Father of Chaos

7 BC, Pre-Classical Era

Equestria, or Confederate of the Tribes

Spring

Unicorn, pegasus, earth pony.  All intermingled in a feast of love and camaraderie never seen before in the northlands.  The Great Hall stood as monument to the new confederate, a building that had been two years in the making.  It was lit by magic, engraved by the finest pegasus artisans, and held a fragrant garden cultivated by earth ponies.

At the head of the hall were three large cushion-seats with arched, cushioned backs.  Upon the first was King Titanium, king of the unicorns, his silvery pelt adorned with a purple cape; next to him stood his daughter, a pure white unicorn named Princess Platinum.  Upon the second was Commander Hurricane, dressed in all his resplendent battle regalia, with his twitching companion Pansy beside him.  The last seat was empty, for Chancellor Pudding was busy raiding the main table for every sweet thing she could find.

Starswirl stood near a column to the side, and he lifted his pale eyes to the banner hanging above the three united thrones of Equestria: Celestia and Luna, circling forever around the sun and moon, balancing light and day.  He sighed and looked away, his long beard brushing his chest and the bells on his hat jangling weakly.

“Master.”

Starswirl lifted a leg automatically should he need to flee, but relaxed when he saw it was just Clover the Clever, his faithful apprentice.  She wore a new cape gifted by the unicorn king, covering much of her dark purple body.  Her bright purple aura carried a plate with steamed vegetables and spiced flowers.

“You haven't eaten yet,” she said with her quiet, observant tone, her almost glowing purple eyes looking with no fear upon the most powerful magic-caster of the Confederate. “Please Master, the fasting ended.  You gave strength that we would be united, gave your food to me to help the Princess.  Please, taste your victory.”

Starswirl's white aura accepted the plate, and he held it near him.  Clover watched him expectantly, but she frowned when he returned a longing look to the new banner of Equestria.  She came to his side and pressed her flank against his, and her warmth lent him some strength to speak.

“I...I had hoped they would be here, when we claimed this land,” he mumbled. “The danger, the black alicorn they spoke of, must have passed long before we came.”  He grunted. “It is good.”

“They must have been amazing!” Clover chirped, tossing her head.  Starswirl smiled at her, and began to lift food from his plate to his mouth.

…...........

Midway through the feast, King Titanium called for quiet.

“Starswirl the Bearded, come,” he boomed.  Ponies stomped their hooves as the old unicorn stepped up the dais.  His bell-lined cape sung over each step.  Starswirl bowed his head and neck to Titanium, who waved a hoof. “You told of a day when everything would be in harmony and peace.  Did not the alicorns prophesy this to you?”

He checked Titanium's words and tone, and was aggravated when he sensed some derision there.  Many of the ponies in this room were of newer generations, and probably at least half of them didn't believe in the alicorns, for the alicorns had never appeared to them.  However, all of them never took Starswirl's wisdom and cool calculating for granted.  All looked for his reaction; some were stunned to hear Titanium say such a thing.

Starswirl showed no reaction save to speak truth.

“Yes, my liege.  Celestia and Luna knew this day would come, and it has been a glorious day.”

More stomping.  The hall vibrated with the applause.

“Alicorns are a separate kind of royalty, as the legends say,” Commander Hurricane commented for all to hear. “Will this Celestia and Luna come and usurp the power we have united?  Will their place on our banner, a banner you created, mean more than harmony?  Will it mean conquering?”

Starswirl resisted glaring at the commander.  Instead of answering him directly, he turned to the Great Hall and the ponies therein.

“My friends,” he said, his gravelly voice reaching to every ear, “for you are my friends, and I love you enough to use every ounce of my magic to preserve you.  What I saw those centuries ago meant a promise of harmony.  These alicorns represent harmony and balance, and would not usurp unless our leaders were evil, which they are not.  I can't say where they are, or why they left this valley, unless the darkness they warned me of passed on to another place and time.  I would not lie to you.  Believe you me when I say that Titanium, Hurricane, and Pudding are our rightful rulers?”

Hooves clacked and ponies whistled.

“The windigos almost took us because we were falling into chaos,” he said as the applause died down again. “Only love saved us.  Remember this.”

He swerved back to Titanium and bowed his head, a request for dismissal.  The king waved his hoof again, and Starswirl returned to his shadow by the pillar as the feast resumed.  Clover waited there, and she slashed her hoof across the marble tile.

“Master, they don't seem to understand,” she sighed. “They act like spoilt foals, who won't go away from their mothers' milk.”

“I don't know if they will ever understand what they themselves have created,” he said, hoping to calm his apprentice.  She folded her ears back, and he wiped a tear from her eye with the edge of his hoof. “You are wise beyond your years, Clover.  These ponies will need you.”

She blinked, bucking her head up and lifting her ears.

“Master?” she whispered.

“I will be going up to the observatory one last time,” he explained, voice so low she had to bring her head next to his to hear. “I have a great work, a great study, to finish.  One that I hope will unite all of us body and soul...I am afraid for this people.”

Clover stared at him.  He wanted to explain everything, but he held his tongue.  Even she could be in danger from corruption, did he not complete his greatest masterpiece, the spell that would perfect harmony in Equestria.  He was old, beyond normal pony years, and knew his time was almost done.

Beware of chaos.

He would never let chaos enter the tribes again if he could help it.

“Why are you afraid, Master?” Clover finally asked.  Starswirl gazed upon all the ponies he loved, even the stubborn, united leaders that founded Equestria.  From table to dais, to dais to flag...he saw Celestia and Luna in his mind's eye, felt the love they had exuded despite their concern and despair over the black alicorn and Starswirl's own welfare.

“I'm afraid that they'll never come back,” he finally told her.  He swallowed heavily and walked with a heavy trod to the main door.