Chapter 1 : The Calm Before the Storm (edited)
Chapter 1 : The Calm Before the Storm (incomplete)
The Calm Before the Storm
Chapter 1 : The Calm Before the Storm
The night has passed and the ponies have rested. Now comes the time for the unicorns to lower the moon and make way for the dawn. This became a daily ritual for all unicorns alike. This ritual was passed down from one generation to the next. Ponies were gathering across the streets of the Citadel, staring patiently at the sky.
Over one hundred unicorns were gathered in the incantation chamber. The chamber was build like dome on the top of the highest tower of the Emerald Castle and at the far edge of the Citadel.
The room was neatly organized, the books were placed on the appropriate shelf and all the scrolls were adequately rolled up. In the centre of the room, underneath the glass roof was drawing of a circle with unique patterns. This is the catalyst used by unicorns to move the celestial bodies.
All the pony were in position. Using the combined energy of the most powerful unicorns in the Citadel, the sun began to rise in the horizon. Even with the combined ability of all the ponies gathered in the room, the execution of the sunrise wasn't as fluid as expected. Everypony stopped and rested. The sun was set in motion, the work of the unicorn is now over.
The chamber's doors suddenly opened and the rulers of the unicorns entered. King Titanium entered the room followed by his beautiful wife Queen Sapphire. The ponies were awed by their presence and bowed respectfully at the royal couple. The king was a silver coated stallion with a majestic white mane. He was a strong and tall stallion. The queen fell slightly shorter than the king, but her beauty was unimaginable. Her coat was as pure as the first layer of snow and her mane was of a magnificent celestial blue.
Both walked to centre of the room and watched beyond the glass dome and into the horizon. The sun was still making its way up into the sky, gradually shining across the fields.
"Starswirl." The king called out.
A grey unicorn with a white mane and beard stepped out from the crowed of ponies. He was wearing a rather odd outfit: a long blue robe with stars scattered across, bells attached at the edge of the robe, and on the top of his head was pointy hat that followed the same pattern as the robe. As he stepped away from ponies and towards the king and queen, he bowed respectfully, but seemed far from pleased. As if he knew what the king had in store for him.
"Starswirl, i would like you to go down to the nearest earth pony settlement and check if they are on schedule. Then you will go to the other settlements and do the same." King Titanium started. "Cold days are upon us and I do not want my people to starve, because of those incompetent earth ponies." He turned to look at Starswirl who simply mumbled to himself.
"Did you say anything?" The king asked.
"No your highness. As you ask your highness." Starswirl responded with his gravely voice.
Starswirl left the incantation chamber and headed towards the exit, others followed leaving the royal couple on their own. Guards were standing outside the chamber's door.
King Titanium turned to his wife once more. She smiled softly at him, while the sun finally took its rightful place in the sky. King Titanium looked at his wife intently.
"How is the child?" he asked with slight tone of worry in voice.
"Don't worry yourself so much. I'll be fine and so will she." Queen Sapphire responded gently.
The king and the queen, both left the chamber soon after. The Titanium left towards the council meeting room while his wife went back to living quarters to rest.
He walked down the torch lit corridors followed a single guard. He stopped in front of wooden doors. He opened the door and walked in slowly and quietly. All conversation that were occurring prior to his entrance suddenly went silent.
In the middle of the room was a long table made of dark wood. On each sides of the table were standard chairs with ponies assigned to each seats. At the far end of the table was luxurious throne. Everypony was staring at him as he walked to his place and sat down.
Using his magic, he lifted his crown off and gently placed it on a stool to the right of his throne. He knocked on the table once to get everypony's attention, although it was unnecessary. Then he knocked on it two more time, meaning that the meeting session has begun.
***
Starswirl left the castle and headed to his research tower. He strolled down through the busy streets where ponies were starting to open their shops. The flee market was bustling about and nopony paid any attention to him as he ran pass them.
When he got closer to his research tower, his horn glowed yellow and he open the heavy wooden door of his home. The hinges creaked when the doors departed. He walked in, the enchanted torches lit by themselves. The tower was build on the outskirt of the Citadel. It was shaped as a cylinder with a half dome on top to observe the stars at night.
The first floor was were the utility rooms were situated. The living room was simple and dusty. Nopony has ever entered this room before, Starswirl wasn't the socializing type. There was only an unused chimney in front of a small wooden table and a sofa. The kitchen was no different. The sink was full of plates and casserole. The mugs were scattered all across. The dining area was the only decently kept room on this floor. The next two floors are filled with books and parchments. He somehow manages to not get lost in his mess. Finally the last floor was where the telescope was placed. He often stayed in this room for days and night on end. He stayed there so often he decided to move his bed in there.
After he gathered all himself and made a checklist for the supervision of the harvest he left his domain and went down the mountain and to the closest earth pony settlement. The walk was tedious and quite tiring. Starswirl wasn't fond of traveling and so when King Titanium asked to supervise the harvest, he was less than pleased. He would always rather stay in the comfort of his domain of knowledge.
After walking for what seemed to him like hours, he finally arrived on the outskirts Grainsdale, the closest earth pony village to the Citadel. He walked down the road to the Chancellor's office the main city. Ponies who were working the fields heard the sounds of the bells of his dress and stared at him as he walked. The earth ponies were rather unhappy with the presence of a unicorn.
Houses were scares in this area. They were scattered across the vast fields. The nearest surrounding houses visible were poorly built. The stone bricks that were used weren't the same shape and they were stacked with inconsistency. Some houses however had a little more efforts put into them. The homes started to look slightly better as soon as he entered the main city.
