Alitheia

The first records of Umbra come in the form of testimonies and records from a little over two thousand years ago. But almost now record from those times mention any Alicorns aside from Celestia and Luna; and that Canterlot had long been founded by that point. But the Tears of Thysia show otherwise. So why would the historic records lie? What secrets are being hidden?

Like their teacher, many of the Alicorns took on students of their own. Valhalla served as the leader of the Citadel's military both land and air in the absence of Hekon, remaking the Apple Core, and the Sky Lions as a new military force. Solaris and Artemis were too preoccupied to take on students, nor did they truly want to or believe they could teach anything. Luna also did not take on any students, instead making remarkable discoveries, which included a strange owl-like creature that would serve as both a pet and guardian she named Inaba. But it was Celestia, the still Alicorn of Magic and Unicorns, that would teach generations of strong Unicorn spell casters. Some of her most famous students were a talented Unicorn named Star Swirl, along with his twin sister Umbra.

Star Swirl was considered by many, including some Alicorns on the Tribunal, to be Celestia's most talented student. but it was Umbra who received the most praise from Celestia. On more than one occasion, Solaris would chastise Celestia for her "unfocused" behavior and how she would "coddle" Umbra, rather than discipline her. On these occasions, Celestia would hear her brother's words but unlike in the past, Celestia ignored Solaris' council, instead, only spending more time with Umbra to almost rebel against him. Despite his anger towards the closeness of the two, Solaris chose to do nothing and remain with his own duties. Star Swirl, on the other hand, didn't mind Umbra getting more praise, it allowed him to focus on his pursuits in the field of magic.

Celestia trained the two Unicorns for many years, and within that time, Star Swirl had focused so long and hard on magic, that he often forgot to keep up with proper appearances; his long and often unkept beard earned him the infamous title, Star Swirl the Bearded. Not that he minded it, he considered the title a rather humorous name, believing that the beard only added to the "wizard" appearance he was often called. Umbra had met and married a young Unicorn noblecolt by the name of Bullion. But despite her "love" for her new husband, there was small talk between the nobles that Umbra was having an affair with Celestia. Bullion did not believe the rumors, knowing how close Celestia and Umbra were, and after a few years in their marriage, Umbra became pregnant with a young filly that would be named Platinum.

But little did Bullion really know, was that Celestia and Umbra were having an affair. From before her marriage, through her pregnancy, and even after the birth of baby Platinum, Celestia and Umbra had been involved in a scandalous relationship. During their magic practices, the two mares would often end their lessons in Celestia's private chambers and Umbra would not return home until late that night or early the next day. From a certain point of view, Umbra never lied to her husband when she would come home late from Celestia's when she said she was practicing magic; as magic of some type was occurring after practice.

Umbra has been regarded in every reference of her as a tyrant and a monster, yet in the Tears of Thysia, she is seen as kind and even loving. She loves her husband Bullion, yet also loves Celestia. What is more remarkable is Umbra's connection to the famous Star Swirl and the fabled Princess Platinum of the Hearth Warming tales. But what drove such a good mare to the darkness that later became her?

Umbra and Celestia's affair went on for years, with only the rumors of envious nobles to ever give a hint of truth. But the nobles' rumor was easily ignored, and Bullion trusted his wife. In time though, Bullion became sick. His health had always been rather weak, so this wasn't too surprising. But this year, his body had not been as well prepared and the illness took his life. Umbra grieved her lost husband, holding her still young Platinum in her hooves as she wept. But strangely, she did not cry, even when she wept, her eyes were dry. In a moment of guilt for her years with the affair, or some unknown reason, Umbra gave custody of her daughter to her brother. Star Swirl took the young child with him, as he had recently took on a young student named Clover, the two would help raise the child.

For a while Umbra and Celestia soon saw each other less and less. Celestia, her concern only eating her alive, drove her to Umbra's home, now a nearly abandoned mansion in the noble's section. When she visited, Umbra's voice seemed less loving as before, but neither was there any anger or rejection. Umbra only seemed to surround herself by books of lost and difficult magics. Celestia simply believed that the loss of Bullion had driven Umbra to seek a pursue a different use of her time. It was on one occasion that Celestia's love for Umbra and her love of her fellow Alicorns would be tested.

"Umbra? What is that?" Celestia asked, looking as Umbra held a strange black crystal in her hooves.

"I don't fully know." Umbra commented, admiring the hoof sized black rock; it seemed to almost pulsate with magic. "But I...I hear a voice within it. It tells me things, secrets of magic I've never heard of." Celestia leaned in to listen  to the whispers of the crystal. But the voice she heard drove her back against the wall, her heart raced and her eyes nearly burst open.

"That's the voice of Tartaras!" Celestia snapped, igniting her horn. "Get away from it! It's EVIL!"

"No Celestia wait!" Umbra said, protecting the crystal. "I don't know what wrong, but the magic this voice has shown me, we can make the world better with it."

"Whatever he offers is not worth it." Celestia tried again. "Give it here so I can destroy it."

"Please Celestia." Umbra pleaded. "You can trust me. We've known each other for so long, you can trust me."

Celestia wanted to say something but found she couldn't. Reluctantly, she allowed Umbra to study and learn from the black crystal, and told no one, not even Thysia. But after a time, Celestia and Umbra spent less and less time with each other. Eventually, she stopped seeing each other all together. Though the other Alicorns knew nothing of her affair with Umbra, Celestia was heart broken. After another long year of being without Umbra, Celestia went to confront her over the crystal. But when she arrived, Umbra was different. Her eyes were glowing with the violet hue that brought a shiver up Celestia's body. It was the eyes of Tartaras.

"Tartaras?!" Celestia demanded, igniting her horn in rage;. "Release Umbra, NOW!"

"Release her?" Umbra's voice answered, her tone was calm and smirked slightly. "I am Umbra, and I am also not. The one you knew as Umbra has accepted my offer."

"You lied and stole her soul!" Celestia snapped, blasting a spell at Umbra.

"I stole nothing." Umbra answered, effortlessly canceling Celestia's spell. "Nothing can be forced. She accepted me of her own choice and I told her what the risk was. She just wasn't strong enough." Taking a few steps forward, Umbra casually walked by with a small chuckle. "It was a fair deal. I give her the endless knowledge she sought, and I get my chance at revenge...on condition, that I spare you." Celestia dropped to her knees in tears. It was because of her love for Umbra, that she turned her into a monster. "Good bye Celestia. Don't get in my way."

The Tears of Thysia get strange and hazy after this point. As if something happened that even the Tears don't want others to see.

Umbra's reign lasted for only a few short years, but in those years, the Citadel was lit ablaze with magic and flame. The Alicorn Tribunal was almost helpless to face Umbra with her skill at canceling Alicorn magic effortlessly. It was through the skill of Valhalla that the crafting of the Alicorn Artifacts were made. Weapons and items that would serve as means to face Umbra with no Alicorn magic being used. The Artifacts proved to be more effective than magic but not enough to easily slay Umbra. Though Umbra was driven into the land of Feral Ponies by the Alicorn and their new Artifacts, she would return time and time again with an army of the Ferals with her.

Eventually, Thysia used her magic to call for the aid of two unknown ponies to aid the Alicorns. The names and faces of the mystery ponies was eventually lost to all history, but what was recorded was how the two turned the tide of the war and was able to defeat Umbra. And the other record was that Luna had an affair with one of the ponies. Though impossible to recall, Umbra's defeat was one that would change the course of the Alicorn Tribunal. Though the final battle took the life of Valhalla, Thysia finally took action; with her magic, Thysia caused the Crystal Heart to overload, bringing the barrier closer and closer in on itself.

While the Crystal Ponies scattered and fled to the barrier to escape the collapse of the Citadel, Thysia remained, using her magic to restrain and seal Umbra's body in the black crystal from which she was corrupted from. The remaining four Alicorns, on orders from Thysia led as many ponies as they could from the Citadel. But not every Crystal Pony was able to escape when the Citadel finally collapsed and was sealed within itself.

The history of the Citadel has been one that defined the history of the most major characters in Alitheia's history. But what was stranger than the last events of the War being so hazed, even within the Tears of Thysia. Is that after the Citadel was sealed away. Solaris, Artemis, Celestia, and Luna seemed to all but disappear, letting the lost ponies almost wander about aimlessly.