//------------------------------//
// Prologue 
// Story: Home Sweet Home: A Candy-Mare Tale 
// by Knackerman 
//------------------------------//

	A complex spell flared into life as the old unicorn shuffled through the thin papers of an almost impossibly thick tome. The sigils and eldritch emblems hung flaming in the air as complex calculations weaved them together into a dense matrix of light. All about the tables were piles of books, beakers, and jars of colored fluids, all lit by the soft glow of many dribbling candles. The thick puddles of spent tallow on the cold stone floor that streamed from wall sconces and dripped from the laden tables gave some indication of just how long Starswirl the Bearded had been at work on this particular thermological display. It was a more mundane device however, a simple cuckoo clock, that chimed to let the old mage know that he was running late. With a grumble and a spark of light from his horn, the display was snuffed out along with the the candle flames. He moved to the single shuttered window afforded to his high tower and threw open the shutters to the cold breeze, allowing some of the smokey air from within to drift out in a tangled plumes. As his vision cleared and adjusted to the light, Starswirl gazed out across the city. Snowflakes fell through the gathering twilight, and the unicorn couldn't help but smile as his eyes fell on the great spools of ribbon and garland that so festively decorated Canterlot.

Bells rang out across the snow wrapped city, bringing merriment and a lightness of the heart to all who heard them. Canterlot was beautiful in the winter, none could deny it. Though there were many who remembered the bitter chill that had gripped their ancestral lands,  even those who had every reason to shun the season had to admit that the spires of the former Alicorn citadel sparkled and shone magnificently beneath the frost. Gathering up his cloaks, Starswirl set out into the city. It had been very kind of the Alicorn's to gift the city to the unified tribes of Equestria, the old unicorn thought, as with a jingle of bells from his own wide brimmed hat the unicorn moved through the busy streets to his destination. Though he was sure that it was as much a gift to their new Princesses as to their people, having such a city as the new capital of Equestria couldn't help but bring pride to even the most jaded heart. One day he really would have to get around to finding out what land or nation it was to which the other Alicorn's had retreated. But given their great generosity, and their even greater power, he could leave them their mysteries for the time being. There were other matters of import for the fledgling nation, and it was Starswirl the Bearded's intention to guide Equestria to the best of his ability. Part of maintaining order in the new nation, the old unicorn knew, was reminding it of it's past. Already there were new generations being born who never knew a time when the tribes had been divided by distrust and disharmony, as much as by hegemony. Yet even so, lest they be lead to repeat the mistakes of the past, they would need to be educated on where it was they had come from, and just how fragile was the harmony they now enjoyed. 

It had been the Princesses themselves that had suggested that a play be commissioned. They had even set aside a grand hall, almost like unto a cathedral, wondrous to behold Starswirl thought as he gazed up at the edifice. Even more so inside, as it was bedecked with boughs of holy, bright red ribbons, and garlands of evergreen for the first performance. There was hopes, to be sure, that this might become something of an annual remembrance, and Starswirl thought it was very likely given the sea of pony folk that filled the great hall from end to end. It was clear from all the bright and smiling faces that this was viewed as something of a novelty, not just for the viewing public, but by all involved. He could see the actors, every now and again, nervously twitch aside the voluminous curtains on stage to peek out at the growing crowd. It was possible that never before in the history of ponykind had anypony had such a large crowd to perform for. While the art form was not unknown in the high courts of the unicorns, the recent past had seen such performances fall out of favor. The unicorns had no time for such distractions when they were still expending their best and brightest on the raising of the sun and the moon. The pegasi, always of a more militaristic bent, saw such frivolities as a sign of weakness. Even the humble earth ponies had shunned what few traveling performers of farce and tragedy they had, for their lot in life had been farce and tragedy enough to contend with in and of itself. Of course, in the past what few plays were put on would have been for only one tribe at a time, and often only dealing with matters relevant to that tribe. Which is why Starswirl had been surprised by the Princesses suggestion, and even more surprised by how enthusiastically everypony else had supported the idea, joining in the creation of what Starswirl hoped would stand a potent symbol of harmony. A tale about coming together, despite distrust and differences, and forming unshakable bonds of friendship that would hopefully prove a shinning example to all of Equestria. 

It was unfortunate then, to say the least, the look on some of the faces of those who sat in places of honor in the audience. Princess Luna and Celestia themselves were in attendance of course, wearing smiles that were just a little strained. The source of this problem was perhaps his own apprentice, Clover the Clever, who sat near them with a stormy look on her face. Clover had been by turns morose and frantic the last few days, and it was likely she viewed this play as nothing more than a distraction from the work she and Starswirl had been so dedicated to. The old unicorn thought it was better for them to take a break to enjoy the play and be reminded of all the good things that had come from the founding of Equestria, rather than dwelling on the dark problems of the moment. Then again it was possible that the problem was Commander Hurricane, who sat ramrod straight and blank faced on the other side of the Princesses, flanked by a pair of armed pegasus guards. The Commander had been distant of late, but Starswirl couldn't blame him. He hoped his friend would come around eventually, but he had always been a pegasus of action, and it was clear he'd much rather be out scouring the land for enemies rather than sitting in his officers uniform in this stuffy and loud hall. Princess Platinum and King Bullion were in attendance of course, but they wore the haughty, distant expressions of all nobility when surrounded by peasants. The only genuine smiles were worn by Smart Cookie and Chancellor Puddinghead. Of course, these last two did not yet know the reason for their other friends agitation. Starswirl would have to remedy that, but it could wait until after the play.

It was starting now. The curtains were rising up. It began with a cold wintry wind, and the gentle falling of a few flakes of snow...