass this knowledge on to the younger generation—the saviours of Equestria, no less—so that they might live better and fuller lives. Either way, the Carousel of Life continues to turn, so she needed to start enjoying the ride while it lasts. With the apothecary’s words echoing in her mind, Celestia could not help but think back to the days she had spent trapped inside the South Sea Post house, living a simple life with Luna and Starswirl that had almost become nostalgic in the few short weeks since leaving. As much as she resented the cage they had been locked in, it would be wrong to say that calm and enjoyable days weren’t had there, with one such day coming to the forefront of her mind… South Sea Port, Day 2,148 “As loathed as I am to speak such fictitious drivel aloud, it behooves any member of high society to at least be aware of all subjects that may arise in conversation,” Starswirl announced with unveiled resentment. “As such, thanks to Celestia's discovery yesterday, and Luna's incessant pleading, today's lesson shall be read from this copy of ‘The Collected Works of Equestrian Mythology’, compiled and foreword by one ‘Astro Divinatio’.” Starswirl sighed, turning his nose up at what he considered barely fit for publishing, let alone touted as ‘historical’ and taught in class. While the original texts were likely written in Old Ponish, this anthology had been translated to Equestrian Ponish for the laypony, adding a further layer to its inaccuracies and hogwash. That said, a brain cannot absorb information efficiently without breaks, so he would write this day off for whatever entertainment value this book had in the eyes of these fillies. A young Luna clapped her hooves excitedly at finally breaking his will, while Celestia remained reservedly attentive, not wishing let on how curious she was at the book’s contents. Both princesses were sat comfortably on the wooden flooring between the kitchen and sunken lounge as Starswirl perched on a stool in front of them, out of deniable ways to delay this any further. “Then let us begin, if I must.” He opened the book with his magic as it rested on his hooves, flicking through the lengthy introduction and to the first chapter. “‘The Elements of the Universe’ by Solar Sails,” he sneered, lowering his voice. “This should be good.” “The universe began as eight elements in their rawest of undefined forms, classically named ‘heavens’,” he read aloud, “each separate yet devoid of definition, existing as mere concepts within the ether of nil. Untold millennia passed this way, with the void around them infinite and stagnant, until a glimmer of sentience suddenly twinkled into being within the eighth and youngest element's primordial essence, giving it the seed of an idea. This first sentient element was something that could only be described as the embodiment of chaos-” Starswirl paused, taken aback by what he had just said. He thought the purpose of fiction was to escape reality. They couldn’t possibly be referencing Discord, of course, as this book was decades older than his accidental summoning from Elysium knows were. An unfortunate coincidence to their contemporary issues, nothing more. He cleared his throat and continued. “-the embodiment of chaos, and despite the ageless raging of its non-euclidean form, the universe outside itself was undisturbed—tranquil. With this singular idea of existence filling its amorphic mind, the essence of chaos did what no other thing in the universe had done before: it reached out. No longer content to exist writhing in its own singular bubble of existence, chaos seeped out into the vast expanse of nothingness that was everything, seeking to disrupt the order of the null universe, and thus creating it.” Starswirl paused to rub his forehead, wondering just what he had gotten himself into. “Where first there was nothing, now order existed: a mirror of relativity to the encroaching chaos, and the ninth and newest element. Order's existence brought with it duality, and the universe, once but a void, now filled with form. This form was shapeless to begin with, but like a magnetic cascade of universal proportions, the other elements began to seep from their dormant states, bringing with them life as we know it. “First was the element of earth, plains, and mountains, giving physicality to this new form. This eldest and most expansive of elements is now called Mundus; the ground on which we walk. “Second was the element of fire and sky; formless yet undeniable. It bore a beating heart to the cold stone that came before it, wrapping it in a blanket of soft air to separate it from the cold beyond. This second-eldest element was given the name Tös; the giver of breath and smell.” Starswirl looked up sternly, locking eyes with the foals. “I cannot stress enough just how unsubstantiated these allegedly historical claims are. This is not peer-reviewed research and should be seen as creation-mythology at best. It is not be taken seriously.” “Boo! Quit th’topping and read!” Luna hollered through her missing tooth before pouting. The ex-Court Wizard grumbled to himself, acquiescing to the demand despite his aspersions. Remember, it’s just fiction; for entertainment purposes only. Elysium help him. “Third was the element of sea and solitude, soaking the mountaintops and crevasses of the land to give the world depth and island sanctuaries. This third eldest element was named VVuetnus; quencher of thirst and tears of life. “Fourth was the element of jungle and bounty, soaking up the moisture and heat of those before it to birth verdant nature upon the barren rock. The middle-child, this element was named Thyst; bringer of life and provider of food. “The next two were lesser elements, like the paired sides of a coin. The fifth element of hoar and discontent, Fris, and the sixth element of sand and heat, Satyr. Together they bathed the land in fire and ice, manipulating those before it to paint a glorious picture across the dull emerald landscape. From frigid peaks to arid deserts, their fingers reached deep into the rock to bedazzle its barren core with colourful gems. They are known as the painters of riches, without whom life would be ascetic and otiose.” “Uncle Starshwirl?” Luna interrupted. “Yes?” “What doth oaty-outh mean? And athetic. And th’ome other word’th before that.” He sighed. With the archaic wording of this worthless relic, it wasn’t even suitable for foals, thus losing its only possible redeeming function. “Otiose means… dull, meaningless. Ascetic means drab—plain. Honestly, just try to follow the story between the words you don’t know. Unless… you’d rather this be a Ponish lesson? I can certainly-” “NO! No, ju’tht read it, please.” Luna grinned, hoping she had dodged accidentally asking her way into more work. Celestia smiled wryly as he sighed again. “Very well. Where was I… Ah, yes. “The seventh element was perhaps the most important of all: the essence of progress and rebirth. With its touch came the beginning of all things, spilling forth the tide of time that we all are swept by, conceiving of the very notion of life and death upon our patterned world. The youngest of the core elements, it came to be called S’hndüm; the beginning and the end.” “But do not forget of the spark of madness that began this existence we call life, waking the slumbering alls to bestow these gifts upon the nothing. The final two elements, known only in spirit: Order and Chaos. Ephemeral concepts, Order embodies the solidity of the world we exist on and anchors cause and effect, while Chaos embodies intangible aspects of our lives, such as creativity and fortune. Mere specks compared to their elder heavens, they had no sway over this newly formed world, but would grow in power and consequence as it, too, did. “Combined, these nine elements formed every star in the sky, along with the earth that you tread beneath your hooves: Terra, a name that has existed beyond all record. We grant her the title of mother, as she has birthed us just as the heavens birthed her. “A thousand score moons passed from the genesis of this planet, and with this new existential plane of universe so too did the elements take their own forms, with which to exist among the reality that their presence had created. Each heaven became a mighty beast that stood as tall as a mountain, piercing the sky with their crowns and flattening continents with their hooves. “Mundus, the eldest and largest, took the form of a fearsome ram. So mighty were his two grand horns that none dared encroach on his green plains, which stretched far and wide across the central breadth of Terra. As an element he had carved the world as he saw fit, raising mighty mountains and gouging deep chasms to separate the lands, giving him dominion over all things. The other great beasts resented him for his incursions on what they now considered their domains, but none could rise up against his great power. He sat upon the central continent that we now call Equus, confident enough in his domination that he need do nothing but bask in his creation.” Starswirl glanced up to read the room. Surprisingly, Celestia seemed to be quite wrapped up in the telling, while unsurprisingly Luna was transfixed by this new and fantastical account of their world’s creation, despite its dense wording. “Luna, we may not have covered it yet, but Equus was the name of our continent before Equestria was formed and the uniting of the pony tribes. Some still use it to refer to the continent as a whole, particularly in non-pony regions, though I expect those races would challenge our naming of it before we spread as much as we have post-Equestria.” The blue princess nodded her head enthusiastically, though it was unclear if she was actually listening to this historically accurate aside. Feeling somewhat defeated by the educational value of today’s session, Starswirl returned to reading the next passage, audibly deflated. “Tös adopted the form of a mighty bird of prey, upon which the mightiest of mountains it would perch its colossal talons, looking down upon the living lands below with disdain. Its woeful presence was enough to pull at the heart of the planet, blasting forth an eruption of fiery rage where it stood, belying its silent and watchful demeanour. As a thing of air, the boundaries of the other beasts meant nothing to it, though by preference it avoided the colder climes. Try as they might, none could tame the wing’ed beast’s free spirit or vengeful temper. “VVuetnus retreated deep into the watery territory it had formed long before, entering the physical world as an indescribable creature of the darkest depths; an abundant mass of tentacle and scale. Though swords of magma and shields of ice may briefly disturb its borders, none can claim but a speck of the vast and all-consuming domain borne of solitude. Ever-present and ever-eroding, this great beast knew no fear or urgency, for even the most silent of seas can become a raging typhoon or vacuous whirlpool without warning, consuming all that comes before it. “Thyst knew well the lush, green jungles she had formed, blending in perfectly as a colossal jade snake amidst the vines. She was as beautiful as she was deadly, tempting those of weak minds with a honey-tipped tongue before consuming them, body and mind. Plenty was her lure and patience her rod as she coiled among the trees of her domain. She would win this war of great beasts not by strength, but by numbers; a horde of followers driven to march by greed and bounty. All she need do was wait for them to come. “Fris despised this new plane of existence, wishing to return to the nebulous nothingness of the before times. He retreated far from the other great beasts, taking the form of a wingless dragon at the crown of the world, to sit upon his hoard of haw and bitterness, curled like a rope as he waited for the world to end. So great was his hatred that his influence spread across the entire globe, frosting over the tallest mountains and deepest seas, only held at bay every half-year by the one he might have called sister. Starswirl paused again to massage his forehead, overwhelmed by this laundry list of fantastical characters he was supposed to believe somehow created their world from nothingness. In contrast, both sisters seemed far more invested in this story than he had ever expected, waiting for him to continue with bated breath. Perhaps growing up in isolation predisposes one to accept fantastical ideas more readily as a means to stimulate the mind? With a small eye-roll he looked back down and continued reading like a tired parent at bedtime. “Satyr was the opposite of her brother: vivacious and eager to see what this new physical reality would bring. Inquisitive and a natural trickster, she took the form of a giant cat, claiming the kingdom of sand as her plaything, and like her ever-shifting dunes, she would not remain still for long. Every half-year she would travel the globe, melting her brother's white blanket with her boundless energy as she explored the land time and again, waiting for the glimmer of new life to spring forth beneath her great paws. But make no mistake, she was no kitten, as her eagerness was fuelled only by her desire to test and torture whatever new life she might find, breaking it just to see what would happen, then moving on to the next once her ephemeral patience waned. “S’hndüm was an enigma to the other elements, choosing to remain incorporeal and aloof like an ever-flowing stream. Though they took no form, time remained absolute and ever-present, forever progressing, forever changing, and forever unchangeable. They cared not what happened to the world around them, only that it continued happening, for patience was their weapon in this war for supremacy. Even if it took countless millennia, one day the other beasts’ power would lessen, and that would be when they strike. All things crumble beneath time’s infinite gaze, even the heavens themselves. “And then there was Chaos, the last of the original elements, from whom came Order. Chaos remained a mere concept for the longest time, unable to exist in this new physical reality it had spawned due to its relative weakness. When the youngest element finally did take shape, its body remained in constant flux, ever-shifting between an amalgam of animals yet unknown. A true agent of disharmony-” Starswirl stopped, furrowing his brow as he swallowed the lump in his throat, re-reading the last passage to himself. This was becoming too uncanny. He looked to the sisters, the youngest of whom remained entranced by the colourful story, while the elder appeared to now share his concern. It had to be a coincidence, surely. How could it not be? This was a work of fiction, a literary puzzlework of old myths and legends. Discord had appeared through a portal mere days ago from Elysium-knows-where; he was not some kind of… ancient creation deity. That would be preposterous; pure insanity!Though it might explain his unnatural magic… No, he would not entertain such ideas. Shaking the troubling thoughts from his mind, he continued to read the passage aloud. “A true agent of disharmony, his form and goals could not be defined, as if viewed through the cut facets of an ever-moving gem. Chaos roamed the new planet now split into fiefdoms like a gnat among giants, absorbing knowledge and observing its elders like an eager child, all the while whispering discontent in their ears. A friend of none, the closest thing it had to an ally was the sadistic Satyr, who revelled in creation for the sake of its destruction. “Finally, Order; the light borne of Chaos’ shadow. No older than the rock upon which they how reside, it was by far the weakest—a newborn without true sentience. So weak was this newest element that it could not take physical form as the others had, instead retreating to within the planet itself. Order embodied existence and all that is factual, as undeniable as the dirt beneath our hooves, yet meek and unable to influence its older siblings. Much like its twin, this heaven chose to observe, though unlike its other, Order saw cautionary lessons and allegory in the great beasts, rather than behaviours to emulate.” Starswirl sighed, flicking through the remaining pages with his magic to see where the chapter ended. “Do you sincerely find this mythology nonsense entertaining?” The girls' nods answered his question plainly. “Very well, but we need not cover every line of this fanciful nonsense. This is an anthology, after all.” He stopped the pages as he landed on a new section written by a different author. Perhaps this one would be more palatable? Best to not get his hopes up. “To be clear, you are only expected to have a cursory knowledge of such… fringe topics, so let us not dwell on this too much longer.” “Will there be an exam on this?” Celestia asked. “No, of course not.” Luna pumped her hoof, given that almost all readings did have a written exam after them. Massaging his brow one last time, Starswirl began to read the new section entitled ‘Ancient Ponies and Old Gods’ by Istoría Iógios, written some time after the first, though still at least a hundred years old by now. “It is said that the elements are the source of all magic in our world. Once isolated, nebulous entities called Heavens, a spark of chaos that had formed over millions of years brought them together as one, forming our planet, Terra. Now existing on a physical plain, each element was forced to take physical form, and thus began a battle for dominance over the land. In-fighting tore at the land for millennia, forming the continents and biomes we know today, but unexpected things happen when chaos is involved, and nothing was so unexpected to the Titans as the creation of ponykind. “Life began with the confluence of heat, water and air to form vegetation, such as grass, trees and fruit. Simple beings at first, but rich in the building-blocks of life, ready to adapt and evolve and grow with time. From the waters’ micro-life came fish, and from the ground’s mites, worms. Soon creatures would litter the landscape, from the harsh sands of Satyr's deserts to the wastelands of Fris to the plains of Mundus, and among them were equine's first ancestors.” This one might at least have a sliver of historical insight between the nonsense, Starswirl dared to hope, taking a long blink to recuperate his eyes. “The first trial of life on Terra was to survive the violent confrontations between the elements: the earthquakes of Mundus as he stamped his cloven hooves, the magma rain of Toos' spitting volcanoes, the churning seas and consuming tidal waves of Wetnus, the poison and temptation of Thyst’s jungles, the bitter winters of Fris, the wilting heat of Satyr, the decay of Sahdum and the machinations of Chaos. But they did not strive unaided, as Order believed in equality between all things, and with the introduction of new life came a new discrepancy to balance. “The second trial of life on Terra was to withstand the attention of the Titans. As the strong survived and prospered against all odds, the scales of the world began to tilt as Order restored the balance of power, siphoning the elemental magic from the Titans and distributing it amongst the lesser creatures. Every year the great beasts became weaker; smaller. Every year ponykind grew smarter and more numerous, increasing the rate of magical dissemination, and every year the elements became more aware of their waning glory; sapped of the strength to move the world to their will, though unaware as to why, for who would suspect the ants scurrying beneath their hooves to be capable of toppling kings? “From the first caveponies living on twigs and berries to the first tribes with grass skirts and wooden huts; the more ponykind evolved, the more the Titans noticed them. The silent and omnipresent element of Order continued to rectify the skewed power-dynamic, unable to be stopped or reasoned with, for she was the very earth that held all within the void. By the time the sky-scraping titans stooped to but a few trees tall, Thyst was finally in her element, drawing in many of these lesser creatures to her way, having them erect temples in her honour and form an army around her worship. Satyr also extolled the arrival of these protoponies, seeing them as the infinite supply of playthings she had always wanted. As for the other Titans, holding on to their power was of greater concern, as an infinite drain on their magic would spell death for them all.” Starswirl paused, giving his brain a moment to sieve out any possible truths from this ridiculous account. Finding it a mess of meaningless names and pretentious pseudoscience, he shook his head hopelessly and continued, resigned to this being yet another work of fantasy. “Through fear and coercion, Mundus had the ponies of the plains craft him an ornate bronze bell, within which he would store a sliver of his power to ensure his everlasting. Toos chose to split itself into parts, with each avian familiar now housing a smaller yet less divisible portion of its magic, spread far and wide across Terra. Fris welcomed the fading of his own life, and though his cold depression remained as gripping as permafrost, his form became one with the blizzards around him, embodying the battering weariness of his character. “It was around this time that the first records of these mighty beings were written-” “If that's the case,” Celestia interrupted, “then what was everything before now based on?” “Precisely,” Starswirl grumbled. “Shh!” Luna hissed, ushering their mentor to reluctantly continue. “-that the first records of these mighty beings were written, with some Titans becoming revered as creators of all, called ‘göds’ (Editor’s Note: Old Ponish for what would become our concept of good, lit. ‘goodness’) if deemed beneficent, or ‘diabolos’ (Old Ponish for what would become our concept of evil, lit. ‘destroyers’) if thought of fearfully. Each Titan was given a new name by the tribes that worshipped or appeased them, as they would not share their own, knowing that a creature's true name is the source of its power.” “Then how-” Celestia began again, but was immediately hushed by an entranced Luna. Briefly looking up at the interruption, Starswirl continued reading the paragraph. “Mundas came to be known to the ponies of the plains and mountains as Grogar.” He stopped. ‘Grogar’? As in the Grogar, harbinger of Equestria’s woeful fourteen-year-long Dark Age? This book had to be written in jest, surely. You can not take tyrannical historical figures and give them fantastical backstories like this. Yes, he was a powerful and fearful symbol to First Age ponykind, the likes of which has not been seen before or since—well, at least until Discord—but some kind of... space-energy god? This was insanity, even for tasteless fiction, which this book professed it was not. Celestia's sour expression seemed to mirror his sentiments, though Luna only showed contempt at the story being interrupted yet again. He pressed on. “Toos in its original form came to be known as Roc, while its smaller fragments were named Phoenixes. Wetnus, the unspeakable creature of the deep became known as Charybdis, only whispered of by fearful sailors who dared venture from land and survive. Thyst was given a new title by her loyal worshippers in veneration: Cihuātlahtoāni Chicomecōātl.” As Starswirl struggled with the pronunciation, Celestia silently balked, recognising the name from her favourite work of fiction, Summer Twinkle and the Temple of the Golden Sun. The Summer Twinkle ghostwriter must have read this book and liked the name, or something, right? It couldn’t possibly be the other way around due to the age of this anthology. The jungle and snake theme certainly fit... Perhaps the author never revealed their true name because they were plagiarising ancient texts? I mean, it couldn't possibly be real, could it? She couldn't be real… Letting out an exasperated breath, the wizard continued the story. “Fris was felt across Terra as a vengeful deity, intent on wiping out crops and freezing unprepared ponies, earning his vengeful spirit the title of Storm King. The tricksy Satyr had collected her favourite toys around a singular oasis, a nation trapped by boundless deserts that spited her with the name Sphinx. Such was the new era for the six eldest Heavens, known to the lesser beings as Gods, and to us now as the Old Gods.” Celestia rubbed her temples, recognising yet another name or two. Summer Twinkle, as the author signed their books, must have read this book and used it as inspiration for the adventures, there was no other reasonable explanation. Starswirl read on. “Unlike their elders, the youngest three elements, or ‘Concepts’ (Editor’s Note: In the Old Ponish alphabet, ‘element’ and ‘concept’ are only one character apart and have been seen to be used interchangeably), were drawn to somewhat different fates: “The Concept of time and life, Sahdum, remained an observer to the world, though ensured that his presence was known. Roaming the world in a far smaller form than the Titans, he met the protoponies on a more personal level, and shared with them his true name: Ankh Khan, the Wanderer. Despite his nomadic ways, various groups began to revere him as a God in his own right, much to the ire of his elders, though he was never in one place long enough to face their wrath. Given the passive nature of his magic, he did not fear the flow of time—he was it, and so he let the world play out as it would, for only he would be left in the end. “The Concept of Chaos was both the weakest and least favoured of all the celestial beings, despite (or perhaps due to) being responsible for this new existence of flesh and war, as well as being a consistent thorn in the side of his betters. In a rare moment of cooperation, the six elements banded together with Ankh Khan to eject Chaos from this reality and into another, forever being rid of his pestering and volatile presence. With his disappearance, calm began to settle in the world as all things found their place, though his influence still lingered, dotted throughout history in moments of turmoil and unease. (Editor’s Note: If Chaos ever had a name, it was never known, or burned from all accounts.)” He felt a migraine coming on. This being of chaos was ejected to another realm? This has to be apophenia. There was no way this one forgotten tome of aggregated bedtime stories could be referring to the greatest foe of the current age, to be found in some backwater fishing village’s one-room-school’s bookshelf. “The Concept of Order had fully merged with the planet, too weak to sustain its own form or influence events. As such, the final and youngest Concept became known as the earth, Terra, basis for all and absolute, and the earth upon which we tread. From Order came adaptation and equality, blending the sharp angles of others together, and prospering without the influence of its twin and progenitor. As mountains crumbled and trees burned, it was they who brought rock anew from the sea and sowed seeds within the ash. As existence was shared between all things, so too was the celestial magic of the Gods. It became She as the Mother Earth, keeper of life and soul of Terra. Starswirl rubbed his brow, bestowed a brief respite by the horizontal line between paragraphs. He soldiered on. “Feeling weak from their essence leaving them, spread among the growing pony population, the six eldest Gods birthed their own races into the world to serve as insurance for their longevity. From Grogar came the first Centaur, Minotaur, and Cyclops, given their lord's cloven hooves and horns as a mark of strength. Roc split its remaining magic in twain, leaving its strength and size to the Lesser Roc, and its tenacity and fire to the smaller Pheonix. Charybdis broke apart, with each of its many tentacles becoming the seabeasts we know and fear today, from Sharks to Sea Serpents to Hydra. Chicomecōātl was content with the creatures around her, enhancing their existing forms with magic to create Cipactli, Ahuizotl, and the Salamancers-” “Why is there so much in common with Summer Twinkle!?” Celestia blurted out, drawing the surprise of the others. “You’ll find that all fiction is based on fact, Celestia, in one way or another,” Starswirl answered, happy to do anything but read more. “It should be of no surprise that different authors might pull ideas from the same source, or from other works of fiction in this case.” “And all these gods, and creatures, and civilisations- Are you saying that Salamancers are real too?!” “Well, many races have come and gone throughout history, though whether one name refers to the same creature is questionable. A race by that name has been documented in the past, though I have never heard it brought up contemporary scientific circles, hence why it has never appeared in your studies. They were likely an ancient race at some point, now having their name disgraced and repurposed in some frivolous light-fiction… No offence.” “They… are real?” Celestia stammered, having thought herself safe from the until-now fictional organisation of lizard-ponies bent on world domination. “Once, perhaps. Do not concern yourself with such thoughts; fiction is fiction, nothing more. If said species were to suddenly appear after centuries of having never been seen, I will eat my hat.” Luna smiled, entertaining that thought, while Celestia stared holes into the wooden floor. With a plaintive sigh, Starswirl let his eyes fall back to the foxed pages of the book. “The Storm King’s brooding wrath grew in his formless state, spawning Windigos as extensions of himself to spread his discontent across the land, feeding off those with a shared ill heart. And finally, from Sphinx came the Mau (Editor’s Note: Old Ponish for the Abyssian race), a race of highly intelligent shysters that she could rely on to spread her mischievous ways. “The Titans who still lingered in the physical realm turned to hibernation in an attempt to retain what magical reserves they could, lest they become no stronger than a common pony, who had begun to display these new powers leached to them. It is said that all equine life began as terran, before magic bore our kind wings and horns, splitting our ever-growing race into like tribes. Even non-pony races showed signs of this great equality, from the mystic witch-doctor zebras of the west to simple pyreflies of the forest. “As the once-powerful Titans of old receded to their self-made shells, Ankh Khan spread his influence across the world with even more intent, returning to the jungles that Chicomecōātl called her own. He had finally found something that he wanted, and it was the creations she had borne from the willing flesh around her. Exercising his silver tongue, Ankh Khan stole away all but her loyal pet, Cipactli, and settled in his own temple to the east. Enraged by this transgression, Chicomecōātl was too weak to empower new followers to oppose him, but could continue to attract new ponies to her flock, evermore tightly coiled within her lush and dangerous jungle. “The beasts of the Titans spread far and wide, ensuring that their legacy would never be forgotten. We continue to see their influence even to this day, having named the seven days of the week after the seven most influential elements: Munday, Tösday, Wetnusday, Thystday, Friday, Satyrday, and S’hnday (Editor’s Note: Shown in Old Ponish for context), with Order living on as Terra beneath us, and Chaos being forgotten to time. “To own or befriend one of the Titan’s beasts was seen as a blessing of the Old Gods, especially the immortal Phoenix-” Starswirl grunted, having finally given up on this chapter and began flicking through the pages again. “Hey! Why'd you shtop? It wath’ juth’t getting intereth’ting!” the youngest Princess complained. “Luna, this is pure nonsense and I am not about to read this entire book to you. You are more than welcome to do that in your own time if you so wish.” The blue filly pouted, having hoped to be read to all day and skip doing any work. Starswirl continued to flick through the book, but had entirely lost the will to continue reading this drivel. “I mean, look at this;” he continued with a snarl, quoting a random paragraph he had landed on. “First there was stone, the bedrock upon which we all stand. Then came fire, water, and sky, and from them birthing life, first by plant, and then by creature. This rainbow of existence is from what we all stem: grey becomes red and blue, red and blue become green, and from these primary colours, all things Are. A tapestry of chromatic magic that-” With an exasperated breath he clapped the book shut with his magic and lowered it to the smallest filly’s open arms. “Absolute nonsense, every page of it,” he finished. “I have a question,” Celestia began as she watched her sister eagerly open and rifle through the pages almost as large as she was. “How are these ponies writing about a time before life or even matter existed, let alone recorded history?” “Because it is all garbage,” Starswirl snapped. His eyes drifted to the younger sister as she stared intently at the faded words on the page before her, her eager mind sucking up every scrap of this fantastical account of the beginning of all things. As much as he detested the method, he certainly could not fault the authors for sparking the pursuit of knowledge in one so young. He sighed, preparing himself for compromise. “But... it does incorporate scraps of truth I’ve seen in peer-reviewed research and ancient archaeological findings, not that such things are my forte. For example: heat, moisture, and oxygen are the building blocks of life. Magma does erupt from volcanoes, though the involvement of a giant bird is questionable at best. The oldest discovered protopony remains are of a terran. I suppose I can think of worse things than linking scientific fact together with some flowery prose to educate the young… Fiction does serve a practical purpose; to make the unknown less scary, to teach moral lessons, to warn others of danger, and, of course, to simply pass time that would otherwise be dreary.” “So those stories were more like fables than myths?” “You could say that, I suppose. It can be difficult to tell fact from fiction when stories are passed down through generations by word of mouth, and who knows how much the authors embellished on top of that. Honestly, if you are that interested, go read the Encyclopedia Beastaria again. All the evidence you need to distinguish fact and fiction resides in books—scientifically accurate books—and if the Institute of Fauna Studies states that there has never been a sighting of a roc, or any sign of a salamancer society this side of the Tribal Era, then that’s good enough for me. A true scientist takes all things with a grain of salt, of course, but if you are comparing the literary works of—what was it, Summer Sparkle?—to the publication of a peer-reviewed journal, then, well…” Celestia scrunched her nose, feeling stupid for even asking. “Sho the world wath’n't really made from sth’pace magic?” Luna asked, sounding a little deflated. “I- Well, that is-” Starswirl stammered, stopping to shake his head with a smirk. For perhaps the first time in his life he found himself unable to answer a question with certainty that Stargazer might be able to. “That is not something we have the answers to yet, but the absence of fact does not legitimise theory. That said, the last theory I did hear was that some sort of… ‘reaction’ did create everything from nothing.” “So... it i’th real? I'm confu’thed,” Luna moaned. “No, it’s-” Starswirl grunted, pinching his sinuses between his hooves. “I fear reading this book has done more harm than good at this point. I want you to write me a two-page essay on what you have ‘learned’ by the end of the day, so that I may assess the damage.” “But you said-,” the sisters wailed in unison. “No. I am taking this book to my tower so that it may not poison your minds further,” he announced, snatching the tome from beneath the clearly upset filly. “Perhaps I shall allow its reading when you are old enough to be capable of clearly discerning fact from fantasy.” With that, Starswirl made for the staircase, carrying the book aloft with his magic and a pleading Luna from his hind leg. It might have seemed harsh at the time, but the ill-prepared social recluse was only doing his best to give what he thought was the best care to these two young mares under his sole care. For every tough lesson or boring class, there were just as many fond memories, making the best of the time they spent locked within those four walls. If it had to be anyone, they were glad it was him… Celestia smiled to herself, never imagining that such a mundane moment could become a cherished memory just a few years later. Starswirl’s opinionated wisdom and Luna’s exhausting energy were moments that could never be had again, and as much as she resented them at the time, they now lingered in her mind like a warm hug. Maybe it was just nostalgia, but her childhood hadn’t been that bad. “I know that face, Grande Blanche,” Meadow Flower smiled knowingly. “The faeries took you to a better place, non?” The princess blinked, disorientated and confused. “Faeries?” She chuckled again, shaking her head. “Just a saying we have. The past is a powerful drug, mon amie. It gives and takes in swathes. Rememberin’ is what makes memories worth makin’, but don’t let its sweet nectars stop you from makin’ more.” Celestia raised an eyebrow, still not following. “Pay his old mare no heed, perhaps the faeries are takin’ me too,” she laughed as the pair continued walking. Meanwhile, after Sweet Blossom had paused to smell a bright pink desert flower, Rootin’ Tootin’ and Luna found themselves in a somewhat awkward conversation. “So, what do you trade with Haysead Swamp that makes it worth the trouble?” the small alicorn asked. “Oh, this an’ that. Haysead’s main export is a particularly nasty little weed called Smokeleaf,” he chuckled. “It thrives in the dank atmos of the swamp. As popular as it is with the locals, they still grow enough of the stuff to trade with us outsiders.” “Smokeleaf? I’ve never heard of that.” He smiled, shaking his head. “Wouldn’t expect such a sweet an’ innocent thing as you to have, mah dear. Not its ‘botanical’ name, ‘course. Maybe when yer older…” He looked away, interrupted by his own thoughts. “But enough ‘a that. The future ain’t predictable. Who knows where we’ll be in a day or two, let alone years from now…” Luna tilted her head, not expecting such crypticism from their ambiguously intentioned companion. The pause in conversation lingered just enough to become uncomfortable. “Don’t you have a schedule to stick to?” she asked. “Seems like you’re going pretty far out of your way.” “Ah find the best business is made on a loose schedule, mah dear. Leaves you open to unexpected and profitable opportunities. ‘Sides, Ah was planning on going north after Haysead anyway.” “But you didn’t bring anything to trade with you,” she pointed out, looking at his lack of a saddlebag. He cleared his throat with a laugh. “Not everything in life is about profits, darlin’. Ah may not have given the best of first impressions, but Ah assure you that carin’ for mah family is of high priority to me. If Sweet Pea has her heart set on seein’ the Pillars, then Ah intend to make sure she gets there and back safely.” As unpredictable as his behaviour had been, Luna could tell there was genuine sentiment in his feelings towards his niece. If he put Sweet Blossom’s safety before doing his job or slacking off in town, he had to be a good pony at his core, right? “That nickname you call her, what’s the story behind it?” “‘Sweet Pea’? Hah, no; no story there. Just bein’ a young stallion, lookin’ upon that newborn babe… Such a small an’ delicate thing…” He smiled wistfully, thinking back to the family gathered around his sister’s birthing and seeing Sweet Blossom for the first time. “She might be big now, but part ‘a me ‘ll always see that little filly when Ah look at her. Maybe one day you’ll know that feelin’ too.” “Maybe one day. But ‘the future is unpredictable’, right?” He was silent for a moment as the twinkle faded from his eyes. “Right.”