//------------------------------//
// An Age Old Curse 
// Story: In A Time Unfamilar 
// by Sumiye 
//------------------------------//

"I'm not kidding, darling. No more of this fable was ever written. I am just as confused as you are, but it just...stops."

"Oh, come on! There has to be more! I mean, which kind of crazy egghead would write part of the greatest story in Equestria's history and then never finish!?" Rainbow Dash cried, snatching the small book straight from Rarity's telekinetic hold, flipping her hoof franticly through the pages. She let out a loud groan when she finally stopped, glaring directly at the ending words:

The Windigos cried out in agony as a swirl of magenta magic, twisting like a raging fire, slammed straight into their bodies, wrapping around them and erasing their physical forms of ice and snow. The magic slowed soon after, and it's creator, Clover The Clever, slammed back into the cave's ground, her pure white eyes returning to their normal violet as she gasped.

The magic stayed though, and it continued to twist until the two sides slammed into one another, creating a visible heart made of pure energy. With the warmth of the heart all three pony tribe's leaders were relinquished from from their frozen state. But they never noticed as the Windigo's eyes flashed for a final time, giving it's final victim's an everlasting curse...

Dust flew as it was slammed closed, and Rarity gasped as Rainbow threw the book down in rage. Her horn flashed in an instant, and the book came to a slow stop just before it hit the ground, now surrounded again by a light blue aura.

"Rainbow," Rarity scolded. "How could you do something so reckless!? This is the oldest book in the Canterlot Archives! It was given to us by Princess Celestia herself! And I, for one, do not want to be the pony who has to tell her that you," She jabbed a hoof straight at her friend's chest. "ruined it!"

Rainbow only scoffed, flicking the hoof away with ease as she flapped her wings to move higher up. "Weren't you just saying a while ago that this so called greatest book of all time," She waved her hooves around for emphasis. "was a bit too rustic for you?" She smirked as Rarity's shocked face.

"Well I-I don't b-believe that a-a-any m-more. It-It's just...I-I thought..I d-didn't a-actually mean...um...oh dear."

Rainbow's laughter only increased at Rarity's flushed face, and the unicorn turned around, slowly returning her breath to a slower pace as she shook the small book slowly, wincing as the dust moved close to her. She grabbed a nearby newspaper and blew it away, grinning guiltily as she returned the newspaper to the frowning stallion who was reading it.

"I don't think you're having that much fun, Rarity!" Pinkie Pie giggled, swinging over the unicorn as she bounded about. "We're going to give that book back today, so you won't have to worry about butter hooves dropping it anymore!"

Rarity smirked as Rainbow fumed in Pinkie's direction. "Wonderful choice of words, dear." She complimented as they moved along.

"Thanks!"

Rainbow grumbled, her wing beats slowing. "Not funny." She mumbled as they crossed yet another road. "Ah," Rarity sighed. "We're here!" She sang.

The castle gleamed as they neared the entrance, the guards by the doors glimmering in their suits of solid gold. Rarity couldn't conceal the shriek of joy. She waved her hooves around her muzzle to calm herself.

"Hello." She calmly greeted the colts. "We're personal accompanists of Princess Celestia herself, here for our weekly greeting."

She nudged Rainbow Dash.

"Uh, yeah!" Rainbow agreed. "What she said." Pinkie smiled, snatching the book from Rarity's hold. "We're here to return this old book!" She secretly whispered to the colts, placing it in front of them. The first guard floated it up with his magic grip, studying it closely.

"You may pass." He spoke, giving the book back to Rarity. The unicorn mare nodded as the group walked in, once more taking in the gorgeous sights.

Rarity sighed, eyes glimmering. "Oh, how I would adore living in a palace." She murmured, Rainbow groaning as she slowed her walk to a crawl. She latched her hooves onto the mare's side and pulled her forward.

"Stop doing this, Rares. It gets annoying."

Rarity shook herself awake, jumping out as she dusted the specks from her coat and mane. "Clean yourself, darling." She replied as Pinkie opened the next set of doors. Princess Celestia released a hum at the sound, smiling when she spotted who had arrived.

"Ah, my little ponies." She welcomed, gesturing for them to come forward. They complied. "How are we doing today?"

Rainbow huffed, crossing her hooves. "I apologize, Princess." Rarity said as the pegasus turned away. "She's been having a rough day, from what we have learned." Princess Celestia nodded. "The book?" Rarity mirrored the action made by the alicorn.

"I understand. Many ponies have trouble comprehending why it ended where it did." She chuckled when Pinkie came in close. "Can you tell us why?" she questioned excitedly. "Then maybe Rainbow won't be such a grumpy mare!"

"Stop calling me names." Rainbow snapped, but she couldn't conceal the look of interest that invaded her expression.

Princess Celestia lightly grabbed the book from Rarity's hold, the mare releasing her own magic. "The Hearthswarming Tale..." She began, flipping through the pages. "Explains the formation of Equestria, and how the pony tribes ended their decades long feud." She paused, glancing at the three.

"I trust you have read the book?"

"Of course."

"Yes indeddley!"

Rainbow shuffled her hooves. "Only the end." She whispered, her voice strangely quiet.

Celestia put on a warm smile. "Three tribes had chosen the same place to create their new empires. The Windigos, which fed off their hatred for one another, trapped them inside a crystal cave. The leaders had been frozen before, leaving only their assistants to fight."

"And they worked together!" Pinkie interrupted. "Pinkie!" Rarity shushed.

Celestia nodded nonetheless. "Exactly. They concluded that they had never hated one another, and their newfound friendship gave the unicorn the power to melt their forms away, releasing their leaders."

"But wouldn't their leaders still be fighting?" Rarity blurted. She slammed a hoof over her muzzle, blushing.

"You would think so. But the fire from their friendship had melted their icy hearts, giving them the chance to forgive the other's ways. And they did."

Pinkie shook with glee. "Yay!" She squealed. Rainbow pulled her down, confused. "But what about after?" She ventured. Celestia had her turn to have her cheeks turn a light shade of pink. "Yes," she assured.

"You see, I lived during the time the three tribe leaders still had lived. I had been close friends with Princess Platinum, and we loved to tell each other every possible secret."

Pinkie leaned to Rarity. "That's good friendship." She giggled. Rarity sighed, pushing her off onto the ground.

"And she told me what had happened."

Rainbow couldn't take the stalling. "What?" She cried, glaring. She winced when she realized who exactly she had yelled to. Princess Celestia was slightly surprised, before continuing with her story.

"Their assistants had been frozen by the Windigo's last curse, leaving hem encased for all eternity." She ended, waiting for when the silence was broke. "Is that true, Princess?" Rarity inquired after a few minutes had passed.

"I promise you, it is no lie."

Pinkie too seemed shaken. "Where are they now?"

Celestia's face turned sullen. "They were lost. Even I do not know where they are now." Her head hung low, tears threatening to fall.

Rarity came to the rescue. "Please, Princess." She comforted. "There was no way you could've stopped this. It was impossible." Rainbow flew over, stroking softly. "Yeah." She couldn't find the right words to say, already awkward from the situation.

Pinkie was still. "Does that mean...they're still out there?"

The mares thought. "I suppose." Rarity concluded, mind whirling. "But there is no way we can find them, darlings. For all we can tell, they are buried under millions of rocks and jewels!"

"Could they even live that long?" Rainbow asked.

Celestia nodded. "Princess Platinum explained to me the curse was a terrible fate, but it would never kill. The Windigo's did not have the power to make that possible." She lifted her head, soft eyes glowing.

"I promised if I found them, I would do all I could to bring them back."

"We can help!" Rainbow cried, thrusting her hooves into the air. Rarity gaped. "But it is impossible!" She yelled back.

Rainbow shot her down. "Nothing in the world is impossible." She calmly spoke. "They may be close, but everything has a way of being a reality."

Rarity stared. "That was...very mature of you, darling." She complimented. "Whenever did you come across such motivating information?"

The pegasus landed. "Been going to the Ponyville Library recently." She muttered. "I keep thinking that...somepony's missing from there." 

"I know!" Pinkie shouted. "Every time I go to Sweet Apple Acres, I feel kinda weird talking to the Carrots. I just doesn't feel right." She stomped a hoof down.

Rainbow Dash raised a brow. She then shrugged. "Maybe it's because they're...you know, 'Carrots' and not 'Apples'?" She suggested. Pinkie's eyes widened as she gasped. "Maybe it is!" She said. "But why aren't there Apples working there?"

Celestia raised her hoof, catching the other's attention. "Since the three were frozen, it may have had an effect on what could've been their ancestors. Ponies who could've have been alive this day are not, since their ancestors never lived more of their own lives."

Rarity silently agreed. "Then we'll keep a close eye out, right dears?" They both nodded, Rianbow gaining a confident look as she crossed her hooves.

They began their way out, but froze just before the door was opened. "Princess," Rarity started as she turned back around. "Is there anything specific you'd like us to do for the Summer Sun Celebration? It is your one-thousandth, after all."

"Nothing at all, my dear ponies." Princess Celestia answered, grinning. "This one will be special in its own way."