//------------------------------// // Saviors of Equestria // Story: The Lost Prince of the Sea // by Cursory Note //------------------------------// The three alicorns walked through the wild forest with determination in their eyes and scuffs on their bodies. They walked in silence for a while, Luna on the left, Celestia on the right, and Aecorum in between them. Aecorum was the oldest of the three, and the largest by almost two feet including his very long horn. The forest seemed to grow quiet as they passed, almost like every living thing sensed the power and righteous anger contained in the large ponies and didn’t wish to draw their attention. Aecorum turned towards Celestia “How much further?” Celestia glanced around “It should be nearby.” Luna was the first to notice the natural stone steps and pointed them out to the other ponies. Celestia nodded and they walked down into the hidden glen that was shimmering with the dim light of the tree itself. There were a few small flowers around and as they approached the tree Luna gasped in awe. Aecorum’s eyes widened as he barely spoke “The Tree of Harmony!” Celestia flew up level with the center of the trunk’s star pattern and magic flowed from her horn. The tree shined and the other two flew up as Luna asked “Are you sure?” Celestia spoke with certainty “We have discovered the only means by which we can defeat Discord.” Aecorum nodded “We must free the citizens of Equestria from his grasp.” The jewel-like Elements of Harmony floated from their places in the tree towards Celestia “And even without the Elements, the Tree of Harmony will possess a powerful magic.” The center of the tree opened and the star shaped element joined the others “As long as that magic remains, it will continue to control and contain all that grows here.” The Elements floated around the three alicorns as they hovered, facing away from the shining tree. Celestia put two elements in each of their saddlebags and Aecorum began to fly forward out of the glen “We have to act quickly, before Discord realizes what we have done.” The mares nodded in agreement and flew behind him to face Chaos incarnate. Soon the three ponies were walking through Discord’s “capital” with stern faces as the laws of nature were unwound and rearranged all around them. It did not take them long to find the draconequus sitting on his throne and they approached him, Aecorum in the front with Celestia and Luna a few steps behind on either side of him. Discord’s throne turned towards them and he laughed. “Oh ho hoh! This is so much fun, how about a game of Pin the Tail on the Pony?” He held up Celestia’s tail and all three ponies looked towards her in surprise as she gasped to see her tail was gone. Aecorum marched a few steps forward, glaring as Luna and Celestia followed. “Playtime is over for you, Discord!” he said firmly. Discord returned Celestia’s tail and began popping black seeds in his mouth, spilling them on the ground “Oh, I doubt that” He ate a few more and offered them to the ponies “Hungry?” He tossed a few seeds that bounced on each of their foreheads, but they maintained their harsh glare. Discord leaned back and shrugged “Suit yourselves.” He stuffed a handful in his mouth and started chewing. The ponies horns glowed and the Elements of Harmony floated out of their saddlebags to make a line in front of them. Discord dropped the seeds and put his talon to his chin “Oh! What have you got there?” Celestia replied “The Elements of Harmony.” The Elements swirled around the alicorns and made a bubble of magical energy. Luna lifted her hoof “With them we will defeat you!” Discord threw himself back in laughter on his throne before straightening up “You should see yourselves right now! The expressions on your faces, so intense, so sure of yourselves!” As he spoke the alicorns leaned forward and glared harder with determination. Discord laughed and the three glowing horns touched within the bubble of magic that made a rainbow spiral out and arc above, heading straight for Discord. As the rainbow approached Discord said “Hilarious!” and laughed before the rainbow engulfed him and he turned to stone. --- In the first few months after Discord’s defeat, Equestria was still entrenched in chaos. Aecorum, Celestia, and Luna had managed to fix most of it, but the cycle of days, nights, and tides was in pandemonium. In order to return things to normal, the three ponies had to combine their magic to make each day pass, but after a week Aecorum tapped into his inner power and gained control over the sea. After him, Celestia managed to raise the sun on her own, leaving the moon to Luna, but she still needed help. The alicorns stood on a large hill that rose from the coast of the western ocean. The hill had a view of nearly all Equestria and the alicorns often came here to watch over the land. Celestia had just set the sun and tonight was the first night Luna was going to raise the moon by herself. “You can do it, Luna!” Luna’s horn glowed and her face strained with effort as she used all of her power to try and do what other ponies could never dream of: Raising the moon. Celestia and Aecorum were standing beside her, smiling and encouraging her. She straightened her neck and the moon rose over the distant horizon. Celestia almost jumped with joy “You did it!” Aecorum’s smile got wider “I knew you could!” Luna’s breathing was a little heavy from the strain but she managed a chuckle as the moon shone in the early evening “I raised the moon!” Her face fell a little “It is just a shame that we cannot fix it permanently.” Aecorum sighed “Discord’s magic was too strong, there is some damage that can never be undone. But look at it this way,” He walked in between the mares “There are three pieces that need to be maintained, and there are three of us. Let us be glad that it isn’t more. Oh! Speaking of which, I need to send out the tide” He walked a little further onto the edge of the hill and looked towards the sea, closing his eyes and straining. His horn glowed a vibrant grey and after a moment of sweat dripping down his face he let out a deep breath and laughed “At least our cutie marks match.” He pointed to the wave on his flank, making the mares laugh a little too. Celestia nuzzled Luna “I am so proud of you, Little Sister. But there is something missing…” Luna looked up at her sister curiously and Aecorum raised an eyebrow “What?” Celestia smiled mischievously “Stars. There are no stars in the sky, and I think the ponies might like some, eh Luna?” Luna grinned “Of course! You two will help me, right?” Aecorum smiled and walked over to the mares “I think you can handle it.” He smiled up at the pitch black night sky “I cannot wait to see what you come up with.” He turned back towards Celestia and Luna “And who knows? In time, we may find our magic has other sides.” Celestia very slightly cocked her head “What do you mean?” Aecorum got a strange look in his eye, almost like he was looking at something a thousand miles away “I do not know…” --- A soft sigh escaped Aecorum’s mouth as he lowered himself onto his cot. Part wood, part stone, and part cloth, his bed wasn’t comfortable by any means but he had forsaken comfort long ago. His eyes wandered over his “bedchamber” and they rested on a simple wooden chest in a recess of the rock wall. The only things he had allowed himself to keep from his old life were in that chest, and with another sigh, he used his magic to bring it to his side. The lock on the chest faded as he cast the unlocking spell Starswirl had created for him, and it opened, revealing the simple treasures within. A dark green silk cloth with a hint of blue was wrapped around each piece to keep it safe. He shifted the cloth and pulled out a small yellow box with blue designs tracing it. The box opened and he picked up a seashell necklace, far too small for his adult neck, but it was a perfect fit when he was a colt. He stared at the shells and remembered the day when Luna and Celestia had made it for him. Luna had found the shells and Celestia weaved the thread through them. He barely whispered “I never deserved you. Either of you.” Aecorum closed the box, carefully put it back in the chest with his other memories, and placed the chest in its shelf. Locking the chest, he lowered his head and fell into yet another restless sleep.