The Equestrillion

by Conan97

Rating: teen
Tags: Dark, Adventure
Length: 11236

The history of Equestria from the arrival of the Alicorns to the Fall of Luna.

The epic history of the arrival of the Alicorns and the founding of Equestria.

Part One tells of the treachery of Virokir, who became Discord.

Part Two tells of the War of Disharmony and the liberation of Equestria.

Part Three tells of the fall of Luna and her descent into madness.

Published 1970-01-01 00:00:00 UTC
Last updated 2012-03-27 03:32:47 UTC

Part One

Darkness spread across the sky, enveloping the world in its deathly grip, a vast force of emptiness and oppression.  Below the black-stained heaven stretched a land that was dead and cold as the sky above.  No stars shone and no waves rose and fell, the ocean barren and silent as the earth and the sky.  No living thing walked, or breathed, or gave life.

But silence lasts only as long as there is no sound, and an infinity of darkness may be destroyed by a single shard of light.  After time untold, a thousand, a million, ten billion years, or perhaps an instant, the world changed.

The sky lit up with stars.  Millions upon millions of stars.  They cast their light down upon the barren ground, and were dismayed by its deathliness.  But then the earth trembled, and the seas shook and danced.  Waves roared forth and broke onto the shore, reshaping and rebuilding the land.  Mountains were forced up from below, tall and grey and mighty to behold.

And the sky broke away, and the light of the stars lit up the world, and gave it hope, and life.

Millions of years passed.  Now the life flourished, but still in darkness it remained.  The Everfree Forest spread across the world from horizon to horizon, choking the land with its evil.  Among the trees, black trees that oozed slime and poison, lived the beasts of Everfree.  There were many fearsome creatures in the world, vicious monsters that hungered for flesh.  Manticores, hydras, minotaurs, timber wolves, cockatrices, and great grey trolls were among the worst.  All other animals fled before them in terror of their lives.

But greatest among all the beasts that lived on earth were the dragons.  They dwelt high up in the mountains, where the forest could not grow, and came down to feast upon all things, for all things were their prey.  Undisputed, they were masters of the world, and soared high above it in glory and awful might.

Yet among all the dangers and hidden fears of the forest, there were yet some creatures that lived in purity.  Animals that did not slay to eat, that lived on what little nourishment grew in the undergrowth.  These creatures served only as food for the larger, the more powerful, the brutal hunters that ruled the endless night.  There was one tribe among all these animals, one species unlike all the rest.  In darkness they lived, and in darkness they would die, for darkness was all their world.  In fear of death they came together, protecting and guiding one another, learning and teaching and passing on their knowledge of survival.  They were the ponies.

The ponies were weak, and possessed no means of self-defense other than running and hiding.  But together they stood firm, warning their companions of dangers, so that they all might live another day.  Still, many were slain, and devoured by the awful beasts of Everfree, and still they lived in fear and despair, not a moments rest or an instant of safety.

And then they arrived.  The Six.  From the sky they came, or out of the fabric of the edge of the universe.  Behind them came the rising sun, shining for the first time upon the world, and its golden light broke through the canopy of the Everfree Forest and illuminated all the lands in its brilliance.  The six beings came before it, riding the wind, where it was they were born, or what powers drove them and burned in their souls, is known to none but themselves.

Their leader was Elthendos, and in his heart was shining a fire as bright as the sunlight.  He burned away the Everfree Forest, until it cowered in pain and defeat, but drew close together, and regained once more its darkness.  Across the lands now released from despair he made the land green and beautiful, with rivers and meadows and rising hills.

He called the land Equestria.

But his new domain was empty, devoid of laughter or merriment, and he and his companions had of yet no physical shape, they were formless and undefined.  He bade each of his five companions to go forth into the forest and find a creature that was worthy, a creature that would live under their protection and learn from them, a creature that could love and tolerate.

But the five of them had trouble searching, all the beasts they encountered were vicious and evil, and gave no thought to kindness or life itself.  In despair, three of them gave up the hunt and returned, only two continued.

The first of these to find a candidate was Virokir, and his choice was the dragons.  In them he saw power, and majesty, and brutal violence held in check by honor and justice.  Lusting himself for might and glory, Virokir asked if they would come to Equestria and live there under Elthendos.  In anger and pride the dragons refused, resenting the coming of the Six and wanting only to be left in peace and freedom.  Spitefully they drove Virokir away, and he returned to the court of Elthendos empty-handed, disgruntled and bitter.

The second of the two that searched on was Celestia, apart from her sister, Luna, she was the youngest of the Six.  Through the forest she walked for many miles and many days, until at last she gave up hope, and lay down, exhausted and hopeless.

As she lay, her body formless and ethereal, a sudden movement caught her attention.  From the foliage that clung like shadows to the forest floor came a tiny creature, shy and quiet, colorful and innocent.  So it was that Celestia beheld a pony for the first time.  In her wonder, she barely noticed as her shapelessness took shape, her material converged and became like the creature she beheld, only greater and fairer still.

Quickly she brought the creature back with her to the court of Elthendos, where she was greeted with shock and wonder.  She displayed her find to her companions, and they too took the forms of the pony but gave themselves greater power, and called themselves Alicorns.  Elthendos agreed that these animals were to be found and led out into Equestria, where they would be guided and taught, until they grew to their full maturity and potential.

Only Virokir was unsatisfied, he had taken upon himself the form of a dragon, and scorned the ponies for their weakness and small size.  But in his heart he knew that Elthendos was right, as he always was, and so he agreed to be a part of the founding of the pony society.

Over the next few thousand years, the ponies grew and learned under the rule of the Six.  They loved their masters, and worshipped them as gods.  Apart from Celestia, who they revered as Queen of the Rising Sun, there was Luna, the Princess of the Moon.  There was also Anare, the Lady of Wisdom and Justice, who shared with them secrets of the earth and the universe.  Foroken was the master of the wind and the rain, and he brought them fair weather and watered their crops.  To Virokir, who openly disliked the ponies, was given the task of guarding the borders of Equestria.  The Everfree Forest had grown, though was still kept out of pony lands, but the dangers within were not silent, and the ponies feared its darkness.

But Elthendos was most powerful of them all.  He was their leader, their ruler, their undisputed master, and they loved him.  Elthendos was kind and loyal, honest and generous and mirthful.  With these five qualities, in his epic power, he forged out of the heartstones of the earth itself five glorious artifacts, talismans of his ability, with which one might hold all power in Equestria: the Elements of Harmony.

With his new tools, he blessed the land, and to each pony he gave a gift, the Gift of Elthendos, that when they came of age, and discovered in themselves their true inner being, they would receive on their flank a mark, a sign, or a rune to help guide them on their path.

For many thousands of years the land of Equestria was peaceful and free of pain, but as light can cast away darkness, so can a drop of black ink pervert a clear glass of water.

Virokir, ever apart from and separated from the rest of the Six, in constant contact with the Everfree Forest, grew bitter and twisted.  His task was perhaps the hardest of all, and yet he received no thanks, no offerings from the ponies.  His constant exposure to the violence and hideousness of the forest turned his mind, and he became wild and mad, no longer bitter but malicious and crazed.  In secret he met with the creatures of Everfree, and founded an alliance, and they made him their master, for they had fought against him for centuries, and knew of his power.  For after Elthendos, Virokir was the most formidable being in the world.

Still, Virokir knew that against Elthendos and the Elements of Harmony, all the forces of the Everfree Forest combined were no match.  As yet the dragons had refused Virokir’s offers of alliance, and had threatened to reveal his treason to Elthendos should he bother them again.  Without their aid, Virokir knew he could not best his enemy in open battle.

But one thing Virokir possessed in quantities greater even then Elthendos, and that was cunningness, deception, lies and deceit.  Unable to comprehend in his heart and mind that which drove creatures to evil and violence, Elthendos could not recognize Virokir’s treachery.  Convinced that his companion was still firmly in the light Elthendos followed him out of his palace, leaving behind the Elements of Harmony, for, as Virokir promised, he would not need them where he was going.  Quickly, after his master had departed, Virokir returned, and stole the Elements of Harmony, though they hurt him to touch, and sealed them in a magical vault.

When Virokir returned, he guided Elthendos to a vast gorge on the edge of the Everfree Forest, which was later called Ghastly Gorge, and Virokir showed Elthendos the signs of a powerful holding spell that hung thick in the air.  Curious, Elthendos tested the spells power, it held firm.  Growing more cautious, the great being sent his magic around the barriers, seeking to uproot it and discover its significance.  Failing at this too, Elthendos grew impulsive, and slammed with all his magical might against the spell, it shattered.

All around him were revealed hordes of monsters of the forest, thousands of them, the entire population of Everfree come to have revenge for the burning of their dark home.  Wrathfully they leapt upon Elthendos, tearing at his flesh and biting at his legs, but the master of Equestria fought them off, and slew many, he called out to Virokir for aid, confidently at first, and in growing despair ever on.  But Virokir only stood in place, his dragon wings folded up against his body, as he watched with a satisfied smile on his face.  And then Elthendos knew he had been betrayed, and his anger smote the earth and blasted away the creatures of Everfree.  Then Virokir knew fear, and cowered in terror, but before Elthendos reached him the monsters of the forest were upon him again, in greater force then before, and Elthendos was caught under them, and brought down to his knees.  In the form of a great stallion, with iron wings and steel horn he battered the waves of attackers, sending them flying in pain and broken death, but in the end, though he was the most powerful being in all the world, they overwhelmed him, and he lay crippled and beaten, blood flowing from his thousand wounds.

Virokir approached him, confident and arrogant, and taunted his once great master.  He ridiculed Elthendos for his weakness and his foolish trust, and beat him brutally across the face.

But Elthendos would not yield, he would not beg for mercy.  In righteous fury and cold anger he cursed Virokir, and gathered to himself all the power that remained to him, and struck out at the traitor, cursing him, breaking him, shaming his pride.  The enchantment that gave Virokir the form of a dragon was cast away, and his body was twisted into that of many creatures, an ugly mixture of random beasts and birds.  Virokir writhed in agony and fear, and Elthendos rose to his hooves and spoke, he tore away the name of Virokir and gave him a new, fitting title: Discord.  He cursed him, so that all Discord’s plots and ambitions would come only to chaos and disharmony, so that he could never use or master the five Elements of Harmony.

But then his might ended, and he fell to the ground, and Discord, after a moment of recovery, in  divine and demonic fury flew at Elthendos, and tore open his chest and ripped out his heart.  And then he knew pain as no pain has ever been felt by any living creature before or since.  In his hands he held the heart of Elthendos, and then he knew that he had unleashed the sixth Element of Harmony, the Element of Magic.

Discord mastered the pain, and held firm to the great force, and knew now that he held the chaos and destruction of all of Equestria.  Laughing spitefully, he came away from that place, where his revenge had begun, and behind him came all the horde of the Everfree Forest, trampling and breaking the green earth under their feet, slashing and ripping at all things that grew around them.  So it was that Discord and the army of the Everfree Forest entered into Equestria.

The ponies had lived for millennia in peace.  Their society was built around small, rural villages and close-knit communities, but was always welcoming to strangers and foreign ponies.  Being active and social meant more to ponies than wealth or power, and they were content and happy.  Their masters, Anare and Foroken, Celestia and Luna, were kind to them, and walked among them openly and freely, not remote or holding themselves superior.  All the ponies were familiar to the four rulers, and loved them dearly.  Virokir they had respected, and been grateful for his protection, but to him they would never have gone for comfort and solace the way their children had come to Celestia or her companions.  No matter how important their tasks were, the four of them always had time to speak warmly to a colt or filly that was feeling sad.

Now the ponies fled in confusion and terror.  The farthest west settlements, closest to the forest, had been taken by surprise.  The horde of beasts had swarmed over them, burning the houses and slaughtering the ponies as they tried to escape.  Discord, his dark might growing as he gained more and more mastery over the Element of Magic, rained down fire and thunder upon them, reveling in the chaos and glorying in the deaths of his enemies.

The horde came south, along the edge of the forest, for they were still fearful of the remaining four who were loyal to Elthendos, though Discord assured them they would be triumphant in battle.  All the lands against the forest were pillaged and destroyed, and all the ponies slain.  After this campaign of blood and gore, Discord spoke to his army, ordering them no longer to kill all the ponies they could.  For, he said, he wanted to rule over Equestria himself, to draw out his punishment and to hold the ponies enslaved for an eternity.

At this time Foroken and Anare had met, and Celestia and Luna came soon after.  With them came many refugees who had fled the march of Discord and now sought protection.  There in the old palace of Elthendos they held a council of war, and it was agreed that any pony who wished to fight against Discord would be given the chance.  Foroken, though usually gentle and friendly, had been stirred to a wrath that nearly drove him mad.  Seeking vengeance and justice, he gathered to himself a mighty force of ponies, the strongest he could find, and to each of them he gave a set of powerful wings, the Gift of Foroken, and thus made the first Pegasi.

Anare knew nothing of war and despised violence, but for this she was all the angrier at Discord, and desired now only to have him destroyed.  She mustered a force equal to that of Foroken, and gave to each of them a horn on their head, that could channel the magic of Elthendos, and thus was the race of Unicorns created.

Celestia and Luna found no such army, but consented to join the forces of Foroken and Anare, and fight alongside them.  Many ponies, peaceful and terrified, remained where they were, and received no such gifts as the Pegasi and Unicorns, and ever on they were known as the Earth Ponies, and were often scorned as cowards and traitors.  In reality they were only living and acting as was in their nature, to not fight, but rather to hide, as they had long ago in the darkness of the Everfree Forest, from whence they themselves had originally come.

So it was that the army of Foroken and Anare marched out to fight against the forces of Discord.  The two armies met at the center of Equestria, after the horde of Everfree had turned north and entered into the heart of the land, carving a path of destruction behind them.  There the two forces sat and waited, across the Stormridden Plains, glaring at one another.

Celestia and Luna went forth to meet with Discord, and to speak with him.  Grudgingly the tyrant consented to the meeting, and they came face to face at the center of the plains.

“Celestia, O how beautiful you seemed to me once.” Said Discord, “When all this is said and done, and Equestria lies broken at my talons, there will be a special place for you by my throne.”

“We shall see who lies broken at whose hooves in the end.” Replied Celestia, Luna said nothing, gazing at Discord with cold hatred.

“I see little doubt as to the outcome, my little pony.  Now why are you wasting my time here?”

Celestia raised her head high into the air, staring Discord eye to eye, “To demand your complete and unconditional surrender.  You have broken the laws of Elthendos, and have let the Everfree Forest into Equestria.  You have failed in your task.  Leave now, leave Equestria and never return, and you shall be left alive.  If you seek war, then war we will give you.”

The sky darkened above her, the earth trembled ominously under her hooves.  Celestia, Queen of the Rising Sun, shone with a mighty brilliance, as if Elthendos himself had awoken within her.

But Discord laughed, he howled and shrieked and chuckled as if what Celestia had said had been a hearty joke, and he her appreciative audience.

“You ponies, wage war on me?  Why ever would you think such a thing?  You’ll be slaughtered!  Crushed!  Annihilated!  You want war?  Very well, I will give you war!”

He laughed harder still, unable to contain himself.  It seemed to him as if Celestia was playing directly into his hands, and in a way, she was.

“We do not know what is to be, and there is no use to try and run.” Said Celestia, “What is to be, let it be done.”

Discord recovered from his fit of giggles, rising up into the air he addressed his speech directly to Luna.

“Come, my darling Luna, do you hear what your sister is saying?  She goes blindly into certain defeat, here.” with a flick of his finger he lifted Luna up into the air.

Celestia screamed in fury, “Put her down!  We met in agreement of peace!”

Discord smiled, a wicked, malicious smile, “No treaty holds me, leave here with your life, and consider yourself lucky.”

He raised his other hand, a cruel lion’s paw, and the ground beneath Celestia broke and blew high in the air.  The pony spread her great white wings and soared away, back to the army of Foroken and Anare, tears of bitterness stinging her eyes.

Together Discord and Luna sped over the field to the camp of the invading army.  There the pony goddess beheld the vast horde of Everfree, monsters foul and loathsome to look upon.  Thousands of them, spread out over the hills, burning great bonfires and chanting rhythmless chants of their ancestors.

“There,” said Discord, “You see now why Celestia will only lead you to death?”

Luna said nothing, but floated in midair,

“I have watched you Luna, watched you from the dark.  We are more alike, you and I, then I think you realize.”

Luna was frantically shaking her head, a wild, despairing look in her eyes.

“I desire power, power over everything that lives.” Said Discord, “But I cannot hold it steady, all I take comes to chaos in the end.  Chaos is a fine thing, the finest thing of all, but it needs its opposite.  You, Luna, I know you better than you know yourself.  You seek acknowledgment.  You resent her don’t you?”

“No…” Luna finally found her voice, but it was week and trembling.

“You can give me what I need, order!  And I can give you everything you desire.  Imagine!  Endless night across all of Equestria!  The moon shining bright as the sun, and you, my Queen!  My Nightmare!  Just say the word, precious Luna, and it will all be yours.”

In silence they hung above the world, the two of them waiting, for what, they did not fully know.  At last Luna bowed her head, and said in a whisper, “Do with me what you will.  Kill me, torture me, make me your slave, but I will never yield to you.”

For an instant Discord’s face contorted wrathfully, his calm demeanor shattering into brutal hatred, but then he regained himself.  Coolly he looked on at Luna as her body twisted and writhed in the air, she opened her mouth to scream, but could make no sound other than a deathly gasp.  After a minute she relaxed, though her limbs still shook.

“Just a taste, O nightmare beauty, of what I might do to you.  Think it over, you have everything to lose, and everything to gain.”

He took her down to his private dwelling and had her put under heavy guard.  He set many powerful enchantments on her, so that she could not break free.  Last of all he bound her soul to an iron crown, black as night, that was set before her.

“If you should escape, somehow, then you shall die.  Your life is now one with this crown, wear it, and you shall be given power equal to mine, reject it, and you shall remain my prisoner until the end of time itself.”

He left her there, confused and terrified, still trembling from the pain of her torture.  She lay on the hard earth, weeping bitterly for her sister and her friends, wishing only to see their loving, gentle faces once more.  But deep within, the lies of Discord still echoed in her mind.

Celestia returned to her comrades and told them of Discord’s breaking of the truce.  Dismayed by the news, Foroken and Anare agreed to attack the next morning, in an attempt to save Luna from her dark imprisonment.

They marshaled their troops at dawn, gathering the forces across the darkened plains, looking out at Discord’s army.  Knowing they would be fools to try and take the enemy camp by surprise, Foroken decided the best strategy would be to seize the field before the foe arrived, and find a defensible position.  Two hours later, he and his two remaining companions were satisfied that their arrangement would provide the best possible defense against Discord, while still allowing for offensive maneuvers.  Proudly the ponies sounded their horns of war, and waited.

Then sounded the great dark war trumpets of Everfree, and the rolling of deep, heavy drums.  A darkness rose up on the opposite end of the field, small and low at first, but gradually growing, and rising, and drawing nearer.  The horde of Discord appeared in the darkness, a vast and terrible thing to behold.  In its midst was a great chariot, pulled by snorting minotaurs, and in it stood Discord, clad in black armor, and at his side was Luna, an iron crown on her head.

Here ends the first part of The Equestrillion.  The second part tells of the War of Disharmony.

Part Two

Here in the second part of The Equestrillion is told the tale of the War of Disharmony.  In the first part was told of the arrival of the Alicorns and the founding of Equestria, and how Virokir the Guardian betrayed the Alicorns and slew Elthendos their lord, thus becoming Discord.

Suddenly all the world was turmoil and chaos.  Screaming and yelling, and the general battering of flesh and skin and fur and claw filled the air.  To those in the front ranks, it seemed as if their eyes would no longer see, only a dazzling array of darkness and blood.  The creatures of the army of Discord had charged across the plains, hurling themselves into the waiting ranks of the pony army, led by Foroken Windmaster and Anare Lawgiver, the Alicorn Alliance.

Celestia, Queen of the Rising Sun, battled deep into the fray alongside a group of unicorns.  Their magic had beaten back a pack of timber wolves, but now a band of diamond dogs, weird animals from far to the south, come to help invade Equestria in exchange for some of its gems, had engaged the unicorns in combat.  With brutal accuracy Celestia impaled one on her long, slender horn, and as the creature squirmed in pain she sent a potent spell down the horn’s length, the dog fell back dead.  With a powerful stroke of her left wing she sent a second dog sprawling, winded and cringing.  She turned quickly and finished off the beats with a single blow of her great hoof.

Around her, the army of ponies was being slowly driven back, away from the center of the field, gradually falling into disarray.  Then Foroken rose up and sent a bolt of thunder into the horde of beasts, and in the chaos the ponies managed to push back, using their own hooves, as well as the gifts given them by their generals, to beat away the monsters.  The unicorns cast walls of fire and lightning that destroyed those beasts that came to close, and the pegasi crashed down from above, soaring on the open air, an advantage few of the Everfree beasts possessed.  A group of cockatrices rose clumsily into the sky to meet them, but the agile pegasi flew around, avoiding the deadly gaze, and smashing the fiends down.

In the midst of battle stood Discord, blood on his eagle-talon hand, the blood of a pegasus pony.  Two of his minotaurs lay dead, but around them lay several pegasi, their wings battered and their bodies torn apart.  Luna sat motionless, her expression dull, almost bored, making no attempt to aid Discord, or to stop him.  Upon her head, the iron crown glittered cruelly.

Celestia and her unicorn force had been driven away from the main segment of the battle.  Separated from the rest of the army, they fought desperately, but Celestia foresaw what was to be, even before the trolls came down upon the unicorns.  Bravely they stood and fought till the end, and despite Celestia’s last attempts to save them, all perished under the heavy fists.

In wrath Celestia rose up into the air, from her horn burned the light of the Rising Sun, the trolls cowered and turned their faces down, their skin crackling like embers.  She sped away as they cursed her, still aching from the burning light.  Far over the field she saw the chariot of Discord, and not knowing what madness had taken her, she flew down to meet him.

Her four hooves landed heavily on the earth before Discord, sending shockwaves through the ground.  The chariot bounced, but Discord did not move.

“Face me Discord, if you are so great.  Face me and kill me like you killed Elthendos.”

Discord smiled mockingly, “Kill you?  I have no intent of killing you.  You are to be my war prize, are you not?  Or, if she so desires, your sister Luna here might rip out your heart.”

Celestia turned her head, looking at Luna, who looked away in shame.

“No…no, it can’t be true.  Luna, what has he done to you?”

“What have I done to her, you ask?  I have done nothing.  She is still the same Luna, yet perhaps you did not know her as well as you thought.”

He lay his lion paw upon her back, possessively, almost enviously.  Instantly Luna sprang up, tossing back her head.  She rose above Discord and struck at him with her iron clad hooves, hitting him in the chest.  Discord fell back, caught totally unaware, as Celestia rushed forward to embrace her sister.

“O Luna!  I thought he had – I thought that – ”

Luna’s face was pained and sad, but shone with momentary happiness, “Never.”

“How beautiful.”  Discord stood before them, his eyes burning with hate and fury.  “United once again, the sisters of Rising Sun and Moon, to challenge Discord himself.”

Celestia called back spitefully, “You may defeat us, you may kill us, you may utterly destroy us, but never will you rule our minds and our hearts.  We are free, it is you who are a slave.”

Discord glared back, “Perhaps, but I serve a master more powerful than any.  I serve chaos.  Do you know, chaos can be created on so many levels, but I find the most…intriguing…to be that which is caused not by me, but by my victims in their madness.  To play cat and mouse with you ponies is a great pleasure.  And what prey could be more entertaining than the Pony Gods themselves?”

Celestia saw what was to be, and smiled inwardly.  “Your time, Discord, is limited.  You sought war on the servants of Elthendos, and that is what we gave to you.”

Discord looked puzzled for an instant, as if what she had said took him off guard.  Then, an instant later, he was struck.

Celestia had watched as Foroken and Anare had broken off from the rest of the sky fighting, high above them, and had circled around behind Discord.  For several seconds she had watched as the two of them streaked at their enemy, gaining more and more speed, until they collided into him with the force of a glowing comet.  Discord fell forward, slamming down into the earth, from his eagle talon flew a shard of stone that landed at Celestia’s hoof.

Foroken beat down on Discord, while Anare broke apart the Chariot with stabs of magic.  Celestia turned felt her momentary thrill of joy fail as she saw around them the army of ponies crushed, the monsters of Everfree pursuing them, catching them and tearing them apart.  Pegasi were swooping down, snatching up the panicking unicorns and carrying them away in formless, broken retreat.

Discord rose up, knocking Foroken away.  He held up his talons, and struck down at Foroken’s face.  The heavy claws ripped across his enemy’s eyes, sending droplets of blood flying everywhere.  Foroken screamed, and Anare turned and sent a fireball at Discord, who blasted it aside.  Celestia took up the stone that had been sent to her by fate, and examined it closely.

Luna saw it, and her eyes grew wide, “Celestia!  Do you know what that is?  It is the Sixth Element!  The Element of Magic, the heart of Elthendos!”

Wonder grew in Celestia’s heart, and her dying hope rekindled.  She brought up the stone, and…

…it was seized from her grip.  A diamond dog had leapt up, and taken it away from her.

In rage, Discord leapt at the animal, which squealed in fright.  Its own master tore it to pieces, and rested the Element from its bloodied hands.

“And now my triumph will be complete!”  Discord shouted in glee, blood running down his face where he had struck the earth.

Foroken attacked him again, bringing him down to the ground, Anare began kicking at him, her hooves biting deep into his flesh, Discord screamed again, this time in pain.

Luna tugged at her sisters wing, “Come Celestia, it is of no use, we must flee or die!”

Celestia looked back at Foroken and Anare, “But we cannot leave them─”

Luna was sobbing, “It is too late, too late I say!”

Even as Celestia spread her wings to take off, Discord rose up, holding Foroken, battered but defiant, in his paw.

“See your defeat Celestia!  And see yours, Luna, that which you almost had, is now mine!”

His claws raked deep into the flesh of Foroken, who cried out in agony.  Dark blood ran down the Alicorns’s chest, as he fell away to the earth.

In fury Anare, sobbing and spitting, drove her horn into Discord’s leg.  Discord jerked his foot away, drawing out a deep gash, but his hand came down again, and this time there erupted a great force of dark magic that enveloped Anare completely.  Her body burned and contorted, and shattered into dust.

Celestia and Luna flew for their lives, knowing at least that had they remained to defend their companions, they too would have perished, leaving Equestria to the mercy of Discord.

So they fled, and left behind them the ruin of the Battle of Stormridden Plains, the sorrow of all ponydom.  Out into the darkness of night they escaped, not looking back, for fear of what might be following.  Thus the last of the Alicorns were driven from Equestria in exile.

The two sisters flew through the air, keeping low in the cover of the hills and mountains, fearing Discord might choose to hunt them down.  In terror they came down into the moorland, and hid for some time, not daring to leave while there was still light in the sky.  Once, Celestia had been master of the day, Queen of the Rising Sun, but now she looked out at her great glowing charge, and thought it weak and feeble, as if it pined for her.  Only during the night, the realm of Luna, would they travel, and though it had once been as fair and beautiful as its princess, now the night was cruel and ugly, a loathsome spectrum of darkness.

A sound caught their attention, the Alicorns froze, listening to the silence of the night.  They were under the ridge of a low hill, two days passed from Equestria, where no creatures came.  Quickly and silently they hid themselves under a shallow crest, waiting for signs of an approaching enemy.

After several minutes, Celestia spoke in a hushed whisper, “I will go, I am yet powerful, I shall find the source of the disturbance, whether it be safe, or perilous.”

Luna’s eyes were fearful, but she made no sound.  Celestia raised herself slowly to her hooves and came out from under the shelf, looking around, letting the darkness hide her form.  She walked slowly up the hill and peered over at the other side.  She could see nothing except for a pinprick of light, down on the far side of the rise, it appeared to be firelight.

Impulsively, knowing she should return to warn Luna, Celestia went forth, holding low to the earth for protection, venturing towards the light.  When she was less than twenty paces away, she saw what it was.

A band of trolls, savage, ugly creatures of the Everfree Forest, were gathered round a campfire.  Revolving slowly on a spit over the fire was – Celestia sucked in her breath – a pony.

All in an instant Celestia felt a blinding, sickening pain in the back of her head.  Some blunt object had been smashed into her skull.  Lights danced before her eyes and she stumbled forward, faintly she heard a roar of satisfaction and saw the vague forms of the trolls rising to a fight.  She shook her head, clearing her brain, but a second blow to her side sent her sprawling.  Before she could get to her feet, the rough bodies of the trolls were all around her, snarling and gnashing their teeth, pounding down on her white skin.  Desperately Celestia tried to work a spell, a blasting force that would send the troll flying, but a brutal blow to the face cut her magic off.  Now her vision was fading, she could no longer work her magic, her mind too confused and battered.  Dimly she felt the fists of the trolls hammer down on her, and their clawed feet kicking painfully at her flank.  As the world faded out around her Celestia knew she was to die.

Darkness enveloped them, not silent darkness as of the night, but a rushing, whirling darkness, storm-darkness.  It ripped and tore around her, blotting out what little she could still see, terrified, Celestia steeled herself for the end.

The darkness faded, leaving behind only the natural black of the stars and moon.  Around her lay the bodies of the trolls, and it seemed as if each had been twisted and snapped out of place, and their skin cooked in a fire.  Above her stood a terrible form, a creature of nightmare, clad all in shining armor of darkness.  Then her delirium ended, and she saw only Luna, fearful and gasping for breath.

“Are you much hurt?”  Asked Luna, panting heavily.

“I am afraid so.”  Replied Celestia matter-of-factly.  Luna knelt and began working a spell of healing, taught to her long ago by Anare.

“Don’t expend to much strength on me,” said Celestia weakly, “Save yourself some.”

Luna made no reply, but continued the spell.  Celestia felt her wounds tingle, and the blood clotted and held firm.  “That is all I can do for now,” Luna moaned, “I cannot stand or think.”

She collapsed silently and gently, sinking onto the grass in a sleep-filled daze.  Celestia watched her for a moment, and then let herself slide to sleep alongside her.

The next morning they awoke, somewhat clearer-headed, and Luna reworked the healing spell, to ensure it would hold.  Celestia added some of her own, mending her broken ribs and fractured limbs.  When she could walk, they traveled slowly on, until they came to a small meadow hidden from view by the mountains.  There they drank deeply from a cool mountain spring, the water giving them new strength.  They grazed for a time on the fresh grass, untouched by any creature, beyond the realms of Equestria or the Everfree Forest, and in its nourishment they grew whole once more.

After a time Celestia came to her younger sister, and spoke concernedly, “Luna, dear sister, how comes that awful crown to be on your head?  Take it off now, it does not suit you.”

She made to take away the crown, to rest it gently from Luna’s head, but as she touched it, her sister screamed in fear and wrath, kicking away and falling back.  She raised her hooves above her and clutched the crown to her head, a wild, crazed look in her eyes.

“Don’t touch it!”  She cried, her voice cracked and hollow.

Celestia froze in horror, not knowing what madness had come over her sister.

All at once the fear left Luna, though her grief remained, “This crown Discord bound to me, remove it, and I should die.  Do you think I wear it out of free will?  Ha!  I have none.”

“Perhaps,” said Celestia kindly, “We can break Discord’s spell, and free you of his grasp.”

“No, never will I be free.  But perhaps…perhaps you can break the curse.”

Celestia set to work examining the enchantment that held Luna’s soul to the twisted band of cold metal on her head.  Discord’s magic was powerful, far more powerful than the Sun Queen had anticipated, but it had been cast hastily, and there were flaws.

“I think I can break it,” said Celestia reassuringly, “But it will be difficult, and take all my strength away, we will be vulnerable.”

Her horn lit up, shining brightly with the radiant blue light of Alicorn magic, Celestia instantly released the charm, her horn fading to normal.

“That won’t do, with this light, we shall be visible for miles.  It is best we wait until day, when at least we shall be able to hide more easily, and I will be more powerful besides.

As dawn rose above them, Celestia looked again at the sun.  It was swollen and red, like a great bloated wound in the sky.  Still, its light was her light, no matter how Discord might corrupt it.  Under its glow she rekindled her magic, and set to work on Luna’s crown.

At first she had little success, probing here and there, searching for a gap wide enough into which she might squeeze her magic.  There were many such gaps, yet none she could find that were large enough to penetrate.

“Hold still,” said Celestia, referring not to Luna’s body but to her mind, “I am going to attack it head on.”

She rushed her own power, smashing it into the wall of steely enchantments, she felt it reverberate and shudder, but her spell was thrown back.  Luna screamed in pain, her neck arching back in obvious agony.

Celestia pulled her magic away instantly, “I am sorry…so sorry…”

Luna said nothing, but wept bitterly.

“I can stop, if you like, we need not go on.”

“No,” moaned Luna, trembling, “You mustn’t give up, I can feel it weakening.”

So Celestia once again sought for a breach in Discord’s defenses, this time it seemed to her that the cracks had widened, yet still they were too small to pierce.  Celestia stood quietly for a moment, before speaking softly.

“Luna,” her voice a hushed whisper, “I must batter it again.  It is the only way, I am sorry.”

Luna nodded, saying nothing, and readied herself.

Celestia summoned all her might, her horn gleaming in the sun, and sent a bolt of power at the thing that held Luna prisoner.  It shattered against the magical barriers, spreading out over it, exerting tremendous force, but still the curse held firm.

Luna was shivering as if bitterly cold, her teeth were clenched firmly shut, yet no cry of pain had left her lips.  Celestia tried the spell of Discord again, and found to her grief that still the breaches were not large enough to get through.  Then, behind the others, she found a gap, just barely too small to be suitable.  Celestia thought once again, in bitter anxiety.

“Sister, dear sister, I see it hurts you so, yet if you would allow me to do this thing once more, I think I shall have it off of you safely.  Please, it is the only way in my power.”

Luna gazed up at her sister, her eyes pleading, child-like, an expression of nameless fear and torment written on her face.  She said no words nor gave any sign that she understood the words spoken to her by Celestia.

Celestia drew farther away, this time in the physical sense as well as magically.  She raised her horn high, seeking the light of the dying sun, it filled her up and gave her new strength, and with that she drew on her anger and her love and smote against the hatefulness of Discord with all the might in her, more than she had ever known she possessed.  The curse of Discord broke away, shattering into nothingness, dissolving into the light of day.

But the crown erupted into darkness, Luna was caught within, her fragile body shaken and thrashed as if by some evil windstorm.  Celestia cried out in horror and lunged forward, forgetting in her fear the magic she possessed, seeking only to protect her sister, to save her from the darkness.

And then they both fell.

They fell for what seemed an eternity, or perhaps no time at all.  All about them was darkness, not emptiness, not the absence of light, but the presence of darkness.

At Celestia’s side fell Luna, yet her body was different, taller, sleeker, and night black.  In her sister’s eyes was malevolence, mindless chaos, like the eyes of Discord.

Once more the world shuttered and spun round, Luna was lost to view, and for a moment all Celestia could sense was her own existence, and nothing more.  Then she landed on her side on what felt like sand.

She raised her head and looked about her.  She was lying on what seemed a flat, dark plain, so vast that she could see no end in any direction.  Above her, the night sky was lit up with stars, stars she had no names for, and they seemed much closer, much greater.

She rose slowly to her hooves, expecting stiff pain through her limbs, but found she was whole and fresh, even the wounds left by the trolls were gone.  Her hooves sank a little into the sand, which was glittering black, like dark ash choked up by a volcano.

A sound caught her attention, Celestia turned sharply, and saw Luna, once more her normal, beautiful self, standing some distance away.

“Luna!”  Celestia called joyously, “Luna, you are safe!”

Luna looked back quickly, and, seeing Celestia coming towards her, turned and fled.

“Luna?  Luna come back!  It is me, your sister Celestia!”

But the small Alicorn continued galloping over the flat plain.  Celestia plunged forward, her hooves kicking up the sand as she went, it flew out behind her and seemed to hang for a moment in the air, although she never looked back.

For what seemed hours, or days, or years, Celestia pursued her sister, never losing distance, nor gaining any.  She never tired, or desired food and drink, but only to catch her sister and bring her home, though whatever that might be, Celestia had forgotten herself.

Finally, Celestia stopped running, for in her heart she knew her chase was futile.  At last she called out, her voice faint and broken, “Luna, dear Luna, please return.”

The faint galloping figure of her sister slowed, stopped, and silently turned around.  In amazement, Celestia watched as Luna galloped back, faster than the wind, over the black sand.

At last she was reunited with her sister, but now a greater fear came to her mind.  Where were they?  And how were they to escape, to return to Equestria?

You cannot leave this place without my aid.

A voice, whether from the sky or from her own mind, Celestia did not know, but evidently Luna heard it too, for she looked sharply up at the stars.  Celestia knew the voice well, as she was sure Luna did too, but it couldn’t be…

“Elthendos?”  She asked.

Welcome, Luna and Celestia, to the Land of Death.

“Elthendos, it is you!  But – but the Land of Death?  Is that where we are?”

That is what you would call it, yes.

“Then – then we are dead.”

I do not know.  Should you be?

“Perhaps.  The curse of Discord’s crown, it unleashed some evil magic upon us.”

Then maybe you are indeed dead.  But you do not look as though you are.

“Where are you?”  Asked Celestia, perplexed by the voice.

I am everywhere.  I am all things.  But perhaps it is best…

A star fell from above.  It landed on the sand softly, and the glow died away, leaving behind the form Celestia remembered, a tall, black stallion with great wings and a golden horn.

“Oh Elthendos, I thought never to see you again!”

We shall all see one another in the end, here I greeted Foroken and Anare, and I will greet you again someday, and one day I shall greet Virokir, and all the ponies of Equestria.

“Not him.  He deserves oblivion.”  Celestia’s voice was cold as steel.

Perhaps he does, yet in the end, he will come here, and then we shall all be equals and friends.

“Elthendos, we must return, he holds all of Equestria at his mercy, if we return now we might be able to stop him before ─”

Too late.

“What?”

Too late for that.  Time is different here, it does not hold.  In Equestria, in the mortal world, a thousand years already may have passed.

Celestia was taken aback, “Well then…but…”

For the first time since they had arrived, Luna spoke, and her voice was powerful and filled with force, “We must return.  It is our duty.  We left Equestria to Discord, and now we must win it back from him.”

His power is great.  Far greater than your own.

Luna spoke again, harshly, “There must be a way to stop him, to defeat him.”

There is.  The Elements of Harmony.

Celestia blurted out, “But Discord has them!”

Does he?  Yes, I remember, he stole them.  But he cannot use them, he is a servant of Disharmony, and the Elements hurt him, he keeps them locked away.  Of true magic, the magic of friendship, he knows nothing, and he is terrified.

“How are we to recover them?”  Asked Celestia, “And how are we to leave here?”

The latter is easy.  I hold the key in and out, it was I who let you in before your time.  As for the first, you must trust in yourselves, and you shall be victorious.  Now I will put you back, I think on the borders of Equestria, there you will find a resistance, a rebellion fighting against Virokir.  Two thousand years have passed.  Good luck.

Good luck…good luck…good luck…good luck…good luck…good luck

Celestia opened her eyes.  She was lying in a soft bed of straw, laid over with a clean white sheet and a wool blanket.  Where she was, she had no idea, but it was so comfortable that all she wished for was to drift away…to a land of darkness and silence…

No, she had come from that place, and returned again.  Now she was here, and must fulfill what it was she had been sent to do.  She looked around.

Celestia saw that she was in a small room, windowless, with a quality of being underground.  The furnishings were sparse, but friendly enough, a few chairs and a low table.  Beside her lay another bed, and on it…

“Luna!”

Luna opened her eyes, blinking in the soft light.  Celestia came down from her bed and knelt before Luna, still bleary eyed.

“How are you feeling, Luna?  Are you whole?”

Luna rubbed her eyes with her hooves and yawned, “Yes,” she said, “I am whole.”

Celestia smiled, and Luna smiled, and incomprehensibly and irresistibly Celestia laughed, and Luna laughed too, and together they laughed for some time, until their minds were at ease.

“But where are we?” asked Luna, “I do not know this place.”

Almost as if called by her question, a small door opened in the wall.  Both sisters looked over at it, tensely, ready for a fight.

A young unicorn entered, his fur was dark blue, and his mane dull purple, about his neck hung a silver chain, on the end of which was the six pointed star of Elthendos.

“I’m glad to see the two of you awake.”  He said, politely, but a little awkwardly, “My name is Starswirl, assistant healer.  We found you lying unconscious on a hill overlooking Equestria.  Forgive me for asking, but…are you…are you Alicorns?”

Celestia gave him a friendly smile, “Yes, we are.  Do you know our names?”

Starswirl was silent, his eyes gazing in awe and wonder.  At length he shook his head.

“I am Celestia, Queen of the Rising Sun, and this ─”

“I am Luna, Princess of the Moon.”  Her sister interrupted.

Starswirl said nothing, but slowly sank to the floor, as if in a daze, he bowed before them, his limbs trembling in fear and honor, “Y-your majesties!”

“Come now,” said Celestia, “I am sure there has been enough of that in Equestria to satisfy.  Tell us, what is this place we are in?”

Starswirl remained where he was, speaking in a hushed voice, “This is the heart of the rebellion, here is the last refuge for those who still openly hate Discord.  His tyranny has spread over all of Equestria, we thought you had been slain long ago, with all the other Alicorns.”

“No, not slain, only driven into exile,” said Luna gravely, “Now through darkness we have passed, and fear nothing that lies ahead.”

“You must come and meet with our leader, Stormwing Dash, he will want to greet you with the highest honors!”  Starswirl appeared as an enthusiastic young colt during the celebration of Hearth’s Warming Eve.

Stormwing Dash was a powerful, storm grey pegasus who reminded Celestia of Foroken, when he saw them, he bowed low and gave them great honor.  Celestia bade him rise, and asked for details of the war against Discord.  Stormwing told them a long and tragic story of how, after the defeat at Stormridden Plains, the ponies had fled, thinking all the Alicorns slain.  Many had returned to Equestria, in their confusion, and had been trapped by Discord, but some had escaped and formed a resistance.  The rebellion had begun small, and far from Equestria, seeking only to survive away from Discord, but their ranks had grown, as had their power.  War-hardened, the ponies of the resistance now challenged Discord himself, though they knew that should they face him in open combat, it would be their end.

But now they had Celestia and Luna, and they rejoiced, for they saw in the Alicorns’ return the end of the reign of Discord, though in their hearts the sisters knew they stood little chance against his might.

“We must march on Okiton, the fortress of Discord, at next dawn!”  Cried Stormwing gleefully, “Now we shall have vengeance for all the crimes he has committed!”

Celestia realized she could not stop them, but spoke her fears, “Discord is yet powerful, too powerful even for us together.  The only way to stop him lies not in open battle.”

Luna spoke unexpectedly, “Yet open battle may make our task easier, distracting Discord.”

Celestia frowned, “True, but at the cost of the lives of many ponies.  They would be defeated in the end, just as they were before.”

“Not if they had help.”  Luna’s face was a cold mask of determination, behind her, on the carven walls of the resistance hideout, Celestia made out the engraved form of a great dragon, jaws open wide with rushing flames.

The nesting places of the dragons were high in the North-west Mountains, far from any place any pony had ever gone.  Celestia and Luna were cautious, knowing they might be attacked on the spot.  Still, the dragons were beings of powerful magic, and thus would sense in the sisters an even greater force, and fear and respect it.

They came to the highest mountain, where nearly a hundred dragons sat silent, watching the air around them, itself full of their airborne kin, and now two radiant ponies.

Luna and Celestia landed at the base of a large cavern-mouth, near the peak of the mountain, and called in formality, “Greetings, O Dragon King, we, Celestia, Queen of the Rising Sun, and Luna, Princess of the Moon, bring a message of peace.”

They waited for some time, aware that all the dragons were staring at them, expectantly, hungrily.  Then, from out of the cave rumbled a deep voice, “Who comes hither to disturb the sleep of Vafnarog?  Alicorns, they yet live?  This is indeed an honor.”

Luna and Celestia came forward, entering into the darkness, the air about them grew hot and humid.  Suddenly a burst of flame rose up, illuminating the chamber, they were in a vast hall, filled up with endless piles of raw, unforged gold ore, at the top of which sat a massive dragon.

Vafnarog had no wings, yet his body was thicker and more powerful than those of the other dragons.  His scaly skin was deep purple, and his horns, each twice as long as Celestia, were green.  His eyes were a startling red, and they glared at the pony sisters.  Above him an orb of fire, held by some spell, revolved slowly.

“Why have you come here?  Your charge is Equestria, go now and reclaim it.”

“We cannot,” said Celestia, “We are not strong enough.  Discord is yet ruler of Equestria.”

Vafnarog made a sound of disgust, a deep, thunderous sound, “Discord!  He thought to be our ally, as if we would ally with such a coward and dishonorable traitor!”

Celestia smiled inwardly, “Yes, and now he has enslaved all our kin, an entire race lies at his mercy.  Please, we must defeat him, but we cannot.”

Vafnarog was silent for some time, and bowed his head, finally, “I understand your sorrow.  We dragons are not as cruel as you seem to believe.  Yet I cannot help you, this is not my war.”

Celestia felt her body go cold, “But – please – without you we have no hope!”

“If Discord should attack us here, in the homeland of dragons, then I would go forth to meet him.  I want no part in this, it is meaningless to me.”

“Vafnarog!”  Luna’s voice was cold and commanded tremendous force, “Vafnarog listen to me!”

Vafnarog listened intently, as if he were a colt being reprimanded.

“This may not be your war,” Luna continued, “But it is your world.  You share this earth with ponies, whether or not you respect us.  To leave us so enslaved would be as good as to side with Discord, perhaps it is time you did something not because it was beneficial to you, but because your heart told you it was the right thing to do.”

Vafnarog sat in silence, stupefied.  Minutes passed before he made any movement or sign of life, then, at last he reached forth, and issued a great torrent of flames against the ceiling of his cavern, he smashed his tail down upon his horde, sending pieces of gold flying up all around.

“Little princess, you speak well.  I will go and fight with you, against Discord, for my honor and for the freedom of Equestria.”

Discord had not been idle for two thousand years.  After his great victory at Stormridden Plains, nothing and nopony had stood in his way.  His wrath burned across Equestria, a terrible scourge of death and blight and sorrow, the ponies, trapped in their own fear, were helpless.

The beasts of the Everfree Forest Discord kept close, keeping them as guardians of his dark fortress, Okiton.  With his might he built an army of automatons, beings of cold iron and steel, with no true soul, only a dark magic that drove them on.  In the form of ponies they walked, but in spiteful mockery of the race of Elthendos, and the true ponies were terrified of them.

Discord himself ruled little, he preferred a state of anarchy, of chaos.  He left the ponies to live as they would, though he twisted the laws of the world around them, making for great confusion and catastrophe.  Usually he would leave the ponies in their original state, the better for them to enjoy his miserable world, but some he claimed as his own, and destroyed them, finding their weaknesses and driving them mad.

Equestria was no longer a home, it was a nightmare.

For two thousand years the ponies lived in hopeless despair, until, on the longest day of the last year, at midsummer, the sun rose, straight and full, yellow and golden, and it rose in the east, where it should.  In wonder the ponies beheld it, and then it seemed to them that a beam of light stretched across the sky, and where it fell on the opposite horizon they saw two forms flying towards them, majestic and beautiful.  One figure bore around it a light as bright as the sun itself.

Thus came Celestia and Luna once more to Equestria, to finish what once had begun.

From the east came an army of ponies, bitter and vengeful, seeking penitence for two thousand years of war crimes.  The miserable folk of Equestria rose up in union, a spark of hope shining in their eyes for the first time in centuries.

From the west came an army of dragons, and at their head came Vafnarog, who in the elder days had scorned Discord at the height of his power.  And from the western sky above him, the last of the Alicorns, returning to Equestria.

Then Discord saw his peril, and marshaled his army of automatons, and together they marched forth to battle.  The ponies who had risen up were crushed back by the metal army, but the dragons came from the west and breathed their fire over the machines, melting them and releasing their dark magic.  Discord himself rose up, and cast spells and curses down at the invaders, blasting the dragons aside as if they were sparrows and he an eagle.  But Celestia and Luna, his ancient foes whom he had believed dead, came to him and engaged him in deadly combat.  In the sky there shone thunder and lightning and wind that ripped at the very mountains themselves, yet Discord was still master of the Element of Magic, and he threw back his assailants, yet seeing the ruin of his despotic reign by the dragon army, he fled back to his fortress Okiton.

There he was pursued by the army of ponies, but they found harsh resistance from the beasts of Everfree, and could not take the walls.  Celestia and Luna set up a siege around the stronghold, waiting for Discord to come forth and meet them once again.

And come forth he did.

Within the halls of Okiton Discord retrieved the five Elements of Harmony, and after a struggle, he forced them to obey the will of the Element of Magic, and he sent forth his dark forces in more strength than they had ever been seen, for in the pits of Okiton they had bred and grown bloated and monstrous.  The assault of the Everfree creatures drove back the armies of the Alicorns, yet from the sky came Celestia and Luna, bearing with them the light of Elthendos, and Vafnarog dragged his bulk over the forces, and destroyed many of the evil beasts.

Then the highest tower, black as night and adorned with steel spikes, opened forth, and great fires rose into the air, and Discord flew out and challenged the sisters to battle.

And they accepted his challenge.

Against the darkening sky they fought, wheeling and twirling through the air, great fireballs and lightning bolts echoing around them.  Though he was outnumbered, still Discord outmatched the sisters, and he caught Celestia in a trap of binding magic, and held her beside him, taunting her.

“Celestia, I thought never to see you again!  You cannot imagine my joy when I heard you had returned, and when I saw from afar your figure flying to me, my inexpressible delight!”

Celestia thought of all the horrible things she would have said had her tongue been loose.

“But now you have overturned the careful balance of chaos I have set up, and so much death, Celestia, why do you seek so much death?”

He turned to Luna, who hovered, silent and furious.

“Luna,” he spoke softly, “Once more I offer to you that which you desire above all else.  You and I together, an unstoppable force, darkness and night, your own beautiful night, cloaking all of Equestria forever, imagine it!”

“You lie.”  Luna’s voice was low and threatening.

“Do I?”  Asked Discord, “Or do I merely speak a truth that is best left untouched?  Only you can say what your heart will choose, but if you choose other than what I offer to you, your life will be unimaginably awful from this moment on.”

“You are wrong, Discord, what power do you have over me?”

Celestia watched, terrified and in agony, as Discord laughed.

“What power?  I rule the Elements of Harmony!  The power of Elthendos has no hold over me, I am dominant, I am Discord!”

“You are nothing.  You do not understand, even as you are about to be defeated, you still do not understand anything.”

“About to be defeated?  My dear, you are mad with anger.”

“No,” said Luna, “I am mad with love.”

Discord’s face was like one burned by fire, his eyes widened and his mouth opened as if to swallow all the world.  After a moment he relaxed again.

“What is this?”  His voice was low, and ominous, but sounded scared.

“Nothing,” said Luna lightly, “Nothing important, nothing powerful or dangerous.  Only true magic, as Elthendos created it.”

“What magic is there that I do not know?  I, Discord?”

Luna waited for just an instant, her eyes burning with fury, “The magic of friendship.”

The Elements of Harmony erupted with light, a blinding fire that illuminated all the dark sky.  Far below, the beasts of the Everfree Forest cowered in terror, and the ponies’ hearts leapt in glorious freedom.

Celestia felt the spell around her release, and she fell, behind her came Discord, his flesh searing as if on fire.  He screamed in pain and rage and clawed at her tail.

Far below, Vafnarog saw them, and he reached out and caught Celestia as she fell, and brought her down to earth.  But as he did so, Discord came too, and with his last might he struck Vafnarog in the throat with dark curses, and the dragon roared in pain, and rolled backwards, and his vast bulk fell against the gates of Okiton and the fire that rushed from his mouth melted down the dark towers, reducing them to ashes and dust.

Celestia lay battered, Discord emerging from the smoke and ruin, furious in his pain.  Luna came down beside her, and all around her were six shards of light.

“With me, Celestia, the Elements!”

Together she and Luna summoned the magic of the Elements of Harmony, and a great rainbow arced over the sky, its light shining down at Discord.  But their dark foe smiled, seeing his inevitable destruction, and reveling in what terrible chaos he could yet reap.

“Remember my words, Luna, someday you will see the truth in them.”

He reached up his taloned hand as if he were a singer, and from his throat issued a note of discord, a terrible, blood curdling sound that sang itself into the fabric of the world.  Then the dazzling colors enveloped him, and poised as some radiant performer, Discord’s body was cast into a prison of stone and magic that bound him to the earth itself.

Celestia and Luna came through the falling ashes to where the massive body of Vafnarog lay.  The once mighty dragon was crumpled and broken, yet his eyes still glimmered with the faintest trace of life as he beheld the Alicorn sisters.

“Celestia, Luna…my time has come to climb the highest mountain and go into the sky.  But I have one wish, one favor to ask of you.”

Luna said nothing, but Celestia smiled sadly, and said, “Anything, friend and ally.”

“My mate died many years ago, and left to me only one child.  It is still an egg, unhatched.  I wished to bring him forth into a world free of Discord, yet I feared to challenge my enemy openly.  I thank you, for you have made my hope possible, yet now, I will never see that world.  I fear too that neither shall my child, for it is said that a dragon’s egg may only be hatched by the parent of the hatchling, or it will eventually die.

“But I believe that your magic might achieve this goal, to free my first born from its prison.  But there is more, in my heart, I know it.  Do not yourself hatch this egg, let it be done by a mortal, a mortal with enough power to release a dragon will be powerful enough to drive back the darkness when it rises again.  The hatcher of the egg is the bringer of light, remember this.”

Thus Vafnarog, lord of the dragons, who finally allied with the Alicorns against their common foe, Discord the tyrant, perished amidst the ruin of his enemy.

With their magic, Celestia and Luna set up Equestria anew, raising the glory of Elthendos from the destruction of Discord.  With Stormwing Dash, and later Starswirl at their side, they built up a great palace, Canterlot, where they ruled justly and peacefully, and once more there was love and happiness in Equestria, as there had not been for two thousand years.

Yet deep within, beneath even her own consciousness, the last words of Discord echoed in the mind of Luna, Princess of the Moon.  Though she denied his lies, there was truth buried in them, and her heart was marred and darkened.  But for a long time she was master of her deepest resent, and knew only truth and honor.  With her sister Celestia she guarded the egg of Vafnarog, letting the young unicorns test themselves upon it, so that one day, a hero might rise up, and with the magic of friendship once more in harmony, light up the darkness again.