In the beginning, something happened. This must be true or there would be no beginning. Nopony knows what actually happened though. Throughout Equestria's history, there have been many myths of the creation of the world. None know which are true, for any evidence to verify them are lost to time.
One myth centers around The First Alicorn named Faust who created the world as a story and edits it still to this day. Other myths speak of a precursor race of bipedal beings like Minotaurs, but smaller, weaker, and more intelligent that died in a war of fire. Another speaks of The Song, a rhythm to the Aether that Unicorns draw their magic from, that created everything, but bad notes created strife and monsters.
A more obscure one centered around three creatures who worked together to create the world. First were the Titans. They were ponies that were bigger than mountains. They created the ground and oceans. They decided the world needed mountains and valleys, rivers and bogs, forests and deserts. The ground was shaped to their whim and made firm and fertile.
The Valkyre were the breath of the wind. All that was above the ground they set in motion. They gave the wind life, painted the sky blue, and decorated it with clouds. As a shining jewel, they created the Sun so everything could grow strong.
Finally, came the Shadows. They were not malevolent as most stories about shadows go. They saw what the Titans and Valkyre did and sought to aid their creation. They created the Night so the Sun could rest. They created the Stars and the Moon to bring beauty to an otherwise dark sky. They unleashed magic into the world that it could grow on its own.
The Titans, Valkyre, and Shadows looked upon it all and felt joy and pride at their efforts. However, they felt that to keep such beauty to themselves was a travesty. They decided to make the Pony race such that there would be others to enjoy the ground, Sun, and Moon. In doing so, they gave up important parts of themselves to the Ponies so they could enjoy the world and watch over it. The Titans gave their strength and connection to the land to the Earth Pony. The Valkyre gave their wings and mastery of the skies to the Pegasus. The Shadows took their magic and gave it the the Unicorn.
Content with all they had done, they left, never to show themselves again.
At least, that's how the story goes. As Twilight Sparkle had discovered, not only do myths and legends have some basis for their origin, they also have elements that are lost throughout time. Some of these facts can been verified by Princess Celestia, given her long life and centuries, if not millennia, of experience. Other ponies, like Daring Do, recover artifacts thought lost to time. But some information cannot be retrieved. Perhaps powerful magics can breach time to peer into the past, but they may have unforeseen consequences. There may be relics from ancient societies that will never be recovered, but they can tell nothing while lost. Even seemingly immortal creatures came after creation and could not tell the truth of it all.
For a Titan, a Valkerie, and a Shadow, they are happy for it to be that way.
"BIG MAC!" Applejack looked around for her older brother. Their last harvest had gone well and it would be some time before the next. They had a couple days to themselves, but as soon as she breathed a sigh of relief, her Cutie Mark started to glow. "Consarnit, where are you?! MAAAAAAAC!"
The large stallion that was the target of her search poked his head out of the barn. "Eeyup?"
"There you are! Mac, I have to git to the castle! Something funny's goin' on. I'll let y'all know what's up as soon as I can. Apple Bloom is out with her friends playing. I gotta run!" She jumped up and hugged him, before dashing off towards the giant crystal castle that made itself home in Ponyville.
As Big Mac watched her run off a fair distance, he turned his head back. "Well, we better get a move on ourselves." He exited the building and started walking towards the Everfree Forest. He didn't walk far before a grey pegasus landed on his head. In contrast to how most ponies would expect, she landed as light as a feather. "Derpy, please get off my head. It's cute and all, but we're risking discovery just being together."
The mare jumped off, did a backward somersault, and landed without even disturbing the leaves under her hooves. "I still don't see why I couldn't just fly out there to inspect it and be back."
"Because all three of us need to inspect this Tree of Harmony. We didn't create it, yet it seems to have quite an impact on the world. We need to know if it's a threat or a natural part of everything." The tone of Trixie's voice was full of disdain. Not for Derpy, but for what could be a true threat to everything. "By the way, now that we actually have a chance to talk, what is with your eyes?"
Derpy looked at her with her cocked eyes, which straightened out. "Oh, yeah. A few centuries back, I kept getting challenged to races and what not. A lot of fun. But one Unicorn noticed odd things about how I moved. He got too close. I made myself scarce and when I got reborn, I gave myself handicaps so others wouldn't challenge me. I'm not going to hide like SOME ponies."
Bic Mac just smiled.
"Fine, be all stoic and mysterious. Heh, I'm surprised you aren't more the playcolt with the ladies."
"You know that's not my style. It's the reason I prefer to be born into the Apple family. They've always been dedicated family ponies. I find that comforting. We tend to be welcoming but keep to our own. Unlike some flashy mares." He turned his head towards Trixie with a knowing smile. "The Ursa Minor was impressive, but the Alicorn Amulet? Why did you use that?"
Trixie turned her nose up. "It's all in the performance. Not to mention it was a win-win scenario. Her willingness to learn from others, the deception, the strategy? It was quite impressive on her part. Plus, it removes the Alicorn Amulet from circulation. If a Unicorn had gotten hold of that, it could have been bad. Ugh, Baltimare, 354 all over again." She shuddered at a memory that shouldn't have been.
Big Mac looked thoughtful before asking, "So you wanted to have her get rid of the amulet while testing her? Risky move, don't you think?"
Derpy flew in front of him and gave him an angry look. "Hey, that's not fair. We both knew what was coming. That Twilight could have been a real threat! The only one who could gauge how bad it could have been was a Shadow!" She slapped her hooves over he mouth as the last word slipped out of her mouth. "Sorry..."
Big Mac just smiled.
Trixie chuckled and pointed out, "I don't think we'll have too much to worry. As far as we've walked, I don't think there's anypony around to hear us." Sure enough, they were quite a distance into the Everfree Forest.