//------------------------------//
// Chapter 1: A Long Road Ahead 
// Story: The Last Ancestor 
// by Frostbytten 
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	There is a nameless place, deep in the wilds of Equestria. Far beyond the murky depths of the Forest Ever-Free, it lies, shrouded in half-forgotten myths and whispered legends. Ancient Magyks lie there still, undisturbed. Waiting. Few ponies ever venture here, and those who do.... never return. The forest grows freely there, the canopy allowing the Sun to kiss the ground below. The clouds float lazily in the blue sky above, casting shadows on swaying fields of grass and sunflowers. Many relics of ages long past remain here, rusting and forgotten long ago. The most noticeable landmark in the valley is a mountain. This solitary monolith soars far into the sky, challenging any who see it to try and conquer its heights, to attempt to unlock its secrets. Towers poke from its sides, providing refuge to those lucky enough to reach them. The mountain has no name, much like the land it claims. Many a grim tale surrounds it. When it is mentioned, it is only known as "The Mountain", the name spoken barely above a whisper. "The land is cursed," most ponies say, "It must be. For those who dare to accept the challenge of that lonely mountain never come back." But our tale is not of rumours, barely whispered in darkly lit places. No, our tale is of a mare, and her journey. It began near the fringes of the Forest Ever-Free, in the shadow of the lonely giant.

Trixie Lulamoon had nothing. She had lost her caravan and her reputation in Ponyville the first time she had visited that place. The next, she had lost everything but her star-spangled hat and cloak, passed down from her father. Twice, she had challenged that accursed town. Twice, she had been defeated. And now, crushed and humiliated, the mare once lauded across Equestria as "The Great and Powerful Trixie" sought only to disappear from the view of her fellow ponies. After the Ursa Minor incident, she had been openly ridiculed wherever she had traveled, unable to find work anywhere. The whole "Being-Corrupted-by-an-Ancient-Artifact-of-Doom" thing hadn't helped at all. Instead of ridicule, she had been ignored, treated like she didn't even exist. The cerulean mare would have preferred the ridicule to her being an outcast in all but name. So, she had decided to make it official. She would disappear from her homeland, and travel far beyond the Everfree Forest, where no-pony would dare to follow her. And so, this is how she found herself, deep within the forest. Utterly, hopelessly... lost. Still, the dishonoured mare trotted on, her hooves thudding softly on the dirt floor. As she progressed, she began to notice silver beams of moonlight breaking through the nearly impenetrable canopy of the ancient forest. The trees, which had been old and gnarled, began to look less old and hateful of all that lived. Trixie still felt an immense sense of age from the forest, but none of the thinly-veiled hostility that had been her constant companion from almost day one. Somehow, without ever having been told, Trixie knew that those trees still remembered the sharp bite of axes. However, the tall oaks that now surrounded her emanated an aura of peace, of wonder, of curiosity. Unlike the bent, twisted, and bitter trees of the Everfree Forest, these trees grew tall and proud, stretching ever higher as if to spite the mountain whose shadow they existed under. Ahead, Trixie saw a clearing. She stepped into it, and stood there in awe.

The mountain was huge. It towered higher even than the mountain of Canterlot. It was visible only by the startling lack of stars visible around it. The full moon glowed above the goliath, casting down shimmering beams of liquid silver on the forest canopy, giving everything a ghostly light. The night sky blazed with more stars than Trixie ever knew even existed. It was captivating, absolutely stunning, and undeniably beautiful... and very, very alien. Trixie gulped nervously. In the pit of her stomach, she felt a growing sense of dread. She didn't belong here. A light breeze rustled the branches above, so that they appeared to be talking. Turn back, They said. Leave now, before it's too late.

Trixie wanted to listen, wanted to turn back. Her very being railed against this place, screaming at her to run, to run and never look back. Trixie wanted to turn back, with all of her heart. But where did she have to go? Home, The trees whispered. You could go home.

Home. Whenever she heard that word, Trixie felt a profound sense of loss.

Home. Trixie hadn't had a home since... since... The silvery maned mare felt her eyes begin to burn.

NO. Trixie rubbed away her tears almost as soon as they appeared. She would not allow herself to think about that. Not here. Not now. Not yet. And yet, she could not resist looking at her hat once more. Gently, gingerly, she lifted the battered cap off of her head, as if she were afraid that, at any given moment, it could crumble into dust.

Even after so many years, it still felt wrong to her to call the hat hers. It, along with the cape on her back, had been passed down to her by her father, given to him by his father, passed down from his mother, all the way to the first Lulamoon ever born. 'Wear it with honour,' He'd told her, those long years ago. 'Wear it with pride. You, my daughter, are a Lulamoon. You,' He'd said with utter conviction, pointing a foreleg at her, 'Are going to change the world.' So far, Trixie had done no such thing. Her only magical aptitude lay in illusion, the weakest of magics. So, she had become a magician, wandering the world.

As she reflected on her life, Trixie continued to walk forwards. She was so caught up in her memories that she didn't notice the cliff until she started to fall. And by then, it was too late.

She screamed as she fell, a shrill, ragged yell that was cut short when the unicorns' head connected with a rock. There was a sick crack, and Trixie felt something hot and sticky begin to flow down her head. She tried to get up, but she couldn't see. Everything was getting hazy and starting to swim around. With every passing second, Trixie felt herself growing weaker. Everything was so cold. She fell down again, and this time her limbs refused to respond. Actually, why did she need to get up?  The dirt was so.... so comfortable, and she was... so..... tired. Her eyes began to slide closed. So... Sleepy. Yes, sleep. That's what she needed. She'd just go to sleep, and... everything..... would...... be fine......... in... the............... Morning.

Trixie Lulamoon closed her eyes, and knew no more.