1002 CR (Celestia's Reign)
It was a peaceful night in Equestria. The sky was beautifully dotted with stars in intricate patterns. That was, until the sky darkened even further than it normally is. The first pony to see this was a white alicorn with a flowing mane decorated with the colors of the rainbow. As you may have guessed, this was none other than Princess Celestia. She looked startled at this scene, and her usually calm and serene expression was exchanged for one that was an unusual sight on her, worry. Less than a minuet later, her door opened with a BANG. "Tia!"
Standing at the door was a deep blue alicorn with a flowing mane that resembled the night sky.
"Yes, I know, Luna"
"But, does this mean-?"
"Yes, i'm afraid it does"
Luna's face took on a grave expression. "This will not end well"
Together, the sisters remembered the tragic battle and their terrible loss.
--FLASHBACK--
"Celestia!" A pony shouted, "Get the civilians and your sister to saftey!" "But what about you?" She shouted back "I'll be fine!" He respnded "Just go!" And with that, he turned, charged a spell, and ran off. 'alright demon' he thought while running into the mass of blackness 'it is time to end this.' Miles away, Celestia, a badly wounded Luna, and the villagers of a small village on the outskirts of equestria watched as the battle drew out in fromt of them. Both sides were giving it all they had, one sending powerful,blasts of evil energy, and the other countering it with his own magical blasts. "I hoped that it wouldn't come to this!" The hero shouted at the darkness, "But you have left me with no other option!" And with a powerful blast from his horn, he sealed the enemy and himself in that moment, and shot them under the earth for thousands of years. As they watched this unfold, the two sisters started to cry. "He's coming back, right Celestia?" Luna said tearfully. "I don't know Luna, I don't know.
--ENDFLASHBACK--
"But don't forget, dear sister, that with their return, he will return as well"
This statement considerably lightened Luna's mood. "Yes, at least we have that to look forward to"
"But" said Celestia "nevertheless, we must prepare." Luna walked back to the door. "Yes" she said "I suppose that you're right." And with that, Luna turned and ran to inform the gaurds of the upcoming event.
Watching her sister go, Celestia turned to her window.
Looking out the window, the princess noticed a faint light spark in the outskirts of the Everfree Forest.
'So' she thought 'he's already here.'
1002 CE
The next morning, Zecora was going about her buisness as usual, collecting herbs and such, when she saw a pony that she has never seen before. He was wearing a cloak, so she couldn't see his features too well, but she could see that he had a horn, a deep blue coat, deeper than Luna's. As he was wearing the hood down, she could see that his mane was a slightly lighter shade of blue, with streaks of black running through it. "Ah! Who is this who is near?" She said "Well, it is a new pony, it would appear." The pony turned to her.
"Ah! Sorry, i didn't see you there." He said. "My name is...Shadow Flame. Nice to meet you, uhh, sorry, may i have your name?"
"Your manners are quite sweet, it is Zecora of whom you meet."
"Ah, thank you. Anyway, could you point the way to the way to the nearest town?"
"If you continue walking that way, you will find Ponyville. And good luck, I wish you no ill."
"Thank you" And with that, he trotted off into the direction of Ponyville. 'I have to make it to the castle, but i'm too drained to use magic, and without any bits, i can't take a train. So, i'll have to walk.' He thought.
As he was walking, he saw an orange pony with a blonde mane, green eyes, and a cutie mark that looked like three red apples. She appeared to be...kicking the trees? 'Shadow Flame's' unworded question was answered a moment later, as entire bushles of apples fell out of the tree. 'Oh,' he thought. He walked up to the mare and asked "Hello, could you please direct me to ponyville?"
The mare turned around and said "Well, howdy. I haven't seen you 'round these parts before," before grasping his hoof and nearly pumped it off with a strong hoof shake.
"N-n-nice t-t-to m-meet you too" he said, hoof still vibrating. When he got his hoof back under control, he said, "Anyway, I'm Shadow Flame, what's your name?"
"Ah'm Applejack, and welcome to Sweet Apple Acers," she said, gesturing to the apple farm behind her. "We've got red apples, green apples, golen delicious, caramel apples, apple pie, apple tarts, apple turnovers, and pretty much any apple product imaginable."
'Shadow Flame' looked over the rolling hills of Sweet Apple Acers. Every hill was covered in apple trees, and every apple tree was filled with delicious looking red apples.
"Wow," said 'Shadow Flame' "That's a lot of apples."
"Well, it is called Sweet Apple Acers, and we are the Apple family."
"Well, it was nice meeting you, but I really have to hurry. So, could you please point the way Ponyville?" 'Shadow Flame' asked.
"Why sure, just head on over that hill, and Ponyvill'll be raght there."
"Thank you," he said over his sholder as he walked to Ponyville.