It took far more willpower than Solaria was willing to admit not to scream as her magic continued its stubborn refusal to function as she intended. Through countless days and nights, she continued to force her magic to operate, and with each failed experiment her frustration grew. The mountains were not torn asunder, the seas did not freeze solid, and the cities did not burn to the ground before her hooves. As though to add insult to injury, she could not even eviscerate the small rabbit that was looking up at her. One armored hoof rose into the air above the rodent, only to halt mid-strike. This time, Solaria did give voice to her frustration, which caused the rabbit to flee for its life.
It is not just my magic, but my body as well? What did you do, fiend? What did you do to me? Solaria fumed. My magic still functions in some form, but in a way that is so haphazard that I cannot rely upon it. Why would the Traveller place such a curse upon me? What value does he see in these mortals, that exist and expire in the fastest blink of our eyes?
A quiet snap of a branch in the forest around her brought the alicorn on guard, and a quick scan revealed two unicorns warily approaching her position, though they were still some distance away. Solaria’s first thought was to announce herself and demand their obedience and aid, but that unpleasant emotion she had first experienced back in her throne room gripped her. Without my full powers, what have I to support my demands? They would seek to disobey me at every juncture without the threat of force. I need… a different approach. If I approach them as I am now, I cannot command their obedience. The commoners have always been more accepting of members of their own tribes. If these unicorns can lead me to an enclave that can undo the Traveller’s curse, I may yet again be able to salvage this situation.
After checking briefly to confirm the approaching pair’s location, Solaria began to alter her physical form. Her wings vanished and her stature began to diminish into a more common size. Her mane and coat also adjusted their hue, the former a shade of pink while the latter faded to pure white. As an added touch, her unadorned flanks were graced with marks representing the sun to complete the illusion. Once Solaria was satisfied with her disguise, she began her trot towards the two unicorns.
“Halt, and declare yourself!” shouted a voice from the depths of the forest, and a bright light temporarily blinded the faux unicorn. While her eyes adjusted to the light level, her other senses clearly identified one of the approaching ponies lurking in the darkness nearby while the other waited further away.
Solaria stood tall and drew a breath to speak, but the words stuck in her throat. How do I introduce myself? The simplicity of the question made a mockery of her as she began to flounder for a response. I have heralds to introduce me! And I can’t name myself as Solaria, since that would defeat the purpose of this disguise! An increasingly uncomfortable feeling began to take hold as she struggled to recall any point of reference on just how the commoners proceeded with this type of interaction.
The light in front of her winked out, but one remained near the unicorn stallion that stepped out from behind the trees. He was mostly hidden beneath a ragged cloak that dragged against the snow, and a wide-brimmed hat hid most of his features save for his snout and the modest beard that hung from it. “I apologize, child, I did not mean to startle you,” he said as he surveyed the area around them. “How did you get here? You don’t have a stitch of clothing to protect you from the cold, nor any provisions to survive in the wilderness.”
“I--” Solaria started before floundering again. Cease your questions until I can fabricate a name! she wanted to command. And who are you calling ‘child’? I was ancient before your species existed!
The hat tilted sideways and she finally caught sight of the unicorn’s wary gaze. “You must have just escaped the capital. I had heard rumors that the city had been taken by the rebels, but I thought the Magister’s Terrace still stood. I imagine it was just a matter of time before it fell as well. Are you alone?”
“Yes, I am alone,” Solaria finally answered, but her mind was abuzz with what the stallion had said. Rebels have captured the capital? How long have I been away?
The stallion surveyed his surroundings one last time before nodding. “My companion and I were returning to a safe haven. If you would like to join us, I will speak on your behalf.” When Solaria nodded, he turned back the way he had come and raised one hoof from within his cloak. Wrapped around it was a strap lined with bells, which jingled merrily as he shook his hoof twice in the air.
Almost immediately a foal-sized figure wrapped in a cloak bolted out of its hiding place and sprinted through the snow towards them… only to trip and faceplant into the snow spectacularly.
The stallion chuckled before he spoke. “Lulu, did you cast the detection spell we have been practicing?”
“I forgot!” the foal answered immediately as she rose just as quickly to resume her sprint. She skidded to a halt before the pair, and her hooded head alternated between the two of them. “Oh, who’s this, a new friend? Oh, it’s a unicorn! And it’s a mare! This is going to be great! I hope we can be friends, and you can teach me magic! Clover is too grouchy and Swirly is too boring--”
“I’m standing right here…” the stallion said with a tired smile, but he didn’t interrupt any further.
“--so it would be really awesome to learn magic from you! Would you teach me all sorts of magic pleeeeeeaaaaaaaassssse?”
An increasing amount of frustration was beginning to build in Solaria as she was given yet another social situation to deal with. The elder seems tolerant of the child, I may be able to curry favor by agreeing… “I’m sure something can be arranged…” Solaria answered, and the foal’s response was not what she expected.
“You will? Yes! Yesyesyesyesyesyes--” the foal leapt up into the air and screamed with what Solaria assumed was joy. The foal began to circle Solaria while jumping, only to trip and fall onto her face again. “Ouch, that one really hurt.” She sat down and her hooded head turned towards the stallion, who obligingly sat down beside her.
“My name is Starswirl, and this is my granddaughter, Lunar Lullaby. She prefers to be called Lulu though,” the stallion introduced himself and the child as he retrieved a finely woven washcloth from his bags. He slowly pulled back Lulu’s hood before asking, “I don’t believe I have gotten your name yet, Miss…?”
Solaria barely heard the question as Lulu’s face was revealed. Most of the coat on her face had been burned away, and the flesh that remained was puckered and wrinkled. Unblinking, milky-white eyes stared blankly at Starswirl as the washcloth began to wipe away the snow and dirt from her face.
“Sunny Sky,” Solaria was finally able to say, the alliteration finally coming to her after she heard the introductions of the other two ponies. “My name is Sunny Sky.”
“Is that so?” the stallion asked, and Solaria once again got the smallest glimpse of Starswirl’s eyes from beneath his wide-brimmed hat. She did not know facial expressions enough to classify what that look meant, but it seemed akin to suspicion and that made the matriarch-in-hiding more than a little tense. The moment came and went, and the stallion replaced the washcloth before giving the foal a pat on the head. “We should return to our camp soon. The cold is dangerous in this forest at night, but it’s not the only thing that can kill here.”
“Indeed. Let us proceed to your camp. I suspect we have much to discuss,” Solaria said as her gaze moved away from the now hidden features of the foal to the stallion’s. “Why do we delay?”
Again, Solaria found herself under the watchful eye of Starswirl, and the silence began to stretch uncomfortably before he spoke. “Aren’t you cold? I’ve seen stallions and mares come down with frostbite from just a few hours exposure in these elements. Here, child. This will suffice until we can make it to the camp.” A simple heavy cloak appeared in a flash of the unicorn’s magic and draped itself over her back, and after a few brief moments Starswirl asked incredulously, “Do you need me to tie that for you?”
“No, you do not,” Solaria replied stiffly, the drawstrings already moving with her magic to secure it around her neck. You should not offer such things without me demanding it, she thought, and her annoyance at the unicorn’s tone was tempered by an emotion that Solaria rarely felt: confusion. Why would any of these mortals waste their efforts on another who does not demand it? It makes no sense to squander what little time and energy they have before they expire. Any further contemplation of Starswirl’s motives were lost as she saw the two unicorns moving deeper into the forest. A quick trot was all that she needed to catch up.
------
Darkness was rapidly approaching as Starswirl brought the trio to a halt. He let out a small sigh before turning back to Solaria. “We are almost to our destination, my dear, and there are a few things that I must share with you. Calling our destination a ‘camp’ may have been a small understatement, as there are entire families that live there and they are simply trying to stay safe and warm. You are welcome to stay as long as you contribute to the community, but I would understand if you feel the need to leave. If you grew up in the capital then there are things in this village that might not make sense, but--”
Any further explanation was interrupted by a brilliant flash of light and a tremendous shout from all around the little group. Neither distraction was enough to do more than inconvenience Solaria, and she doubted anything in this forest might prove to be a threat to her. Still…
“Clover! Cease this nonsense at once!” Starswirl snapped, and the distractions abruptly stopped. A quick glance to the older unicorn showed no small amount of annoyance even as he glared out into the surrounding forest. A unicorn stallion in robes that Solaria vaguely placed with the Magister Guard stepped out from behind one of the larger trees and levelled an equal glare at Starswirl.
“We cannot be lax in our security, sir. Your optimism will not defend us against raiders. Plus, you’re returning past your appointed hour and I could not leave the wards down at night,” the newcomer explained. “We were also expecting only two, but I see you have a third with you. Are you certain that you were not followed?”
The annoyance on Starswirl’s face melted into an expression that Solaria had never seen before as the elder unicorn glanced her way. “I found this young one wandering in the forest without so much as a cloak on her back, Clover. If she were bait for some nefarious plot or an infiltrator seeking to compromise our refuge, then I’m afraid she’s somewhat lacking when it comes to planning her scheme.”
Discomfort at Starswirl’s too-close guess at her duplicity immediately crashed into the annoyance she felt at the implication that she was incompetent at anything. Before she could voice her objection at the characterization, the other stallion spoke up again.
“Ignorance and ineptitude can be just as destructive as nefarious intent, Starswirl. This powderpuff…” Clover said harshly, “...might not be a spy, but she has all the markings of a capital softhoof if I’ve ever seen one. We can’t have deadweight, sir. We’re stretched too thin as it is.”
“I won’t argue that point, Clover, but I would argue that your wife would turn nopony away. If she had, we would both be dead right now,” Starswirl said with a simple smile, and the glare that Clover shot the elder unicorn seemed to indicate that this was a conversation the pair had explored many times in the past. “Besides, I suspect this young one will have much to offer us. I will explain in greater detail once we are out of this terrible cold.”
Clover snorted with annoyance as he cast a glare at Solaria before turning to lead the trio deeper into the trees. “The place you enter now is a place of equals, princess,” he said, and Solaria felt a spike of annoyance at being addressed so rudely. “Nopony here is your servant, and if you intend to stay here then you will work alongside the ponies that you no doubt considered beneath you. Or you can leave and freeze. Perhaps if you beg, then Queen Solaria will end your suffering quickly.”
“Don’t let grumpy Clover get to you,” Lulu said cheerfully as she interrupted Clover’s rant. “He acts that way around almost everypony. He never wants to play, or teach me any magic, or laugh at my pranks or anything!” The stallion in question did not rise to the bait, but he did look back to glare at the filly. Lulu’s response was to stick her tongue out at him.
The treeline began to recede and flickering lights from several buildings could be seen. Clover led the group right up to the door of the largest building before he hesitated. One hoof rose to knock but the door flew open with a bang!
It was then that Solaria was convinced that the world no longer made sense.
“Do you know how worried I was? You jump up and teleport away from supper without so much as a word why!” an earth pony mare bellowed from the doorway. “I’ve been worried sick, that’s how much! Don’t think you can just canter back in here without an extremely good explanation, Clover!”
“Someone’s gonna be in the doghouse,” Lulu whispered just loudly enough for everyone to hear, and she feigned innocence as Clover shot a glare at her.
“The outer wards were tripped by the those two,” the stallion explained quickly while indicating towards the elder and younger unicorns before turning his attention to Solaria. “They were delayed by a mare that escaped the capital.”
“Oh, you poor dear. Are you alright? That place simply isn’t safe anymore for an innocent young mare like yourself,” the earth pony said, her tone switching from outraged indignation to gentle concern in a heartbeat. “Come on inside, we’ll get you warmed up and some food to eat, alright?”
Solaria was so stunned by the scene she saw that she offered no resistance as she was herded inside the large building, and she barely noticed when the earth pony kicked the door shut while Clover was still outside. The interior of the building was dominated by what was likely a primitive banquet hall, with large tables and unadorned wooden benches packed onto the crowded floor. Roaring flames filled the fireplaces and filled the room with both light and warmth, and nearly every place a pony could sit was already taken. Earth ponies, pegasi and a few unicorns of nearly every age could be seen eating at the tables or sharing stories around the fireplaces.
The earth pony mare said something, but Solaria didn’t hear the words. It took every ounce of her concentration to try and comprehend the… impossibility of the three tribes socializing before her. It was chaos. It was mayhem. It should not exist.
Evening folks! Wanted to get this out and strike while the iron is hot, so to speak! I'm hoping to get another chapter done on Mente Materia before I start the next chapter of Celestia. Since the Celestia chapters are a bit shorter, I hope it'll get done quick!
5668522
I noticed!
5668544 Hey, dude.... the story got featured at some time either late last night or today.... still currently sitting there in the feature box!
Edit: To those who are wondering what he responded to, I had basically said what I said in this box that Arad responded to (the one that he replied to I accidentally deleated).
Have I missed something? Why is Clover a stallion in this version?
5668667 Well, to my knowledge, there is no official canon gender for Clover the Clever in MLP:FiM. Sure, Twilight played as her in the Hearth's Warming play, but that doesn't mean the historical figure was female. Afterall, Twilight also dressed as Starswirl, and we know THAT'S a male (at least, let's hope so.... I HAVE seen women with facial hair before lol).
With that said, Arad probably just took liberties with that open-endedness of Clover's gender and decided to go with stallion for reasons.
Just found this story... Very interesting so far! I loved Stardust, so I'll be watching this to see how you relate it to that universe.
A couple of things caught my eye in terms of proofreading, if you're interested.
Ch. 1, "if you're willing to put in the efford" ... Unless there's a river or money pun I'm missing.
Ch. 2,
“Do you need me to tie that for you?”
“No, you do not,”
The pronoun agreement there isn't quite right. Maybe "No, I do not" or "Do I need to tie"?
5668667
It was never canonized that Clover was a mare. But seriously, that's what you focus on?
5668667
One story has Starswirl be an Earth Pony mare really good at conning people.
5668739 Linksies?
5668745
http://www.fimfiction.net/story/13230/The-Legend-Of-Star-Swirl-The-Bearded
Never got around to reading it, and it appears to be dead.
I think I've found the mathematical formula for Lunar Lullaby's character:
{FL × (FT - B)} + {SD + (HI × TF) = HNNNNNNGGG!
FL = Filly Luna
i874.photobucket.com/albums/ab302/Church0/Filly%20Luna%20-%20Little%20Moon%20Princess_zpst9pgc7tu.png
FT = Filly Twilight
i874.photobucket.com/albums/ab302/Church0/Filly%20Twilight%20-%20Bookworm_zpsmxpaai4e.jpg
B = BOOKS!
i874.photobucket.com/albums/ab302/Church0/BOOKS_zpsbmvcnbxs.png
SD = Snowdrop
i874.photobucket.com/albums/ab302/Church0/Snowdrop%20-%20Dream%20of%20Flakes%20and%20Snow_zpsbokqjht3.png
HI = Hanako Ikezawa
i874.photobucket.com/albums/ab302/Church0/Hanako%20-%20Shy%20Attire_zpsukuzn3ys.jpg
TF = Tragic Fire
i874.photobucket.com/albums/ab302/Church0/Hanako%20-%20Burnt%20Childhood_zpshc5t0obs.jpg
HNNNNNNGGG! = My heart imploding from the feels.
i874.photobucket.com/albums/ab302/Church0/The%20Ultimate%20HNNNGG_zpspwzgjod5.gif
Thanks a lot, ya wonderful bastard. Now I have to wait till the paramedics are done reviving me before I can write a real review.
“My name is Starswirl, and this is my graAAAAAAAAAAHOLY FUCKING SHIT O_O
Solaria experiencing uncertainty, fear and culture shock. Heh... and the poor thing is even subjected to kindness and altruism. The horror.
And 'Sunny Skies'... well, it seems that even a fake cutiemark will, in the end, determine your destiny if worn long enough.
5668667
During the Hearthswarming Pageant, the Bearers of the Elements of Harmony played all major roles. All of the Bearers of the Elements of Harmony are mares, so the characters had to be mares. The original ponies could be either mares or stallions.
5668989
The masks we choose to wear are our true faces.
5669193
Damnit. I knew there had to be a downside to going as a werewolf for every Halloween.
5669266
You could say that on all levels except physical, you are a werewolf.
5668950
Pretty much my reaction. Guess who's gonna ascend? Also, that subtle Snowdrop reference.
So Clover is a pragmatist in the face of the rest of the ponies. Wonder what caused that? Platinum, or the loss of someone dear during the uprising? Going for the latter, tempered by the former.
Hmmm. Luna Lullaby. I swear, Arad, if you make a reference to the Ponyphonic song...
Remove the, or add missing words
Now, is this only a 'what-if' story, or is this the definitive back story for the Stardust verse?
If Solaria is capable of calamities like these on a whim, one wonders how banishing the attack on Canterlot winded her so badly. The curse perhaps? But then, how did she defy it at all? Oh, but Twi gets to do everything Solaria did duty free. Heck, she was following in her stony hoofsteps already as a unicorn! She just has to get over the whole 'conscience' thing. Bleh.
5668544
Minor nitpicking: the story description says
But isn't it actually a prequel?
Even in "what if" continuity it's still a prequel.
I get the feeling that Starswirl is a crafty old wizard who might just know more than he is letting on.
5669856
Technically the first chapter makes it a sequel even if all the content is prequel in nature.
5668544 Traveller as in "Traveller" from Destiny?
5670117
5669856
Well if you want to be exact it's a sequel to Mente Materia which is a sequel to Stardust but story in this is really a prequel to it soo yeah
Wan't Clover the clever mare? And Starswirl came long after Clover. They didn't live in the same age.
5670399 In the hearth's warming episode I thought clover said that Star Swirl was her mentor.
5668713 I will second that it should be “No, I do not”, but the oher possibility you mentioned doesn't really make sense to me, not just because of its awkwardness and not having a question mark but more importantly because she was already tying it as she said what she said.
Just had to re-read a few parts of 'Stardust' and even found what I was looking for:
Well... it probably wasn't for lack of trying (or wishing, at least).
Love how these two stories so far tie into each other so seamlessly.
Alright, the doctors gave me the all-clear after that massive heart attack induced by Lulu's introduction. They said I'll be fine as long as I avoid anything with a d'awww level over newborn kittens for a couple days. Anyway, analysis time!
The state of anarchy the land is in combined with Solaria's numerous elaborate attempts at being destructive make me think she's been absent for a few years. Not long enough to be forgotten but just enough for the power vacuum to have thrown the entire system out of whack. What's really interesting (and unsettling) is that Solaria seemed oblivious to anything outside her own attempts to break the curse. When you're an ageless eldritch horror the passage of time can seem like an afterthought. Perhaps one of the many purposes of the curse is to force Solaria to expand her focus of the world; try and see it from the perspective of a species who know their time is finite and have to make the best of each moment.
And speaking of eldritch horrors, I'm wondering just how old Solaria is. She's stated to have been ancient before ponies even existed as a species. Hell, her original alicorn form may be another disguise she wears to mask her true being. She might not even be native to the planet or its star system. Solaria and Discord may have more traits in common than expected (besides manipulating the development of life on planetary levels).
And I'd be remiss if I didn't mention grandpa Starswirl. He gives off this world-weary sage vibe that still has enough optimism to keep him going through tough times. He knows Solaria (aka Sunny Skies) isn't who she claims to be, but he's not cold-hearted enough to turn away someone in desperate times.
The best part, though, was the bells. I've seen a lot of fan-theories about them being imbued with powerful magic and whatnot, but your version is the most basic, utilitarian and heartwarming I've read thus far. Think about it; in a time of desperation that would drive normal citizens to thievery and murder, having something as noisy as bells on you would just attract unwanted attention. But its a risk Starswirl takes not for himself, but for Lulu. Being blind, she must rely on other senses (i.e. sound) to even hope to survive. The bells become a way for her to stay with her grandfather and, based on how they may be rang, identify the danger of certain situations. Its a great way of showing Starswirl's intelligence, creativity and love for his granddaughter without dedicating over three paragraphs of explanation.
Excellent work as always. Can't wait to see more of Solaria's reaction to this brave new world.
5670399
This entire story hinges on the fact that Celestia did a lot of rewriting in the history books.
I wouldn't be surprised if Solaria's magic was not working because she was pregnant. I doubt Solaria is remembered fondly, the Princess certainly wouldn't want ponies to know she was her mother. Though I guess we might be going with Solaria is Celestia and Lunar Lullaby is Luna. Not going to say which option is better, as how the situation is handled is more important to the story quality.
5668693 I believe that Clover was canonically female according to The Journal of the Two Sisters, the TVTropes-page of it, anyway, since I haven't read it, myself.
Oooo, I was wondering where Luna was. Interesting, unless we learn something incredibly unexpected there's no way she can be Celestia's blood sister.
I like this camp of refugees, and look forward to seeing Solaria start on the road to becoming Celestia on account of their influence and her "curse". I'm also wondering if there's anything that might be done for the scores of petrified ponies she's apparently left in her wake over the years. Future garden statuary?
Is this a canon backstory for the Celestia we know in Stardust and sequels?
5669444 Hmm, fear would be a good guess, but I have this feeling she's always had that. She was just very good at keeping it deeply buried, until this event where the Traveler took away her ability to cause fatal, permanently debilitating injuries, or long lasting damage to whatever irks her has now brought that fear clearly to the surface. My basis for this is the Traveler (Discord) himself.... as we know from Stardust and Mente Materia, we've seen how powerful he can be (leagues above Solaria/Celestia if he applies himself) and yet even he has fears.
While certainly there hasn't been much to this tale to show her having empathy, but if we apply what we learn here with what we know of Princess Celestia from Arad's other stories, it is certainly correct on your part to guess that she gained that emotional aspect that she clearly lacked when she was "Ice Queen Supreme". The other thing that the Traveler gave her.... and this is VERY important, because without it, her gaining empathy would be beyond meaningless: a conscience. The definition of empathy is: the ability to understand and share the feelings of another. The definition of conscience: an inner feeling or voice viewed as acting as a guide to the rightness or wrongness of one's behavior. You've seen the upcoming "Avengers: Age of Ultron" teaser trailer, have you not? The song he quotes from Disney's Pinocchio (I Have No Strings) was a well thought out way to show the audience how dangerous Ultron is. He has no 'strings' (conscience) to 'tie him down' and thus feels he can do what he wants to humanity because he has the power and drive to do it, not because it is morally right or wrong. Now, replace Ultron from that last sentence with "Solaria" and humanity with "ponies" and it is the exact same thing. She now has a vague feeling of right and wrong that will only grow stronger with time, all thanks to Discord's "touch" (which, if you noticed, didn't change her coloration like it would to the Mane 6 some millennia later, that was a choice SHE made to blend in with the locals that she never had the heart to change back). The best piece of evidence that shows her having gained a conscience in relation to these stories is from Fortitude Amicitia, where when one of Solaria's dungeons/statue prisons was located she wanted them gone because "past sins should be buried and forgotten", showing that the guilt of what she used to do on a regular basis when she had the ability to do so haunts her to this very day. Of course, as I once stated long ago, that is a dangerous thing to do.... after all: "Those who don't learn from the past are doomed to repeat it; those who don't care to learn are just doomed."
5671327 Ah, if she is in that, then she is. I too haven't read it, so I wouldn't be able to say one way or another. But for the purpose of this fic, Clover's got junk lol; chalk it up to artistic liberties on Arad's part.
5671255 All signs from this story, combined with the other tales in the Stardust series, point to Celestia being Solaria and vice-versa. For one, given her view on mortals, it is doubtful she would 'lay' with one and get pregnant from the result. For another, given how well versed with ice-magics (and other deadly combat magics that she couldn't call upon) Celestia was when she fought against the mutons and the white-armored Ethereal in Mente Materia, it is obvious that she is Solaria (again because the Traveler's touch is making it impossible for her to either magically or physically assault anyone with lethal levels), just like when she couldn't assault the bunny in this chapter with either her mind or her hoof...... which is sad, because tens of thousands of bunny-generations later from that bunny, we got this little pain in the butt: fc04.deviantart.net/fs70/i/2011/146/1/f/mlp__fim_angel_by_matva_the_ysalamiri-d3hajrf.png
Anyways, my own thoughts and musings now (both serious and silly). It should be noted that the Traveler could be trying to show "Sunny Skies" that a strict way of controlling her living subjects isn't necessarily the best.... after all, this quote is quite telling about all the various ponies living and cooperating together and are HAPPY about it!:
All things that could very easily describe how Celestia/Solaria feels about Traveler/Discord.... and shows that the latter was far more in the right on how systems should be allowed to operate.
And now something silly to end my long, LONG spiel:
This from his wife, plus Lulu's teasing remarks in regards to him, I can't help but wonder if Clover has THIS GUY as his 'destiny mark': jeffpearlman.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Screen-Shot-2013-12-27-at-9.41.00-PM.png (10 points to y'all if you get the reason WHY lol).
5671595
This will be the canon backstory for the Stardust series. :)
5671638
Well I will point out that if the traveler is what I think he is then Solaria doesn't need to have be fertilized in the normal way, he could have simply MADE her pregnant. Nothing says Alicorns born Alicorns are convinced naturaly
5671741 When did you decide this? The link to the stardust thing wasn't there when the story was published I think. To be honest I don't like getting into the story in the second or latter installation.
5672083
I had the ideas for this story in my head way back before Solaria was first mentioned in Stardust. I think that was the 3rd or 4th chapter?
It's been a loooooong time coming. Now, the hints are a -lot- more subtle.
5672111 In that case how come it didn't have the sequel thingie? Why even try to keep others in the lurk? I am also pretty sure there must have been more tags... don't remember.
Also... Traveller? As in Destiny Traveller? From the game destiny.
5671741 The only question I really have is this.
Does Luna know about Celestia's backstory at all?!?!? And who the bloody hell is this storyteller stallion if she doesn't know.
5672122
The reason this story has this text:
Is because I put Stardust's story ID into the 'Prequel' field of this story when I published it. While chronologically this story is before Stardust, it was written afterward. Until I can take advantage of new ways to link stories together in such a way that fans of the first story are notified (as in side stories and prequels), then this is the best that can be done.
In regards to why I wrote Stardust first, then this, I imagine it's the same reason RA Salvatore wrote the first three books in the Do'Urden series before he wrote Sojourn: He didn't know how popular it would get. Had Stardust totally tanked, I probably wouldn't have developed this idea or written it at all. However, since it WAS successful and folks had a LOT of speculation about what happened to Celestia, I decided it might be fun to explore that a bit.
Edit: Forgot about the Traveller. The name seemed to fit. And no, it's totally unrelated to Destiny.
5672133
Both of those questions will be answered in the fullness of time.
5672146 Okay you are confusing me and not answering the real question I had. So first things first.
This story is a prequel and NOT a sequel as the text says you just put it there so you can link them correct?
My question is was this written when it was submitted? I know this idea existed in your head but was the "this is a sequel to..." in there when it was published? Because I didn't see it.
Regardless my real question is if the "traveller" is from the Game Destiny. Because I think I heard of him from there.
And I'm still gonna read this.
5672167
Breaking it down then!
I -cannot- change the text I mentioned because it is automatically generated in the story description when I input Stardust's story ID in the prequel field. I cannot change that text to say 'Prequel' instead of 'Sequel'. Regarding if it was there when I published, I don't know. I did a lot of last minute edits from when I hit the submit button to when it showed up as approved.
The term Traveller in this story was more in its classical sense: A being that travels. It's not a reference to Destiny.
Please do!
5672194 Right... anyways while I may read this I am not sure I want or will read Stardust. To be honest as I said I like starting fics at their beginnings... Anyways this isn't the place to make my bitching about my reading habits.
Let's just say I'll stay here and see what happens.
Celestia is a beyaaaaaaaatch :P LEL
Comment on the story number 2:The case of the squabbling ponies and the way Celestia handles it reminds me of a Greek proverb((or at least I heard it in greek)) loosely translated "I tell it to my dog, and my dog tell it to his tail." Shoving responsibilities like classical bureaucrats. Bravo platinum Bravo. You too Hurricane.
EARTH PONIES FTW!!!
5671936 True, and that would be awesome for another story, but again all evidence (both established and circumstantional) across the Stardust-verse point to Celestia having formerly been the entity known as Solaria. If Arad were to pull out some "hidden daughter" card right now with all the evidence would be as big of a cop out as if he were to end Mente Materia with it "all being the fevered dream" of a human/pony/draconequus/changling/giant-flying-spaghetti-monster/whatever... and if his work is anything to go by so far, I don't see that happening.
But I will also admit I am an Occam's Razor sorta guy: the simplest answer is the correct one lol.
5672133 We shall see about the Luna thing (maybe, Arad could be saving it for MM or something, I don't know... We prereaders only learn about stuff when he sends us the chapters. I prefer it that way as I don't want spoilers any more than fine folks like you :) ).
As for the unicorn guard, I and other readers have the theory (but no hard proof) that he is Discord. For now, I call him "Unicord" and until Arad lets us know for certain one way or the other, I shall continue to call him that.
5672152 I must be getting payback for all those cliffhangers I pull on my readers...
Still this looks awesome :D
I love me a good old fashioned Tyrantestia story!
Its just as good as I hoped
Great characters, believable motives and already a catching story. If you would offer me a printed version of this I would by the shit out of it. Arad, you are a really awesome author and I can't wait for more ^^
5672293
Well it sort of what my point, weather or not it's true HERE, it's a possibility that could be used to explain where Celestia and Luna came from