//------------------------------// // On Towards The Unknown // Story: Corruption and Chaos // by Peridork //------------------------------// Zebrica is to the South of Equestria. The two landmasses were separated by the Marecan Sea. Equestria and Zebrica had a long trade history, One of the secret things about it was that the continent was the origin of the magic field that covers the world. It was the homeland of both ponies and zebras until the ponies left to found Equestria. It was also a savage land because of the natural order of life. Any ponies that entered changed...not for the better. There was a legend of the zebras that there would be six lights coming when the world was again in the eyes of Chaos. There are six kingdoms in Zebrica: the Zebras, the Lions, the Hippos, the Elephants, the Rhinos, and the Giraffes. They are constantly in war because the search for land and glory for their kingdom fuels their war machines. The leaders are all immortal, but the most well known is The Lady of Zebrica. In a bad mistake on their part, Equestrians named the landmass in honor of her and the other rulers have not forgotten the error. The other rulers are Leo the Lion King, Demos the Long Necked, Roland the Hippo King, Ganesh the King of Elephants, and Ramad the Queen of the Rhinos. The Six Rulers have infrequently seen eye to eye on how to rule the land. The only time they ever have is when there is a greater threat than warfare. The world began to stop spinning. Chroma realized she was sitting near a cliff. Not just any cliff, it was the largest cliff she had ever seen and her surroundings definitely didn’t look like Equestria. Not at all. The closest thing she could see as a city were just some thatched roofs. “Where am I? I know the Princess surrounded us in a spell for some reason. Where is everypony?” Chroma shook her head again and flew off towards the village. Fifteen minutes later she arrived at the wall of the city. From a distance it looked tiny but closer up it looked almost as big as Canterlot. Something important had to be here. “Halt Equestrian, you are on the property of Our Lady of Zebrica state your name and purpose.” Chroma was startled by the zebra guard. “Hello, sir I am Chroma Braveheart and I was teleported here by Princess Celestia for some reason.” “Say no more, I will escort you to Our Lady. Very few ponies come to this part of Zebrica and she would love to hear about your country and its ruler.” “I don’t know...” Chroma couldn’t finish the sentence because she was yanked into the gates before she could react. Chaos had found the statue she was looking for. A certain draconequus was staring back at her, if he wasn’t petrified, and Chaos felt pity for her son. Very distant son...it was a very long time ago and she was bored with existence. Boredom leads to strange things like sending an all-powerful trickster to wreck havoc on the planet. Those were good times, “Son wake up we have fun to dispense.” Chaos was powerful enough to reverse the spell and Discord began to escape from his prison. “Hmm, how many times have I escaped from the statue...two, three times? Celestia needs to learn her lesson that I just can’t be encased in stone. Maybe if she tried to put me into, I don’t know, baked goods then I’d be happy, but noooooo! Our little Princess had to say “Bad Discord I need my beauty rest and you are disrupting it!” and then shoot me with a rainbow! A stupid rainbow! and I was stuck in stone.” Discord rambled, finally letting out most of the words he’d been storing up for ten years. “Dis, I am not amused with your behavior...you just spread low levels of Chaos-not enough to free me.” Chaos looked up at currently much taller draconequus. “Mom, is that you? You don’t know how painful it is to be turned to stone. Your insides turn to stone before your heart stops beating...very painful. You are just too adorable! I could just eat you, but that would kill me with your amount of cuteness!” Discord happily swung around with his mother before both of them disappeared in a cloud of cotton candy. In Carousel Boutique Psyche felt worried: sure Chaos was going to destroy this stupid world but...she wondered where the little ponies that had almost ruined her plans had gone. Surely they couldn’t have survived the crushing of Canterlot. Could they? Chroma’s head was spinning. She knew of other kingdoms beyond the borders of Equestria, the Changelings and the Crystal Ponies, but she never heard of an entire continent beyond Equestria’s borders. The sights of the city were amazing- the shops filled with exotic smells, the zebras themselves, and the stronger nature of the land. Plus, she thought that she could gain some experience with fighting...or confidence. Psyche still terrified the filly. “Miss, we are here at Our Lady’s residence.” “Thanks, um, a lot. You can go...I can see her for myself.” Chroma nervously stuttered before gaining enough courage to go in. If somepony had told her that her week would go like this she would have bucked them in the face. Finally, she made it to the throne room and tapped lightly on the door. “Come on in my little pony. You will see I am no phony.” Chroma trotted on into the room. Inside was a zebra that was the size of the Princesses back home. Compared to the throne room of Canterlot the Zebrican throne room was spartan in its furnishings. “Umm, hello your majesty I kinda need to find my friends. Have you seen any other Equestrians around these parts?” “No child I have not, for what terrors you have fought?” “Sorry, we got separated when some giant super alicorn destroyed Canterlot and I got sent here.” “You are lucky to be here for your friends safety I do fear. Our five neighbors surrounding us would not take ponies arriving without a fuss.” “I need to find my five friends so we can leave.” “Five, you say...I never thought I see the day. Your six lights will bring an end to our everlasting night. Chaos comes in driving rain for one sees the continuance of pain.” Chroma was definitely getting creeped out by this crazy zebra. “Can you please stop rhyming and get to the point?” The Lady of Zebrica grimaced. “I guess I have to do as you say. The six lights are a tradition passed through the six kingdoms by a mad prophet pony called Abdul the Red. He wrote that while going past the tomb of the Chaos Kingdom from before the land was calm he got a vision. “That is not dead which can eternal lie. And with strange aeons even death may die.” “That sounds familiar,” Chroma replied, “my mom was talking about Samael and how he was the...alicorn of death and he’s dead. Our new Princess is taking care of death now.” “What did you just say! That is NEVER supposed to happen!” “Did I miss something? I just said...” “The prophecy has four more lines: Ponies run away in fear and terror Nothing will stop the Element Bearers Without the Six Lights of Reason There will be no more growing seasons.” “Well that was anti-climatic, I was hoping you would say the world would end.” “Sorry I forget you are Equestrian. To this continent, to be without growing seasons is a saying that it will be the end of the world.” Chroma finally felt truly worried. Chroma stood around the circle in the throne room. “Why are we doing this again?” “So you will unlock the Light of Reason inside you.” “Okay then, hit me.” The Lady of Zebrica began to use zebra magic to start the ritual. The circle began to glow. “Ooh, aah, ooh, aah, walla walla bing bang,” “You totally made up that last bit...” Chroma began to burn. It started from her hooves and worked its way up throughout her body. She didn’t scream however because the fire, to her, was a soothing presence. “Oh my this feels wonderful. What is this feeling?” “My people call it the Flames of the Joyous Creator. It makes you able to become a living blaze of fire. I have seen it in battle before and I banned it from being used again. The other rulers have similar weapons, but mine is the only one controlling fire. I bestow it on you...the Light of Creativity.” “Thank you, Your Majesty. I am sorry but I have to go look for my friends.” “There are a few things more I have to say, Equestrian. The flames are drawn to each other- if your friends gain the other flames you will know of it. Next, I will give you a sword to protect you on your journey for the flames, while powerful, are not enough to keep you safe. And finally, tell my daughter Zecora that I miss her like any mother would.” Chroma picked the leg brace that held the sword inside. The brace was covered in gold and silver and showed a bird the size of a mountain kill a dragon that was completely black and breathing lightning. “That, if you’re wondering is our belief that the Creator Phoenix killed the Dragon of Chaos and used its body to make the continent of Zebrica.” “It is beautiful. Thank you and I will tell Zecora your message the next time I see her.” Chroma started walking into the distance. She hoped that her friends were just as lucky as she was in their search for the Lights of Reason. She could not be more wrong. The lion jailer looked at the puny horse and laughed. “Silly pony think that it with horns and wings make it stronger than me.” Eros was having one bad day. The wagon rolled toward the city of Leopolis where the law would be enforced. Any Equestrian in the land of the lions would be executed