Night Pegasi childrens stories - Not exactly what you expect
Gather around children, and I will tell you stories of a time long ago. Back in the days when Princess Luna strode the night sky, bringing beauty and joy to the hearts of all ponies who truly appreciated the night, before she was banished to the moon by a jealous and cruel elder sister. It was Luna who created us and gave us our gifts, and someday if we are all loyal and follow the guidance she has left behind, we will see her return to take her place as our glorious Queen of the Night.
So pay heed, and listen closely. For it all started on a night like this...
Once upon a time there was a loving pegasus family who were expecting a foal. The mother pegasus had a beautiful light blue coat with flowing yellow mane and eyes of the deepest violet, and she hoped her little foal would look like her. The father pegasus was a light creamy white with sky-blue mane and eyes of sapphire-blue, and he also hoped the foal would look like him.
“Hey Scootaloo, that sounds like--”
“Shh! I’m trying to listen.”
When the foal arrived, both parents were shocked. Instead of their colorful coats and manes, the little colt had a coat of charcoal-grey, and a mane of deepest black. But that was not the worst of their surprise, when his parents looked into his tiny little eyes, they were the deep golden color of freshly-minted bits.
Well, the parents loved their little one deeply and tried to raise him as best they could, but they always knew he belonged elsewhere. And the colt knew it too, from the questions he asked. Why don’t I have colorful coats like the other pegasi? Why don’t I have feathered wings? Why am I so sleepy in the day and awake at night? Why do they all look at me that way? Did I do something wrong?
He was so very lonely, and had no friends. So when his parents heard of a family of pegasi just like him in the city of Canterlot, they brought him to meet them, and oh, what fun they had. He played with the other dark-colored pegasi all night long, and when the night was over, they all cuddled together to sleep away the day. His parents loved him very much, but when they saw how well he fit with the other pegasi family, they agreed to let him stay there.
His new family taught him all about his history, how a beautiful and mysterious Princess named Luna created the Night Pegasi many centuries ago, and entrusted them to guard the kingdom while all the rest of the ponies slept. She gave them their beautiful golden eyes so they could see any dangers in the dark, their strong dragon wings so they would be able to fly faster and farther than any feathered pegasus, and last she gave them a bit of her beautiful dark coat and mane, so they all would reflect her beauty to any who saw them.
The lonely pegasus wanted to show just how much he appreciated the gifts he had been given, so when he grew up, he applied to become a Royal Guard, so he too could guard the kingdom. Guard training was rough, there were many ponies who wanted to join, but only a few positions opened up every year. He worked very, very hard, and before he knew it, he had graduated and was appointed to guard Princess Celestia herself.
But something still troubled him.
Now he had many new friends in both the Day and Night Guard, so he was not lonely. He had a new family who loved him and appreciated him, so that was not it. He had a purpose in his life where he contributed to the safety and security of all ponies, but that was not it either.
Then one day, something magical happened. Princess Luna, who had created the Night Pegasi so many centuries ago, returned. All of the Night Pegasi were excited, and more than a little shocked. She had only existed in stories and legend for so long that many of them were not happy. They said, ‘Our Luna was Princess Celestia’s sister? Why did she not tell us? Did she not trust us?’
The Guard was very happy, and did not question the Princess, but went straight to her and begged to become one of Princess Luna’s Royal Guards. And to his great joy, Princess Celestia granted his request.
Now he was finally happy, because he was able to thank Princess Luna for the wonderful gifts she had given her children so many centuries ago.
Once upon a time, there were two regal sisters who ruled Equestria together, and created harmony for all the land. To do this, the eldest used her unicorn powers to raise the warm sun at dawn; the younger brought out her beautiful moon to begin the night. Thus, the two sisters maintained balance for their kingdom and their subjects, all the different types of ponies.
But as time went on, the younger sister grew sad. The ponies relished and played in the rather plain day her elder sister brought forth, but were too tired to appreciate her beautiful night.
One fateful day, the younger unicorn decided to keep her beautiful stars and moon in the sky so that all the ponies would be able to see and appreciate their glory. When the little ponies woke up and went outside, they were amazed at what they had missed. Many of the ponies went to the younger Princess and asked her how they could stay awake at night to appreciate her beautiful sky. In her joy, the younger unicorn blessed these ponies with many gifts: Glowing golden eyes so they could see in the dark nights, strong wings so they could play among her beautiful stars, and soft silken coats the same color as her own.
The elder sister grew jealous of the attention her ponies were paying to her sister, and their newfound joy for her beautiful night. She tried to force her blazing sun into the sky and drive the beautiful moon and stars of her sister away before all ponies could appreciate and grow to love them. The younger sister fought, but the older sister was too strong for her. In desperation, she drew upon the powers that both sisters were supposed to share, but even there her elder sibling struck first; using their powers to imprison the younger sister forever in her beloved moon.
Realizing what she had done, and being deep in grief for her beloved younger sister, the elder sister took on responsibility for both sun and moon, and has ruled Equestria ever since. The ponies that loved her sister all went their separate ways; The Earth ponies passed into the ground and caused the most beautiful of flowers to blossom during the nights, the Unicorns dissolved into magic itself, causing the fireflies and stars to sparkle, and the moon to glow at night, but the Pegasi felt sorry for the elder sister, and pledged themselves to her protection.
From that time on, we Night Pegasi have shouldered the responsibility of guarding Princess Celestia and protecting all of Equestria from danger, until Princess Luna returns from her exile and resumes her proper place as our Queen.
Once upon a time, long, long ago, there was a magical kingdom of Equis. It was ruled by the handsome King Midnight, a stallion with coat of deepest black and a silvery mane that seemed to be filled with stars. At his side was the beloved Queen Dawn, a regal mare with a shining white coat that gleamed bright as the sun, and a flowing mane that seemed to contain every color that had ever grown in the brightest garden.
One happy day, the two noble rulers were blessed by a little princess foal. As Princess Celste grew up, her little hooves wore golden shoes that she was constantly losing around the castle, her soft pink coat was constantly being smudged by her careless activities, and her silvery mane was a mess of snarls and knots, because she never listened to her parents when they told her to brush it.
Still, King Midnight and Queen Dawn loved their little Princess very much. They were very kind with her when the Princess would refuse to eat her alfalfa salad, or when she threw her toys all over the courtyard and demanded the guards pick them up. They brushed her mane for her when she refused, and helped clean her soft pink coat when she soiled it with her foalish activities.
One stormy night, the guards discovered a sad and soggy filly outside the castle door. When they brought her before the Royal couple, they were both amazed at her beauty. Where their own Princess Celeste had a light pink coat and flowing silvery mane, this young filly had a coat of deepest indigo, and a beautiful mane filled with sparkling stars.
“What is your name, little one?” the King and Queen asked.
“I am called Lune, and I have traveled far from my birthplace across the sea of stars to find a new home.”
“Are you a Princess?” asked King Midnight. “For you have both the magical horn and strong wings of our kind.”
“I do not know,” she replied, “for there are so many things here which are called by different names. I can fly, and use magic as you say, but I am quite young.”
“Very well then. Since you are a wise and thoughtful child, we hereby declare you may stay in our castle as long as you like.”
“No,” gasped Celeste. “It is the law that only those of Royal blood may reside in the castle, unless she is truly a Princess, she must live elsewhere.”
King Midnight was upset at his disobedient child, but she was correct, for she had been tutored in the laws of the kingdom since she was a little foal.
“Very well then. I shall establish three tests for the Princess Lune. If she passes all three, only then may she remain in the castle.”
The next day at noon, the King and Queen brought the two little princesses into the dining room where a wondrous feast had been laid out.
“A proper Princess conducts herself with style and grace at all times. We have prepared lunch for the four of us, it shall be your task to sit and eat with us.”
The Royal family sat down at the table with Lune, and began to eat. The little princess was the model of decorum, asking permission to pass dishes and eating with the proper spoons and forks, but Princess Celeste was deeply disappointed, and expressed her displeasure loudly.
“Why do we have to have alfalfa salad, you know I hate it. My apple juice has little flecks in it, somepony needs to pick them out. She has a larger portion of Cloud Cake than mine.”
After lunch was completed, the little princess asked to be excused from the table. “Thank you very much, King Midnight and Queen Dawn. It was a most delightful lunch, and I hope to be invited back again sometime. May I be excused?”
Princess Celeste was quite upset, and bolted from the table without even touching her delicious alfalfa salad. She did not like the little princess, and it was quite obvious that Lune had passed the first test.
On the second day, the King and Queen brought the two Princesses to the Royal Menagerie, and showed them the fierce dragon Hufflelump, who was chained to a stake in the middle of his exercise yard.
“A proper Royal Princess is able to overcome amazing obstacles in their path. Lying beside my pet is his favorite toy, a golden ball. Your task is simple, retrieve the ball and give it to me. Princess Celeste, will you demonstrate for us?”
“I suppose, if I have to.” The older princess lit her horn with magic, and levitated the golden ball away from the dragon, who pawed the ground and howled at seeing his favorite toy go away.
“Very good, my daughter,” said the King, throwing the golden ball back to the dragon, who promptly began to happily chew on it.
Lune looked at the dragon with compassion. He was a most fearsome beast, with strong jaws and sharp claws. But he was just a baby, and taking the ball away from him would be cruel. So she walked down into the field and played with him. They had a fine time, playing catch, and fetch, and tickle, until the little dragon was all worn out and curled up, fast asleep.
The King and Queen were delighted when Lune brought the golden ball to them. “A proper Princess must be sensitive to the needs of those she deals with, even to the youngest and least.”
That night, Princess Celeste decided she would perform her own test on the annoying little princess. It must be a test so difficult, that nopony could possibly pass, but what could she possibly do? Celeste thought and thought, until she had an idea which made her break out in song:
Sensitivity, sensitivity, I'm just loaded with that! In this one word is the epitome of the aristocrat! Sensitive soul and sensitive stomach, sensitive sides and feet; this is the blessing, also the curse, of being the true elite. Common ponies don't know what exquisite agony is suffered by gentle ponies like me (*)
She sent her servants to the kitchen, to retrieve the smallest of all possible beans, and before bed that night, she slipped into the little princess’s room and tucked it under her mattress. But was that enough for the envious princess? No it was not. She had the castle servants place a full score and four of soft mattresses upon the little princess’s bed, each filled with only the softest down from young maiden pegasi who had never felt the touch of a stallion, and covered them all with silken sheets from Neighpon with the highest of thread count.
---
The next morning, the older princess arose and flew to the breakfast table with glee.
“Good morning Mother, good morning Father. I see our little pest is not up yet, she must be sleeping in. And that means she is not a proper Princess! For I put a tiny little bean under her mattress last night, and since she slept right through it...”
Celeste cleared her throat and began to sing:
For a Princess is, a delicate thing Delicate and dainty as a dragonfly’s wing You can recognize a lady by her elegant air But a genuine Princess, is exceedingly rare. (*)
“I wasn’t aware this was a musical,” said Lune with a yawn as she stumbled out of the kitchen, carrying a coffee pot. “I’ve been up for absolutely hours. I don’t know what they stuffed those mattresses with, but your guards could probably use it as a replacement for armor. Coffee anyone?”
“We tried to tell you,” said King Midnight. “But you didn’t get up this morning when we knocked on your door. Or used the cymbals. Or the trumpet. Your mother and I knew all about your little bean plan, and we put a few dozen turnips under your mattress last night.”
“Do you mean...”
“Yes, I’m afraid so, my daughter. You have failed each of the tests that Lune passed so easily. By the law, you are no longer allowed to stay in the castle.”
“But Daddy!” wailed the spoiled princess.
King Midnight and Queen Dawn then declared Princess Lune to be a true Princess, and placed her into the room of their own daughter. As for Princess Celeste, she was permitted to remain in the castle, as long as she obeyed her parents and ate her alfalfa.
And the Royal Family, and the two Princesses lived happily ever after.
(*) Copyright “Once Upon a Mattress” 1964, 1974(my favorite), 2005
Gather around little ones, and I shall tell you the true story of Nightmare Moon, and why we Night Pegasi celebrate this Nightmare Night in our own fashion.
A time long, long ago, before the time of our kind, there were but three types of ponies. The earth ponies who tilled the soil and brought forth wonderful food, the pegasi who patrolled the sky, controlling the weather and guarding the lands, and the unicorns who ruled them all. Back then, the sky itself was alive with power, ruled by the Spirit of Day and the Spirit of Night. Both spirits shared the sky equally, each blessing the ponies with their gifts.
The Spirit of Day brought up the sun to give warm sunshine and life to the lands so that food and flowers could grow. She would dance through the sky all day with the sunbeams and butterflies, blessing the ponies below with her joy.
The Spirit of Night brought up the moon to bring on the night, giving beauty and glory to the ponies below. They would wonder as they stared into the stars at the wise spirit, and their hearts would fill with knowledge and love.
One day, an evil demon called Nightmare came from the forest and watched the two spirits with envy. They were far too powerful for the creature to fight combined, but if split apart, they would be easily defeated. So the demon clothed itself in a pony disguise and traveled the lands, spreading falsehoods and rumors about the two good spirits. Eventually these rumors found their way to the spirits, who began to mistrust one another, for although they knew of each other’s existence, they never could both live in the same place. Finally after many years of spreading her lies, the evil demon went to the Spirit of Night and spoke:
“Spirit, you are most beautiful and wise. I have come to warn you of a great danger. The Spirit of Day has plans to overpower you and become the only Spirit in our lands.”
Now the Spirit of Night was deeply concerned, for she too had heard the rumors, and was unaware that the disguised demon had been spreading them. “Oh tell me, fair creature,” she asked. “What might I do to prevent this from happening? For I am weaker than Day, and wherever she goes, I must depart.”
“Allow me to join my power with you,” said the demon Nightmare to the innocent and trusting spirit. “Together we shall be able to resist her attacks.”
So the Spirit of Night opened herself to the demon, who promptly betrayed her, ripping her from the sky and binding her deep below the earth in the forest. Then Nightmare took to the sky and began to wait, prepared to imprison the Day when she arrived.
Unknown to Nightmare, the Spirit of the Day had seen what had happened. Although she could not live where Night had drawn her cloak, the beautiful moon reflected a portion of her light across the Night. She knew that she was not powerful enough to defeat Nightmare, but she had a plan.
For the first time ever, she left her home in the sky and descended to the ground. There she took the form of a pony, combining the power of Day with the strength of the earth ponies, the flight of the pegasi, and the magic of the unicorns. Disguised in this form, she was able to fly undetected behind the Nightmare and free the Spirit of Night from her captivity. Night also took the form of a pony, and the two of them spoke for the first time ever.
Day spoke first with a voice like lightning, “My form is as bright and powerful as the celestial orbs, therefore I shall take the name Celestia.”
Night agreed, and spoke in a voice like thunder, “My form is as dark as the night sky in which lives my beautiful moon, so I shall call myself Luna.”
The two spirits attacked the Nightmare together, and great was their battle. Stars were wrenched down from the sky, seas boiled, and lakes of molten fire formed where their blows struck. The Nightmare knew that she had lost, but before she fell, she was determined to slay the Spirit of Day, so that the entire world would be consumed by darkness and ice.
She formed every bit of her power into a bolt of killing energy, and flung it at Celestia, only to have Luna leap forward and take the blow. The demon Nightmare gloated in triumph, for with one of the two spirits slain, she could defeat the other. But before the Nightmare could act, the wounded Luna wrapped them both in her embrace and flung them into the sky. With her last bit of power, she imprisoned both the Nightmare and herself inside her beloved moon, where they remain forever trapped to this night.
Day was deep in grief, for she knew if she returned to her beloved sky, the land would eventually grow barren and burnt without the cool embrace of Night. So the spirit remained on the ground in pony form and took the title of Princess Celestia. She not only used her powers to bring forth both day and night, but also to create a fourth kind of pony, so that the night would be guarded against the return of the demon now called Nightmare Moon.
And that is how our race, the Night Pegasi, came to be. It has been our task ever since to watch the night, and always be on guard. That is why she gave us the eyes of the Spirit of Night, so that we might see through the darkness, and the wings of dragons so we may fly in any weather. Finally, our coats were blessed with the colors of Luna, so that we might never forget the sacrifice the Spirit of Night gave so that we might live.
Once a year for one night only, Princess Celestia loosens the chains that bind the moon so that a faint shadow of both Nightmare Moon and the Spirit of the Night may visit Equestria in order that the memory of the evil locked into the moon’s embrace may not be forgotten.
While the other three races of ponies wear disguises to hide themselves from Nightmare Moon, you shall go out into the streets proudly with them. It shall be your task to guard them much as you will be tasked into guarding all the lands against far more powerful foes when you are older. Should Nightmare Moon threaten you tonight, the spirit of Luna shall protect you, as she watches over you every night.
Go with your friends as they do, collecting candy as a token of the gifts given to us by Day and Night. Eat, play games, and frolic with them, and enjoy the beautiful night.
Then when the night has become the darkest, and you travel with them to the shrine of Nightmare Moon to offer our sacrifice, you shall remember. Every year, the gifts we give weaken the power of Nightmare, and strengthen our Luna. Should it take a thousand years, the Spirit of Night shall regain her strength until someday she shall break free.
Once upon a time, far far away on the sun, there lived a huge alicorn mare made out of fire. Her hooves were like burnished gold, her mane was the red of flames, and her coat burned white-hot with power. Alicorns are not like ponies, and this mare had a nest filled with golden eggs that she curled up around to keep warm. She would breathe on them with her fiery breath, and cover them with her flaming wings to protect them from the cold darkness that lurked outside of the warm sun.
One glorious day, all the eggs in her nest hatched, and out of these eggs came twelve little tiny alicorn foals. They all shared her brilliant white coat and flaming red mane, all except one little alicorn. Her coat was dark as charcoal, and her mane absorbed the light and flowed like smoke.
The mother alicorn gathered them all together and loved them all. She watched them as they frolicked in the fields of sungrass, and helped bend down the sunflowers so they could eat. She showed them pools of pure boiling water so they could drink, and the warmest spots on the sun so they could keep their fires burning brightly.
But the littlest alicorn was so unhappy. The sungrass was very rough on her delicate hooves, and the sunflowers burned her mouth when she tried to eat. So while the rest of the little alicorns grew tall and happy, the littlest alicorn stayed small. Her sisters all teased her about how small and dark she was. They would dance around her when mother was not around and say the most terrible things. They called her ugly, and cold, and mocked the way her mane did not flow with fire like theirs.
Only one of the alicorn foals did not tease her little sister. The good little alicorn used to sneak her little bits of sunflower that had been cooled off so she could eat, and shade the boiling water until it cooled enough for her to drink.
One day the mother alicorn came to her little fillies and said, “The sunflowers have almost all been eaten, and the sungrass is very short. We must travel across the Great Darkness to another star or we most certainly will starve.” So she gathered up all twelve of her children and prepared to leave their home.
“Now children, you must stay close. The Great Darkness is very cold, and we must travel very quickly. If you stray from my fire, the ice will claim you and your fire will go out, never to return.”
All the little alicorns promised to stay close, and they all set off across the Great Darkness.
They traveled a long, long way across the Great Darkness, and all the little alicorn fillies were very cold and tired. The littlest alicorn was weakest of the fillies, and eventually could not keep up with her sisters.
“Wait, Mother!” called her sister. “My little sister has fallen behind!”
“I cannot go back for her, or we all will perish,” said the mother alicorn, with tears in her eyes.
The little alicorn laid down in the darkness and cried. She was too exhausted to follow her mother, and the cries of her sister vanished into the distance. It was very dark, and very cold. She did not know what else to do but curl up and wait for the end.
After a very long time crying, the little alicorn heard a voice.
“Why are you crying?”
“I’m all alone,” said the little alicorn. “My mother and my sisters have gone off to a new home, and I could not keep up with them.”
“You’re not alone. We are all here with you. Come dance with us.” The little alicorn looked up as all around her, stars filled the Great Darkness and danced in happiness at having somepony to play with.
The little alicorn was very happy, and danced and played with her new friends. Still, she felt bad for her sister, and wanted to tell her about her new friends. So she set off across the Great Darkness with her new friends and after traveling a long, long way, she finally found her.
If you look up into the sky tonight, you can see the little alicorn flying through the night with her friends. She flies around the world in constant pursuit of her sister who rules the day.
They have not met in thousands of years, but every year the night slowly gains on her sister. Someday soon they will both meet, and the little alicorn will finally be able to show her sister the true joy and beauty of the night.
All day I’ve been plagued by poetry, vexed by verse, perplexed by prose and slugged by sonets. I’m taking it out on you. Hey, don’t blame me, whatever Pen Stroke did forced me to write this.
Children’s literature, written in verse.
Update: Now with an excellent narration by Bad Horse with the most amazing peacock I have ever heard.
(Translated from the original Griffon by Musty Pages, a distant relative of Commander Hurricane. Included in the Book of Tradition by Nocturne Council vote on 678 A.E.)
The Song of the Griffons
Hear, oh my children, of the shame of the griffons
Long ago, when the race of griffons were few and young, we soared above the fertile valleys and farms of the pony nation. Our wings were strong as mountains, and the pegasi rose into the skies with us, soaring almost as high as our own kind. We lived in harmony with the pony races, watching over them from our high nests, and all was good. Or so it seemed.
As our ancestors soared in the frigid skies, they could hear the voices of the world calling to them, and the higher they flew, the louder one voice sounded. It told them of their destiny, how they were greater than the ponies who flew with them, and as we listened, the race of griffons grew even more powerful. We built fortresses in the sky to raise ourselves even farther from the ground, we lifted our bodies even closer to the sun to feel its warmth against our feathers even as our hearts grew colder and more distant. Some of our kind who soared higher and faster than all the rest grew proud, and claimed the voice had told them of a way they could soar even higher.
The voice spoke to them of the glory of blood and the energy of the kill, but not of the animals of the ground and birds of the sky. It spoke of the power they would gain from the blood of the ponies, and one fateful day, a griffon listened. He struck down a pony and ate from it, giving him the power to soar higher and faster than any other griffon, but at a terrible price. While he soared far above the rest of the griffons, his heart grew cold and cruel. More of our kind yielded to the wicked voice, and the pale griffons soared even higher above the ground, looking down upon both griffon and pony with contempt. As their ranks grew, the weather became colder, and the snow began to fall. The once fertile land grew dark and empty, and the claws of the pale griffons sought out our own kind for their prey.
While the rest of the ponies fled the formerly fertile valley, the pride of the griffons would not be broken that easily. We fought the beasts, now called Wendigo, and as the snow piled high outside our mountain caves, the numbers of our kind dwindled.
We were lost, being consumed by our own folly. The few of us who remained gathered together in the last mountain stronghold, determined to meet our fate with claws and beak towards the enemy, and we waited for the end.
The Wendigo circled our fortress, patient as the blowing snow, for they knew our kind would soon be without food, and in our desperation, we would be forced to eat our own and add to their ranks. They screamed in endless rage as they flew by, taking the forms of their victims in cruel mockery of our decision.
All was lost, until we heard the distant notes of a trumpet.
The clouds parted, and the Pegasi of Equestria filled the frozen skies in numbers we had never seen before. They flew to our aid, rescuing the fathers and parents of the ones who had slain their young. Pegasi fell in vast numbers protecting our fledglings as we evacuated what we thought would become our tomb, and at their head flew Commander Hurricane. He was a lion in battle, faster than anything with wings, and where he flew, the sky shattered. Wendigo fell beneath his flashing hooves as we fled, broken into pieces and dropping through the clouds. He was struck many times in the battle, but the golden armor of their kind protected him, forged by earth ponies and enchanted by unicorns, it turned uncounted blows as we fled to the warm lands of Equestria where they dared not follow.
We gathered, the poor bedraggled remnants of a once proud race, prepared to accept our punishment for unleashing this disaster upon the world. Our leaders humbled themselves before the powerful pegasi, and our sole surviving golden-eyed king abased himself at the hooves of their Commander Hurricane.
But the noble pegasus would have none of that. He lifted our king to stand by his side and asked that we might once again fly through the sky with his kind as equals. The king was baffled. Why would the pegasi forgive our crimes against them? Why would they risk their lives to save us? He asked, but received only these words in response:
What else could we do?
In his wisdom, the king withdrew from the pony lands, taking the mountain tops and crags for our homes while the pegasi continued to dwell within the clouds. He decreed that Griffons and Ponies should remain separated so that the peace would be sustained, and the temptation to soar above them would not again threaten the lives of pony or griffon.
We were not ready to live with the ponies. If we tried, the same conflict would happen again, only this time our weakness would destroy us all. For centuries since, our kind has ridden the skies, soaring high in the clouds, far from ponykind. Someday we may become strong enough to be worthy of the gift that Commander Hurricane gave to our ancient king, and that every griffon king since has acknowledged.
Let the wings of our ancestors be our guides, may the winds whisper only words of harmony to our ears, and may we someday be worthy of the gift of life that was once bestowed upon our race.
Once upon a time, in the days of Megan the Destroyer, when the world was new and ponies first came to Equestria after the death of Queen Majesty, there was a wizened little creature called the Moochick who was the only being willing to teach magic to the young race of ponies.
“Teach us!” they cried, and sat patiently while he shifted his old bones into a more comfortable position on his mushroom chair.
“I will only teach magic to the race of ponies who is able to build me a house,” he responded.
The three races of ponies raced away to complete the task, each of them eager to prove they were the ponies who deserved magic. The earth ponies built him a strong house of bricks, tall with many windows and doors. The unicorns constructed a house of crystal, with tall towers and parapets. And the pegasi built a huge cloud mansion with flowing fountains and colorful rainbows.
Returning to him, they watched as he examined their work.
“Bricks?” he asked, looking in the earth pony house. “They are rough and will scratch my sensitive books until there is nothing left but tatters. No, this simply will not do.”
“Ouch!” he declared when looking into the unicorn house of crystals. “How sharp these walls are, and the light pours through at all times of the day. My precious books will all be ruined and faded. No, this also will not do.”
The cloud house he simply looked up at, standing on the ground with his hands on his hips.
“No, my little ponies,” he said. “None of these houses will do. But do not despair. I shall give you one more chance to prove your worth.”
The three races of ponies trudged away, dejected and disappointed, until a young earth pony said, “He told us all the things he does not like in a house, but what does he like?”
They all sat and thought for a while.
“He likes plants and trees,” said an earth pony. “Perhaps we could make him a tree house.”
“He does not like to be high in the air,” said a pegasus. “Could the house be inside a tree?”
“That would be too small,” said a unicorn. “He loves his books. A house inside a tree would be too small unless we could make it grow.”
“I’m good at making apple trees grow,” said the earth pony, “but they’re not very big. We would need something bigger, like an oak.”
“I know where the largest oak tree in the forest is,” said the unicorn. “I shall bring back an acorn, and if you can make it grow, it will make a fine house.”
“I can bring water and give the tree plenty of sunshine,” said the pegasus.
And the three races of ponies each eagerly went to their task. The unicorn brought back the largest acorn that anypony had ever seen, the earth pony buried it in the richest soil she could find, and the pegasus brought cloud after cloud of water to make it grow. Sooner than they expected, a large oak tree graced their tiny village, and the Moochick looked it over with a nod of his head.
“Perfect!” he exclaimed. “I shall move in at once.”
“But what of our magic?” asked the ponies.
The Moochick laughed. “Silly ponies. You have had your magic all along. The earth ponies had the magic of making things grow, the pegasi have the magic of the sky that they use to bring forth the rain and the sunshine, and the unicorns possess the magic of knowledge.”
Both the pegasus and the earth pony nodded their heads, as the Moochick was wise indeed, but the unicorn was still troubled.
“There are many things in the world for us to learn, but so few unicorns. How can we best learn what we do not know and pass our knowledge on to others?”
The Moochick laughed again. “You are the silliest of all ponies. The answer is in what you have built, for this tree shall contain books in which you will write that which needs to be passed down to others, and in which you will find the knowledge which you seek.”
And all of the ponies nodded their heads at the wisdom of the wise old creature, and declared that there would be a gathering place for knowledge in each of the cities that they built as their numbers grew. The pegasi and unicorns built huge libraries in Canterlot and Cloudsdale, but the earth ponies took the acorns from that first hollow oak and planted them across Equestria in every small town and village, so that the knowledge that they contained could always be nearby, and that the gift of the Moochick would never be forgotten.
