Ancestral Cycle #1: Freedom

Two fillies race towards the schoolyard in Ponyville. The one in the lead, a purple unicorn with a dark blue mane and tail and emerald eyes, looked back at the one behind her and shouted, "I told you we'd be late, Spell Feather! We shouldn't have tried to prank Mrs. Apple!"

The back one, a blue unicorn with a black and red mane and tail with yellow eyes shouted back, "It was your idea, Berry Shine! You better pray to Celestia that Ms. Sparkle won't ream us for being late! She said she had a special thing for us today! She'll kill us! Just like in her stories when she was younger!"

"Stop being a scaredy filly and let's go!" Berry shouted as they raced into the schoolyard. They both took deap breaths, and hurriedly trotted into the classroom. A purple alicorn with a dark purple mane and tail with red glasses on was sitting at her desk, reading a book silently. The class seemed to be silent themselves, doing quiet things.

Without looking up, the alicorn cleared her throat and said, "Berry Shine, Spell Feather, you're late."

The two fillies instantly bowed down and said, "We're sorry, Ms. Twilight Sparkle! We-" Berry began to say, but Spell elbowed her.

"We were just catching up on some magic studying!" Spell said, and they both stood at attention.

Twilight put her book down and took off her glasses. "You may be seated. I specifically told everypony yesterday that something important was going to happen today." She said as she set down her glasses. The two fillies nodded and quickly hurried to their seats as Twilight stood up in front of the class.

"Today, will be a story day." The class did a light cheer, but Twilight hushed them. " Princess Celestia and Luna have given me permission to share this such story, for it plays an important role in this world. But it will be a long story, not involving anything I did, except help." The class looked at each other, and Twilight opened her drawer. She pulled out a big purple leather-bound book. On the cover had a profile view of a stallion's head with  a long spiky mane. His eyes were's seen, but the gold and amethyst crown that was atop his head shone bright like the rest of the design. She placed her stool in front of her desk and sat in it.

"Listen carefully, for this is a tale that made history." She opened the book, and cleared her throat. "Hundreds of years ago, in a Realm of Celestial Dragons called 'Ancestors'..."

~~~

A female dragon that shone like the stars walked down to the edge of a crystal pool. Her scales where covered like the night sky, but you could tell she had a dark blue coating with purple eyes. Something shifted behind her, and she whipped her head around to see a male dragon, who had stars in his scales like hers, emerge from a bush. He was gray with gold eyes.

“Startia, it has been many Moons.” The dragon said.

The mare dipped her head and said, “As well to thee, Census.” She unfolded her wings, and sighed. The dragon took his place at the pool and looked at it- one could see nothing but stormy clouds. Bushes shook around them, and many other dragons with stars in their scales emerged.

They all settled down, and Census stood at the north end of the starry pool. “Ancestors of Creation,” He began. “For many millenniums, Celestia and Luna have wandered our shattered world, searching for a place of rest. They had found it, and rose a wonderful Kingdom. Both have lived in Harmony, until the tyrant Discord attacked them.”

One of the dragons, who had storms brewing across his scales, stood up. "What of Penumbra?" There was a chorus of gasps that arose from the Ancestors.

Census glared at the pony and said, “Take your seat, Welkin.” The alicorn eased down. Harmony turned his attention to the others. “Penumbra still lies in the Echo. But he is growing stronger.

"How?" One of the ancestors, she smelled of the ocean, questioned. "Astria and Twilight nearly destroyed his form."

Census walked around the pool's edge, and dipped his claw into it. The cloudy water cleared to reveal a dark blue stallion trotting across a black and misty field. "He is doing the Dark King's bidding." The Ancestors were beyond shocked.

A dark blue female dragon rose up, furious. "Didn't he die?!" She roared.

Census hung his head. "The truth is a painful thing," He sighed, and all of the Ancestors settled down. "The time has come. An era of Darkness is coming upon us, and it seems that not even we will be prepared. The time has come for the Garden of Roses to be retrieved."

"How?" Startia asked. "The colt doesn't even know who he is!"

Census looked sympathetically at her. "Then it is time for us to awaken this colt." He touched the water again, and it revealed a blurred picture of a baby in a carriage. As the Ancestors slowly departed, he leaned forward and whispered a chilling line;

“Wake up, our Song.

Play us your Tune.

Show them you’re strong,

And save us from Eternal Doom.”

~~~

The hooded stallion stopped before the large black hole; his ragged breath and his hooves kneading the ground showed he was beyond nervous. He took a deep breath, and walked inside. It was completely dark, but the stallion had learned to be accustomed to the blinding darkness. For many minutes he walked straight forward, as if there was a trail he wished not to stray from. Suddenly, a slight breeze ruffled his coat and mane, and then the space around him lightened up to a dim. The stallion's eyes adjusted yet again, and he was aware of numerous dark creatures beyond description all around him on the sides of the large room-it reminded the stallion oddly of a court.

In front of him, at the far part of the room, sat what the stallion was looking for: a creature who had a blanket of shadows around him. He already knew who it was, and he needed the beast's help. The creature(who the stallion guessed was leaning on his claw) straightened up and spoke in a rumbling voice; "Ah, my loyal servant has arrived."

The stallion coughed, trying to regain his composure. He bowed respectfully and said, "My Dark King, I...May I ask you of something?"

There was silence as the creatures looked at the stallion in horror. Finally, the beast on the throne spoke. "Hmmm...nobody has asked me to do something for them in a long, long time..." Every creature held its breath. "But, since you are my most loyalest follower, and indeed the one that will carry out my wishes without any objections." He waved his claw, giving the stallion permission.

The stallion inhaled, and spoke what he needed. "M-My wife...she has fallen very, very ill. She is pregnant, and her due is quite near. The..." He hesitated, then continued. "And the doctors say she may die if she gives birth-and the baby as well. All I ask is for you to rid of her illness. I-I'll give you anything."

The shadows around the beast retreated, showing a large sleek black dragon. He leaned forward and said, "Your wish will be done." He smiled. "But, I want one thing in return."

The stallion gulped. "Name your price, my King."

The dragon smiled wickedly, and leaned forward. His eyes glinted with mischievousness and evil. He spoke one sentence, and the stallion then knew he made a mistake;

"I want your child. He will be ever so useful for me."