The Reign Of The Sun

The sun was barely beginning to rise when the animals began their journey, moving on some unspoken instinct and word that their future rulers were being presented today they hurried toward Pride Rock their voices raised in song. "Nants ingonyama bagithi Baba sithi uhm ingonyama ingonyama nants ingonyama bagithi Baba sithi uhhmm ingonyama ingonyama siyo nqoba ingonyama ingonyama nengw' enamabala." an elderly rhino took the first steps moving slowly as antelopes and meerkats began to realize the state of the sun following the elderly rhino as quickly as they could passing a young cheetah who, for this special occasion, didn't bother them instead beginning to follow beside them. Families of ponies soon joined their ranks nodding respectfully to the animals making sure that even the large birds were aware of what was happening for their kingdom, making them take to the sky flying high into the air, their own voices singing in joy. "From the day we arrive on the planet and blinking, step into the sun there's more to see than can ever be seen more to do than can ever be done there's far too much to take in here more to find than can ever be found but the sun rolling high through the sapphire sky keeps great and small on the endless round!" Antelopes leapt ahead cutting through the early morning fog.

A young mother giraffe lead her baby into the fresh beams of light, causing it to squint a little at first as it's eyes adjusted, before they began to run to catch up with the other animals heading to their king. Zebras kicked up dust as they trotted along and even small ants seemed to take notice picking up leaves and running along tree branches instead of along the ground where they might be crushed underfoot. Elephants especially had to be very careful not to step on any of the animals or ponies as they thundered along carrying some of the smaller birds on their tusks as they followed a herd of zebras through a large watering hole. As the animals and ponies began to arrive a large fiery bird flew over head approaching a large white grey alicorn with a long flowing, now, white beard and a neatly groomed white mane, his name was Starswirl the Bearded and he was king of the Pridelands. He had soft blue eyes which were filled with the wisdom of ruling beside his mate for many years the bird, known as Philomena, bowed low with her wings spread wide before looking up at her king with a smile which was returned with a slight nod by Starswirl as he listened to his subjects sing. "it's the Circle of Life and it moves us all through despair and hope through faith and love till we find our place on the path unwinding in the circle the Circle of Life!" The animals began to part allowing a young zebra named Zecora approach Pride Rock, dipping their heads in respect as she walked past with her walking stick tied with gourds. She had five rings on her right foreleg and a similar set of ring around her neck and a grey stylized sun on her flank as her cutie mark, she had met Starswirl when he was a young stallion and was offered a place in the Pridelands by his father, in exchange for her knowledge of herbs and the spirit world she would have a home which she was able to come and go from willingly.

She nodded to the animals and ponies with a slight smile before she approached Starswirl and pulled him into a warm embrace looking back toward the nursing den where the queen and heirs were resting. Starswirls mate was named Wild Daisy and, while her mate could control the sun, she controlled the moon. Wild Daisy was a short alicorn mare with dark blue fur with a, now, white mane and tail with magenta eyes and where her husband was strong-willed and wise, she was gentle and kind. Starswirl led Zecora in to show her his foals, they had two: one a bright white and the other dark blue "They're named Celestia and Luna." he explained to Zecora nuzzling his mate as he looked at his heirs pointing each one out as he said their names. Wild Daisy leaned down licking her foals gently making them stir and look up at Zecora curiously.

Zecora gripped her walking stick shaking the gourds at the little foals, watching as they reached up to try and grab them in their hooves. Finally setting her walking stick aside she broke open a gourd gently dipping her hoof inside one of the halves and carefully smearing the juice across their foreheads grabbing a bit of sand in her other hoof and sprinkling it over them, making the foals sneeze. Starswirl and Wild nuzzled proudly watching their young before Zecora picked them up, Starswirls horn gleaming with a spell to help her keep her balance as she walked on her hind legs with an heir gently gripped in her hooves. Animals waited with bated breath as they saw Zecora approaching the outcrop of Pride Rock going wild when, with a flourish Zecora held out the heirs, a thin coat of magic from Wild Daisy's own horn keeping them safe but for all to see their voice raised high in joy as they began to kick up dirt and grass in their excitement "it's the Circle of Life and it moves us all through despair and hope through faith and love till we find our place on the path unwinding in the circle the Circle of Life!" then almost as one the animals and ponies alike began to bow low to the ground as a beam of light broke through the clouds to shine upon them. With one final smile Zecora returned the foals to their parents and got down onto her natural hooves once again.

"They will be strong fillies." she told Starswirl watching as Wild returned to the den with her young to let them get some rest "I noticed Discord was not present at the presentation" she looked out as the animals and ponies began to slowly return to where they had been filled with a new energy from seeing their future rulers for the first time.

"Yes I noticed that as well, my brother was always a bit anti-social but I never thought he would be this rude." Starswirl mused gesturing for Philomena to come over "go to Discord's cave, tell him I'm coming to see him, I want a word with my beloved brother about his behavior" Starswirl ordered, watching Philomena fly away intending the check on a few things before following.

Inside Discord's Cave

A small grey mouse crawled out of a hole in the cave wall that it called home sniffing and cleaning its face until a large paw fell upon it gripping its tail and pulling it up into the air. Discord was once a grey unicorn like his brother Starswirl, but after dabbling in forbidden magic he became a sort of mismatch creature, he had an antler and a horn on his head, one of his hooves became a sort of lion paw while his other became a bird claw. He had a dark maroon torso with a dragon foot and a hoof for his other limb, he had a long scale covered tail and even had two wings, one like a bat, and the other pegasus-like.

"Life's not fair is it?" He asked the mouse watching as it struggled to get free from his grip "You see I, well I, shall never be king." he let the mouse run along his paw catching it as it fell over with a wicked grin. "And you, will never be the same way again." he chuckled darkly "and you" he felt his chaotic magic flow through him beginning to focus it on the mouse when a sharp voice interrupted him.

"Didn't your mother ever teach you how to play nice?" Philomena put her wings on her hips glaring lightly at Discord with disinterest in her eyes.

Discord sighed in annoyance looking away with a roll of his red eyes "Oh what do you want?" he asked though it was clear he could careless what she wanted his paw holding the mouse down.

"I'm here to announce that King Starswirl is on his way." Philomena flung her wings out and then bowing low, as if picturing her king there now "So you better have a good excuse for missing the ceremony this morning" she added glaring at Discord once again from her bowed position before straightening and standing tall against his larger size, the mouse slipping free from Discords grip and running quickly back toward its home in the cave wall.

Discord clicked his tongue in disappointment "Oh now look Philomena, you made me lose my play mate." Discord frowned looking over at Philomena to study her with a sharpened gaze.

But she merely laughed "You'll lose more than that when the king gets through with you, he's angrier than a hippo with a hernia." She crossed her wings looking toward the entrance of the cave.

"Oh I quiver with fear." Discord smirked slinking toward Philomena his chaotic powers pulsing through him sharpening toward the young majordomo, who seemed to realize the danger she was in.

"Now Discord, don't look at me that way... Help!" She started to back away dodging blasts of chaos magic before being stuck and trapped in a bubble of Discords magic, thankfully for her however help had arrived.

"Discord....drop her." Starswirl's deep voice growled as he approached the entrance of Discord's cave, Discord tried to look innocent but after a stare down he sighed and released her from his magical grip.

"Impeccable timing you're majesty." She said shaking her feathers out and looking at Discord in distain but he was already approaching Starswirl a wide fake smile on his face.

"Why if it isn't my big brother descending from on high to mingle with the commoners." His smile turned into a wide smirk once again as he began to walk a few steps away.

"Wild and I didn't see you at the presentation of our foals." He didn't quite glare at Discord, but he wasn't pleased either that much was clear in his face.

"That was today? Oh I feel simply awful!" He dragged his claws against the side of his den making a terrible sound that made Philomena cringe "Must have slipped my mind" he added studying his sharp claws already looking bored.

"Well as slippery as your mind is, as the king's brother you should've been first in line!" Philomena glared flying close to Discord but a quick hum of magic sent her back to hide behind Starswirl.

"I was first in line, until the little hairballs were born." Discord glared at Philomena before Starswirl crouched to make eye contact with his brother.

"Those hairballs are my children, and your future rulers." Starswirl glared openly now annoyed at his brother's blatant disrespect for his children.

"Oh I shall practice my curtsy." He replied sarcastically starting to turn away.

"Don't turn your back on me Discord..." Starswirl nearly growling the words out.

"Oh no Starswirl, perhaps you shouldn't turn your back on me." Discord glanced back a moment before continuing to walk away.

Starswirl's temper snapped and he charged toward Discord his horn glowing "Is that a challenge?!" he got even closer to Discord, making him back up a few steps.

"Temper temper." He shook his head and rolled his eyes "I wouldn't dream of challenging you..." Discord spoke, soft as honey but his mind added one word: yet...

"Pity, why not?" Philomena walked between Starswirls front hooves putting her wings on her hips again.

"Well as far as brains go I got the lions share but when it comes to brute strength." He glared at Starswirl before passing him and beginning to walk away from them again "I'm afraid I'm at the shallow end of the gene pool." He almost sounds sad as he starts to walk away.

Philomena sighed "There's one in every family sire, two in mine actually and they always manage to ruin special occasions." She blinked before leaping up and flying onto his shoulder.

Starswirl sighed "Oh what am I going to do with him?" he shook his head sadly, the pair had been so close when they were younger but then Discord began messing with the chaotic magic he now had free control over, and they slowly drifted apart ever since.

"He'd make a very interesting throw rug." Philomena joked grinning as Starswirl even began to chuckle, though he tried to lightly reprimand her for her comment.

"And just think, whenever he gets dirty you could take him out and beat him." Starswirl's laughter echoed through the area as he followed Philomena back toward Pride Rock.