> Humans
>  by unclefester84
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> Preface
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Preface

Greetings dear reader, my name is Dr. Wandering Quill, earth pony archeologist, linguist and, according to some, “crazy old crackpot”.
Such a flattering moniker is mainly thanks to my research into the history predating the coming of the first ponies into the world, and my theories regarding the very origin of our existence.
Now I won't bore you with the full story of my life, but some context will be needed for this all to make sense.

I was a respected historian at Canterlot University before i was kicked out (metaphorically and almost literally), for going against the accepted theories that say that intelligent life appeared on this world only a few tens of thousands of years ago, in the form of the first dragons, and that before them there had only been millions of years of boring natural evolution.
In my life of studies however, I discovered too many weird things, too many ‘coincidences’, that ultimately led me to believe that the history of civilization is much, much more ancient and complex than is ordinarily believed.
Unfortunately, the general scientific community was not open to such “outlandish and baseless assumptions” and so, after years of trying, I lost my job and position and was forced to go on an early retirement.
That was my lowest point, compounded even more when my lovely wife passed away. I thought my life had no purpose anymore, that I would spend the rest of my years being avoided by my former colleagues, friends, and also by my children, who apparently wanted nothing to do with a crazy pony like me.
Then the Foundation contacted me.

Apparently I wasn't the only one that believes our knowledge of the history of the world is vastly incomplete. This secret organization offered their help and resources to expand my studies, and in exchange I was requested to share with them, and only with them, all my findings, and to disappear from the face of the world.
I accepted their offer almost on the spot, and after they faked my death, I could finally fulfill my lifelong dream of discovering the truth of our history.
Years went by and I learned a lot about my new sponsor and its origin, which by itself would be a fascinating subject for a full PHD thesis, but much more I discovered about our mysterious past.
I was right, the Foundation had put together enough evidence to conclusively prove the existence of an ancient civilization that lived, thrived and then suddenly disappeared millions of years before even the first traces of modern complex life came to be, at least according to mainstream science.
A civilization composed entirely of Alicorns, and governed by none other than Faust, the mythological deity creator and protector of all ponykind.

If you’re gasping in surprise and disbelief I won't blame you, I reacted the same way.
Unfortunately however, this was pretty much all that could be discerned from the scattered fragments of information found around the world.
Yet there were also faint hints of something more going on during that time, something about darkness and Titans, and then a term that has been haunting the Foundation for millennia: Humans.

It is to discover more about this mysterious past that many secret expeditions have been sent all over the world, the latest of which saw myself involved as the main historian and translator, which is also the reason why I now find myself in this place.
It started ordinarily enough. We went to explore a small, unassuming cave that was recently uncovered by a glacial collapse on a mountain far beyond the northern border of Yakyakistan. Despite the remoteness of the place we reached the entrance easily enough with the help of one of our local agents, but after we finally entered inside, everything began to go wrong.
All magic failed, as if completely severed from our very being, and many, me included, felt like somepony, or something, was watching us as we made our way in. But still we pressed on until we arrived in a vast chamber with a raised platform in the middle.
After studying it, we realized that it was an extremely old teleporter, much more ancient than even the earliest Abyssinian ruins, but despite its age it seemed to be still in working condition, and in our overenthusiastic curiosity we tried to activate it.
That’s when the entire mountain fell onto our heads.
As the teleporter sprung to life the cavern began to quickly collapse, but while the rest of the team made a run for the exit, my old legs made it clear that I would never reach it, so I threw all our instruments and provisions into the magic circle, before jumping in myself.

I had just made it to the other side when the arrival teleport circle flickered and died. Apparently I got through just in time before the collapse destroyed the device, but that also meant that there won't be any going back, at least not by the same way, and so in all earnest I began to take in my surroundings.
If I had been in awe at discovering such a sophisticated device forgotten away in a mountain cave, it was nothing compared to what I felt once I realized where I arrived.
It was another vast cave, with all its interior carved like a palace, one that would put the splendor of even Canterlot Castle and the Crystal Palace combined to shame. I cannot possibly give an appropriate description of my surroundings without repeating words like ‘marvelous’, and ‘extraordinary’, and outright ‘impossible’, like a broken record, so I will try to tone it down.
The structure itself reminds me of classic architecture, with columns and sculptures and mosaics depicting natural scenes, including plants and animals that don't exist today.
There are also fountains that still spill clear and refreshing water, and the air is always clean and fresh.
There are some organic remains, potted plants that rotted away long ago, together with whatever carpet and tapestry that might have covered the floors and walls, the floor itself is smooth and yet not slippery at all, the ceiling is enchanted to cycle between day and night, alternating between a clear blue sky and a starry one, although i do not recognize any constellation, the moon looks different and even the length of the days does not match ours.
Still the magnitude of this discovery didn’t hit me until a couple of days later, when I came across a remarkably well preserved door with figures carved on it, figures of tall ponies with both wings and a horn.
Alicorns.

Nothing in my career, nothing in my life could have ever prepared me for what I found beyond that door.
It seemed like a studio of some sort, the kind that would make princess Twilight drool in envy, with bookshelves, the remains of what I assume were scrolls, books and writing supplies, together with some arcane ingredients that still resonate with magic.
At the center of the room I saw a large desk with a massive book closed on it, and behind it, still sitting on a chair, there was a figure, a skeleton.
An Alicorn skeleton.

I almost had a heart attack when i saw it, i was in the presence of the body of a creature that lived and died long before even the first dragons appeared on the world, yet despite its age it was much better preserved than any other organic material found in this place, it was still wearing its immaculate silvery robe and golden regalia, and standing as if it was simply nodding off on the chair after a long day’s work.
I could spend this entire book trying to describe what I felt at that moment. I was so overwhelmed that I almost didn’t notice the real treasure that stood in front of me: the book on the desk.
Even by itself this book is a marvel among marvels, it is quite massive and made of a material that I have never seen before, hard and apparently impervious to both damage and time, yet light and movable as if made from the highest quality paper.
Inside there were both writing and drawings, still clear as if they were inscribed yesterday, in a language matching the one that I had learned during my time with the Foundation, and as I began to translate the first sentences, I couldn't believe my eyes.
It was a history book, narrating the story of the world from its beginning, to the end of the Alicorn Kingdom, and written by someone that claimed to be related to Faust herself.

I fainted at that point, and when i woke up again i felt something in me, a drive and determination like i haven't felt in many years, it was as if i was meant to be there, as if all my life had been in preparation of this moment and was now about to reach its fulfillment.
I suddenly knew what i needed to do, i needed to translate and transcribe this book in our present language, and to add to it the history of the world following what was narrated there, as if adding a sequel to a novel, or updating a science journal.
I spent the next day carrying all my provisions to the studio. We had brought enough to feed the entire expedition for weeks, so for a single pony they should last for months and give me enough time to complete my work.
Looking in one of the drawers of the desk i then found another book of the same kind used by this alicorn, blank ready to be written on, and as i opened it on the desk, the same quill and inkpot that was used for the original animated itself in front of me, conveniently ready to write at my will, which otherwise would have been quite difficult to do without either magic or wings.
I was ready.

What follows here is a work divided in two parts, the first is the translation and adaptation to modern language of the original book, here and there annotated by myself for better context, the second part is my own original work, adding the knowledge of the subsequent time and focusing on the story and nature of the Foundation, the secret society that spent thousands of years trying to discern the truth that was revealed to me this past few days.
> Of the Humans
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Well met to you, whoever you are reading this book, I am Prince Altair, son of Princess Hope, daughter of Queen Faust and King Laurent, sovereigns of the Great Alicorn Kingdom, fallen now to darkness and obscurity.
As I write these words, it is my hope that they will carry the memory of the world as it was during the reign of my species, for I am the last of my kind, and was spared the fate of my kin only for the time necessary to fulfill the duty of a chronicler, to recount the history of the cosmos from its creation to the end that, by our own folly, we brought on ourselves (1).
Here follows, recounted in brief, a summary of the knowledge acquired by the scholars of our realm, along with what was declared to Queen Faust by the Creators themselves.
The Creators, our creators, now wear forms in the shape of mortals, yet they are much more than what the senses can discern, and nothing of their true nature can wholly be known, except for the name with which they call themselves.
They are the Humans.


Of the Humans


The Humans are six, and their chief instrument is their Voice.
It was used before the beginning of time to dictate the workings of the Universe, but in later days they forsook its usage, for its power is too great for the world to bear.

No mortal has ever witnessed their true form, and no creature would survive a glimpse of their real majesty, for they are beings whose glory and might goes far beyond the narrow borders of the Universe and expands into the depths of the timeless void that is outside.
They knew, even before its creation, that the fragile cosmos would never be vast enough to contain them, so to experience and live with all the things that they created, the six assumed physical forms.
These forms would later be known as Aspects.
At the beginning of time, when the Universe was still unshaped, and long before life itself, these primordial Aspects would appear like colossal forms of elemental power, vastly greater and far more terrible than anything that had ever, or will ever, manifest in the cosmic reality.
Often they would appear in a form that later will be known as “humanoid”, which is bipedal and erect, with long limbs and a head whose face shone with a glorious light of power.
Other times they would instead appear more similar to natural elemental phenomenons, albeit of cataclysmic proportions.
And on some occasions they would not appear at all, for their presence could move through the fabric of space and time completely unseen and unfelt even by the most keen sensed creature.

When their first great labors were finished, the world completed and the first life established, the Humans once again perceived that their original Aspects would be too great to abide among mortals and so, for the second time, they choose to assume a new, even lesser form, more similar to the creatures they would one day interact with.
They would keep their humanoid shape, but this time made of flesh, blood and bones, and they would assume a gender, either male or female, in the same fashion of many living species, and according to the preference and difference of character that they had since before the beginning of time.
Yet they would not completely hide their nature.
From their eyes shone still a great light, a brilliance that stunned and blinded any creature that was to look upon it, and their bodies show signs of the infinite majesty that was barely held within, so great in fact that any creature approaching an Unmasked Aspect could be overwhelmed by the mere radiance of their aura.
It was only after the Humans began to wear their Masks, which are artifacts forged by the greatest alicorn artisans of old, and then hallowed by the Six themselves, that the Humans would become easy to approach even for the least among mortals.
From then on these new forms would be called the Masked Aspects.

Yet even in this most diminished form, within all the limits and rules they set for themselves, the Humans wield far more might and wisdom than all the other powers of the world combined, for their true form extends far beyond the Universe, and goes back into the endless and timeless void.
Indeed the wise say that the Aspects, and even more so the Masked Aspects, stand to the real Humans like a puppet stand to the puppeteer, nothing more than a vessel with which they can exist within the Universe without disrupting it (2).
Only once have mortal creatures witnessed a fraction of the true power an Aspect possesses. On that day a Human took off their mask and put forth the power of the Voice, and in doing so the world and the very structure of the cosmos were changed, our entire species failed and our grandiose realm fell forever.

Here now follows a short description of the Humans, in the order in which they entered their creation.

The first Human is the one called Sol, also named the Lord of Flames, and The Eternal Light.
He was the one that conceived fire, light, and energy, and his creation was the first thing to appear in the empty hall that was the Universe at the beginning.
His Aspect sometimes appears like a living sun, a pure flame whose brilliance would blind any eye, and whose radiance would burn to ashes any mortal.
In his masked form he is male, tall and strong, with brass colored skin, and long amber hairs that move like a roaring fire.
He clothes himself in a segmented golden armor, and his flaming red cloak billows as if in a constant current of hot air. His mask is also made of gold, as are the laurels on his head.
He is sometimes wrongfully regarded as almost hostile to life, but while he might appear to have little care for the mortals, he and his fire have marked the beginning of civilization since the beginning of time.
To him call all those that wield or seek a position of power, like nobles and governors, but also those whose duty is to protect the others, like soldiers and guards, and to them he teaches the skills of statecraft and combat.

The second Human is called Azibo, the Foundation of the World, and the King of Stone.
From his mind came all that is solid and enduring. He forged the world and made all the substances of the earth in forms of stones, minerals and gems.
In his unmasked form he appears like a giant colossus, a mountain taller and more massive than any other that ever existed, or will ever exist, and with his movements the continents themselves shake.
His Masked Aspect is male, shorter than Sol, but more massive. His skin is colored like dark granite, he has no hair but has a thick black beard seemingly woven out of metal.
He wears armored legwear made of thick iron plates, leaving his torso and arms naked. His mask is made out of roughly carved basalt stone and on his head he wears an iron crown studded with many gems.
In character he is solid and steadfast like the earth, slow to move and change, almost lethargic at times, but utterly relentless when he chooses to do so.
He is mentor and protector of all those who delight in manual labor, all workers and artisans are dear to him, and especially those that work with the products of the earth, like smiths or sculptors. He is also a teacher of patience and endurance.

The third Human is named Naseema, the StormLady, the Wind Dancer.
From her came all the airs of the world, from the gentle breeze that caresses the grass to the most terrible storm.
In her unmasked Aspect she is a towering column of winds that stretch far higher than even the highest cloud, made visible only by the mists that are lifted by the violent currents, and her speed and agility are without match.
Her Masked Aspect is female, lean and exceedingly quick, her skin is of a light azure, and her hair are long and wild, always moving as if in a constant breeze and changing in color from the purest white to dark like a thunder cloud.
Her raiments are of silk and leave much of her body uncovered and free, and like her hair they continuously move and change colors.
Her mask is a silver lined veil that covers her face like a mist, seemingly always on the verge of flying away, and on her head is a crown of white jewels held together by a silver thread.
She is the most mercurial of the Humans and her fancies change like the turning of the winds, seldom she stays still for long.
She is revered by those mortals who delight in flight and speed, and also those who travel long distances, and to her they call for a swift and safe journey. Among her most beloved are messengers, explorers, travelers, and merchants whose roads take them far away.

The fourth Human is Eimi, the Queen of the Waves, the Heart of the Oceans.
Her rule is over all the waters of the World, from the deepest ocean, to the smallest streams and underground springs.
Her unmasked aspect appears like a cataclysmic wave, a vast mountain of foaming water whose power can uproot and scatter anything in its path.
Her Masked Aspect is female, shorter than Naseema but with softer curves like the waves of the sea, her skin is white like freshly fallen snow, her hairs are long and smooth and dark like the deepest ocean.
She dresses with long and elegant robes that cover her almost entirely, colored in many shades of blue and decorated by pearls.
Her mask is made of mother of pearl, white and featureless, and a coral tiara in the appearance of a foaming wave is on her head.
Her mood is often serene and benevolent, but sometimes can also appear cold and distant.
All artists and educators call to her, and she loves them dearly. She is considered both teacher and muse to those seeking inspiration and improvement.

The last two Humans entered the Universe together, for the thoughts and inventions of one could not exist without the other.

Gaia, called the Allmother and the Lady of Green is the one that created the concept of life, and all living things are under her charge.
Her unmasked Aspect is much less intimidating than the other Humans, as she appears like a colossal tree with humanoid forms, and her presence is soothing and comforting rather than dreadful.
Her Masked Aspect is female, slender yet motherly, her skin is of a pale brown, like the wood of a young tree, her hair are very long and voluminous, they cover her head like a hood, and are colored of a rich green as if made of blades of grass.
She wears a long green dress, covered in all kinds of leaves and moss and on her head is a crown of living plants that grow through her hairs.
Her mask is made from bark, carved and shaped to be simple and with almost no decorations, except for three ovals interlocking on it.
By definition all living creatures revere her, and she cares for them all, still among them she holds dearest those who tend to new life, like farmers and new parents, or mend hurts, like medics and nurses.

Mortis, known as the Father of Ghosts and the Last Friend is the creator of souls, he is associated mostly with death, but from him come also dreams and many things associated with spiritual matters.
His unmasked Aspect appears like a vast and vague shape of black shadow that causes terrible dread to the living, yet those with the courage to bear his sight claim that there is something in that darkness, something just beyond the reach of their mind that calls to them like a long lost parent would call their child.
His masked form is tall, taller than all the other Humans and very thin, his skin is gray and his hair and beard long and white.
He wears a long and simple dark gray robe that covers his whole body, with a hood over his head.
His mask is made of the blackest obsidian, yet on its surface are visible many small gems like stars in the night.
Despite his usual association with death, or perhaps exactly because of it, he is revered by many. His dominion is over the souls and all things that are spiritual and ethereal, including the realm of the mind and of the dreams, but he is also a fervent  patron of the magic arts and scholarly knowledge, and he takes most in consideration both those who feel affinity to the spiritual, and those who seek knowledge and mastery of the arcane.

As previously declared, what here has been reported is what was known of certain about the Humans, and yet the wise declare that much more of them is still unknown, and will remain so until the end of the world, unless they bless with new knowledge the species that are foretold to arrive long after mine has perished (3).







Annotations
(1)The irony of the situation is not lost on me, as I am doing the exact same thing that this alicorn did so many years ago, save for the ‘ruin’ and ‘last of my kind’ parts… At least I hope so.
(2)By what i gathered from other fragments of information found in this palace I’d say it’s more complex that this, the Humans indeed are still ‘outside’, but also are ‘inside’ the universe, so in a way the ‘puppet’ and the ‘puppeteer’ are one and the same, perhaps a more apt comparison is how an actor is still himself and knows the script of the story that he’s playing in, but he is also the character within the story and with all its limitations.
To recap:
Primordial Aspects: the shape the Humans took while creating the universe at first, they are unfathomably big and terrible.
Unmasked Aspects: “diminished” to be similar to mortals, still too powerful to approach safely.
Masked Aspect: Same as before but wearing a Mask that lets them contain their power better to let any creature get close.
(3)Unfortunately no such blessing has arrived, and to date I am the first to know about this.
> Of Creation
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


Of Creation


Before the beginning

There are the Humans, the Six.
They are presences of unlimited will and might, like mountains of power towering over an ocean of emptiness, and they interacted with one another, debating ceaselessly their own nature and thoughts, and by these debates their characters evolved and increased in complexity, majesty and glory.
Details and differences among them became more defined as new thoughts began to form in their minds, new shapes and concepts were born, and with them also grew the desire to continue their own evolution.
Yet they perceived that not much more could be gained by simply interacting between themselves, and that their majesty would stop increasing as soon as their debating ran out of arguments.
And so they realized that the only way for their evolution to continue, was if new things were to happen, but that was a vain hope, for nothing aside from themselves could change in the void.
Indeed the emptiness in which they resided was also without time, and reality was forever locked in a permanent now, unknowing of the concepts of past or future.
But new hope was kindled when, in their last debate, the Humans created in themselves a way to put forth the thoughts of their minds, and give them existence.
This power is what one day would be known as the Voice.
When the Voice of the Six was first used in the void, its unchecked power rattled the emptiness, its patterns and waves became visible to sight, and its immeasurable potential became clear.
With this newly created power a decision was made. To give existence to many of the new things and concepts that the Humans created with their thoughts and, by them, increase their own glory. (1)


First Eon (2)


Dawn of the Universe


The three Laws

The Humans debated long on how to proceed with the creation of the Universe, but the first and most fundamental prerequisite was clear: they needed some form of constants that would allow their creation to change and evolve, to have memories of what had been, and hopes for what will be.
Then the six put together their will and, with labor shared equally among them, they created the Three Great Laws.

First among them was the Law of Time.
None but the Humans have ever seen Time in its true form, but it is said that if a mind could comprehend it, it would appear like a colossal clockwork, its levers and cogs working with an absolute precision. On its face there are innumerable hands, the smallest of which spins with an impossible speed, counting the length of every moment, and the subsequent ones growing in size and slowing in speed, counting days, years, ages and more, until they arrive to the largest and slowest of all, which has yet to complete its first and only turn, and counts the existence of the universe.
Of all the things that were made by the Humans, Time is the only one that they decreed would always be absolute, and never to be tampered with.
They themselves choose to abide by this rule, even though they are not bound by it. Indeed not only they see through all of its length, but can also traverse and manipulate it at will, still they choose not to, unless only to prevent a premature end to Creation.
They decided to do this because one of their chief desires was to experience things that are new, much like someone reading a book would rather follow its story page by page, rather than skip to the end.
Yet because of their very nature the Humans still know all that has come to pass, and much of what is yet to be (3).
Mortals can also interact with Time, beyond traversing it with their natural lives, and travel through it is possible, even if only by powerful means. Observation the past or obtaining glimpses of the future do not break the Decree of Time, and even interactions that lead to a predestination paradox are tolerated to a certain extent, but any interference that could cause permanent alteration of the timeline would meet the opposition of the very will of the clockwork and, in realigning itself back to its original form, it would remove any and all obstacle that could cause any alterations (4).

Once the ticking of Time was established, the Humans proceeded with the creation of another constant, the Second Great Law, which, in opposition to the clockwork, is instead meant to allow mortals to impose their will on the very fabric of reality around them.
And so in their second shared labor, the six created the Weave, the source of all magic.
Just like Time, the Weave cannot be fully comprehended by mortal mind and, reflecting its more chaotical nature, it might appear fundamentally different to any mortal who tries to delve in its study.
Contrary to Time, Magic is very malleable and inviting of change, and during its creation it was influenced from parts of the temper and personality of each of the Humans, and it is said that it was from these differences that the many schools of magic were born.
However despite its fundamental role, the arcane also has severe limits to its capabilities, and while many of its rules have been known since the first magicians discovered the Art, many agree that its full potential has yet to be discovered (5).

The third and final work that the Human shared in its fullness during the creation of the Universe, was the establishment of the Third Great Law: the rules of Nature.
Of the great three Works this was perhaps the most subtle, the most detailed, and in its folds could be found ways for interacting with the whole of the Universe, even in part with the other two Great Laws.
The rules and the laws of all sciences were detailed from the colossal and cosmological, to the most minuscole and invisible, and from them came most of the structure of the physical Universe.
Many among the wisest scholars believe that in creating this Law, the six took an approach that was somewhere between the unchanging constancy of Time and the chaotical variability of Magic. Indeed while the Laws of Nature themselves are absolute, it is often possible to find a workaround or a loophole among them to achieve otherwise impossible results (6).

With the creation of the three Great Laws the Humans then perceived that the main structure of the Universe was completed, and the forging of the world itself could commence.






Annotations
(1)Very difficult part to translate, many concept are in words that do not exist in modern language, but in other terms: the Humans have always been, they have no beginning and no end, yet as they interacted together they “evolved” so to speak, but they have always been evolved and they will always have been what they will become in the future. They have also always been boundless and their desire for “more” feels like an ‘infinity plus one’ argument.
Contrarily our Universe had a very conceivable beginning, yet by existing in a void without time can we say that it had always been?
A similar confusion arises from the concept of distance, since the primordial void is the total absence of anything, including time and space, how could anything, including the Human’s voice, move through or even exist within it?
It frankly hurts my brain just trying to understand it.

(2)For reference, Eon is the longest measure of time, which contains Eras, which in turn contain Ages.

(3)This concept seems to conflict with the idea of ‘free will’ that is said to be assigned to all thinking creatures, while it is far above my paygrade to discuss this, the fact the Humans wanted to experience “new” things, and they know “most” and not “all” of what is yet to happen, tells me that at least in part our lives are not wholly preordained.

(4)This explains some stories about Princess Twilight and some of her adventures, which apparently include at least one predestination paradox, and several alternate timelines (which luckily didn’t stick around long enough to get Time angry).

(5)Contrary to popular belief, magic (or the ‘Art’ with capital ‘A’) is not only what is manipulated actively by spells, potions and such, but also all the passive effects that every creature exert, like a dragon’s fire, earth ponies ties with the earth, and so on.

(6)This is extremely fascinating. It was common belief that Time and Magic belong inside the laws of Nature, but apparently they are different things altogether.
> The forging of the World
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


Second Eon


The forging of the World (1)


The first Human to enter the physical Universe was Sol, and from his thoughts came fire, light, and all that is energy.
In the emptiness that was the beginning, Sol spoke, and words of immeasurable power took form at the center of the cosmos. From them came forth a bright source of light and heat, a pure naked flame that would become the foundation of the planet, the fiery Heart of the World.

As the Universe first came to know light, Azibo also entered physical reality, and with the might of his own Voice, he bent and shaped the rays of energy coming from the Heart.
His words worked like hammers, vices and tongs on a burning furnace, and the pure unbridled light became solid, and opaque. It became matter, as opposed to energy, and began to encircle and cover the Hearth in a sphere of rocks and minerals.
But the light fought back against this cage, and the perfect sphericity of Azibo’s work was marred by the colossal tumult that resulted from this strife.
From this battle between the raging fire and the encircling planet came earthquakes and volcanic eruptions the likes of which no one has ever witnessed, and from these were born the first mountains, which in those times were much taller and sharper than they would become.
At that time, the first deep valleys were carved, and the yet waterless ocean basins were dug, all according to the will of Azibo, who worked like a sculptor on his masterpiece.

During this time of strife, after much of the surface of the World had taken solid shape, Niaseema arrived.
She spoke more softly than the others before her, but with no less decision, and using her fast words like an impossibly fine net, she took the escaping flames from the innumerable volcanic fissures, and from them she sieved away the dust until nothing but vapors remained, establishing in this way the first atmosphere.
But since it had been refined from the fight between fire and earth, at that time the air was a noxious composition of lethal substances, and it would be a long time before it could be made clear.

As the atmosphere began to take shape, Eimi then entered the Universe.
Her voice was more harmonious than the ones that came before her, and by her song the clouds of gas and dust began to cool and condensate and, for the first time, rain fell on Earth.
Torrential storms came down from the heavens, eroding mountains, carving rivers beds and filling lakes, and eventually creating the first oceans, but as this rain came from the primitive air, its droplets were poisonous and corrosive, only marginally more welcoming than the caldera of a volcano.

And so this was the form of the world at its beginning, a terrifying combination of cataclysmic eruptions, earthquakes, unbreathable fumes and corrosive oceans.

Then the fifth and sixth Humans finally entered Creation as well.
In the terrible environment that was the world in its beginning, Gaia chose a place in a primordial shallow lagoon and, at the light of the distant volcanoes, she sang.
From that melodious harmony, the very fabric of matter composed itself in a new form, one capable of combining and changing to create new shapes and purposes, one capable also of propagating itself.
And so, in that distant place now lost to change and time, life was born.
These first living creatures were simple, hardy things, beings that would go unnoticed in the world today. Unremarkable fungi and molds, and even smaller, invisible beings that live without ever being acknowledged. Yet, under Gaia’s song, by their very existence the toxic substances of the planet were slowly filtered and locked away, and during uncountable ages of uncelebrated labor, these humble beings made the air, water and land clear, and the world became fair and ready to welcome life that was more complex, and more fragile.

As Gaia tended to the first life, Mortis also labored.
Outside of the boundaries of the physical reality, at the borders of the Universe itself where the ticking of Time and the laws of Magic and Science grow faint and distant, his solemn chanting molded what would later be known as the dreamscape, and beyond even that he erected the Tower of Souls, the place where the spirit of all soul-bearing creatures come from, and to where they return upon their departure from the physical realm.
The details of what happens in this outer realm is a mystery that no one, no matter how mighty or wise has ever discovered, and the Humans never revealed it. (2)

The Sun

For a long time the Humans kept laboring, either alone within their own dominion or together, and in time the world slowly, but surely, began to take a stable shape, and its tumults were subdued.
But as the planet became ever more fair, the volcanic lights that fed Gaia’s first lifeforms became fewer and more distant, and it was evident that in just a short while (3) many of them would become locked in the solid crust of the earth, starving the world of light.
Then, at the request of the Allmother, Sol decided that a new light would be made, one that could illuminate the world without either burning it or leaving it in the dark.
He then chose a place on the land that still harbored many violent fires, and there he began a new labor, gathering the light and heat that escaped the Heart of the World, for he deemed wiser to have the new light be born from the Universe’s original first fire, rather than create a utterly new one.
So great was the power that Sol put in his work, that from then on, and until the end of times, in that region will forever rage furious volcanoes, and rivers of white lava will spill into lakes of liquid flames, burning with such fierceness that even creatures normally immune to heat would be consumed by it.
Thus that region earned the name Cradle of Fire (4).
As Sol completed his work, he finally held on his hand the new flame that would illuminate the world. He then rose up to the heavens, far above the paths of the wind, and set his creation on a circular course that carried it around the planet, so that it would always provide illumination to half of the world without scorching it black.
At that moment the first sunrise bathed the world with light, the skies and seas became blue and the land began to prosper under the Sun, and the count of days began on the young Earth.

The Moon

In opposition to the brilliance of the days, the new nights soon seemed to grow even darker than before, so much in fact that Azibo had pity on the life that Gaia announced would come in the future. And so, to bring comfort in those long hours, he resolved to find some way to illuminate the darkness.
At first he held council with Sol, but the Lord of Flames deemed unwise to add any further great fires in the cosmos, as the risk of breaking the balance and causing the world to burn was too great. Therefore he suggested his fellow Human to find a way to use the already existing light to bring some solace to the nights.
And it is said that the King of Stones, watching the sunlight reflect on some gems, decided to heed that advice.
He then took a great diamond from the depths of the earth, one that had been bathed in the radiance of the Heart of the World since its formation, then by his skills he trapped the light inside of it, so that it would shine with the memory of the primordial fire forever.
But the diamond alone would not have been enough to relieve the planet from the utter darkness that came between dusk and dawn, so Azibo uprooted a vast island from its foundations at the bottom of the ocean and, working it like clay, gave it the shape of a sphere. He then broke the diamond, and spreaded its dust over half of its surface.
Covered in the gem’s dust, the former island shone with a pale white light, and Azibo placed it high in the sky, in an orbit around the planet that kept it opposite to the Sun, and for the first time, the night witnessed the rise of the Moon.
From that moment, and until the change of the world, the days were illuminated by the golden light of the Sun, and the nights soothed by the silvery Moon (5).

The Stars

Since the raising of the first moon all seemed perfectly in balance, but not always balance is enough to create beauty, and Eimi found that, despite the silver light of the moon, the night sky still brought an eerie gloom, and so, being the Human most fond of aesthetic beauty, she sought to decorate it.
In that time however, the shaping of the world and shepherding of the first life took much of the attention of the other Humans, and most of them considered the decoration of the night as unnecessary vanity, but not all of them. The Queen of the Waves found an ally in Naseema, who also was delighted at the idea of making her sky more wonderful.
And so the two Humans labored together, Eimi took some foam from the waves of the ocean and bathed it in the splendor of the Sun, and before its light could escape, she cooled the droplets until they turned into ice, so that the rays were trapped within their walls. She then did the same with the light of the Moon, until she had many icy shards, some glowing with the red and golden light of the day, and some with the white and silver of the night.
The Stormlady then took these shining crystals and, with a mighty wind, lifted them up and set them like a crown around the pale moon, and by the light of both, the spectacle of the night became like a carousel of gems around a white pearl. (6)

The Spirits and the Titans

Even after the creation of the Sun, Moon and Stars, the Humans kept shaping the Universe for many more ages, because not all of its tumults were completely subdued, and there was a seemingly infinite amount of small details to attend to. But just as it was expected, as time progressed their labor became less intense, and the work that was needed became less like a hammer, and more like a scalpel.

And so it was that, to make their work more efficient, and to accomplish tasks that did not need their direct intervention, they created new beings.
These creatures were different from the life that was slowly evolving on the world, indeed despite the fact that they appeared and acted in similar manner to the children of Gaia, they did not possess a soul, but were animated by a spark of the will of the Human from which they came from.
These creatures are minor elemental expressions that became known as Spirits, and served their masters in many ways, like helpers, heralds, sentinels and messengers. Their power varied greatly according to their role, with some little more than a sprite, while others were so mighty that at a first glance could be mistaken for the Humans themselves.
Their number is not known, tho is thought to be great, and some believe that there is a spirit of some sort on almost every grain of sand, or drop of water (7), but while most of them remain unnamed and unknown, some others achieved great renown in the later days, and their names were counted among the great marvels of the world.
Spirits like the Great White Doe, herald of Gaia, and Pyro of the many wings, gatekeeper of the Cradle of Fire, and Abyana the blue crested, that lived on a reef and loved storms and waves. And many others became well known and respected, some nearly as much as the very Humans they served.

But of all of the Spirits, the mightiest and most renowned by far, are the ones that were created for last.
These terrible creatures, whose power was second only to the Humans themselves, are the Titans.

When Creation was conceived, it was with the intent of making it self-sustaining, so that one day it would become stable enough that direct intervention would not be necessary anymore, and they could observe its evolution free from their tampering.
This also implied that when that day arrived, when the Humans could finally leave their creation to its own devices, they would need to not interfere with it anymore, and be like spectators in the great theater that is the Universe.
And yet, as their creation took shape, they became aware that its light and glory would become like a beacon, an irresistible source of nourishment and power for …other beings.

These beings had existed in the timeless void since before Time, and were like fragments of dark consciousness, parasites of power driven by an eternal insatiable hunger. Some have said that they came into existence from the ripples that formed when the Humans tested for the first time their Voice in the void, others believe that they had always existed and simply remained unheeded until they became a threat.
Whatever the truth may be, only the Humans may know for sure.
These parasites never dared to approach the Universe as long as the Humans worked on it, for even as the radiance attracted them like a moth to the flame, they perceived that to stand in the vicinity of one of the Creators would have burned them into nothing, much like a moth may know not to approach the furnace of an erupting volcano.
Such was the difference of power between even the mightiest of these parasites and a Human at its lowest, and it was by the mere presence of the Humans that the Universe was protected in its first eons.

But the Creators knew that once they had concealed the great part of their power to inhabit their creation, these dark beings would have had access to the Universe, and without any guardian capable of protecting it, they would have eventually devoured it whole.
And while they could reassume their form at any time to erase these beings, in doing so they would have put at risk the delicate equilibrium of the cosmos, with possible dire consequences.
Thus the Titans were created, to be the guardians of the world, and protect it from any harm coming from these foreign entities.

Each Human then created three Titans, for eighteen in total, and they appeared like immense shapes of elemental power, sometimes vaguely resembling a specific living creature more associated to their element (8), and in each of them was imparted the might necessary for their role, which made them surpass in power of destruction any other worldly creature, either living or spirit.
For most of their existence they would sleep in far remote places, hidden away from the rest of the world, and awake only at need to face any enemy that dared to enter the Universe.
In most cases a single one of them was more than enough to destroy these horrors, rare were the occasions when two Titans had to work together to achieve victory, and only the most powerful among these enemies would warrant the need of three of them.
No foe existed that three Titans could not vanquish, and yet in the last days of our age there would appear one fearsome enough to demand the combined might of all of them.
This enemy and the horrible events that led to the Great Tragedy and the ruin of the World will be covered in more details towards the end of this chronicle.

The Concealment

It had taken many long ages since the first tick of Time, and as many turning of the sky as there are grains of sands in the desert, but then finally came the moment when the Universe was shaped in the way the Humans intended, the spirits were assigned to their roles, and the first life was free to roam and multiply.

After taking one last look at their work the Six held council together, and once again confirmed their decision to descend on their creation and exist as a part of it. To do so they at last assumed the form of their Unmasked Aspects and began their new existence as part of the material world.

With this, at the ending of the second eon of the world, genesis was completed. 





Annotations
(1) Every species has their own origin myth, but this matches so closely the actual geological and paleontological data coming from today’s science, that I don't think it should be classified simply as a ‘myth’.


(2)The concept of souls and beliefs of what happens after death is something that all cultures in the world have in common. I have to admit that part of my hopes after finding this book was to have an answer to exactly these old questions. Unfortunately this won’t be the case.


(3)”Short” in geological timescales could very well be tens or even hundreds of thousands of years.


(4)Indeed such a place still exists today and is revered by the Dragons, who call it the ‘Forge of light’.


(5)By the description and drawings, it appears that the cosmology of the ancient universe was considerably different from the one today. Equus, our planet, is still at the center of the cosmos, but in those times the Sun and Moon circled in the same circular orbit and were perfectly opposite to one another, there were no moonless nights and no eclipses in those days, and all their motion was automatic, without need for an external intervention to keep them on course and on time.


(6)The night sky represented in the ceiling of the palace I'm trapped in still reflects this old astronomical setting. No offense to Princess Luna and her mastery of the night sky, but never in my life have I seen anything like the spectacle I see here every night.


(7)A belief still held today by the Zebras in the great southern plains.

(8)Does this means that some creatures were shaped to look similar to a Titan in later ages, or does it means that the Humans looked forward in time to see what other animal would become more affine to a specific element and then made the Titans look like them? It’s a “the chicken or the egg” scenario, and unfortunately no clue has been passed to us.
> The Era of Wonders
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


Third Eon


Era of of Wonders


The Flowering Life

With the beginning of the third eon, life expanded and evolved rapidly, growing in complexity, stature and power.
Occasionally one or more Humans, despite removing themselves from direct action, nevertheless granted great blessings to some new species, and in doing so these creatures acquired an elemental affinity to their patron, which in turn gave them supernatural forms and abilities, closely related to one or more of the fundamental elements.

Plants grew in many new shapes and varieties, from prairies of ever-blooming flowers, to vast forests housing monumental trees with branches that extended high up in the clouds, to bushes with leaves made of crystals that shone with an inner light, and many other marvelous forms.
Animals became mightier and much more numerous, and some grew to be creatures worthy of legend, like wandering herds of gigantic dinosaurs with skins made of stone, huge birds that made nests of gemstones on snowy mountain peaks, swarms of impossible insects moving as if of a single mind, and even more impressive creatures that swam in the oceans (1).

Yet despite the many marvels that roamed the world, none were gifted with sentience. Many were intelligent in their own right, but the privilege, and burden, of rational thought was still unknown among mortals.

The First Battles

During this time the Universe came to know also the dangers of the void.
As foresaw by the Humans, dark beings that were like shards of conscience without intelligence set their desire on Creation and, acting on something akin to instinct, entered its confines with the intent of devouring its hearth, like a virus devours a living cell.
And in these times the world set loose its guardians, the Titans, who like the immune system of an organism, would bring destruction upon these intruders. (2)
These battles often resulted in great damage upon the nearby lands and seas, often in excess of what was needed for the destruction of these enemies, and despite the fact that life and splendor were quick to return, each scar was long in the fading, and was never completely forgotten. A fact that would come back to haunt the world in later ages.

In these early times these battles were frequent (3), and it became clear to the Humans that the world needed more defenders, of a lesser scale than a Titan but more sharp and cunning.
Once again it was a matter of complementing the hammer with the scalpel.
It is said that they at first considered creating new kinds of spirits, a lesser version of the Titans, but spirits are spawns of a single element with very specific characteristics and abilities, not capable of the malleable adaptability that was required for this role.
Also spirits are in a way still part of their respective Humans, and it appeared to them that adding more would mean keep interfering with the evolution of the world, something that they wished to avoid.
Finally, as the damage inflicted by the battling Titans slowly accumulated over time, the choice presented became clear. The Humans would have to once again intervene directly in the world to create a new form of guardians, one belonging to the living.

The Living Guardian

No story tells in detail how the Humans created the first alicorn, but it is said that the first four of them took a fragment of their elements and blended them together to create a shape that was as resilient as stones, as powerful as fire, as graceful as water and as swift as the wind.
Then Gaia took this form and turned it into a living body of flesh, blood and bone, and because this first creature would become like a mother for all its species, she made the body female.
Finally Mortis forged in his tower a bright new soul, worthy of the burden and privilege of a sapient mind, and planted it deep into the core of the body, like a seed ready to sprout.

And so, by the labor and blessing of all six Humans, the first of the living guardians appeared into the world, and they named her Faust, first of the alicorns (4).

Despite being conceived in such a wondrous way, to belong into the world Faust needed to be born in it in the same manner that other mortal species do, or so say the wise, therefore Gaia created another new being, one that could gestate and give birth to both her and the forebears of the Alicorns.
This marvelous creature would be known in later days as the Tree of Life (5).

Finally, to protect Faust as she grew from childhood and into her might, the Humans decided that she was to be delivered to a new place. A place that, while still in the world, was for the most part isolated, and the Titans were commanded to keep their fights away from it, so that she could grow free from strife.
Because of this, the land where she and her kind started their journey on the world became known as the Island of Everfree (6).

The Island of Everfree

In those times, while Faust was still inside the Tree of Life, the island of Everfree was raised at the center of the Crossing Ocean, in a point distant from all continents, and it was the crowning jewel of all the lands of the world, for it was blessed equally by all the Humans and prepared like a cradle for the young race of the Alicorns, so that they would mature and grow in power and stature, before assuming their role as  the living guardians of Creation.

This island was large and bountiful (7), it rose from the ocean to steep shores, and immediately inland there was a colossal mountain chain that surrounded it entirely, and that was named the Gray Wall, for it was like an impassable fortification with peaks and precipices like towers and battlements, and was guarded by numerous spirits.
Proceeding inland, the mountains became lower and gentler. Valleys and rounded summits were covered in forests teeming with life, and because of this they would be given the name Emerald Hills.
From these heights ran torrents of clear and sweet water, which then merged into placid rivers as they reached the lowlands in the interior part of Everfree. These wide fields and peaceful meadows were rich in fertile soil, and because of the numerous crops that would later be grown on them, they were given the name Plains of Plenty.
Finally at the center of the land there was a vast and deep lake of crystalline water, the Skymirror, always fresh and cool even in the heat of the day and decorated with many shining reefs and caverns. At its own center, like an island within an island, stood a mountain, the tallest and most massive of all the heights of the world, this granitic monument was like a sovereign among all other peaks, and it was named Thronos, the seat of the Gods (8).

The Alicorns

It was a common belief among us alicorns that we were the apex of life in the Universe, and it might very well have been so. Indeed while there were many different creatures to whom the Humans gave their blessing, none received more than one or two of these gifts at the same time.
It was not so for us, for we had been uplifted by all six Creators, and thanks to them we obtained abilities that overshadowed most other creatures, be them living or spirits.
We were immune to aging, sickness and poisoning, at least the ones of this world, and remained very hardy against injuries and very quick to heal even from grievous wounds.
Our bodies were tough and strong like the earth, and fueled by an inner fire that lit us with passion and energy in all our endeavors. We could fly like the wind in any weather and swim with grace among the waves.
But the greatest gift bestowed to us was something that had remained until now unseen anywhere else in the Universe, save in the Humans themselves.
Sapience.
The awareness of our own selves, a thinking, creative and rational mind that made all manners of sciences and magic as easy to master as flying is to a bird.
Indeed in this we were more similar to our Creators than to any other mortals.
Yet despite all these magnificent abilities we still remained mortals, for we could yet be slain by violence or grief, a reality that was to become all too familiar in the later days of our reign (9).

Faust and Laurent

It was a clear, bright morning when the trunk of the Tree of Life finally opened, and the infant Faust was born.
From that secret place where that most holy tree stood, a spirit carried the young foal swiftly to a clearing in the forest on the southern slope of Thronos, where a dwelling for her had been prepared.
There were no buildings there, but the peaceful meadow provided all the necessities for a healthy and serene growth for the young Faust.
Her bed was the fresh grass, her cover from the rain were the green leaves of the forest and her roof was the sky.

Much of the alicorn’s earlier youth was spent in that clearing, slowly growing and maturing while being attended by several spirits, and sometimes even being visited by one of the Humans themselves in the form of vague dreams and distant visions.
During those long, glad days she was instructed in the ways of the world, and the many fields of nature and magic came supernaturally easy for her to master.
She was also taught the history of creation, and indeed it is from those ancient teachings that comes the lore, reported even on this book, regarding the beginning of the Universe before the alicorns.

For a time Faust felt content with her life, but as she matured, she began to feel the loneliness of being the only one of her kind.
And so the Humans created for her a companion, a male of her own species of equal stature and might, and they delivered him on the northern slope of Thronos, opposite to where Faust was originally set.
His name was Laurent.
In his infancy he was very much similar to his counterpart, but soon several differences became evident.
Indeed while she was more methodical and loved to study, especially the matters of magic, he was more instinctive and emotional, and of all skills he loved the most the ability to fly. And in later days, while she became known as the mind of their kingdom, he was its hearth (10).

It was only after Laurent was weaned out of his infancy that the two alicorns were made aware of each other and were allowed to meet. And even in the blessedness of the Everfree, that moment became renowned for its great joy, and was forever remembered as one of their happiest memories.

Meeting in the Light

Some time after Faust and Laurent became well acquainted with one another, a spirit appeared and told them to climb to the very peak of Thronos.
The two were hesitant at first, as they had been forbidden to reach higher than the limit of the snow, or more distant than the shores of the Skymirror, but spurred on by the insistence of the spirit they flew higher and higher, soarin above ever more steep and unforgiving slopes, until finally they reached the top of that sacred mountain.
On that peak the young alicorns admired a view like nothing they had ever seen.
Below them a sea of pristine white clouds turned the snowy mountaintop into an island of naked stone and ice that seemed to be floating in the sky.
The summit itself was a vast amphitheater, filled with a frozen lake even clearer than the water of the Skymirror, and at the perfect center of that most hallowed pool stood a small islet, green with grass and flowers that seemed to thrive in spite of the cold and barrenness of the rest of the summit. And a great light came from it.
 
Faust and Laurent stood for a while as if frozen at the edge of the ice. However it was not the cold that blocked them but the sheer awe towards what they perceived was waiting for them on that islet. Indeed it was as if the entire world at that moment was holding its breath, daring not to break the silence.
Like in a trance, the two alicorns then started walking forwards, for it felt inappropriate to fly in such a place.
After what seemed like a small eternity they reached the islet, yet they still did not dare to set a hoof on it, and instead bowed low, for in that light stood, in her Unmasked Aspect, Gaia, the Human of life.

Faust and Laurent had both known the Six only in their minds, so to be finally in the presence of one of the creators of the Universe was overwhelming for both their bodies and souls.
Gaia did not speak directly to them, for her Voice would be fatal to the balance of the world, so at her side she manifested a new spirit, her herald, in the form of a pristine white doe.
Duty of this spirit was to give sound to her thoughts, and through its voice she communicated with the two alicorns.
And the Herald said:

“Greetings children, first of the Alicorns, blessed above any other creature, to you great gifts have been granted, and yet to such privilege will also be paired a great responsibility, which will be revealed to you in a later time.
For now know that you are to be the first of many of your kind, and to them you shall be like chiefs and elders, praised and honored, and you shall transmit to them the wisdom that has been imparted to you in the years of your youth.” (11)

Then Faust and Laurent were silent, doubt obscuring their minds.
“How could we lead an entire species towards its future?”
Finally said Faust.
“We ourselves are young and know not the ways of leadership, or even of the world beyond the shores of the lake”.

But they perceived that Gaia smiled at them, a look of motherly affection that quelled their fears.
Then the Herald spoke again.

“Be not afraid of others similar to you, but learn to guide them as friends before than leaders, and the rest will come with time and experience”

It is said that of many more things Gaia, though her herald, spoke to the two alicorns, but much of it had been lost to time and memory, it is known however that, with their fears addressed, Faust and Laurent accepted their destiny and, with a final blessing from the Human of Life, they were sent forth from that most hallowed place, to walk the wider land of the Everfree.

That day, which became later known as the Day of First Revelation, the two future monarchs left the slopes of Thronus and, after flying for the first time across the clear waters of the Skymirror, left the mountain of their infancy and stepped for the first time on the plains of the Everfree.

The Founding

For a long time Faust and Laurent traveled the yet unexplored lands, waters and skies of the Everfree, and each day they learned new things, either by themselves or under the tutelage of the spirits that still accompanied them as guides on the new world.
And as time passed affection grew between them, first in friendship, then in love, and then finally, as is the way of the mortal species, they conceived the first of their children, whom they named as a good omen for the future.

Hope.

After the birth of the couple’s firstborn the Humans began to send out  also the other alicorns that were created in the Tree of Life.
These were somewhat less in might and stature compared to the original two, and it is said that, while Faust and Laurent were born from the very trunk of the Tree, these others came like fruits from its branches.
Yet even these held the blessing of all six Creators, and surpassed in both might and wisdom any other mortal species (12).
Hope was still young when her parents found themselves with several new infant alicorns to care for, but despite the suddenness and unfamiliarity of the task, the two quickly adapted to the role, and soon enough their family grew and matured.

Many joyous days were spent exploring and discovering the wonders of the Everfree, and the wandering tribe grew in wisdom with the passing of each.
Soon individual talents and preferences began to surface among the alicorns, and with this new diversification the Humans sent a new gift.
Each alicorn would receive a symbol, a sign that, like snowflakes, would be unique to their personality and talent, and would help them recognize and take pride in their qualities.
This gift was the Mark.
This sign appears once an alicorn finds their true vocation. Even Faust obtained one in the image of a quill and an inkpot, symbolizing her desire and destiny to write the story of the world (13).

As time progressed the tribe swelled with the arrival of new alicorns, some of whom were still delivered directly from the Tree of Life, but most now came as the fruit of the first romances, and it became evident that soon there would have been need for greater stability, to have a place to be called home, and so the first village was established on the Everfree.
It was a small hamlet at first, founded on the southern shores of Thronos, comprising only a few buildings of thatch and wood, but in only a short period it dramatically grew with its population, and as it expanded it also blossomed in sophistication.

Many changes and innovations came from this first transition from a nomadic tribe to a sedentary civilization, but two of the firsts and most important ones, were the official recognition of Faust and Laurent as queen and king of the alicorns, and the invention of a way for the division of time.
Indeed up until then the time of the world had been counted in the turns of the sky, in days. But as their number became too great to be practical, a new measure was created, the Year.
Each year would measure one thousand days, and their official count would begin with the day of the coronation of Faust and Laurent (14), an event from which came also the name for the rapidly growing town.
Corona.
And so, with the institution of the new kingdom and its capital, the long Era of Wonders came to its conclusion, and began the time for the reign of the alicorns.






(1)While many great creatures still exist in the world today, I can say for certains that none can match what I saw illustrated in the walls of this palace and in the pages of this book.

(2)Sentences like these remind me that this civilization was exceptionally well instructed in science, and not only in magic, which is often overlooked among the scholars of the Foundation.

(3)”frequent” could mean any amount of time, given the context.

(4)Every time I read this passage I have palpitations. This revelation would send shockwaves through all ponykind, although I'm not sure all would welcome such a notion.

(5)Remarkably, to this day some creation myths still involve a ‘tree of life’ of some sort, Yaks folklore for example says that the world is supported by the branches of such tree.

(6)The largest forest in the world today is called Everfree, it’s a place vast, wild and untamable, and it is said that powerful magic is hidden there, not to mention it’s where the original Castle of the Sisters was located, and where the Pillars seeded the Tree of Harmony, could all this be only a coincidence?

(7)The exact size is unknown, some notes here and there let me believe that it was smaller than Equestria today, but still large enough to house a large nation.

(8)This is the only instance where the name ‘Gods’ is explicitly given to the Humans, whether it was common for them to be addressed as such is unknown.

(9)Their description matches everything we see in the four princesses, but also confirms that, despite their power, they are still mortals like any of us.
I’m not sure how to feel about it.
Curiously this part is written in a direct point of view, using “us alicorns” instead of “the alicorns”, while most of the rest of the book is instead written dispassionately, like a scientist describing his studies.

(10)I cannot understate the magnitude of this revelation, in no text or tradition there has ever been any mention of Laurent, at least among ponykind, however there are some fragmented hints in ancient griffin lore, apparently derived from the fragments of an old shattered inscription (now unfortunately lost) that dated back to well before the beginning of their civilization, and that allegedly mentioned a “King before kings, who’s heart was the hearth of the sky”, and is believed by some to be the reason why traditionally the sovereignty of their kingdom was given to male heirs.

(11)In these direct dialogues I preferred to adapt the ancient way of speech to a more modern version, if I had tried to give it the tone that was meant originally I would’ve had to probably overuse terms like “thou” so much that Princess Luna herself would have felt her ears burning.

(12)Even today there are differences between alicorns. Princess Celestia is taller and arguably more powerful than even her sister, but it is not sure if the same applies to these alicorns of old, for all I know Celestia herself could be nothing more than one of these ‘lesser’ versions, with Faust and her family being orders of magnitude greater.

(13)And suddenly all those who question where cutie marks came from suddenly have their answer. Of all the things that came to us from this ancient time, this is the only one that remains completely untouched in its form and function, even today every pony receives a cutie mark when he or she finds their talent.

(14)The count of time has been one of the greatest frustrations of the Foundation, as some clues seem to contradict each other, but with the added information found in this book and around this palace, I am pretty confident that time was longer back then (I guess I owe ten bits to Dr. Savannah).
While their seconds were similar in duration to ours, it took one-hundred of them to make a minute, then one-hundred minutes made an hour, then ten hours to make a day. I still cannot say if they had something similar to weeks or months, but with a year of one-thousand days it makes their count of time almost thrice as long as ours.
> The Age of Everfree
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


The Era of the Alicorn Kingdom


Age of Everfree

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Masking of the Aspects

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Choice

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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






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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Great Crusade

With the choice of the alicorn declared, the Humans, and Sol most of them, became involved in helping to learn the dreadful art of war, yet it would be over a century later that the preparations were deemed complete.
Rows after rows of magnificent weapons and armours were forged, combat skills, tactics and strategies were sharpened in training and mock combat, battle magic was developed along with new spells for the treatment of wounds, logistic and transportations lines were established, and academies of war, designed to collect and study all the lore that could be collected on the future battlefields, were founded.
For the task of venturing outside the borders of the Everfree were created the Crusading Legions, and many volunteers flocked into them, alicorns who, after being screened and selected for their attitude and capabilities, were redirected to their most appropriate role. (1)

The alicorns would not abandon the Everfree however, on the contrary most of the populace would still remain within its shores, so that the island became like a spring to a mighty river, providing the resources for the legions.
The threat of these newly revealed monsters spurred the building of great fortifications in and around many settlements, walls and towers of adamantine granite now surrounded the cities, mighty fortresses defended the countryside, and the Royal Guard, created at first as a mostly ceremonial organization, grew to vast numbers and became a security force with the duty to protect the civilians.

Mightiest of all fortifications on the island remained however the mountains of the Grey Wall, which were still impassable even to the magic and flight of the alicorns. With the council of Azibo, a great road was then carved underneath one of the narrower sections.
This underground passage connected for the first time the interior of the Everfree with the open world, and it was named the Underpass, the road of a thousand columns.
This tunnel led to the only outer shore of Everfree that could allow the creation of a safe anchorage, and on it was swiftly built a large harbor, a fortress city with shipyards, armories and all the necessary means to create and sustain a vast fleet, and it was named simply The Gate, the door to the world.

Finally, on the day of departure, a mighty host embarked on a fleet of white ships, and prepared to sail for the first time in history, on the waves of the ocean.
At the head of this force was Faust herself, who would command the expedition from the front lines, while her beloved Laurent remained in the royal palace.
This separation, although painful, was deemed necessary by the royal family and the High Council, as it was established that at least half of them would always remain on the Everfree. This way, should the unthinkable happen, at least half of the remaining figures of authority would be safe from harm.

As the fleet began to hoist the anchors, the Humans themselves manifested to bid good luck to the expedition, and they declared that they would send many spirits to help the alicorns on their errand, but they themselves would not appear in form visible on the outside world, at least for the time being.
This was a point of wonder for many, but the wise understood that this task of defense was assigned to the Titans and the alicorns, and should the Humans ever intervene directly in such an important matter, they would have to utterly break their vow of not interfere with the evolution of the world, rendering the very existence of the hammer and the scalpel vain. (2)
Then, by the will of Naseema and Eimi, the terrible storms that had until then surrounded the island for its protection suddenly ceased, and blue skies and fair winds blew on the calm water.
And so, with a blow from the horns that was loud enough to shake the very buildings of the harbor, the fleet set sail.

The distance to the nearest new land was long, but the sailing was quick, and soon the shores of the southern continent were reached.
Vast beyond sight was that coastline, with low beaches of white sand that extended inland in a scorching desert, here and there spotted by the occasional oasis or, more frequently, the husk of some seemingly long dead shrub.
An encampment was swiftly erected near the estuary of a mighty river, which would become the base of operations of the Crusader Legions in that part of the world. 
To the surprise of many, those first years passed in prosperous peace, and the mighty legionnaires became explorers in that strange and wondrous new land, and many things that were unknown on the Everfree were discovered, and the alicorns marveled at all that they found, like single majestic trees that grew on the back of tortoises the size of hills, packs of small and quick flightless birds with glowing crimson feathers that raced through dry savannahs, and many more wonders that amazed the minds of even the most scholarly members of the expeditions.

The Battle of First Tears

Tragically, although expectedly, as the first decade of the crusade passed, the host of Everfree came face to face for the first time with one of those enemies they were called upon to fight, in an occasion that would forever be remembered as the Battle of First Tears.

It was the beginning of the eleventh year since the departure of the expedition when one day, answering to the warning given by spirits, the crusaders First Legion assembled for battle with Faust herself at its head, and in an open field near the base of a mountain, the alicorns saw for the first time a creature of nightmares.

It was a horrible being, like a deformed and grotesque spider the size of a town, with tentacles where one would suppose the head should be, and emanating a repulsive stench of decay.
Dark shadows like black fumes seemed to appear on its body even in full daylight, and the ground around it was skittering with other smaller creatures, the being’s spawns.
Both the “mother” and its brood consumed all life they came across, and with each meal the horrible creatures swelled both in power and number.
Faust called it an Abomination, a term that would then be used to name all these intruders from the void, and with a valiant cry, lead the assault against it.

Great was the might of the alicorns, magical and physical attacks struck the abomination and its spawns with great destruction, and indeed the lesser spiders were quickly being dispatched, with their corrosive forms turning to ash, and every wound inflicted to the mother was accompanied by an unearthly screech that was the sound most horrible any mortal had ever heard.
But that Abomination was also mighty in its own right, and it reacted to every offense with strikes of its contorted limbs and tentacles, and spits of toxic liquid from orifices all around its body.

The defenses of the alicorns were solid, but unfortunately they would prove to not be enough.
Indeed as Faust was battling the Abomination face to face, she didn’t notice one of its limbs preparing to strike her from behind, but Adamant Shield, one of her personal guards, did.
The young soldier pushed his Queen away from danger at the last moment, saving her life, but in doing so the foul limb impaled him instead, piercing his magical shield and silvery armor, and poisoning his courageous heart. (3)
Faust was for a moment as if frozen as her guard fell, death mercifully taking him even before he hit the ground, and the entire host felt as if struck by a blow that took away their breath.
And it is said that at that moment the visage of Gaia turned to sorrow, almost visible despite her mask, while Mortis turned his head southwards, and for a second it seemed like he wasn’t really there, but somewhere far, far away.
But the battle was not over yet, and as the Abomination approached its victim to devour his body, the alicorns felt something vast, something powerful and dangerous approaching, even before it could be seen.
Suddenly, the world around the Crusaders became fire, and the Abomination was struck back by a force of elemental fury that made the entire legion cower in fear.

A Titan had come. (4)

The battle between the two beings was short and completely one sided, the towering form of furious flames, which was all that was visible of the Titan, obliterated the Abomination in only two strikes, the first one to push it away from the alicorns, and the second, much more powerful, to destroy it in an immolating inferno, until every trace of its existence was erased. Then, just as it appeared, the Titan left the battlefield, disappearing quickly over the horizon.
And so the first battle of the Great Crusade came to an end.

But it was not with songs and celebrations that the day ended, the effectiveness of the Legion was put to the test that day, and Faust realized that much more work was needed before the legions could become a fighting force capable of destroying an Abomination by themselves.
Indeed the wise have said that this first encounter had been set purposefully as an easy match to give them a taste of things to come, and the Titan was ordered to intervene only if alicorn blood was spilled.
And spilled it was, for the brave Adamant Shield sacrificed his life to save his queen, and his loss was felt like a grievous pain in the heart of the entire legion. Weeping was heard and tears fell like rain as his friends and companions mourned, and the reality of war began to make its way in the minds of the crusaders.
But it was not with desperation that the alicorns reacted, instead the pain was met by a wall of righteous anger, and many oaths of vengeance upon any and all Abominations were sworn.

The body of this first victim was taken back to the encampment, where it was ceremoniously cremated in purifying light to erase any possible trace of corruption caused by the Abomination.
Then his ashes were brought to Everfree with great honors, and great crowds gathered to render homage to the memory of Adamant Shield, who was declared a hero and martyr for the life of the world.
Under the direction of Mortis himself the ashes were then taken into a vast net of caves near the peak of Thronus. There, in a chamber deep within the rocks, they were scattered, and the mourning alicorns witnessed in amazement a light like a star appearing in the darkness of those tunnels, with its silvery glow shining in contrast to the dark ceiling, and Mortis declared through his Herald  that those caves will house the remains of those who fell in the defense of the world against the Abominations, and each of them would be forever honored with a new eternal light.
And so it was that those long tunnels became known as the Caves of Stars, a hallowed place held in high reverence and frequently visited for mourning and remembrance. (5)

The Colonization

The alicorns moved quickly after the dark awakening that came with their first real battle, and new Legions were quickly mustered and sent to the four corners of the world.
Soon all continents hosted at least one new settlement, each built to support the wandering hosts of the crusade, but also to become the first starting point for a new wave of exploration and colonization of those new, strange lands.
In time many civilians also began moving to these new colonies, most for support to the legions, but some also driven by the fire of exploration and discovery, and as the years passed the towns grew into proper cities, and prosperous provinces sprouted and flourished on all the major landmasses of the world.
Many years later these provinces would become like mirror images of the great homeland on the Everfree island, shining with the skills of the alicorns, who in turn greatly expanded their knowledge and influence over the world.

The one wisdom that the alicorns would have loved to remain ignorant of, was the experience of combat.
While the usual fauna and flora posed no threat to them, every so often a new Abomination would appear, and every time it surprised the crusaders with new and disgusting shapes and powers.
On some occasions, especially during their first interventions, the alicorn’s role was mostly limited to contain the collateral damage caused by the presence of a Titan, but sadly even in those cases almost every encounter demanded a steep toll.
Indeed during some of the most legendary battles Faust herself had to pay a price in sorrow and tears, as some members of her own family too were lost.
Such were the cases with Silver Knight, one of her grandsons, who fell while leading a raiding party to flank the enemy during the Siege of Ardenia, and Sunny Dawn, one of her very own daughters, who spent herself while healing and protecting the wounded during the ambush of the Coral Abyss, and sadly many more.
In the span of many millennia the Caves of Stars became filled with the light of the brave fallen, so many in fact that no illumination was needed to travel into its halls, and traversing its interior felt like a journey through a river of white lights.
Yet this continuous practice and experience on many battlefields hardened the alicorns, just like the sword faces the furnace multiple times before it is tempered into a deadly instrument, and soon the powerful, but inexperienced, crusaders turned into proud and mighty vanquishers of these Abominations.
Indeed as time went the need for the appearance of a Titan diminished, as the alicorns became so mighty that they could face and destroy many of the most foul of enemies, and in the end only the most terrifying Abomination called for the awakening of the world’s original guardians.

It was in the last stages of colonization that something new began to emerge.
While at the beginning of the alicorn’s quest new enemies would appear quite frequently, as time passed these invasions became more and more rare.
This decline was met with mixed feelings, on one side the less need for battle meant fewer losses among the alicorns and more time to consolidate the settlements and heal the land, on the other side many felt that the risk of complacency and laziness, that would inevitably come with the lack of a real threat, would become a crippling fault when the next Abomination appeared.

More worrying was the fact that with time even the Humans seemed to isolate themselves more and more. Indeed, while soon after the Masking they appeared often to the alicorns anywhere on Everfree, as the millennia passed their presence would begin to be witnessed almost only in Corona itself, and in the later years rare were the occasions when they would be seen outside of the Temple of the Aspects.
Faust herself was troubled about this new development, so much in fact that she resorted to officially  requesting their heralds for a meeting, so that she could consult them herself.
Her need for requesting the Human’s advice had also become a rare event, but in this case the reason was simpler, as thanks to her growing number of experienced advisors, and her own mastery in the matters of the world, she could solve almost every issue without need for external counsel.
Indeed it had been a long time since she last met with the Aspects for official matters, but once she was alone in their temple, they did not fail to answer her call.
Contrary to her fears, the Humans were not disappointed or angry, quite the opposite, they were filled with happiness and pride at their children’s accomplishments, and had decided to loosen the supervision that they maintained on them.
This new freedom meant less interference in the alicorn’s affairs, but also less direct help as their civilization needed to become more autonomous to grow.
When asked about the fewer Abomination arrivals, the Humans answered that, while the influence of the Universe could be felt a long way in the depths of the void, it could not pierce its infinite distance, just like a lighthouse could not be seen by a ship hidden in a distant fog.
The beings encountered until then were the ones in direct sight of the Universe, and as they were exterminated their numbers dwindled until few were left, and indeed it was foreseen that there would come a time when no more Abominations would be expected to arrive within the boundaries of Creation, with the only exception of some extremely rare cases, where by chance one would wander in sight of it. But the alicorns should not grow complacent, for these wondering fiends would be without doubt the strongest of their wicked kind.

Faust was ecstatic, while the prospect of having less interactions with the Humans saddened her, the idea of being considered responsible enough to be entrusted the mastery of the world filled her with an anxious pride, indeed she felt like a filly that for the first time was given the keys of her parent’s home, and in many ways that was the case.
The knowledge that the Abominations would eventually almost disappear was an even greater cause for celebration and a wave of relief spread through the Kingdom at the news, even if Faust herself called for prudence, as the coming of these fiends would not truly stop forever.
Yet the promise that they would become a rarity, instead of the norm, was nevertheless a joyous occasion.

And so it went for many more years, the alicorn spread and increased in numbers and might all over the world, all the while the frequency of invasions dropped ever more until, many millennia after the embarking of the crusade, they seemed to stop altogether.
But it was not a time of peace yet, and on a still night the Herald of Dreams warned Faust that the Humans could perceive a great fiend approaching the Universe, one of might and terror unseen since a time well before her birth.

The Battle of the falling sky

For the first time in many ages, three Titans awoke at the same time, for the horror of this Abomination surpassed any other of its kind since before even the advent of the alicorns, and the Crusaders were awed by their presence, as they appeared like immense raging clouds that dwarfed any weather of the world.
Such awe was soon met by an equal amount of hatred and disgust at the sight of the Abomination they were called to fight.
A great shadow above the highest clouds, marked by sickly green lights, was all that the alicorns could see, and before any order could be given, the three Titans of Air rose high beyond the sight of the crusaders, and attacked the Abomination.
The main battle was mercifully being fought too far high in the sky to be clearly witnessed, but its effects were easily felt even on the ground.
Pieces of some unknown foul matter began raining down, and from each of them spawned a creature worthy of nightmares.
To Faust the task was clear, while the Titans tore to pieces the main body, she and the Crusaders would destroy any horrid offspring that dared set its presence on the world.

To anyone who witnessed the battle, the crusaders would have seemed to fight like a magnificent machine operating with lethal coordination and efficiency, indeed the difference in skill between the Battle of First Tears and the one being fought at that moment was like the distance between a kindergartener and an accomplished professor.
No spawn survived a full minute on the world before being turned to ashes by the assault of the legion of alicorns, while the land itself was equally protected by their healing magic.
Even if the battle was decidedly in favor of the crusaders, it still lasted a long time, indeed the sun rose seven times before finally, with an unholy screech loud enough to part the clouds, the Abomination met its end, and its remains were obliterated in a wall of howling winds.
The crusaders took some more time to clean up the remaining fiends, but soon the world was free once more from the threat of those foul beings.

And so, as the sun set on that seventh day, the battle was won, and the Titans retreated back to their slumber.
Among the crusaders the casualties were light, with many wounded but no fatal injury, and Faust finally breathed a sigh of relief. Then something unexpected happened, and the Herald of Gaia herself manifested among the alicorns bringing joyful news.

“Rejoice alicorns of the world!”
Shouted the White Doe.
“The Humans have cast their gaze in the emptiness that surrounds the Universe, and there they have seen that no more Abominations are forthcoming, and many eras of peace are at hand now!
You have been successful in your appointed task and the world is now safe, therefore the Creators grant you now its mastery, so that you might grow even more in wisdom and skills, and under your dominion Creation might flower in an everlasting bloom until the end of Time itself.
Rejoice alicorns of the world!”

The legionnaires stood in stunned silence, the task they set up to complete was now completed, and the Abominations were no more.
Then, in the quiet of the evening, laughter rose from Faust, a mirthful expression that was soon shared among her troops, and soon the entire battlefield was filled with hollers of happiness.

The news spread fast to the entire Kingdom, the age-long crusade was finally over, and great festivities were declared in all the realm. In a grandiose show of military might the crusaders marched through the main cities of the outer provinces before sailing back to the Everfree and mounting a magnificent parade through Corona itself.
And there, on the steps of the Royal palace, the entire royal family was finally reunited again, as with the end of the war no more reason was to remain apart, and everyone could finally live together in the hard won peace.






Annotations

(1) Some drawings here and there make me guess the size of a legion at about ten thousand strong, most of them as combatants but a good few on logistics and rearguard duties.

(2) This determination of the Humans to “not intervene directly” seems to contradict the very creation of the Titans and the alicorns (the “hammer” and the “scalpel”), plus they didn’t seem to mind give special blessing to various other species, and one could argue that even being physically present and visible in the world constitutes some sort of intervention. I am by far not qualified enought o give a competent reasoning behind their actions, so I'll leave it up to whoever might end up reading this book.

(3) It’s hard for me to imagine something, anything really, being able to slay an alicorn, but that should give an idea of the threat that these enemies really posed, and explains why the Titans were made so powerful.

(4) I find it curious how the entire legion (and I suppose Faust herself) could cower in front of a Titan, but not even flinch at the presence of a Human, but I guess that is to show how much effort the Creators put into appearing as little threatening as possible.

(5) It must have been really unsettling for an “immortal” species to have their first dead and first cemetery, today we cannot imagine life without death and when that moment comes it is mostly considered as a grievous but inevitable part of our journey. What must have it seemed like to them, who never had to deal with it before?
> The Age of Marvels
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Age of Marvels.

In the newfound peace that came with the end of the Great Crusade, the alicorn civilization reached its climax.
The Legions were disbanded and the crusaders were welcomed back to civilian life with great honors and joy, yet many could not ignore the desire for wander that was born into their hearths after so many journeys in the wide world, and so joined together in groups and guilds dedicated to the discovery and the mapping of the new lands beyond the Everfree.
The treasures and knowledge that these Errant Knights, as they became known, brought back to the kingdom would become the subject of stories and songs, and it was thanks to them that many marvels that the Humans devised were discovered by the alicorns.

For an entire age these expeditions braved the world, venturing above the lands and under the seas, climbing the tallest peaks and diving into the deepest abyss, reaching above the highest clouds to map the paths of the high winds and delving in caves deep beneath the earth in search of minerals and gems both common and marvelous. Even the infernal hellscape of the Cradle of Fire was occasionally traversed, even if only with great effort and with the blessing of Sol himself. (1)

Inevitably, many others followed behind these brave explorers.
At first most of them were scholars, impatient to unravel the secrets of creation, but also many young enterprising alicorns that in time founded new settlements in these far away places, and indeed in the wake of these expeditions many magnificent cities sprouted all over the world. Some of them, mostly the smallest ones, blended with their environments so well that a traveler would need to pay careful attention to not miss them entirely, such were the cases with the underwater coral villages of the eastern islands, or the towers of icy crystals floating in the frozen northern sea, while the larger ones tended to stand out like a shining gem over the landscape, enriching it with buildings of stone, metals and glass.
Many shrines dedicated to the memory of the Great Crusade were also constructed, especially near those places that saw battles and loss of life.
These solemn buildings were made of a black obsidian and decorated with enchanted diamonds that shone bright in the night, reminiscing of the very light in the Caves of Stars.
The countryside was also tenderly cared for by the alicorns that preferred the peace of the farming life, cultivating succulent crops and fruits from the more mundane Shocking Rainbows, to the most exquisite Golden Ambrosia. (2)

And so what began in the time of the Crusade as simple encampments and logistic lines for the Legions, quickly evolved in a flurry of new towns and roads, connecting the far corners of the world until entire continents could feel the reach of the alicorn civilization, and thanks to their labor the splendor of the world became even greater.

Fantastic feats of magic and might shaped the planet, the most advanced magical arts and sophisticated sciences were joined as one to discover and use the secrets of creation itself for the betterment of the world and its inhabitants, and in fact some of the most intelligent beasts, and even some trees, were tamed by those alicorns that loved them the most, and uplifted into true thinking beings, creatures with whom the alicorns hoped to share the journey of life through the ages.
Such were the cases with the great Wind Serpents, whose bright feathers scattered the light of the high sky into rainbows, the Leviathans, gigantic luminescent krakens that roamed the depths of the oceans, the Wandering Oaks  of the western continent, and many others. (3)

And so it was that the provinces of the Kingdom became like a mirror of the splendor of Everfree, but for all the magnificence that could be made outside the borders of the Grey Wall, nothing seemed to surpass the almost supernatural bliss of the place that had been the cradle of the first alicorns.
Indeed the Island of Everfree remained the center of the Kingdom for as long as it lasted, and with the rise in greatness of its inhabitants its wealth of marvels seemed to increase no end.
The already marvelous ancient towns grew in size and sophistication, every house and building became like a palace, masterworks of culture, art, science and magic surrounded almost every corner of the land and the white roads became decorated with gold, silver and precious stones.

Yet even with all these advancements nature was not forgotten. On the contrary the entire world became like a garden of beauty and abundance, one that saw alicorns and Spirits work and live together like family and friends.
Indeed with the years many Spirits became well known and much loved by the alicorns, so much that they became figures held in high regard almost on par with the Humans themselves, and many of them answered in kind, often going to the length of renouncing their original elemental form and assume one resembling their mortal friends. Albeit some with more success than others. (4)

The only note of sorrow in this blessed age were the ever more rare sightings of the Humans in the world.
This had been expected, as Queen Faust had already reported on what she had been revealed by the Creators themselves, that the Humans did not desire to interfere with the development of the world, preferring to watch its history unfold throughout the eons, and instead wanted to give to them the stewardship of Creation.
This absence tasted then bittersweet on the tongue of the alicorns, who just like their queen were torn between the prideful joy of responsibility, and the sorrow of the absence of their Creators.

But the Humans would not wholly disappear for the world, and the tales of their interventions became legends in the lore of the alicorns.
Indeed, all knew of the time when Mortis revealed, in dreams, a flaw in the magical equations of a researcher in the University of High Weave, which allowed its correction before its demonstration the next day, thus preventing her failure and allowing her to meet the one who would one day become her husband.
Or the times when Gaia would appear at the feet of some tree to play with some troubled foal, easing their hearts and minds.
Or also when Naseema manifested in flight besides an Errand Knight in such a way that it appeared to him that she was challenging him to a race, only for him to discover, once he seemingly arrived first at his house, that his wife was soon to give birth to their first child, and had he not hurried he would have missed the event.
Or even when Azibo helped a humble janitor to clean the floor of a palace, working alongside him with a broom like any simple mortal, and thus allowing him to finish in time to be present to his daughter’s recital that evening.

Indeed these and other scattered examples showed that the Humans never truly abandoned the World or the alicorns, and on the contrary They seemed to be ever close to those who were in great need of their help, especially if it involved an act of love.
But of all the great and small feats of care towards their creations, none would become more renowned than the part they had in the founding of the seventh, and last, Great House of the kingdom.







Annotations



As mentioned before, a place that matches the description of the Cradle still exists today in the very heart of the Dragonlands, yet not even the strongest of dragons could enter its borders, not even when reinforced by magic provided by the Foundation. Now reading that even the alicorns needed the blessing of the Human of fire to explore it makes me realize that we never stood a chance.

I found some depictions of these rainbow colored fruits that resemble the famous Zap-apples of the Apple family of Ponyville. I had the pleasure of tasting one when I was young and I can guarantee that they are something special. Yet apparently they were a common thing back during the alicorn reign, which makes me wonder how much more overwhelming their Ambrosia really is…

Today our world is home to many different species besides ponies like me, and despite being sometimes the source of conflict, there is some solace in knowing that we are not alone, so i can understand those alicorns in wanting to have more companionship, but still it’s hard to wrap my head around the fact that they took TREES and made them intelligent and mobile.

This paragraph here is what makes me think that spirits “evolved” in a somewhat similar way to their Human masters, becoming less like automatons and extensions of their creator’s will and more like real living being, if they indeed still exist today they might explain some very strange phenomenons that happen from time to time here and there even today.

> A Fateful Meeting
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

A fateful meeting.

Aurion was an oddity among alicorns, oftentime the attitude and character of one could be discerned by their look and magical aura, and those with light colorations are known to possess a more joyous temper than those with a darker one.
Nobody knows why this is, some scholars have speculated that the personality of an alicorn is so great that it influences the very physical form of their body, while others have suggested the opposite. Yet despite Aurion having the whitest coat and a great golden mane, he was a somber, almost sorrowful character.(1)
His name also was a matter of curiosity, as he had been given one since birth, while instead it was custom to wait until one had gained their mark before receiving a name appropriate to their character and talent, and even more odd was that he had received a single name, something that only the early children of the Royal House would have the honor to obtain. When questioned about it, the stallion himself would say that his parents never explained to him their decision, only that it “felt right”. (2)

He was born in one of the encampments of the western continent in the waning days of the Great Crusade from two loving parents, and despite the potential dangers of living close to the front lines, the beginning of his youth was a peaceful one, until when tragically both his parents were killed in a surprise assault by an Abomination.
Great hatred for those enemies arose then in Aurion, and his somber attitude turned into a grim determination for vengeance, which motivated him to train himself in the art of combat even before his adolescent years.
Many years of hard work passed, and he became so highly skilled in the ways of war that his name became known to many in the legions even before he reached the age of enrollment, and there was no doubt that he would have risen to great positions in the military.
But then came the day when the Battle of the Falling Sky shook the world, and with that final victory the long war against the Abominations was over.

Suddenly, Aurion felt at a loss.
His entire youth was spent in gruesome training so that he could be ready to inflict retribution upon the creatures that killed his parents, and just when he was about to have his chance to prove himself against them, that opportunity was removed from him.
Some might have thought then that he came to resent the war’s end, but that was not the case and he was instead glad that the great enemies had been seemingly wiped out, at least for the time being, but the feeling of having missed and opportunity of proving himself, along with having potentially wasted his youth in pointless training, left a bitter emptiness in his hearth.

In an attempt to give new purpose to his life, he became one of the firsts to join the ranks of the Errant Knights, and in many years of exploration and discoveries he became renowned even among that renown group for both his wisdom and his might.
His somber temper however remained, and he did not have much love for great gatherings of alicorns, and preferred instead solitary wanderings in the marvels of nature, where he also hoped to find some way to heal the sorrow that he felt in himself.
Unfortunately, no matter how far he traveled, or how deep in unknown territories he went, nothing seemed to give him respite for long, and so after many years of searching, he began to lose hope.

Princess Hope, firstborn of Queen Faust and King Laurent, was an exceptional case among alicorns.
She had been the third of her kind to appear in the world, and the first one to come from the love of two parents, rather than being delivered by the Tree of Life. This made her older than any other alicorn, save for Queen Faust and King Laurent themselves.

She was considered by many a paragon of beauty, tall and slender, with her coat of the color of early evening and a long flowing mane dark like the night sky, but even in her case the dark palette of her colors did not reflect her character and temper.
She was instead very amicable, with a great love for large gatherings of alicorns, and she reveled in making new friends at every occasion.
Indeed her love for companionship was such that seldom she was seen without a group of close friends, with the sole exception of whenever she indulged in another great passion of hers, the study of high accademia.
Indeed Princess Hope was universally considered one of the best scholars of the realm, and she was regarded as the supreme authority in many fields of study. Subjects like magical theories, abstract sciences and universal philosophy came exceedingly easy for her to understand and unravel, and she could claim that her efforts had been directly involved in many advancements for the entire realm.

During her years she also became a beacon of majesty that was closer to the common alicorn, rather than the unreachable heights that her parents sometimes seemed to belong to, and was loved by everyone in the kingdom.
It was perhaps because of this great love, along with the constant presence of many numerous friends and family, that for so many millennia she never felt the need to seek a soulmate, and while her siblings founded large families early during the Age of Everfree, from which then came the Six Great Houses, she spent her life between her friends and her studies, and she was content. (3)
For the most part.
Indeed some have said that it might have been because of a yet unrecognized need, that in the years after the end of the Great Crusade, when it was finally safer to roam the world alone, she began to take solitary journeys in the unknown regions, often following the trails of the Errant Knights.
And it was during one of these travels that her life changed forever.

The night was peaceful in the woods near the Mountains of Wind, tall trees casted cool shadows by the light of the moon and stars, the gentle sounds of running streams and distant waterfalls were accompanied by the singing of many nightbirds, and the air itself was sweet from the fragrance of moonflowers.
It seemed as if a stage was being prepared for a play for the ages. And in later days many would come to suspect that not only mortal eyes were setting upon that meadow, lost in the middle of the forest, where Aurion and Princess Hope met for the first time.

He had been wandering for days in the wild regions of the continent, as he often did, when suddenly he spotted, in the middle of an opening in the woods, a tall tree, one the likes of which he had never seen before.
It was tall, much more than any other known species, its bark was of a shining silver, its leaves were white like snow, and it flowered with stunning azure blossoms. And from it came a cool light, white and blue, that colored the entire meadow.

Suddenly all movements and sounds that were natural of the forest seemed to vanish without a trace, and the alicorn remained for some time as if struck by the majesty of that tree.
Then, as if guided by instinct alone, he quietly approached it, and it seemed as if his entire being was enveloped by that mysterious light, and at that touch every weariness that he felt weighing on his body and mind was lifted, and his very soul felt at peace.
Then, as he almost reached the gigantic trunk, a movement at the corner of his vision caught his attention, and as he lowered his head he found himself staring into the blue sapphire of Princess Hope’s eyes. 

She had been flying high in that region, taking a rest from her studies to enjoy the cool breeze of the night, when suddenly she spotted on the ground below her, standing in that meadow, the tall tree, and she almost lost control of her flight at that sight, for as soon as she saw it, she knew what it was.
A Tree of Harmony. (4)

Very little was known of such trees, they were never encountered on the Everfree, and in all the millennia that alicorns had traveled beyond the Grey Wall, less than a hundred could claim to have ever seen one.
In the early days many even dismissed the notion of these trees being real, for they appeared like a distant vision to lone alicorns only, and if someone ever tried to reach one, they would find themselves as if trying to catch a mirage, and if they ever lost sight of it, which all inevitably did, they would never find it again.
Yet in time the possibility of these thing being nothing but hallucinations was discounted by the consistent reports of these sighting, validated once and for all when one of these alicorns found, in the place where the tree was supposed to be, a lone wandering spirit who, when given description of the mysterious tree, spoke only one word: “Harmony”.

Not much else was known for sure of these trees, only that their look of changed depending on the time of day.
Indeed while during the night it appeared just as Aurion and Princess Hope had seen it, during the day its colors changed, with its trunk becoming as white as the most polished ivory, its leaves turned into a rich green, and in place of the azure flowers there were fruits, large and ripe and of the color of the purest of gold.
Even its aura changed color, turning into a warm yellow like the light of the Sun.
In the absence of certainties, scholars abandoned themselves to innumerable hypotheses. Some claimed that these were just a species of magical tree, some others said that they were some sort of Spirit, others even claimed that the tree was only one, and it was nothing less than a vision of the Tree of Life, or even Gaia herself, in the form of a tree.
Unfortunately, like many other mysteries, this would also lose any hope of being unraveled after the fall of the alicorns.

It took a while for Princess Hope to regain her composure after the shock of seeing such a vision, and when she did the scholar within her took over.
This was an opportunity without equals to be the first to study up close a phenomenon so ephemeral and mysterious, and she launched herself in a dive directly towards that tree, paying careful attention to never lose sight of it, but when she finally landed just in front of the trunk, she realized that she was not alone under that majestic canopy, and as she turned to look around her, her gaze met the golden eyes of Aurion, staring right back at her.

And in that moment it was as if a great spell came onto the two alicorns, suddenly nothing else mattered but the vision of the soul that they could see within each other’s eyes, and the world around them seemed to fade away, its visions and sounds, its magic and even time itself became meaningless, and days passed like grains of sands through an hourglass without them moving, speaking or even drawing breath. (5)

For uncountable times the Sun and the Moon made their journey across the sky, entire seasons came and went before the two alicorns finally shook off the enchantment that seemed to have taken hold of them.
On that day, under the glorious white and gold light of the tree in its daylight colors, Aurion and Hope declared their mutual love, and promised to share their life together for as long as the Clockwork of Time kept ticking.
Then, with one last grateful look at the majestic tree that made them meet, the two left.






Annotations



Curiously this tends to be true for ponies as well, however it is not explained what happens should an alicorn change his character over time, maybe they changed color as well?

One of the first things that the Foundation discovered was that alicorn foals did not receive their name at birth, but when exactly that happened had remained a mystery until now. What they were called before that is still uncertain, but it is believed that close family simply called them son, daughter, brother or sister as more appropriate, while others called them in reference to the parent of the same gender. For example somepony unrelated may call a little filly “Daughter of (mother’s name)” while someone who is related, like an uncle, might have called a little colt “Son of my brother”. However this is still highly debated and there are as many arguments in favor as there are against. 

The more I read about her, the more I imagine our princess Twilight. The similarities are actually impressive.

At first I thought it was related somehow to our own three of Harmony, of which I will tell more in the second part of this book, but this description is far too different for me to make any connections aside from the name.

While he speaks of spells and enchantments, by the way the author wrote in its original form I think that he did not believe that there was any specific magic at work here. Still it seems hard to believe.

> A new shadow
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

A new shadow

Nobody has ever discovered precisely when or where the Dark Enemy first arose, but some have said that, as Aurion and Hope were swept away in the bliss of discovering each other under the Tree of Harmony, this evil being first set its existence on the world.
And many believe that it was no coincidence that after that day the Humans almost completely separated themselves from the alicorns, and only three more times they would show themselves in the world, before the fall of the kingdom.

It is also said that this foe was a little thing at its beginning, a whisper of a dread that has no name, but what it lacked in might, it more than made up for in a quality that no Abomination ever had: sapience.
Indeed many of these old enemies had shown a predatory intelligence more similar to instinct than actual rationality, yet this new foe possessed a wicked cunning that, with time and labor, made it the most grave danger the alicorns, and creation itself, ever faced. (1)

Slowly, in the many years after the apparent end of the Great Crusade, a new unrest began to manifest in some alicorns, and among them were many legionnaires that fought with valor during the long campaign against the Abominations.
At first it was felt like an innocent desire of freedom, a rightful wish of being masters of their own fate, and the kingdom acknowledged and aided this need by promoting new laws and initiatives granting more liberties and independence for those who lived in the frontier of the known world, but at time went these new needs became ever more arrogant and selfish, demanding sometimes not only to rule on themselves, but to assert dominance over others, and more than often the local authorities found themselves entangled in long disagreements that only by some miracle did not turn into something violent. (2)

This new development grieved Queen Faust and King Laurent, but no decisive action was taken against it, for their minds were filled with worry at the sudden disappearance of their precious daughter, Princess Hope.
So great was their distress that the two even resorted to ask for a direct meeting with the Humans, a request that was denied by their Heralds, who in turn urged them to worry not for their daughter, for she was safe, but to heed instead the troubles of their realm, since the Creators could not, and would not, interfere.
But a hidden dread remained set on the heart of the two monarchs, especially of Faust, and so it was that much of their effort remained focused on finding news of their daughter, and their shepherding of the realm was somewhat diminished in those days. (3)

And so it went for a long time, the unrest of the frontier seemed to wax and wane with a slowly increasing tempo, but always diminishing before troubles escalated beyond the point of recovery, and while some concern could be felt all over the kingdom, no sign of real conflict ever came nearer to the heart of the realm than some far off province at the borders of the world, and so any rumor of trouble came far and faint.
With the benefit of hindsight, many would then attribute this to the cunning of the Enemy, which would grow ever so slowly with each cycle, but always turn to hide before it was discovered as a darkness in the hearts of the alicorns.
And the wise have said that it was by accident that this new darkness came to light. Indeed some believe that, had this enemy bid its time until it had taken root into the soul of every alicorn, the Universe itself would have become its playground until when the Humans themselves had to intervene to cleanse, or more probably to unmake, all creation. (4)
The event that caused the darkness to be revealed, was the first murder of an alicorn by another alicorn.

The First Murder and the reveal of Darkness.

In later days no one would remember exactly how the facts really happened, for so many stories and legends were born around it, that truth and fiction mingled together beyond the point of being distinguishable. (5)
What is accepted today is that the murderer had been at first a healer of great renown in the legions, though her name has now been forgotten, a gentle soul that retired after the end of the Crusade to spend her life in the peaceful wilderness of a distant valley.
No one knows how it happened, some have said that she acted in self defense, some others believe it was out of rage for being disturbed in what she considered to be ‘her’ dominion, and others again are convinced that it was a mistake on her part, that she did not mean to actually hit her victim.
But whatever had been the cause, the result was that a young Errant Knight was killed by a powerful destructive spell, and the news of this most horrible fate was brought to the realm by a  Spirit of wind that later found the broken body.

Unimaginable was the shock that rang throughout all the realm, for no alicorn had ever intentionally caused such harm to another, and it is said that in that day the light that could always be visible beyond the distant clouds that covered the summit of Thronus flickered, like a torch hit by a sudden gust of wind. (6)

Suddenly it was as if a great alarm bell had rung in the hearts of the alicorns, in an instant the root of all the troubles that had plagued the frontier were made bare for all to see, and King Laurent himself took the lead in discovering the source of this darkness.
And it might be that foresight was with him, for it was by his decree that the victim would be buried with honors in the Caves of Stars, despite seemingly not having been killed by an Abomination.

Of what happened the murderer after she escaped the scene no story tells, but some have said that the shape with which the enemy later revealed itself was in fact the very body of this poor soul, twisted and corrupted beyond the point of being recognized as a former living alicorn. (7)
But that was not always the form with which the Enemy decided to manifest itself, indeed soon after the murderer disappeared many began to witness a vast and dreadful cloud, moving seemingly at random over the provinces of the realm, and while it was correctly deduced at that time that it was indeed this horrid being, it was only later realized that its journey was purposeful in its route, for it took it above all the places that saw the defeat of an Abomination.

Then a great chase set off in pursuit of this being, one that span the whole circumference of the world and often went far beyond the farthest borders of the alicorn kingdom, and it took a long time for the hunters to finally catch up to their prey, but when they finally did, and at last King Laurent and his personal guards cornered the elusive fiend, joy soon turned to dread, for at that moment the purpose of the Enemy was revealed, and in many places the earth trembled and the skies darkened, and even the air and water became like poison, for all the Abomination that ever had been on the world came back to life at the same time.

And so, the War of Horrors began.






Annotations



If anyone who reads this has ever seen an intelligent predator, like the packs of timberwolves of the Everfree forest, or the jade tigers of the tropical jungles, or even the great spotted whales in the oceans, then it should be pretty clear what it was meant here. All these animals are considered intelligent, capable of planning their moves to achieve a successful hunt, some of them can even use naturals tools at their advantage, but none of them can be considered “sapient” in a strict sense, none of them can create a tool that is needed to fabricate another tool that is part of a bigger instrument that is used for something else rather than survival, none of them can create a piece of art or study the sciences of nature and philosophy for the sake of it, none would plant a tree that they would never see the fruits of, but maybe their great-grandchildren will. That is something that only truly sapient beings can conceive, and the fact that there had been an enemy capable of such things scares the tartarus out of me.

Apparently some alicorns began to act like lords and ladies without being recognized as such, claiming lands and rights that sometimes clashed with others, it was as if Princess Twilight had, during her time in Ponyville, declared all that region an independent country under her authority, including the Apple’s Family Farm, while Lady Applejack declared that her family and land would remain under Equestrian crown. In other words, quite a political mess.

As you will read in later chapters this lack of supervision will come back to haunt the two royals, however as a father myself, I cannot really blame them. But then perhaps I would make for a bad sovereign.

This passage here made me wonder what the final objective of this being really was, if it really was as smart as it is described, it would have known without doubt that the Humans would never allow it to reign all over their creation, even if it meant to unmake all the Universe, then again perhaps that was exactly what it was hoping for.

I suppose it’s a curse upon every civilization that historical fact would be sometimes lost to myths, then again in some occasions it is exactly thanks to those legends that history resurfaces when you least expect it.

Thankfully, on this point at least, the world of today seems to be better off than the glories of the alicorns of the past. After all no pony ever killed another, even wars between more violent creatures are fought with non lethal methods on both sides, and besides some that had been hurt quite badly, at most one could be expected to be imprisoned, albeit for a long, long time.

Elsewhere it is indeed hinted that this dark creature used the body of the murderer so it could manifest on the material realm, but then it would imply that it needed a (formerly?) living host to actually be present, which contradicts some different reports later on that said that it could be physically present in different places at the same time.

> The War of Horrors, part one
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

The War Of Horrors

The first assault

The Abominations did not hesitate after being brought back into existence and, as if guided by an unseen master, immediately launched their assault upon the unaware alicorns, overrunning towns and isolated individuals alike.
This was unexpected behavior, as during the Great Crusade they never willingly searched for a direct confrontation against the alicorns, save for some occasions where they deemed them to be easy prey.
But now these foes were acting with purpose and determination, ignoring the surrounding life to focus their effort on wiping out their enemies of old.

This was soon guessed to be the work of the Enemy, who somehow managed to set its will upon the Abominations and act like their commander, to coordinate the actions of these otherwise independent beings.
The effects of this leadership soon became tragically evident, in their first assault the most isolated villages were swiftly ravaged, resulting in many terrible deaths that shook the alicorns to their core.
Indeed so horrible were the events reported by the survivors, both of this first assault and the following years of conflicts, and so foul had the Abominations become under the guide of the Enemy, that this narration will not describe them in detail.
Let it only be known that not for nothing this deadly conflict was called the War of Horrors. (1)

Yet, despite their first quick successes, victory would not come easily to these fiends.
The alicorns still had unmatched power in the world of the living, and the memory and experience of the Crusade was not wholly forgotten.
Those that served in that previous conflict rose once again to the occasion, and with furious strength managed to buy enough time for many civilians to escape towards the capitals of their provinces, where a respectable host of former legionnaires could hold the cities safe, at least for a short time.

News of this renewed conflict reached Queen Faust as soon as the first blow was struck and, even in the middle of her shocked court, she stood strong and set herself once more into the familiar role of supreme commander.
Immediately she sprung into action, calling to arms every veteran of the crusade, reestablishing the old Legions and their logistic lines, turning again the entire effort of the kingdom towards a war that seemed to have concluded so long ago.
And suddenly, the words spoken an entire Age earlier by the Heralds came back to her memory, and the memory of many: to beware of the arrival of any future foe, for they would undoubtedly be the strongest and more terrible of their already terrible kind.
What could not be known at the time, was that this new Enemy was far more than just another Abomination, and its nature would one day bring forth another conflict, one that would see the end of this world. (2)

As the effect of the surprise began to wane, the alicorns began to mount an impressive resistance, managing here and there to slow the far superior foes, and even fight them to almost a standstill near some of the largest cities of the provinces, where vast magical barriers were erected to protect the defenders.
This was proven to be only a temporary solution however, and with time the defenders came to the realization that the Great Crusade, which they thought had been a war, was actually more like a hunt, while the one they found themselves fighting in now was a real war, with all its complications.

First and foremost, among the problems that the legionnaires had to face, was the sheer number of Abominations.
Indeed despite having become mighty enough in the art of combat that only the most powerful of foes required the intervention of a Titan, never before they had to face more than one at the same time, let alone the coordinated attack of so many.

Another problem was that, while many of these abominations had been defeated before and were therefore familiar enough that the strategy to destroy them was well known, many others were utterly unknown, as they had appeared on the world before the alicorns were even conceived by the Humans, and as such possessed strange and powerful abilities that confounded the efforts of the Legions.

The third one was that the Titans, these Spirits of utter destruction, demonstrated on this occasion a flaw in their design, a lack of flexibility that was one of the reasons why the Humans created the alicorns in the first place.
As they were created to fight the original Abominations by themselves, they fought as individuals, with little coordination among each other, and since they saw others beings only in a sense of how much of a threat they could be to the world, there was the risk of them mistaking another Titan for a foe, and attack it.
This is why there had never been more than three Titans awake at the same time in the world, and all three of them had always been from the same element of origin.
And so these spirits found themselves locked in a constant fight, attacking the most terrible of the Abominations for just enough time to provide the alicorns with an opening to mount a defense or flee, before being recalled to their slumber and leave space for a more appropriate kind of Titans face a different foe. (3)

The final major issue, and possibly the most grave of all, was the Enemy itself.
The Enemy, as it was known at the time, proved to be a foe beyond the worst fears of the alicorns.
This being demonstrated time and time again a sharp intellect and vast knowledge of war, it rarely showed itself in open field, preferring to lead its troops unseen, and many began to refer to it as the General, or the Shadow, and began to fear the very mention of its titles.
But perhaps the greatest cause for concern was its ability of manifesting its influence in the very realm of the dreamscape, something that no Abomination ever was capable of.
There it could disturb the minds of the alicorns, confounding their rest, and in some cases even making access to the Weave difficult, to those most affected by its darkness.

And so it was that the alicorns soon began to lose terrain against this unrelenting assault.
At first, as mentioned before, were the small communities to suffer a swift defeat, but then even the great cities began to fall one after another, despite the heroic defense of their inhabitants.

Of the stories from this time, of the heroic acts of desperate heroism and noble sacrifices, of the courage of those who stayed behind in order to give the others a chance to escape, with little to no hope of salvation for themselves, much has been lost, and for every heroism that had been recorded on the annals of the war, many more will remain forever forgotten, save in the ever increasing number of bright lights appearing in the Caves of Stars.
But of all the acts of defiance in the face of despair, perhaps none has most renown that the duel between King Laurent and the Enemy.

The duel of light and Shadow

As soon as its purpose was revealed, and the world shook under the reawakening Abominations, King Laurent charged the then cornered Enemy, but before he could reach its dark form, the fiend had disappeared into the air like a puff of smoke, confounding its hunters.
Not to be discouraged, the King and his guards went back to search in the wide world for their quarry, helping whenever possible the besieged alicorns along the way, but it was not long before they realized that the Enemy had acquired the ability to vanish in the dreamscape, making any pursuit almost impossible.
And so, reluctantly, the chase was called off in favor of dedicating fully to helping the defense of the provinces.
And it would be thanks to the might of King Laurent that many alicorns could escape certain doom and find refuge away from the fighting, but not even his power could turn the tide of the war, and so it was that in a relatively short time the great harbor city of Whiteshore became the last outpost outside of Everfree still held by the alicorns.

Whiteshore, so named for the white sands of the desert of the southern continent where it was founded, had been the first proper settlement built beyond the borders of Everfree, and rose on top of that first encampment set by the alicorns on the coast of that foreign land, following a straight route south from the city of Gate. (4)
Because it came to be during the perils of the Great Crusade, the city was constructed with mighty fortifications, its thick white walls and tall towers were magically empowered to be stronger than any stone, the vast and deep harbor, which had been the subject of wonder and stories among the new recruits of the Crusade, was protected by unbreakable adamantine chains, and the very sky and underground were inscribed with warding runes.

In the long peace of the Age of Marvels many began to question the necessity of maintaining such imposing defenses, but those few who insisted on keeping them in order were vindicated on that hour, as they stood strong even in the face of an horde of Abominations so malignant, that made the skin of even the most tempered veteran crawl in disgust and fear.

And yet, despite this apparent stalemate, many knew that it was only a matter of time before the attackers broke through, and when they did, it would surely ensue a massacre.
This was because the influence of the Enemy over the Weave had grown with every victory, and now it had become so vast and dark that there was no hope of fleeing through magical means.
And so it was that King Laurent took the decision of challenging the Enemy to singular combat.

It is said that as soon as he made his idea known the entire city, and his personal guard most of all, rose in dissension, and there were talks of charging the Abominations head on rather than allowing their beloved sovereign to face certain doom, but King Laurent could not be dissuaded.

He guessed, rightly so, that to exercise its influence over the Weave the Enemy had to keep its focus on the dreamscape, and while he could not be entirely sure that it would accept a challenge to single combat, he was sure that if he could distract, or even wound the fiend enough for it to lose focus, the entire population of Whiteshore would be able teleport to the ever shrinking safety of the city of Gate, from which they could then take the Underpass to cross the mountains of the Grey Wall to finally reach the still secure interior of the Everfree. (5)
But seeing that many still argued to fight, and if necessary die, alongside their King, Laurent took the stage in a great square at the center of the city, and with great voice, he spoke.

Unfortunately, as emotions ran strong on that moment, none had the foresight to record an accurate account of that speech, and between tears of sorrow and hope, even memory failed to recall the details, but it seemed to many that in that moment King Laurent spoke directly to the hearths of the alicorns rather than their minds.
Of all the different, or even discordant, reports that came of that event, only one brief passage had remained consistent enough to be believed to be a true part of that speech.

King Laurent said:
“I am your King, and to be king is to be like a father to my subjects, and like a father I shall not allow this harm to come over my children! Therefore I shall face this Enemy, so that you might see the dawn of many more days, and life may thrive on this world until the end of time!” (6)

And so the alicorns knew that their King would not be swayed, and with tears in their eyes they bowed at his hooves in gratitude and admiration.
He then commanded to be watchful for the very instant when the Enemy faltered, for that moment alone would mark the chance to escape the doomed city.
He then retired to spend the rest of the night in solitude, but while his guards would later swear that indeed nobody else even approached the royal quarters, some have claimed that they could almost perceive something in those rooms, beyond the presence of the King, although who or what that might be, none could tell.

As dawn came, King Laurent exited his quarters adorned in a full suit of armor, elegant and strong, and shining like red gold in the light of the early sun.
To his left he held aloft with his magic a wide shield, showing the symbol of a jeweled crown, and to his right he had a tall spear that shone like silver so hallow that it looked almost blue.
And all that saw him were amazed, for no one had ever seen the king adorned in such glorious armament, yet he moved like it was like a second skin to him, with majesty and grace as if wearing the finest regalia. (7)
The King then turned to his Captain of the Guard, and gave her a sealed scroll to bring back to his beloved Faust, then with one last nod to his subjects, he spread his wings and flew high above the barrier that protected the city, and there he issued his challenge.

As with his speech the day before, likewise his words today had been subject of speculation among scholars, sure it is that King Laurent challenged the Enemy to single combat, calling it craven and weak, and the blows of his trumpet could be heard clearly above the noises of the Abominations that tried to reach him.
Then, as the King called out his foe for the third time, and some began to fear that the plan would not work, the Enemy came.

It is said that it did not accept the challenge lightly, for even if it had grown to be a foe well beyond the scope of mere mortals, it still remembered how the King almost reached him during the hunt, and doubt clouded its judgment.
Moreover it is believed that the fiend suspected some trickery, but in the end it could not remain idle in the face of the brazen challenge issued by the comparatively small creature, for even if it still held control over the Abominations, refusing would have been a sign of unacceptable weakness. (8)

And so the Enemy came, rising from the ground in a black cloud that obscured the Sun, and at the center of that cloud there was something, like a shadow beyond darkness from which a feeling of terror came forth.
This shape had the vague semblance of a grotesque and serpentine alicorn with a bare white skull instead of a normal head, and protruding from that skull, forming some sort of wicked crown, there were many sharp horns. (9)

This vision of horror caused many of the alicorn to quail in terror, such was the power of the fiend, but King Laurent stood firm against it, like a bastion of light against a dark storm, and in the very moment when the Enemy lunged forward, he answered back in kind, and so began the greatest duel in the history of the alicorn kingdom.

In that moment the entire world seemed as if holding a silent breath, even the Abominations would not move, and the Titans themselves restrained their fury, and the wise have said that this was the doing of the Humans, for They would not allow such honor bound event to be fouled by external influences, and so the squaring of the might of the King against the Enemy proceeded undisturbed. (10)

And King Laurent proved on that day that the power of the alicorns was indeed something to be in awe of, for even as the Enemy attacked relentlessly, striking with what seemed like claws of living darkness and bolts of wicked magic, he avoided and parried with his shield every hit, and sparks like lightning erupted from every blow, so that to those in the city it looked like a great dark storm was churning outside of the walls, with bright thunderbolts illuminating two shapes locked in combat.
And it was during one of those strikes that the King lunged with his spear, and hit the Enemy.

A horrid screech resounded then, a noise so terrible that many who heard it would remain troubled by its memory for long years after, but in that moment, as foreseen by King Laurent, the alicorns in the city managed once again to access the power of the Weave, and so began to portal back to the Everfree.
Only a few managed to get through the portals before the Enemy severed the link, and it became evident then to both the citizens and the King that many more blows would be needed before all the besieged alicorns would escape. (11)

And so the duel continued, for hours the lightning storm raged and King Laurent struck the Enemy again and again, and with each wound more alicorns escaped the siege, but as the hours went, and the land became fouled by the black blood of the fiend, the King also began to tire, and his strength started to falter just as the Sun began to descend under the horizon.
But more alicorns were still trapped in the city, so he soldiered on until when, as the Moon was already up in the sky, only a few citizens still remained, and among them was his faithful personal Guard.
It was at that moment that the Enemy finally managed to strike him.

That first blow felt like a hammer on the chest of those who witnessed the fight, for king Laurent was thrown by its force almost to the ground, before he skillfully escaped the grip of the enemy and rose again in the sky.
Tragically from that moment the tide began to turn, and the Enemy appeared to gain more strength each time it could land a hit on the King, who in turn began to show wounds even despite his armor, and some believe that had it not been for that magnificent armament, he would have surely perished from that very first blow.
But the sovereign would not give up his fight, and after each strike he came back to answer in kind, in the hope of allowing the last of the alicorns to escape.
That hope however was fast waning, for the King was now exhausted and gravely hurt, while his foe had become a colossus of living darkness even more terrible than the most vile Abominations, and suddenly the alicorns were aware that their doom was fast approaching.

Then, King Laurent stood up, and it was as if a great peace came to him, for he turned his head towards the city, and with a broken but clear voice, he shouted his last words.

“Leave, now!”

Then the alicorns watched in awe, and even the Enemy staggered in doubt, as from the King came forth a great light, and suddenly it was as if he was wreathed in golden flames, and his eyes burned with a brilliance unseen since the Masking of the Humans, and many would later believe then that it was no less than Sol himself that lent him a spark of his power, for in this flaming presence he shone like the Sun itself. (12)

Then, with a valiant cry loud enough to shake the air around him, King Laurent charged the Enemy and struck the wicked skull with a fury comparable only to the assault of a Titan.
And in that moment, the night became day.
A spark of pure white light erupted from the impact, shooting in all directions until it encompassed the entire battlefield, and accompanying it there was a sound like thunder, so loud, and high, and deep that the city shook with it, and all of its glass was shattered.
But even louder was heard then another noise, a screech of utter rage, pain, and fear, that entered the very bones of the alicorns that still witnessed the duel, and in that moment they knew, the Enemy was gravely wounded, and this would be their last chance escape the siege.

And so they did, the last of those still in the city entered the portal and reached without trouble the Everfree, but with them, heavier than any pain or remorse, brought also the knowledge that King Laurent, sovereign of the alicorn kingdom, secondborn of the Humans, was gone, fallen in a hopeless battle against the Enemy, so that hope may yet endure for all of Creation.






Annotations


While I could often find some more details about the things written in this book by searching through the remains of the palace I'm trapped in, or even depicted in sculptures along the walls, there are no precise indications of the actions of the Abominations during this period of time. It would seem that whatever happened it left such a trauma on those affected that it became some sort of taboo to leave lasting records. Frankly the idea of something so horrible to leave such a scar on an entire population of alicorns gives me cold sweat.

SPOILER ALERT: this is not a hyperbole.

Apparently the Titans did not “evolve” in the same way that the Humans (and even other Spirits) did. I can only speculate if this was by accident or a conscious decision by the Humans to focus them solely on fighting the Aberrations.

This was the encampment mentioned at the beginning of the Crusade, right after the first crossing of the ocean that surrounded the island of Everfree.

There is a mural in one of the rooms of this palace that depicts the Everfree being sieged at the same time as Whiteshore was, and the city of Gate was being protected by three shapes that I assume are Titans of Water. If I were to guess, the Humans sent them to protect the only accessway to the interior of the Everfree, but in doing so they had to pretty much abandon the rest of the world to the Abominations, including all those still in Whiteshore.

A shame that the rest of the speech has been lost, then again I cannot fault those poor alicorns for it as sometimes emotions make you forget everything else. I still remember the day my dear wife said that she was pregnant, everything else faded away.

There is indeed a small drawing of this armor on the book and at first glance it looks… simpler than I imagined, then again I suppose it had been designed with practicality rather than showing off. That said nowhere else there is mention of Laurent wearing such armor before, I wonder if it might be connected to those strange sensations mentioned during the night.

As you reader might have noticed, in this book there are many “X have said”, “it is believed”, and so on… sometimes I wonder how much of what I am translating is actual facts and how much could be considered folklore of those times. For example how could any creature know what the Enemy was thinking at that time? But I guess even if not all of this was true it’s still much better than knowing nothing.

There is nothing similar to this description in the world today, as far as we know, even the worst monster of our legends could not come close to what this being was capable of.

Another example of the Humans taking indirect action on the world, at least regarding the Titans, I am wondering if it was also them to put a hold on the Abominations as well or it was the Enemy. In both cases the implications would be very interesting.

Even the magic of the alicorn could not teleport them across an ocean, to do so they used portals much like the one that my expedition found in that cave and transported me here, apparently the Enemy could disrupt magical objects as well as the use of spells.

If true then perhaps at least one of the Humans took a more direct approach than i thought, and still remains the question of the mysterious armor that King Laurent wore.

> The War of Horrors, part two
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Siege of Everfree

For as long as the mountains of the Grey Wall existed, none ever managed to cross them. The combination of impassable terrain and hostile weather rendered any attempt doomed to failure from the start.
The tall, sheer walls offered no grip or ledge to any who undertook the climb, the terrible winds made flying utterly impossible to even the most skilled of living creatures, magic itself was so confounded by arcane turbulences that any spell would simply be lost in the mayhem, and the very stones were so hard that any attempt of carving or demolishing them was futile.
Indeed it had been only thanks to the help of many mighty Earth Spirits, and nothing less than the blessing of Azibo himself, that the alicorn managed to create the Underpass to connect the interior lands with the outside world. (1)

In ages past this mighty barrier had proven so daunting that none of the Abominations ever attempted to cross them. Now however, under the command of the Enemy, the entire legacy of horrors that had invaded the Universe since times immemorial smashed against it, in the attempt to enter the hallowed lands of the Everfree, and despoil them. 
And if during this time they had actually succeeded in their crossing, they would have been met by little resistance, for a time of sorrow and darkness had fallen on the alicorns, at the news that their beloved King was now gone.

Indeed it was the entire population that mourned the loss of their King, for he had been highly honored and respected, but most of all he was deeply loved by all his subjects, so much in fact that, making true his words in Whiteshore, he had been for many like a second, even if distant, father figure. (2)
And so a cold grief overwhelmed the entirety of the kingdom, and it could be clearly perceived that the Enemy was now extending its dark influence in the Everfree, and even one standing in the streets of Corona, at the base of Thronos, one could feel a presence like black tendrils at the edge of their mind.(3)

Still, of all those who loved King Laurent, none felt the hurt of his loss more than his beloved Faust.
So deep was the connection between the two alicorns, that in that moment when he immolated himself against the Enemy, the Queen suddenly stood up from her throne, and immediately almost fell as if hit by an unseen arrow.
She then sat back down like in a shock, unmoving and incapable of speech, and many of those present rushed to her assistance, but nothing seemed to move her from her state. Then, a short time later, the news of what transpired in Whiteshore made their way to the throne room.
In that moment the entire court fell into stunned silence, then, like a whisper in an empty cavern, came a soft noise, the soft crying of the Queen.

Faust was no stranger to grief, the Great Crusade had taken a heavy toll on her beloved alicorns, including her close family, and she had mourned for each and every loss, but while in those times she had often managed to keep some sort of regal appearance, and held her more emotional reactions in private, this time all her walls came down crumbling like sand, and she cried openly in pain and grief.
Her tears fell abundantly on the magnificent throne and pristine marble floor, and despite all the attempts to clean them afterwards, many would claim even to the last days of her kingdom that they could still see their stains, forever marking the day when the Queen’s heart broke.
It was only with the help of her family that she could finally be moved from the throne room and accompanied to her private quarters, where they wisely decided to keep her company at all times, so that she would not be left alone in those large, and now empty, rooms. (4)

And so it was that upon the Everfree descended a dark and cold night, even more bitter than the ones of the extreme north and south of the world, and while the alicorns were the ones more affected by this sorrow, other living creatures and even the very land itself seemed to have lost part of their splendor to a somber gloom. (5)

But even in that darkest of time the light of courage never succumbed completely to despair, for while the Grey Wall remained unconquered, the long tunnel of the Underpass was under the constant assault of the agents of the Enemy, and the garrison of the Seven Gates fought with incessant fervor against them, with magic, weapons and even bouts of physical confrontation.
Indeed it seemed as if the news of the demise of their King lit a fire of rage in their heart, and many threw themselves against these enemies with little to no regard for their own safety, and their officers often had to rein back their fury so that they would not waste needlessly against the horde.
Besides the alicorns, many Spirits also offered their assistance, though few of them were suited for combat and most instead facilitated the duty of the defenders in the form of messengers, spies and logistical aid. (6)

Still the foes seemed unending, despite being repelled again and again by the terrible powers of the Grey Wall and the valiant defenders, their attempts never ceased, and so the siege of Everfree went on for many years, locked in a stalemate that seemed to hold on forever.

Revelation of darkness.

That the world they were traveling in was different from the one they knew, became apparent immediately to Aurion and Princess Hope.
As the Tree of Harmony disappeared over the horizon, a dark feeling quickly entered their mind, a sensation of ‘wrongness’ that gnawed at the edge of their consciousness and seemed to spread from nowhere and everywhere at once, this was the effect of the Enemy upon the Dreamscape and the Weave, although the two were unaware of it, that made access to the Weave difficult, if not outright impossible to all but the most focused and skilled spellcasters. (7)

And so the two alicorns resorted to flying their way towards the Everfree, despite having most of an entire continent and a whole entire ocean to cross.
But that did not discourage them, and instead they took this chance to enjoy each other’s company, outside the blessed influence of the Tree.
Their journey soon soured however, when they encountered the first signs of the destruction wrought by the reawakened Abominations.

Beautiful landscapes had been corrupted, and all the settlements they encountered, from quaint little villages to sizable cities, had been reduced to rubble by forces well beyond the scope of normal creatures, or even any known natural phenomenon, and Aurion immediately recognized the imprint of the fiends he trained so long to destroy.
Great apprehension captured both alicorns hearts as more and more signs of destruction became evident, for while indeed no Abomination was present, neither were any other of their kind, and the two rightly guessed that something horrible was happening on the world, and was imperative for them to reach the Everfree as soon as possible.

For a while they considered combining their powers to teleport forward in big leaps, but the strange ‘wrong’ feeling made them hesitant to do so, and with a newfound urgency they sped through the winds of the upper air towards their destination, covering great distances in mere hours.
But even alicorns of their stature could not maintain such speeds forever, and the two took rest when they could, sleeping off the weariness that seemed to grow the more they approached the Everfree.

It was during one of these stops, when both of them fell to an uneasy yet irresistible slumber, that they found themselves standing together in the Dreamscape, and in dread they witnessed something like a great shadow hanging over everything, including themselves.
Then suddenly another presence made itself known, and before either of them could react, a vast shape made of night sky and starlight descended over the shadow, dispersing it.
Their dread then turned to amazement as they realized that a Titan of Dreams stood above them in their protection.
That kind of vision would have been enough to stagger even the stoutest of hearths, for the appearance of one of these Titans was an event rare even among their kind, but even more astonishing was the manifestation, seemingly from nowhere, of the Herald of Mortis, who brought to them the words of the Humans. (8)

And the Wolf spoke to them, saying:
“Beware children of the alicorns, beware! A foul enemy has taken root in the World and now you find yourselves in a danger more perilous than anyone of your kind ever had!”

He then explained what befell the kingdom during their absence, and Aurion had to rush to the help of Hope when the Herald told them of the fate of King Laurent, her father, for in her sudden grief she almost lost her footing and fell to the ground.
And seeing her weeping, the Herald was moved to pity, like never he had been witnessed before, and with a low voice spoke again.

“Do not weep young Princess, your father is no longer among the living, that is true, but he now dwells with many others in the presence of Mortis, my Master, and in that blessedness there is no end, just a forever new beginning.”

None had ever heard a Herald speak so explicitly of the workings of the Humans beyond the scope of the physical World, and in that revelation the grief of death subsided, and the tears came to a stop. (9)

The Wolf then continued, explaining the current state of the besieged Everfree, and revealing that the grief that dulled the spirits of the alicorns was at least partially caused by the influence of the Enemy, for it knew that the armada of Abominations would never be able to break the fortifications of the Island as long as the alicorns themselves remained unconquered.
And yet this news brought little joy to the two lovers, for even if they could hold on the Everfree, the alicorns alone would never be able to break the siege, and knowing of the limitations of the Titans, Aurion voiced that perhaps it was time for the Humans themselves to intervene in the struggle.

And the herald answered.
“Do not think that the Humans remain idle in this affair, brave Aurion, for They can work many wonders without ever being noticed.
Furthermore you know that They have vowed to ever diminish their presence in the events of the World, so that one day You might inherit its governance, and They shall not go back on this, for otherwise all the strife that had befallen on Creation until now would be in vain.
But do not despair now, for there is indeed a way for this conflict to be won, and for this the two of you will play the most important roles.” (10)

And in the minds of Aurion and Hope came then a vision, to her was given the responsibility of going back to Everfree, to use her presence and her magic to rouse the alicorns from their sorrowful grief, contrasting the effect of the Enemy on their souls, and to him was instead appointed the duty of remaining on the outside world, to seek several items, “fragments of Creations” to be used to forge a weapon that would have turned the tide against the Abominations.

As the vision subsided, the two alicorns opened their eyes again, only to realize that they were once again awake, and the sun was beginning to show itself over the horizon.
As the warm rays shone on their fur, they looked at each other, and then fell into a tight embrace. It would appear that the starstruck lovers would have to go their separate ways, so soon after having finally met.

And so with a heavy heart, Princess Hope resumed her flight towards Everfree, while Aurion, seemingly guided by instinct, headed in all haste towards that distant and dangerous place, known as the Cradle of Fire.





Annotations


It is never openly specified, but I can guess that somehow the protection of the Grey Wall extended also in the sky above, and the ground below, the Everfree, otherwise any Abomination could have just flown over, or dug under, them.

This passage brings us back to Laurent’s speech about what it meant to be a King, apparently he was more right than I thought.

So apparently the protection of the Grey Wall did not extend over the metaphysical realm (or at least not completely), and yet apparently the Enemy could not manifest physically in the Island even if his power was over it.

It might sound flattering, but I think I can understand how Faust felt (I never thought I'd ever pronounce such words). When my wife passed away I felt a horrible sensation, it was as if a dark hole had suddenly been carved in me, and nothing my family did seemed to shake me out of my grief. In time, the wound healed, but I still miss her so much.

I don’t think I need to mention it, but often when it’s talked about “night” or “darkness” it is meant as a metaphor.

Just like during the Great Crusade, Spirits entered the fight as well, but contrary to then, this time they seemed to do it by their own will rather than the command of their Human. This is possibly one more proof that the “evolution” that the Humans took, affected both themselves and their “fragments”.

It’s still not entirely clear to me, but apparently with the ability of influencing the dreamscape, the Enemy also managed to “close off” access to the Weave by influencing the minds of the alicorns, although some passages suggest that the Weave itself was somehow disturbed by it.

Quite curious that they both fell asleep at the same time, when I'd imagine they would have taken turns sleeping and keeping guard, but perhaps they had some help… I’ll also take a guess and the Darkness they saw was the influence of the Enemy on the minds of the sleeping alicorns, if not even it trying to take form in the dreamscape. As for the Titan I can speculate that the term “of Dreams” and “of Death” were interchangeable, since it belonged to Mortis, the Human that supervised both those aspects of the Universe.

Indeed if this account is accurate (and true) this could be the only real insight in the entirety of the world, of what the afterlife consists of (at least for the alicorns of old). Also it is interesting how the Herald reacted to the crying Hope, showing pity “like it had never before”.

This would indeed explain much of the behavior of the Humans as time went on, and how it seemed that they almost abandoned the world to its own devices.

> The Quest For The Fragments
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Quest For The Fragments.

The Return of Hope

Princess Hope had never been the most physically adept of alicorns. Far from being considered weak or clumsy, her main strength was instead in her magical prowess and scholarly knowledge, for which she was renowned as the utmost expert in the realm.
And yet at that time she might as well have been the greatest athlete of the entire alicorn race, for the anxiousness that was in her heart made her forget all weariness, and she flew like a Spirit of the air, pushed by her strong wings and even stronger will. And she did not fail to notice that the powerful currents of the upper atmosphere had turned in her favor, and she soared at speeds rarely seen even among the racing couriers of the realm.

It was less than a day after she and Aurion separated, that the blue ocean that surrounded Everfree came first into view, and the urgency of her speed became somewhat muddled by the dreadful realization that, even after crossing the distance to the Grey Wall, she would still have to reach the Underpass to go through that mighty chain, which was surely going to be guarded by many Abominations.

Hoping that the night would bring her counsel, and not wanting to risk the oceanic crossing still weary from the day’s flight, the Princess decided to rest on the shore of the continent, and so after finding a hidden place where she could lay down, she let herself drift off to an uncertain sleep.

For the second time in just two days, as she opened her sleeping eyes Hope found herself in the unusual surroundings of the Dreamscape, and there once again she found the Herald of Mortis waiting for her.

“Well met once again child of the alicorns”
He said.
“You cannot continue on the trail you are on now, for the way is blocked by the horde of Abominations that keep the Island of Everfree under siege, but fear not, for my Master provides you with another way through.”

Hope immediately guessed what the Herald suggested. It had been theorized for a long time that one could cross distances in the physical realm by moving through the plane of dreams, but such feat, known by the wise as “dreamstriding”, had been beyond the scope of mortal magic, save for those occasions when a Spirit offered itself as a guide. For directions and distances had little meaning in that place, and even Time became at least partially influenced by the mind that transversed it. (1)

“Will you show me the way then?”
The princess asked the Herald, but he answered.
“No dear child, my Master commands me to attend to other matters, this shall be your own journey”

“But how can I travel through this place and find my way, when there is no way to be found? Surely I need a guide to avoid getting lost.”
She said, but once again the Wolf denied her request.
“You do not need a guide, princess of the alicorns. Be true to your purpose, focus on your task and trust that my Master watches over you, and you will find your way.”

The Herald then bid his farewell and disappeared, leaving Hope in the empty landscape.
She was standing on her four hooves with no visible ground under them, and all around her was the void of a night sky, with few stars faintly shining in the distance.
Not sure of which way to take, she began walking nonetheless, in hope that eventually some sign would show her the way.

Princess Hope would never really recall for how long she walked, for just like in dreams, Time becomes relative in that realm, and she might have gone on for a few minutes just as for an entire age of the world. (2)
The one thing that was evident however was that the shadowy presence that she and Aurion had noticed the previous time, and that was noticeably absent while the Herald was with her, had begun once again to manifest around her, and soon the distant stars became obscured, and her senses became dulled in that dark mist.
Then the Enemy came.

It did not show itself like it did during the duel with King Laurent, rather it whispered wordlessly from the darkness and into her mind, conjuring doubts and suspicions, but she steeled herself against those feelings, and carried on.

For an entire year, or perhaps it was only a few minutes, Hope struggled to move forward against the increasing weight of the darkness.
The Enemy now gnawed at her mind like it never could against other alicorns, and it is believed that was because she was in some way physically manifested in the Dreamscape, rather than being a projection of a dreaming mind, and with every step felt like she was carrying the weight of the entire world.

But even as the dark tendrils of the Enemy wrapped around her, she soldiered on, until finally her anger prevailed, and shouted at the void around her.

“Begone now fiend, cursed Enemy of the world, murderer of my father, i shall not fall for your lies and you will not stop me from reaching my destination. Begone!”

And from the void, a voice answered.

It was not a speaking voice, no words ever passed through her ears, yet somehow they manifested nonetheless in her mind, and at first they sounded like her own voice, before it became a blend of many sounds that she had heard through her life, as if the speaker took memories of the words and played them again like a musical instrument.

“Enemy? I am no Enemy, Princess Hope, third of the alicorns, firstborn of Faust.
I am the consequence of a cruelty far bigger than what you might imagine, one perpetrated by those who proclaim to love you and the world.
Beware the lies of your Creators princess, beware the darkness of the Humans!”

This was the first time the Enemy had communicated directly with an alicorn, with perhaps the exception of only the poor soul that first fell to its power, and it kept speaking to Hope, telling of the foolishness of her errand, of how it was not just futile, but that it was prolonging the suffering that was imposed onto her kind, and that thanks to itself, the world and the alicorns will finally be free of the yoke that the Humans put on them.

Hope felt like drowning in the darkness that enveloped her, her lungs filling with foul nonexistent air, and she felt her mind beginning to falter under the relentless assault of the much more powerful Enemy.
What if it was right? What if there was more to the Humans intentions, beyond what had been revealed to the alicorns? What if…

“ENOUGH!”

Shouted Hope in her mind, for her mouth was unable to form words, and recognising the might of her foe was beyond all of her skills and knowledge, she turned her thoughts to what the Herald said: that his Master was watching over her.
And in that moment, Princess Hope did something that she had never done before.
She prayed. (3)

And in her innermost core she left herself naked to the will of the Humans, surrendering herself to whatever fate They might choose, begging only that it would protect the alicorns, her family, and her love.
Then, she opened her eyes.

Gone was the darkness, gone was the Enemy. Hope found herself once again in the Dreamscape, and a serene atmosphere seemed to pervade the very air.
In front of her stood something that resembled a pool of water, like a clear pond reflecting the sky above.
But in that reflection there was no sky, instead she saw an image of Faust, her mother, and a turmoil that seemed to bring the whole image out of focus.
Then, as she was looking into the water, a voice called.

“You made it Princess, as i knew you would”
And besides her, also looking into the pond, there was the Herald, with an expression on his face that looked almost like pride.

“I almost didn’t”
She said.
“I listened to those words and part of me wanted to believe them. I must thank you for saving me when I might not have done the same.”

But as she lowered her head in shame, the Wolf spoke again.
“Do not dwell on what might have been, you have proven yourself strong in your willingness to fight the darkness, wise to recognise a strength beyond yours, and humble in your asking for help. But do not mistake your salvation for my doing, for that was beyond my authority, if not my power entirely.”

Then in her hearth, Hope understood, and suddenly she became aware of a presence all around her.
In the way that it surrounded and pervaded her, it almost reminded her of the darkness, but it was also very different, as there was no terror within it, but a passing sorrow followed by a serene quiet.
Then she felt as if that feeling had coalesced right behind her, and its power became tangible and greater than any she had ever felt, save for once.

And surely, as Hope turned around, she was met by none other than Mortis, the Human patron of all spirits and dreams, but also of death. (4)
He was standing a short distance from her, arrayed with his gray robe that seemed to fade away as it reached the ground like a cold morning mist. On his face he wore his dark Mask that, just like most of His Spirits, and the fabric of the Dreamscape itself, seemed to be made out of pure night sky and illuminated by distant starlight.

Immediately she bowed low onto the nonexistent ground, but then a firm yet gentle hand reached her, helping her up again.
A strange feeling accompanied that touch, and Hope at that time could not give an exact name to it, but it was as if she was standing at the edge of a fundamental truth, so close to almost being able to see it, and yet unreachable still.

Then Mortis guided her to look again onto the pool, where the grief of her mother was displayed in the turmoil of the image, then at the behest of his Master, the Herald spoke.

“Your mother is ill, dear child, and of an illness that no medicine can cure, save only for the love of family, and while your kin already did their part in stemming the queen’s grief, it will be up to you to bring true healing.”
At that news the Princess was ready to immediately go forward, but the Wolf stopped her.
“As you go back, do not forget what happened here, and remember that there is one that still waits to see your light again.”

Hope found herself with a knot in her throat and with tears swelling up into her eyes, and incapable of answering with her own voice, she bowed down in gratitude, before she jumped into the reflection.

The light in the dark.

The darkness that haunted the Island of Everfree was like a mirror of the mood of Queen Faust and, after the initial grievous pain, it had settled into a bitter sorrow that seemed to turn everything into a lifeless gray. (5)

The sovereign had settled into an apathetic routine that saw her spend a vast amount of time alone in her private rooms, allegedly mourning over old memories of her late husband, and only the almost continuous visits from members of her family moved her from her musings.
Yet none seemed to be able to reignite that fire that was in her spirit and, as time went on, some began to wonder in their hearths if the Queen would ever be fit to rule again.

Then one night, as the Moon and its carousel of stars were up in the sky, and their light bathed the palace in silver and white pearl, a sudden commotion startled the guards at the doors of the Royal quarters, but as they rushed inside ready to do battle, they were stunned to see their Queen in a tight hug with another alicorn, and even more they were amazed when they recognized the stranger as someone that had been believed lost many years before, Faust very own first born daughter, Princess Hope.

The news of the return of their long lost Princess spread like fire on a prairie of dry grass, and before the Sun had risen, the entire Island was in uproar.
Many then came to Corona to see for themselves this return, and were amazed by what they saw, for as great and beautiful had Princess Hope been in the past, now she seemed taller and more radiant, rivaling even her mother, and her eyes shone from an inner fire that was both gentle like a candle, and piercing like lightning.

For her part Hope tried her best to recount the happenings of her disappearance, from finding the Tree of Harmony, to the journey through the Dreamscape to reach her mother, and it  seemed impossible to her that she had been gone for so long, when to her mind only a few days had passed. (6)

Every part of that tale had the entire population enthralled in wonder, but to her mother it was the fact that her daughter might have found love that intrigued her the most, and straight away she wanted to know everything about him and the reason why he didn’t follow her to Everfree.
And Hope revealed then the purpose of her separation, that while she had come back to help heal the Island, her beloved had to remain in the peril of the outer world, to find a way to defeat the Enemy.

This revelation stirred Faust to her core, and she saw the parallel between them and what happened between herself and Laurent, and in an instant her hearth realized how many more of her subjects had lost someone dear in this conflict.
Suddenly the fire of her spirit, that was almost extinguished in sorrow, sprang up once again from the depths of her soul, and its light burned away the remnants of darkness that poisoned her mind, and the influence of the Enemy was defeated.

All the alicorns on Everfree felt the change. Suddenly the gloom that dimmed the light was removed, and a great intent, to take once again the mastery of the world against the Enemy, was planted in their hearts and minds.
And so at the order of the Queen, the realm once again shook with activity, all powers of might and magic that the alicorns could summon were put in the preparation for when they would break the Siege and bring war upon their foe.

But even as the strength of the realm was being renewed, Princess Hope knew that to break such a horde of Abominations, and overwhelm the wicked power of the Enemy, they would need help, otherwise the Humans would not have separated her and Aurion.
And she worked tirelessly to find any possible solution to such a dilemma, until the words of the Herald of Mortis came to mind, that her beloved would need her light.

Then she had an idea, or perhaps it was foresight of the Human’s plan, and she headed in all haste towards the great Temple, where in front of the main doors she was met by none other than Naseema, the Human of Air, accompanied by Her Herald Zephyr, the Thousand-winged Eagle. (7)
At that sight all those present were left in awe, as the majesty of the Creator was barely contained by Her Mask, and all stood in stunned silence as Princess Hope held converse with the Herald.

Word that a Human, who had not been seen in the physical world for an Age, was now at the door of the Temple, spread at the speed of magic, and even Queen Faust rushed to arrive at the scene, where she rejoiced at seeing Naseema for the first time in far too many years.
There the plan of the Humans was made known, at least in part.
Aurion would travel the world in search of six items, one for each Human, called Fragments of Creation, and each fragment would put him to the test to prove his worthiness, and if he ever failed, any chance to break the siege would be lost, and the alicorns would be forever confined on the Island of Everfree.

Those tests were for Aurion alone to take, but the travel between the various Fragments would become also nearly impossible, for surely the Enemy was going to discover his quest, and send legions of Abominations to stop him.
To ease at least this task, the Humans would reveal to him how to travel through the Dreamscape, just like they did with Hope, but even this would bring serious risk, for the Enemy would not make the mistake of trying to corrupt him like it did with the Princess, but simply kill him as soon as its darkness reached him.

“Therefore you shall be his light, and through you he will walk shielded from the Enemy, for you have defeated the darkness that it is within yourself, and it can no longer hold any sway on you.” (8)
Said Zephyr at the behest of her Mistress, then she continued.
“To this end you will now reach the highest peak of the mountain you call Thronos, there shall be revealed to you how to use your power for his sake.”

A murmur passed through the crowd.
No one, save for Faust and Laurent themselves, ever had leave to reach the summit, not even the great artisans who forged the Six Masks even saw the utmost peak, and it was said that the very ground in that place was so hallowed that any evil or corruption would have been burned away like ash in the wind.
Yet Hope was undismayed, and her heart was set to depart in all haste for her destination, but as she spread her wings, Zephyr called to her once again.

“Be warned princess, this task will not be easy, and all of your strength will be called upon to accomplish it, and even should you succeed, it could, in the end, claim your life.”

But Hope turned to the Herald, saying:

“Either in life or in death my doom shall not be sundered from my beloved, for I foresee that he will be asked nothing less than his very life and soul for his own quest, and should he succeed or fail, I will be there for him and with him.”

And in saying that, Hope flew away, heading towards the hallowed summit, and to those who looked, it seemed that even through Her Mask they could see Naseema smiling at the receding alicorn.

The journey of the Princess turned out to be less difficult than expected, for the strong winds that often hindered flight were now lifting her up with great speed, and at the edge of her vision she would later claim that she could almost see at the edge of her vision the vast wings of Zephyr, supporting her own.
In a short time the high towers of Corona became small and distant, before disappearing into the clouds.
Then the entrance to the Caves of Stars, the sacred resting place of the valorous dead, swiftly passed under her as she soared higher than most other alicorns were permitted.
And even faster she went up, until she could see at a distance the ancient workshops where the Six Masks were forged, and in front of her stood a wall of bright white clouds.

Any other flier would have slowed at that sight, for those clouds could have easily obscured hidden obstacles, against which any impact would have resulted in serious injury, but Hope was determined to not waste a single moment, and so she raced upward, then just as she was about to reach that wall, it suddenly parted, as if the hand of the Stormlady herself had cleaved it in two.

And suddenly Hope found herself in the clear air, standing on her four legs on the solid rock, despite not remembering having landed, and below her she witnessed a sight that no mortal had ever seen, save for only her parents, the great amphitheater at the summit of Thronos, with its impossibly still lake and lone islet at its center, from which came a light that was impossible to look at. (9)

For a few moments the Princess remained awestruck in place, before a cold breeze brought her back, and as she surveyed her surroundings she noticed that the rim of the amphitheater was not level, but curved so that one side stood higher than the other.
With her destination clear, Hope began to trot then towards that point, for her heart warned her that flight was not allowed, if not outright impossible, in such a place.

If the flight to the summit had been comparatively short, the walk to the high point of the rim seemed instead to take forever, and it was only at sunset that she finally reached her destination.
There, on the highest point of the tallest mountain in the world, stood a single large rock completely flat on top, that seemed like a platform designed to provide stability to anyone who would stand there concentrating on a spell. (10)

Then, Princess Hope felt something in her heart, an urgency like she had never felt before, in that moment she knew that Aurion needed her, and guided by instinct alone she jumped on the rock.
There she performed a spell, one that she had not known until then, but was suddenly clear in her mind like the sky above her head, and as she focused her power, a light like never before shone in the Dreamscape.





Annotations



That very same ability is known today as “dreamwalking”, and it is indeed a very rare ability. Princess Luna was the only one able to cast it regularly to guard the dreams of the Ponies of Equestria (or at least that was the case before the two sisters left their throne, it is uncertain if she still fulfills this duty). Once the entire town of Ponyville found itself dreamwalking, after an incident with the aforementioned princess, Celestia has been known to be able to do the same on a few occasions, like when she guided Princess Twilight through her ascension to alicornhood.

Seems in line with the fact that, as reported in the chapter “The Forging of the World”, Mortis created the Dreamscape at the borders of the Universe, where “The ticking of Time  and the laws of Magic and Science grew faint and distant”.

I used the term “prayed” because it felt like the most fitting, but a more literal translation would be more akin to when a subject petitions his cause to a sovereign above the “normal” ranks of royalty. For example Equestria’s royal figure is the princess, she is the head of state with no one above her authority, but you still try to reach a “queen”...

In this case the term “spirits” is meant more like “souls”, and matters of spiritual origin, not the “Spirits” that the Humans created in the world.

This is another occasion where it is mentioned that the alicorns could subconsciously manipulate the environment around them, makes me wonder if it was thanks to the fact that all six Humans were involved in their creation.

Discounting the days necessary to travel to and from the Tree of Harmony, this also indicates that during their ‘trance’ under the Tree both Aurion and Hope did not perceive at all the passage of time.

I used the term “Eagle” loosely, as its real name suggests some sort of majestic bird of some kind, but it could very well be more similar to a nightingale.

This is actually a very important passage that will become fundamental in events to come.

The more I read descriptions of that place, the more I imagine that mountain like a vast volcano, with its crater lake on top.

It’s not difficult to imagine that such a convenient platform had been put in place exactly for that reason by the Humans, or at least by one of their Spirits.