Rising Hope: Birth Of The Transcendents

A Different Way Of Knowing

It was soothing.

Jamir sighed a breath of relief as he sipped the cup of Black tea in his hand. It held a sweet, but tangy aftertaste that paired with the small Salmon fillet the twins were so considerate to cook for everyone to eat. Going through what he did took a monumental toll on his body.

He found it a tad frighting he has had yet to snap under the false delusions.

Or maybe he has Luna to thank for that. Speaking of which, he should probably check on everyone back home. A dull red tinge of magic surrounded his hands and spawned into the air at face level.

''Uh, master,'' Taika muffled through her half-eaten fish. ''What type of magic is that?'' she pointed a finger.

''...Projection magic.'' he took of a sip of his drink. ''I learned to do this from Luna a few times after she had...turned- I mean, had...'things' happen to her in the past,'' he cringed at almost revealing Nightmare Moon to the Tiger. It was something that was on a need to know basis and right now, nobody didn't.

''Aww, you didn't tell us you could do that!'' Hina complained. ''That's another entry into the books!'' she uncovered her fan club book and began to write in it.

''Don't you guys realize-'' Rainbow Dash flew over the twin's heads, lightly poking them with both her forehooves. ''-that having a book dedicated to the trials, tribulations, and otherwise awesome, 'but not as awesome as me' things he's done is kinda insulting and weird to his marefriends and him?''

''Not if we don't think it to be that way; who's to say you can't not ever have a fascination with your favorite hero?'' Rina countered. ''Besides, do you not already do that with The Wonderbolts, Spitfire and Ms. Daring Do?''  her question caused the Pegasus to chuckle and look away.

''Well, no,'' she argued. ''That's different.'' she held firm past the deadpan looks. ''...Oh, okay fine! S-Stupid Threstals.'' she pouted.

''...Anyways, if you must know,'' Jamir broke the awkward silence. ''That is on a need to know basis and that was, what? 4 months ago? It's November, so I wouldn't have even known you to tell you.'' he flicked a small rock at both their foreheads, eliciting a small yelp of pain and a mark that would sure to show.

With that under the bridge, Jamir did one final check of the connection to insure it could reach Ponyville with no lag. Yes, there was apparantly lag in Projection Magic. Common sense told War Mages back during Starswirl The Bearded's time: 'The less magic inputted to the connection, the less stable interactions are between recipients.'  It almost made him want to drive a metal spike through the next Unicorn's head who says that it depends on the distance you are apart from the receiving pony!

Back to the nature of his checking up on things back home.

The dull red projection looked to be the size of a window, emitting a dull hum before a image of Twilight showed, with a book in her magic off to the side, looking ecstatic.

''Jamir!'' she smiled, casting the book aside.

''Hey, Twi; I just wanted to check on you and the girls. Has anything changed so far?''

''No, but am I glad to see you! Things have just been slow around here and Amethyst has been curious as ever, mostly being at the library or in Canterlot with the Princesses. The girls have been off doing their own things, me, Shining Armour, Frank and Gizmo have been keeping the Diamond Dogs in check and...that's about it.'' she waited to hear his response. Then she remembered something. ''Oh! Right. Frank asked if you had supposedly included him in a joke?''

''Uh...'' Jamir trailed off, trying to find a way around the question. ''That's nice and all, but we just called to check on you.'' he redirected the projection to show Applejack and Rainbow.

''Hey, sugarcube./Sup, Twi?''

''Hey guys, are things going okay over there? Have you met the Queen yet?''

''Not quite, sug,'' Applejack admitted. ''We got all these things to do before we can actually do that, but its going swell at the moment.''

''Like what?''

''I would tell you, Twi; but we're kinda on a tight schedule, but the jist of everything is that we're doing fine so far and we should be home soon.'' he observed the twins pantomiming something to looked to translate: 'need to move on.'

''Okay, I guess i'll talk to you guys later, but I expect to hear the full story when you get back.''

''Wouldn't dream of anything different.'' Jamir chuckled. ''But you might want to sit down for some parts...it might shock you. Love you, Twi. Give Amethyst a kiss for me.''

''I love you too.'' the connection ended. Then he looked to the twins. ''So...what's next on the list?''

Jamir said nothing. He stood with his arms folded across his chest. Rows of large marble columns spanned down the hall in front of him. The smell of incense was heavy in the air, almost if someone had committed murder and masked the smell of blood. The evening sun shone through the windows, providing warmth. The place was almost dead silent, sans the tranquil dripping of the circular fountain that had a multitude of coins thrown in for supposed good luck.

The sound of hoovesteps alerted him to turn around to see Hina and Rina walking to the table where everyone else sat. A huge ivory-leather bound book, the size of a small chest with an emblem of Chronomid's symbol on it.

''This is the fourth task, Loyalty...and probably one with the most importance. Here we have the history of us Threstals, how we came to be, our principles and probably the most important: the reason for the feud between the Vamponies.'' Rina looked sorrowful.

''Wait-'' Chrysalis interrupted. ''This has to do with Loyalty how?'' she asked to which the twins bowed their heads.

''...Read from the beginning and you'll see why...but Jamir,'' Hina looked to the human, genuine concern and sadness along her sister. Tears almost began fall from their eyes...this was important.

''Yes?''

''Promise us...that not matter what you read in this book, no matter what may catch your eye...'' Hina began.

''We implore, beg you if we must...please will you still aid us? We have none other to come to in our this time of need.'' Rina finished.

''That...I...will at least hear your side of the story should things not be favorable for us,'' he gestured to his group.

''All that we ask of you.'' Rina sighed a breath of relief as she opened the book up to the first chapter. ''Just hold a open mind.''

History Of The Threstals.

Chapter 1: The Foundation...

....Life...a concept's viability long debated since the very beginning. Variations of worth have long been cast aside for the more greedy and selfish conquests of uncaring, loathsome tyrants, extremists as well blind souls influenced with false promises. Lineage of the Threstal race can be traced back preceding the events of petty occurrences such as The Tranzian Demon Period or the corruption of Maria The Black.

One day, in a more remote part what is now known as Chronomid, a mysterious force, more easily controllable and extensive to primitive magic struck down from the heavens, concentrating in a particular place. At the time, it was believed that the very will of emotions played a factor in creating what some thought to be a monstrosity, to others a beacon of hope and for the small few...an excuse. Fire, lighting and the very guiding constellations fused together to create one being.

From that brief period of time birthed a single filly, fabricated from the elements themselves.

However, her appearance was completely alien to the common Equine in almost every way. Her coat, transparent and seemingly intangible at will. Heightened senses, higher than average: almost supernatural.

At first she was alone, by herself. With none to aid her, vulnerable to everything in the forsaken world.

With no sense of consciousness, she did the only thing she was able to...she wept.

For an entire week, without fail, she wept.

Throughout the entire time, savage and mindless animals tried to make a meal of the filly, only for them to be scared away from getting in too close proximity. The animals feared her, and soon learned and taught their fellow brethren to avoid the crying filly.

The crying persisted for two more days, her very whines piercing the skies and literally moving the clouds. It would have lasted for days on end if not for a young, grey unicorn stallion, with sky blue eyes and a dull windswept mane and tail shrouded in a grey cloak came upon the filly, cockish, but collected discovered the child and tilted his head at how she had yet to be malnourished, eaten, or if she would ever stop crying.

But instead of shying away, he pushed forward, scooping her in his hooves and silencing her cries in almost an instant. Her dull green eyes stared back at his own eyes in curiosity. She giggled, and slobbered on his snout. He looked at her with the concern of a father. The child's body language showed she needed a push in the right direction from scratch.

The filly exuded a inquisitive nature. A small maiden in disguise...maiden...maiden...that was a name that he found befitting.

''I shall name you Maiden,'' the stallion's voice was tired, yet full of life. ''Do you like that?'' he asked.

The filly bubbled and giggled at the name, seemingly accepting it.

''Wait,'' Rainbow interrupted. ''So this filly was just made out of the stars themselves?''

''Supposedly, there have been no other records of a secondary way of being birthed.'' Hina said. ''Now focus back on the book, this is where things take a turn,''

Chapter 2: The Consequences Of An Action Not Intentional.

Years passed by and the filly now known by the name Maiden has grown a great deal. As a child, she and her newly appointed father, Life led a isolated life, away from the humdrum and bustle of the world around them, slow going but always seeming to be full of little surprises. The father knew his child could not not grow up without the companionship of friends, lest she become a social outcast. In the rare instances where Maiden interacted with other commonly yielded the same result: being shunned by others just for the way that she looked. To Life, that was to be expected as the will of others carry a evolutionary trait to be 'afraid' of the unknown when the only cure is to know more about it.

''Papa?'' Maiden asked. ''Why do the other ponies look at me funny?''

''I...the ponies are just very curious, but don't know how to approach things which they foolishly believe them to be scared of...but I do know this,'' Life picked his daughter up and pecked her forehead. ''You are extraordinary...and never let none other tell you different.''

Chapter 3: Born With No Life.

Summer came around as Maiden reached the age of a young adult mare and her life changed drastically. The first, of many things occurring were a event, dubbed The Tranzian Demon Period. Maiden, one day at her home when a small group of extremists came in the middle of night, captured and put her in jail, sick and tired of her indifference. When asked why, she was met with the answer:

''You are not like us...so you will not be among us.''

Those words alone forced Maiden to keep asking for her father, to which her captors told her that her father would never be able to locate her.

Maiden was confused beyond measure. Her father told her that the ponies whom were curious about her did not want to take the first step to learn more of her, yet this was different. Throughout the grape vine, she heard of her to be sentenced to either rot in a dungeon for the rest of her life, be sacrificed to a wild Manticore or even to be hung.

''This is not right!'' Maiden bellowed, hoping to coax her captors into seeing her truth.

''Quiet, Alien!'' her Pegasus Warden warned. ''There is nothing that you can do that will change the minds of others!''

Her fate appeared to be sealed, the will of many overpowering that of few.

''So wait.'' Jamir stopped reading for a second. ''You mean to tell me that these ponies would just openly kill somebody for being that different?''

''...Yes.'' Hina sorrowfully admitted. ''We, as Threstals are gifted with above average skills that others could not accept. Intelligence, strength, even magical prowess are but a few things that most found nearly impossible, we found easy as breathing the very air itself. That is but one of few reasons we have been at a feud, an almost war with the Vamponies. The heavens gifted Maiden with incredible skill, but never was taught to abuse them in retaliation to the bitterness of others...''

''I never knew thinks of that nature could occur,'' Taika's ears folded against her head.

''Read this next chapter, and you find the answers you seek,'' was all Rina said before going silent.

Chapter 4: Finding The Strength.

Three months have passed with Maiden's being in jail and a plan was set in motion that would form the foundation of what is now the home of all Threstals. In the growing months, many things have been whispered in her ears. Some irrelevant, others of some importance, but there was one that almost forced her to forsake her principles.

A young foal was to be executed in front of the townspeople, by a Manticore. The colt's life was to be ended for the simple fact that he was born with a birth defect that most found to be irrelevant. A young mind had yet to corrupted of anything, but in the eyes of vile and uncaring vagrants thought different.

News of that reached Maiden's ears.

It infuriated her.

But instead of following the example of those who wished harm upon her, Maiden went along with her plan; to make every living being see the light. In the few months of her imprisonment, her only guard, a Unicorn was an acquaintance of hers that agreed with the mare. The few months together yielded the same result: originally cold and harsh, was merely a very weak shell that was broken. His name...was Chrono.

''What does that mean?'' Maiden asked, curiously.

''It means time,'' Chrono replied.

The plan, long thought over was set in motion. On the eve of the day Maiden first came into the world seemed to be the best time to strike. Chrono broke her out of prison and the pair ran.

Fire and rioting broke out at finding out there was a traitor in the midst, willing to aid the Alien. Not looking back, they ran, dodging flaming arrows, glass and the occasional magic blast. Not even explosives right on their tails deterred them to do any different.

But before that, Maiden took to locating her father, Life and took him along with her, hoping to escape.

And that they did.

In the entirety of her time spent for being wrongfully imprisoned, the only one she could confide in besides Life was Chrono...always there to comfort the mare in the more dark of times whenever her thinking was impaired.

The days were bright back then, almost shined like gold among a black cloud. The wounds, both physical  and emotionally would take time to heal. But she was confident that with the aid of the two stallions with her, there was nothing that could ever bring down the peace between them.

''But I still don't get why.'' Jamir argued. ''How did the feud between The Threstals and Vamponies happen?''

''Last chapter of the book, Jamir.'' Hina and Rina said at the same time. ''There you will find your answer, and at that time...we ask that you look past all what you may see that changes your mind...'' the pair slowly walked over to a pillar and sat down. ''You may not like what you see, but...go and read. It will become clear to you.''

Chapter 5: Resolution.

With Maiden, Chrono and Life on the run from those wishing harm upon the trio, something soon had to change, lest this become a tedious cycle that none could escape from. It was decided, that since a simple soul was the start of this, that maybe a simple soul could a key that halts the wheels of motion long enough for the mare to get her point across. You see, Maiden and Chrono...were in love.

And Maiden was pregnant.

As it  was debated against by Chrono, it was welcomed by Maiden to show the known world of her determination to not be subjugated under the hooves of simpletons.

Their plan was to bring a child into the world.

''How do we know this will not just agitate Them further?'' Chrono huffed, casting a look to the empty horizon.

''We do not,'' Maiden simply replied. ''But what I do know is that we have a chance before us to make something  that may a better chance to so just the opposite that the three of us ever could on our own.'' she smiled, laying a comforting hoof on his shoulder. ''I think it's time to leave the doubt behind, take my hoof and let us shine.'' she said with absolute confidence. ''Father has already see things from my perspective and you should too.''

''...And you do agree to this, Life?'' Chrono asked.

''I am but an old stallion, boy.'' he said back. ''The only thing I have ever agreed to is to and for the betterment of Maiden...if doing this can do that, then I have no choice but to agree. But-'' he stopped, casting a look behind, and listening, hearing distant yelling and spells going off. ''You have come this far, planted the seed needed, now the important part of guarding it comes...there is now way to back out now, son. I implore you to carry the wisdom I have imparted upon both of you to the child when it comes, as I will not be able to.'' his horn charged, bringing a white hue of magic to it, the winds picking up violently before the clouds above darkened and rain began to pour by the bucketfulls, strands of thunder and lighting in the background.

''F-Father, you are not doing why I am thinking, are you?'' Maiden gasped. ''No, you cannot leave us, me! There must be another way!'' she stepped in front of him, blocking his path.

''There is none other.'' his voice was as gruff and full of life as when they first met. ''I have a personal score with Them for keeping my Maiden away from me for so long. And now they will pay!"' he bellowed, a bolt of lighting striking the ground, uprooting plants and scorching the earth where few of their assailants once stood, being violently charred to a crisp.

''No!'' Maiden called past the roaring thunder. ''Please!'' she pulled and tugged at his tattered cloak. Instead of backing down, she was met with a peck to the forehead and being encased in his magic.

''I love you, Maiden, do not forget that. Chrono, take care of her...please.''

''Of course.''

''And If I may? I believe I have a name for the child if you will allow me...Mid. I believe his or her name should be Mid.'' was all he said before everything went to kingdom come. Legions of ponies with spears, torches, and catapults were decimated by the lighting. The ground split at the seams.

''Father, no!'' Maiden cried, reaching out, only to be teleported away alongside Chrono.

''Okay, that was kinda sad and all, but I still don't see how this affects Master,'' Taika remained confused.

''I agree, will this cause my liege even more heartache?'' Chrysalis flared her horn with magic, growling.

''Well...'' Hina started. ''The truth is-''

''Cut the crap!'' Rainbow yelled. ''Either tell us the real truth or we will go back home right now and Queen Whatever her name is can feud with The Vamponies herself!'' she stomped her hoof.

...

''I guess we couldn't keep it hidden any longer,'' Rina dryly chuckled as if hearing a dark joke.

Jamir squinted. ''Keep what hidden?''

''That-'' she rubbed her neck with a sigh. ''-...well, first: I know you all know Discord.'' she droned on, receiving a nod from everyone, even Taika. ''But, did Celestia and Luna tell you how he came to be?''

''Wait, what are you saying?'' Applejack trotted forward. ''It sounds like you know something we don't. Care to share?''

Closing the book, Hina explained herself. ''Well, in the final chapter, it talked about how Maiden witnessed her father being killed right in front  of her, and in doing so...she snapped and the dormant power from the stars fueled her rage and she slaughtered everyone in sight...Except one pony. A crazed Unicorn who lead the forefront against Maiden. His name was Chaos. In striking him down, his followers backed down at the sheer awe of her prowess.''

''But,'' Rainbow asked. ''How did-''

''She was getting to that. Please continue, sister.'' Rina urged.

''She went back to the village where it all happened. The force behind her power could be felt for miles, and when the ponies laid eyes upon her, they all knew it was her. The ponies were stock still for a moment, intent on hearing what words she would utter. It was at that time, she found her voice and proclaimed to them the injustice done to her, what she envisioned to fix it and also revealed her child's being and name, Mid. The ponies were intent on listening to what she wanted to say if not for Chaos faking his death. She was, of course surprised and struck him down with raw emotion that her dormant power collided with Chaos's and changed him into something...artificial,'' Hina chuckled, preparing for the next set of words that would change events for the human.

It was so long ago, but the wound was still fresh.

''The result of her using her magic erratically and conscious for the first time reached a zenith incomprehensible to the strongest magic back then. The result of that magic created a horror unlike any not seen before. A prime example of what occurred on that day...what you know now as Discord...''

Silence hung in the air.

Chrysalis was the first to speak, though it came forced. ''S-So Discord, the Spirit Of Disharmony was just created, out of the blue, on the whim based on the principle of alienation?'' a eyebrow raised.

''Not only that.'' Rina bit the inside of her mouth. ''But Maiden felt that the world at the time needed to change besides just her bringing a child into the world. It appears that all the bad things she experienced coupled on Chaos's natural psychotic nature must have...fused together to make that messed up abomination...I know that you personally have a grudge with Discord and not to speak out of turn, I also know about Yasu and what that did to you. While that was a long time ago and nopony could have prevented that day from occurring, we thought you should at least know.''

''Wait, I think we all get what happened except one thing-'' Rainbow Dash pondered. ''-what made Chaos so special, and why you would think you wouldn't want him or us to trust you after hearing that?''

The twins both scoffed. Then Rina spoke again. ''Chaos...was a major advocate in that particular period who rose up on the wrong side on the tracks. When he spoke, ponies listened. He rose to power among the weaklings and made himself known. He formed a legacy that still managed to last and hold strong for over-'' she looked at the book. ''-5500 years. The reason he was so special besides his power was that he himself was a Vampony, and the first known leader of the race and Nobility.''

''Jamir, for what it's worth: we are sorry that you had to go through with you did with Discord. We may not have known him for as long as you have, or at all: me and Rina can tell that you held that boy with the love of a older brother and losing him at Discord's tricks sure made you bite the arrow for that matter, but now knowing that: after knowing that a portion of the pain you felt was unintentional...will you still aid Queen Titiana in trying to quell tensions with The Vamponies?''

''But what can boss-man do?'' Battering asked. ''Be a speaker?''

''Exactly, we hate to ask this of him, but maybe if he can tell them of how he met Discord, possibly he can coax them into nipping the feud in the bud.'' the twins looked to the human for his input. He frowned and swallowed the spit in his throat.

''I...am not so sure...that I can do that.'' tears began to slowly from at his eyes, falling to the floor. ''I...-'' then he remembered something, rather somepony whom he could question about this.

''Take me to the Queen now.'' his voice hardened. Seeing the look of confusion on the twin's face, he strengthened his statement by summoning Excalibolg in one hand and The Vindicator in the other, transforming it into its gun form, using his magic to cock the hammer. ''Or regret it.''