//------------------------------// // The Tree of Harmony // Story: A Thousand Years in The Making // by I am not a Dalek //------------------------------// Chapter 1- The Tree of Harmony Celestia sat in the large library reading Star Swirl The Bearded's latest novel. She had been waiting months for it to be released, and Mundus had made sure she was one of the first to get it. She couldn't thank Mundus enough, he knew how much this meant to her. A knock on the door pulled Celestia out of the book and she turned to find Mundus standing at the door with a smile spread across his beautiful face. "How is the book, my love?" Mundus asked as he used his magic to light a fire. Celestia ran over to him and threw her hooves around his neck. "Thank you so much, Mundus, you didn't have to go to such bother, but I really appreciate it." Mundus smiled and gently brushed a piece of Celestia's mane out of her eyes. "It's alright, dear, I would do anything for the pony I love." Celestia froze in shock and took a step back before stuttering, "You- You love me?" she asked. Mundus chuckled and pulled her back against him. "Of course I do, Tia, I love you." "Well, I love you too," She whispered before pressing her lips against his. Celestia packed her bags slowly as she thought back to the first time Mundus said those three words. They were unexpected, but she knew deep down that they loved each other long before that. How she wished she could return to those days where they didn't have to worry about anything other than looking after Equestria. That may have sounded like a massive job to her back then, but now, she had to also worry about destroying the pony she loved. She did not want to do this, but there was no other way around this mess that Discord had created. She should have stopped it, somehow, but how? There was nothing that she could do, and that's the worst part of it. Finally, she had finished packing and was prepared for the journey into the Everfree forest. The castle was situated just on the outskirts of the forest, but Celestia had decided it would be better to give them a few days of travel due to the fact that the forest is dangerous and she didn't know what they could run into. She hoped that they would not run into any trouble on the way there. Celestia turned to find Luna standing at the door with a saddle bag placed carefully over her back. Luna smiled at Celestia encouragingly before turning to walk towards the castle doors. "Are you okay, sister?" Luna asked carefully, as if she realized that Celestia was about to break. Celestia put on her bravest face, she had to hide the fact that she was aching inside, she was going to be the ruler of Equestria so she had to put her subjects first. "I'm fine," she promised. Luna's eyes narrowed slightly, as if she wasn't convinced but she didn't say anything. With that, they set off into the dark Everfree forest. Mundus had his warm hooves over Celestia's eyes as he led her out into the warm summer's breeze. "Okay, my love, we are almost there, just take another few steps forward..." Mundus whispered into her ear as he held her close. "Can I open my eyes now?" Celestia asked in curiosity as she tried to work out where he had taken her. Mundus smiled and slowly moved his hooves away from her eyes. She blinked as they adjusted from the darkness to the soft orange glow of the summer evening, and finds that they were standing at the highest point of the castle, which overlooks all of Equestria. Celestia stared in awe at the beauty before her. The setting sun behind the mountains, the trees waving in the gentle breeze. The sky was a soft orange pink shade, with very little clouds. "It's so beautiful," Celestia whispered breathlessly, "I've never seen anything like it." Mundus moved up beside her and looked into her violet eyes. "You see this, all of this land? It's ours, ours to look after and care for. Do you promise to look after this beautiful place with me?" Celestia smiled brilliantly, "Of course, we will always look after Equestria." Luna and Celestia travelled through the Everfree forest in silence. They both listened carefully for any untamed beasts which may jump out and attack them, but the forest itself was silent. The forest was the only place in Equestria to have not been affected by Discord's magic; however, it was still as eerie as ever. Overgrown creepers crossed the path of the two sisters as they swiftly made their way through the labyrinth, attempting to find the Tree of Harmony as fast as they can. Celestia couldn't help but have an ounce of hope that when they use the Elements against Discord; he would turn back into Mundus, the pony she loved. Sadly, though, she knew that she was looking through rose tinted glasses and it was only wishful thinking. A soft glowing light grabbed Celestia's attention, and she turned to see the top of the Tree of Harmony. Luna gasped as she looked up at the Tree. "The Tree of Harmony!" she whispered in awe. Celestia flew up to the centre of the Tree and shot it with a blast of magic before glancing back at Luna. "Are you sure?" Luna asked nervously. Celestia knew that she was questioning whether or not she really wanted to use these against the man she loved, but Celestia decided to pretend she didn't realise that was what she meant. "We have managed to discover the only means that will defeat Discord and free the citizens of Equestria. Even without these Elements, the Tree will still possess a powerful magic." The centre of the tree opened, revealing a purple crystal in the shape of a star. The other Elements leave their place in the tree as well and surrounded the two sisters. "As long as that magic remains, it will continue to control and contain what grows here." Celestia said as she floated down to the ground and carefully put the elements in her saddle bag. "Sister, you know that is not what I meant when I asked if you were sure." Luna mumbled, concerned about how her sister was pushing her feelings aside. Celestia glanced back at Luna and sadly shook her head. "I know, but what else can we do? He is not Mundus anymore, he has been taken over by a dark magic. I need to forget about who he was and realise that I need to do this in order to protect the ponies of Equestria." Luna sighed in defeat as she glanced at her older sister. She was acting so compassionately, like a true princess. "We must go before Discord causes more chaos." Celestia ran away from the Tree towards the place she assumed Discord would be hiding. She pushed the happy memories she shared with Mundus out of her mind. She needed to forget that he was her lover; she needed to see Mundus and Discord as two different beings, if this magic was to work. The magic would only work if she saw him as her enemy and as hard as that may be, she was going to defeat him.