Chapter Six – Sun
Twilight expected she would again be waiting a while before her next, and final, interview. Celestia would be next, she assumed. This was the one that worried her the most. While Celestia was her first and closest friend, she was also her teacher. Twilight did her best to remain still while waiting, but her forehooves fidgeted slightly, the only visible sign of the anxiety that tormented her.
Unlike before, the door opened within a few minutes. As expected, the Sun princess stepped out from the shadowy room beyond the doorway. Closing the door gently behind her (using her golden magic), the white alicorn walked over to her large chair behind the table and sat down. She rested her elbows on the wooden surface and stared at her student over her hooves. Twilight felt that she being analyzed by her teacher. It was far worse than waiting alone.
The two of them sat there for what felt like an eternity, one watching intently, the other doing her best not to move. Eventually the younger of the two shifted slightly in her seat to take her weight off of her thoroughly crushed tail.
As if this movement was some sort of signal, the larger pony started talking, “Here we are. The oldest alicorn and potentially the youngest alicorn. The others spoke highly of you. Mostly.”
Twilight was not sure if that made her more or less comfortable. “Mostly?” she questioned, unsure what else to say.
“One of them, and I will not say who, is still undecided. She will be listening in on our conversation.” Twilight gulped nervously and her mentor gave her a reassuring smile. “Just be yourself. I am confident that you will convince her.”
Celestia lowered her hooves until they rested horizontal on the table, “Now then, onto business, Twilight. I am here to explain the history of the spell, and to answer any remaining questions you may have. Are you ready?”
“Yes, Celestia.” Could she have answered otherwise?
“Good. As I am sure you are aware, Luna and I were among the first ponies to settle Equestria. I used to be the unicorn Clover the Clever, the first bearer of the element of magic, although we have not yet gotten there. Yes, Twilight?” The unicorn’s hoof was waving in the air to gain her attention.
“If you were Clover the Clever, and Luna was your mentor, does that make her –”
“Starswirl the Bearded, yes. After returning from Ponyville during Nightmare Night she commented on your choice of costume.” Twilight blushed madly and stammered out something that ended up sounding like ‘MEEP!’. Her teacher tried to reassure her. “Think of it this way: imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. She was not mad at you. In fact, I think she was glad to have been remembered.” The way that Twilight looked down at the floor suggested that it did not help.
Celestia continued undaunted by her ashamed pupil, “As I said, we were the first to come to Equestria. I should really amend that to the first ponies to come to Equestria. There were already inhabitants here. Dragons ruled the skies and mountains while changelings dwelt in the ground and under the hills. Despite the abundance of resources, neither were happy to see a new civilization moving in. We sent for the rest of our kind shortly after arriving and seeing the riches in Equestria.”
“What happened? With the dragons. I already know how you conquered the changelings.” Twilight’s confidence had returned and she risked a question.
Celestia switched over to a more authoritative tone, usually reserved for speeches and long monologues. “What always happens when territory is at stake. We fought. Within a month we had a firm stronghold on the ground and had buried many of the changeling tribes. Earth ponies fought them on the ground, pegasi in the sky. Unicorns would collapse hives and prevent them from resurfacing. In short, we dominated them. After a time we left them alone, excluding of course their occasional raids.”
“The dragons, however, presented a much greater challenge. It took many pegasi to challenge them in the air, and the earth ponies were entirely useless. Some unicorns could fight the dragons, but unlike changelings dragons had magic of their own. It is much more primal and they have less control over it, but it was far more powerful than our own. It would only be a matter of time until both our races were reduced to ash in the wind.”
“The changelings had been unable to communicate with us. They spoke a different language to us and we were content with wiping them aside. On the other hoof, the dragons spoke the same language as us. Out of necessity we sent ambassadors to negotiate the end of conflict. They came back severely wounded or not at all. We tried again and this time none returned.”
“The final time I went myself. I ventured alone through treacherous passes and over rocky mountains. I had to regularly avoid dragon patrols who might fancy a roast pony dinner. It took weeks, but eventually I arrived at their main nest, a hollowed mountain where they dwelt. Under cover of night I snuck inside and navigated their caves as best I could. I mentally mapped my path in case I was discovered, although I knew that I had little chance of survival if I were found.”
“After hours of wandering dark tunnels I came across what appeared to be their king’s throne chamber. It was abandoned, likely due to the late hour. I slipped inside and took cover in a stony alcove to wait ‘til morning. A couple hours later sunlight pierced small cracks in the ceiling that served as windows. It had been designed that dawn would make pillars of light flank the pathway between the main doors and the jewel-encrusted throne. Their king entered during this time with only a couple guards as an escort. Knowing that more dragons would come later, I ventured from the alcove that sheltered me and alerted them to my presence.”
“As expected, the guards reacted quickly and violently, incorrectly assuming that I was an assassin. I stunned them with my magic long enough to let their king know I meant no harm and was there to talk. That day I managed to negotiate a temporary ceasefire and a small area in the sky for the pegasi. Shortly after we exchanged ambassadors and slowly tensions between our races fell. Myself and the five ponies that led our kind worked together to bring peace. Other than isolated conflicts, fighting was done within our first year in Equestria. All hostilities ended in less than five years. By the end of our first decade we had peace treaties signed and trade was flourishing between us.”
“The king recognized our efforts in ending what would otherwise have become a horrible war. He gifted us with the Elements of Harmony to show his appreciation. In private he taught me of a powerful spell that bound his people, the same spell that you are here to learn today. He guided my efforts and helped me refine the spell until it was fit for use on ponies. Originally we intended to Change the other five founders of Equestria, however it became clear that it would not work on anypony other than the caster, much unlike the original spell that was over the dragons. Regardless, I cast the spell and Changed into the first alicorn using the power of the Element of Magic. The king of dragons and I remain close friends to this day.”
Celestia ended her speech both surprised and impressed that her student had stay quiet for its entirety. The blissful silence that followed did not last long, however.
The ever inquisitive Twilight was full of questions and eventually burst, “So this king of the dragons is how you get eggs for your students? What’s he like? Does Spike know? What else did they teach you? How did they get the Elements of Harmony?” Twilight stopped to take a breath.
“Yes, he supplies eggs for some of my students. You will meet him in time if you decide to Change. Spike doesn’t know yet, hence his quest to learn who he is. You already have a book full of what they taught me. And I don’t know how they got the Elements. I imagine they either found them while harvesting gems or created them. When I said I would answer your questions I meant one at a time, not all at once.”
Twilight opened her mouth to speak before closing it again and letting Celestia talk. “I will not fill you in on everything that has happened since then. It would take far too long to recount thousands of years of equine history. I will, however, give you some key points of what happened after. After Changing, I continued in my six-way rule of Equestria. During this time Starswirl Changed into Luna and joined our ranks. As time went on the others aged and succumbed to time, leaving the pair of us alone in ruling the ponies of Equestria. Another alicorn was created a couple hundred years later, a male this time.”
“By this time myself and Luna were getting bored. A new alicorn was an exciting change, but not for long. We decided upon a game of strength and wits.”
“The game,” Twilight filled in.
Celestia nodded her white head, “Yes, Twilight. It was a public three-way magical duel, winner keeps Equestria. Ponies came from all around to watch. We struggled for days against one another. If not for magical wards placed over the spectators more than a few would have been killed or worse. Regardless, they stayed to watch and cheer for their chosen team. In the end both myself and Luna fell to the new alicorn and departed from the land, vowing that we would return. It became an annual event for us to fight each other. After a few dozen matches, and all three of us controlling Equestria for a time, we decided to expand the game. Our contest would span years and much more closely resemble a real war. At one point I led a dragon legion against Luna.”
“The death toll rose significantly, but what were mortals but the playthings of gods? For that was what we had become. I controlled the sun itself, Luna the moon. The land fell under control of our colleague. Over time our attacks became increasingly sparse, but of greater magnitude. Eventually the dragons stepped in the lay down official rules to prevent loss of innocent life, spanning from rules of engagement to integrating new alicorns into the game.” After a few seconds, “Was there anything else, Twilight?”
Twilight thought carefully for a minute. Eventually, “What will happen to my friends in Ponyville if I Change? Will I still know them?”
“That’s up to you. And them. Luna and I chose new names when we Changed. Chrysalis did not. None of us look like we used to, but we still act and behave like we did as unicorns, albeit with far greater experience in life to draw upon. Should you attempt something foolish, such as trying to dethrone me, you might find yourself banished for far longer than their natural lives. Even if you stay with them, they will die and you will live on. I gave you Spike so that you would not be completely alone when this happens, although the grief will still be terrible for you. Despite your best intentions, they might disown you for your choice. Cadence lost her friends when she Changed. They simply could not accept her as an alicorn. Anything else?”
“A few weeks back I had an encounter with a strange magical artifact. The Alicorn Amulet. Where did it come from? What does it have to do with alicorns?” asked Twilight.
Celestia hesitated before answering. “I’m not sure, Twilight. It was here before I regained the throne. If I had to guess, I would assume another alicorn created it as a plot to overthrow the last ruler.”
Celestia stood up from the chair she was sitting on. “I am going to speak with the others. Please wait here until we come to a decision.” Celestia’s colourful tail disappeared the door a heartbeat before it clanged shut.
>>>“The death toll rose significantly, but what were mortals but the playthings of gods? For that was what we had become. I controlled the sun itself, Luna the moon.>>>
No, you became devils. You became the very thing that got Lucifer tossed from Heaven. You became arrogant and cruel. You were and are wicked.
And what the HELL is wrong with Twilight?! It's as if she's been tranquilized! The REAL Twilight would be flipping out, her heart torn in two with these horrible revelations! Yet she's calmly asking pointless questions about the Alicorn Amulet!
And as usual, none of the 'history' makes any logical sense. I swear, if this turns out to be anything other than a deep psychological test to see whether Twilight is strong enough to refuse to join in such selfishness and callousness I am going to be seriously pissed, because at this point a twist like that is the only thing that can salvage this story. And it is only because I can see how a twist like that would fit perfectly that I keep reading. It's the kind of test that would have to be administered to a candidate for immortality, lest that pony become a cruel tyrant in the very image of the monsters Celestia, Luna, and Cadence would be pretending to be in such a case. Chrysalis could be Luna in disguise. Luna can shape-shift, after all.
I would have expected Twilight to question if she HAD to play the game if she changed, or if it was optional.
Minor correction: "Eventually the dragons stepped in the lay down official rules" = maybe should be and or to
1827776 I find this story quite interesting and I think that logic needs a rest while the story continues.
Anyway I feel that you should sit back and enjoy.
1827776 he is writing them to resemble the gods of old Greek Roman Norse
and i fucking love it
Logic isn't neccessary..to much awesome.
I just lost it.
It makes absolutely no sense at all but it's fun to read
why am i reminded of this during the ENTIRE fanfic:
It's all about the game, and how you play it
All about control, and if you can take it
All about your debt, and if you can pay it
It's all about pain, and who's gonna make it
I am the game, you don't wanna play me
I am control, no way you can shake me
I am heavy debts, no way you can pay me
I am the pain, and I know you can't take me
Look over your shoulder, ready to run
Like a good little bitch from a smoking gun!
I am the game and I make the rules
So move on out or you can die like a fool
Try to figure out what my move's gonna be
Come on over, sucker, why don't you ask me?
Don't you forget there's a price you can pay
Cause I am the game and I want to play
1827776 You are right, right, and right again. The alicorns are undeniably cold-hearted ******** and ******* that only care about their own personal gain. Celestia wants power, Cadence wants someone all to herself, Chrysalis I'm not sure of, and Luna wants power as well.
Twilight is out of character. She probably would have either run out of the room or died from either a heart attack or a broken heart.
If this is just Twilight having a nightmare, I will be SOOOOOOOOOO relieved!
Shoot me now. I beg of you. That, or we Blue Rinse Canterlot Castle and the Crystal Palace. NOW!
If anyone knows what a Blue Rinse is, reply to this comment.
What many people do not seem to realize is that, for the most part, the game of the alicorns is completely rational.
For boredom, it would fill large portions of their time with planning and inspiring their forces. since they can do this for hundreds of years, especially the planning, this would easily cure boredom.
For mortals being the playthings of gods, of course we are. They would see us, and how over vast amounts of years we never learn. We continue to be hostile and aggressive, and would only kill ourselves in a war of our own. Why should they not use us as part of their game, if we were going to do the same thing anyways?
1840744
By blue rinse, I assume you mean a biobomb which destroys all lifeforms?
1841234 Yay! A fellow Fowl!
this story is practicly pushing me toward the Lunar Rupublic. I now hate this version of cadence, celestia, and anyother alicorn other than luna. so yeh... twilight don't become an alicorn. it is not worth it. I will fight these alicorns myself if I have to, to keep this from happening
1841327
Sshhh...
Don't want the L.E.P. knowing you know ... dammit.
1840744
artemis fowl ftw
well... twilight could be under a spell so that she doesn't freak out and die of a heart attack... hypothetically
1840744 LEP Recon intel leak. Time for Foaly to bust out the mind wipe.
You could write volumes on Celestia and Luna's background alone. Holy crap this is awesome.
Wait. If Luna was Starswirl. Then Luna would be an expert on time traveling spells. She could've gone back in time to warn herself about Celestia not drinking the drugged tea and posessing the Elements! Therefore, she never would've been banished to the moon!
HUGE PLOT HOLE DETECTED!!!
... Luna was Star Swirl the Bearded? That just adds a whole new level of d'aww to Luna Eclipsed. I'm impressed.
On the other hand, yeah. Mortals as playthings of gods != OK.
And we're also getting to the point where what's told and what's not is becoming rather arbitrary. Why are some of these things only mentioned in passing while others are explained in detail? If Twilight is the one being interviewed, why does she ask most of the questions?
1841231 This is actually a surprisingly rational explanation. Still, one would hope that those who raise themselves above mortal concerns might also rise above mortal failings and work for the betterment of everypony rather than using the existing flaws of others for their own purposes.