Prologue: Celetia's Story
She could see tens of thousands of ponies. All here for the same reason: to see the top athletes in Equestria compete for the gold medal in several sporting events in the newly returned Crystal Empire. But none of the events could start until the torch was lit. But it was the torch lighting that had Princess Twilight so excited, for it was none other than her little dragon assistant Spike who was going to light it. As she took her seat next to her teacher, Princess Celestia, Twilight could already see spike at the torch, ready to light it when Mrs. Harshwhinny gave the signal. As she waited for him to light it, Twilight couldn't help but think about why Spike had the honor of lighting the Torch. It was because he was the Hero of the Crystal Empire, since he was the one who brought the Crystal Heart to Princess Cadence before King Sombra could take it. On that note, Twilight's thoughts shifted to the evil king himself. She knew Sombra was an evil tyrant who enslaved the ponies of the Crystal Empire until Celestia and Luna banished him to the icy north. But why was he so evil, why did he crave crystals, why did he want to enslave the Crystal Ponies, and why hasn't spike lit the torch yet? Breaking out of her thoughts, she realized that spike was having trouble lighting the torch. She didn't want him to be embarrassed, so she performed a discreet fire spell to make it look like spike was the one who lit it. She knew he would be angry at her later, but she decided to cross that bridge when she came to it. Turning back to her earlier thoughts, she decided that she needed answers, and she knew the one pony who could give them to her, "Princess Celestia?"
"Yes, my Faithful Student?"
"Can I ask you a question?"
"Twilight, you know I am always happy to answer your questions."
"Okay then, why was King Sombra so evil? I mean, all you told me about him was that he was a tyrant, and needed to be stopped. You never told me why he was a tyrant."
Twilight saw her mentors countenance fall. "That is a very sad and tragic tale, one that I do not like to tell. But I will tell you, since you want to know, but let us wait till tonight, in my bedchamber, so that we do not ruin this merry atmosphere."
Twilight was confused, but conceded to wait till later that night.
"Twilight, the tale I am going to tell you will change what you know of me, my sister, and the history of Equestria. Are you sure you want to hear it?"
"I'm sure princess." Twilight wasn't really sure, but her teacher's trepidation over this topic turned her mild interest into a burning obsession that she needed to quench.
"Alright, if your sure. My tale begins one thousand and forty years before Nightmare Moon's return, at the castle of the Royal Pony Sisters...."
