Chapters Within the grand scheme of the cosmos lies the realm of Equestria, a magical land of adventure and heroism where friendship and harmony rule. It has remained this way for ages as the immoral rulers of the land, the royal princesses have safeguarded the denizens of the world from dark forces. However one of the rulers, a being of light and guidance will face a new foe that will test her resolve…
Celestia, co-ruler of Equestria was finally asleep after a long day of attending royal affairs, filling out paperwork, and managing to keep her land in peace. She had finally ended her day by lowering the sun belong the horizon. Celestia then laid upon her white linen bed sheets and drifted off to sleep.
Celestia’s dream scape was not as complicated as someponies believed it would be. It was of her old home in the Everfree Forest, where she had lived happily with her sister ages ago. In her dreams she would relive her life as a filly, playing with her sister Luna while their parents watched from afar.
It was a lovely idea, part dream, part memory, and Celestia enjoyed it.
Until a noise awoke her from her paradise….
Celestia moved from her bed, starched her neck out and looked around…to see nothing. She was about to go back to bed when she heard it again, however the noise was a bit louder and coming out from the hallway. Celestia left her room and begun to follow the noise.
With every step the noise grew and grew until Celestia could make it out…somepony was singing, a stallion’s voice was behind the unfamiliar song. She followed it for a few minutes until she arrived at the throne room door. Celestia carefully opened the door to find it dark and empty, but as she stepped inside the candles ignited and illumined the room… And revealed the source of the song.
It was, to Celestia’s surprise, an alicorn setting on the throne. This alicorn was hard for her to describe, but she could feel an aura of malice coming from this pony. His coat, main, and tail were onyx and black, his wings were almost like fabric covered in black ash, his horn was crimson with a black vein wrapping around it, and his eyes were red like demon fire. He wore armor unlike any Celestia has ever seen; it was light purple and almost dragon scale like, and it had misshapen horns sticking out like they grew from the armor.
However what unnerved her the most was in the center of his armor was an eye, not an ornament but a living entity that had grown on this armor and has looking in every direction erratically.
This alicorn continued to sing, not noticing Celestia in the room. As the princess walked closer to this stranger, she could now understand what he was singing…
“The whispers, the whispers in our minds. They guide the lost and the forsaken, they love the poor and sick, they treat us all equally.”
“The tendrils, the tendrils hold our souls, they decimate the wicked, they bring together the good and bad, they bind our hearts together.”
“The eyes, the eyes see into our heart, they watch over all the young and old, they see the beyond and the hidden, they see our desires.”
“Come all ye fateful, come little children, our mother calls to us. She lies beyond the great gate, She wishes to keep us and never let go, once she is free the world will change, and we will never be alone.”
He sang this song until Celestia was close to the throne.
“Greetings ruler of Equestria…” the alicorn bowed his head.
"Who are you, and what do you want from me?" The princess said, surprised.
"Oh, pardon me, where are my manners? My name is Drakath, and I am the ruler of chaos."
"But... That's impossible! Discord is the embodiment of chaos, and I’ve never heard of you!" Celestia stammered.
"That's because I’ve been hidden among the shadows of the night. Honestly, did you really think that guy was the embodiment of chaos? Please." Drakath scoffed
"What does it matter? Why are you in my castle this late at night?!?"
"Simple. I want to offer you ultimate freedom and power. All you need to do is to join the ranks of my army of chaos."
"Why should I do that? I am one of the strongest beings in Equestria! What do I need freedom from? Why would I need strength when I’m already the strongest?"
Drakath chuckled. "You don't seem to get it, do you? I know what happened between you and Queen Chrysalis, how you lost to her. Face it, you aren't as strong as you used to be. Now then, accept my power."
"I would rather be dead then have my kingdom ruled with dark magic! Now, if you don't leave soon, I’ll show you just how strong I am!
"I’d like to see you try to kill the being of chaos."
"Very well, you've brought this upon yourself, fool!"
Enraged,Celestia gathered her magic into her her horn and shot a ray of light at Drakath. Unfortunately for her, Drakath’s powers were not to be taken lightly, as in a flash he disappeared…Celestia frantically looked for the fiend, but didn’t see his attack coming.
In a flash, Drakath appeared a few mere feet in front of Celestia, and blasted her with his magic from his horn, launching the princess out of the throne room and into the hallway. Celestia regained her ground and quickly cast a limitation spell, revealing that Drakath was using an advanced illusion to make himself disappear. Drakath now could be seen, and Celestia blasted him with great force, sending him flying into the air.
Drakath rebounded in the air with his dark wings, then focused his magic to his horn and shot a magical pulse wave, sending Celestia barreling though a stone wall into the outside garden. The princess was badly hurt, but she found the strength to get off the broken ground… Until Drakath appeared in a flash in front of her again, striking her down on the ground with his hoof.
“You are but a pathetic worm, but if you become chaotic you will have all the power you could ever want!”
Drakath circled the fallen princess.
“You will be the chaos lord of Equestria, the type of being that can rule this world properly. But, all things have a price. You will turn on your friends, make your loved ones suffer, and destroy all you have work hard to build.”
He stopped in front of the princess as she finally arose from the ground.
“You can try to fight the corruption, but in the end...the corruption always wins.”
Drakath rammed his alicorn horn into Celestia’s neck, filling her with corruption. The princess screamed in pain as she glowed bright purple, growing tendrils, and crude horns from her body. She fell to the ground and her vision faded…
Celestia awoke in a fright, covered in sweat and breathing heavily…It was all a dream. She tried to process in her mind what happened but her head felt like she was hit by a wagon.
Suddenly a guard knocked on her door…
“Princess Celestia, are you okay? I thought I heard a noise.”
“Yes, all is well. Please return to you duties.” She gathered her composure and prepared for the day ahead.
Celestia put her crown and jewelry on and noticed by her neck was…a scar. She looked in the mirror and it was the same spot in her dream were Drakath stabbed her with his twisted horn. It unnerved her but she covered the scar with her neck adornment.
“It was just a dream…It was just...A dream,” Celestia said to herself in the mirror.
Like the darkest shadow, Drakath lurked as a ghost in the castle, to not arouse suspicion to the denizens of this realm. He personally hated Equestria, as it was too pure and wholesome for his tastes. However, Celestia’s corruption would be a well needed change to make this realm more…chaotic.
Within the great Everfree forest Zecora, the zebra shaman made contact with a strange elder pony that wore odd grabs that only added to the oblivious wisdom of the stallion. Zecora was no fool ether as she made sure that this stranger was at a safe distance. The stallion spoke with an aged voice, almost like a teacher or master of a craft would talk to his lesser.
“Can you understand me creature?” Iadoa had to make sure this realm’s denizens could at least speak English.
“Who are you?” Zecora says startled but calm
“As i said my name is Iadoa, I am here to tell you of an issue that has taken place in Equestria. Someone in this realm has been affected by something none of you should ever see, suffice to say the corruption of this creature will likely bring doom to your world, unless you take this scroll.” Iadoa pulls a strange rolled up scroll from his side bag and tries to hand it to Zecora.
“Please Iadoa tell me who is this one you speak
the one who's future is bleak."
"You will know in due time oh wise Shaman, I can not meddle too much in another realm for long but you need to give this scroll to who ever bearers the weight of harmony." to which Zecora knew exactly who he was talking about.
"Why them only and not some other pony."
"Due to their respective elements that they are connected to, they can retrieve the ingredients which i believe can only be accessed by the bearers of harmony."
"Very well I will gather them up in haste
If it makes this disaster go to waste."
"Excellent, now i must leave for i cannot let the eyes of chaos know that i have interfered, but i know that the scroll will help stop the corruption."
When all was said and done Zecora took the scroll from Iadoa and placed it in her bag. Iadoa having meddled in the realm for too long put his hoof on his hourglass wristband which glowed a bight golden color that covered him completely. Zecora watched as the time sage soon disappeared into thin air.
Zecora quickly took the scroll and galloped back to her home in the forest as she headed the elder pony’s words as an ill omen.
Inside the canterlot medical wing Princess Celestia awoke to the sight of her sister and nearly everyone in the castle who could fit in the wing at her side. The look of worry on Luna’s face bothered Celestia as she hated to have her only sister fear for her well being.
“It is alright Luna, I’m fine.” Celestia moved out of the medical bed somewhat weakened.
“Are you sure? You have been acting a little strange since you woke up.” Luna remembering the strange lullaby Celestia sang in the garden.
“Yes, I’ve just been not getting enough sleep that’s all.” Celestia raised her hoof to show all that she was fine and that they could return to there duties.
Celestia walked out of the medical wing with stride to make sure that no one would worry. She could have told them about the dream, the scar, or the corruption but she needed to make sure that she had all the information before causing a panic. As Celestia left with Luna right behind her, Celestia felt a little headache as she was thinking.
‘My head feels like somepony tried to smash my skull open. I need to lie down...’
Celestia soon left Luna’s company to go to her room, there she lowered her head on her pillow and hoped this headache would go away.
‘I still have to attend all those boring meeting still…why do you worry about those worms, can’t they take care of themselves for five minutes without you holding there hooves!’
Without her knowing, the corruption in the princess was taking root, twisting her thoughts, and digging into her soul for her darkest secrets. Celestia tosses and turned in her bed as the corruption was warping her memories and feelings. It took her back to her youth in her mind.
‘I remember how when Luna was born our parents told me that I should always watch out for her and take care of her..’
In an instant her memories past by her, finding the tree of harmony and the elements, defeating discord, and then…it stopped at the one memory Celestia hated more then anything.
‘Luna she…changed into nightmare moon…but it wasn’t her fault…No! She knew exactly what she was doing!’
The memory of fighting nightmare moon and luna’s banishment replayed over and over, tormenting Celestia.
‘You’re parents told you to take care of her and so you did for most of her life…but what of your life? All the possibilities you held and you had to give them up for a sister who took your love and thrown it aside for petty dark powers so that she could be loved by others! She didn’t even know how you felt being forced with responsibility you never wanted!
‘No, your wrong…you’re just the corruption trying to control me!’
‘Am I? Let me tell you the truth…the corruption doesn’t control, it releases ones true nature!’ I am not your enemy…I am your true self, a creature of passion and fury who wants to be free to do what she want, not what is best for ungrateful worms who would get rid of you the first chance they get!’
‘I will fight you!’
‘ You are a facade, a mask that covers the true Celestia, and once the corruption takes over I will be free of your weakness…it’s only a matter of time.’
Meanwhile in ponyville, it was a sunny afternoon for the ponies of the town as they did various activities from working at the markets, going to school, and living there lives. As the citizens of ponyville did there daily duties, six pony friends were at Sugercube corner enjoying a lovely lunch.
"Ah this is such a good read." Pinkie Pie had her head in a purple book.
"Pinkie what are you reading that has your attention?" Asks Twilight Sparkle.
"Oh sorry twilight I was busy reading celestial chaos, but it looks like the story is not done yet, it is stuck on chapter 3."
"But why are you reading an unfinished book, wouldn't it be more fun for it to be finished before you read it?" Rainbow Dash who just finishing the third Daring do book for the 14th time.
"Its because its made by these ponies who continue to update the stories, I just happen to find them first."
"That makes sense." Says Twilight though confused.
"So has anypony heard from Zecora today? She was going to to deliver a back pain potion for granny smith." Applejack asks her friends.
"I don't think so" replies twilight
"Me either, although I've been a tad busy with my dresses for the summer season." Says Rarity as she eats her lunch.
"I haven't seen her ether, but the forest animals seem much more nervous today." Fluttershy adds in to the discussion.
"Well we’ll have to go and see if Zecora is need help, she is usually busy this time of year, i guess she probably has alot of work today."
Just then there was a loud roar came from the evergreen forest, it was so loud it made the ground shack a little. Everypony in town turned to see a few animals running from the forest.
"What in the name of celestia was that?!" Twilight asks surprised by the loud boom.
"I don't know I never heard a cry like that." Flutterhsy says still recovering from the roar under the lunch table.
" It’s some big-old monster bear that was made by a scary alicorn!" Pinkie says out of no where.
"What makes you say that?." Twilight asks puzzled.
"Well I know of an monsters cry when i hear one, plus my book says that in a very vague way that a mean alicorn turned an animal into a monster." Pinkie squees with joy.
"Please pinkie those only happen in fan fictions." Rainbow dash says dismissing the idea.
"Well what if we are in a fan fiction ever think of that Rainbow dash?!"
"Oh...i hope the forest animals aren't in danger." Fluttershy says with concern as the thought of a poor critter alone with a monster filled her head.
"And what about Zecora, what if the beast that made the sound is also why she isn’t in town?" Rarity says
"Rarity is right, we need to go and see if Zecora is in danger!” applejack got up from the lunch table with the others.
"So is everyone ready to head to the evergreen forest to solve this mystery." Twilight said as she rallied her friends.
"Ya!." They reply in unison, thus the six ponies walked out of sugercube corner and quickly galloped out of town, into the everfree forest to check on there friend.
Within the everfree forest the corrupted ursa major terrorized the animals, making them run for there lives in terror. The major smashed boulders, uprooted trees, and roared with an ear bleeding screech. The ursa was doing its master Drakath’s biding by causing such a ruckus in the forest as with the destruction a fire started and slowly began to grow.
Celestia awoke from her nap to her relief as to not let the corruption torment her anymore. However she could feel something outside, so she went to her balcony to see some smoke coming from the far off distance….near ponyville.
Something has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter. Something has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter. Celestia’s day was as busy and hectic as usual. Dealing with land disputes, solving economic problems, and trying to keep the ponies safe. Her sister Luna since her return for exile has helped greatly with many tasks that Celestia had no time for. It was hard work keeping a nation running while also keeping peace with other lands, but the royal princesses have done this for ages.
Celestia managed to finish her work a bit early today and decided to go for a small walk in the garden. The guards were told to stay at a distance but keep watch as to give the princess her space.
The princess enjoyed the garden in the canterlot castle, when she first had the castle built one thing she had remade from the old everfree castle was the garden area. It relaxed her, setting on a stone bench next to her favorite everfree plants and little animals.
“This is such a wonderful day.” She stretched her wings and took in the suns rays.
Celestia started to hum a little tune as the little animals gathered around. She felt so relaxed she didn’t even noticed Luna moving to her until she was setting on the stone bench too.
“You are enjoying your break I see.” Luna smiled at the look of joy on her sister’s face.
"Yes my dear sister, such is a beautiful day when all is at peace with this world."
"Yeah I guess. Hey Tia, you have something on your neck."
"Its nothing…just a little scratch."
"Ok...You know Tia, ruling Equestria and dealing with all this management is quite boring...don’t you think?"
“Sometimes the work can be tiresome, however if it means that our little ponies are happy and safe then I don’t mind the dull duties we have.”
“You're right…”Luna looked into the big blue sky with a peaceful look on her face.
Celestia began singing which caught Luna’s attention.
“Come all ye fateful, come little children, our mother calls to us. She lies beyond the great gate, she wishes to keep us and never let go, once she is free the world will change, and we will never be alone.”
"That's not bad sis, but where did you learn the song its quite weird."
"It’s the lullaby, the one our mother sang to us when we went to sleep."
"No...The Lullaby she taught us never mentioned this ‘great gate’."
"Umm...luna what are you talking about?"
"The song you just singed."
“Wasn’t it ‘Hush, hush, time to be sleeping’lullaby?
“No...What you singed went like ‘Come all ye fateful, come little children, our mother calls to us. She lies beyond the great gate.’ and some other strange lyrics.
"I don't know? I must have burst out into that song on a flip of a hat." however Celestia quickly remembered where she heard this lullaby from as her face changed into a more cornered expression.
"Sis are you alright you seem troubled?"
"Oh it’s nothing Luna, just go rest and leave me to my work...I have to do some preparing for tomorrow’s duties."
"o..ok tia, I guess I will take a quick nap in my room." Luna leaves the garden wondering what that was all about.
After Luna was finally out of view Celestia calmly left the garden and quickly trotted to the star swirl the breaded wing of the castle. Before she entered the room the princess told two guards to stand outside and make sure no one gets in until she leaves, to which the guards took there positions next to the door.
The star swirl the breaded wing, the library and archives of the great wizard unicorn. Celestia started to search throw the vast amount of books and scrolls hoping that she could find information on what her dream was and this ‘corruption’ the being in the dream mentioned. After looking over countless notes, she found something…a book she never in all her years noticed in the corner of the library under the stack of scrolls.
The book was star swirl’s journal involving his experiments on the magic mirror, the one that leads to another world. The book mentions a realm of beings unknown to Equestria, similar to what twilight once told Celestia about when she journey into the mirror. However the book continued with star swirl's idea that the mirror could be used to go to different worlds and realities.
Parts of the book were old and rotting but one section caught Celestia’s attention as she began to read out loud.
“Star swirl’s entry # sixty-six…I have found that using a combination of different magic spells I have indeed found away to a different world, unlike the other world were I transformed into the dominate denizen I have remained my old unicorn self. However the world I found may be more dangerous…
I have been here for a few days and seen strange creatures, monsters, and peaceful beings. However one creature knew I was not of this world…This ‘human’ named Warlic, a powerful wizard found me trapped by a fallen tree, he aided me but to my surprise he told me to leave this realm. I asked him how he knew; Warlic told me I had a pure magical force coming from me, like all denizens of Equestria do. Warlic quickly opened a magical portal back to Equestria and told me to go in but I refused.
Warlic levitated me in the air, and told me that the eye of chaos is always watching, he wanted to spare my realm the doom of chaos corruption that his realm may face. Before I could say anything he tossed me throw the portal…since my return I can’t make the mirror go back to that realm…my guess is that Warlic ‘locked’ his world and Equestria away from each other. Only something truly powerful could reopen it. “
Celestia closed the book with a concerned expression. She still had no clue about the dream but she was certain it was much more then a dream now.
“Chaos Corruption, what is it? I must find out.” she asked herself in a hushed tone.
Suddenly the scar on Celestia glows bright purple causing her to fall on the floor in pain. The guard outside hear a thud and found the princess on the ground in agony, they quickly took her from the library to the medic wing of the castle.
Drakath traveled from the castle to the outside area of the Everfree forest. He needed to give Celestia a way to remove her resolve and focus so the corruption can expanded. Drakath walking it the forest for a time until he found a cave with an interesting creature inside. An Ursa Major sleeping away, this magical bear would do nicely. Drakath focused his horn’s magic and fired at the mythic bear which awaken in mind numbing pain as it grew a few crude horns and tendrils, demonic purple wings, and becoming much bigger.
“I hope Celestia like this little push..hahaha!”
Within in the Everfree forest, the wise zebra Zecora was out gathering her daily ingredients for various potions. She enjoyed her work and that the citizens of ponyville loved have her aid with medicine and healing. As she trotted into a hidden forest clearing that held most of the plants she needed Zecora noticed a glowing light, as she moved closer she noticed it was a old pony on the ground who was shining bright. He moved off the ground and turned to Zecora who moved curiously closer to the old pony who’s glow soon vanished. Zacora could tell by the lines of age on this stallion’s face that he was very old and wise.
The two stared at each other until the elder pony spoke.
“Greetings, I am Professor Iadoa….”
