Origins of Equestria

by LZRD WZRD

A Pestilential Inception

A series of indignant grunts awoke Celestia from her sleep. The sun was just beginning to shine through the forest and she wallowed for a moment in the warm summer air. Then the groans and grunts that had disrupted the young filly's dreams started up again, prompting Celestia to investigate. Weaving through the foliage, she found her sister Luna was hard at work practicing her magic.

"Luna, did you even sleep a wink last night?" Celestia queried.

Luna turned around suddenly and blinked her bloodshot eyes."Is it morning already?" she asked.

Celestia nodded. "What could possibly be so important that you had to stay up all night?"

Luna raised her head. "I've just about gotten my teleportation spell down," she answered proudly.

Celestia gawked. "No way! Have you actually teleported yet?"

"I'm not sure," Luna confessed. "I think I might have just a little during the night. Although I was so tired I may have just blacked out for a second."

Celestia smiled and shook her head. She walked over to her sister and rubbed her head affectionately against her side. "You really must not put so much strain on yourself, sister," she chided.

"But I want to be just as powerful as you," Luna protested.

"You're already very skilled," Celestia insisted. "I don't know of many unicorns your age who can use their magic the way you do. Why, just the other day you levitated a huge boulder off the ground! That takes special talent!" Celestia put her foreleg around Luna's shoulders. "I know you're feeling impatient, but in time I know you'll get the hang of it. There's no need to rush."

Luna smiled gratefully. "I suppose you're right," she conceded. "But I still need to practice if I want to improve."

"All the practice in the world won't do you any good if you're too tired to focus. Or stand up on your own," she said, feeling her sister's weight press against her side.

Luna straightened up and shook her head. "I guess I better go lie down for a moment."

"Take a nap," Celestia insisted. "I'll go out and gather some berries for us. Then maybe you can show me your teleportation skills once we both have a full stomach."

"Are you sure you'll be okay by yourself?" she asked.

Celestia nodded. "Don't worry, I won't wander far," she assured her. "And I've got a few tricks to keep out of danger."

Luna nodded her head and sauntered over to her bedding in the middle of a circle of bramble bushes. She crashed down into the soft pile of moss and leaves and closed her eyes. She fought the urge to get up and try to teleport again, knowing that she was in desperate need of rest. The faster I go to sleep, the sooner I can try again, she thought. And Celestia was right; she was just a young filly and had her whole life ahead of her to master magic. There was no need to rush.

After a dreamless sleep, Luna awoke to find Celestia was still not back. Stretching her legs, she decided to practice her spell again. I'll surprise Celestia when she comes back, Luna thought.

She turned her head and concentrated on the clearing on the other side of the brambles. She exhaled slowly and pictured herself teleporting onto a dry patch of grass a few feet away. She felt energy rushing into her horn and she strained to remain focused on the spot. Slowly, Luna felt her body begin to compress and a wave of excitement surged through her. This was enough to cause herself to break off from her target and she cried out as she felt herself materialize on top of the brambles. She hopped off and landed awkwardly on the ground. She laid there stunned, basking in her failure. But then she realized that she had indeed teleported and let out a triumphant shout.

"I actually did it!" she said to herself. She got to her feet and puffed out her chest, posing for the crowd that wasn't there.

Celestia strolled through the forest with a clump of berries dangling from her mouth. The tree canopy above her was abnormally dense, saturating the area in a pool of shadows. Suddenly, her ears pricked up as she realized that it was not just her vision that was unstimulated; she did not hear a thing. She became ever more aware of her own heartbeat and the soft crunching sound of her hooves against the leaves on the forest floor.

A dark shape shot out of the bushes in front of her. As her mouth opened in shock, two more shapes crashed into her sides, causing her to emote a shrill cry throughout the forest. Instinctively, she teleported away from her attackers. She appeared a second later on a thin branch twenty feet off the ground. As the branch began to give way, she leapt off and rolled along the ground.
She heard menacing growls behind her as she took off through the trees. She narrowed her eyes as she raced along, trying her best to avoid tripping on the debris around her. Ahead of her, the distinct glow of daylight broke through the forest. Celestia pressed her head forward in determination. Just a few more seconds and I'll have some room to maneuver and light to see. She could hear the rugged breathing of the beasts behind her.

With a final stride, she broke into daylight. She dipped her head down and felt her heart shoot into her throat and her momentary relief turn into horror. A hundred feet of air separated her from a shallow pool of water at the base of a waterfall. Despite this sudden juxtaposition of emotions, she turned and caught a loose vine in her jaws before she could fall to her death. She looked up and came face to face with her attackers: three fully-grown timberwolves.

Panic shot through Celestia's body as they snapped at her from a few feet above. Their rancid breath filled her nostrils, causing her eyes to tear up. She jerked her head around, desperately trying to find a safe place to teleport. Her mind and muscles were fatigued and a feeling of hopelessness overcame her. How long should I hang here? she thought. Would it be best to let go now, before the timberwolves drag me up? What I would give to trade this horn for a pair of wings!

"Celestia!"

Celestia turned her head to see Luna galloping towards her.

No, stay away! Celestia thought desperately.

Luna narrowed her eyes as the wolf pack turned to face her. She felt her energy manifest in her horn as she leapt off the edge of the cliff. Celestia screamed as she slipped and fell away from the vine. Luna stretched forward and caught Celestia mid-fall. She wrapped her legs around her sister and cast her teleportation spell. A moment later the two of them crashed through the waterfall and slammed onto the smooth, rocky floor of a tenebrous cavern.