//------------------------------// // Prologue // Story: The Thousand Year Moonrise // by LovelyMuse //------------------------------// A horrific rainstorm can keep anyone's thoughts focused on other matters; keeping dry, warm, and sheltered. Which was exactly what one pony had hoped for as she raced through a dark forest. Her horn was aglow from just beneath the hood of her cloak, creating a barrier around her to shield her and the basket she hcarried in her mouth from the rain. Lightning shot across the sky like a whip, thunder shook the very earth itself, the winds tore through tree branches without mercy and the rain pelted the ground, determined to turn the dirt path into a muddy river. However, this did deter the pony as she stayed alert to any alarm of danger while still keeping a firm footing on the road. She soon came to a small cliffside, a cave not too far below. The pony rushed down the carved stone stairs and rushed into the cave, letting down the shield once she was out of the rain completely. Just slightly further into the cave, a gigantic tree that seemed to be made of crystal could be seen. On the trunk, a moon and sun were carved near the base, a large starburst shape above it. Five separate branches stretched out around the starburst, a stone on each end that had a hollow hole in each of them as though something was once in them but had since been removed. Ever so gently, the pony set down her basket, then looked up at the magnificent tree. "O, great Tree of Harmony. The great powers that thee possesses is known throughout the great land of Equestria, and thy request of your assistance. An epic clash between the Sun and Moon will soon take place, forever chancing Equestria as we know it. Thy fear that thy one and only child will be caught in this fated confrontation, which is why thy has come to thee." Tears fell from beneath the hooded individual. "Thy beg of thee; use the powers bestowed upon thee and send thy child somewhere safe, where she may grow happy and healthy. Thy will lend thee all the magic in thy body if that is what is needed, so please; won't thee answer thy prayer?" For several moments, nothing happened. However, the pony stood firm, never letting her eyes off the tree. Another crack of thunder shook the ground once more, causing the basket to rock slightly, followed by the crying of a child. The wailing immediately brought the mare's attention to her cargo and she removed her sights from the strange tree. At the same time, the sun and moon carvings slowly began to glow. The cloaked mare lifted the blanket covering the basket to reveal a tiny unicorn foal, swaddled in another blanket and crying for attention. She opened her small, turquoise eyes and, seeing her mother, lowered her crying to a whimper. The mother smiled from beneath her hood as her horn lit once more, the same light surrounding the foal and lifting her into the air. The infant was now giggling as her mother nuzzled her affectionately. "Thy sweet daughter, thy hope that thee may one day forgive thy for being so selfish," the larger of the two whispered, unaware of the growing brightness of the tree. "Thee does not deserve to grow up in a world of conflict, and as a mother, one must protect her offspring." The starburst carving suddenly exploded light, bringing the older unicorn's eyes back to it. "I have heard your prayers," a soft voice that came from the tree answered. "You have shown me the devotion and love of a mother, so I will grant your request. However, as you may have already foreseen, this upcoming conflict between the light and the shadows will not simply pass over in the course of a few years. The world will become unbalanced and will need my power. I can send your child to a safer world that has equine like yourself, but her appearance may change slightly and she will be in a deep sleep until balance is restored. She will live and grow, but her powers and memories will be sealed and the experience will be equivalent to living with immortality. Your daughter will see her friends die as she continues to stay young and will have no answers to her questions until the Elements of Harmony return to me. Only then will she be able to come home. Even so, do you accept these conditions and the consequences that come with them?" The pony looked down at her daughter once more, smiling as the infant reached out her hooves to have the warmth of her mother returned. The older nodded her head as she looked back at the tree. "Thy will do what thy must to insure the safety of thy daughter." "Very well," the tree replied. "Lend me your magic and I will grant your request." The mare nodded once more, then closed her eyes and called upon the powerful magic buried deep inside her. The horn atop her head shined brilliantly once more, causing the light of the tree as well as that of which surrounded the foal to glow brighter as well. When she saw that the light was pulling her away from her mother, the child began crying once more. "Be still, little one," the tree said softly. "Rest now, and when you awake, your life will start anew." The foal suddenly felt sleepy and she struggled to keep her eyes open. However, her attempt was in vain and she slowly fell asleep. The light around the child intensified greatly to the point of blinding. The mother just watched as it grew and grew, until suddenly, it shot off out of the cave. She rushed after it and started as it disappeared into the now clear night sky, twinkling like a star. Tears escaped the mare once more as she quietly said to the sky "Good bye, my dear Moon Rose. May you be safe and happy."