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// Genesis 
// Story: Myth 
// by Meztli 
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Once, long ago, in an ancient time long forgotten, there was nothing but light and darkness and everything stood still.

Eons passed and suddenly everything changed, nopony knew or will ever know how, but magic suddenly appeared and infused the heavens, giving to everything movement and shape, and to some of it, even life.

This was the moment when the young Sun awoke and became aware of whom she was, her name was Celestia, and her grandness could only be compared to her kind and loving heart. 

She began giving light and warmth to the world and this soon awoke her sister.

Wise, mysterious and beautiful was Luna, and even though she could give no warmth to the world, she decided to make up for it in beauty. 

Every night she would paint millions of stars on the heavens, which gave light, inspiration, and guidance to enchant and soothe the heart of every living being that may fear the darkness on the world below.

The two sisters watched happily as the world began to produce life, never seizing to be amazed by the creatures who grew and evolved. 

Some of them grew strong and agile, with powerful claws, sharp teeth or thick skin that helped in their survival, while other species developed intellect, and began amassing knowledge of the world and using it to their advantage.

Slowly but surely, civilizations were born.

The fist civilization, however, to name the sisters "Gods" and give them worship, was the pony tribe, and the sisters accepted the title with honor, gaining their favor and thus becoming the most loved beings by the Sun and the Moon.

For this, the Goddesses decided to bestow 3 gifts upon ponykind.
And sent a message through their priests for the summon of three ponies to their presence, they should represent all of pony kind and speak their choices for the gifts.

Two monoliths sat on the great temple, and for that day, and that day only, one was enveloped in a warm white aura, while the other had a beautiful dark blue glow.

The chosen ones entered one by one.

First came an old, wise pony.

"My goddesses, I am most grateful to even be in your presence, and if you would find it fitting to make such a kind offer to nothing but your lowly servant, all I could ever ask for would be your knowledge of magic and the power to wield it."

The sisters then gave the pony a horn upon its forehead, as a symbol of power through knowledge.

"You will now be called a unicorn", the sisters dictated in unison, "and through your horn you shall be able to conjure the magic that lies in this world and use your knowledge to manipulate it at will. This is our gift to you, and to anypony who may wish to follow you."

"However", the sisters warned, "this gift comes with a price. For now the unicorns will be guardians of knowledge and power and must use their gift to create and protect, never to harm or destroy."

Greatly honored, and with a bow as low as its legs would allow, the old pony but new unicorn left the sisters’ presence.

Second came a young and confident pony.

"My goddesses, I am grateful and honored to receive your gift, and what my heart desires is adventure, so I ask you for the speed to travel all the land and be able to flee any danger."

The sisters then gave the pony a pair of beautiful wings, as a symbol of freedom.

"You will now be called a pegasus", the sisters dictated again, "no being in this world will be able to catch you, and distances that a normal pony would find eternal, you will find short and entertaining in your flight.  This is our gift to you and to any pony who would wish to follow you."

"But", the sisters added, "a price must be paid for this blessing. From now on, pegasus will be the guardians of the sky, and will use their gift to rule the clouds, controlling the weather as needed by those below."

Happy, and with a cheerful bow, the newly made pegasus left the sisters’ presence.

Third and last came a mature and hardworking pony.

"My goddesses, I am naught but a simple pony, and your offer humbles me. If I am to ask for any gift, I would choose strength to do my work and withstand the long hours of labor, in order to provide for myself and those close to me."

The sisters then changed the pony on the inside, making magic flow through its veins and power its body, and made its beating heart a symbol of strength.

"You are now an earth pony", the sisters dictated one last time, "so although your shape has remained the same, your body will now be as strong and as tireless as your heart, and determination will be your fuel. This is our gift to you, and to anypony who may wish to follow you."

"Though", warned the sisters, " every gift comes at a price. From this moment on, earth ponies will be guardians of the land, making sure to work and care for it so that it will always remain fertile and full of life."

Grateful and with a resolute bow, the now earth pony left the sisters presence.

And so, from one species, three were born.

In the beginning all ponies kept their goddesses’ wise words at heart. Heeding their warning they all used their gifts for the sake of harmony, and for centuries ponykind thrived .

Unfortunately, this could not last forever.

As time passed, the gifts that had once united and gave plenty to all ponies became the very reason divisions and hostilities grew.

Unicorns began to look down on those who did not possess the heavenly gift of magic, and denounced those that possessed little knowledge.

Pegasi became exasperated by the earth bound ponies’ heedfulness and resistance to change, while the earth ponies were fed up with the pegasi’s laid-back attitude toward work.

Delusions of superiority finally driving a wedge between unicorns, pegasi and earth ponies.

Conflicts arose more quickly than anypony could solve them, and in the end the only possible
solution became separation.

The first to leave were the pegasi, flying up into the sky to create new cities on the clouds, abandoning their weather duties.

Shortly after the unicorns left for the mountains, where gems were plenty, and built a kingdom, keeping all of their knowledge to themselves.

The last ones to leave were the earth ponies, who settled on towns in the valleys, denying food to the other pony races.

And so, heartbroken, the sisters saw harmony disappear from the world below, but they were not the only ones that took notice; on a far side of the land a strong and freezing wind blew with all its might as the windigos began to gather.