Of Dragons and Horses, Songs and Solace

by 8686

The End of the Beginning

Letters were traded back and forth. Initially every week, then every month, then less frequently. It was a struggle for Ragnarok, trying to compose a message small enough that would not simply envelop Celestia once it appeared at her end, but he did, because she was worth the effort.

Over the following months and years they swapped news and gossip, offering each other comfort and solace from afar. When he received the tear-stained letter describing Sunset Shimmer’s fall from grace and self-imposed exile, it was galling to read. He could only imagine how hard she must have taken it. He considered visiting after that, but then, in almost the next letter he received, Celestia was much more optimistic. She told of a new student she had taken on – Twilight Sparkle, apparently. One who not only possessed a gift with magic, but had even found a way to hatch the egg! Who'd have believed it had seemed to require a direct infusion of magical energy while in the presence of both a rainbow and a sonic boom?

The young dragon was named Spike, and had apparently formed an immediate bond with Celestia’s new student. Celestia had taken him on to raise him initially it seemed, but, while he was still a child, he had matured mentally far more quickly that she expected, and due to their growing friendship Twilight was naturally, without even realising it, beginning to foster him.

Ragnarok had his own news to relate too, though of a slightly more embarrassing nature. It seemed he had... ‘lost’ two of his subjects in quick succession. Freyr and Munin had, independently it appeared, simply packed up their hordes one week and taken north towards Equestria, and not returned.

I do not believe they are a danger, he wrote. They are likely only after fresh caves to dwell in, not to cause grief through malice. Freyr in particular is simply too lazy and inconsiderate to bother. But if either of them cause you any issues with which you cannot deal, inform me.

The letters became fewer and shorter as the months passed. Until one day, out of the blue, he received from her one final missive.

Ragnarok;

I have failed. Twilight Sparkle is everything I could ask for in a student, but she refuses to allow friendship into her heart. And I cannot order her to make friends. There are but three days left until the enchantment is released. If Nightmare Moon does return, I do not know what will happen.

But I am not afraid, nor am I sad. I am happy. I may get to see my sister again, after all this time. Perhaps not as I remember her, and perhaps for the last time, but I would gladly accept that over nothing.

Thank you. For everything you have done.

With love,

Celestia.

On the evening of the third night, Ragnarok left his lair and flew to the top of the dormant volcano. The high peak coupled with the flat desert landscape afforded him an unobstructed view over the north. He watched the full moon rise peacefully into the sky as normal, joining the hundreds of scattered stars, and for a time, all seemed to be well.

Then there was a brief flash and all of a sudden the shadows upon its surface that had been there almost as long as he could remember, simply vanished. They left no trace that they were ever present, and he couldn’t stop a surprised intake of breath. The Mare in the Moon was gone.

He continued to cast his gaze northwards. Hours later, he caught sight of a series of brief, faint flashes lighting the northern sky, but nothing else. And a short time after that, the moon lowered – without the shadows returning – and the sun rose as normal, if late.

Ragnarok hung his head. It was over. He had no idea what had happened, but he could guess. The flashes he had seen were clearly a terrible battle, and fact that the sun had risen suggested only one outcome.

To search and hope and yearn to see one’s sibling again for over a thousand years, and then to have that wish granted only to lose her forever...

He sighed. The story was a tragedy, he reminded himself. But... while 'deserve' might be a foreign concept to his people, if anyone had ever deserved a happy ending, it was her.

He received no further contact from Celestia, and he caught only vague snippets of news coming out of the north. Freyr returned and was given a sound dressing down for single-handedly causing enough air-pollution to smother the country. He caught wind of an attack on Canterlot by an invading army, but even as he began marshalling a platoon to go to Equestria’s aid, word reached him that the attack had been repelled. Then news arrived that on the far side of Equestria, far to the north, an ancient evil empire led by a cruel dictator, and long thought lost, had simply re-appeared from the snow. But again, a mere two days later there seemed to be no concern at all. Equestria seemed to be locked in a constant cycle of, fine one day, and narrowly-averted-disaster the next.

Until the day of the Eclipse.

He had been relaxing in his spacious magma pool within his lair when Valkyrie had blundered in, bringing him news of an extraordinary performance in the heavens.

Leaving his lair, Ragnarok looked to the sky in time to see the darkened disc of the full moon settle perfectly across the face of the sun, where it remained for hours even into the early evening. And then, finally, with no warning at all, there was a short but extremely loud snapping explosion, a blinding flash, and the moon was simply gone.

Valkyrie declared it to be remarkable, but thankfully the danger past. Ragnarok simply frowned at the sun.

What was she playing at...?

Continue to Eclipse

Comments

[Honey Mead]

Awesome as always. Thanks for sharing.

[zimmerwald1915]

And so it all falls into place. I love this story, and its sequel, no bones about it.

[Mane 6 Pets]

This was a wonderful prequel.

[Laluzi]

This was a truly wonderful story. I really enjoy Ragnarok's character, and the tricky relationship he and Celestia share. Very nice way of tying in Spike's egg, too.

[Meridian Prime]

If this is the last thing you post on this site, it's one hell of a swan song. Well done.

[Starguy135]

This was an amazing story and a worthy companion to Eclipse, thank you for writing it.

[xgfhj]

Typos and errors
___1
Then she lit her horn and a moment later, from the exact spot she had pointed to, a warm glow began to appear even as the moon overhead began to descend.
(That's some error there Celestia; it's brilliant author!)
___2 (from chapter 3)
with far more more tact than he had ever shown before.
far more tact (remove one of those 'more's)
___3 (from chapter 3)
and then headed for cave entrance and took wing.
for the cave entrance
___4 (from chapter 4)
with a blue mane and a fresh face,
and a fresh (remove one of those spaces)
___5 (from chapter 4)
“As opposed to, ‘it’, said Ragnarok dismissively.
'it'," (add a quotation mark)

___
That was a great story!

One of the best things about it was that every time I thought there was an error or some part overlooked it was rectified a little later on, you made a very solid story here, and the characters are so delightful to read.

This story does justice to Eclipse and stands by itself quite well, too.

Not to undermine Ragnarok's life here but I have to disagree with him, to me this story deserves a comedy tag ...yeah that might look out of place but I loved Ragnarok's sense of humor and found most of the story to be hiliarious! You might not have been going for humor but I thought it was funny and it's enough of a highlight for me to feel like I needed to mention that I was laughing most of the way through this story; I still took it seriously but in a good light hearted way, I didn't feel like any of this was sad... but maybe that's just me, or hindsight for having read Eclipse already; all in all I loved the story, so thanks for it!

[8686]

5692777
Much appreciated!

1) Since she's late in starting the day, this was actually supposed to be Celestia 'saving time' by raising the sun at the same time as lowering the moon. I suppose a few extra words of explanation might have been helpful there.

2) Fix'd. (You're right, that was just a little *too much* tact, wasn't it?)

3,4 & 5) Fix'd.

Really appreciate you taking the time. I know how much a simple spelling or grammar nit can pull you out of the flow of a story. I try to give readers the best experience I can, so I like to make stuff as good as it can be. But when you know the chapters inside out you just kind of skim over them and assume everything's alright. I miss stuff sometimes, and it's a tough thing to break out of.

Sounds like you enjoyed it. I'm glad you had a good time with it. I know it's not a 'sad' sad story, but it's not exactly solely an adventure piece. There wasn't much else that fit. Ah well, c'est la vie.

Have fun!

--Author

[xgfhj]

5693561
About number one: there was no error there in the writing the error is that Celestia raised the Sun right where she lowered the Moon... in the west! Or did you not intend that...? Just take credit for it anyway it's too good to pass up!

[Csquared08]

Oh geez, the letters stopped because they were redirected to go through Spike. Oh man. That realization makes the whole thing so neatly put together... Oh man.

Oh man, what a story. This was everything I could have dreamed of and more. This is a truly amazing story. I might come back later in an attempt to be more articulate, but right now, I'm trying to figure out how words work. They're not cooperating right now, and they're not letting me express how much I enjoyed this story.

Oh man.

[Lightning Bearer]

Wow, I really, really enjoyed this. It's a worthy companion piece to Eclipse, and a fantastic story in its own right. Well-written, well-paced, and well-characterized as always, and very emotionally rewarding, too. The fact that you can accomplish all of this is impressive enough, but you make it seem so effortless. I also really enjoyed the tie-ins with the show (Spike's origins, Sunset Shimmer, the explanation of how dragon!mail works, etc); I wasn't expecting that, and yet it makes for solid headcanon.

I truly hope this isn't the last story we see from you, but if it is, you certainly left on a high note. Thanks, 8686. Until next time (deities be willing).

[Kitcat36]

5829238
OH I totally missed that being the reason Ragnarok wasn't getting anymore letters! I'm so relieved--that makes so much more sense and is so much kinder

[Kitcat36]

5693561
Since you seem to be one of the authors that responds to minor errors pointed out by readers... There are a number of places where the commas are a little weird. I don't know if it's some cultural difference or what, and the errors didn't really pull me out of my immersion, but I did notice them as I came across them. Would you like it if I went back and found all those spots?

[8686]

6094089
Only if you have the time, my friend. I may not get around to correcting them in this piece, but seeing these sort of nits laid bare would only help me in the future. (Either so I can avoid them... or make them on purpose, as opposed to by accident. )

[RoboRed]

This was a very nice companion piece to Eclipse. Nice read.

[Swashbucklist]

Why the hell did she stop sending him letters? About a decade ago, she practically proposed to the guy!

[AidanofVT]

Well written and well composed, this story deserves way more attention than it has received. I actually read this without knowing that it was a prequel to Eclipse, which I have also enjoyed, (though honestly it isn't a prequel if you just lop off the last paragraph) so that was a pleasant surprise at the end.

Writing: 4 / 5 (above average)
Story: 5 / 5 (far above average)

[Themaskedferret]

Stunning as always. Thank you.

[Pearple Prose]

Man, why did it take me so long to read this? Eclipse fucking rocked and Ragnarok is an amazing character.

[ChaoticImp]

Loved this so much, now onwards to the Sequel!!

[Sypher]

This was a lovely, endearing story, and felt more polished than Eclipse. I really love the ideas of Ransoms and the physiology of dragon egg hatching.

The ending felt a little bit abrupt, even though I know it segues neatoy into Eclipse. I guess I just can't help but feel sad that Celestia didn't tell Ragnarok about the new of Luna's redemption, or that their relationship couldn't develop further.

Regardless, this has been a fun story.

[Just A Guy Browsing]

The six hour hour war? Why do I have half life vibes all of sudden?