Legends from Ages Past

Almost everyone they knew sat at the table. All of them were the faces of friends and family, yet they were also strangers. Ponies who were familiar to her but seemed alien, like those in your dreams. Luna looked to her sister who sat staring forward without blinking. She could tell Celestia was scared. Neither of them knew what was going on. Luna stretched out a wing to her beloved sister and wrapped it over her back, embracing her. She knew the moment Celestia had woken her in the bath that something was wrong. Truthfully, Luna already knew something was wrong.

As she had slept she had felt the dreams of Beardy in the room next door. Normally he dreamt of strange magical contraptions and cities that were powered by clockwork. The mind of a mage was a truly strange yet wondrous place, but last night it was different. Instead of great cities that ticked and tocked as the sun jittered across the sky, Beardy was atop a great mountain. Around him were the spires of a great palace that cut straight into the clouds above them and stood tall and proud. Looking down from the mountainside he could see the palace far below and a great city that stretched out for what felt like eternity, ending in a magnificent waterfall that fell from the edge of the city to the lands far below out of sight. It felt normal at first Luna could recall. But the sky darkened. The purple domes and spires of the city became as black as night. Ponies ran about in the streets frantically trying to escape the crumbling buildings that were shattered by flaming rocks that fell from the sky. From within craters left behind dark, malevolent beasts of all shapes and sizes came forth into the world. These monstrosities tore ponies limb from limb and fed on their screams which seemed to transform into cackles of wicked laughter. Beardy could do nothing but stare in horror as the city was massacred by these chaotic minions. He awoke suddenly as a shadow loomed over him from behind and whispered in his ear.

“Would you like to play a game Starswirl? Oh I do love games, don’t you? Lets make this the first rule, no flying no magic.”

As the deep and menacing laughing had past, Luna could tell Beardy was afraid. Afraid that Discord knew of Celestia and Luna’s existence, yet this not only terrified him but also left him puzzled. Luna didn’t get to learn why it had such an effect on Beardy, when he awoke her connection to his mind was broken. She didn’t want to reveal her secret ability to enter the dreams of others so the only option was to wait for the others to tell the whole story and then patch it all together.

Facing away from the window sat Iron Shield and Beardy. Beside Beardy was Freya Moongazer, Beardy’s previous student before she took on Luna and her sister. Luna had always had a strong connection with Freya, for she was also a lover of the night. Her special talent was being able read the symbols that dotted the moon and decipher them into tales of what came before as well as what was to come. Even Beardy admitted it was a school of mysticism he had never understood and rarely heard of, but that it was a gift that would one predict the return of a nightmare.

Luna often wondered how Beardy knew such things, but every time she asked he merely said, “The monks told me”.

Her eyes drifted back from her daydreams and memories to the unicorn. Freya was slender, with a dark blue coat and a purple mane and tail that were cropped short. She looked almost as young as Luna and Celestia so no one meeting her for the first time would expect her to be as knowledgable and mature as she was.

Next to Freya at the head of the table across from them was the vacant space where Rose had been. Rose was in the kitchen making more tea and bringing food for Freya and the two other new arrivals.

Luna began to lose herself for a moment in thought as she stared at the empty chair across from her. The real world around her shifted, the magical world she descended into when lost in thought started to rise around her, like a gentle mist on a calm spring morning. Luna felt at peace when her mind was in this state. A little realm for a little pony, she would think to herself as she drifted off to sleep at night and the mystical tendrils of silvery mist slowly crept their way into the corners of her vision, encasing her in their dim light. Luna eventually realised that only she could see this world. Sometimes she wondered if this was a strange form of magic that tied in with her connection to the dreams of others and the moon. Looking through the tinted glass to the sky high above, the moon was indeed lingering on the horizon. Perhaps thats why I can feel the mists now.

“Well the last time I seen you two young lassies was when Celestia was bouncing off the walls with excitement at her present and Luna was peaking out from behind the pillar in the centre of the room, too timid to come say hello.”

The deep voice brought Luna back from her peaceful realm and the mists dissipated from around her. Luna looked to her right to the giant pony that sat around the corner from Celestia. Celestia didn’t seem to register that the massive highlander had said anything and continued to stare forward at the table.

The mountain of orange fur was looking at Luna with a sad expression before speaking again. “You remember me don’t you lass?”

“Yes sir, you’re old Angus,” Luna said as she smiled at the gentle giant. “It has been a long time since you have visited us though, seeing as Beardy had sent you on your own quest.”

“Old?! I may have a few grey hairs about to pop out my head, but I am still as young and as fit as an adolescent Buffalo!” the mighty Angus Hammerfall fixed his gaze on the door to the kitchen where Rose still lingered. “You been telling your girls that I’m old now?” Angus let out a thunderous laugh and stamped a hoof on the ground. “I hope you’ve no made me out to be some kind of old decrepit fool now! Oh, no offence,” Angus quickly added as he remembered he was sat at a table with possible the oldest pony in all of Equestria.

“So are you now trying to tell them I am the old, decrepit fool Angus?” Beardy raised an eyebrow and Iron Shield snorted as he chuckled to himself.

“Angus, we all know your not old or decrepit. Your manage to keep up with me after all, and your nearly twice me age,” Iron Shield said with a wicked grin.

Hearing the voice of her ‘stallion in shining armour’, Celestia began to stir slightly. Though Luna was glad Celestia was coming round from the darker corner of her mind, she couldn't help but roll her eyes at her.

“Though you do choose a strange way to fight your enemies which I have never understood, so perhaps you are going senile after all.”

“Lets no get into this again boy! I’ve lost count of the number of times you mocked me even when you were just a wee colt. Of course you don’t understand though. You spend that entire fight just there hidden in that wee tin can of yours, and so don’t have to worry about fighting off giant beasts that simply tear you open with a single swipe of their claws. No chance you would get me in one of them cans, and I only ever forged you one because Beardy here told me to. Give me a giant claymore any day and I’ll show you what a true highlander fights like!”

“Perhaps we should save your hoof measuring for another time boys?” Freya said in her gentle voice that was so mystical she could even subdue the mighty Angus of Clan Mountain Hammer. “We do have important business to attend to and I don’t think the girls have any interest in hearing your tall tales any more.”

“Tall tales is it now? I’m starting to feel I was summoned here just to be insulted! See you though, you’ve always been an odd one Freya. Your a Unicorn though so that might explain all that magical jiggery pockery that you hide behind when the tough gets going. Again, no offence Beardy.” Angus cast everyone at the table a wicked but charming grin that even managed to break a smile across Celestia’s face and bring her back into the present moment.

“Though this back and forth is delightful, like Freya said let’s talk something a little more insightful?” The final member of the group spoke at last. Luna was always intrigued by her mannerisms and speech, but on top of that she wasn’t a pony either. Nzuri was in fact a Zebra, a descendant of the ancient and powerful Zephyrian Zebra who once ruled most of the known world in the days before ponies found this land. “What Freya says is true, but I cannot think straight without some of Rose’s tasty stew.” She tilted her head towards the kitchen as Rose appeared through the doorway carrying a large pot from one of her front legs.

“Mother, I will carry it for you,” Celestia said the moment she saw her. Though Earth Ponies could carry things just as well as anypony else it was a lot easier for those who possessed magic, and Celestia was determined to always help their Mother in any little way she could. Luna always admired her sister for trying to be so kind just like Rose. She would help out too at times but for a task like this she was not needed, and Celestia was more than willing and capable of bringing the food and tea out for everyone.

“Thank you my dear,” Rose said with a warm smile. Her eyes were still puffy from when she had been crying earlier, but Celestia simply kissed her on the cheek before moving to the doorway of the kitchen and levitated everything through while Rose made her way towards the head of the table. “I trust my daughters have kept you entertained then? Or has it once again descended into who is best pony?” Rose asked the odd group arranged at the table.

Angus stood up to his full enormous height and bowed deeply to Rose as she sat down. “Lady Rose, its an honour to be graced with your beautiful presence once again. I fear that over the years I may have aged and withered, just a bit at least. But you my lady, are as radiant as the day I first set my eyes on you.” As he lifted his head he winked at her, leaving all the others there to either roll their eyes or smack their hooves to their forehead. Angus just down sat back down again grinning like a mischievous little colt.

“It’s very kind of you to say so dear,” Rose said, “but I don’t believe you could wither away at all. You are one of the strongest of all of Clan Mountain Hamm—”

“Ahem, I believe you mean the strongest of all of the highlander ponies,” Angus corrected her jokingly, which was met with yet more facehooves from the others.

“Yes of course thats what I meant to say sweetie, my apologies,” Rose said as she continued to smile. Luna looked at her mother’s beautiful smile and noticed that she was using it against Angus who had frozen in place. Rose must have momentarily stopped the heart of Angus as he remained speechless for a good few moments before nodding in what was obviously the most manly expression he could muster at that point.

“This food was definitely worth that long haul, forgive me if my mouth is too full to speak at all!” Nzuri was already ploughing her way through a bowl of Rose’s vegetable stew, obviously the trek to get here had been a long and hard one for her. Luna had met Nzuri several times before when Rose would take her two daughters for walks in the forests. Nzuri was always out searching the forest floor for rare plants and collecting herbs while talking to herself in the exotic language of her tribe.

“Shouldn’t we be discussing the Order and what our next move is?” Iron Shield asked. He was born to be a soldier it seemed, eager to get down to business and beat the bad guys the moment everyone was ready to listen.

“Not just yet.” Beardy looked over at Luna and then Celestia in turn as she sat back down. In that moment he looked old and weary, as if all his long years had suddenly caught up to him and now were a burden on his shoulders, making even the tiniest of movements a momentous task. “First of all we must tell you two the entire story, from the beginning.”

Beardy lifted his head and gazed absentmindedly into the air in front of him before he started muttering a strange incantation. His horn started to glow a bright blue colour, then all of a sudden the cottage fell away from Luna and she was suspended in the mists that she would see when she drifted off into her own little realm of dreams. None of the others were anywhere to be seen but Beardy’s voice rang out clearly from all around as he explained the vision that began to weave into existence all around her. Luna instantly recognised the story. She had heard it before when Beardy used to tell them tales around the fire, but this time she knew that this version would be quite different.

* * * * *

“Every year on Hearths Warming Eve everypony would tell the story of how Equestria was founded. Of how the three tribes; the Earth Ponies; the Unicorn; and the Pegasi; all came together and found harmony through friendship. By putting their differences aside, similarly to how our strange group of friends has, they were able to build up a great nation that was meant to stand the test of time.

The Earth Ponies farmed the rich land to provide food aplenty for their kin. The Unicorns used their magic to build strong cities that became the jewels of their nation, including the ancient capital city of Canterlot. The Pegasi explored the farthest corners of their new homeland in search of wonders to share with every Equestrian.”

“To the South-West the Saddle Arabians joined them, as did the Crystal Ponies to the North. The Saddle Arabians dwelt in the vast Arabian deserts that began where Equestria ended and they were masters of architecture, astronomy, trade and exploration. The Crystal Ponies ruled the Crystal Kingdom, a tiny nation in the frozen wastes that was protected by a great magical power and mighty knights such as the legendary Sapphire Knight that meant they lived in a utopia within the wastes, where the snow and evil beasts could not tread. The three nations formed a strong bond and prospered standing at one anothers sides through thick and thin, but it was not meant to last. In the coming years, a new tale was to be told of how Equestria, the land we cherished and loved, was burned.”

“Equestria and her allies grew stronger with each passing year. Their natural resources became the envy of many. Their cities shone like jewels in an otherwise bland rock. Their combined might was legendary and no one could possibly threaten them so long as their united banners flew side by side. However, it was not a threat from another land that led to war. It came from a cult of mad, delusional ponies who sought to bring chaos into what could have been a perfect world. They dreamt of a world where the laws of physics, magic and ponies gave way to the whims of the Mad-God, Discord. Imprisoned within the dark and subterranean prison of Tartarus he was meant to never see the sun or moon for all eternity, but when the Order of Chaos began to move once again, one of the chains that bound him broke and fell to the floor, with such thunder it awoke him. And he knew they were coming for him and his laugher echoed through the dark world of Tartarus and caused the hairs of his watchers to stand on edge as his echoes clawed their way throughout the subterranean realm.”

“When they finally came, the Order waged a war from the shadows on Equestria. The Golden Triangle, representatives from all three of the pony tribes and their allied nations, tried to halt the advance of the Order, but their armies could not meet the forces of the Order in open battle. The warlocks and conjurors of the Order summoned creatures from nightmares that tore through the ranks of the United Equestrian Armies in ambushes as they traveled across the land in search of the hidden agents of chaos. Even the legendary Crystal Knights could not best the darkest of these monsters from the void. In the end Canterlot was lost after a siege that lasted nearly a week. The ponies were scattered and Equestria was claimed by Eris, the leader of the Order. Saddle Arabia was shattered into many smaller nations that fought over what was left of their once vast sultanate. The Crystal Ponies poured the magic of their noble houses into their protective barrier until it hid them completely from the outside world. Equestria, less than twenty years after its founding, had fallen.”

“It is said that in one of the smaller chapels to the many gods of the Equestrians a mare fled and prayed for help to end the war and save what was left of their kin. As her tears hit the shattered floor a great light appeared before her and two young foals were formed within it from the dust that covered the altar. One was as white as the purest snow and the other as blue as the deepest ocean. They were the first of ponykind to ever possess the wings of a Pegasus and the horn of a Unicorn. From the light a voice spoke and told the mare that these two foals and the magic they would one day wield were the only hope of defeating Discord and his Order. The mare was to take them and raise them far from the eyes of the Order and ensure that both reached adulthood. If Discord was to find them before they were able to fully control their power then the world would forever be shaped and governed by the desires of the Mad-God. The mare promised the great power before her that she would care for them like they were her own and ensure they were protected from harm. With that she took the foals and everything else she could carry in her saddlebags and fled the burning Canterlot before any of the Order could find them.”

“It was only a few days later that the Order took Canterlot as their seat of power and ruled over the Equestrians with utter ruthlessness. Those who fell in line and accepted their place beneath Discord’s chosen were treated less horribly than those who opposed their rule. There were some ponies who openly rebelled against the Order. They took up arms and fought to try and take back their homes. The leaders of the rebels were those of The Golden Triangle who had escaped and now led the Equestrian Resistance against their new masters, but they are totally unaware of the events that occurred in that small chapel in Canterlot on the final night of the siege. Truthfully very few knew what had happened. Only those who could be trusted with the future of Equestria were told and had to swear an oath to protect the two Alicorns from the madness of Discord, as well as the rebels who would use them as a weapon against their foes. Those who didn’t take the oath had their memories of the Alicorns taken from them through magic and then were left to continue their lives as they would have done. Those few that did pledge their allegiance came to call themselves The Wardens of the Sun and Moon and would spend the rest of their days fighting to protect their charges until they met their destinies, or death took them.”

* * * * *

Luna sat there in silence. As the story sank into her mind and the mists around her evaporated she was once again in their cottage at that same wooden table with all the others. Everyone was now looking at both her and Celestia expectantly. Luna thought about all she had heard. These Wardens of the Sun and Moon were those sitting at the table around them. The mare who carried the two Alicorns off into the darkness away from Canterlot was her mother Rose. The two Alicorns, and indeed the “Sun and Moon” that were being guarded, she presumed were her and Celestia. They had the power in them to defeat Discord and the Order and end the reign of chaos, for they are just like him.

They were Demi-Gods. They were the creations of a Goddess, the Goddess that spoke to Rose and entrusted the two of them with her. Part of Luna’s mind felt that this Goddess was in some way her true mother and that Rose was a guardian of some kind, but the mists in her mind whispered to her saying this was not the case. The Goddess may have created her and Celestia, but it was Rose who had raised them. It was Rose who had cared for them, taught them all they knew and it was Rose who would lay down her life to protect them from Discord if he was to ever come here. Luna cast her gaze across the faces of all those present and finally let her eyes focus on her mother. Tears were again running down Rose’s cheeks as she tried to keep her composure and speak to them.

“I know I am not the one who brought you into this world girls, but I love you the same way any other mother loves her daughters. I understand that you might feel angry that I did not tell you the truth, but if I had then all those years of laughter and joy that you both had as young fillies would have been lost. Sometimes the truth is best kept a secret until the time is right.”

Rose looked from Luna to Celestia and the tears continued to stream down her cheeks and into the tea that lay before her. The ripples seemed to cascade out from the point the droplets pierced the hot liquid. Perhaps right now Rose felt that the truth was piercing her heart too, as she feared what Celestia and Luna would think of her. Almost before Luna could reply a pink glow had surrounded Rose’s tea cup and it levitated to the side and was replaced with a tissue that Celestia had hovered over from one of the smaller tables in the corner.

“You will always be my mother,” Celestia simply said. “You may not have been the mare that brought us into the world. But you are the mare that saved us from a world of fire and evil at the hooves of the Order. You were the one that cared for us and loved us. You were the one that played with us and taught us all we know and no matter what, I will always love you like a daughter loves her mother.” Celestia had moved to be beside Rose and was nuzzling her gently. She wrapped one of her white wings around Rose and embraced her. Luna continued to watch them both for a moment longer before speaking.

“Mother, you might not have given birth to us, but you did bring us into the world,” Luna’s voice was very calm and soft as it usually was. She was certain in her feelings and held no doubt in her mind that Rose was her true mother. “It was your prayer that brought us into the world and so regardless of how life came to be within us, you are our mother.” Following her sister’s example, Luna moved over to the opposite side of Rose and cuddled up to her.

Rose’s lips curved into a sweet smile after hearing her daughters words.

“Thank you my angels,” she whispered as she closed her eyes and let out a sigh that was both relief and happiness.

Luna opened her eyes to look at all the others at the table. They each looked back with the same happiness that was in Rose and Celestia’s eyes. Like Beardy had taught her once, the eyes are the gateways to the soul, if you learn to read them you can see what somepony is thinking just through them alone. To Luna they all looked overjoyed that she and her sister had heard the truth and still loved Rose. It was something that had bothered them, many would probably want to know why they weren’t told sooner that they were the last hope for all of pony (and Zebra) kind. It’s not exactly something you get told over breakfast along with the chores you had to do for the day.

It was Freya who spoke first out of them all. “Perhaps we can leave anything else we have to discuss until later on?”

Iron Shield, Nzuri and Angus all nodded. Beardy then stood up. “Very well my friends. We shall discuss the matter more tomorrow and for now we can spend the rest of the day just being together. It has been a long time since we were all together like this, a long time indeed.”

After finishing their food everyone began chatting and looking over various scrolls or books and even some of Luna’s paintings on the walls. Some divided into pairs to chat and catch up with one another while the others went through to the kitchen to help Rose tidy up after the meal. After helping wash all the dishes and put them away Luna was sitting alone, looking out of the large yellow tinted window and the many little diamond segments that made it up. The light that came through it was golden and warm, but the small net like shadow that was cast by the metal bars that formed the diamonds was cold. It was almost as if a cold snare had been put over her under a burning light. Luna knew that both she and her sister had now been placed under that spotlight. What was expected of them was unthinkable, impossible and insane. Luna’s thoughts drifted away from the task that lay before her and back to some of Beardy’s words.

Celestia must be the sun they are guarding, she thought, and I am the moon, but what does that mean? Do we really have the power to control such things and is this where my connection to the moon comes from?

“You should not trouble yourself with such thoughts little one,” Nzuri said from behind her. The slender Zebra moved to Luna’s side and sat down to stare out of the window with her. “It may just spoil the warmth of the afternoon sun.”

How do you… can you hear me?

Nzuri continued looking out the window at the sun as its slowly began its descent from high above towards the horizon. This day still had many hours to go Luna reckoned, it had not been a long one but nor was it over in the blink of an eye it seemed. The Order did not bother to lower or raise the sun as they should be, instead they did as they pleased and used them as tools to create fear and show their dominance over Equestria.

“Certain herbs in this forest can grant power when combined, this particular concoction allows access to the mind.” Nzuri leaned in closer and whispered into her ear, “Your sisters thoughts about Iron Shield, tell me, when do you think they will be revealed?”

Luna shot her a look of feigned horror and genuine disbelief. “Nzuri! Why would you go looking into somepony’s mind for stuff like that?”

Nzuri lifted her front hooves up and shrugged. Luna couldn’t help but laugh at the sight of her sitting like that.

“I was experimenting with the brew, I have to admit the entire experience is rather new. I wasn’t meaning to pry, as you know sometimes I can be rather shy.”

“Nzuri my dear,” Beardy said from the mountains of parchments and scrolls by the fire that he, Iron Shield and Angus had been looking over, “Once you become a mage of my calibre you learn to be able to read minds without the need of your alchemical powers, so I could tell you why you really wanted to read peoples minds… If you wanted to know how the hot water piping in this house works all you had to do was ask me. Though I suppose some field testing is needed when your experimenting with new elixirs.”

On either side of Beardy Angus and Iron Shield looked at each other completely perplexed before Angus let our a booming laugh. He was so loud that Celestia, Rose and Freya all came through from the kitchen to see what was happening, but it was too late. His infectious laughter had began to circulate around the entire room and now everyone was giggling and smiling at one another, even though the three who had just come out the kitchen didn’t have a clue what was going on.

Nzuri stopped and looked out the window.

“In the forest dark Shadows loom, bred for a single purpose from evils womb.”

A cold feeling crept up Luna’s spine at those words, a feeling she had never felt before. As the sound of laughter died all around her, a dark fear took hold of her like a collar around her throat as the sun high above started to dim. The long shadows of the trees looked as though they were trying to claw their way towards the cottage. Within the shadows, small shapes moved with red glowing eyes that pierced Luna’s soul. From the tree line several ponies came into view. Most wore black armour and carried swords in their mouths while one stood out amongst them. Slightly smaller than the armoured ones, hooded and cloaked. It was wrapped in dark robes and, while you could not see any of its face, Luna felt its black eyes burning into her through the glass. It could see her.

“Get the girls and Rose to safety!” Beardy was looking around at the others there. “The rest of you grab your weapons. We cannot let any of them escape to tell Eris where the girls are!”

Nzuri jumped to her hooves and vaulted over Luna to the other side of the table. When she landed she pulled from the pocket of her cloak two strange curved daggers that she then latched onto her hooves like talons. The look she gave Luna was calm as she merely nodded before turning to find Angus, Iron Shield and Freya already prepared to fight. A fire was burning in Angus’ eyes and the great warhammer he somehow managed to hold in his mouth proved he was eager for a fight. Freya used her unicorn magic to levitate over her silver battle-staff, which as it neared her, began to glow as a multitude of white symbols seemed to etch themselves across it. Iron Shield was dressed in the armour Luna had seen him wear a hundred times, only this time he too was armed for battle. A harness had been hooked onto his armour across his back that meant on his left an enormous shield could be hung, and on the right side a spear pointed forward like a mighty lance. As if that wasn’t enough a sheathed sword was within reach of his mouth in case the fighting got too close for comfort.

The four of them galloped out the door one by one. Though their weapons were the first things to pass through the doorway, it was the marking Luna had come to identify them with that were the last things she saw of them. Each one burned into her memory, like a series of still images in a frozen world. The snowflake crested shield of Iron Shield that was emblazoned on his armoured flank as well as his shield; the telescope and spiralling stars of Freya that fluttered in and out of sight from beneath her billowing cloak; the hammer and claymore of Angus that was visible loud and proud on his bare flank; and the zebra stripes in the shape of an alchemical flask that covered the flank of Nzuri that too came in and out of view.

What if I never see them again?

“Luna! Quick come with us!” Celestia called out to her from a door that had appeared beside the entrance to the stairs. A hidden room? Meant for an event such as this occur? Luna remained frozen in place, the eyes of the Shadows outside burned into the back of her head still, and she had to force down a scream as she shakily stood up, stumbling slightly, before galloped over to the disguised doorway. Beardy quickly gave the three of them one last look before speaking to Rose.

“Keep them safe.”

The panel slid shut firmly behind him as they were plunged into darkness.