Humans

by unclefester84

The Age of Everfree

Author's Note:

Aww, no one interested in proofreading this mess?
Also feel free to ask questions, if i can avoid spoilers i'll answer.

The Era of the Alicorn Kingdom

Age of Everfree

The crowning of Faust and Laurent marked the cessation of the delivery of new tree-born alicorns by the Humans, so its population became solely dependent on its birth rate, which at that time was indeed quite high.
The two sovereigns themselves had many children, and their example was followed by all couples among their subjects. With the increase in population the kingdom grew and prospered on the land, and their wisdom and skills ascended to ever greater heights.
Simple families grew into houses of great nobility and power, filled with lore and traditions, and with the blessing of the crown they expanded on the Everfree, creating ever more marvelous things as they went.

New villages quickly grew into cities, simple buildings became majestic palaces of marble and glass, great trees were grown and shaped into living houses that filled the canopies of the island’s forests, large clouds were anchored to tall mountains and sculpted in magnificent towns that seamlessly extended both in the vast sky above and into the rich depths of the earth below, and marvelous cities of coral and pearl dotted the clear lakes of the Everfree. (1)
Each settlement was also enriched with great art, with statues and fountains along their roads, and mosaics and paintings that colored their walls.
Great wisdom was also collected, and became a matter of pride and joy for any town to house vast libraries filled with scrolls and books of lore, and artisanal workshops creating intricate artifacts of both science and magic.

The countryside also blossomed into a marvel of alicorn artistry.
Great roads of white stone, illuminated by evershining crystals, crossed the land to join the many settlements, the fields of the Plains of Plenty were cultivated with such a bounty of crops that the very concept of hunger became a myth and a bedtime story to scare the young ones.
The hills and mountains of the rim of Everfree, short of the Gray Wall itself, also became a place often frequented by alicorns, especially by those looking for the secrets of the earth and minerals, but also by those who loved the company and beauty of the untouched nature.

And yet, for all the marvels that the alicorns brought on the island, none could surpass the glory and majesty of their capital city.
Indeed, even as many cities began to specialize towards specific skills or trades, like the mines and foundries of Heartfire, or the lumberyards and carpenters of Verdant, Corona became the center of all the wisdom of the alicorns, where the talents of every soul could bloom.
It was the greatest city ever built, growing from the southern shore of Thronus until it encompassed all of its base. Its harbors dug deep in the Skymirror, its palaces rose along the slopes and from afar it seemed as if a jeweled necklace adorned that holy mountain, shining like diamonds, rubies and sapphires.
Most renowned among its inhabitants were the Great Houses, who were the most ancient families of all, for their lineages descended directly from the first alicorns delivered by the Humans, and among their kin were married members of the Royal Family itself.

These Great Houses were:
The House of Diamonds, famed for their skill in the arts of aesthetic beauty.
The House of Lightnings, home of the best fliers and greatest explorers of the realm.
The House of the Blooming Tree, whose knowledge of living nature surpassed any other.
The House of Many Masks, bringers of gladness and light.
The House of Golden Harvest, artisans without equals.
The House of the Starlit Tome, loremaster of science and magic.

One more Great House would emerge in later days, and the story of its founding would become a song celebrated until the last days of the realm (2).

In majesty beyond even the Great Houses stood the Royal House.
Its dwelling was in the Royal Palace, erected above all other buildings of Corona, save for one, and encompassed that first meadow where Queen Faust herself spent her youth.
Magnificent was that building, with high towers peaked by white banners, great columns of gold veined marble holding a roof of living stonewood, walls of obsidian and truesilver, and masterpieces from all arts and skills everywhere the eye could see or ear could hear.

Around King Laurent’s meadow, on the northern slope of Thronos, was instead erected the Temple of the Aspects, a vast building with six wings, each of them housing an appropriate shrine to a Human, and alicorns of all origins and deeds would come there to meditate and give their homages and thanks.

And so many long years of bliss followed. The alicorns and their kingdom on the Everfree thrived and grew in majesty and power, with the number of its subjects swelling as the lands, waters and skies of the island became filled with their joy. (3)

The Masking of the Aspects

While many believe that some of the great achievements of the alicorns came from the inspiration provided by one of the Humans, they never intervened directly in the affairs of the world, and indeed only Faust and Laurent could claim to have ever met one in person.
This was not deemed ideal by the Humans who, despite wanting to interfere as little as possible with the goings of the world, still desired to occasionally manifest among their creations in visible forms.
But this was not possible, even in their most diminished form their Aspects radiated an aura that would overwhelm mortals of any lesser stature than the royal alicorns themselves, and creating a vessel that could conceal their power required an intervention from the world itself.
Therefore this task was assigned to the alicorns, to find a way for the Humans to manifest among mortals without causing them harm. (4)

It was at the end of a day of meetings in the royal court when from the shadows of the throne room came a spirit that had the semblance of a wolf.
Its fur was of a black so dark that absorbed light as if a void was upon it, and yet in that darkness could be seen points of light that seemed like stars in the night, of which the two most brilliant shone in its eyes.
All immediately recognized it as Lupus, herald of Mortis, the Human of Death and dreams, and the entire court immediately kneeled down, even Faust and Laurent bowed their heads before it.
Then from its mouth came a voice low and solemn, and the will of the Humans was revealed.

“Oh Alicorns, fair you were at the beginning of your days, and by both wisdom and deeds even fairer you have become now, therefore Creators have decided to descend to dwell among you.
To accomplish this, the Humans desire that you make for them a vessel, an instrument that They could use to conceal their might, lest the very lands they wish to bless be burned instead by their presence.”

Astonished silence fell on the room, then King Laurent spoke.
“Truly this is a thrice blessed day!
Once for the presence of the Herald of Dreams, carrying the voice of the Humans, twice for the chance of creating a work that will be used by our very creators, and thrice for the promise that this will allow us to walk alongside the makers of this beautiful world that we call home!”

Indeed the perspective of creating something that was to be used by their own creators, and the implication that this would allow them to meet the Humans themselves, excited the whole court, and in glad unison the alicorns welcomed their task.
And so the creation of the Masks of the Aspects had begun.

It did not take long however to realize exactly the magnitude of the work they were called to complete, and all the lore and skills of the entire kingdom were immediately bent towards this goal.
Progress was slow and difficult, yet it was made regardless, until when finally, after a thousand years of study and labor, after uncountable half-successes and complete failures, at the zenith of the splendor of the Alicorn Kingdom on Everfree, the greatest artisans the world has ever seen forged the six Masks of the Aspects.
As told before, these were made specifically and solely for their respective Human, and mirrored in many ways their wearer.
Infused in each of them was the combined power of all the alicorns, from the might of Faust herself, to the last and least of her subjects, yet even these artifacts could only barely dim the light of a Human, and only if they themselves allowed it.

The place where this great labor was completed was named the Starforge and it was set high on the topmost slopes of the Holy Mountain, but still not in sight of the very peak, for that hallowed ground was forbidden to tread upon, unless under the summon by one of the Humans themselves.
Of all the palaces and monuments ever constructed by the alicorns, only the Temple of the Aspects surpassed this place in reverence, for there the greatest feat of skill that has ever been completed took place, and the most sacred of mortal creations came to be. (5)

With this seemingly impossible task completed, at the rising of the sun Faust and Laurent brought the masks at the very peak of Thronos, in the very same place where, almost an age earlier, the two met Gaia.
Once again like in a trance the two sovereigns approached the brilliant light on the islet, and there they presented to the Humans the greatest work of lore and skill that was ever made in the Universe by mortal means.
Nothing is known exactly of what happened in that most holy place, for the two royals acted almost outside of their conscious will, and neither could recount many details, save for the utter bliss in which they found themselves, but it is said that each Aspect, one by one, manifested in that light, and with their extended hand They took the mask that was created for them.
There the Masked Aspects, as they have been described earlier, for the first time began to walk among mortals.

It was the middle of the day when Faust and Laurent finally descended from the top of the mountain, and along with the news that their task had been successful, they came with a message.
Every Alicorn was summoned to attend, or at least witness, an event that would be held that evening at the main entrance of the Temple of the Aspects.

As the sun began to set and its fading light painted the island with many hues of red, a vast crowd gathered in front of the Temple of the Aspects, so numerous in fact that it overflowed the great plaza and filled the streets and roofs of most of the northern side of Corona.
Great scrying spells were also cast to permit all those who could not attend to at least witness this event.
And so it was that every alicorn had their undivided attention towards the Temple.
With the last rays of the sun disappearing beyond the shadows of the Gray Wall, the massive main doors of the temple slowly opened, and through them came forth the six Heralds of the Humans.
The alicorns were astounded by this, for never before all six spirits had been present in the same place at the same time.
Then the White Doe, herald of Gaia, stepped forward and spoke, with a voice that came clear to even the farthest of the attendees, and she praised the work and effort of all alicorns, by whose labor the Humans could now manifest freely among their creations.

Pride swelled in the heart of all who heard, and gladness swept over all the land, but also excitement at the expectation of what surely was to come, a feeling that was confirmed tenfold as the Herald continued its speech.

With emotion that was on par with actual living beings (6), the White Doe announced the entrance of her master, Gaia, the Human of Life.
A green, soothing light then came from the Temple, and an immense sense of serenity pervaded everyone as the Masked Aspect walked forward.
She was like a form of motherly affection clad in green, yet all could clearly perceive that the mask on her face was like a fragile dam, barely holding a flood of raw power beyond the very capacity of the world to bear.
As Gaia reached her Herald, she briefly bowed her head as a greeting, an action that prompted everyone else to kneel deeply in a show of humble respect.
Then as the crowd raised once again, they noticed that Gaia and her Herald had moved to a side, and in their place stood the next Herald, who in his turn announced their own master.
And so, one by one, the Humans walked out of the Temple and were greeted by the amazed alicorns with utter awe and reverence, until all six stood in front of a crowd that was struck in silence at the majesty of their creators.

So great was the stunning of the alicorns that, for a while, none moved, and it might be that the Humans were standing in amusement at the effect they were having on their own creatures. (7) Then, seemingly out of nowhere, a small foal, still too young to receive his mark, timidly walked up to the feet of Gaia herself and, in the utter silence of the moment, handed her a small potted sapling that he himself had grown, a simple gesture of innocent kindness.
Then, despite the mask, everyone perceived that the Allmother smiled as she knelt to accept the gift, before hugging the little foal much like a grandmother would her own kin.
With his endeavor completed and a bright smile on his face, the foal then ran back to his family, calling them enthusiastically as he went.
And so with that small act, the spell-like stunning that seemed to have taken the alicorns was broken, and all erupted in joyous cheers.

Gaia would later plant that sapling in front of the doors of the temple, where it would grow large and majestic, much more so than any others of its kind, and it would become revered and held in high affection, especially by foals, for as long as the blessedness of the alicorns lasted.

The Choice

No other celebration in the history of the alicorns ever reached the same amount of joy that brought meeting the Humans for the first time.
Immediately Faust declared a great festival on all the kingdom, and Corona was swamped by those wanting to pay homage to the Six, yet in later days it was said that, even during that time, part of the minds of the Humans was anxious, for they knew that soon they would present the alicorns with the truth of their origin, alongside with the choice that would define their fate forever.

For one year the celebrations continued, and in that time the Aspects went their separate ways often, and were welcomed with joy and reverence in many houses and cities, and everywhere they went great blessings followed, so that it seemed that the days of gladness would never end.
Alas it was not to be, for at the first anniversary of the Masking, under request of the Humans themselves, Faust called everyone to be present once again at the front of the Temple, where the Humans would reveal a great purpose for the alicorns, along with giving them a choice that would shape their fate for the rest of the eons of the world.

It is said by some of the wise that this choice was at first unplanned by the Humans, for in their first design the alicorns were like instruments to be honed and cared for, like an artisan would their most precious tools, but nothing more.
Yet as their civilization grew and prospered, the mind of the Creators changed.
Indeed the Humans came to love the alicorns like a parent loves their children, and the thought of their inevitable suffering, should they ever come to face the horrors that they were originally made to confront, grew bitter in their minds.
And so it was that, for the first time, the Humans found themselves in disagreement.
Some desired to free the alicorns from their fate, and let them roam on the Everfree island for the rest of time.
The others argued that to keep them locked on those limited confines would bring them to even more sorrowful doom, a prolonged decline and stagnation while waiting for that day when Time would inevitably end.
Unable to reach an unanimous decision, the Humans finally agreed to allow the alicorns themselves to decide their own role in the world.

Silence reigned as the population once again crowded near the Temple of the Aspects.
Then at the bidding of his master, Lupus spoke.

“Alicorns, mightiest of all living beings, hear my words and heed me well, for in these the design of the world and the fate of your kind shall be declared, and by such knowledge you shall be called upon a decision that will define your future forever!”

And so their destiny, the very reason for their existence, was revealed to them.
They became aware of the Titans and the terrible battles that were fought for the life of the planet, and those battles would become their responsibility as well, for they had been created to complement the defense of Creation with their own might and courage.
But the Humans also declared that they now had a choice.
The alicorns could accept their destiny, become free to roam the world, know its beauty and mysteries, but also shoulder the responsibility of helping in its defense, and accepting the burden of paying the price for it.
Otherwise they could reject their original fate and keep living a protected life, distant from the pains of battle, but for the price of forever renounce the possibility of crossing the Grey Wall and leave the borders of the Everfree island.

A great murmur passed over the entire alicorn race, voices and whispers filled with wonder and questions, curiosity and ...fear.
Then Faust, who long remained in silent thought, ascended the steps of the temple to stand in front of the Humans then, turning again to her subjects, she spoke with a fire and conviction that made her voice sound clear and loud over all the distances of the Everfree.

“For the longest time we have wondered the very questions that were answered today, our purpose, our place in the creation.
Now we know that our destiny has always been one of greatness, but only in foolishness one can believe that such glory would come without responsibilities.
Now we know that our power imposes a duty, and what a noble one that is!
To be defenders and custodians of Creation itself, to be a shield against evil too wicked to comprehend, to fight shoulder to shoulder with these magnificent creations that are the Titans!
Even with the necessity of our destined role in mind, even after allowing us to enjoy the fruits of the world for no compensation, our creators gave us the freedom, the power, and the privilege of choosing our own fate.
Are we then so filled with ungrateful cowardice to ignore our duty, to turn our back to the needs of the world?
I say NO!
From this day on we shall no longer be children to be spoiled, instead we shall take this duty with the knowledge of its risks, and we shall earn our right to live on this world!
I also tell this to all our friends and subjects, I myself shall soon sail onto the waves of the ocean, and every soul with a fiery spirit and a steady heart shall be welcome to join in this quest, for the Humans, for the World, and for Us!”

All murmurs ceased, and for a few seconds no one moved or spoke, then in the silence Laurent joined his beloved, a nuzzle and a smile telling everything that needed to be said.
A chant then began to rise among the alicorns, and the name of Faust was echoing in it like thunder among the clouds, and thus in that day, which would be later called the day of Second Revelation, the Age of Everfree was over, and the Great Crusade was declared.

---

Annotations
(1) Once again I am quite confident that for any immortal alicorn the concept of “quickly” could very well mean centuries. Also some cities are mentioned being built with corals, which makes me believe that at that time coral could be found in fresh water as well.

(2) Anypony already familiar with the history of ponykind must notice that the various houses and their talents correspond pretty much exactly with the Elements of Harmony and their bearers, considering that Gaia herself said to Faust and Laurent to treat their subjects like ‘friends’, it shows that the concept of the ‘magic of friendship’ might very well be coming from the Humans themselves.

(3) It must have been a really long time if even an alicorn remembers these years as “many”. Also it would appear that with time the birth rate of the alicorns diminished the more of the Island was occupied. If this was a conscious decision to avoid overpopulation, or the result of some external factor, it remains unknown.

(4) The Humans could not have manifested in even lesser forms than their Unmasked Aspects because worldly matter simply could not bear to contain enough of their being without leaving part of them behind. Much like one can write the synopsis of a book only so much short, before it begins to lose entire pieces of the story.
The only way was if somehow matter could be exalted enough to shield an Aspect most direct effects on the rest of the world, and since most of their radiance came from their face and eyes, the alicorns created the Masks to act in a sort of ‘reverse sunglasses’, so to speak, but even then it was like trying to hold a flood with your bare hoofs.

(5) The Starforge doesn’t seem to be a building in the strict sense of the word, but more a collection of laboratories out in the open, i can only imagine that there was some specific reason why it was so, but i couldn’t guess what that was.

(6) This passage indicates that spirits, at least until then, acted more like emotionless automatons when interacting with the world. Yet in other passages they seem to be much more similar to “us”. It is guessed in some notes that when the Humans began to wear their mask and “live” in the world, the various spirits “evolved” with the new perception that their masters had of their Creation, and became more similar to the actual creatures of the world, maybe even acquiring some sort of autonomy from the will of their Humans, despite being still a fragment of their elemental power.
Unfortunately very little is explained even in this book about the full nature of the spirits, and the Foundation never even knew that they were a thing so no serious studies in this matter have been made.

(7) I cannot help but laugh as I imagine how awkward it must have felt at that moment to have an entire population of alicorns staring speechless.