I am pulled from my memories by the voice of my guard, Noir, who speaks two, lovely words, "Your highness?" I stretch slightly in my lain position, nodding, "I am here, Knight. Speak."

The unicorn gives a curt bow, the jeweled tassels adorning his armour clinking together gently. He is the captain of my personal cadre of guards, given the name Lunar Guards by myself, and a very loyal stallion. His stark black coat nearly reflects light as well as his silver armour, giving him him a near crystalline appearance. This contrasts perfectly his pure white tail, which often awards him questions of his heritage. However, of this, I cared little. His questionable lineage made him an outcast, and outcasts make the most calculating of leaders, exactly what I need by my side.

"You have a visitor, My Lady. A pony of the University, seeking guidance on a pupil." He speaks, gazing at me from his position in front of me.

I slowly rise to my hooves, iridescent mane flowing out from between my ears, and I give a warm, caring smile, perfect to fool these ignorant children. "Very well. Please, send them in, Noir," I respond, flexing my wings gently, then stretching them above my back, making my form as imposing as possible.

Ever since I'd returned from that fateful night in the ruinous castle, I'd studied, worked on my body, making it better, stronger, better suited for the true ruler of Equestria. The one thing I did not truly change from my true form was my mane. Even now it flows out like a miasma, framing my face and neck in it's midnight-glow, much like my Sister's. It did not take long to complete this form once more, only a few months, but when it was complete, I took my place as Warder of the Night, and all the royal duties it entailed.

Now, three long years after my plan began, I still wait and watch. My full power only a moment's focus away. As I rule my country with my incompetent older sister, and the very foal I tricked all that time ago. Princess Twilight Sparkle had since become a sort of recluse, with her friends scattered about living their own dreams for the moment. She simply does what she does best: Sleeps in a library with that disgusting aide of hers, stuffing her face into old, dusty tomes that have little modern meaning.

The mare, though childish, did force a small change in my plans. I had completely forgotten the Tree in my imprisonment. The moment the Forest had taken me it had shut my magic down. Odd, considering I had assumed I was more powerful than all Twilight had faced. Then, as if nothing truly bad had happened, the Tree simply banishes them, using the Elements' magic to do the deed. Perhaps there was more to this than I had originally thought.

Originally, my plan was to wait until they defeated the changelings a second time before revealing my true nature, but these new developments definitely changed my mind. I watched as even the Elements of Harmony were thwarted alone, only to be amplified by a catalyst, eliminating something neither they nor the tree could alone. Both of them together, they could be my key. So now I study the tree, under the premise that it is best to understand what defends our country to the fullest, so we may use it to its full potential.

During yet another bout of remembrance, my eyes blinked back into proper awareness to find the unicorn in question before me, bowing graciously. Who knows how long he's been that way, the idiots in this age are far more dim than they were a thousand years ago. I rolled my eyes, covering it up with a calm smile, and spoke, "Ah, Greysoul. Another visit so soon? This is the fourth this week." I then snickered amiably, "Let me guess, another unicorn pretending to be Twilight blew themselves across the room again? Or perhaps somepony collapsed your research tower again?"

He shakes his head and rises up, his regal bearing marred by a large scar running crosswise across his muzzle, a prize he won from a little magic gone awry. His tan coat is accented, quite well I may add, by a cream coloured mane, pressed back against his head tightly, a very conservative look, but a little long for his norm, he must have been having a hectic week. His signature labcoat was even missing from around his shoulders, something serious must be amiss.

"Your highness, it seems that one of our students might have discovered something about the Tree," He begins, voice surprisingly smooth, despite his gruff appearance. "He believes that--" I swiftly interject, eyes flashing as I gaze to him.

"No, do not speak of it here. Did you bring the child with you?" I ask incredulously, leaning to the side a slight bit to gaze out the door a bit more clearly, looking for the colt.

Again he shakes his head, this time a bit more furiously, "No Your Highness. He was adamant that he remain behind for the day, so he might study for his final exams next week. Being the professor I am, I could not deny such a request." He says, looking rather proud of himself.

I nod gently, hoof rubbing the underside of my chin in my thought, then I speak: "Bring him here, please. I will need him for an undetermined amount of time, so suspend his finals until further notice." Once finished, I turn to Noir, "Guard, please escort the professor back to the academy, then return with our new friend once he is seen safely. And bring him to my chambers if you please."

The guard nods, salutes gently and trots off. Mumbling in a quiet conversation with the older unicorn, dotted with chuckles and the occasional burst of laughter. My lips curl into a wicked grin as I turned and stalk through a nearby corridor, which opens out into my chambers. The room is dark, nearly pitch black, yet my eyes adjust nearly instantly to the soothing dimness. Along the walls are my books, various research material, novels, even a few baubles I'd taken as mementos, mostly small trinkets to keep them off my trail. The rest of the room is rather spartan, a round, comfortable bed, red velour sheets of course. A vanity with stands opposite with a stand for my crown and slippers. And a chifferobe, containing my few outfits for special occasions sits off to the side. The dark mahogany of my furniture makes them almost vanish into the room, save for the small glints from the silver handles.

I glanced about and focused my magic into the handles of the drawer, my horn glows it's subtle blue colour, as the drawers open and a set of candles rises from the depths wreathed in my blue magic. I arrange them in important locations around the room, two on the vanity, one for each set of bookshelves, and a few scattered about on the floor. As I release my telekinetic magic, I close my eyes, performing a spell that my repertoire isn't normally prepared for, lighting them. On the backs of my eyelids I imagine each candle separately, then focus upon the wicks, picturing them suddenly catching fire. Sadly, I overdo it slightly, and the sudden combustion brightens my obstructed vision for a moment, then dims to a warm, reddish glow. My eyes open, and I scowl, seeing the black marks the sudden combustion had left on my walls.

I deem it a small problem, casually sitting myself on the bed, putting on an amiable smile as I wait. Internally excited for what's to come from this student.

I wait patiently for just under an hour, humming quietly to myself. This news will be the first in months, and the first from a fresh mind. Youth is much better suited for looking for clues than the old ponies I had employed before. I'd even been told that this one had performed some actual field research on the tree itself, which few before had the guts to do, which is most definitely a positive.

Much to my surprise, a trio of raps on the door alerts me to the presence of my guard and the boy, I'd forgotten to keep my senses acutely aware of them. I scolded myself gently as I spoke up, bidding them enter, even flicking my horn gently to open the door for them. The pair of them entered and quickly entered into short bows, gazing to me with the awe I deserve. The thought of that made me smile, and I hoped it didn't look as wicked as it felt.

As they enter the candlelight, I get my first look at this bright young mind. A red coat, accented by, of all colours, a green mane, adorn his surprisingly robust figure. He is nearly of a size with myself, but his brutishness is far hampered by the light in his deep, green eyes, overflowing with intelligence. Slung across his shoulders are a pair of saddlebags, stuffed with scrolls, books and quills, he must have much to tell me. Thankfully, however, his cutie-mark happens to be on-point, a book and a pair of glasses, showing he excels in his reading, which he obviously has put to use in his research.

I rose from my seated position and moved closer, speaking calmly, "Please. There is no need for such formality here in my chambers. This is a personal visit, and it shall be treated as such." I gesture next to the brightest candle, "Please, take a seat." I nod to Noir, who gives a casual salute and trots out of the room, humming a little tune to himself. The unicorn and I both take a seat near the candle, my guest using his magic to set his hefty bags next to him.

Once the door closes behind the ebony stallion, I turn to the younger one before me, speaking calmly, "We'll get to business in a moment. For now, I'd very much like to know your name." I focus my magic gently, imagining a pot of hot tea and a few cups for us. This, thankfully, goes off without a hitch, and the items in question float in before us. I focus again and tilt the pot, letting the steaming fluid pour out and into one, then both of the cups. Of course offering one to him, which he graciously accepts, using his own magic to manipulate the cup and saucer.

After a tentative sip, he licks his lips and answers my question, "My name is Page Turner, Your Majesty. Though many call me Turner." A small smile paints across his muzzle as he speaks again, "I'm sure I know who you are, Your Majesty."

My laughter rings out gently, my head nodding gently, "I am sure you do, Turner. But for now, we haven't much time before sunrise. Shall we begin?" I gesture lightly towards his bags, which he rapidly began to empty before me, opening books to marked pages, unrolling and weighting scrolls, then setting his quills and inks aside.

It was then that he began to speak, "I haven't done much field research since the Guard refuses to let me into what remains of the Forest, so most of this is simply speculation and theory. My deepest apologies for this, your highness." I nod, gesturing for him to continue.

"The Tree of Harmony," He begins, placing a hoof below a picture of the tree, "Could not have been made by any kind of creature we know, not even the Crystal Ponies. And yet the kind of prophetic influence it has must have been created by intelligent life. I believe that the tree may have been created around the same time as the original ponies came to Equestria. The harmony the Earth Ponies, Pegasuses and Unicorns created more than likely manifested the tree without their knowledge.

"Though after creation, as all things are, it was weak. And it took several hundred years to grow to the strength we see it at currently. During that time, fragments of it's power were created in the Elements, which, when combined, create power that far surpasses the tree."

I take a moment to hold a hoof out, "Did it purposely create the Elements? As a sort of failsafe for it's magic?"

He shakes his head, "No. I believe that they were created when the original six 'bearers' in Equestria passed. Their life forces were absorbed by the tree for safe keeping, thus creating the Elements of Harmony. It kept them in it's branches, both as a symbol of harmony, but as a way to bolster it's power.

"The tree then grew further, up until the first Discord Crisis. During that time Discord planted his seeds of disharmony around the tree in hopes of uprooting it. The tree reacted by dampening it's external power in order to bolster it's defenses to stop itself from being destroyed. After years of successfully keeping the seeds at bay, barely even past the germination stage, It began to fail. Finally suffering its power loss from when you and your sister removed the Elements from its grasp.

"This allowed, with time, the events surrounding the Everfree Forest two years ago, as we learned from Discord himself." He shakes his head again, the gestures to the picture once more, "I got off track, my apologies.

"When the Tree was created, I believe it was barren of the symbols of the prophecy. Sometime between then and Discord somepony, more than likely an ancestor of the zebra, Zecora, used some sort of magical catalyst and saw a vision. Using the vision to carve the marks they saw into the tree. One for each princess who took a part in defeating Discord."

I nod, mulling the information over, "So you believe that the Tree was created of harmony instead of prophecy, and that this "prophecy" was simply a vision." I nod, "Very well then. Do you believe you could create this catalyst, should you find it?"

He thinks for a moment, chewing his lower lip gently, "I... May be able to. It is hard to say. One-thousand years is a long time for things to disappear from more than just records. Items change hands, or are just outright lost out in nature, eroded and destroyed after time." He nods with finality.

I ponder this for a moment, then nod slowly, "Very well. I wish for you to conduct all of the research you can. I'll even grant you access to the tree if need be. It may hold the answers other ponies might not be able to see."

His eyes widen in surprise as I state this, then he nods excitedly, jumping up and gathering his materials, "Thank you, Your Majesty! I'll find your answers, I promise you that!"

I smile at his enthusiasm, then gently open the door for his stumbling form, closing it gently behind him. This was an excellent theory, much better than the last. This young colt thought outside of the box, which interested me greatly. He should prove infinitely useful.

After a moment, a wicked grin splits across my lips, "Visions of prophecy, Well this changes everything." One peek into the future, and I'll be able to see if my plans are a success, or change it, if they're not. For now however, it is dawn and the need for sleep tugs at my mind. I gladly oblige, extinguishing the candles with a quick twist of my magic and curling into my bed ready for a new day.

Author's Note

Revisions complete! Chapter 2, here I come!