Equestria Reborn

Part 1: The End of Equestria

There was chaos, chaos everywhere! Anxiety in Apple Loosa! Turmoil in Ponyville! Mayhem in Manehattan! Confusion in Canterlot! And as for the rest of the world, there is death! Death and destruction! Destruction... destruction is coming... And with it getting closer to Equestrian lands, how could there be anything besides chaos? Ponies scrambling and running about, ponies laying in anxious wait, ponies... they lift there hooves and pray to their former rulers -

"O Sweet Solaris, O Gaurdian Lunais, save us all!" But no help comes. And no help is to come.

But why is this? What about the new regime? Why won't their cries be answered?

The reason is the Apocalypse Fire, or in other words, the Ending Flame.

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It is believed that this fire was sparked somewhere between the end of Twilight's reign and the arrival of the new regime. Nopony knew it had been ignited, but it had - and for decades, the magic stability of all of Equestria was decent. Not too much happened where the magic got all out of control, but now it was different. For see; the Elements of Harmony - the true elements - were supposed to keep the peace of the land. In other words, either within the ground or within their tree, the Elements of Harmony were supposed to make sure every bit of the powerful magics, deep within and which make up Equestria, did not become unleashed. (Most of which was just raw, unused magic.)

But even at their being returned to the tree - not to long before had the tree suffered major damage from a storm of dark, power-threatening roots. At its weakening, bits of magic did escape to the surface of Equestria's soil and did begin to take form, therefore

creating the Ending Flame.

(A Tree of Harmony picture from Google)

Now, it is not certain how the flame started its path of destruction, far beyond Equestrian lands - regardless of the fact that it was created in Equestria - but there is a theory. This theory states that even in its condition, the least the Tree of Harmony could do was serve its purpose to protect, and somehow made it so the magics that escaped to the surface were removed from Equestria.

For a  long time the fire stayed put in a place far beyond Equestria, but at this time it has grown so great, and so massively powerful, that the earth is no longer able to hold it in one place. All magic has been released and doth go forth as a great wall of fire, sweeping its way across every nation, with nopony to stop it, no magic to cease it, no power to vanquish it.

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But what about the Alicorns, you say? Couldn't they have stopped this destruction from coming? Did they even know of the fire's coming about?!... Well, yes and no.

You see, when Princess Twilight Sparkle ascended the throne, her rein went on for a very long time. Under her rule, under her laws, and with the experience of having already been a ruling princess, all was at peace. But after a short period of time, after she became head princess, Luna and Celestia left her; their duties were no longer to oversee Equestria.

It was just as their parents had done; once their children, the new regime, took the throne, they left. They had to leave. Their father - his calling was the universe. Though it is until this time that his direct calling is unknown. Their mother - her calling is unknown as well. Needless to say, they were all called away... it is the fate of all who shall and have ruled Equestria.

And, needless to say, they are gone now. All of them; Princess Celestia and Princess Luna have heeded their calling and are not to return.

~   ~   ~   ~

So then, what exactly was their calling?

The calling of the two sisters is none other than that of their celestial bodies, the ones which they have been given dominion over - Celestia, the Sun and her sister, Luna, the Moon. The ponies of this time know the both of them as Solaris and Lunais, guardians of the day and night. To them, the guardians' only objective is to raise and lower the sun, or to raise and lower the moon. Both must see to it that everyday and night is carried out as is supposed to be.

This is the reason why they did not answer the cries of the ponies; their duties and responsibilities are no longer tied to that of earthly matters, but that of the celestial ones. So no; they could not have known of the destruction to come, therefore, could not have stopped it.

(Artist and Site Origin unknown. Neverthless, I give credit to whomever for this awesome piece of work!)

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Now, as we know, a new regime has come about. As usual, there are two rulers. This time around there will not be a third princess, (or prince). The two chosen to be alicorns, chosen to be prince and princess above all others, are Princess Earth and Prince Sky. These two were chosen by Princess Twilight Sparkle who all ponies now know as Oracle Staris or just Staris, the former Princess of the former regime.

But who are these ponies and what in Equestria are they doing at a time like this?! A time when there subjects need them or when the world needs them? Where are they and what are they doing while all of Equus needs some kind of power to beat back the Ending Flame?

The answer? Nothing.

Yes they know of the destruction to come, yes they are powerful enough to stop it, and yes they know of the chaos that is running loose through out all of Equestria and beyond - yet they can do nothing. Their hooves are tied.

But how, you ask? Whatever in the world is wrong with them, you ask?

Well if this is what you are wondering, then it is about time to introduce the Prince and Princess of this story; Princess Dawn  and Prince Dusk. Their story will begin to unfold, from here.

*   *   *   *   *

A green-maned, black-flanked unicorn races though Canter Lot. He searches desperately and frantically for his sister, Dawn, yet is she nowhere to be found.

"I knew I should not have left her... Not that I believe all that is being said, but I just need to be with her, now..." The young unicorn squeezes his eyes shut as he focuses on a spell; "Sister... Dawn... Where are you?"

Moments later, there is a response. "Brother, I am here - where are you?"

The unicorn stops in his tracks, turning about, almost going in circles. He is panting, "Sister, sister! Where are you?!"

"Brother, I am here - come to me, I am here. Let your horn guide you."

With that, the unicorn bent his head low and began to let his horn pull him in the direction of his sister. He charged through the frantic crowds of ponies and those who ran about. He had only one aim and that was his sister... Several times, as he went on his way to get to her, he was hindered by brief earth quakes and ponies who would come before him, screaming in his face, "THE END IS NEIGH, THE END IS NEIGH! TAKE HEED, ALL PONIES, THE END IS NEIGH!!"

He would ignore them as best he could, but a few decided to follow after him, screaming all the while. There was no way he would bring that nonsense to his sister, but he had to get to her - and soon! The unicorn made his decision and decided to use a bit of his untamed magic. He had hardly had time to practice any - let alone many - magic spells and the like because of other activities he participated in as a young noble in the city of Canter Lot... Nevertheless he needed whatever magic he had, now, to get these crazy ponies off of his flank.

He turned to them, pointing his horn at them, scraping his hoof over the ground and flaring his nostrils, "GET LOST!"

"AH BUT WE ARE ALL LOST, YOUNG ONE, WE ARE ALL LOST!" The small group of ponies answered, as they crept forward, still crying out, "ALL IS LOST, ALL IS LOST, THE END IS NEIGH, THE END IS NEIGH!!"

The unicorn let forth a full blast of magic from his horn, sending them all backwards. When the smoke had cleared - and he wasn't through, yet - there were  still a few ponies standing. Some were burned, others; not as much. A few lie lifeless on the ground, as well.

The unicorn smirked. Surely they would leave him be when they saw there fellow ponies' conditions... right? Wrong. They hardly glanced at the downed ponies before beginning to approach him again, crying out - louder now -

"THE END IS NEIGH, THE END IS NEIGH!! DO AS YOU WISH, FOR THE END IS NEIGH!"

"Grrr..." The unicorn turned tail and headed farther into Canter Lot. The crazed group of ponies followed after him, lagging behind like bunch of zomb-ponies...

The unicorn finally found his sister - "Dawn!!"

His white-flanked, winged, rainbow-maned sister sat at the edge of Canter Lot, looking out over the land below. She did not stir when he called her name, which was very strange and unusual behavior, for her.

"Dawn!" The unicorn trotted over to his sister, calling her name, again.

"Hm?... Dusk?" Dawn slowly turned her head in the direction of her brother's voice.

Dusk nuzzled his sisters face and neck, murmuring, "I was worried about you..."

"I am alright, brother, although I fear our home is not - In fact... in fact..." His sister's voice cracked, a bit, as it trailed off.

"What? Dusk said, "Is it about those dreams again?" Just as Dusk said these words, something snapped in his mind. What had his sisters dreams been like, again? That's right. She had heard screaming... and noise... lots and lots of noise.... The earth shook, as well, she had said, and... there was something else... There was this... haunting fear that something was getting closer, only she could never tell him what it was... even when she wanted to.

Before Dusk could say anything else, Dawn said, "No..." Her voice shook, "It is no longer the dreams that I fear... for they are here."

"What?" Dusk said, observing the newly made tears stream down her face.

"They are here, brother... they are true... it all came true..." His sister's voice was a squeak of a whisper.

Dusk licked his sister's face, gently. "What are you talking about?" He asked, softly. Even though he could have guessed.

"Dusk..." Dawn was trembling, now. "I...I feel it...I see it..."

Dusk would have responded but he felt a presence. He turned and saw the tired-eyed, weary-bodied, "zomb-ponies" watching him and his sister. He stood, hooves apart, bracing himself.

"You leave us alone! Go on, get out of here!" The ponies just stood and stared at them.

The earth suddenly began to quake - and more forcefully, now.

"Eeep!!" Dawn covered her eyes with her hooves and Dusk turned to embrace her. As he went to do so, and as the earth still trembled - he watched, shocked and wide-eyes as one of the large, golden pools of water which jut out from the side of the mountain, just below Canter Lot, began to crack. CR-A-A-CK! And with that, water began to gush from within the large crack, causing the large basin to eventually give way, creating a downpour of water and gold chunks.

CR-A-A-CK! Dusk barely had time to think after watching the basin crack, crumble and fall, as he turned to see a large crack forming between him and his sister, separating them from the psycho-ponies.

They all began to cry, "THE END IS NEIGH, THE END IS NEIGH!!"

"Shut up!" Dusk yelled back at the small crowd of ponies, as the ground beneath them began to give way.

"Come on, sister, we have to get out of here!" Dusk said, taking aim at one of the nearest crazy-ponies.

"No!" Dawn sobbed, tears streaming down her face, "I won't leave!"

Dusk's stance faltered as he was momentarily taken aback, "Wha...what?"

There was no way his sister was or could be crazy but to say what she just had was crazy! And why not leave? This place was collapsing, everything was being destroyed and nearly half of the Canter Lot residents, as far as Dusk saw it, were dazed and/or half crazy!

Dusk explained this to Dawn and said, "So you see, we need to go, now! There is nothing left for us, here!" CR-A-A-CK!! The surface beneath them weakened and the crack widened. Dusk turned in time to see one of the crazed ponies jump at him and his sister. PSHEW! PSHEW! Two beams of radiant magic from Dusk's horn sent the pony flying backwards, his flank burning as he skidded across the ground.

"Take that, fool!" Dusk spat, "Come, sister. We must go - now!"

"No, brother! Dawn said, drying her tears. She stood, now, turning her attention to the downed pony. "I will not leave this place. For years it has been my home and everyone in it are like family to me..."

"Well, that's only because you're too nice." Dusk said, a half murmur, half mutter.

"May be so, brother..." Dawn said, approaching the downed stallion, "But I love everypony, no less..."

She lowered her horn towards the stallion. She meant to heal him, only that wasn't to be the case. With an unearthly scream, the stallion began to grab at Dawn's horn and shake it, shaking her as well.

"Wha-ah-ah-ah!" Dawn cried.

Eyes wide and furious, Dusk ran over to the downed stallion and tore his sister away from him. He then aimed his horn directly at the stallion's face and let loose a blast of fury, his eyes full green and luminous. The earth began to tremble again.

"Ah - brother!" Dusk whipped his head about to see the area where his sister was begin to give way. How had she gotten all the way over there? Dusk gasped; it had been his fault! When Dusk went to attack the stallion, he had so forcefully thrust his sister back and out of the way, that - !

Dusk ran for Dawn with all of his might. He jumped the huge gap between them and as soon as he reached his sister, the area below them immediately gave way. They began to fall...

"THE END IS NEIGH! THE end is neigh...! The cries from the crowd of crazy ponies echoed after Dawn and Dusk as they plummeted downward.

"Dusk this was in my dream, as well!" Dawn cried, her legs flailing a bit.

Dusk gazed at his sister through steadily brightening eyes.... In a blast of magic, both he and she stood not too far from the Canter Lot Castle.

Dawn staggered a bit, her legs shaky with the sudden contact to solid ground. And since she hadn't gotten the chance to use them, she flapped her wings just to make sure they were still there.

Dusk shook himself and blinked his eyes until they felt back to normal.

"Dawn... are you alright?" He rubbed at one eye with a hoof until he could see her clearly.

"I am alright brother." Dawn answered, "Just a bit shaky, though..."

Dusk's hoof left his eye and he smiled, approaching his sister. They both wrapped a forearm around the other's neck. Dusk looked beyond his sister, to the sky beyond. He gasped.

"What is it, Dusk?" Dawn asked him, both of them still embracing one another.

"...." Dusk didn't answer, for his attention was directed to something in the sky...or... was it the sky, itself?

To anypony else it would probably have looked like a bunch of colors... But to Dusk, it looked like colored fumes. They seemed distant and faint but they were still there...

Dusk let his sister go, but kept a hoof on her shoulder. He looked into her eyes and slowly shook his head. "Dawn, here it isn't safe for us, anymore... We need to leave."

Dawn looked away and took a few steps back. "But..."

"But nothing, Dawn! Don't you see?! This place is in turmoil - everywhere is falling apart, the princess and prince have run off and there is nopony to save us! Only us - only we can make a difference in our lives, right now... We have to go." Dusk's voice went from loud to soft. "Why can't you see that? Did you see those ponies? Do you want to end up like them, also?"

Tears streamed from Dawn's eyes and she turned from her brother. It had been a long time since he had ever had to raise his voice at her - besides earlier, that is. Why couldn't he see how much this place meant to her?

"Brother." Dawn began, "If we were to leave this sacred place... If we were to leave this place where not only I but you were born... where our parent's and parent's parent's were born...where we grew up, where they grew up... Where... where basically everypony who I care about is... and was... If we leave here, then... then... I will never forgive myself!!"  Dawn began to sob and sat with her hoofs to her face.

Dusk just looked down at his sister, wondering at her love and foolishness. He thought hard about what she was saying and was about respond when she said, "Dusk... brother... It is as you said. This place is in turmoil and everything is falling apart and... and well, with that being said... we have nowhere to go. Sure we can run, but can we hide? Can we really escape the dangers to come? Where in Equestria - or anywhere, for that matter - are we to go? No other race would accept us, had they found a hiding place, would they?"

She waited but her brother didn't answer. Instead, he looked to the far horizon... gazing at it...studying it...

"Brother?" Dawn said, with sniff. She got up on all fours and turned to face him. She realized that he wasn't looking at her and she looked away. "Even still," she said, softly, "I would feel like I was abandoning everything I ever knew, if there were a hiding place... Too much of me would be lost... too much..."

"Dawn." Her brother said, "We need to go, now." Dawn's ears pricked. He said the same words, but his tone was completely different. Her brother never sounded that way unless he really and truly meant what he was saying. It seemed she had no choice, she had to go. Wherever it was they were going... she had to go.

"I am with you." She said, quietly. Dusk gave her face a quick lick and then moved towards the are where the land dropped off... He raised his head and pointed his horn to the sky.

"Brother?" Dawn said, "What are you going to do?"

"Wait and see, Dawn." Dusk said, his eye becoming illuminated. He looked back at her and said, "Do not worry. Where we are going you won't have to worry about anything, anymore."

Dawn shrank back from her brother. "U - Um brother... I don't think - "

Too late. A small section of the sky became cloudy. The gray clouds quickly blacked as Dusk's eyes were brightened towards a radiant shade of green.

Dusk rose up on his hind legs, his green hair swirling in the newly-created wind, his eyes completely green and luminous. He neighed and kicked his front legs as a large bolt of gree lightning was hurdled down towards himself and his sister.

Dawn gasped, "Dusk... NO!!"

BA-BOOM!!! As soon as the bolt made contact, the earth erupted... That whole space of land seemed as though it was to be wiped out. There was a great flash of light and the ground continued to tremble, greatly reducing the already shattered earth and then - !

And then all was still. All was quiet... All was dark...

~   ~   ~   ~

Dawn was the first to open her eyes. She looked about and then when she saw where she was, she gasped.

Dusk's head shot up, "What's wrong?!" He looked around, "What...where...?" Dusk and Dawn stood in darkness. About them were many stars. Dawn gasped as a shooting star sped past her, for it was close... She stumbled back into her brother. Dusk helped her to stand, again.

"Thank you," She said, blushing, a bit.

"Yeah." Dusk answered, absentmindedly. He was trying to make sense of what his mind was telling him. Surely this wasn't...

"Um, brother..." Dawn said, "Are we... where I thing we are? Is this... is this where you meant to send us?"

"...No." Dusk answered. This place certainly was definitely not the place he meant for them to be.

"Well... then.... where were we supposed to be going?" Dawn asked, moving closer to her brother. She didn't like the feeling of walking around on nothing. "And... and where are we, now?"

"I don't know." Dusk murmured, nuzzling his sisters face, "But at least we are safe... that is... I think we are..."

"Mmm - we are?" Dawn said, as he brother continued to nuzzle her. "Because if anything, we are in space, right now - Dawn gasped and then suddenly stumbled away from her brother. She fell back onto her rump and brought her hooves to her eyes, not looking at him. Dusk nearly toppled over but managed to keep his balance.

"What was that for?" He asked his sister. He felt the heat in his cheeks. It was a bit embarrassing to have his sister reject him that way... She would never do that! Especially... especially because he'd never do anything like that, anyways... or at least, not often.... not as often as she'd want him to, really...

"Dawn?" Dusk attempts to touch his sister, but she scoots away.

"No, no!" Dusk watches - partly amazed, partly annoyed, and partly amused, as his sister scoots away, on her rump, on nothing. It did look pretty funny, actually, but he couldn't laugh. She wanted to get away from him? Why?

Dusk attempts to approach her, when a radiant light suddenly appears before them. The light is as bright as the morning sun, and is very blinding.

"Ahh..." Dusk holds a foreleg up to his eyes.

"Eeee!" Dawn draws her hind legs up against her body and covers her face with her forelegs.

(Random image of a shining light)

My, my, such silly foaldren...

A voice sounded from within the large, luminous light which was now taking the form of a sphere. Dusk squinted against the light and continued to hold up a foreleg as he tried to see Dawn, wondering if she had heard the voice.

YES, DEAR SISTER! AND YEA VERY FOALISH!

Another, louder voice sounded from the bright light, as well.

"Eeeep!!" Dawn cried, beginning to tremble.

Now, now, sister. Thou needest not be that way. We are to be gentle...

WHATEVER THOU SAYEST, THOU SHALT YE DO, SISTER! I, ON THE OTHER HOOF, SHALL BE AS I AM - I KNOW NO OTHER VOICE TO USE BUT THAT GIVEN OF THE FORCE - HENCE I SHALL THEN USE IT!

Very well, sister...

Dusk's foreleg lowered and his eyes relaxed as the glow began to fade. The two he saw before him were none other then the guardians Lunais and Solaris.

(Image By: 90sigma, Deviant Art)