LLAÚRENDALË - Prologue 1: of How Equestria Was Made
Prologue: Part 1 — as told in the Scrolls of Shetland
LLAÚRENDALË
The Creation of the World
There was Faûst, the One, who on Earth is called Llaúren; and she made first the Ponytär, the Holy Animators, that were the offspring of her design, and they were with her in spirit before aught else was animated. And she spoke to them, propounding to them themes of art; and to each she assigned a commission, and they drew unto her, and she was glad. But for a long while they essayed only each alone, or but a few in collaboration, while the rest observed; for each comprehended only that part of the mind of Llaúren which they shared, and in the understanding of each other’s technique they grew but slowly. Yet ever as they observed they came to deeper understanding, and they drew together in harmony.
And it came to pass that Llaúren called together all the Animators and declared to them a mighty work, unfolding to them things greater and more wonderful than she had yet revealed; and the glory of its beginning and the splendour of its end amazed the Animators, so that they bowed before Llaúren and were silent.
Then Llaúren said to them: ‘Of the theme that I have declared to you, I will now that ye make in harmony together a Great Show. And since I have kindled you with the Spirit of Inspiration, ye shall show forth your powers in adorning this theme, each with your own thoughts and devices, if ye will. But I will sit and watch, and be glad that through you great beauty has been wakened into motion.’
Then the images of the Ponytär, like unto flowers and hearts, and dogs, and kittens, living together, and bunny rabbits and baby tortoises, and like unto countless images festooned with words, began to move and fashion the theme of Llaúren into a storyboard; and a sound arose, of endless interchanging melodies woven in harmony that passed beyond hearing into the depths and into the heights, and the offices of the dwelling of Llaúren were filled to overflowing with images, and the images and the echo of the music went out into the Vast Wasteland, and it was not utterly unwatchable. Never since have the Creators made any show like unto this show, or music, though it has been said that a greater still shall be made before Llaúren by the inspiration of the Ponytär and the Children of Llaúren after the end of Pony Time. Then the themes of Llaúren shall be played aright, and take Being in the hearts of their audience, for all shall then understand fully her intent in its creation, and each shall know the comprehension of each, and Llaúren shall give to their thoughts the secret hnnngg, being well pleased.
But now Llaúren sat and hearkened, and for a great while it seemed good to her, for in the show there were no flaws. But as the storyboard progressed, it came into the heart of Mút to interweave matters of his own imagining that were not in accord with the theme of Faûst; for he sought therein to increase the power and glory of the part assigned to men. To Mút among the content creators had been given the greatest gifts of knowledge and influence, and he had a share in all the gifts of his brethren. He had gone often alone into the void places of the Ethernet seeking the Imperishable Hnnngg; for desire grew hot within him to bring into Being original content of his own, and it seemed to him that Llaúren took no thought for the Void, and he was impatient of its emptiness. Yet he found not the Hnnngg, for it is with Llaúren. But being alone, he had begun to conceive thoughts of his own unlike those of his brethren.
Some of these thoughts he now wove into his visions, and straightway discord arose about him, and many that drew nigh the site of his work grew despondent, and their thought was disturbed and their music faltered; but some began to attune their philosophy to his rather than to the thought which they had at first.
The chief of these went by the name Tírek, and his disciple Discord; but others hearkened to them. For Tírek hated anything soft and sweet; but Discord reveled in chaos and obscurity, and they sought to strive with other wills, and so turn the images of their bretheren into something altogether new and at odds with the Vision that had been shown to them. Then the disharmony of Mút grew ever wider, and the melodies which had been heard before foundered in a sea of turbulent sound and images. But Llaúren sat and hearkened until it seemed that about her there was a raging storm, as of nameless authors that made war one upon another in an endless wrath that would not be assuaged.
Then Llaúren arose, and the Ponytär perceived that she smiled; and she lifted up her left pen, and a new theme began amid the storm, like and yet unlike to the former theme, and it gathered power and had new beauty. But the discord of Mút rose in uproar and contended with it, and again there was a war of sound and images more violent than before, until many of the creators were dismayed and participated no longer; and Mút had the mastery. Then again Llaúren arose, and the Ponytär perceived that her countenance was stern; and she lifted up her right pen, and behold! a third theme grew amid the confusion, and it was unlike the others. For it seemed at first soft and sweet, a mere rippling of gentle ponies in delicate melodies, subtle gestures and polychromatic hues; but it could not be quenched, and it took to itself power and profundity.
And it seemed at last that there were two visions progressing at one time before the seat of Llaúren, and they were utterly at variance. The one was deep and wide and beautiful, but slow and blended with immeasurable feels, from which its beauty chiefly came. The other had now achieved a unity of its own; but it was loud, and vain, and endlessly repeated images; and it had little harmony, but rather a clamorous
unison as of many trumpets braying upon a few notes. And it essayed to drown the other by the violence of its voice, but it seemed that its most triumphant notes were taken by the other and woven into its own solemn pattern.
In the midst of this strife, whereat the halls of Llaúren shook and a tremor ran out into the silent audiences yet unmoved, Llaúren arose a third time; and her countenance whereupon was terrible to behold. Then she raised up both her hands, and in one movement, deeper than the Everlasting Drama, higher than the Highest Resolution, piercing as the light of the eye of Llaúren, the Show ceased.
Then Llaúren spoke, and she said: ‘Mighty are the Creators of content, and mightiest among them is Mút; but that he may know, and all the Ponytär, that I am Llaúren, those things that ye have storyboarded, I will pitch them to Hasbro, that ye may see what ye have done. And thou, Mút, shalt see that no theme may be played that hath not its uttermost source in me, nor can any alter the Show in my despite. For he that attempteth this shall prove but mine instrument in the devising of things more wonderful, which he himself hath not imagined.’
Then the Ponytär were afraid, and they did not yet comprehend the words that were said to them; and Mút was filled with anger, of which came secret wubz. But Llaúren arose in splendour, and she went forth from the fair offices that she had made for the Animators; and the Ponytär followed.
But when they were come into the Vast Wasteland, Llaúren said to them: ‘Behold your Vision!’ And she showed to them a series of episodes, giving to them artful lines where before was only storyboard; and they saw a new World of Ponies made visible before them, and it was globed amid the Wasteland, and it was sustained therein, but was not of it. And as they looked and wondered this World began to unfold its history, and it seemed to them that it lived and grew. And when the Ponytär had gazed for a while and were silent, Llaúren said again: ‘Behold your Artwork! This is your foalotry; and each of you shall find contained herein, amid the design that I set before you, all those things which it may seem that he himself devised or added. And thou, Mút, wilt discover all the secret thoughts of thy mind, and wilt perceive that they are but a part of the whole and tributary to my glory.’
And many other things Llaúren spoke to the Animators at that time, which are too boring to recount here; and because of their memory of her words, and the knowledge that each has of the Story Bible that they made, the Ponytär know much of what was, and is, and is to come in the show, and few things are unseen by them. Yet some things there are that they cannot see, neither alone nor taking counsel together; for to none but herself has Llaúren revealed all that Hasbro has in store, and in every age there come forth things, like these ponies, that are new and have no foretelling, for they do not proceed from the past.
And so it was that as this vision of Little-Equestria was played before them, the Animators saw that it contained things which they had not thought. And they saw with amazement the appearance of the Children of Llaúren, who are six, each bearing a sign upon their flank that will be interpreted at the End of Days, and the habitation that was prepared for them; and they perceived that they themselves in the labour of their artwork had been busy with the preparation of this Ponyville, and yet knew not that it had any purpose beyond its own beauty.
For these Six were conceived by Llaúren alone; they came with the third theme, and were not in the theme which She propounded at the beginning, and none of the Ponytär had part in their making. Therefore when they beheld them, the more did they love them: being things other than themselves, strange and free, wherein they saw the mind of Faûst reflected anew, and learned yet a little more of her wisdom, which otherwise had been hidden even from the Ponytär.
Now the Ponies of Llaúren are Princesses and Unicorns, Pegasi and Earth Ponies, the Firstborn and the Followers. And amid all the splendours of the Wasteland, its vast sites and spaces, and its wheeling fires, Llaúren chose a place for their habitation in the Depths of Basic Cable, in the midst of innumerable dying stars. And this channel might seem a little thing to those who consider only the majesty of My Little Pony, and not their terrible cuteness; as who should take the whole forest of Everfree for the foundation of a tree-fort and so raise it until the cone of its summit were more bitter than a pine needle; or consider only the immeasurable vastness of human experience, which these beings are yet still shaping, and not the minute precision to which they ponify all things therein.
But when the Creators had beheld this habitation in a vision and had seen the Ponies arise, then many of the most mighty among them bent all their thought and their desire towards that place. These were known as the Ponytär, yet many erstwhile followers of Mút were among them; chief of whom was Tírek, even as he was in the beginning greater than the Ponytär. And he feigned, even to himself at first, that he desired to explore this little world and order all things for the sake of Good Animation, controlling the turmoils that had come to pass through him. But he desired to subdue to his design both Ponies and my little humans, envying the gifts of love and Friendship with which Llaúren promised to endow them; for he wished to have himself followers, and to sway them from the path of friendship.
But the other Ponytär looked upon this habitation set within the vast spaces of the world of pony, which the ancients named Little-Equestria; and their hearts rejoiced in light, and their eyes beholding many colours were filled with gladness; but because of the roaring of Men they felt a great unquiet. And they observed the clouds, and the matters of which this world was made, of crystal and stone and silver and gold and many substances: but of all these they most greatly praised the rainbow. And it is said by the unicorns that in rainbows and heart-shaped thingamajigs there lives yet the echo of the Art of Llaúren Faûst more than in any substance that is in this land of Equestria; and many of Llaúren’s followers hearken still unsated to the glimpse of the Rainbow, and yet know not for what they imagine its end to be.
Now to rainbows had that Ponytä whom the Ponies call Lÿrmo also turned her thought, for it was of water; and of all most deeply was she instructed by Llaúren in the animation of Water. But of the stars and winds Twilë most had pondered, who is the noblest of the Ponytär. Of the fabric of Earth had Gemlï thought, to whom Llaúren had given skill and knowledge scarce less than that of Mút; but the delight and pride of Gemlï is in the deed of making, and in the thing made, and neither in possession nor in her own mastery; wherefore she gives and hoards not, nor charges any commission of her subjects, passing ever on to some new work.
And Llaúren spoke to Lÿrmo, and said: ‘Seest thou not how here in this little realm in the Deeps of the Ethernet Mút hath made war upon thy province? He hath bethought him of bitter chill immoderate, exceeding that one-fifth which ponies can easily endure, and yet hath not destroyed the beauty of thy rainbow fountains, nor of thy clear pools. Behold the snow, and the cunning work of frost! Mút hath subjected thee to flames without restraint, and hath not dried up thy desire for ponies, nor utterly quelled the music of the sea. Behold rather the height and glory of the clouds, and the everchanging mists; and listen to the fall of rain! And in these clouds thou art drawn nearer to Twilë, thy friend, and to the flying Pegasi whom she lovest.’
Then Lÿrmo answered: ‘Truly now, Water is become fairer than my heart imagined, when ponies are drenched with it. Neither had my secret thought conceived the snowflake, nor in all my memory was contained the animation of the rain. I will seek Twilë, that the Pegasi may make Weather to thy delight!’
But even as Lÿrmo spoke, and while the Animators were yet gazing upon this vision, it was taken away and hidden from their sight. And it seemed to them that in that moment they perceived a new thing, Darkness, which they had not known before except in thought. But they had become enamoured of the beauty of the vision and engrossed in the unfolding of the World of Ponies which came there to being, and their minds were filled with it; for the story of the Show was incomplete and the circles of time not full-wrought when the vision of Faûst was taken away. And some have said that the vision ceased ere the fulfilment of the Dominion of Hasbro and the fading of Pony-kind; wherefore, though the Vision of Faûst is over all, the Animators have not yet fully conceived the Later Seasons or the Ending of the Show.
Then there was unrest among her people; but Llaúren called to them, and said: ‘I know the desire of your minds that what ponies ye have seen should verily Be, not only in your thought, but even as ye yourselves are, and yet other. Therefore I say: FíM! Let these things Be! And I will send forth into the Void the Hnnngg Imperishable, and it shall be at the heart of Little-Equestria, and the World of Pony shall Be; and those of you that wish to create an avatar may go down into it, and order as ye see fit.’ And suddenly the Creators saw afar off a light, as it were a cloud with a living heart of rainbow; and they knew that this was no vision, but that Llaúren had made a new thing: Fím, the World that Is Pony.
Thus it came to pass that of the Animators some abode still with Llaúren beyond the confines of Hasbro; but others, and among them many of the greatest and most fair, took the leave of Llaúren and descended into the world of Fím. But this condition Llaúren made, or it is the necessity of their love of ponies, and the terms of their contract, that their power should thenceforward be contained and bounded in the world of Little-Equestria, to be within it for ever, until it is complete, so that they are its life and it is theirs; and that they may not disclose to any third party aught that has not come to fruition upon the Show. And therefore they are named the Ponytär, the Powers of Equestria.
But when the Ponytär entered into Fím they were at first astounded and at a loss, for it was as if naught was yet made which they had seen in vision, and all was but on point to begin and yet unshaped, and it was dark. For the Great Storyboard had been but the growth and flowering of thought in the Timeless Halls of Studio B, and the Vision only a foreshowing; but now they had entered in at the beginning of Season One: and the Ponytär perceived that the Show had been but foreshadowed and foredrawn, and they must achieve it. So began their great labours in wastes unmeasured and unexplored, and in ages uncounted and forgotten, until in the Deeps of Time and in the midst of the vast halls of Studio B there came to be that hour and that place where was made the realm of Poneä, habitation of the Children of Llaúren. And in this work the chief part was taken by Twilë and Gemlï and Lÿrmo; but Discord too was there from the first, and he meddled in all that was done, turning it if he might to his own desires and purposes; and Tírek kindled great flames. When therefore the world of ponies was yet young and full of flames the chief disciple of Mút coveted it, and he said to the other Ponytär: ‘This shall be my own kingdom; and I name it unto myself!’ And he was named Tírek, which means lord of the earth.
But Twilë was the sister of Tírek in the mind of Llaúren, and she was the chief instrument of the second theme that Llaúren had raised up against the discord of Mút; and she called unto herself many spirits both greater and less, and they came down into the fields of Poneä to assist Twilë, lest Tírek should hinder the fulfilment of their labour for ever, and the kingdom of My Little Pony should wither ere it flowered.
And Twilë said unto Mút: ‘This kingdom thou shalt not deprive us, wrongfully, for many others have laboured here no less than Tírek.’ Yet there was strife between Tírek and the other Ponytär; and for that time Mút withdrew and departed to other regions and did there what he would; but he did not put the desire of colorful ponies from his heart.
Now the Ponytär themselves took shape and hue; and because they were drawn into the world of Equestria by love of the Six Ponies of Llaúren, for whom they yearned, they took shape after that manner which they had beheld in the Vision of Llaúren, except that they appear as humans, giant in majesty and splendour. Moreover their shape comes of their place in the animation Framework, rather than of Equestria itself, and they need it not, save only as we use an avatar; even as ponies do not normally wear clothes and yet suffer no loss of being.
Therefore these Ponytär may walk, if they will, clad in different forms, and then even Alicorns cannot clearly perceive them, though they be present. But when they desire to walk the Ponytär take upon them forms, some as of male but mostly female; for that difference of temper they had even from their beginning, and it is but bodied forth in their choice of avatar, not made by the choice, even as with us gender may be shown by the raiment but is not made thereby. Check your privilege! But the shapes wherein the Pony Gods array themselves are not like unto the shapes of the Princesses of the Ponies of Llaúren; and at times they may clothe themselves in their own thought, made visible in other forms of majesty and dread.
And the Ponytär drew unto them many companions, some less, some well nigh as great as themselves, and they laboured together in the ordering of the Earth and the curbing of its tumults. Then Tírek saw what was done, and that the Ponytär walked on Earth as Powers visible, clad in the raiment of the World, and were lovely and gorgeous to see, and blissful, and that Equestria was becoming as a garden for their delight, for its turmoils were subdued. His envy grew then the greater within him; and he took visible form, but because of his mood and the malice that burned in him that form was dark and terrible.
And he descended upon Poneä in power and majesty greater than any other of the Ponytär, as a mountain that wades in the sea and has its head above the clouds and is clad in ice and crowned with smoke and fire; and the light of the eyes of Tírek was like a flame that withers with heat and pierces with a deadly cold.
Thus began the first battle of the Ponytär with Tírek for the dominion of Poneä; and of those tumults the Alicorns know but little. For what has been declared thus far is come from the Ponytär themselves, with whom the princesses of Aponië spoke in the land of Alinor, by whom they were instructed; but little would the Ponytär ever tell of the wars before the coming of the new generation of Ponies.
Yet it is told among the Alidar that the Ponytär endeavoured ever, in despite of Tírek, to rule Equestria and to prepare it for the coming of the Firstborn, the immortal alicorns; and they built lands and Tírek destroyed them; valleys they delved and Tírek raised them up; mountains they carved and Tírek threw them down; seas they hollowed and Tírek spilled them; and naught might have peace or come to lasting growth, for as surely as the Ponytär began a labour so would Tírek undo it or corrupt it. And yet their labour was not all in vain; and though nowhere and in no work was their will and purpose wholly fulfilled, and all things were in hue and shape other than the Ponytär had at first intended, slowly nonetheless the land of Little-Equestria was fashioned and made firm. And thus was the habitation of the Children of Llaúren Faûst established at the last in the Deeps of Time and amidst the innumerable stars.
source -- New Equestrian Revised Disposition, the Red Book of Westmarch. Griffin Edition.
