//------------------------------//
// A Tenuous Balance 
// Story: On Alicorns 
// by Nra Vadumee 
//------------------------------//

But now the gaze of the bronze pony looked elsewhere, for he sensed that events of great importance were to arise now, far from where the seventh union was being forged, out of the Firestallion’s realm, in the home of the first union, of Thermos and Lumos. Turning his gaze, as the events he had so recently watched continued, he now focused on this new chain of events which unraveled here at the border of the Light and the Dark. For the world was so young, there was neither day nor night, for there was neither sun nor moon to harken day and night. There was only one half of the world, the Light, and the other half, the Dark, which were in perpetual states of luminance or lack thereof. 


Here, where the two met, stood golden-winged Lumos, Alicorn of Light, and intimidating Pentimus, Alicorn of Darkness. Though it would please them both very much to destroy the other, crossing the border uninvited would bring them out of their element and in a weakened state. Neither could destroy the other unless the other was weakened, and they could only be weakened if they crossed the border. But the only way to destroy the other was to cross the border, and so, to their eternal fury, neither made any attempt. The world was in perfect balance between light and dark, and no alicorn would upset it.


Despite this, the balance was stressed and barely kept. Both rivals were on a constant search for allies to their cause that would aid them in destroying the other. Allied to Pentimus and Umbris were Terra and Aeros, as Infernis and Aquos owed their preference to Lumos and Thermos. Iras, Amor, Professios, and Academis all maintained neutrality; They had no care for whether the world basked in light or bathed in darkness. And so, four alicorns stood on each side, making neither more powerful than the other. But a single upset in the balance would unravel everything, and the fate of the world would be decided by who such an upset favored.


Lumos stood glaring at Pentimus, who returned the gaze with his own contemptuous stare. 


Pentimus.


Lumos. Is there a reason you sent your seabound pet to summon me?


Aquos is our sister and a fellow Alicorn. She is no pet to either of us.


And yet she obeys your every command like a slave.


She obliges my requests like an ally and a friend.


I did not come to argue over semantics. What do you want?


Bold Lumos, ever ready to strike out against Pentimus, bit her tongue for a moment before speaking.


A truce.


Silence fell over the two.


A truce.


Yes, a truce.


You ask for mutual peace.


Yes.


From me.


Yes.


Why.


You have heard word of Professios and Academis’ creation as well as I have.


Yes. What does this Dragon have anything to do with me? Or you, for that matter.


It holds gifts from all the alicorns but you and Umbris. It could be more powerful than any alicorn.


We are the Bloodborne. Nothing is more powerful than us.


None have ever fused our powers together into a single body. This Dragon has the potential to destroy us all.


Or to end this feud between us.


Lumos said nothing. She had feared that such would be the first thought to the Darkstallion’s mind upon hearing her describe Dragon’s might.


And yet, rather than seeking the aid of such a powerful entity to destroy me, you seek me out first and tell me of how powerful it is.


In the hopes that you would have the sense to see that it is a threat to all of the alicorns and not just us.


Perhaps. But perhaps I also have the sense to see a powerful ally and tool when it comes into being. Perhaps I have the sense to recruit such an ally. Perhaps I have the sense to do it before you do.


It has already permanently wounded Iras with the fire given to it by Infernis.


Now it was Pentimus who held his silence. The thought that Iras, hateful, powerful Iras, no doubt the greatest warrior of all the alicorns, had been injured by a mere creation was... disturbing.


We must act, Pentimus. Already, Amor tells me that this Dragon is fashioning a second of its kind. Dragon alone could rival us, imagine what two Dragons could do.


Very well. But he is to be brought here, at the border of Light and Dark, where neither of us have the advantage.


Are you truly so paranoid?


Do you truly think me to be dense?


Very well, Pentimus. I shall have Dragon lured here. Then, the alicorns will destroy him together. 


And you are sure that our siblings will be here to help?


Yes.


Very well. So be it, Lumos. Bring Dragon here, and he shall learn to fear the dark.


Lumos nodded, and flew off, smiling to herself. Such a fool, Pentimus was, to trust her. She would bring Dragon to the border, yes, but there would be no assistance from their siblings when Pentimus attacked the great beast. Lumos would bask in her radiant light as Dragon destroyed Pentimus for her, and once that was done, she would let Dragon fly off, thinking himself safe. But then would come the full force of the Bloodbourne to come to bear on him, and even great Dragon would fall to Lumos’ cunning. At last, all the world would bathe in her glorious light and be purged of Pentimus’ damnable darkness. At last, she could claim a title none would ascribe to any but the Fausticorn. With Thermos at her side, and with her brothers and sisters sworn to fealty beneath her, she would wield more power than any other being in the world. None would oppose her; None could oppose her. She alone would reign over all creation, a glorious beacon of light and beauty shining down upon the realm as queen.

At last, she would reign as Queen Of All Creation.