Shadow Flame

by Shadow Flame

Rating: everyone
Tags: Original Character, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Comedy, Cutie Mark Crusaders, Romance, Adventure, Tragedy, Random, Princess Celestia, Main 6, Princess Luna
Length: 2646

A story following the origin story. Read as Princess Twilight and the Elements of Harmony uncover one of Equestria's greatest mysteries: The Origin of Alicorns.

A story following the origin story. Here you are, you lucky readers. This is the official story for Shadow Flame. Enjoy and follow as Princess Twilight and the Elements of Harmony uncover one of Equestria's greatest mysteries: The Origin of Alicorns. Happy Reading.

Published 2014-06-28 04:20:02 UTC
Last updated 2014-07-22 03:59:03 UTC

History of Alicorns

... And although there is a spell that can transform a pony into an alicorn, there has been a unicorn who witnessed the birth of one of these alicorns without magic. Another mystery is the ratio of gender. All known alicorns are female. Some ponies believe that in the time before Equestria was founded male alicorns were as common as females. There are also rumors that all alicorns other than Princess Celestia and Princess Luna from that time were killed. All that I know is that alicorns are essentially immortal and are heralded as the strongest magic users of all known pony types, only being exceeded by the draconequus and centaur races. To quote an old friend, "Alicorns are too powerful for any mortal to harm or kill. Anyone can attest to the decline of this pony type because of the fact that, as their power as a species grew, so too did their desire for dominance. The only ones who won't wind up dying shall be those who possess a magic essential for our world to function properly." That was the last I ever saw of him. Shortly there after, two things happened; the alicorn species started to decline in Equestria, and the dark Lord Tirek came with intent on stealing pony magic. And so, I ask that if anyone reading this is crazy enough to try, help me find my friend. He may very well be the only one who can help bring the alicorn species back from the brink.

"Well, do you think that his 'friend' is Scorpan?" Twilight asked.

"I do not know," Princess Celestia said. "It may very well be that this 'friend' is another alicorn."

"The only way to know for sure would be to find him." Discord suggested. "This mysterious creature may very well be helpful for our plans."

"Look," Princess Luna said. "There's another page about this alicorn history."

"She's right." Twilight said. "But it is written in a language that I don't understand."

"I can understand it." Discord said. "Perhaps I can help here."

Moon Log: 3:45 am. It has been about thirty moons since last I saw any of the other alicorns I've worked with in the forging of the Elements of Harmony. I fear the worst for the other spirits. I worried that the energy I needed to expend in forging the Element of Magic would wind up being the most fatal task in forging them. If my magic weren't needed to help keep the Tree of Harmony from being discovered until it was big and strong enough to survive any kind of attack, I'd go right now. I fear that I may be the last alicorn as well. Even if the two new alicorn foals that were born manage to survive to reach mare-hood, there'd be no guarantee they'd stay pure to the survival of this planet. I know this sounds silly, and that I'm probably overreacting a bit, but I wish that I didn't have this sneaking suspicion that there are a group of about 147 alicorns planning on conquering this world. I took the time to make it impossible for anyone to get to the only naturally occurring portal to the world I, along with my brother and our friend, who shall remain unnamed, created for humans to exist. I also hid the various artifacts that enable travel between these worlds I didn't assign to the Order members in that world deep in the ground, save for a mirror that can only be used once every thirty moons. I asked my unicorn friend Star Swirl the Bearded to try his hoof at time travel, in an attempt to save the only ones who might be able to keep my worst fears and nightmares from coming to pass. I have to end this entry here. I hear someone coming with what sounds like a spear or ax. Should this be my last journal entry, I apologize in advance for any harm that may befall this world with my death.

"But, the world isn't in bad shape." Twilight said.

"I know." Princess Celestia said, trying to hold back tears. "He did everything he could to ensure our future."

"We have to find him. If he is in fact an alicorn, he should still be alive somewhere."

"Didn't you hear what I said?" Discord asked. "He could be dead."

"And he might not be." Twilight countered. "I'm going to go find him, if it's the last thing I do."

"Then I suggest," Princess Celestia said. "That you take your Ponyville friends with you. This concerns them too, as the current Spirits of Harmony."

"I won't let you down. I'll find him with help from my friends."

***

The reason that all current princesses of Equestria are alicorns while no other alicorns, especially male alicorns, are found is simple, yet complex. I wish it ultimately didn't have to come to this. The male alicorns, save for my brother and myself, were deemed too egomaniacal to let run around spreading their will. It would be a bigger problem than a thousand of the most powerful draconequus-species spell weavers ruling the world. I knew that I could trust Discord more than any male alicorn these days. One thing I noticed about alicorn parents is that in those with both parents being alicorns the foals are always alicorns. In couples with only one, there is no guarantee that any of the fillies or colts will be alicorns. That would ultimately be our greatest defense against an alicorn who wishes to rule our world. I've watched both Celestia and Luna grow up into the perfect alicorns to rule Equestria. I just wished that the Alicorn War of Power weren't occurring, so I may be there to help them. But I promise to return and do my part to keep Equestria a perfect place. Celestia, Luna, if either of you are currently reading this, I'm sorry. I'm truly, truly sorry.

Author's Note

Well, go on. Comment. Tell me just how much you think it sucks. Just don't go trying to take anything you say back when I publish the action packed epic final battle of the story.

We Meet At Last

"I know that this sounds silly," Twilight said. "But maybe if we can find this alicorn, then maybe we might know the true origin of the alicorn ponies, as well as why there aren't many of them in Equestria."

"We'd be happy to help, Twilight." Applejack said.

"Yeah, Twi." Rainbow Dash added. "Where do we begin?"

"According to the book covering the different pony types," Twilight started, using her magic to lift a big, dusty old book in front of everyone. "This mysterious alicorn was last seen in a remote area of the Everfree Forest before going to some far-off land. So we should start there."

"Why there?" Rarity asked.

"And why didn't Zecora tell us about this alicorn?" Rainbow Dash added.

"I'm not sure why this alicorn was last seen in the Everfree Forest," Twilight said. "As for why Zecora didn't mention an alicorn, I assume even she hasn't met this alicorn."

"Then let's go!" Rainbow Dash said, already halfway out of the castle.

***

"I'll take a bushel." A mysterious hooded pony said to the merchant at the tomato stand while levitating a sack of coins onto the counter with magic.

"Pleasure doing business with you." The merchant said, already putting away the bits.

"Now that I have these tomatoes," The hooded pony started. "I can finally complete the plans I have."

"No, Spike." Twilight said in a rather annoyed tone. "We won't be able to find this alicorn in..." Twilight started to say before bumping into the same hooded pony from before. "Ugh!"

"Are you ok, Princess?" The hooded pony asked, concerned.

"I'm ok." Twilight said, getting up. "Sorry for bumping into you."

"I'm the one who's sorry. I wasn't really looking at where I was going. I hope you're ok Princess Twilight."

"I'm fine. Thanks for your concern, though."

"Anytime. Well, I better get going." The hooded pony said, starting to turn around.

"Wait!" Twilight said. "You didn't tell me your name."

"I'm sure we'll meet again. I live near here, in the Everfree Forest."

"You live there?" Twilight asked, curiosity rising with each second. "I'd like to see where you live."

"Alright, but shouldn't we wait for your guards to come?"

"I don't really have any guards, except for Spike."

"I see." The hooded pony chuckled. "Not much protection that a baby dragon can provide, but who cares about age with a species-wide reputation like the one that dragons have."

"You've got some nerve mister." Spike said.

"I'd really think twice before challenging me if I were you. But I admire your courage."

"Before we go any further," Twilight said. "I would like to know your name. Why are you trying to keep it hidden?"

"I've gone by many names over the course of my life, but I am known by my birth name most of all." The hooded pony began his monologue.

"But what is it?" Twilight said. "As a princess of Equestria, I order you to tell me."

"If you knew my past, you wouldn't be so quick to make an order like that. But I'll tell you. I am Shadow Flame." Shadow Flame said. "As for the reason I tried to keep it hidden, it is tied into my past and who I am."

"You wouldn't happen to know the first alicorn, would you?" Twilight asked.

"Know him?" Shadow Flame asked. "My connection with him is much deeper than that."

"I wonder..." Twilight mumbled to herself before using her magic to remove Shadow Flame's cloak. "What?! How?! Why?!"

"That's right." Shadow Flame said. "I'm an alicorn. A male alicorn and the oldest known alicorn in this world."

Author's Note

Secret's out I guess. Stay tuned for the next chapter to find out what happens next.

A Brief Lesson in History

"How...?! What...?! Why...?!" A confused Twilight Sparkle stuttered. "How can there be a male alicorn?! That isn't even possible!"

"I assume that you were given a book about the different kinds of ponies with an extra-long section on alicorns?" Shadow Flame asked.

"Yes." Twilight said. "But I thought that it was mostly speculation by the author outside of the basic biological information that everypony knows."

"You were the one pony who was convinced that Nightmare Moon was coming back 1,000 years after Luna was banished to the moon, and was the only one who was certain that there was something amiss with Cadance when Chrysalis was masquerading as her, yet you think that I'm impossible. Really?"

"Well, maybe you're a changeling." Twilight pointed out.

"Changelings can only take the form of someone that they've seen before." Shadow Flame responded. "Since this is the first time I've revealed my form to someone in years, and everyone that is living in Equestria who has seen me had the image of my form faded into their most inaccessible memory banks, I doubt that any changeling could mimic my form."

"That doesn't even make sense!" Twilight retorted.

"Oh, what fun is there in making sense." Shadow Flame responded in a tone mocking Discord. "Seriously, though. I exist. I'm not a changeling, I'm not any kind of shape-shifter. I am a tried-and-true, 100% genuine Equestrian Alicorn, male version 1.5."

"And how do we know you aren't Discord playing a prank on us?" Spike said in a nervous tone.

"Yeah." Twilight said. "How can we be sure you aren't Discord."

"Well, that's simple." Shadow Flame said. "Why don't you ask..."

"Why don't you just ask the one and only Discord." Discord said, appearing in the place of one of the trees to the left of Twilight. "Shadow Flame, long time no see."

"Alright, Shadow Flame. If that is your real name," Twilight said, flaring up her horn in preparation for a spell. "Explain yourself. Who are you? How are you an alicorn? And why haven't you been seen in years?"

"I suppose I owe you an explanation." Shadow Flame said. "But I think it should be told to your friends and fellow Elements of Harmony too. And I have no intention of repeating this tale. I'll meet you at your castle, the one you got from the Tree of Harmony in an hour." Shadow Flame finished starting to his home.

"Wait! Look out for that... " Twilight said as Shadow Flame started to walk into a pond, only to notice him walking on top of it. "How is that possible?"

"One of your friends has chaotic magic," Shadow Flame said over his shoulder. "This should be common for you to see."

"I've never thought to do that." Discord said. "I've got to try that sometime."

"Anyway, one hour. Oh, and don't worry about me being unable to find it. I know the way."

"Well, alright." Twilight said. "See you in an hour."

***

"Alright." Twilight said once everyone was seated. "Talk. Answer the questions I asked you earlier."

"Who am I? As I said earlier, I am Shadow Flame. An alicorn." Shadow Flame started. "I am oftentimes referred to as the first on account of my age. I am the oldest known alicorn yes, but I can't claim the title of the first alicorn in existence."

"Then who is?" Princess Celestia asked.

"The information is what one might call a shocker." Shadow Flame said. "But I will explain. Back in the early years of our world, back even before Discord was born, I was a young colt in my 20's. My transformation had just started about a few years prior, yet I hadn't fully become an alicorn. I had the magic, yes, but not quite the form.

"I was one of the few lucky survivors of a war the likes of which the world hadn't seen before or, thankfully, since. I assumed that my transformation had something to do with it."

"Yes," Twilight said. "But how did you become an alicorn?"

"I believe that an enchanted gem I found a few years before that war, along with a certain phrase I'll keep to myself, caused it." Shadow Flame said. "This answers the question of how I became an alicorn. As for the identity of the first alicorn. Truth is, even I can't say how she was born. All I know is that after the war I found her and her mom. Unfortunately, her mom had passed. It was too late even for magic to help her.

"But I vowed to the heavens that I would make sure that she was cared for." Shadow Flame continued his narrative. "And for the next few decades, that's what I did. My powers grew, and I taught her everything I knew and created. Eventually, my transformation had finished and I was an alicorn in full. We lived in the most remote of places in the place now called the Everfree forest."

"What was her name?" Princess Celestia asked.

"And where is she now?" Princess Luna added.

"I decided to name her Hope." Shadow Flame answered. "As for where she is? I would guess that she is out looking for some new dress in Manehattan."

"When will she be back?" Twilight asked.

"She left about an hour before I met you, Twilight." Shadow Flame said. "Probably tomorrow morning."

"Will you let us know when she returns?" Princess Cadence asked.

"Yes." Shadow Flame said, nodding his head. "I'll send Joey to Princess Twilight as soon as Hope returns."

Author's Note

Well, here it is. A history lesson from Shadow Flame. In case you realized, this spoils the ending to the origin story in a way. Let's hope for an episode in the new season that will make or break this history lesson.