Chapters The Legend of the Hallowed
Once, it is said, the world was blank, and empty of sentience, and was only inhabited by the darkest of monsters. These creatures ruled over the world in a state of living death, with the very soil being corruptive and toxic to all but the most vile creatures. Then one day, it is said that something miraculous happened. From the state of death which covered the world... something new emerged. It was a strange creature, walking on two legs and born wielding tools of metal in its hands...
It was a dark night in the early summer, when two small unicorn fillies were walking through a deep forest. One was a small thing, with a dark blue coat and a mane of pale blue. The other was a few years older than the other, with a pink mane and a white coat. The two were lost in the night, led only by the younger of the two's seeing through the darkness. The elder was still nervous, and believed they were not alone in the wood.
"Luna why are we here in this accursed wood? We had no one to call family amongst the city but we were shielded from the monsters in the dark"
The younger turned to the elder
"We did not think the sun would set so fast upon us! How was I supposed to know we would run out of time whilst seeking adventure?"
The elder glared at her
"Maybe the fact that it was midday and you didn't even bring a map?"
The younger blushed, and was about to respond when a sound echoed out of a creature breaking a stick in its path. The two leaped closer to each others grasp, seeing a creature stepping closer. The creature bore the form of a lion, yet with a pair of black wings and a barbed tail. The two fillies screamed in fear and bolted into the forest, dashing until they were cut off by the path ending into the side of a ridge. The beast slowed, stalking its now trapped prey. The two fillies froze in fear as it lunged for them.
A shadow cast by moonlight covered the two fillies from behind, and a creature bearing a shining blade of greens and blues bound by a hilt of a near magical appearance. The new arrival swung its blade across the chest of the beast, and tearing it apart. Its form looked to be one of a demon, with a body covered in a blue armor with a gaping jaw of razor sharp teeth, with a gaping void behind them. It landed in front of them, seeming to take its place as their hunter. The two fillies looked on in fear, now further scared of the strange biped. The two covered their eyes so as to not see their end coming.
Ages seemed to pass, and the two looked up to see the creature kneeling down, extending its hands to each of them, with a kind expression. The two locked eyes with him, seeing the creatures head was simply a helmet which it had placed on ground beside it. Its true face was a pinkish color with vaguely coltish features, with a messy yellow mane and gray eyes. He set them both on their hooves and waved them to follow him, taking out a staff ringed with color which produced a floating ball of colorful light. A few minutes passed in silence, with the fillies being led back through the forest by the light of his staff.
The fillies looked up in surprise, realizing they had been led back to the edge of the forest closest to the city. The two fillies looked up to their savior. He smiled down at them, and took out a pair of saddlebags. they were both a simple brown color, with the latch being a simple metal buckle rather than an emblem of a pony's mark.
He gave them a knowing sort of smile, and then turned and walked back toward the forest. The fillies walked back toward the city, and after a brief glance back they would swear they had seen their savior soaring away of bright, silvery wings.
The Legend of the Hallowed
Chapter One: The Guardian Spirit
This creature was one born into difficulty, facing monsters each night and day of its life. This did not deter it, and with every day it grew stronger, builder itself armor and tools with ever-growing strength in its abilities. Eventually the creature gained the strength to finally begin challenging some of the monsters which had taken the world...
Morning light shone on the two fillies as they slept, waking the younger of the two up in the small house which they had gained from their late parents a few years ago. She rushed to the side of the elder.
"Celly wake uuuuup! I had the craziest dream over the night!"
Her sister awoke after a moment
"Huh... Whass goin on Lulu?"
Celestia slurred sleepily to her sister.
Luna got frustrated and attempted to shove her sister out of bed
"Sister we must tell you of the dream we had last night! We were lost in a forest, and then there was a manticore and a winged spirit!"
Celestia, now more awake, paled.
"You had that dream too?"
The two locked eyes, holding a few moments of silence. They both thought for a moment before both of them yelled out.
"The saddlebags!"
They both rushed to the place where they had left the bags given by the strange being. Inside both were bags of food, but that was where the similarities ended. Inside both was a small blue crystal, made to look as a star, a small red crystal, in the shaping of a heart, and a purple shoulder band. Each of the crystals reacted when magic was poured into them, dissolving into bright mana which flowed into both of them. Both were scared at first, but relaxed as they felt the effects of the gems. They both read the notes left in the bottoms of the bags.
May these allow for you to recover from any harm you took in the night. They will strengthen you, in body and magic, and the bands will allow for you to recover both of these much faster than normal.
They both locked eyes, coming to a silent conclusion. They both put on the bands, and placed supplies into the saddlebags along with the food. Both left their small home, having decided to find the strange being who had blessed them so.
A short while later in the morning, the two wandered towards the forest to search for their savior. The two reached the edge of the forest before they heard someone else speak.
"Hey. What'sa couple little fillies like you doin out here? Aintcha heard about the citywide order not to go into these woods, as the king wants no loyal unicorns to risk fraternizing with the lesser races"
The two looked up to see a large guardstallion standing on the road behind them.
"King Palladium has ordered that none leave the city, on threat of imprisonment. you both're coming with me"
The two of them shared a look, knowing the fact that once imprisoned a young foal could only be released to their parents, of which they were lacking. After a moment they bolted, charging into the woods to escape the stallion. They only made it a few feet into the forest before the guard locked their throats with magic, holding them and then pulling them back towards him.
"Oh, I get it. You two're trying to leave and abandon your own race for somma those dirtwalkers, eh? Well not on my watch. The two of you're going in for long time"
They both struggled, barely able to breathe his grasp. A moment passed before both of them were released and fell to the ground. They looked and saw the being from yesterday approaching, holding out a blue staff, launching small shards of glowing energy, each striking the guard and pushing him back. He had a burning look to him as he blasted the guard, and then grabbed both of them before taking into the air and soaring away. As they flew they all heard the shouts of the guard.
"HEY! YOU LITTLE TRAITORS TO THE KING WILL NEVER ESCAPE, WE WILL HUNT YOU DOWN FOR THIS!"
Both sisters were glad for the fact that they had only a scarce few belongings, most of which they'd packed already. Both still were terrified, now cast away from their home and into an unforgiving wild in the arms of an unknown being.
The Legend of the Hallowed
Chapter Two: Of Kings and Heroes
First he was faced with the eye of an elder god, which brought forth minions and flame onto him. He slew the eye and its forces yet though, and continued onward. Next was a being born from the darkest parts of the world, known simply as the devourer. It ripped through the earth and stone, and yet it fell before him. Time passed, and with every day the creature grew stronger. Eventually he found himself seeking entrance into a derelict ruin of those who came before him, fighting against his strongest foe yet in the form of the guardian of the ruin...
The two fillies and their guardian landed a short ways into the forest, safe from the sights of those that may have been watching. The Guardian set them down on the ground, and took out a quill and paper to write upon.
Are you alright? Did he injure you?
The fillies shook their heads.
Well do you not have parents to watch over you and prevent such misunderstandings?
Again, the downtrodden fillies shook their heads. The guardian seemed taken aback by this.
Have you none but yourselves?
Once more, the fillies shook their heads. The guardian seemed saddened, and thought for a moment.
Well if you may not return to your city then you may stay with me if you like.
The fillies seemed surprised at this, and then happy with vigorous nods. The Guardian wrote one more final message.
Hmm. I believe I should introduce myself better. My name is Guide. Yours?
The younger sibling hopped to Guide.
"I'm Luna and my big sister there is Celestia!"
Guide gave a slight, hard to notice smile, and waved for the two to follow behind as he led them both along.
Far behind the two, in the depths of the city, however, there lay a guard with an offended pride. He had been halted from stopping a pair of traitors to unicorn kind, and so had rushed forth to the king of the land to tell o the strange beast in the woods which had dared to leave the border between civilization and wildness. He had made up his mind the moment they had escaped, to rush forth and tell the king about this creature which seemed to be set upon aiding traitors such as those. He reached the throneroom quickly, and told the king of what he had found. King Palladium was extremely serious about knowing all of the goings-on when it came to the possibility of non-unicorn filth entering the kingdom. The guard bowed before him. The king, a unicorn stallion larger than all those in the land, bearing a horn to match, was adorned with a suit of deep bronze armor, and a crown of shining metal forged of silver and palladium made with tradition to bear magical properties while still having that which he was named for. In body he was almost white, yet appeared as if his coat were finest silver, and his combed back mane was a light gray often compared with the newly found and harvested metal osmium, a magically conductive material. His eyes, fittingly enough with his coat, looked as if they were finely carved of emerald.
"Rise Guard. What news dost thou bring of the outer region? "
The guard rose, attempting to make himself seem more important.
"Your highness, I found a pair of fillies, the two belonging to that dead astronomer mare in the middle of town, leaving into the woods on the edge of town. I tried to apprehend the two but they tried to run away, and summoned some kind of demon hiding in the trees. The thing flew at me from the woods, and blasted me with magic before taking the two fillies. I fear this creature may be a new weapon of the Pegasi, attempting to arm themselves against us"
The king remained silent for a moment before speaking.
" We know the creature of which you speak. It is an ancient creature of great power, but it has never defied the edge of our kingdom before... Scribe! Send a message for us to the guard, I want a regiment of battlemages at the ready. I may have need of them soon. And you, "
He looked back to the guard.
"You will tell no others of what you have seen. We appreciate this report, and you are free to leave. "
The king stood from his throne, and started walking into a chamber to the left of his throne.
"Court is cancelled for the day. I have things to consider. "
Entering the chamber, King Palladium was immediately greeted by a small filly, bearing a white coat and coiffed blue-silver mane rushing towards him to embrace him.
"Father, Starswirl said that for all my breeding I have the worst magical skill of anycorn he's ever seen! Father could you please banish him for me?"
Palladium leaned down and nuzzled his foal.
" Platinum you know we cannot banish Starswirl, his skills are needed. We will most assuredly have words with him however "
She moaned in irritation and puffed up her face, to the amusement of her father. He gripped her in his magic and placed her upon his back.
Even with the lesser races resisting, and perchance gaining the favor of the ancient, I will not halt. Unicorn kind will rule the world as predestined and my daughter will be the one who completes my work...