//------------------------------//
// The Tale of Ardor : Part One 
// Story: Is It Everything You Dreamed, Miss Sparkle? 
// by Arreis Of Avalon 
//------------------------------//

	Twilight gasped as she stood – Or, rather, flew. Her hooves rested on nothing but air, leaving her simply hanging in the darkness. Nothing around but for a pony in the darkness. 
H-Hello, Twilight said timidly, her voice echoing around the oblivion. She looked around constantly, trying to gain some purchase of where in Equestria she was.
Please, don’t be scared of me, Miss Sparkle. The pony trotted out of the darkness. He was a tall stallion, gentle looking. His eyes were a deep, calming blue. His body was a soft shade of lilac, with a white base to his hooves. His mane was a mix of dark grey and black, but Twilight could just make out a hint of purple there. The thing she took the most notice of, however, was that the stallion was an Alicorn.
I… I’m not scared. Twilight looked around. I’m dreaming, right?...
That you are, Miss Sparkle. However, I can tell that you’re uncomfortable. Would another setting be more to your liking?
Another… Wait… This is a lucid dream… That means…  Twilight felt her horn glow softly, and in an instant, she was standing on the floor of the Golden Oaks library. Around her were millions of books, all ready to be read, all dusted with shiny, gold print on the covers. Twilight gasped, twirling around and laughing. 
Your library, then? The stallion smiled, chuckling softly. He pulled up a chair, sitting. I must admit, it is a rather cozy domicile. 
I’ve always loved it… Twilight smiled, sitting as well. Around her, the voices still echoed, but softer. It felt like she was at home. Care for a glass of tea? As she asked, a tea set appeared.
I would love one, thank you. After getting their cups, both taking deep drawls of the substance, the stallion put his glass down. So… You wanted to ask me a few questions, I believe. This can’t be simply a courtesy call. 
You’re right about that. Twilight smiled. She felt very relaxed. First of all, please, what should I call you? I feel strange, just calling you a voice.
The stallion laughed, smiling softly.  I have many names. You may call me what you wish. Another name is no matter to me. However… I am usually known as Ardor.
Ardor? I’ve never heard or read about you…
 I wouldn’t think you would. Ardor smiled, pouring her more tea.  I come from a long line of Alicorns… The same as  Celestia and Luna, to be exact. 
You’re related to the Princesses??
But of course. He set down his cup, chuckling. Allow me to divulge a small tale, Miss Sparkle.
Please, my name is Twilight. No need for so much formality. 
Alright, Twilight… Allow me to tell you the story of the Alicorns.
Twilight smiled at he began to speak. 
*~*~*~
Once, a long time ago, the tale most colts and fillies know of Hearths Warming Eve did occur. Ponies from all spans of life celebrated the day for eons. And, as with all spans of life and celebrations, ponies celebrated with… Well. Procreation. I won’t go far into detail, for both our sakes, but yes. Ponies had fun in various beds of hay which involved quite a bit of rolling.
In any case, ponies of all kinds were born. Pegasi, Unicorns and Earth Ponies lived together – And some fell in love with each other. They had… ‘hay rolling’ fun as well. However, they had only your average races of ponies. Nothing special. Everypony was fine with this of course; All but one.
His name was Star Swirl – Yes, you’re familiar with him. You see, he still saw the hatred in places of the world – The segregation. He wanted there to be a true leader, a true combination of ponies. He researched so much. He wanted a pony with the wisdom of the Unicorns, the strength of the Pegasi, and the stamina and the fortitude of the Earth Ponies. 
He traveled far and wide, but came across few answers. Few, that is, until he came upon the Draconequui Cult. A group of ponies, gathered to worship a sacred beast they thought would rise and bring about true harmony. Beings with untold power, the power to make or break a world. 
Star Swirl befriended the tribe of ponies, all of whom agreed with these… admittedly primitive ideals. He taught them of the world – And, in turn, they taught him more than he would ever have known otherwise. They taught him how to truly understand and use magic. The magic of all beings – They taught him how to harness the power of life. 
You see, all ponies in Equestria are only able to survive on a single power, a magic that holds us all together. Without magic in our bodies, we would die. Fade. It would be gradual, of course, but as magic fades, we do as well. There is a small failsafe, however – I’ll get to that in a minute.
Star Swirl learned to access that power within him. He learned more than he ever thought he would. He thanked these ponies… But these ponies decided that he knew too much. They wouldn’t let him leave.
When he revealed he wished to leave, they kidnapped him. Revealed to him something he had known not of… They did not understand what they taught him themselves. They lacked all harmony, you see. They were so busy worshipping, they lacked that vital spark of Life, Power and Magic to hold them together. And, so, they did what all religious ponies do. They went to their God.
Star Swirl understood what they did not – He knew how to enjoy, cherish and manipulate the power of life. How it formed, how it grew, and how it may be undone. They threatened, pleaded, begged… They even held a sacrifice. A small pegasus, badly deformed, that they had beaten to the verge of death. It was a young child, forced to wear the skull of a deer for the ritual. He would die without somepony’s help. And so, Star Swirl, knowing he could leave simply through brute force, but also knowing the child would die without his aid, did all he could think at that time.
He infused the magic of Life and Power and Magic into the child… But not even he could control it. He blacked out as the spell continued, as it drained him of his vital energy. The child latched onto the power and spark of all those around it, and it grew. It grew into… Into a monster all would fear.
When he awoke, Star Swirl was surrounded by the corpses of his captors… And a single beast, the Draconequus child now grown. The skull has fused with him, as the tribe had expected, giving him two twisted horns atop his head. His body was deformed as his wings had been, his visage a mess of confusion. Star Swirl asked, weakly, why the being let him live. Who this being was, why he had come to be.
And… The monster answered simply… “I am here because all ponies make mistakes… All Harmony has a drawback, every Light casts a Shadow… I am fear and chaos and evil in this world… I am the embodiment of all things disharmonious… I… am Discord. And I am a God.”