It was a glorious day.

Though the sun had barely risen on the city of Canterlot, the magnificent capital of Equestria, the Royal Palace was already a hive of activity, every administrative office and public department on high alert as they prepared for the incoming barrage of city watch reports, journalists requesting interviews, and pacifying the frightened populace with an official declaration as to what they saw last night. Truthfully, no one – a brave few even dared to whisper not even the Celestial Sisters – knew exactly what the meteor that hurtled past the city the previous night, and it was there that the gears of bureaucracy were already at work; producing a declaration of lies to pacify the riled aristocracy, afraid the phenomenon may result in some loss to their pampered lives.

However, though every office and officially designated wing was filled with the rapid movements of jittering clerks and nervous adjutants, Shining Armour ignored it all, marching through the busy halls of the palace with a palpable aura of authority and purpose that parted the thick crowds before him. Gleaming in the bright sunlight that fell through the windows above, his ornate battle plate, scarred and battered, but none the less radiant, clicked slightly with each hoof step, the sound of metal on metal a quiet repetition in all the commotion; while attached to his flank was the venerable weapon Starlight Wrath, the hereditary weapon of his office. Those around the soldier bowed their heads in respect as he walked by, near reverent in their acknowledgement of his great heroics performed in service to his nation. After all, there wasn't a single pony in Equestria who hadn't heard of Shining Armour, Alicorn Patriarch of the Celestial Guard.

Moving through the corridors and halls of the palace with a determined step, Shining Armour was swift in his passage from the guard barracks in the lower levels of the structure towards the great hall of the Celestial Sisters, the crowd slowly filtering out as he made his way through the administrative wings towards the more secluded Inner Palace. To those unfamiliar with the castle beyond their designated work-stations, the inner chambers of the palace lent themselves an unsettling air of power, an aura that was too formidable for those of lesser capabilities to stomach. The very air seemed to crackle with an undercurrent of energy, as if the very walls were infused with aethereal power. These halls were where the serious business of government was conducted by the Celestial Sisters and their advisors; not a place for the average pony to be allowed to simply trot through.

Of the commotion from the previous night, Shining Armour didn't lend much thought. Though his duty was the protection of the nation, the Alicorn knew also that Equestria was a realm of impossibilities, a place where the arcane and magical, those things beyond the ken of a mortal mind, were very real and very much a force to be reckoned with. Not a day went past that some phenomenon or other reached the Patriarch's ear as a possible threat to the nations security, and though he personally investigated many of the reports that made their way to his desk, the Alicorn knew that for every genuine report to cross the threshold of his chambers another ten wastes of ink and parchment accompanied it. In the face of such matters, the Patriarch was content to simply leave the duty of selecting targets to his rulers. As a good soldier, he would follow any order given to him; that was his duty.

Becoming visible as he made one final turn through the silent halls of the Inner Palace, gleaming at the end of a massive corridor over a hundred meters in length and thirty in height, the grand double-doors of the Throne Room practically shone in the gentle sunlight of the holy sun as it poured through the magnificent stained-glass windows that lined the walls. A pair of twin doors, both at least fifteen meters in height and seven meters wide, formed the bulwark between the Palace and the Throne Room, both plated in the finest gold and studded through with glittering gems. On the left door a profile of the Solar Princess had been worked from the metal, her head raised proudly and horn glowing in the brilliant aura of the diamonds from which it was sculpted. The right bore the profile of Luna, her own head also thrown up in a display of power and prominence. At the centre of the two doors the Alicorns horns met, a brilliant emerald had been set into the exact centre, the peripheries of both constructs bulging with minute carving and symbols.

Flanking it on either side were the armoured forms of two members of the Celestial Guard, their eyes gazing passively and their expressions fixed into those of dispassion. Shining Armour came within ten meters of the door before coming to a halt, waiting patiently as he prepared to declare his intent; these were the wardens, charged with guarding the Throne Room of the Solar Princess, and none were permitted to enter without their leave, regardless of rank or birth. "Present." came the deep grumble of the left-hoof guard, the pony himself not deigning to direct his attention towards Shining Armour, but content to let his words echo within the empty air of the Inner Palace.

"Patriarch Shining Armour of the Celestial Guard," came the reply, Shining himself keeping his attention locked on the emerald of the door. "I have been summoned by order of the Solar Princess."

There was a moment's silence, the wardens conversing between themselves in some unseen manner as Shining Armour remained stationary before the door. Though it couldn't have been more than five seconds before he heard the reply, Shining Armour could feel time stretching out before him, his heart rate elevating as he stood beneath the scrutiny of the wardens. True, he passed through these doors almost every day, but since the very first moment he'd been permitted to enter in the presence of the Celestial Sisters, Shining Armour had always been pensive when standing before the Throne Room's doors. He never tried to dwell on such a sensation, but each time, in the deepest pits of his stomach, the stallion knew that beyond those doors were two creatures not of this world; two sisters who were not ponies, but something... other.

"Proceed."

The twin doors began to swing open of their own accord at the words, a faint clicking signalling they had disengaged before they gently began to pull apart with nothing but a faint whoosh of moving air. They parted with unhurried grace, the gap between them slowly widening, through which the Patriarch could make out a few details of the Throne Room; bathed as it was in brilliantly intense light. Finally the doors had swung to their fullest extent and, taking a moment to ready himself, Shining Armour nodded to the wardens before proceeding into the Throne Room, his ears twitching as the doors silently closed behind him and locked with an imperceptible click.

The Throne Room was blinding.

Light poured into the chamber on both sides through enormous, thirty meter high windows, each an incredibly vibrant blend of multichromatic glass-shards that refracted the beams into glorious rainbows of colour. The Throne Room itself easily stretched to two hundred meters in length, the vast expanse of the floor paved with snow-white marble, veined through with mineral deposits of gold, pink, and midnight blue. High above, hung from magnificent buttresses beatified by the impossibly life-like carvings of frolicking Pegausi, Unicorns, and Earth-ponies, dozens of banners stirred in the calm atmosphere of the chamber; each of impossible value and representative of a great victory of the equestrian nation. Adorning some were the woven forms of deadly chimera and other mythical beasts, their monstrous forms depicted with breath-taking accuracy. Across the surfaces of others were instead scenes of battle and conflict, of war, conquest, death, and blood-shed; declarations of Equestria's victory over her enemies, each custom woven in commemoration of the past and the great deeds done there.

At the centre of each window pane could be found similar motifs and murals, but Shining Armour paid the delicate works little heed as he trotted past. When he had first been permitted into the sacred chamber of the Throne Room, the strongest memory Shining Armour retained of the event was the sheer sense of wonder that had dawned upon his soul when he had set eyes upon the works contained therein; the coltish surge of excitement that had nearly driven him to rush towards every artefact and mural he could find. Within himself he could feel the same current of wonder flowing through his soul, threatening to expose itself as he passed a twenty-five meter high mosaic of Discord, the Draconequs' twisted visage and serpentine coils rippling with faux movement in the reflection of the light against the tiny ceramic chips.

The sight of such a beautiful work of art always seemed to extol the young colt within him, but Shining Armour had held his post for fifteen years, and knew that within the sanctified walls of the Throne Room there was no permit for foalish behaviour; from within this very chamber ruled two Demi-Gods, those who had guided and nurtured the Equine species from the very birth of the world, when Faust had seen fit to purge the world of Fae taint and bequeath it to a form of life much more pleasing to her eye. Thus, it was with a soldier's composure that Shining Armour made his way towards the dual thrones before him; the heavy clanking of his hoof-steps muffled by the luxuriously thick, royal-purple carpet that ran beneath him as the Patriarch kept his eyes forward, back straight, and head held high. He was a soldier of Equestria, after all, and he bore the weight of such a title with honour and dignity.

Finally crossing the vast expanse of the Throne Room, the Patriarch came to a halt before the dual thrones of his rulers, standing to perfect attention. Before him rose a sharply tiered dais, topped by two thrones carved from the finest marble; both further beatified by the presence of hundreds of minute inlays and murals intricately worked into the smooth surfaces; he bowed without hesitation. Though the thrones were currently unoccupied, it didn't need to be impressed upon the young Alicorn that he stood before an object of incredible power; he could practically feel the waves of power radiating off it against his coat. Holding his bow the soldier simply waited for the arrival of his monarch, his muzzle barely an inch from the floor in supplication.

No courtiers appeared to inform him the Solar Princess would be with him shortly, no fanfare sounded as the glorious ruler made her way into the Throne Room; the Solar Princess was a creature beyond the ken of any mortal being, pony or otherwise, and as such no earthly force to bid her to appear within the physical plain without consent. It was all Shining Armour could do to simply wait in silence, the minutes ticking past before the utter silence of the Throne Room was suddenly broken by an intense burst of light, much too bright for Shining Armour's mortal eye to handle. No sound was made, no echo shattered the perfect stillness of the Throne room; were it not for the sudden lance of brilliance that had fallen upon him, Shining Armour would have judged himself as still being alone within the Chamber. For a few moments long Shining Armour held his pose before a gentle, melodic voice reached his ears.

"Rise, my little Patriarch."

Perched upon the right-hoof throne, her multichromatic mane rippling in an aethereal breeze, Celestia, the Solar Princess and first daughter of Faust, graced Shining Armour with a warm and gentle smile, her expression one of maternal love. She was beautiful, as if she had been carved from alabaster by the divine hoof of Faust herself. Tall, graceful, elegant, the Solar Princess was the embodiment of physical perfection; her toned hind-legs rising up to what was possibly the most exquisite flank in the entire nation, which was in turn blemished only by the holy sigil of the Celestial Sun. The features of her muzzle were formed with absolute perfection, placed in perfect symmetry to one another; devoid of all imperfections, while her golden eyes glowed with suffused power.

She was beyond such words a beautiful, gorgeous, and elegant. No earthly term could define the sheer magnificence of her physical form.

Pulling himself from the ground, Shining Armour felt a familiar surge of reverential awe pulse within his soul, an unheralded compulsion to worship the creature before him. Though she possessed a form of flesh and blood, it had always been an unspoken truth amongst the ponies of Equestria that neither the Solar, nor the Lunar, Princess were of earthly descent, nor constrained by the same boundaries and limitations of physical existence as everypony else. Of their exact nature, as to what form of existence they inhabited, was unknown; but amongst the scholars and theocrats of the nation there was but a single certainty that had been held from one generation to the next since time immemorial.

That the Celestial Sisters, the diarchs of Equestria, were children of the Divine.

This... difference was by no means a subtle thing that one could overlook by accident. Aside from their unrivalled aethereal abilities, physically, the Celestial Sisters were naturally far more imposing than even the most strongly built soldier of the Imperial Host, and easily a full head and shoulders above the average citizen. Shining Armour himself was a full six feet tall, maybe an inch over, but even then it was only within the last two years that he'd grown tall enough to look Luna fully in the eye; as for the Celestia, the Solar Princess stood a good foot above the both of them. But it was not simply a matter of physiology that separated the Celestial Sisters from the species they ruled, but anatomy as well; for, like Shining Armour himself, Celestia and Luna were incredibly rare specimens, members of a race so depleted that they stood on the utmost brink of extinction.

They were Alicorns.

Thrusting from her fore-head, the elegant helical spiral of Celestia's ivory horn winked in the brilliant sunlight as the Solar Princess made herself comfortable upon her throne, the royal flank shifting against the soft silk of a few well-placed cushions. "How fares the day, Patriarch, I trust the commotion amongst the administrative staff isn't affecting the operations of your ponies?"

"It fares well, my princess," Shining Armour replied, allowing a slight smile to pass across his muzzle. Though she may have extended pleasantries towards him, Shining Armour knew that regardless of her manner Celestia was, and always would be, his ruler, and should be afforded the corresponding respect and compliance as such. The question itself, just like much of the idle chit-chat the Solar Princess indulged in, was simply to placate the anxiety within the hearts of those in her presence; a refined tactic to bridge the divide between her subjects and herself. "I have the honour of informing your royal highness that the Celestial Guard are performing at peak efficiency given the circumstances we find ourselves in; reports of domestic disturbances have increased over the past eight hours, and the number of human-related offenses has risen exponentially."

"Indeed," Celestia acknowledged with a grave tone, nodding her head in understanding. "It would seem that last night's comet has stirred up quite a panic amongst the populace. I too have received similar documents from the dukes: the provinces are quite upset with the events of the previous evening." The Solar Princess allowed a warm smile to grace her muzzle, raising a hoof as she giggled lightly. "True, last night's pyrotechnics were a bit... unexpected, but from the way the nobility carry on, one would believe that humanity was at loose in the streets. I trust you haven't faced any similar issues, Patriarch?"

"None, my princess. The Celestial Guard have been deployed across Canterlot and the surrounding counties, and have successfully managed to quell any human attempts to disturb the peace. Currently the Guard has suffered zero casualties, but they're ready at a moment's notice to redeploy should your highness give the order."

"Most excellent, Patriarch, as to be expected." A dark look flashed across the muzzle of the Solar Princess, her mask of perfect self-control slipping ever-so-slightly. To one who had never been within the presence of royalty, the slip was undetectable, the faintest twitch of her eye-brow too well hidden to be found; but Shining Armour had held his position for over a decade, and one did not simply serve as Patriarch of the Celestial Guard without discovering for themselves the minute errors of the Celestial Sisters. Privately, the Patriarch realised that the events of last night had disturbed the Solar Princess more than she was letting on. "But, I'm afraid that I have other, more pressing concerns that I must discuss with you."

"Speak, and I shall obey, my princess."

Celestia smiled, rising from her throne on four toned, slender legs to descend the throne dais. "Ever the loyal soldier, aren't you, my little Patriarch?"

"Honour is found in the execution of duty."

"Indeed," came the reply in an uncharacteristically distant tone, Celestia stepping from the dais onto the plush carpet. "Walk with me, Patriarch. What I am about to divulge is a matter of the utmost importance, to such an extent I find myself requiring relief. Come; let us wander through the palace gardens." Nodding in wordless compliance, Shining Armour followed the Solar Princess as she spun and made her way behind the dual throne, to where a small, unadorned door of dark oak opened up onto a raised terrace of gleaming marble, beyond which could be seen the most stunning vista of the palace gardens, every flowerbed and grove alive with the intense, vibrant colours of summer flora. Stepping out through the doorway, the Patriarch allowed himself a faint sigh of relief as a cool breeze gentle kissed against his neck, soothing in comparison to the weight of his ceremonial armour.

Overhead, the holy sun blazed in the sky, crawling closer and closer to the noon peak before he would once more begin to descend towards the distant horizon, and his lunar wife would rise to hold dominion. Though glorious had also been a byword for the incredible beauty of Celestia's day, something about today seemed particularly intense; the sun almost blinding, even when viewed from the periphery. Here and there, buzzing to and fro with the industrious manner of busy little bees, gardeners made their way through the flowerbeds, pruning and nurturing wherever they saw fit whilst several humans in attendance gathered up what had been cut-away for later disposal with respectfully bowed heads. Pausing at the terrace's balcony for a few moments, Celestia took a moment to savour the sight of her garden, taking a deep breath of sweet pollen as the ambrosial scent of the flowerbeds washed over her, before descending a flight of shallow steps and entering into the gardens proper.

"Tell me, Shining Armour," Celestia began after a few minutes of silent trotting through what seemed to be endless rows of flowers and bushes. "What do you know of humanity?"

The Patriarch, confused by the abrupt question, allowed an errant frown to cross his features. "Pardon, my princess?"

"The humans of the realm; what do you know about them?"

There was a brief lull in the conversation as Shining Armour tried to surmise whatever factor could cause such a question to be asked. True, he and the Solar Princess often became locked in discussion over events that could have ramifications for the nation as a whole, and even debates on the mannerisms of dragons, but never had his princess ever wished to make humanity the item of conversation. Ruler though she was, humanity was an inferior species, best left to be managed by the bureaucrats; hardly a subject worthy of the Solar Monarch. Wracking his mind, Shining Armour formed as full an answer as he could.

"Truthfully, my princess, I must confess to a lack of knowledge on the part of humanity," he began, the faintest flush running up his cheeks. "I know the basics of their kind: their inferiority, the weakness of their bodies, the knowledge that is becoming of a soldier. But as to actual knowledge of the human race itself: their culture, philosophy, and theological practices, I am utterly lacking in detail."

"Oh, really?" A rueful smile passed across the muzzle of the Solar Princess, her slender neck turning as she looked about herself. Spotting a Gardner nearby tending to a bed of blooming roses, human assistant in tow, the princess allowed her smile to widen. "Allow us then, to rectify the situation." With her patriarch in tow, Celestia promptly made her way towards the gardener. The human assistant, a female, looked up momentarily, and, seeing who was approaching, promptly turned as white as the monarch's coat, turning back with wide eyes to tap on the flank of her designated handler. The pony herself shook off the human's touch dismissively, but, upon turning her head and spotting the princess approaching, promptly stood up from the flower bed she was working on, doing her best to brush away the dirt from her overalls and appear presentable.

Celestia gave the mare a warm smile, Shining Armour nodding his own head respectfully before glowering at the human female disapprovingly, causing the woman to take a nervous half-step backwards, her head lowered as she emitted a squeak of fear. "Your royal highness!" the gardener greeted in a flustered voice, an obvious blush rising on her cheeks. "How may I be of service?"

"Good day my little pony," Celestia replied, her voice soft and soothing. "I was simply walking through the gardens, admiring the splendid work you've all been putting in, and the a passing fancy came upon me. I would like to speak with your human, if you wouldn't mind."

"I-I... of course not, your highness," the mare replied with obvious confusion, her tail batting against the humans back. The woman seemed almost petrified, nearly stumbling over her own feet as she took the slightest step towards the princess, her eyes firmly fixed upon the ground. Shining Armour let a subtle growl escape his muzzle as she did so, the woman twitching at the sound. Glowering at woman, the Patriarch gave her a level gaze before turning to the Solar Princess, a mixture of disgust and annoyance on his muzzle.

"Princess, please, you have no need for this. The humans are beneath you, please don't sully your ears with this creature's voice."

"At ease, Patriarch. She is merely a woman," Celestia replied, directing her attention towards the human in question. Instantly there was a change in her demeanour, her persona of a maternal, caring princess seamlessly dropping to be replaced with that of a cold, aloof, imperialist queen. The human female quelled beneath her gaze, almost seeming to curl into herself as the equine monarch fixed her with a withering stare. "Your name?"

Little more than a whimper left the woman's mouth, the human jolting with fear at the sound of Celestia's voice. She was a small creature, perhaps no more than twenty at the most, and, at little over five feet, small by human standards. Truthfully, Shining Armour knew not what to make of her, ignorant as he was of humanity's standard of beauty. Golden, shoulder length hair fell across the humans face, serving to shield her from Celestia's ire, whilst a pair of light blue eyes seemed to sparkle with tears. Gasping for breath, the human managed another choked gasp before whispering a reply.

"L-Lily, your majesty."

"Patriarch Shining Armour wishes to know of your theological beliefs."

The woman raised her head the slightest fraction, the one eye visible between her hair settling upon Celestia for a single instant before looking away back to the ground. "I-I... I don't k-know... what..."

"Princess, please," the gardener suddenly butted in, a fierce flush rising up her cheeks as Celestia's cold eyes flashed towards her; tail tucked and ears lowered. "Forgive me, your highness. But I don't believe Lily is capable of answering your questions. It is clear she is far too overwhelmed with your grandeur." The mare gave the woman a sympathetic look. "Please, may we return to our work?"

"I shan't keep her much longer," Celestia replied, her voice instantly changing back to that of the loving monarch. The change didn't last long, however, promptly reverting to her previous dispassion as the Solar Monarch returned her attention to the trembling young girl. "Speak human."

"I...I can't, your highness," the woman mumbled. "I don't understand the question."

"Your beliefs, human. What are they?" Shining Armour snapped sharply, his expression one of distaste as he addressed the human directly. Conversing with a human wasn't a new experience to him, the Canterlot Watch kept an auxiliary corps of indentured humans in preparation for the worst, but at least such creatures were warriors, and possessed some modicum of understanding when it came to such concepts as honour and valour, rudimental though they may be. "What are your prayers, what god do you pray to?"

Comprehension dawned across the woman's face, nodding her understanding as a small, pink tongue wetted her lips. "I... I worship the Ark, Patriarch." She managed in a quiet voice. "I worship the Ark, the mother Eve, and the Angel Cypher."

"Note, Patriarch, that she has named three separate recipients of worship." Celestia turned her gaze to the Patriarch, Shining Armour suddenly struck by the realisation that he was listening to the same tender, intellectual voice that had enraptured his sister for over ten years. "For reasons beyond our understanding, humanity has always had an affinity for trinities. Indeed, if one searches deep enough, it would seem nearly every aspect of their culture is arranged in this triplet fashion. Continue, human, tell us of your 'Ark'."

Lily nodded, her trembling seeming to subside slightly as she took another breath before continuing. "In... in the beginning, there was nothing. Then... there was the Ark. Forged from the bones of the First Garden, the Ark sailed for a thousand cycles through the blackness of the void. Yet, though incredible as it was, the Ark created from the holy circuitry of its own flesh a wife named Eve, whom it charged with breathing life into it's being. Thus did Eve give birth to humanity, and was forever after known as the mother."

There was an eldritch, archaic tint to the woman's words, something about the reverential inflection of her voice implying she was doing nothing more than reciting a tale that had been passed down through humanity for generations. "The Ark bore humanity through the void, the God-Dreadnought shielding us from the evil without as Eve nurtured us within; and for three thousand cycles humanity grew in strength. Yet still Eve was not content, for she knew that as infantile as humanity was, the Ark, in all its eternal magnificence, would never be able to support us upon our maturity. Thus did she plead with the Ark to bring humanity to a world where it could prosper, and the Ark, though knowing of the folly of the First Garden, consented."

Celestia allowed the faintest hint of an arrogant smirk to cross her muzzle, her eyes remaining cold and aloof as she gazed down on the human woman. To what little credit Shining Armour could extend to the girl, the woman did not flinch under her queen's gaze, her back straighter and her eyes fiercer as the legends of her species instilled a confidence beyond instinct. Shining Armour remained silent as he looked between the two, some intuition informing him that the events he bore witness to were intended for his education; and whatever lesson the Solar Princess wished to impart, as a loyal servant of the crown he was honour bound to be studious in his observations.

"Notice, Patriarch," Celestia said in a gentle voice, though laced with the faintest hint of distaste. "This is the strength of man: their faith. As Lily here has excellently demonstrated, humanity needs only look to its legends to derive strength and purpose; the myths of lost grandeur arousing an instinctual pride in their own species. Note the young woman's stance; a straighter back with a more firm posture; the slight tensing of the jaw; the broadening of the shoulders. Humanity is a species of pride." Celestia's golden eyes narrowed. "And from pride comes folly."

Turning her attention to the gardener, Celestia fixed the mare with an imperialist eye. "Return to your duties; I shall be retaining your human." The mare froze for a moment, evidently tied between her friendship for the human woman and her instinct to obey, but after several seconds yielded; bowing with pinned ears as she stepped backwards several small paces before turning away. Celestia returned her gaze to the human, an almost predatory smile across her muzzle as she spoke with a warm voice. "Sweet Lily, I must admit you have caught my mind with the legends of your species. Please; walk with us, and speak further."

The proud stance of the woman faltered, her eyes widening as she recognised the trap she was caught in; laid out so skilfully there was no way out. Lowering her eyes, the girl nodded mutely, her hands coming together before her. "Marvellous," Celestia said, turning away and proceeding further into the garden. "Come along now, human. I'm waiting for more; tell me of what occurred once your gracious Ark bore you to this new world."

Not wanting to fall behind and cause displeasure, the woman was prompt to catch up, walking a few paces behind her monarch whilst Shining Armour walked alongside her. Taking a moment to compose herself, the human continued on in a decidedly less firm tone than she had before. "When the Ark reached the Second Garden, Eve gave to humanity one final gift. Her most precious sons and daughters; the Angels. As the Ark had charged her with creating life; so did Eve charge the Angels with leading humanity, for it had been decreed by the Ark that once gone, humanity would never return to its halls, and beyond the hull of the Ark, humanity would be beyond the reach of Eve and any aid she could give."

"The Angels were led by the first amongst them, the wisest and most ancient; the Arch-Angel Gabrielle. He tasked the Angels with establishing the first colonies upon the Second Garden, and under his guidance humanity left the embrace of the Ark for the first time. But then... then came the Fall." The girl looked up, her eyes wide as an ancient fear seized her, a fear of the conqueror who had enslaved humanity beneath the iron-shod hoof of Equestrian Imperialism. "Then came you."

"Yes, then we did."

Celestia didn't dean to turn around, contentedly trotting forward along a path through the flower beds towards where a small gathering of hedges ensconced several granite commemorative statues. Lily had fallen deathly silent; terrifyingly aware that stood before her was the very creature who had slain the Arch-Angel Gabrielle and enslaved humanity. It must have been horrifying, Shining Armour noted, to be stood so close to the very being that had brought the downfall of your entire species, aware of the knowledge that such a creature was the reason for your slavery. Looking back to the princess, the Patriarch suddenly became aware that this was no ordinary lesson. Whatever was being taught here, it was a demonstration of something far beyond his capacity.

"Please, human. Do continue."

"A-After five cycles of warfare, the... the Angels were defeated, and humanity enslaved; such a time was the fall of the Second Garden; the damnation of humanity. We became as we are now; slaves to the crown of Equestria." Lily bowed her head once again, her resolve finally crumbling as small tears began to roll down her cheeks. The party entered the wall of hedges in silence, the thick bushes blocking out any eternal sound and wind to create a sudden, unsettling stillness in the air. All around rose up statues of myriad forms, each rising a good twelve feet tall, yet still dwarfed by the hedges surrounding them. Though each statue present represented a life-times work, carved as they were with such detail as to almost appear alive, Celestia ignored them all, leisurely leading her two followers across the partitioned space to stand at the base of one select statue in particular. As the group came to a halt, the human raised her eyes from the ground, her breath catching in her throat and her eyes sparkling with the threat of fresh tears as she realised the identity of the depiction before her.

Stood before them, carved from dark granite and white marble, and set against the shimmering emerald backdrop a hedge, the two forms of an Alicorn and Angel were locked in combat.

The Alicorn wasn't an accurate depiction of either of the Celestial Sisters, but more rather a strange amalgam of the two. A fluted horn two feet in length shimmered with the reflection of dozens of precious gems set into its length, whilst a pair of wings, easily ten feet across, flared widely behind the statue, each feather defined with the utmost realism. Beneath the Alicorn, the form of the Angel presented an equally imposing sight. Though the bulk of the Angel had been carved from granite, the majority of its surface was plated with dull metal; representative of the strange full-body armour human warriors were prone to wear. A pair of wings also sprouted from its back, but whereas those of the Alicorn had been carved to represent feathers, the Angel's pinions were simply more metal plating, divided up into regular geometric rectangles. The two had been posed in a scene of combat, the Alicorn diving from above as the Angel leapt skywards.

"Marvellous, isn't it?" Celestia asked, Shining Armour nodding in agreement whilst Lily could do little more than let out a choked sob. "Note the detail rendered into the marble; how the pinions are splayed, and the accuracy of the facial structure. I had this piece commissioned by the finest artisans of the Masons Guild to commemorate our victory, and I must admit that it has grown on me these past millennia, I even posed for the sculptors preliminary sketches; he insisted such a historic piece be done with the greatest accuracy." The Alicorn turned her attention to the human female, a devious glimmer in her eye as she addressed the woman. "Tell me, Lily, is this not a master-piece of Equestrian art?"

"It... It is very b-beautiful, your highness."

"True, but, I take it, not to your tastes?"

The human dropped her eyes back to the floor, her head nodding the slightest fraction of an inch. Celestia frowned in mock pain. "Oh, how unfortunate. Perhaps a different piece than; one with a bit more... relevance?" Leaving the statue, Celestia walked around the side of the art-work, moving past the hedge backdrop to reveal another statue set up on the other side; one very much different from the previous piece.

Mounted upon a three foot plinth, the proud form of an Angel stood in utter silence. Whereas the previous sculpture had depicted the Angels of humanity in a position of inferiority, here the granite body stood with resolute attention, gauntleted hands wrapped around the hilt of a formidable stone blade planted in the plinth before it. Behind the statue, a pair of wings flared widely; the outer surface covered in silver plates, whilst the inner face was covered in dozens of ultramarine panels that glittered brightly in the sunlight. A hooded cloak had been placed over the statues shoulders, the granite cowl drawn up so that it's face was obscured by deep shadows. There was something different about this sculpture; whereas the previous one had extolled the victory of the equine race, this was ambiguous in its message.

The Angel was neither villain, nor hero; it simply stood it's silent, unyielding vigil.

"Here's an item I'm sure you'll find much more engaging," Celestia commented, looking towards the human, who had fallen completely silent. Glancing across to the creature, Shining Armour noted that the girl's past fear had been replaced with something else entirely; an all consuming reverence. No longer did she shake or mumble, instead simply gazing up at the statue with wide, awe-struck eyes; her lips parting slightly to allow a near-silent prayer to exit.

"Praise to the Heavenfall."

"Yes, praise indeed." Lily snapped out of her reverence, returning to the misfortune of her reality. Celestia held a level gaze with the human, her golden eyes sparkling with an emotion Shining Armour couldn't quite pin; the Patriarch suddenly becoming aware that the lesson had reached its crescendo, the inner-most level of insight. "Two recipients of prayer have already been covered; the Ark, and the one you call Eve. But, if my old mind remembers correctly, you named one more, didn't you Lily: the Angel Cypher?" Celestia's grin became more devious. "Be a dear and sate my curiosity."

Something seemed to settle across Lily, something that lifted the pall of fear that hung over her soul. Even as Shining Armour watched, her shoulders straightened, her head raised; within her eyes ignited a fire that burnt with three millennia of hope and determination. "Before his death by your hoof, the Arch-Angel Gabrielle spoke a prophecy of redemption. Though the Angels had failed and the children of the second garden fallen into slavery, Gabrielle knew that Ark would never abandon humanity, for he spoke with the voice of Eve." Lily met and held Celestia's gaze, her body stiffening as the instinctive pride of her ancestors began to fill her soul.

"One more shall come; before the light of humanity gutters and dies, one more shall come. On wings of fire shall the Last Angel descend, and, with the blessings of the Ark, free humanity from its bondage. No force shall stop him. No enemy shall hold fast before his fury. No sickness may blight his form. No doubt shall cloud his mind. He shall be the redeemer of humanity, this last son of the Ark, and speak unto the people with the voice of Eve. He shall save us in distress, and bring us to glory. His name his Cypher, and he is the Heavenfall."

Celestia smiled warmly down at the human, who in turn gazed back with barely-pent anger; Shining Armour being fully aware that the only thing preventing the human from lashing out in her religious zeal was the knowledge that Celestia could disintegrate her at a whim. Thus could Lily do nought but simmer with impotent anger, helpless to wipe the smug grin from Celestia's muzzle. "You needn't wait much longer, my dear," she informed gently, using the same voice one would use to placate a dim-witted foal. "Your precious saviour has already come."

A confused frown marred the human's brow, the female gazing at Celestia in confusion and uncertainty before looking towards Shining Armour in search of conformation. Even as she looked him in the eye, the Patriarch could see the human's comprehension growing, slowly gathering momentum as the initial disbelief at Celestia's words wore off. First was the uncertainty slowly slipping away, the distrust of the princess marring the real implications of her statement. Then the utter disbelief, the human's inability to accept that she had actually lived to reach such a pivotal day in human history; which in turn was followed swiftly after by mounted excitement as the unflinching gaze of the Solar Princess all but confirmed her fledgling hopes. Swiftly after followed the fire, the raging inferno that was humanity's spirit as the young woman realised that it was no lie she had heard: the Heavenfall had finally come. For a few moments longer, the girl simply stared at the Solar Princess in utter silence; then...

"DEATH TO THE TYRANTS!"

Lily thrust a fist into the air, her thin lips pulled back to reveal savage canines; the horrendous tools of a carnivore. The transformation was swift, the persona of a silent, fearful wretch utterly replaced with that of a rebellious barbarian. Fire burnt in the creatures eyes; fire that had waited three thousand years for a single spark.

"DEATH TO TH-"

A brilliant burst of light suddenly blinded Shining Armour, the Patriarch crying out in surprise as the intense radiance blinded his eyes. On reflex he drew his weapon, the twin heads of Starlight Wrath flaring with ultramarine light as arcane power coursed through the axe, the Patriarch himself dropping into a defensive position. Yet as the light died and his vision returned, Shining Armour saw that there had never been any need to be on guard; impaling Lily through the chest, flowing light molten golden, an Arcane Blade of pure light floated in the air, encased within the gold telekinesis of the Solar Princess. Lily made a choked noise, blood and spittle flying from her lips while a gentle stream of vitae trickled down her chin. For a few brief moments the life flickered in the humans eyes, before simply dying; the creatures body falling limp.

Celestia didn't say a word, simply gazing upon the human's corpse for a few seconds longer before dissipating her blade; the shaft of sunlight winking out of existence, and the dead body falling to the floor with a soft thump. "Such is the strength of humanity," she said softly, staring at the woman's corpse with a mixture of distaste and regret. "Though we may subjugate them, break their culture, and work their hands to the bone, they still have hope."

"Your highness..."

"Yes?"

Shining Paused before replying.

"Why?"

Celestia turned to her Patriarch, her expression one of such sincerity that Shining realised something was deeply troubling his monarch. For a few moments Celestia simply stared at him, into him; Shining Armour could feel her gaze upon him, as if she were judging him. Finally, she began. "What the woman spoke of, this 'Last Angel'... it is no legend, Patriarch. The Heavenfall is flesh and blood; and he has come to Equestria."

It took Shining Armour a few moments to realise what his ruler was referring to.

"The comet..."

"Exactly." Celestia turned away, standing over the human's body. Lily's reaction was not aberrant, Patriarch. Should word of the Heavenfall's arrival spread to the provinces, humanity will break out into open rebellion of the crown. I cannot allow that to happen." Celestia fixed Shining Armour with a cold eye. "You shall travel to the Royal Ruins within the Everfree, find the Heavenfall, and bring him before me in chains."

"As you order, my princess," Shining Armour acknowledged, raising his hoof in a perfect salute. However, Celestia must have known that something else was on his mind, the mare holding her gaze for a few moments more.

"But; Patriarch?"

"But... why keep him alive? Surely if this Cypher is a threat to the security of the nation it would be best course of action for me to eliminate him?"

Celestia giggled lightly, the sound as gentle and smooth as liquid. "Of course it would, Patriarch. But the Angel's arrival represents an opportunity too valuable to miss. Tell me: why do you think I informed Lily of the Heavenfall, if I knew her reaction would be instant treason to the crown?"

"I... I don't know, your highness."

"Hope, Patriarch, that's why. Because in order to finally ensure that humanity will be forever placated, I must destroy their hope. For three thousand years has humanity waited for the Heavenfall. For three thousand years have they persistently attempted to rise up against my ponies. Humanity will not stop until it is free, and the reason for this is because they live in hope; hope for the coming of the Heavenfall. Should the Angel Cypher fall before his mission is achieved, it will demonstrate to the whole of mankind that there is no hope; that not even their prophesised saviour is strength enough against my power, and in doing so, I shall once and for all put humanity in its place."

Author's Note

Well. Here's chapter three.

I've gathered from the resulting flame-war of the previous chapter that people would prefer me to up the pacing, so I've done a bit of working in the chapter to try and make it quicker whilst maintaining a sufficient level of detail. As ever, if there's anything you'd like to point out, or if you've got some constructive criticism, be sure to leave me a comment. Of course, if you just wanna stroke my ego, that's fine too.

Erol