Master

In the beginning, there was Predator. But Predator was lonely, so it created a rock the size of it's hand.  And Predator grew a feeling of peace when it was brought into existence. Then, as it gazed across its barren surface. Predator felt empty. So, it spat out a tooth and it became Prey. Prey was much, much smaller than Predator. Small and weak. So Predator left it's new creation on the barren rock

Prey was quick, it could go faster than Predator. Predator was stronger and bigger. The two lived with each other until Prey felt it was too cold, thus Predator belched out the Sun. The Sun was warm and generous, and the Sun became the first female in existence. She was sometimes very hot and burned the surface, and sometimes was cool and relaxed the small body of Prey,

Predator and Prey liked to play games together. Prey would run, and Predator would find Prey. Prey would run so fast and so long, but could never hide. To improve the game, Sun grew grass and trees with her thought. Giving them energy, they became huge and rolled over the surface. Turning the once life-less rock into the most living thing. Prey also thanked Sun by eating her grass and gaining its power. Soon, Prey made more of itself. Honoring Sun once more, Prey made female versions of it. Henceforth, Prey evolved into the first male.

Predator didn't like how purposeless they both were, so it gifted them the power to create each other. But, after much time of peace, Sun said they were eating too much of her children. Predator saw it too, so Predator made a new rule in his game. Once Predator found Prey, Predator would eat them.

After Sun rotated around the rock many times, she decided their game was unfair. That Predator was too strong. With good intentions, Sun made Hunter, The stronger one to hunt both Prey and Predator. And, their days continued on.

"Then what happened?" Asked the innocent child to the storyteller as he was tucked into the warm bed.  The word-speaker merely chuckled and brought up the woolen shield up higher to better fend the coolness night around them.

"You joke, Caahen? You've heard the story many times before." Spoke the father, to which the son merely pleaded once more for the story of Craton to continue. Craton meaning creation, great. Reluctantly, the speaker finally continued.

Hunter was strong and fast. He, alone, could wish away the Predator's presence. Predator didn't feel like it was a fair game, so it created twelve more of itself. Each one taking different forms, one of which was Jager-Jager. The Aged God.  Hunter was outnumbered, so he, like the others, created additional forms of himself. Few were made, the most powerful incarnation was Draak, The First Fire Tempest. Together, they all played. Expect The Sun. Far above the thriving game, starting to feel quite isolated without a friend of her size.

She came up with a solution, simply make another her. All the others did, she can too. With silence, Sun created Moon. He was the opposite of her  Cold and life-less. His domain was on the other side of the rock, with the two rarely coming in contact. This was enough for Sun and Moon, and all lived.

By the time the tale ended, Caahen the son was asleep. Safe in the shelter and warm in the bed, the young dragon would surely sleep though the entire night. The father rose from his chair beside the bed and quietly stalked out the room and into the main hallway. It was in the beginning of night, and the hallway held no sound. The beautiful and exotic rug beneath felt almost alien to him.

The father moved down the way on all fours, as he was wont to do due to his height and weight. It also made moving much less noisy. Creatures slept around him. Gracefully and silent, he traversed the hallway and reached the last door. His door. Softly, he pushed them open with his head.

The warm, familiar scent invaded his nostrils immediately. The room was dark. Even his eyes couldn't pierce the blackness. But he knew who could, and she was probably watching him. Toying with him as she liked to do. Only this one could do this to him, not that he had any say in it. Gently, he heard her sweet voice.

"Ohhh, Avinnn

My champion has returned"

The door closed behind him, shutting out all light. He soon felt her smooth fingers brush against the back of his neck, causing him to flinch. The father didn't even hear her feet hit the ground. Immediately after the digits abandoned his scruff, he felt something attach itself to it. An deep inhale of his odor was heard and he felt something get on top of his back.

"R-Ruo,," The father tried to talk, but she silenced him with a mere peck on his lips. Almost in a trance induced by the kiss, he marched forward to the center of the room where a bed with a veil reaching up to the ceiling took it's place. They clambered into the bed without word.

Together, they shared a cold night.

Log Number #386

VI Year Of Solace. Fourth Day

Researcher Of Day, Twilight Sparkle.

Personal Diary.

**CODE**

CIVILIZATION (-)SUN(-)ORDER

I've returned from my shower to find my closet open and robe laying on the cold stone ground. I think I did it last night, I can't recall. I put the cloth back on the hook and was done with it. I remember when Spike always kept everything so clean. My robe would be too heavy and big for him. Still, he would try hard to do it and impress me.

He's still off on his Anti-Celestia stunt, playing King in the Frozen North. He should get home soon, I miss him so.

She closed the book and the lock snapped it sealed. The small, pathetic light from her horn allowed her to see the hard cover and she sighed out in sadness. She hasn't even seen him in the last 12 years. Celestia makes it clear she doesn't like it when ponies think of the past, but she and others simply can't resist.

She thought of the past often. Twilight could remember the days when they ate more than bread and water, could bathe at her own digression. She missed all her friends, the old Celestia, Spike. She dragged herself off the old copper chair she was given and almost limped to her bed. Well, it was more like rags left on the ground to cover something up or a poorly crafted rug. Twilight curled up on a ball and tried sleeping, but the constant images  of her now previous life kept flashing in her mind.

Light in her eyes made them open, and she found out a guard with a lantern was passing though the walkway directly outside the cell, shining it on the residents here. Making it clear that it was morning. She didn't get any sleep last night. It was routine for the small unicorn. With dead tired legs, she stood up on the pile of rags.

"Back to my entire life" Twilight thought as she barely walked over to her timber closet in her mostly barren room, cell more like it. With quite a bit of her strength, she opened the large wooden compartment. Inside, her worn robe. An extremely old picture of her and Spike as youngsters sitting together in a field outside Canterlot. Both on top of Shining Armor, their brother. The picture made her remember much older days. She snatched up the robe and donned it over her fading lavender coat.

She closed them and walked to her door. Well, it was a cell door. Not that she was a prisoner or anything, it was just the only thing Princess Celestia could offer. A reformed dungeon-cell made to house herself. With a weak push, she moved the rusted iron and moved forward into the very last place for Princess Celestia. A spiral hole in the ground made to house the more "active" prisoners of Equestria. Infamously named Dying Hollow Star.

She walked out and the sunlight that poured down into the hole seemed off. It always felt that way, with it coming though a huge set of bars. Other ponies walked out and instantly began walking down the corridor to the guard giving out bread and water. Few stopped and looked out, watching ponies awoke on the opposite side or simply enjoying the weak sun while they could.

"Celestia wants to see you" The familiar voice of Author, her neighbor, rang out against Twilight's ears. She always appeared a bit...lost or mysterious. But, she was considered a friend to the unicorn. Although a bit rough on the edges, Author was a strong mare with no mane or tail. At any given time outside her room, was wrapped in her cloak.

Twilight coughed twice before she replied "Thank you, Author. Your service is dear to m-" Author was already walking away. Twilight huffed and followed her. She's going to have to get down to the bottom level, traversing crowds of ponies and guards. Then, get past Jaimue, The Ninth Golueais. The Last Paladin. A huge Minotaur with a long Halberd blessed by Celestia's few ounces of magic guards the entrance to Princess Celestia's chambers. Her chamber is at the bottom. If you were to look down over the railing, you'd see said Minotaur angrily starring at the door to down there.

"Does the fair lady need a escort?" The unicorn turned and found her old friend. Wrapped up in rusty gold armor with the sunlight bouncing off it, Rarity in guard form. She wasn't the first choice to become a trooper, but many of the other recruits were just starving kids with pointy sticks. Out of the dozen or so of stallions and mares who defend them, the former tailor was one of the few with actual armor. Many beg for spears, how she has an actual lance. A weapon that was given to very high-ranking knights in older times. Better times. Although, unlike spears, it has to stay on. So, she constantly has to deal with a giant rod trying to skewer anything in front of her. Her armor is ragged and makeshift, a Royal Guard's unenchanted gold armor. More for show than actual fighting, but at least she has protection.

"Rarity, how nice to see you around and trying to impale me" Twilight said happily and bumped the lance's tip with her hoof.

"You always knew me best, Twilight. Knew I'd come here to simply attempt to run you though." The two friends both dealt each other a small embrace. They didn't always get to spend time together, Rarity and her rather restricting work and Twilight with her own grief and research. More on the side of forced research. but still research.

Her cell resided on the seventh floor. There are twelve in total, the highest housing the poor, bottom doing the same with those who gained Celestia's favor. She heard many rumors about the last floor, nicknamed White's Carriage. Showers working full time, servants, beds. The whole she-bang. They're true, Twilight passes their "cells" when going down to visit the Princess. Actual rooms made to replicate the Canterlot Noble days.

They continued walking down the Dying Star. Chatting, as one would call it. Crossing poorly fed homeless or starving ponies. All sitting with their backs against the wall or still lying. A guard will be around shortly and get them back to the harsh work they live for. Hungry, tired, the only comfort they have is the bards that are seldom allowed to play.

Before the two even knew it, they stood at the bottom level of Dying Star. Celestia's Throne is directly behind Jaimue The Giant. Rarity quickly unlocked the door using her Soldier's Key, and Twilight opened it. Jaimue stood twelve, maybe even thirteen ponies taller than her. Combine that with a angry stare at her and the magic-imbued Halberd with powerful lightning. He'd make anything quiver in fear.

Rarity walked first into the round area, though it looked more like an arena. The ground was made of a swamp-like mud, making the Minotaur even more effective down here. It is widely known for the bull to devour the homeless and poor. Rarity's hoof slightly sunk into the moist dirt. but she trudged on with Twilight behind her. Jaimue focused a almost hateful pair of eyes at them.

"Ah, Sir Jaimue the Sunlit Staff?" the unicorn in the front spoke with a light tone "Twilight Sparkle, Researcher of Day and Formerly The Princess's prized student, has been called to meet our Princess. She seeks entrance."

After the passing of a moment and a loud huff, the beast of a mortal shifted. Putting his back against the antechamber's stone wall. Twilight went past Rarity and straight to the door. The angry Minotaur here was making her a bit nervous, he did anytime the Princess called her. He's completely and entirely devoted to protecting Princess Celestia.

"Noot yoou" The low, strong voice of Jaimue assault Twilight's mind. She turned around to find his Halberd blocking Rarity's path. Before other of the unicorns could protest, the great metal doors opened. Revealing one of Celesta's personal escorts. The shinning sunlight coming from said room was blinding, but the Knight urged her in and shut the door behind her.

The room was almost entirely white. Clean, spotless. Not even a trace of dirt or grime. The small patch of cloth at the entrance cleaned her hooves of the mud outside. Windows at each side pouring sunlight in, despite the room being underground. The Princess of Sun decides to use her limited store of magic to make this room seem more appropriate, as a throne-room. The Lost Paladins, Personal Guards to Her Grace. All stood at the right side. The student walked forward and past them.

At the end, Celestia laid on a table. Broken, battered, some ponies wonder if she'll even survive much longer without all her magic. But, their traitor tongues as The Princess calls it, wouldn't flap such foulness. They live a strict lifestyle, and Twilight isn't sure this is where she wants to be.

Several hacking coughs were heard, and a nearby servant quickly rushed a jug of water to Celestia. One of the Lost Paladins sprung into action. Stopping the young, well-dressed filly in her tracks. The warrior took the jug and drank from it. Testing it for poison. After a moment, The Essuni warrior gave Celestia the container and she drank thirstily.

When she was finished, The guard took it and handed it back to the servant. She bowed and quickly left though the door. Twilight caught a glimpse of Rarity. She was talking with Jaimue, or at least trying to. He was known to be a bit...anti-social. She turned her attention back Celestia, she was sitting up now. Still coughing.

"Sparkle," Celestia finally said "Let me let you on a little secret." She leaned in closer to Twilight.

"I'm dying"

Twilight didn't have a initial reaction. Celestia, dying? It seemed...impossible. She can't die now, who was going to lead them? Luna? She was off tending relationships, or creating them, with neighbors. Celestia laid back down on the table

"But, there's a way we can prevent this from happening." The Sun Princess continued. "You need to bring Spike here, and I need to take his soul. It's the only one with enough power and magic to heal me."