> Winds of An Immortal Empire > by Artistic Dawn > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- > Prologue > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Prologue Long ago, before the return of Princess Luna, before her banishment, even before the founding of Equestria itself; the pony tribes lived in their own separate lives.  Earth ponies lived in small towns with large fields. They lived as their ancestors did before them, destined to worked in farms to provide not just for their own but for the Pegasi and Unicorns. If it were not required to slave away on their lands for Freaky Powered overlords in order to grow the food, the work would be much more suitable. The food would be more plentiful of course, but it was more than that. The land bound ponies looked down upon their fellow lazy equine. Pegasi only had to move a few clouds but at least they did something that required physical activity! Then there were the Unicorns. The snobby, stuck up, Unicorns living in their fancy castles and well made petticoats. They act as if the very sun sets for them...well it does but that's because it’s their job! They set and rise the sun as well as the moon. That’s it, their only jobs. Clearly ‘the hard workers of ponykind.’ Pegasi flew and lived in the sky for they had no need to live among the common earth ponies. Farming truly was a job fit for their simple minded brains. And thought they were strong, they lacked the speed and agility to with stand of forces of nature. That is where the Pegasi race shine. For, unlike their numskull and ‘high horse’ counterparts, they were a fearsome, mighty force of warriors. Soldiers of the equine. They lived above all others, controlling the very winds themselves. The clouds were their beds and homes. Restlessness was an unknown among them. They looked down at both brainless and snotty of the pony kind. It was well known that the Unicorns and their freaky magic, think they’re better than all! It could be understood as to why they feel that way about earth ponies, who doesn’t, but to think themselves as superior to the literal bringers of the weather?! It was highly disgraceful! Unicorns recited among the mountain side where the most brilliant of gems also recited. They were as elegant and radiance as the Unicorn’s own magic. Aw yes, magic was truly the most powerful and greater of all the elements. It’s majestic luminance, vibrant glow held a great strength as to change the physical world itself. It took a great deal of study for one to do so making Unicorns not only the most powerful of all equine but the most intelligent. They knew of histories, language, most anything as a matter of fact. Even though their other fellow equine believe they looked down on them, was it any of wonder? They were clearly the superior of the races. It was also known that Earth were poor dirty farming bumkins and that Pegasi were brutal ruffins. By their very nature, it was no wonder Unicorns had to take charge of bringing forth the Sun and Moon. For who else would know how do so?  Each tribe agreed on that their jobs were far more important than that of their fellow ponies and that their own race was ‘clearly better than the others.’ Theses were indeed hard times for the three tribes and would only get worst from them out, whether they knew it or not. However, this is not where this story truly begins. No, for as you already know, there is a fourth race of pony. Far stronger than the earth, far more agility than Pegasi, and far more magical than the Unicorn. They had all these abilities and and more; they are also far more mysterious. Far pass the mountains of the Unicorn, in a remote valley of land hidden from the rest of the world, there you would find another land ruled by a very different breed of ponies. They bared longer wings of Pegasi and taller horns of that of a Unicorn’s. They called themselves the Alicorns. The Alicorn Empire is far more expanded than that of their other pony kind. Their lands are vast more plentiful and vast more greater in scale than those of the earth race. The Mountains that concealed their land held larger gems that glimmered in the sun’s rays. However, their kind lay not in theses places. For you see, like their Pegasi counterparts, they too lived in the sky. However, not in clouds.   Due to their nature, they were able to create grand towering castles of marble or Ivory without the worry of them falling to the ground below with certain magic spells. The Alicorns, like the shimmer palaces they created, were well dressed in suits and dresses made with fine silks and velvet. Jewels of gold that contained different size jems hanged on the necks of mares. Jems were also attached to said mare's earlobes. Alicorn guards on duty worn armored plates of gold, each embedded with a mark of an Alicorn with wings spread out to show power over all. Truly they were great, greater than all. Great Masters of all nature and her elements. They knew of their other kind, theses lessers that thought themselves greater than the others. Noble Alicorns laugh at their ignorant ways. Unicorns may claim no other can rise and low the sun, they know not that if the Alicorns have not thought themselves above such tasks, it would be done without cost of Unicorn magic. Still, said Unicorns did really need to know their place. As for the Pegasi and Earth, theses tasks were even more demeaning for Alicorns. They had no need for they’re kind, far from it. They dominated the weather they brought forth and they’re lands were plenty. Unquestionably, if they let themselves be known theses common morals, they were be bowing at their hooves in shear acknowledgement of their nativeness. They knew this for even longer ago, the presents of the Alicorns were known by all ponykind. They ruled over the peons with all their mighty strength and power. They were servants in their presents as they fearfully did as they were told as to not upset their godly rules. And honestly, were they not gods? However, the demands of theses lowlifes became unbearable! They want things like “a good harvest” or “shelter from the storms.” Not only were these demands unreasonable for their statue but for theses commoners asking at such times during their rest from ruling them during the day! Clearly, something had to be done. Thus one day they made their announcement of leave and did so that day. Since then, though they missing having others do their work for them, it was better this way. Afterall, mortals had to take care of themselves.          Pink and blue melting together in a thin swirl stretching from here to eternity. Clouds thinning to part the way. The sun was invisible to the eye, yet known it be there behind the towering mountains. Or at least if one were either the cloud or earthly grounds below.         The glowing beam of light was calling, as it always had during this time of day. However, unlike most times, it was possible to reason to such a calling. Her wings were tried most definitely as gravity tried so very hard to bring her back, but this time she would not follow this command.           She was so close, so very close. The pecks of mountain tops were near now. She only need to push a little harder. Just a bit longer.         The mountain peaks were now a whole three feet away. No pony her age had ever gotten this far without help. Without the care of an adult to make sure they don’t go too far to the top. Yet...she was just there. Just another ten inches. There was a cloud near by, but it was seven feet away from the peak and four whole feet down. It was a weak cloud anyway, too thin for a pony even her age to rest on. Five more inches, she was so close now. Just a little more…         Her head was above the highest peak. She finally could see it.         It was blinding to be sure but it’s glowing globe still called to her. Asking her to come closer. The world around the blinding sun was painted with it’s rays of light. Yet she could see the green tops of the trees and the valleys that went over the hilltops, meeting the sun.         The pain of her wings finally catched up to her as, for one horrible second, they closed suddenly. She remembered what the elders told her. Let it guild.         She face first to the ground as the world raced around her. Gravity was pulling to the speed of sound itself.         Only falling.         Her eyes, that were closed during the free fall, flashed opened as she spread her wings. As they catched the speed of the wind, she moved upwards. Now with her hooves in front of her, she let gravity take control during her gilding. Her landing was chosen as she moved her already sift wings to make the needed turns. She flew down to the city as ponies passed her. The world around to begin to slow as she lowered to the ground of cloud. Still was not enough to stop her landing from being graceful as she met the ground far sooner than she thought.         It was of course a soft landing but still not she wanted. She opened her eyes to see her light pink mane in messy strands, preventing her view of the city around her. She could only look down to see her already white hooves being ingulf with the cloud floor.         She slowly got up to her hooves, still feeling the strain of her wings stinging her back. While rubbing her sore wings, the view of her familiar surroundings gave her a clear direction as to where to go next. Thus, with painfully not so stiff wings, the young alicorn walked down a path towards home.   > Chapter 1 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chapter 1 Walking along the clouded pathway pass towers of ivory with ponies flying by, the young filly went on her way with her currently tired wings folded back. It was a good thing that she landed on the cloud pathway. If she landed on the earth below, she could only picture how her mother or father would react. Father would have at least took pride for the fact that his daughter of only ten years of age got up to see the peck tops of the great mountains. However, if mother found her instead, such a scolding she would get! “Ye mountains are too high for such a small pony!” “Most wait till they are least fifteen years of age before attempting to go such heights.” “Thou must have more common sense dear daughter. As thy eldest child, it is your job to look after your younger sister! If you are daring the earth and sky with such dangerous actions, thee younger sister will surely attempt to copy her only elder sister.” Of course her mother, thought very demanding in tone, was correct in her words regarding her sister. As the eldest, is was her job to look over for her young sister. A filly of only four years of age can get to a quite bit of trouble if one does not properly look after her. After all, was it not her little sister that tended to stay up hours into the night, long past her bedtime. Her time of thought came to halt when she found herself standing before the front door of her home. She looked up at the glimmering white pointy tops of the towers to see that the windows were ajar. A smile was painted across her face as she turn to face the door head on. She knock once only for it be flung open by a young filly alicorn. She had a purple blue coat of fur and a very light color blue main and tail all in short curls.  The younger of them looked up to her with big sky blue eyes. “TIA!” The young filly shouted out as the elder sister was brought into an embrace. The older sister returned the hug. “Hey Lu Lu. How's has your day been?” “So boring!! Daddy during work and Mommy went out a whole hour ago.” “So,” moving out of the hug and walking inside after closing the door, “What have you been doing?” Her sister started to bounce around her. “Just looked out one of the bigger windows upstairs. Everypony is so busy! I looked out for Jelly Jello but I didn’t see him anywhere! So instead I pretended to be a pirate looked for lost treasure. Then I ran down stairs cuz I was hungry and only found carrots! No cupcakes or anything yummy Tia! So then I ran upstairs…” Luna talked on and on as Celestia walk with her sisters up the stairs. Hours have past as Celestia watched and even played with her sister. They started to play Luna’s favorite game of being princesses when their mother got home. Forgetting all about her earlier flight, Celestia ran down to greet her mother only to be suddenly glared at by her mother. A moment of pure silence happened for a minute or two as her mother’s glared moved from her to her folded wings. She looked to see wait she was looking at her wings only to see them twitching a little. Celestia turn to look up to see the frown spread on her mother’s face and the deepen glare of her pink eyes.  The dark blue and purple alicorn is glaring down at her as if she already knew of her daughter's earlier actions. The young pony feels water build up at her forehead as the intimidating eyes of her mother refuse to lose focus. Small breaths. “Celestia” Her mother speaks a monotone. The anger is still there. Take in a deeper breath. “Mother” Sounds are meaningless. There is no room. No other being. Eyes. Anger. She knows. “Would thou like to tell me whence thou have been young lady?” She can’t feel her voice. It's lost in the air that is around them and yet remains invisible. The glare sharpness. Will it cut her now or is it still every so close? …. “MOMMY!!” Celestia takes a deep breath as her young sister flies down to greet their now claim mother. Mother wraps her large wings around her youngest and she pulls her into an hug. “Hello my sweet moonchild. How's has thou’s day been this past sun filled day?” Luna giggles as she answers fill with stories of her and her sister’s playtime. Her mother’s long rainbow rose colored main flows around little Luna’s body as her sister goes on and on about playing Princesses. Then her mother gives Luna a kiss on her forehead to calm down the energetic child. “Why Luna, such a marvelous day you have spent!,” she says as she sets the small one down onto the floor, “However, I was in the middle of speaking to thine elder sister over ye subject of thou past day. Dost thou not wish for thy mother to be informed of thy eldest daughter’s disappearance?” “Oh mommy I…” “Luna.” “I mean thy...oh mommy thy sister was not yonder off! For she be with thy all of the day!” Mother looked down at Celestia. Her glare, though not as strong as before with Luna present, was still noticeable. Swallowing her own voice back down her throat, she looked up at the innocent eyes of little Luna, unaware of their mother’s inner rage, as she giggled on standing between her and their mother. However, the front door of the home suddenly flung opened to reveal another large figure. A pure white stallion entered the house carrying a large brown saddle bags filled with scrolls. His light blue main was in a shuffle as he licked his face mouth that was surrounded by his short blue beard. His gold armor was loose around his body as he set the bags down with his blue aura. “Daddy,” joy filled cries filled the room as both Luna and her ran up to their tired father. He smiled as he picked them up with his magic and then gave them a big hug. “Hello thy fair daughters! How's thou spend ye day!” Luna giggled on about her while father listened with a smile still spread across his face. However, there was a sound of a voice being cleared as the three turn to the wife and mother of the household. Her eye were soft and yet there was a small frown upon her face. She trotted up to her husband and gave him a quick kiss on his cheek. “Welcome home thy husband. How's thou day have been in ye castle?” “Quite tiring oh lovely wife of thy,” he said as he set her and Luna back down, “Ye council of high alicorn demand this and that. We are quite grateful of ye Empress Radiant Gold for ending their endless bickering.” “Thy dear husband, thee idea of a hard day is one of misery for only your ears.” Her mother smiled as she walked with her husband from the door to the parlor that was down the hall. Luna, who was full of energy for jumping up and down, bounced up to her room with a smile spread across her face. Celestia fell as if a bolder was removed from her. Father was always such a great distraction for Mother.   Yet just as Celestia turned to walk up the stairs, she heard a voice come from the other room. “Don’t believe that our talk is over dear daughter!” Drat. > Chapter 2 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chapter 2 Bells rang throughout the hallways. Several hundred foals ran into the halls as soon as the bells started. There were some dozen older ponies with saddlebags of their own carrying mostly paperwork. However, the halls were flooded with fillies and colts alike as they ran to the doors of the school. The courtyard was suddenly crowded as ponies came rushing out. Celestia was among them, only instead of running out she trotted out. At first she had a bit of a smile on her face but only for a second as she suddenly frowned. Three weeks. That's how long she was grounded. Literally apparently. No flying what so ever. Her wings are currently wrapped up in a series of a cloth made into a sling to hold them in place, folded to her side. Not for simply healing reasons, oh no. She just needed to rest them off, they were better now. Wrapping them up was she that she wouldn’t start flying off when no one was around. Father tried to talk her mother out of it but it was hopeless. It didn’t matter how much her father was secretly proud of her. Mother wouldn’t listen. “You could have really hurt you're hurt yourself!” her mother had told her last night as she was wrapping her wings up. Boy did she get the lecture of a lifetime. Three hours of nothing but ‘how she was supposed to look after her sister’ this and ‘you're too young for this sort of flying’ that. It was just awful. She was brought out of her mopping to see a familiar group of ponies standing by the flag pole. A smile was then painted on her and she ran up and shouted to them. “Hey guys!” The group of foals turn to face her with equally joyful expressions as they greeted their friend. One of them, a light orange filly with a long tied up dark pink and orange main leaning against the flag pole wearing a dark purple vest, nodded over for Celestia to come over. “Hey Celly,” said the filly as Celestia stood next to her. “Hey Titanium Tang! What's new?” “Nothing much, got old mare Zephyr Myth at my case again about not passing. Can you believe that! She’s always on my case I swear.” “You really shouldn’t swear Tang!” said a light red coat with a curly, long, tied up purple mane, “You could get into trouble again!” “Oh lighten up Mousy! I was only stating a point.” “I’m just saying that if you say that...you-know-what word again Headmistress Scale Mind is going to get you expelled! She said so.” “Whatever,” Tang said as she rolls her eyes. “So Celly,” Tang says changing the subject, “Heard about the meeting?” “What meeting?” “The one that's going to be held in the Castle tonight,” said a yellow and pink filly with a bright puffy pink mane. Mousy looked at the filly and spoke in a soft tone,“You mean the one that might be about…” “Yea…” “I heard about that,” said another colt with a light blue coat with a zig zag black and white main, “My uncle was talking about the council deciding on possibly...you know...that thing.” “You mean about…” Celestia said knowing that it may imply. “The punishment about the three tribes,” Tang blantly said in loud tone.The sound of other fouls gasps were heard around them. She rolls her eyes once again. “Why cannot you guys just say it for tartarus sake.” “Titanium Tang!,” shouted the yellow-pink filly. “Oh stop being such a high horse Jelly Spin.” The blue colt was about to speak. “Don’t even start, Written Way,” Tang says beating him to the punch. “You ponies need to stop being such fouls and just say what you mean.” Tang started to away from the flagpole and the group started to follow her. “Celly,” Tang started, “Your dad is part of the council right? Like Written Way’s Uncle?” “Well sort of. He is in charge of documenting the meetings and works with the empress on other important documents.” “Ok so then, do you go to any of the meets.” “Oh no, they don’t let anypony in unless they’re part, or somewhat part, of said council. I thought you already knew that?” “Oh I did, but isn’t strange then that they’re opening up a meeting tonight to the general public?” Celestia had to take a pause at that. Titanium Tang had been right about that. Why is there going to be an open meeting? She remembered Father only vaguely telling Mother about it a few weeks ago. She thought that the meetings were private for a reason. She of course didn’t know why they were private but they just were. As far back as she could remember from what she learned in history class to her own acknowledgement, never before had a meeting ever been opened to the public. So for a meeting such as the one that is to take place this very night is nothing short of astonishing. And a bit suspicious.     Tang didn’t bring up the meeting again as she when on instead discussing her views about some of the teachers at school. Later, after Tang went home; she, Mousy, Jelly Spin, and Written Way went to the local park. If she wasn’t cloud bound, they would have when over to Mousy’s for snacks. His father really knew how to make a good batch of apple tarts. Even though they could have went to Jelly Spin’s place seeing as her dad as well would be home, but then Jelly remembered that it was not a good time to have company right now. It has been three years since her mother passed away after a horrible sicken struck the family. Her father and her got better but her mother wasn’t so lucky. It was the anniversary of  her mother’s passing. Even though she loved her mother dearly and missed her greatly, Jelly Spin was not one to focus on the pain of the past as much as most ponies would. If there was one thing that Celestia admired from her friend, it was her positive view of life. Jelly believed in the afterlife as her grandmother and family did before her. Her father however, though while still believing in said afterlife, was not so willing to forget the past pains so easily. Thus every year, he says home from work and silently mourns his lost love. As the group of foals approaches the park, a large group of adult ponies comes into view. They appear to have a variety of differing expresses of both worry and anger. Some of the angry ones speak with great vigor. “The council having a meeting open to all?! Absurd lies have been spoken!” “Why would such a meeting has to be? Why now?!” “Has the council become unfit?!” “Impossible!!” “But is there true to such thought?” The more worried members of the giant group had questions quite similar, if not the same. However, they spoke with concern in their hearts and breathes. “What should we do if the news is horrid?” “Why much the council bring up such news to the public instead of paper where is to be decided then.” “Could something be wrong with the members themselves!?”  “Wouldn’t they at least tell their ken if something was wrong?” “Maybe it’s not they who are wrong but what if..” “Don’t speak such thoughts into existence!!” The crowd grew in numbers when the group’s voices got louder. It got to the point where the park was cut off from the young foals. Celestia’s mind begin to wonder of the meeting once more. Could it be something really that bad? Was the empresses herself in good health? Why did the group of adult ponies act like they didn’t already know what the council was talking about? Unless they truly didn’t know. Maybe the punishment was only a vague rumor then. It made more sense when she thought about it. Why would the council care about the three tribes anyhow. It wasn’t like they cared about them anymore. > Chapter 3 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chapter 3         The purplish black night sky was almost starless as the moon shined down upon the grand Castle of the Alicorns. For as long as most could remember, it’s stood as a beacon as well as a home for well refined royals. A symbol of their own strength that has carried throughout the generations. Columns of gold and walls of pure Ivory. It stood grander and larger than any other as it looked down upon the builds around it. As if the very divine carved and created this masterpiece. Windows taller than the doors of most smaller buildings. The grand front doors were even more so, as they stood taller than a small shack that would be found upon the earth grounds. They too glimmered with pure polished gold. Tonight, they open for it’s ponies.         Due to the fact that her father was a sort of messenger for the council and for the Empress herself, they were one of the first of families to show up. Celestia gazed upon the inside of the Castle with awe and wonder. It truly was a marvel. The massive long carpet alone was a dark red with a brilliant golden border. It was also surprisingly quite, safe for Luna’s giggling and jumping about. Like Celestia, it was little Luna’s first time in the grand Castle as well. The same could not be said for their parents of course as their mother tries to calm the energetic nature of her little sister with whispers of silent. Their father, who looked far more serious than he is at home, walked before them leading the way. He had on his normal uniform while the rest of them were dressed quite formal dresses. After all, one does not simply walk about in the nude in the presents of her Majesty. Her mother had on a long flowing dress of almost a cream like color with hints of pink and green around the bottom. Her sister’s attire was of a puffy dark blue with star sparkles with puffed up sleeves. Now her dress was more similar to mother’s only with shorter sleeves and a golden necklace with a purple glittering gem. Soon they were in front of a large set of doors with blue and purple squiggly lines. They had this sort of pretty pattern to them. With his magic, her father opened the closed doors to reveal a giant room. The room had several rows of seats that sat upon rows and rows of balconies. There were almost five, maybe six balconies all around them. All facing a round area in the middle of the room. It was on the lowest floor with a round table. There were around twelve or so chairs. Then, as she and her family walked down the one of the aisles, Celestia spotted a single golden throne against the farthest wall.behind the table. It had a large red cushion and looked as miraculous as the Castle itself. Celestia smiled as she finds herself on the bottom floor. Her father guides them to an section of seats that are located on the bottom floor, theses seats were almost cut off from the other sections of seats. She sat down where her mother and sister sat while her father stood by the throne, looking a little nervous but still quite serious. After almost 10 minutes of just sitting in her seat, being extremely bored after a while, more ponies started entering the room. Most of them sat in the higher up sections while only a few ponies came down the bottom floor. Either those ponies came alone or with one or two of their family members. The members of their families sat at the same section as Celestia, her mother and sister. After a while, she spotted Written Way and his uncle and aunt come down. She waved. Written Way tried to wave back but his aunt told him to put his hoof down and to turn back to face the front. She frowned a little but then suddenly she heard the sound of blaring horns go off. She turned to face the door that was located on the bottom floor. Aura’s of magic opened the double doors to reveal her royal majesty; Empress Radiant Gold. Celestia never got to see the Empress up close before. If ever she say the Empress, it was always in some sort of grand event where she was standing in the crowd while the Empress was on some sort of platform. If the Empress stood completely still, she almost looked like a golden statue instead of a real live pony. Red Rays of the sun came from her head and tail. Eyes were the same color as a fresh picked red apple. Cutie mark…Well, she couldn’t really see her majesty's cutie mark. Whenever she made some sort of appearance, she wore some sort of large gown that when trailing behind her. Jewels of all kinds adored her neck. And her crown. Oh how it glimmered in the light as the reddest of rubies was engraved in the center. Seeing her up close, she looked even more radiant. However… Now Celestia didn’t want to be rude. No. Not even in her own thoughts. But… The Empress enter the room with guards standing by her side. Everypony stood and bowed to her, including Celestia after she stopped gawking. Then after, the Empress sat down upon her throne, then everyone else sat back down. The room, by this point, was filled to the brim with alicorns of all kinds. From the classes of the simplest farmer to her royal majesty. The table in the middle of the room was also full. Celestia looked up only to see her father sitting right next the Empress herself. He sat on the ground with only a small blanket under him. She was quite surprise to say the least. Everypony else had somewhere to sit, even the guards had stools if then need to rest! She looked around but no pony else paid mind. Even her mother looked not at her husband but at the Empress. Celestia turned to face the Empress once more seeing how it no other saw any harm done. The room grew quiet. Very quiet. …. …. …. “Good citizens of the empire,” said one council member finally who stood up and face the crowd “Most all of thee are wondering as to why such a meeting, as of this one, is taking place tonight.” He paused for a moment then continued, “It has come to this council's knowledge that the three tribes of the Unicorn, Pegasi, and Earth; are still fighting with one another. For generations, this has been going on. It has gone on long enough. The Empress had a vision.”   Loud suddenly gasps of shock were heard echoing throughout the room. Celestia was not exception. It was well known throughout the empire’s history, that even before the existence of said empire, alicorn visions are not only important but rare. One or two alicorns in each few generations have the gift to see into the future. However, the visions are difficult to summon much less see. It is said that if you were one of the gift ones, even you could only see so much of said vision for it was also so blurring that it would take an alicorn of great strength of mind, body, and soul. For the Empress herself to have the gift was nothing less than extraordinary. The member continued, “In this vision of the future, she sees destruction and chaos; buildings topped over, cries in the streets, massive storm clouds of snow and ice covering the lands. Ponies frozen in pure ice. As you can clearly see by this terror of what's to come, this is of course caused by the tribes.” More gasps were heard. Even louder than before. “How is this possible you may ask? The Empress made it clear that her visions were quite vague as to how but is quite clear that the tribes are to blame. Such actions of war. Ice and snow is the weapon of choice. They fight to protect but yet endanger their own while doing so. By the end of it, the lands that are ancestors once ruled over will be a literal frozen wasteland!” Celestia heard cries of anger and rage among the crowd as hooves stamped onto the ground. It was getting too loud so the guards had to quiet down some of the really rowdy ones by having them leave the room. She looked up to see the Empress in more pain than before. Her eyes alone had the look as if they were filled with worry. Her father did not look any different than before however. Still serious. Still quite. It looked so wrong. When it got down to a reasonable level of noise, a few more members of the council got up to walk next to the speaker. “Thus, with all this in mind. There still is the matter of what we should do about this. What we should do to prevent this grand war of ice and blistering snow. It is in the best interest of all pony kind that this must be prevent by only the mightiest of the races. The only one that knows the true ways land, the clear masters of the skies and the magical elements of the world. Theses other races, they are only good at one thing. That thing is to populate the world with useless waste, to destroy this world’s foundation with their very presence. In other words, it is clear what must be done…” The angry alicorn speaks this next words. “The three tribes must meet their judgment day.” > Chapter 4 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chapter 4         Morning rays crept inside her room from her window, waking her up from her slumber. Celestia yawned a little bit before stretching her hooves in the air. She went to stretch her wings only to feel that they were confined. It only took her a minute to remember her punishment is still in effect, before she got out of bed with a small frown on her face. She only got her wings wrapped up a few days ago but already did she miss the feeling of flying. The air under her wings. Wind under her hooves. Spinning. Laughing as she did so. The ground below. The Sun. Oh how she even missed the idea of the sun as she remember the view of said glow of light dripping upon the valleys of green lush fields and tall brush tree tops. If only she could just get closer… She heard the sounds of tiny running hooves outside her bedroom door. She trotted over and opened the door to reveal her ever energetic sister. Luna was smiling as she greeted her sister a ‘fair good morning.’ The little filly then gave her elder sister a quick hug before running downstairs. Celestia heard the other sounds of her parents walking around. She walked down to greet them with a warm smile, only to see her father looking over some paperwork. He had a frown on his face as he walked around, not noticing his oldest daughter stand by the bottom of the stairs. He eyes darted from one paper to another as a look of worried spread across his face. Celestia felt upset that her father was upset. The meeting of the council was certainly not a pleasant one. The idea alone troubled both the adults in the crowd expressed with both anger and concern. All that yelling. Yelling out bitter comments of the war that has yet to be. Concern of lands of their ancestors. Not one concern for the ponies that would be in grave danger. She never really stated it out loud. Nor would anypony take her seriously if she did. Yet… It was hard to recall when started to feel this way nor why, but as far back as she could remember...she didn’t have feels of hatred of the pony tribes. Now wasn’t that just strange. Everypony around her never really cared one way or another about the supposed ‘prideful, rude, dirty, low class’ of the three pony tribes. However, she never really saw them as that. She didn’t even know theses ponies. Did she like them? Well...no. Again, she didn’t know them. She cannot just hate nor like the ponies of the three tribes. She didn’t know what to feel about them.   Still, they were ponies after all. So… Why did the council want them gone? Why would the council care whether they went to war or not. Afterall, they didn’t live there anymore. So was it really about the protection of the homelands of their ancestors? Once again, she didn't’ think they even cared anymore. So...why then? The Empress's vision… Was there more to it than what the council was telling them? The Empress herself didn’t even speak that night during the whole meeting. She just… Sat there. Quietly. It was as if she not even there. Like a… A ghost. Luna entered the room to grab her sister for breakfast. Celestia didn’t know she hadn’t moved from standing at the bottom of the stairs. Her little moon sister laughed about how silly her sister was acting as she pulled her into the kitchen. As they entered, she saw that her mother was by the table with her morning meal consisting of bread and bowl of lumpy porridge. Her mother, like her father, was looking lost in some papers of her own. Instead of papers with formal stamps, they were plain save for some writing of addresses and a basic broken stamp. If she had to take a guess as to where they were from, Celestia would believe that they are from close friends and distance family members. Her mother held a frown looking at each letter, concern in her eyes.   She sat at the table in front of a smaller bowl of porridge with a single piece of bread. Her sister sat next to her with her own bowl. Only instead of bread next to her, she a small plate of strawberries. Little Luna smiled as she dived into her treat of her favorite fruit. Mother looked too lost in thought to remind Luna to eat the porridge first as not to ‘suddenly be too full for her treat.’ Celestia stared down at her food before her and slowly began to eat her meal.           “Come on Celly!”         Celestia looked up to see Tang with an impatient look as she stood on top of the cloud hill. She could also see Mousy, Jelly Spin, and Written Way already up there stand behind Tang. Though they didn’t have looks of frustration of her. Celestia picked up her pace and trotted up the large hill to meet up with her friends.         “Finally! What's got into you Celly? Normally Mousy here is the slow snail.”         Mousy took a gulp and looked like he was about to speak. Tang gave him that look of ‘down-even-think-about-it.’ His head moved down and walked backwards a little.         “So Celly,” Tang looked back at her with a change of expression, “Ready to try to test out those wings?”         “I don’t know about this Tang. Mother is going to notice that my wings aren’t tied up the same way.”         “Don’t you wish to fly like the rest of us again? Besides, I can tie just as well if not better. Remember the knots I made in school? They looked and worked great.”         “You mean the rope you made to get out staying after school with Ms. Scriptland?”         “Oh be quiet Mousey! So Celly... ready?”         Celestia looked towards to sky. The air is warm as it lightly passes by. Very few clouds are this high up that are not already part of the city in the sky.         The wind under her wings. Blowing by. It see the lush green valleys and bush like treetops once more. The sun. Oh how she wished to see to feel its warm glow once again. Even now it calls to her. If only for a moment… “CELESTIA!” The voice of her mother snaps her out of her mindscape to see her standing near the bottom of the hill with a look of anger on her face. The bubbling of worry fills her and she looks down to her mother then back to her friends. Tang looks slightly annoyed while the other show a look of concern for her. She takes a gulp of slight fear. She looks at each of her friends. “Sorry guys, Looks like I have to go.” The other say their good-byes, Tang mumbled hers, as Celestia trotted down the hill. She walked down and stood next to her mother who still had a look of not quite anger but still was not neutral. “Dearest elder daughter of mine, in what of all of the Empire art thou doing out here? Didst thou ask for permission before accompanying thy friends?” “I am…” “Celestia” She closed her eyes and took a breathe. “Thy humblest apologies dearest mother of mine for I lost track of the very time. Dost thou have need of me?” “Nay, not I but thy father does in deed request your presents.” “Wherefore thy father?” “He is currently located at the Palace dear daughter.” Celestia’s eyes widen when she heard what her mother said. She looked behind to see her friends aren’t paying any sort of attention to her, well most of them. Mousey keeps looking behind but Tang is shouting at him to pay attention. She turns back to face her mother, still with a small expression of shock still on her face. Her mother turns around. “Come along then.” Celestia then starts to walk with her mother to the grand Palace. > Chapter 5 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chapter 5 Walking beside her mother was not really ideal. Celestia could see waves of almost nervous behavior as her normally firm maternal figure, walked with a slight skate in her hooves. Her eyes darted ever so slightly as she licked her lips. They walked down the cloud road, few alicorns were out this late. If she had to guess, her friends must be home as well. So the question remains, Why does her father request her presence at the castle? Could he have not been able to speak to her once he returned like always? Celestia and her mother approached the Irony building and walked up to the tall front entertain. They stopped. A guard noticed them from an open window. He nodded to his side and slowly, the door opened. Mother and daughter walked in. Once inside, it closed behind them.        Even though Celestia had already walked through these halls before for "The meeting" it still was quite a sight to behold. They walked on. Passing the meeting they went. Even more grand hallways. It was getting a little tiring as they walked in what seemed like endless castle halls. Finally, finally they came up to a large, single door. It had a vibrant red and gold frame. There was some sort of animal engraved on the door. It looked like a bird, but with wings made of flames! It had its wings of red and gold fire, spread far out. Looking ready to fly off the door. Thus when the door began to open, Celestia jumped back a little. The door opened to reveal another guard. He had a stern look on his face as he gestured them inside. They walked in. The room was made of gold. Pure gold with accents of red here and there. Different designs of fire flowers embedded on the bottom panels. The furniture was quite a slight as well with gold paint that just glowed off each other. The walls and floor themselves were of a much lighter shade of gold, almost like a it was lightly rubbed into the otherwise white room. However, her were not as drawn to the room itself, as they were to the two figures at the far end of it. Two alicorns were setting on bright red pillows facing one another. One of them was her father. The other was the Empress herself. She went to bow before her majesty only to stop midway when she noticed that her mother did not bow with her. She saw her mother’s eyes look down at her in a seemingly expressive way. Celestia then stood back up facing the Empress and her father, who got up and walked over to them. Without a word said to each other, they nodded and started to walk to the door. Celestia went to follow her parents… “Celestia.” Her hooves froze in their tracks. Eyes widen greatly. Slowly, she turned to face the Empress that just spoke her name. Her name. “I am requesting for you to stay,” Empress Radiant Gold stated with a strange looking at her. She that strange look in her eyes again, like the one at the meeting. She turned back to see her parents leaving with the guard. He notices looking over her and turns to close the door. Celestia turns around to face the Empress. Her majesty looks at her then gestures for her sit on the pillow that her father previously sat on. The young alicorn looks at the placement of the pillow on the ground that is directly next to the Empress. She swallows a thick gulp of her saliva before slowly walking up to the pillow. When she is standing in front of it, see looks back at her majesty one more time then turns to sit down. She is looking everywhere that is not the Empress herself. “Dear child, why not thou have the need to not spare a glance at thyself?” Oh dear was it that obvious. Ever so slightly, she moves her head to look up at her glowing ruler with an evident look of discomfort. “Thy humblest apologies your majesty, I wish not to offend thee at all. I just…” She sees that the Empress wants her to go on as she nods her head at the filly next to her. “It's just that... I don’t understand why you have need of me your grace.” Her excellency gives her small look of distress. “Dear girl, I believe that simply turning your head must be uncomfortable for you.” Celestia continues to feel a sense of anxiety before the Empress turns to face her side. “Perhaps it would be best for you to move as well, in order to not strain your body and posture.” Celestia gives a slight nod, who would argue with the wise words of their leader. She rotates to face her majesty’s front view from her seat. Then the young pony looks up to face her. Despite the clear view of her still distress face, there is at least a smile on it now. Something to show the Empress that she has no ill will towards her of all equine! Oh goodness that would be just awful! Her excellency looked at the filly for another moment, try to show her a half smile. Then she turned away to look around her room with that same rarely seen smile. Her eyes stopped suddenly. Celestia turned around to see what she was staring at. She first sees the door but then notices a tapestry that was hung next to it. It had a depiction of four young fillies surrounding at an older female alicorn from all four corners. However, what really cause her eyes to go widen were the fillies themselves. They were each a different race. The first one depicted an earth pony with a light yellow mane with a light green body who stood next to a fully grown Lilly at the bottom left of the tapestry at a cliff edge of what appeared to be of a green lush land. The second pony was flying around the sky at the top left of the picture. She was a pegasus with light blue body and flowing rose main. The third was that of a proud light lavender unicorn with a solid white mane with a single streak of pink. She stood on top of a mountain side with her magic aura holding a gemstone at the bottom right of the image. The final filly was an alicorn flying in front of the sun itself. Celestia blinked a couple of times. The appearance was almost identical to that of a younger version of the Empress. She was the only pony, other than the pony in the middle of it all, who had her eyes closed. Speaking of the pony in the middle, the largest and oldest of the ponies was that of an alicorn. She stood on some sort of ground that was floating in the sky. Her wings were spread far out for all to see and her head was facing front. To describe the appearance of this pony was difficult. It was as if she were painted with rainbows. And yet see was none of those colors at all. Her body looked light toned… No dark toned… Both?... Nether?... It was hard to tell really. Celestia looked at the tapestry, trying to figure out its meaning. “This…” She was snapped out of her gaze for a moment to hear Empress Rose speak. Only drawn back in at her next words. “Is of the time of the beginning of ponykind. The beginning of Harmony’s reign” > Chapter 6- Part One > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chapter 6 - Part One         In the beginning, there was only a field. It stretched on for miles upon miles in every direction. The field itself was very gray as the blazeds looked more like sticks that were growing from the ground. The sky was even more lifeless if you could believe it. It was only concerned the sky due to the flat ground was at least solid. What was above the ground, was nothing.         Then suddenly, a sparkle, a flash of bright light, appeared.         It started small then grew.         The bigger the glow of the light, the more the it enveloped the world around it.         Something was inside the light.         Someone was inside the light.         They spread their wings and just as sudden as the light appeared,         It vanished.         When it was gone, there stood a pony.         Her mane was a rainbow of light, each with a different blossoming color that this place had yet to witness. She opened her eyes. They too carried every color and yet none of them. They could look like one color for a single moment then change dramatically the next. Her cutie mark was that of a pure white sparkle with rainbow rays.         Her name was Harmony. She is the first pony of her kind.         It was Harmony who gave the fields of grass their color of bright green. It was Harmony who made the sky’s blue and its clouds that were white and puffy. It was she who parted the land to make the mighty seas. It was she who grew the trees and made them tower over the bare lands. It was she who made the world grow, gave it life, and created it’s magic. Life in the planets of the Earth and its creatures of the earth, water, and sky.           Yet her work was far from done.         For, even after she finished creating the animals of this new world, she felt lonely.         Thus, she created other beings in her image. Or at least those that took her form one way or another. First she made a pony without a horn nor a pair of wings. This tiny pony had a light green body with a yellow mane. Next she created an equally small pony with just a small pair of wings. This pony had a light blue body with rose color mane. Then she created another tiny pony with a small horn upon her head much like her own. She had a light lavender coat with a white and pink mane. Finally, she created a pony with both a pair of wings and a horn. This little pony had looked the most like Harmony, only with light gray body with a much lighter rainbow mane. She looked down at each of these small foals and smiled. It was then that she spoke them, giving each of their names and talents. The first, she gave the name of Earth. She would be stronger than that of her two younger sisters with a greater connect with the world around them. To the second, she called her Pegasus. She could go physically farther than that of her elder and next younger sister as she tamed the great skies. To the third, she dubbed her Unicorn. She would be able to welded the power of magic far better than that of her elder sisters. And the the youngest of her herd, she named thee Alicorn. To this pony, she gave her the power of all her sisters but it was diminished power compared that of her elder sisters. When she was done, Harmony told her daughters of this world. She told them of the lands that crossed the globe. She told them of the creatures that lived there and they’re gifts. She confided them that they will need to gain even greater knowledge to make this world great. It was after she finished her work that she rested that first day and first night.         As time passed on, each of the fillies grew older. As they grew, their talents grew with them. Earth tended to the lands and it’s animals. She had complete faith in her work and thanked her mother with gifts of a bountiful harvest. Such a time when the leaves have fallen to the ground by the act of her. And Alicorn if she had the time. During most of the time, her sisters had their own work to do, thus Earth was grateful when Alicorn did take time to help. Even though Earth was far too busy to see them do their own jobs, she was positive that the others were hard at work attending to their own parts of the world just as much as she was. When it came to the care of the sky, none were better than that of Pegasus. She flew with the speed that match the winds around her. Yet light enough to stand on a thin white cloud. She helped the weather move along. Even though it was mostly her up and about in the sky, she was overjoyed when her sister Alicorn came around and even race with her when ever she could. Pegasus loved the break and even beaten her most of the time. Even though she was far too busy with her own work, she was sure that anything her sisters were doing showed they were just as devoted to the rest of the planet as she was. High in the mountains or in clear hollow cave, one would find Unicorn tending to the precious gems found inside. Of course this was but one of her main jobs to do, but this was certainly her favorite task. Most of her other tasks where far more important of course, tending to the magic of the land would be in high demand once mother wishes for more to trot among them. And she did promise more ponies were be created, once the lands were in order first. It was just so hard! Learning more magic and trying to memorize it made both her horn and head ache in need of rest. Finding and moving gems not only took very little magic to use, but the beautiful stones just made the world very pretty to her. Even though she didn’t see much of her other family that often, she would be overjoyed when her younger sister Alicorn come over. Alicorn was far more into the study of the use of magic more than Unicorn was, but she wasn’t nagging on her to work harder on it. Not that she ever would, she was just the gentlest of souls and help her whenever she could. Even though she didn’t see her older sisters nearly as often as Alicorn, which wasn’t often enough in her option, she was certain they were doing the best of their abilities to work with the land as she was. When they grew older, each of the sisters saw less of Alicorn. Even though they never really seen each other at all, they had the same mindset when it came to their youngest sister. They loved and missed her dearly. One day, after a another failing of a difficult spell instructed by mother, Unicorn decided to go find Alicorn. By that point, it's been well over a month since she last seen her sister. She was determined to find her and ask her about her disappearance. While she was packing her things, ready to leave, she thought about also asking her what her job was. In the past, she felt it was none of her business to ask. It would be quite rude! However, it would at least explain where she had been all this time to pull Unicorn out of her worries. It would be many of nights into her travels till she saw find another pony. However, it not be the pony she sought after. Instead, she see looked up in the sky spotting a somewhat familiar looking pony, she saw would she believed was one of her older sisters Pegasus flying past the clouds. She called up to her to find an equally surprised pony looking down at her. She flew down and perhaps had her hooves on the ground in the first time in ages. It was awkward to say the least. It’s been so long and they changed so much. Her sister looked more...well not as tall as mother but still looked as she were a young adult. Her sister commented the same to her! She had been at work with her magic studies and finding gemstones in mountain caves to even notice. Yet she supposed it just been that long since they were tiny fillies. When she asked the whereabouts of their younger sister, Pegasus too expressed concern for her. When Unicorn stated that she was a quest to search for her, Pegasus volunteered up hoof to join her. Thus the two went on their way.