Once upon a time in the middle of a great forrest. There existed a kingdom where the ponies known as the Shadow Ponies lived. Their very existence was a mystery to the rest of the world, obscured as it was by great trees. Here they played out their peaceful lives, innocent of the litany of excess and violence that was growing in the world outside. To live in harmony against the spirit of the race called Shadowbane was enough. Then one day, an evil monster named Discord arrived in the town.

He came in camouflage, hidden behind a kind visage, but nopony noticed him. They only saw shadows. You see, without the Truth of the Eyes, the Shadow Ponies were blind. Falling out of sight and hiding in plain view, waiting for the sunset to come and for the ponies to go home and rest, he would jump out from behind them and make them disappear. Now everypony is dancing the dance of the forgotten.

In time, Discord found his way into the deeper recesses of the city, and it was there that he found caves of unimaginable Sincerity and Beauty. By chance he came upon the Place Where All Good Souls Come To Rest. Discord coveted the jewels he found in these caves above all things, and soon he began to mine them, its rich seam fueling the chaos of his own world. Meanwhile the Shadow Ponies slept restlessly, their dreams invaded by a shadowy figure that began digging away at their souls.

Every day the ponies would awaken and stare into the forrest. Why was it bringing darkness into their lives now after all these years of peace? As Discord mined deeper and deeper into the caves, holes began to appear, bringing with them cold and bitter wind that chilled the very soul of the Emperor. For the first time, the Shadow Ponies felt fearful for they knew that soon the Emperor would stir from his deep sleep.

And then it came: a sound. Distant at first, it grew into catastrophe so immense it could be heard far away in space. There were no screams. There was no time. The emperor, Shadowbane had finally spoken. There was only darkness. And then...Nothingness. Oh forgotten kingdom in the forrest, your time has come to see there's nothing you believe you want; but where were you when it all came down on me? Is it now, after so many years, that you finally call upon somepony to save the kingdoms from certain destruction and genocide?

If you do not mind, I wish to tell you the story about my past. It is not only my past, but it is also part of Equestria's history. This story is that of Equestria's true beginnings, the discovery of the Elements of Harmony by Princess Celestia and Luna, and the secrets that were hidden for so many years by the very pony you all look up to today. I ask you though: Do you believe it is worth telling this story at all? Will you even believe the things I will tell you? And with what Celestia has knowingly told you, would you even be able to see the truth that is hidden in plain sight; the secrets she has hidden away for so long? All I ask is that you keep an open mind, for what I am about to tell you may change your opinions forever.

There are many sides to every story. History is the fiction we invent to persuade ourselves that events are knowable and that life has order and direction. And as always, history is always doomed to repeat itself. What I am telling you is my side of the events that unfolded a thousand years ago. I have not told this story to anypony in quite a long time. Truth be told, it feels good to finally tell it. My name is Crimson Shadow and this is my story.

Author's Note

This is the second prologue on a narrative based level that my character reads. So this is based on him telling the story of his past when he was a filly.