Chapters PROLOGUE
Long before the Reign of the "Two Sisters", four Alicorn Princes rose to lead the ponies of old through the hard times of prehistory. The first of these four was Ambros, "Prince of Crystals". The Second Solar Flare, "Prince of Rays" who through magic tempered the heat of the Sun. The third Sagitarius, "Prince of Navigation, and Harvest" who moved the stars so that ponies may find their way. Then finally the forth Tempest, "Prince of Storms" whose magic finally broke the never ending natural disasters that ran rampant through Equestria. Most legends would have you believe Equestria was always a paradise, but history has forgotten what truly was. The ponies of old were nomadic, traveling within herds through lands far and wide. These times would not last forever as they learned, as societies rose ponies found themselves exiled from the lands they had once grazed freely.
As the herds one by one were exiled they found themselves slowly settling in the one land that had not been claimed, a vast desert broken only by mountains, as well as a forbidding forest on its border. Their common interest in survival however did not last long and the ponies soon broke into three tribes. The Unicorns followed Ambros to the North which would one day become The Crystal Empire, the Pegasi followed Tempest to his home in the Clouds which would become Cloudsdale. The Earth ponies much to the relief of Solar and Sagitarius spread to the wind to tend to the land.
With much effort and collaboration, soon Solar had tempered the rays of the sun so that vegetation would not be scorched. Sagitarius kept the stars from wandering in the sky, so the earth ponies would know when to harvest. Tempest had soothed the land to stop the perpetual dustbowl, and dirt devils that roamed. Ambros through a partnership with Tempest brought the necessary water from the sea, and while Tempest captured the water through clouds Ambros would save the salt to preserve the harvest.
Soon under the four Alicorns' the land that had come to be known as Equestria flourished. But Ambros the wisest of the four had growing concerns of what the future would bring. The recent memories to him, of being driven from other lands grew as did the harvests. The Unicorns that followed him began to live in the failed crystal constructs he created, his experiments to find a way to amplify magic to protect their land consistently were a failure in his eyes. With every season new envy of their paradise would bring challengers across their borders. Each time the four princes managed to drive them away, that was until "he" had arrived. Discord master of chaos had come to Equestria when he had learned of a land of order and peace. The four Alicorns' try as they did were unable to defeat Discord, the only thing that worked was a sleep spell cast by Ambros to sedate him until a more permanent solution could be found.
CHAPTER 1: Heart of the Mountain
"Ambros, it's time to get up."
He groggily lifted his head to meet the young filly's voice, before turning to the window to see the Sun only now beginning to peak over the horizon . "Five more minutes Harmony, the Sun hath not even risen yet."
"I know Master but you requested an early start to your last day as ruler of the Crystal Kingdom."
He rose from his bed of pillows ever so slightly before stretching out his front legs and raising his hind quarters to let out a monstrous yawn, "fine Harmony, We are up." Harmony scrunching her muzzle clued him into the fact that he had used the Royal "We" again, "I mean, I am up." It was a hard practice to break he had ruled the Kingdom for what seemed like eons, but with his reign quickly approaching its end, he had informed his young apprentice Harmony to help break the habit. The reason for the quickly approaching change in leadership was simple, his experiments in crystal warding and protection magic grew in complexity with every season that passed. As his Kingdom grew so did his responsibility to the crystal ponies that lived there, it was unfair of them to be burdened with a leader who simply saw their needs as a distraction from more important processes. Just who was this pony that would take the reins of leadership? None other then his apprentice and adopted daughter, Harmony's older sister.
"Harmony, what is first on our schedule." The young equine beamed him a big smile, usually associated with something he would scoff at.
"At 7:30, you will meet with the delegation from the three tribes to provide counsel on the new trade agreements."
"New trade agreements," he moaned "what was wrong with the old agreements?"
"Master the new trade talks will focus heavily on creating a universal currency within Equestria, rather then on the goods for service practices that continue to be a damper on trade."
"That was a rhetorical question Harmony."
She blushed before simply replying with "Oh". He glanced out the window one last time, it would still be an hour before the shadow on the Sun dials would be half past the seventh hash.
He glanced back at his young Unicorn apprentice, "let me get ready I'll meet you in the Great Hall after."
After he had finished getting ready Ambros departed his chambers at the top of the Crystal Palace, and began the descent down the staircases that would lead to the Great Hall. Even though he would soon no longer rule, the soon to be ruler of the Crystal Empire afforded him the luxury of staying if only to legitimize her rule. As he entered the Great Hall he saw that Harmony and himself, would not be the only ones in attendance for breakfast. At the head of the table sat the future head of the Empire Princess Platinum, his apprentice sat at the far end of the long table creating a rather comedic gap between them. He paced halfway down the table before taking his seat in the exact middle between the two, he had learned by now not to show favoritism to his apprentice in front of the Princess. The Princess felt her younger sister Harmony undeserving of the Honor of being his apprentice. "Up early this morning are we?" The Princess said as she nodded towards Ambros.
"Indeed your Majesty, an Alicorns work never tires even if he does."
"Oh don't be so grim Ambros, it's a beautiful new day."
Ambros chuckled before responding, "It certainly will be once the Sun sets on my Empire, and rises on yours". After a few seconds of pause he spoke again "Platinum, I know your reign doth not start till tomorrow, but I have an errand to run before your coronation. Is there anyway I could have you fulfill my duties for the day?"
She simply laughed "Have I not been picking up thy slack for the last five years, what is but one more day?" Ambros simply chuckled but it was true. Had it really already been five years since he had found, and adopted the two orphan Unicorns? The rest of the meal passed by in relative silence as Ambros reminisced, and while he finished his meal of oats. When he was done he got up, bowed to Platinum nodding to Harmony that he was ready to leave.
As Ambros stepped out of the Crystal Palace his eyes met with the circle of crystal runes he had placed years ago across the ground, yet another unfinished project he thought to himself. The entire Crystal Palace had been built to Ambros's specifications, no one knew the real reason for its creation save for Ambros himself. The entire Tower was essentially an amplification platform, on a large enough scale that the power of whatever magical construct Ambros placed would spread it's magic far across the land as well as protect the Empire. Secrecy had been needed only for the reason that Ambros himself had not until recently found a magic worth spreading to the ends of Equestria, and feared another might attempt to place a construct of their own. Even the crossroads that lay beneath the castle were in fact magical ley lines meant to funnel in magic from the crystal ponies, in recent years he had begun to suspect that his own creation was the reason for the decline in Unicorn birthrates within the Empire. Which led to his final and most important precaution, the runes placed upon the ground would only ever accept the first device placed to amplify. But that was all about to change, recently Ambros had rediscovered a long lost shrine, where a powerful magical crystal resided capable of becoming the centerpiece of his device. Conveniently it would also double as a great Coronation gift for his adopted daughter Platinum.
"Ambros, what is this errand that you must run?" a look of apprehension on her young face told him everything he needed to know.
"Don't worry Harmony, I have no intention of leaving you behind while I have all the fun." He lifted his wing and motioned for her to come close to him, as she did he wrapped his wing around her and cast the teleportation spell. With a loud cackle and buzz of electrified magic, the scenery of the Crystal Empire was replaced with a blur of purple and blue. As the teleportation spell faded she did a quick glance around her before whispering.
"Honestly Father, must you always keep me in the dark before casting spells." He laughed as he unwrapped his wing around her and tucked it, the smile on his face was wide he loved bringing her along on these trips. It was the only time she relaxed enough to call him father, perhaps out of respect for her sister who still remembered their parents.
"So why are we out here, I don't see anything that stands out". He simply raised his hoof to point to the side of the mountain that stretched to the heavens before him, he watched as his daughter scanned the mountainside. Her coat was a soft blue like the summer sky, and her mane was interwoven with pink and yellow.
She turned to him puzzled, "Do you mean that small outcropping between those waterfalls?"
He smiled before responding "That outcropping was a shrine built long ago to honor the old gods of ponies, before we realized what we were worshipping was just the sun and the moon. It's name is Canterlot."
She shot him a weird look, "Why would a shrines name be Canterlot?"
"You'll understand Harmony once we enter the Crystal Caverns."
As Ambros approached the base of the mountain with Harmony he began to scan the ground in front of him, it wasn't long before he found what he was looking for. He turned over the small unassuming rock on the ground, to reveal the symbol of the intertwined Sun and Moon etched on the bottom of the stone. He began to channel his magic into the stone, and as he did it began to hover and hum before flying straight into the rock face embedding itself. As the stone stopped drilling into rock, a large portion of the rock face before them began to whirl to life, spitting stones in every direction including towards the hooves of the two ponies. While the stones finished laying themselves out in a path in front of them, the entrance to the cavern began pouring out the light from the crystals within.
He turned to Harmony made a small gesture with his head towards the entrance and said "After you." Following closely behind his apprentice, Ambros lit his horn with magic as they passed the threshold into the caverns. He saw his young companions jaw drop at the vastness as the cavern continued on even after the light from his magic dimmed. He saw her scanning the cavern before finding the shallow staircase carved from crystal that wrapped around the entire cavern wall.
She turned to him, "Surely it would have been faster to teleport to the top before climbing all these stairs."
"There are some traditions Harmony, that not even I dare break." While part of what he said was true, it really was in fact the enchantments at the top that would send them back to their original teleportation spot that made the climb necessary. "Of course if you want to just zip on up there, that means all the less time we get for just us."
She pondered for a few moments before responding, "I guess taking the stairs won't be so bad."
"Father is something bothering you?" Her question caught him off guard as they started their ascent.
"It has been many years since I have been here, perhaps its just a bit of nostalgia."
"You never talk about the past Father, I feel sometimes that I know nothing about you".
He didn't answer right away as he had just about tripped over a rather shallow step "Well, what would you like to know?"
"For starters what does your name mean, I've never heard any like it?" He laughed rather abruptly causing Harmony to shoot him a questioning scowl.
"To tell you the truth, it's not my real name."
The statement caught Harmony so off guard that she had halted on the stairs "I don't even know my own Father's name?"
He had now stopped to, and looked her in the eyes for what he was about to say. "Ambros was a name given to me by foreigners in the lands we once roamed, it means something and in time I will tell you." He sighed, "But for now would you be happy knowing my real name?" She simply nodded, "It's Ember Sparkle that was the name my parents gave me. I was born in the winter, and for the first few days of my life they had to keep me close to the fire because of how sick I was." He laughed before continuing "As my mother put it, I had been their little ember they kept from the fire to keep their hearts warm." As he thought about it they were some of the oldest memories he had, but in all this time they were still very vivid.
"Do you still have any living relatives?" The smile that hadn't left his face the whole time with Harmony vanished, she saw it fade and knew the answer. Without turning to her this time he cleared his throat before echoing the thought he had long had to her.
"I had brothers and sisters, and they had kids, and then their kids had kids. After a few ages, I had extended family everywhere. Longer then it should have taken Harmony, I realized that we are all family." For awhile they trotted up the staircase in silence before Harmony once again broke it.
"I thought Alicorns didn't get sick." He knew now was the best time to tell her, but he hadn't expected her to start this conversation.
"That's because I was born a Unicorn." This time she stopped like lead weights had been placed upon her feet. "If you stop every time you learn something new about me Harmony I'll grow old before we reach the top, the shrine isn't called Canter-lot for nothing."
She gasped "Can you grow old to?"
"No" he laughed, "It was a joke."
The rest of the climb continued in relative silence, he wasn't surprised Harmony had just taken in a lot of new information. She probably wondered even now as they grew closer to the exit to the caves, what other mysteries her adopted Father kept. He had never intentionally hid anything from either of the sisters, but it wasn't often that he had the time to just talk about anything other then magic or affairs of the Empire. It had been even less fair to the older sister who never had the opportunity to accompany him on trips like Harmony did.
The light of the Sun shown through the exit to the caverns ahead, signaling the end of their long ascent. This time however in his eagerness, he didn't let Harmony take the lead. As they broke out from the shadows of the caverns into daylight, the light blinded him and he couldn't help but stop and wait for his eyes to adjust. When they finally did he found the reason for their journey right where he had left it so many ages ago. The outcropping that had looked so small from the base of the mountain had been deceiving, as a whole town could have been built upon it with room left to spare. Two waterfalls flanked himself and Harmony on either side, crashing noisily before rolling off the cliff. But before him was the Crystal Heart, still as beautiful and flawless as the day he first laid eyes upon it. Two statues were parallel with the heart itself, to the left a statue of the crescent moon, and on the right a statue of the Sun with wavy rays emanating off it. As he drew closer to it Harmony followed behind him. The temple that had once been here had long since crumbled, the ground around the two statues and crystal heart were littered with toppled pillars and stones.
Harmony broke the silence and his fixation, "It's beautiful, but what exactly is it"?
"That Harmony is the Crystal Heart, my first crystal creation. You wanted to know more about me, and this Crystal heart is as good as any place to start."
He took a few steps closer to the heart till he could reach out it and touch it. He didn't however, but instead took a seat in front of it. He turned towards Harmony, and with his wing beckoned for her to join him. She hesitated at first probably concerned that he would cast another spell without warning her, but before long she joined him. Wrapping his wing around her as she sat down he turned to her and said, "Don't worry I'm not going to teleport us anywhere. But this story is best told with a little magic." Where to start he thought, a few seconds passed as he gathered together his fragmented memories for the story he would tell.
"Long ago Harmony, I, Ember Sparkle was a Unicorn like yourself. A novice at magic, and a nomad travelling the lands with my family and my herd. Those years were beautiful and dear to me, but they were harsh. As I was the only one in my herd, who had not obtained a cutie mark. I tried endlessly at every skill we had back in those days, but I failed at every task I undertook. Unable to carry my own weight, the other members of my herd began to bully and eventually hate me. The herd eventually deciding to cast me out, rather then deal with the disasters that followed in my wake. Only one pony joined me in exile, my Mother. But without the safety of the herd our grazing spots were limited. It was not long before my mothers age, and our extreme situation took a toll on her health. When her strength could carry her no further we took shelter in a forest. Realizing my mother was not long of this world, I ripped branches off trees, tore dirt from the earth, and pleaded with the Gods to take my meager offering in exchange for her life. They did not respond, and as her life slipped away I channeled all my magic into the offering that I had placed on top of a rock. Before I knew what I had done the light faded from my magic to reveal this Crystal Heart, I knew immediately that it wouldn't save my mothers life. But with the paltry amount of magic I still possessed I channeled the hope and love for me that my mother had into the crystal. If I needed nothing else, I needed my mothers love." He sighed before continuing, "She died not long after, but not before seeing what I had become. In the end my Mom saw me become an Alicorn, although she did not understand it she said she loved me and that I had made her proud."
Harmony for the first time interrupting his story, leaned her head against his chest. A stream of tears rolling down her cheeks as she spoke, "Father I would have never guessed you were an orphan to." He tried to fight them but the tears flowed anyway, the last thing he had wanted from this was to make Harmony cry. For awhile they sat there holding each other, as they cried a river for each others lose.
As he and Harmony wiped away the last of their tears, he turned once again to the crystal and continued.
"With my mother gone and her love in tow, I was filled with a new sense of purpose. If I could create something to save love, there was no reason that I couldn't spread it. With my new wings I searched high and low for my old herd, eventually finding them on the outskirts of the desert that would one day become Equestria. They greeted my return with open hooves when they saw the fantastical new creature I had become. For a time things were great, I forgave their transgressions against me and shared my love through the crystal heart to them freely. But soon things would change, the summer crossing through the desert was particularly harsh that year. As the thirst began to set in they once again turned against me. They started to blame me, claiming the gods had grown jealous, and angry of the love I possessed. Of course their solution was to offer up the Crystal Heart to the Gods, so that they to may be appeased with the love. It was not a choice that I made willingly, in those days I to thought that perhaps I had angered them. So we made a detour on our course to the only way shrine that existed in Equestria in those days, this one."
He paused sensing Harmony had a question, "Father what about Solar Flare, could he not cool the Sun in those days?"
He simply smiled before answering her question, "No he couldn't, he was not yet born."
"So what happened next?"
He returned his gaze to the crystal, "I was not yet ready to leave my mothers love behind, so I stayed with the priests of the shrine till winter. After that I rejoined my herd outside Equestria. I did not return to the shrine until now, and in time slowly forgot it's location save for being a tall mountain in a desert. It wasn't till I told Tempest about the Crystal last time we met, that he informed me that he had seen it in passing but never investigated."
"Well you've heard the story now, but would you like to see what the crystal is capable of?" She smiled and nodded excitedly, he turned back to the crystal and shot a soothing yellow ray at it. The crystal began to whirl and twirl and radiated the warmth of love back at him. "What your feeling now Harmony is the love I have for you."
She opened her mouth paused and said, "it's beautiful beyond words, I love you to."
"But I believe it is just the beginning Harmony. One day soon you'll surpass even my abilities, and graduate from your studies under me to go on to create even greater things then I can possibly imagine." She was about to say something but he stopped her, "Lets take the Crystal Heart and return to the Kingdom before your sister misses our presence."
At there return to the Crystal Kingdom he sent word for Platinum to join them. It was not long before she emerged from the castle, she seemed pretty ticked from the look on her face. "Ambros, I imagined your errand would take a tenth of the time..." her words trailed off as she caught glimpse of the Crystal heart. "What is that Ambros?"
"Well my daughter and soon to be Queen, it is your coronation day present. I have decided to give it to you early, so that we may do this together." With that he gently levitated the crystal to the center of the circle beneath the castle, two crystal prongs locked the hovering Crystal Heart in place and he turned to her. "It may not seem like much right now, but I'm sure after tomorrows ceremony you'll understand."
"You didn't have to give me anything Ambros, but thank you it's beautiful."
After that Ambros bid farewell to his daughters, departing for his study atop the Crystal tower for the rest of the day. As he entered the study the smell of rich mahogany and dusty tomes filled his nostrils. He surveyed his little slice of heaven with fondness, he felt far more comfortable here then atop the Crystal Throne. The room was small and circular, a small desk centered to his right beneath the room's singular window, and the rest of the circular room lined with bookcases. Many of the books upon the shelves were one of a kind, mostly written by himself to chronicle ages of research. He turned the lock on the door behind with the magic of his horn. His eyes rested upon a singular statue placed upon one of the more barren sections of the bookcases. He trotted closer to and flicked a small amount of magic at the horn of the Unicorn statues head. A bit of light shot from behind one of the sectional bookcases to the right of the statue informing him the warding spell had fallen, with that he reached out with his right hoof pushing in on the bookcase. It pivoted inwards before sliding behind the other bookcase to reveal a small room. There in the center of the room on a stone pedestal beneath a glass lid lay his greatest masterpiece, far exceeding that of even the Crystal Heart. He levitated the lid, and slid the small crystal with one hoof to rest on the other. The small tear shaped Crystal that rested upon his hoof to any other may have seemed just a bauble, especially in a entire Empire of crystals. But it was no mere gem, of that fact he was quite sure. He thought about it quite often ever unsure of just how to tap into it's full potential, or for that matter just what it would become when he was finished. But soon he thought it could feed off of the amplified love of the Crystal Ponies, and he may be one step closer to solving the riddle of his greatest creation. But for now he thought there's a coronation bright and early tomorrow to prepare for.
Chapter 2: Twisting Fate
Five years after the events of Chapter 1:
"Ambros, it's time to wake up."
He jumped up half expecting he was under attack, only to find Harmony shooting him a puzzled gaze.
"Whats the matter, did you have a nightmare?"
The dream that he had just awoken from was no ordinary nightmare of that he was sure, but he paused long enough to regain his senses before responding to Harmony. "Harmony, I will need you to go get parchment, we must waste no time and make sure you bring enough to write a letter in triplicate." Her eyes only widened at his statement, she had only known him to make such a request once before. She didn't even bother responding to his statement before departing his chambers. As she left he paced towards the window of his chambers, looking out upon the lands beneath his gaze he simply muttered, "I suppose our peace could not last forever." As he sat at the window seal he tried to peace together the puzzle of the premonition he had just been granted. Before long Harmony returned with the parchment, and a quill floating close behind her. "You know the drill Harmony address each of the Alicorn Princes by name before beginning the letter." Her quill scribbled away furiously upon each of the parchments before turning wide eyed and expectedly back to Ambros.
"Dear I request a formal meeting of the Council of Four Horses', the matter is of the upmost importance and requires your immediate departure. I, Ambros, request that you inform no pony of your business or destination as is tradition."
-Signed with peace through vigilance,
-Ambros
With that he waited patiently for Harmony to complete each copy of the letter addressed to each of the three Alicorn princes. As she finished one he would levitate it to himself pick up the wax seal stamp and magically send it. It took only a few minutes to send them all, and with that Ambros let out a huge sigh of relief. He could relax temporarily he thought, it would be at least noon if not later for his fellow Alicorns' to arrive. It had become common practice between the four that the one requesting the summit would host the event. He let his head hang there deep in thought for several moments before coming to the realization of what today was. It was the fifth anniversary of Queen Platinum's coronation as well as the fifth annual Crystal Faire to light the Crystal Heart. Even with the premonition he thought to himself, there was no clear outcome for the road ahead.
"Harmony, I'm sure you haven't eaten yet. Let us go join your sister, I don't wish for her to dine alone." With that they departed from his chambers, as he turned to lock the door to his chambers he scanned its contents one last time. He drifted almost in a daze down the halls and eventually the stairs, before he realized he was standing behind his normal seat to the table in the Great Dining Hall. He pulled it out with magic before plopping himself down in the seat, and magically scooting the crystal seat closer to the table.
"Happy Coronation Day sister." It rather surprised Ambros that Harmony had been the first to break the silence, the relations between them had improved considerably in the last five years. They no longer comically sat on opposite ends of the table, like two rivals forced to a dinner party. In fact while Platinum still sat at the head of the table, Ambros and Harmony now occupied the closest seats to her.
"Thank you Harmony, have you decided whether to accompany your friends this year to the Crystal Faire festivities. Or shall you spend it with Father as usual?" Ambros forced a smile towards Harmony, before shifting it awkwardly towards Platinum. She to had started warming up to calling Ambros father, the Crystal Heart that he gifted her had swayed her into accepting him as more then just a role model.
"I was planning on spending it with friends, however I think now I'd rather spend it with you both."
"Well that would be great Harmony, I don't remember the last time the three of us hung out just for fun." Platinum responded. Ambros didn't respond as he was too busy shoveling scoop after helping scoop of oatmeal into his mouth. Their conversation continued, but by now he had begun to tune them out.
"Ambros, you have been staring at your empty bowl for five minutes now. If your that hungry we could have the staff bring out another." He wasn't sure which one had jostled him back to lucidity, but both were shooting him a look of concern. It was rather uncharacteristic of him to become so distant.
"No, I'm fine thank you but we should start making our way to the balcony for your commemoration speech Platinum." Both of them still looked concerned, most likely trying to pick up on whatever it was that was troubling him. After a minute both of them nodded, and all three began to leave their seats. The two sisters walked ahead of him, exchanging hushed whispers between them. If they thought that he didn't notice their little chat, then he obviously had not thought to teach them the art of subtlety. Before long they broke out from beneath the vaulted ceiling of the Crystal Palace to reveal the morning Sun. The rays meeting the crystal structures below sent sparks of sunlight in every direction, including back at the balcony. As they stepped to the railing of the balcony, the crowds below came into view. Every Crystal Pony must be in attendance today he thought to himself, this years celebration would have to be the largest thus far. Platinum turned to him, he expected that she was about to begin her speech.
"Father, would you care to give the speech for our royal subjects?"
He chuckled softly the first he had all day, so this must be the fruits of their little discussion from earlier he thought to himself. Both now eyeing him in expectant anticipation. Perhaps they had picked up a little of his own, subtle and mischievous nature. But if they thought he would come clean that easily then they sadly underestimated their surrogate Father. His poker face knew no equal, and he had been winging speeches since before Equestria had been a daydream. He turned away from them, and back to the crowd before clearing his throat rather audibly.
"Citizens of the Crystal Empire, we are gathered here on this most auspicious occasion to give thanks to not only our beloved Queen Platinum, but to celebrate as well five years of light and love courtesy of the Crystal Heart. Let us not now or ever forget the hard road that lead us here. But moving forever forward, shine the light within us, across not just Equestria but our collective future as well. I look forward to another year of continued prosperity, and with the sincerest hope wish you all a spectacular celebration. With no further adieu, I declare the Crystal Fair officially underway."
The applause that followed from what must have been the shortest speech in Equestrian history, was loud and long enough for him to noticeably feel his lungs vibrate. The streets began to shimmer a bright neon blue, and he could tell that the first of the hearts many explosions of color and emotion had already started. He knew that it would be a common theme all day. He turned to find both Harmony and Platinum's jaw drop. Obviously they had expected him to drop his poker face at being unprepared for a speech, and simply tell them what was the matter. Well he thought they are both old enough now, I suppose it's not right to coddle them anymore. With that he motioned with his hoof for them to follow. Once again beneath the shelter of the Crystal Palace, the cheers of the crowd could still be heard reverberating through it's crystalline halls. By the time they made the first climb of the stairs the cheers had died off, and he assumed that now the real festivities were just beginning. Before long they reached the sole door that was their destination, with a magical twist of the crystal knob the door freely began to swivel inwards. As he walked in Platinum was the first to speak.
"Father, in all our years you've never invited us into your personal study. What is this all about?"
He motioned for them to come fully into the small cramped circular room, without much hesitation both obeyed. When they had crossed the threshold into once a forbidden domain to them, he closed the door and locked it. "Harmony, Platinum, I had hoped long ago when I took you in that you would never shoulder the burden that I have alone. When I found you alone and unafraid in that forest, I would like to think I brought you in out of the goodness of my own heart. But sadly such a heart warming sentiment would be a partial lie. I saw in both of you a characteristic worthy of becoming my successors. You Platinum who had protected her foal sister, showed promise to one day be a great leader who would put others before her self. Harmony, I knew from the moment after I rescued you when you inadvertently teleported your sister and you to my side, that you would one day become a great Unicorn of unfathomable magic potential. You see girls I chose you to live, and learn by my side, so that I may die." With that he stopped letting his words sink in. Both sisters shot each other painfully emotional looks. This time it was Harmony to speak.
"What are you saying that you took us in, gave us a father just to make us orphans again!?!" He sighed he knew all along his motives would hit home for them. "What about what you said five years ago on that mountain, would you take away my Father's love, and have me crying out for the Gods to spare you for my meager offering." Those words cut through him like he was made of paper, but he choked back the emotions so he could make his rebuttal.
"Harmony, that was my intention from the start but as time passed my love for you, and your sister changed that. The truth is I changed, my newest plan was to wait till you had graduated from your studies so that I could give my Alicorn magic to you. From there I would slowly begin to age, and you would have me for all of my twilight years. But last night I was granted a premonition that casts doubts on whether that plan will hold any merit. For now I ask you to trust in me, I have one last gift for you. But what you do with it is now beyond my guiding hooves."
With that he turned away from the two young Unicorn mares, to the solitary statue on the bookshelf. Gently he tapped his horn against the statue's allowing a minute amount of his magic to flow through it and unlock the wards. When the flash behind the shelf indicated the spell had fallen he pushed in on the bookshelf to reveal the secret room to them. He didn't bother walking in, instead he lifted the small case, and levitated the small crystal beneath it towards him. With the crystal closely floating before his chest he turned back to them.
"This is my greatest creation, I leave it now to you Harmony, in hopes that it may be what guides us in the days ahead. However I have no instructions on where you must take it, nor do I know how to utilize it. I had thought it to be the beginnings of a new Crystal Kingdom, but its magic would be squandered on such a pursuit. I will require you to leave before the Crystal Faire has concluded. One last thing, you remember meeting Solar Flare, and Sagittarius's apprentices don't you?"
"Yes, what of them?"
"Wherever you take this crystal you must send word to inform them of it's location."
With that he unlocked the small door to the study, and let his gaze wander away from them before speaking one last time to them both.
"You best be on your way Harmony, and Platinum I will require you to stay behind."
Both sisters shot each other disapproving glances, unsure of just what was going on but sure of the fact that they did not approve. He waited patiently for Harmony's steps to fade out of earshot before turning to the older sister.
"I will be taking back the reins of the Crystal Empire, for now you are no longer Queen." His words fell like stones, changing her expression to that of someone who had just been fatally wounded.
"I don't understand, what have I done wrong"? He shifted rather uncomfortably before coldly responding.
"Nothing...Now leave me, I must make certain preparations before the councils arrival."
Platinum whose head now hung low opened her mouth, but obviously thinking better of angering him simply moped out of the room. He watched as the young Unicorn left, her white coat and silver mane seeming to lose a layer of it's crystalline coating.
Finally he thought, once again by himself he turned back to the pedestal where his prize possession had been. He slowly trotted into the small dank room, centering himself in it. He let out a long sigh before pushing over the concrete piece, letting it shatter into a thousand pieces before him. Beneath where the concrete pedestal had been, revealed a small hidden compartment cut into the floor, and in this compartment was a single maroon box, the lid held closed by a black strip of velvet. He laughed, it almost looked like a present waiting to be unwrapped. He levitated it up, and blew off a thick cover of dust that rested on the package. Now that he thought about it, it all rather seemed a bit ridiculous. A forbidden room, with a secret room inside of it, that hid a concealed compartment only to find a box that required unwrapping. Ugh , he thought to himself, I really need a hobby . Using his magic he undid the knot in the velvet, and lifted the lid to reveal the small black crystal within. The green enchanted flames of the torches in the small room, began to dance slowly upon its cold dark surface.
CHAPTER 3: Four Horses'
They're late. He thought to himself, Or perhaps they are on time? Ugh, all this fate business regarding my premonition is going to give me an aneurism. For the last few minutes, Ambros had sat silently in front of the back window to the conference room, slowly watching as the Sun drifted further down out of the sky. If there is anything worse then watching paint dry, it must be watching the Sunset when there is work to be done. He huffed impatiently. No point dwelling on it, they will arrive when they do, and not a second sooner, after all I foresaw it....or did I? With the thoughts swirling around his head positively driving him mad, he turned from the window. His eyes rested on the small round table before him, made of crystal with four pillows positioned on each of it's sides, currently vacant of their respective heads of state. A little further beyond the table was the two tall double doors, the sole entrance into the meeting room.
Growing tired of taking in the scenery that he already had twelve times before, his eyes shifted to the right to find a tall mirror tucked away in the corner. He trotted slow and dignified towards it, once he stood squarely before it he began to take in his features. He flailed his wings, trying to make himself seem broader, and taller then he really was. His dark blue coat, was eerily reminiscent of the vast ocean he had seen only a few times in his life. His mane flowed in a dark purple untamed swirl behind him. He squinted and drew closer to the mirror, the light blue of his iris reflected only a few inches before his face. In all these years nothing has changed, even if I have. Well of course unless I count my transformation. Drawing back from the mirror he saw something that immediately caused alarmed. He swiveled his head around, only to find nothing, whatever dark figure he thought he had seen standing there was vacant. I could have sworn...no its just my overactive imagination.
After a few seconds he shrugged it off, and went to take a seat on the pillow farthest away from the door. When he had taken his seat his eyes fell upon the small black crystal he had retrieved from earlier. There it was just laying on his crystal table like it belonged, for the longest time he had forgotten about it all together. But just staring at it felt like a bucket of cold ice water being dumped into his veins. I'm not even sure I will need this wretched thing. It has been ages since I have needed to kill to protect Equestria. It was true the small crystal that lie before him, was the repository for all the bad memories he had of the past. He had created it for the sole purpose of disposing of memories that were to hard for even an immortal to deal with, mostly it had been created to deal with loss. Grieving had never been one of Ambros's strong points, so he often times chose instead to lock away the emotions in this crystal.
Ambros lifted his left hoof, and with a small flick the small crystal began to spin in circles. Hello again Ambros, have you missed me? Ambros froze, his hoof dangling an inch above the black crystal.
There's no way, I must be hearing things.
Oh but I assure you, your hearing is quite fine. His first instinct was to smash it, but quickly saner thoughts got the better of him.
I must be going insane if the crystal is talking to me. But the warming sensation, like a burst blood vessel in the back of his neck made him reconsider.
Are you so naïve, to think that putting all your fractured memories and sorrow into a vessel wouldn't breed consciousness? In all honesty, the thought had never occurred to him. Do you even yet realize why you brought me with you? The knots that were beginning to form in Ambros stomach told him he was about to find out. You made a grave mistake when you made me, without the light, darkness grows. And long have I lavished in your darkness. For ages now I have never known form, only feeding off the meager scraps you have thrown to me when your precious conscious couldn't handle it. I kept my existence hidden from you, and now it has finally paid off. Our psychic link existed only within the dreamscape, and the premonition that I twisted lead you to me.
Ambros tried to move his gaze away, but he was transfixed on the crystal. The madness called to him, singing a melody of sweet sorrow. Suddenly what the crystal had said sunk in. You mean the premonitions I saw were just a fake? His question was greeted only with a blood curdling laughter.
But before his line of questioning could continue the double doors before Ambros swung open. Thank the stars, they're here. Laughing the three Alicorn princes made their entrance to the conference room.
"Your telling me Solar, that not only did you beat Sagitarius in a race, the undisputed "Prince of darkness" found himself hooves up in the dirt after you spun him out?" Tempest was clearly enjoying the exciting conclusion of whatever story they had just been swapping. Most likely a recanting of the events that lead two of three Alicorns' to be late. Ambros forgetting temporarily about the conversation in his head tried to greet his friends, but his words never escaped his mouth. Now realizing the gravity of his own situation, he tried in vain to blink his eyelids furiously, or even flail a hoof, all to no avail. It seemed for now, that Ambros was just a passenger in his own body.
Laughing Solar turned to the gray Alicorn Tempest to his right, "The best part was when Sagitarius, thinking he had all but won blurted out and I quote. Eat my dust Sun spot."
Sagitarius now scowling turned to Solar who was in the middle of them, "I would have won to, if you hadn't cheated by blinding me with that burst of sunlight before the finish line." The pitch black Alicorn who typically could have hidden a blush, all but seemed red as a tomato.
The first to acknowledge Ambros's presence was Tempest, "Hows it going old colt, what doom and gloom should we thank for this little gathering of misfits."
Ambros tried to respond but the words to leave his lips were not of his own making. "My fellow Alicorns', last night I was visited with a premonition. A fork in the road if you will." His captor waited for the three Alicorns to take their seats on the pillows he had arranged. Once their seats were occupied the presence controlling his words continued. "I was visited with four visions of the future. The first foresaw of a new foe Tirek, in this future we decided to do nothing before his arrival. With that the consequence is that he stole not only our magic, but the magic of all of our subjects. In time all of Equestria perishes. The second is that we ride out to meet this new foe, but in our absence chaos arises. Bringing with it the awakening of Discord, and our return is only met with a swift defeat at the cloven hooves of our old adversary. The third is we decide to shield ourselves within the safety of the Crystal Empire, until Tirek grows tired of waiting and moves on. But the third is met with a great influx of refugees, and soon we find a great famine as the Crystal Empire's crops fail to satisfy the hunger of so many."
The presence controlling his mind now waited for at least one of the Alicorns' to respond. It wouldn't wait long, as Solar the white Alicorn, and most righteous of the three responded.
"Tell us Ambros, what of your forth vision? Is there any chance we can avert the crises' that lie ahead?" The presence within Ambros's mind twisted its tentacles deeper into him with anticipation, that's when Ambros first felt it. A maddening hunger pain not isolated to his stomach, but feeling as if the entirety of his body was slowly being eaten away by starvation. "The forth path is uncertain, but I believe the plan that we once abandoned to defeat Discord is our best chance for suvival."
This time it was the black Alicorn, Sagitarius to respond. "Forgive me if I'm mistaken Ambros, but it was you who dissuaded us from that course. Claiming that such madness would surely disrupt the balance of the world."
Ambros now more then before wanted to scream out to them, he knew where the conversation was heading now, and he wanted no more part in this game. But once again his voice was replaced with another's.
"I only chose another path for us because I saw a way out, but now without a doubt we must walk that edge to avoid the abyss."
Why are you doing this? If you really are apart of me, you know full well what that path will cause. The blackness of the voice in his head returned, before growling in response.
I am your sin Ambros, behold as all your schemes fall like a house of cards in my wake.
"My fellow Alicorns, let us perform the ritual to borrow the magic of the elements, both celestial, and terrestrial. Only with their power in our hooves can we defeat the powers of Discord, and this new challenger Tirek."
Ambros's head began to swivel out of his control to each of the Alicorns, the first to nod was Tempest. The second to nod was Sagitarius. With two of three in agreement, Ambros's glare fell upon Solar. Ambros hoped now that the soul voice of reason and righteousness, could dissuade the rest from the path that he had just presented. Just as he expected, Solar instead of nodding spoke.
"If it is as you say Ambros, why have we not been graced with a similar vision?"
Try to talk your way out of this, demon.
I have chosen a name taken from yours, it is Sombra, and you would do well to remember it.
"I'm sorry my Alicorn brethren, I believe that no matter the course, the events to unfold most likely spell your demise."
The words just spoken by himself fell like a rusty dagger upon his heart, he hadn't expected the entity that controlled him to find such a eloquent solution. It was true, impending death would be a likely reason to obscure ones vision of the future, if not completely erase it. That's when the realization donned on him. It's not that the visions were false, you just obscured my vision of the forth possible future because it heralded your arrival.
The three Alicorns's that sat before him, exchanged remorseful glances. Sadness now gripped Ambros's heart if he were in their position, he would believe the lie to.
"We must not tarry, time is of the essence and if we do not act now, all might be lost." the entity now said with reckless abandonment.
It seemed as if an eternity of uneasy silence, and apprehension passed before Solar once again spoke.
"Very well Ambros, as the sole recipient of this premonition, if you deem it necessary then I am in agreement as well." Solar's faith in him was humbling, if in this moment not misplaced. The entity began to recite it's final piece.
"I will be the first to cast the spell, each of you must match it for this to work." The controlled Ambros, stood and began to channel his magic above the center of the circular table, the other members of the council soon began to match his, with theirs. The white light of Alicorn magic shining out of each of their eyes, soon avatars of their respective captors began to form. In front of Tempest a small slowly revolving hurricane appeared before his chest, Solar's avatar was a small ball of floating light shooting whisps of white energy away from it. The last Sagitarius's avatar, was a swirling ball of black and blue, with a small beaming moon in its center. In front of Ambros however, nothing appeared. Whatever spell had been cast, it surely was not performing its required task. But then again, Ambros had already guessed at this conclusion.
Because with this particular spell once it had been channeled, it could not be stopped until completed. Tempest was the first to yell out to him, through great concentration, and visible effort.
"AMBROS, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!? CHANNEL YOUR ELEMENT NOW!"
But the entity controlling Ambros only met his request with a booming and maniacal laughter, audible enough that he was sure each heard it, even over the roar of channeled magic, and swirling elemental vortexes.
All Ambros could do was look on in horror, as slowly each of the Alicorns' before him began to succumb to the element they had channeled. The first to fall was Tempest, swallowed whole by the now steadily growing hurricane. Soon to follow, with their concentration broken by the screams of their comrade, Solar was lit afire by his now raging element. The last to fall Sagitarius, never moved, continuing to channel even as his body slowly froze beneath the frigid cold of the void. For the next few minutes Ambros looked on as the life, and screams of each of the resilient Alicorns' slowly began to fade. Ambros racked with guilt and grief, knew that in these their final moments, they probably thought he had betrayed them.
I believe you understand now, there is no hope Ambros, only death and suffering.
If he could have he would have shed a tear, as he watched the only life long friends that remained, fade.
