//------------------------------//
// Prelude (back story) 
// Story: The Legend of PonyX 
// by PonyXbyMisteMurdie 
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The legand of PonyX  
Writings by Mist’e Murdie 2014, based off the writings of My Little Pony by Lauren Faust



Many know the story of the Two Sisters quite well, or at least one side of the story. Kind and powerful Princess traps her evil sister 
on the moon, saving the world from her awful reign of terror, which the dark princess tried to impose on the land. Me, I remember it very 
differently.

The story dates back roughly about a four hundred years ago, oh and I’ll explain later how I lived to tell the tale, when I was just a filly. Two young princesses defeated the lord of Chaos and took a lead in ruling Equestria. The land seemed to be at peace, but the transaction of leadership still had a bumpy start. Most ponies feared both the princesses of day and night. They believed that ponies with such powers were dangerous and because of the confusion the filled the land, the older sister, Princess Celestia believed that it was best to rule the kingdom with a strict iron hoof. The younger princess of the night, Princess Luna, took her advice and both princesses ruled high over their subjects, on a forest hill, in the Castle of the Two Sisters. As time passed on ponies learned to trust the older of the two, believing that it was she that protected the ponies of the land, with her light, but continued to fear the younger, believing it was she that brought the dangers in the darkness.

Well, and then there was me…  I was just a little pegasus filly left all alone in the dark and rain. I was cold, wet and hungry. I couldn’t remember where I came from or who my parents were. That night a beautiful dark alicorn saw me crying and all alone, this was Princess Luna.  She took me in and raised me as though I was her own. Princess Luna named me “Emerald Shadow” because of my green color and dark hair… and because I followed her EVERYWHERE. Though other fillies liked to play in the day, I got used to the night. I began to understand the beauty the Princess saw in the stars, the fireflies and the beam of the moon that she loved so dearly. I just enjoyed being with her, no matter what the time of day. I knew if I was with her I was safe.   

Even her sister Celestia welcomed me in at first. To me at first, she seemed kind and caring, but bossy, terribly boss… in a polite way. Celestia was very nervous as her new role has high princess. She wanted everything to run smoothly and in order. She questioned everything and every pony. She had a strict set of laws and schedules that she put in order for every pony to abide by. That’s why, in the beginning, they didn’t relate with the common pony.  In a lot of ways, this was understandable. There were many enemies that challenged the new princess’s rule. These enemies believed that to pony princesses must be easy to over throw, so Celestia was constantly on edge. Luna often got frustrated with her sister’s overzealous actions, but for some reason every pony loved the high ruling princess, despite her dictations. 

The true friction started when I first got my cutie mark. Celestia and Luna came and was watching over the school that Star Swirl the Bearded taught for young gifted ponies. Luna insisted I was involved, even though it was well past my morning bed time. Princess Luna believed I had great powerful potential even though I was merely a pegasus filly that didn’t even have her cutie mark. Star Swirl agreed to tutor me.

The fiasco started when the other fillies made fun of me.  Most of them were there because of a magical gifting that their parents found early on and most of them already had their cutie mark. What made matters worse is I couldn’t fly. It was bad enough that I had a “Blank Flank”, but I was a pegasus that couldn’t even fly. The meanest filly in the class was Gold Star, the teacher’s pet. She was the biggest suck up in the class. She kept saying that I was a “Useless Pony with no talent at all”. I threatened to prove her wrong, while Teacher Star Swirl was trying to calm the class down. I just took it like everyone was on her side and ran for the door. Luna and Celestia met me there and attempted to reason with me telling me, “You just haven’t found your talent yet. You could end up being any pony you want”. After some time, I choked down the tears and gave the class a second chance, but Gold Star started in again. Finally, I got angry and stood in her face, “You know what? The Princesses’ said that me having no cutie mark only means that I can be any pony I want, so that means if I wanted to have a dumb old star on my flank I could!” Suddenly as I stare into her eyes a gold star appears on my flank. I turned and yelled at all the other ponies picking on me, along with her, “I can be ANY pony! I can even have all your talents!” My cutie mark was changing as fast as I could look over each pony in the eye. “I could even be the Princess of the Sun!” but before I could look Princess Celestia in the eye, Teacher Star Swirl put a temporary spell on me, which stopped me from being able to move or absorb anymore magical skills. He stopped and examined me. “She’s not all pony,” he marveled, “She has to be part changeling!” As I stood still, my ever changing cutie mark changed into a big black “X” and that became my official cutie mark. Celestia was horrified by all that went on and was almost frozen in disbelief. Luna quickly nudged me out of there as soon as the spell let me move.
At the end of that day, as I woke from my day’s sleep, I heard an argument between Princesses, Celestia and Princess Luna. I stood behind the door and listened without them seeing me. Princess Celestia insisted that if I were to stay in the castle I must be taken to Star Swirl to remove my ability, through a permanent magic spell. Luna appalled the idea. Luna believed that the incident that day, only proved her point, that I had special abilities that needed to be trained and guided. Celestia held her ground, believing I was a danger to myself and everyone around me.  Knowing Luna would not be able to reason with her, she regretfully agreed to take me to him as soon as I awoke. This was the beginning of Luna’s resentment towards Celestia and the things of the day.

I was scared and ran. I headed deep into the woods, believing that I wasn’t wanted. There was no way I was going to give up my own special talent, but maybe the fillies were right. Maybe the “X” meant I had no talent, I mean according to Star Swirl, I’m not even a pony at all. I ran and ran as tears flooded my eyes, until a familiar pony suddenly appeared directly in my path. 

I bumped into her legs and fell to the ground. It was Luna. “My dear, why are you running?” she said with a sympathetic voice. I never heard such softness in her voice. Although Princess Luna was the only kindness I ever knew, up until that point, she spoke with a loud commanding voice. I was just used to it. “You’re going to change me or send me away.” I sniffled and cried. She smiled and said, “I would never send you away and I would never change you. I’m going to hide your powers, the best I can till I can reason with my sister. I’m going to personally train you.”  She said and plopped a can of green paint in front of me. 

I wondered for a long time if Princess Celestia would discover that my cutie mark was painted over, not taken away. I also wondered how Celestia never found out from Star Swirl, that we never came to him to remove it, but I never wanted to give her a clue. In fact I stayed away from all things day, entirely. Darkness seemed more and more soothing to me.  

The problem was is that these secrets made Luna more and more resentful of her sister. Every time Luna would greet the commoners, they run for fear, like they always had, but this made her feel like it was Celestia’s fault. Celestia had to be getting ponies to take sides.  Luna began to believe that Celestia knew that Luna was keeping secrets from her, so she made the ponies of the land like her like the light and fear the darkness, even more than they already had. The constant tensions, between the two of them, only seemed to confirm her fears, to herself. 

Years passed, I grew up and I continued to stand by Luna. I was just about her only friend. Luna confided in me her personal feelings about Celestia’s rule. I reasoned with her that there had to be a better solution to all this.  After all Luna was a Princess as well. There had to be other ponies that loved her beautiful night, so maybe it would be best if the two of them split the kingdom. Luna could rule a kingdom of never ending night and Celestia could rule a kingdom of never ending day. That way everyone got what they wanted and the two princesses wouldn’t have to struggle under one house and one rule, anymore. Luna seemed intrigued by the idea and wanted to bring the idea before her sister. 

Before she did so she gave me a special gift that night. We were sitting outside by the pond at the edge of the forest, admiring the clear sky and all its stars. Luna turned to me with a sneaky smile on her face, and told me to close my eyes and put out my hooves. I wasn’t afraid of night crawlers and such but a gift from Luna was always a little on the strange side and often questionable in content, but she meant well. I expected the worst, but instead she dropped a little box in my hooves. I opened my eyes and stared at it. Luna was overwhelmed with excitement and stared at me expecting me to respond the same. I reluctantly opened the little box. Inside it wasn’t anything like I expected. It was a little rainbow colored marble like stone, set and made into a neckless. I looked at Luna puzzled. This was nowhere near her sense of fashion, if you could even use the word to describe her. I pawed at it and she interrupted my thoughts with, “It’s a mirror stone, from your half ancestor’s land. Changelings are very powerful and dangerous creatures and your part one of them”. 

I didn’t really feel thrilled that she was bringing this up and it showed on my face. She continued, “I believe there’s a reason you were brought to us. I don’t know what it was, but never be ashamed of your past; just use it to improve your future. This stone has the power to increase your abilities as part changeling. It’s to protect you and hide you from Celestia, if things turn for the worse. I’ll train you, through the weeks ahead, so that you will reach your full potential with it.” She places it on me and I shook from fear. I had no idea what it would do to the powers I already had. Luna commanded, ”Look at me in the eyes and copy my powers AND form!” I didn’t want to question her. I did what she said but could only continue to take on her cutie mark. We continued to practice until sun rise. I learned as far as to change my looks, but not as far as to look exactly like the pony I was mimicking. Luna also trained me to control the other pony’s thoughts enough to make them forget they saw the original version of me. We continued until we ran out of time and Luna had to present our idea to her sister. Little did I know that that was the last time I would ever get to talk to her like this, for hundreds of years.

That morning Celestia was in a tizzy. She paced back and forth in the castle throne room. Luna came in very sure that her idea was a brilliant one, but before Luna could say, “Sister I have a grand Idea…” Celestia looked at her with a scowl and yelled “Hypnotic mind tricks, ay sister? That’s how you hid from myself and Star Swirl that you kept Emerald Shadow’s abilities from us! Do you know the risk you put us all in?” Luna straightened up in frustration, “Sister there was no damage done. I have raised her as my own since she was merely a filly.  I simply believe that if she uses her power for good…” Celestia interrupts by abruptly holding open the locked case that the mirror stone was kept in. Luna’s face got seared over with anger, “The mirror stone was mine and I have the right to give it to whom I desire…” Celestia interrupts again, “Not to her! It’s too dangerous” This pushiness on Celestia’s behalf pushed Luna into presenting the idea. Luna raises her voice, “Sister I’ve been thinking, I think we should split the kingdom between light and darkness.” Celestia face turn stern, “You’re out of your mind, sister. The kingdom only fears you. No one will join you. Who will you even rule over? The answer is no. It’s much more secure under me!” Luna yells back, “There are some that loves the night and I’ll prove it by asking the commoners themselves!” Celestia pauses momentarily. “Ok I’ll let you have your own kingdom if there are ponies that want to follow you.” She snaps back.

The two of them go out before the ponies of the land, that morning and propose the idea. The ponies cheered as their beloved Princess Celestia addressed them with the plan, but when Princess Luna came out before them the Princess of the Night was awkward and loud. The ponies didn’t know how to take her and Luna responded by yelling at them to “Be Still Servants!” Celestia turns to Luna and responds yelling back at her, “Sister that is quite enough! You’re frightening them!” Tears filled Luna’s eyes and she ran back in the castle to the throne room, where she remained for quite a while. I wanted nothing more than to comfort her, but I couldn’t risk making matters worse for her. Celestia was angry I was even still around. I only wish I noticed the nightmare powers creeping around Princess Luna sooner. I wished I could free her from the shadow powers that consumed her that day. All I could do is hide and watch.

Luna’s tears turned to bitterness with in those few hours. Luna began questioning her sister’s entire rule. “The ponies fear me because of Celestia!” “The ponies hate the dark because of Celestia!” Luna mumbled these thoughts out over and over again. She hated the light more and more the longer Celestia waited to resolve things. Celestia took a long time before she came in to straighten things out with Luna, but at this point Luna’s anger became uncontrollable. As Celestia walked in Luna yelled, “Not another step!” Celestia pauses glaring at her. Luna continues her angered speech, “Did you really expect me to sit idly by while they all bask in your…. precious light? There can only be one princess in Equestria and that Princess WILL BE ME!!!” With that Luna eclipsed the sun with the moon. With all the bitterness that was over taking Luna the nightmare shadow powers, that followed her, took over Luna and changed her entirely. I lost my dear friend to the pony of Nightmare Moon!

Celestia realized what she done and tried to reason with her, but it was too late, her sister was no longer the pony she once was. Celestia tried not to fight her and commanded her to lower the moon because it was her duty, but Luna, who was now Nightmare Moon, desired only to destroy her sister, at this point. The pony I loved, as an older sister, that only wanted peace and to be loved, was now destroyed by this new dark power. I do blame myself for not seeing it sooner, but I blame Celestia more for her stubborn ways.  What Celestia had done next is what set me against Celestia to this day.

I came to run at their aid at this point, but I was gone unseen. I could only watch as the horrors took place. Nightmare Moon hit Celestia directly in the heart, making her plummet to the ground. I was too far away from the scene to make it in time to stop things. I was only close enough to see and hear. At first I thought Celestia was killed, but she rose and yelled “Oh dear Sister, I am sorry, but you have given me no choice, but to use these…” Celestia brought out the Elements of Harmony, the very magical jewels that represent unity an love and she was about to use them on her own sister. When they began to fight, I believed that Celestia was going to heal her, but I watched as tears filled her eyes and she took away the only pony that ever cared about me, sending her eternally trapped in the moon. I watch in disbelieve and bitter tears, until a few minutes pasted and Celestia turned to see me cry. She yelled, “Guards seize her!” Celestia blamed me for Luna’s fall. 

I ran! I took on the looks and talents of the guards, brain washing them to think I was running in another direction. Celestia knew better and cornered me several times, but without avail. I knew just enough magic to get away, through disguise. Celestia banished me from the kingdom. I heard her yell out over the balcony at me, “If you ever come back, I will turn you to stone, for what you have done to my sister!” and I have been running ever since.

It’s been some years since I returned to Equestria, but it wasn’t until I found a glimmer of hope. Some years after Star Swirl the Bearded passed away, I snuck into his study. It was a risky moved because Celestia was still looking for me, but she decided to move to a new castle farther away, because the memories of her old castle were too much for her. The old castle remained untouched for years, including Star Swirls old castle study. I studied what I could for magic, but could only look in short spouts, fearing that Celestia knew I was one of the only ponies the knew about the location of the old castle. One short visit I found a page in one of Star Swirls books that told me how to break the spell that kept Luna trapped on the moon. I learned I could use the Cosmic Staff of Astraios to bring the stars to life and aid in releasing Nightmare Moon, then and only then can she be healed from this dark power. The problem was the staff was broken and scattered throughout the world. I knew my purpose in life from there on out. I had to free Nightmare Moon!

I haven’t found much evidence of the staff or its pieces, to this day. It was in this time I learned that Changelings don’t die they wither away with holes, like a plant leaf being eaten by a bug. They can live for thousands of years, but they may not look great, but the end of them. Luckily for me I don’t have to survive by absorbing love and emotion from others, like my full blooded family members, but I have found a whole developing on the bottom side of one of my hooves. I’m hoping I hold out until my mission is complete. One last visit to the old castle is what sent me on my travels. I found a book on magical items that claims that the staff glows bright blue when you say, “Awaken the stars”. So I can only guess that all the pieces of it do the same. This gives me a better clue to help me find the pieces of the missing staff. I figured that I need to go by a new name, since Emerald Shadow was now the name of a convicted criminal. It was better to be not named at all, but if I figured if one would need to call me anything, they can call me PonyX.  I’m off to save my only sister…