AUTHOR’S NOTE:
The account following was assembled from first-hand interviews with those involved (at least, those who could be contacted within a reasonable timeframe). Though the author accepted most of this testimony, rigorous cross-checking was done in the event that it was likely the witness was lying to cover up past misdeeds or exaggerating past successes, which admittedly was most of the time. Since this history bridges such a long period it is unavoidable that there has been some aberration in the historical record. However, in the interest of future generations that might benefit from this work, it has been presented in as factual a manner as can be reasonably attempted.
-Her Majesty High Princess Twilight Sparkle of Equestria,
Dated: 18 Aug. 3256 (Unified Imperial Time)
22nd day of Reaper's Moon, 4 (Third Age of Equestria)
Prologue
Twilight closed the door to her room gently and walked slowly over to her writing desk. This was the day, the culmination of months of research, trawling through exhaustive historical documents and interviewing countless subjects. Finally, it was time to begin. She ran her eyes over the desk. Everything was there that she would need: recording touch-screen and stylus, fibre optic network link, and of course a mountain of parchment, her notes and plans. Some might call her old-fashioned, after all a personal data assistant could have held all this and more, and all in a space smaller than an envelope. But Twilight still wasn’t used to the new Equestria, and she doubted she ever would be.
Outside, the wind gusted as an international transport liner shrieked by overhead, bound for the newly constructed space port in New Appleloosa. The wind whipped through the flags adorning the peaked roofs of the nation’s capital. Slowly, Canterlot had recovered from the purgatory of the past few years, the horrors of the Integration. The city was rebuilding itself, struggling on as best as it could in the brave new dawn that Equestria faced.
Reflectively, the lavender unicorn examined the only other object on her desk, a faded photograph of her old mentor, Celestia. The picture had been taken more than six years ago, back when the Princess had still had her beauty. Celestia stood proudly in the foreground, framing the rising sun at her right shoulder and the gleaming capital over her left. I’m doing this for you, Celestia, she thought to herself. The ponies must be made aware of how wrong they were about you.
Twilight picked up the stylus, and shuffled a few pages around as she tried to get her thoughts in order. The story was long and complicated, intertwined through history like a tightly coiled braid. Realizing that this task was going to require utmost concentration, she pushed a virtual button on the holographic console that stood just off to the desk’s right. Shortly, a trim white unicorn appeared in the doorway. Although she was dressed in the white and blue robes of the monarchy, this servant had embellished hers with a ring of multicoloured gemstones about the collar. It perfectly complemented her light blue eyes.
“Do you require something, Your Majesty?” asked Rarity, careful to show the proper respect and deference to the newly crowned High Princess.
“Nothing special, Rarity,” Twilight replied. “I just want to make it clear that I am absolutely not to be disturbed for any reason while I am writing.”
“Ooh, you’re finally getting around to it?” Rarity approached cautiously, and then a drawn expression appeared on her face. “It really is a terrible tragedy, all that has happened. However will you even start?”
“I think I’m just going to have to begin where it all began, so long ago. Ponies deserve nothing less than the whole truth.”
Rarity cast a quick glance over her shoulder, and then closed the door silently with a shot of magic. “But I thought you were being commissioned by… him,” she finished in a very quiet voice.
Twilight felt an involuntary shiver pass down her spine as she thought of her superior, the disturbingly twisted figure that now paid her living expenses, and who had originally commissioned her “official history”. “Just because it will be stored in the Imperial Archives, doesn’t mean that ponies shouldn’t read it. In order to move past this as a country, we must come to terms with our history.”
Rarity straightened her posture once more, standing stolidly as she waited for the Princess’ dismissal. “Do whatever you feel is necessary then, Twilight,” she concluded. “If that is all you need me for, I have a chess match scheduled this afternoon with Spike. You know how busy he is these days, so I’m really looking forward to the opportunity to get reacquainted with him.”
Twilight waited for several seconds, then realized why Rarity was still standing there. “Yes! You can go, of course!” Twilight finally blurted out. “We’re friends, Rarity! Haven’t I told you that don’t need to put on the whole formal rules of etiquette when we’re in private?”
“Thank you, Your Majesty.” The Lady of the Chamber bowed low with a slight smile, and then retreated to the door, letting herself out silently. Twilight berated herself. She was never going to get used to this whole Princess thing, of that she was certain. Then, an idea sparked off inside her mind, bouncing away from what Rarity had just said. Chess.
It seemed just right, oddly appropriate. Pulling off the first few stacks of her notes, she found the passage she was looking for. Indeed, it would be the perfect place to start. Summoning her concentration, she put stylus to screen and began to write. Equestria, she thought, here begins your story, a story that will be written in fire, water, and blood.