Chapters
Hello everypony! Who am I? I'm Dawn Rune. I've been called many things, a Children of the Night, former Student to Princess Luna, Arch-Mage of the Lunar Court, and best friends with Dusk Shine. But above all of that, I am a curious Unicorn that loves learning ancient histories. So with both Princess Celestia's and Princess Luna's permission, I have been allowed to gaze within something they call The Tears of Thysia. It's a strange artifact to be sure. A stone chalice with some liquid inside it. It can't be water, I held that thing upside down and shook it but nothing spilled. And whenever I look in it, I see things that I can never remember the next day.
After bringing this up with the Princesses, they told me the relic has the power to see anything there is to see in this world, all its histories, etc. But it is impossible to remember any of it. So we worked out a deal. I write down everything I see before I forget it, on the condition that I give the book to the Princesses upon completion. It's kinda ironic...I have the chance to learn the secrets of the ages, and once this is all done, I'll never be able to remember any of it. Oh well, at least I get to write it all down. Maybe I can convince them to let me read the book later. Oh well, here's to hoping. Let's begin with the first chapter...........
There was not nothing. There has always been something. Endless stars that twinkled, and endless planets; most with no life. It was from the dying of ancient star, that it all began.
The endless dark abyss, illuminated by endless stars, was all that could be seen around this section of the cosmos. All that could scatter the endless dark was the massive Sun, Aionios meaning The Everlasting in the most ancient of languages...was dying. For countless eons, this Sun reigned supreme over this solar system. But even stars must eventually die, nothing is truly immortal. As Aionios grew larger and larger, it had consumed numerous small worlds that once lived off its warmth. Once it had reach its absolute mass, the Sun imploded, scattering like a wave of light and fire, burning and destroying any planet in its system that thought it had avoided its reach. All was now dark, and all was lifeless.
But something came from the destruction of Aionios. Countless, scattered remnants of the dead Sun's light began to stir with their own life. For countless eons, each fragment began to gather back together, meeting where Aionios once rested. Among the trillions of lights that tried to meet together, only a few small hundreds of these lights made it. These lights soon began to take a new form. They were massive, yet mere insects compared to the once mighty Sun. Their new forms were strange and more corporeal. Their bodies were slender, found legs hung from their new bodies, ending with four flat hooves that radiated light. A single long and pointed horn protruded from the foreheads of their rounded heads that radiated the endless abyss; a mane of starlight and stardust flowed in cosmic winds. A similar cosmic tail sprung from their smooth rears and at their sides were a pair of mighty wings with feather made of the same dark abyss as their horns.
The final act of this transformation,w as the opening of their new eyes that were as white and burning as the ancient Aionios. The very spot in which all these new being stared, a new Sun was formed. Less than a fraction of Aionios' mass but it still brought light back to the dark system. With mouthless voices, the word Anesti was spoken. This new Sun was forever know as Anesti, the Risen. The second thing these new being looked at were themselves. They saw how each of them were the same, and how each of them shared the same thoughts with another. The second word was spoken from their mountless forms, Kosmikos. And so this new race was called Kosmikos, or the Cosmics.
It was not the Cosmics that created everything. They formed a planet in a reborn system, gave life to their new planet, but then left the planet and its new life to its own devices. But not before leaving a few things behind.
With the creation of Anesti and the forming of the Kosmikos, the Cosmics realized there was nothing left in the system since the death of Aionios. All that could be seen, except for themselves, was the countless slag, and floating debris of all the planets and worlds that died from the implosion. These rocks had no life and were wasted just floating in the abyss. Raising their horns in unison, the Cosmics created a vast light, one that was enhanced by the warmth and light Anesti provided them. All at once, the rocks and slag glowed with the same shade of light the Cosmics produced and moved with great speed, colliding into each other.
Again and again, the rocks of all sized smashed into each other, creating larger and larger rocks of molten fire and liquid rock. It was only over what could be seen as a few short million years that the rocks were all but spent, a new plant was formed. The Cosmics looked upon their new creation and learned more of what they were capable of. This new planet would be known as Alitheia, the Truth that comes from the oblivion and destruction. But some rocks remained. While some of these rocks were extra lifeless ones, the Cosmics noticed how some held a faint light, a remnant of what the Cosmics once were. Their light only became stronger and radiated brighter when exposed to the light of Anesti.
Uniting the lights of their horns again, the Cosmics brought these light infused rocks together. this new structure was nearly a a fourth the size of Alitheia but its enhanced light seemed to shift the surface of the new planet, maintaining it and holding it even more firm together. The Cosmics named this new structure Odigos, the Guide that would lead and protect Alitheia. With the formation of both a planet and a Moon to maintain it, the Cosmics had a new thought:
If we were born from the loss of Aionios, how many others might exist?
This was not a question the Cosmics could simply put off, but neither could they abandon their newly form world. So it was decided that the Cosmics would be divided. Three Cosmics would be left to watch and look after Alitheia and Odigos, while the remaining would be scattered across the universe looking for more like them. The three that remained gave within themselves, names. individual names that would show their role in the crafting of this new planet and what would dwell upon it.
Kataskevastis, the Maker, who would craft the Pinnacle, a massive spire that existed near the core of the planet. With it, the Cosmics were able to effectively reshape the land, forming long an high mountain ranges, deep ridges, vast landscapes and endless oceans. Ouranos, the Sky, who would bring air and elements to the planet. Bringing about storms of rain and earthquakes to make the land fertile and ready for the final task. And finally, Mitera, the Mother, who would give life and be the creator of all the most primitive of beings that would live upon the planet. These three Cosmics would watch over the planet would be the three who would be the creators of all things, they would nurture the land, cultivate it, and watch over it for any signs of it falling back into the dark abyss from whence it came.
Where do all life come from? Why is the dominant species of the planet pony-like to some extent or another? Possibly because that was the only form familiar to the Cosmics? Or perhaps something more.
Alitheia was now fully founded, the Pinnacle has shaped the land and Odigos has solidified it's shape. Now was the turn of of the three Cosmics. Kataskevastis, Ouranos, and Mitera all looked upon the lands, sea, and skies of Alitheia and saw only the planet. No life to inhabit it. Mitera reached down to the planet and a single touch of her hoof upon the fertile land, endless forests bursts forth, changing the planet to a lush green. Ouranos saw this and wished to do the same. Spreading his wings, Ouranos flew over the land, as the air distorted from his speed and vast size, as he flew over the endless sea, the water was raised into the air, being collected in the puffs of air. These new moist sections of the sky became the clouds that would rain the blessings of the sea, give life to Mitera's new trees, and provide shade from Anesti's burning light.
As Mitera's trees and lush forests were washed by Ouranos' clouds and rain, Kataskevastis saw how the clouds would slowly bubbling, and the leaves of the trees became brown and broke upon the dirt covered ground. Looking at the burning heat Anesti was creating, Kataskevastis raised his horn and with his light, moved Odigos to cover it. Though too small to fully conceal it, the Moon was still able to block off the Sun's light. But this only hurt the planet more, as Anesti's light and warmth provided life to Alitheia. Raising his horn again, Kataskevastis moved away the Moon and brought back the Sun's light. But this time, Kataskevastis activated the Pinnacle, allowing Alitheia to begin rotating. But this rotation wasn't enough. Kataskevastis turned to his fellow Cosmics for aid. Ouranos spread his wings and with his speed and light, carved a path for both Alitheia and Odigos to follow. This path formed the orbit in which the planet and its Moon would follow for all time. Mitera, who could not move such heavenly bodies with her own light, but instead, she send her light to the heavens, forever fueling the magic that keeps Alitheia and Odigos in it's rotation and orbit.
Once Alitheia was more suitable, Mitera looked upon the forests and trees she spawned and still found the world empty. Only the noise of trees and eaves filled the sky. Being too busy with maintaining Alitheia's core and the Pinnacle, Kataskevastis could not help Mitera; so she turned to Ouranos for aid. Combining their light together, Mitera and Ouranos combined the element of the earth, wind, and a lock of Mitera's mane to mix together. This new creation took on the same form of the Cosmics, but their bodies were of solid ground, their wings could move the weather around them, and their horns radiated the same light as their creators.
But something lacked from these creations. They emulated their forbears, but were still missing something. There were countless thousands that were crafted and they all wandered aimlessly around Alitheia. Mitera looked upon these creations and still saw an emptiness inside them. Kataskevastis was too busy maintaining the planet, and Ouranos was content with what he helped make. But Mitera wanted more for her new children. Raising her horn to bestow her light upon them, Mitera gave new twinkles to their countless eyes. This new insight gave these new creations a new perspective on themselves and the world around them. Like their predecessors, these being looked upon each other, unaware of who they are, or who created them, they opened their mouths and spoke their first words: Alicorn.
The Alicorns were the first race to inhabit the planet, crafted in the image of their Cosmic template. But, just like the Cosmics, they were physically similar and mentally linked. What changed to make these beings more sentient and individual?
The new Alicorn race lived on a massive continent that rested on Alitheia. With their psychical strength, they moved the land under them, forming more detailed canyons and land masses. Their wings and flights created vast storms and with the aid of Mitera sending her magic to the heavens to keep the planet and Moon in orbit, day and night were formed and thus seasons soon slowly developed; simple degrees of Summer heats at first, but over the long millennia, the four Seasons were born. And among all these changes and developments, something about these Alicorns began to bring concern. As they were made from Mitera's own lock of her Cosmic mane, they were able to use the same light in which the Cosmics could. This light were greatly weaker than their creators on their own; but together, these Alicorns could rival that of the Cosmics.
It was on a bright and warm day that Mitera and Ouranos looked down upon the Alicorns, when they saw something that struck their ascended minds; the Alicorns made more Alicorns! Somehow, without any knowledge of how to do it, the Alicorns took chunks of the earth beneath their hooves, the winds they could gather with their wings, and with the same lights as their makers, the Alicorns gave life to new Alicorns. Before Mitera and Ouranos could fully realize what had happened, the Alicorns had grown from a mere countless thousand, to countless trillions. It was in this moment, that Ouranos suggested what must be done; the Alicorns had to be destroyed. If they had powers that could challenge the Cosmics, then more Alicorns could only mean the end of the Cosmics should they learn of them.
Speaking with Kataskevastis within the Pinnacle, Ouranos explained that with the Pinnacle, the Alicorn race could be purged and their energies could be returned to Alitheia. Mitera, on the other case, was for the preservation of the Alicorns; suggesting they could eventually grow true sentience and become something spectacular. Kataskevastis refused to take sides, seeing the Alicorns as no true threat to the Cosmics or the planet. Unable to sway his fellow Cosmic, Ouranos stated he would wipe Alitheia clean of the Alicorns, as it was for the good of the planet.
The Alicorns were the first race, but they also became the first of the prey. For out of the grown fear Cosmics slowly felt, came a creature that would feed on the expanding Alicorn.
Unable to sway Kataskevastis to help, Ouranos vowed to destroy the Alicorn race. With a heavy heart and a feeling never felt before, Mitera went to Ouranos with a suggestion; the creation of a new species, one that would be the predators to the Alicorns. So long as the Alicorns would no longer be a threat, Ouranos saw no concern with this suggestion; but only on the condition he would be the creator of this species and that Mitera would have no part in it. Mitera agreed.
Taking larger portions of earth, and even heavier currents of air, Ouranos shaped this new bring into one that would be larger than the mountains, and with an insatiable hunger for Alicorns. But unlike with the Alicorns, Ouranos used neither his, not Mitera's cosmic mane, but rather a chunk of Kataskevastis' molten planetary core. This was only the size of an Alicorn's head, but powerful enough to bring life to this new beast of Ouranos. It's mouth was large and willed with fangs that could split the thickest of trees, horns spines and spines along its head and back that could split the clouds, wings that ripped the sky with their motion, claws that could shake the very mantle of the planet, eyes that could see through all things, and finally, a scale covered body that was immune to the light that the Alicorns emulated from the Cosmics.
This creature is and shall be the only of its kind. I have given it the means to hunt the potential threat the Alicorns could bring. If the Alicorns remain a threat after this purge, I shall wipe the Alitheia clean of them. While he roams, I shall have no need to involve myself with the Alicorns. This beast, I shall name the Ouranos Drakon, the Dragon of Ouranos.
After speaking those words, Ouranos unleashed his beast upon the Alicorns. Their light stood no chance against the dragon's scales, and his wings tore the currents of wind, making flight impossible. The Alicorns had no way to escape. The Ouranos Drakon fed on the broken bodies of the Alicorns for the following centuries, keeping their numbers to the original thousands Mitera could only look on upon this scene and a new sensation ran through her. Her eyes felt wet, and her heart felt empty. Mitera helped create the Alicorns, and after watching Ouranos Drakon feast upon her "children", Mitera wept.
But after centuries of being prey to the Drakon, the Alicorns felt a new instinct as well, the instinct to survive. For the countless years, the Alicorns defended themselves with their light but to no avail. But over the years, the Alicorns realized something about themselves. They could change the very property of things just by using their combined light and willing it. With their very survival at stake, the Alicorns all turned their light upon the Ouranos Drakon, and with it, the dragon's flesh soon became softer, less resistant to their light. It was the sight of seeing his Drakon being rendered from a beast of earth, wind, and molten fire, to one of this strange fleshy creature brought a feeling in Ouranos; fear, rage, and hatred.
Turning his light to the Drakon, Ouranos granted his beast an ability from the core that gave it life; the power to breath fire. With this new trait, even if rendered as a softer being, the Ouranos Drakon was still able to kill and feed on Alicorns more effectively. But with its softer development, a new aspect about it soon followed. It was no longer as on going as it had been. It soon found that it had to stop feeding and lay down. This process left if vulnerable but the Alicorns saw this as a chance to prepare for the dragon. This new cycle continued for thousands of years, where the Ouranos Drakon would ravage the Alicorns, and prey upon them, only to rest for a few long centuries.
Mitera saw this and felt a different sense of anger and betrayal. Ouranos had broken his word and gave his dragon an unfair means to kill his children. Instead of simple population management, Ouranos would see the race he helped sire be destroyed out of a fear. Mitera could not take this. In one swift action, while the Ouranos Drakon slept, Mitera reached down and struck the dragon in its chest. The impact shattered its chest, splitting scales and sending them to the ground below. A strange, red liquid gushed from the dragon's body, this liquid fell upon its broken scales like a rain, each drop of this red liquid transformed these scales into a much smaller version of the Drakon. These dragons filled the skies and were to be the end of the Alicorns. But Mitera had plans for the dragons.
Taking the molten core that once gave the Drakon life, Mitera soaked it in the red liquid that bled from the once great beast. This core cooled and drank in the liquid, until only impenetrable scales and bones remained. This stone, soon to be known as the Bloodstone, was impeded by Mitera's light to serve a new function; to bend the dragons to the will of the wielder. With the artifact under her control, Mitera could've easily order the dragons to end themselves, but she felt pity for these new creatures. Sill bigger than her children, but they were misguided and no longer a major threat to them. Taking the artifact, Mitera banished the dragons to the southern most point of the continent, but before they all left, out of pity or kindness, Mitera gave the dragons the Bloodstone, making them vow to never raise it against her children so long as she lived. Ouranos was furious when he discovered the death of his beast and the banishment of the dragons his "child" had sired.
Ouranos was not to attempt negotiations, or even ask for Kataskevastis' aid. He was to use the Pinnacle and wipe the Alicorns from Alitheia. Mitera couldn't allow this, but she knew Ouranos was far past seeing reason. Raising her horn to unleash her light and out of the need to protect her children, like the Ouranos Drakon Mitera struck Ouranos down. Even knowing what he planned to do and how he felt, Ouranos took Mitera's attack completely off guard, he could neither prevent nor protect himself. Mitera's attack cast him down from the higher plane from which the Cosmics dwelled. But it was not the complete end.
Cosmics were born of the death of Aionios, it was only fitting that a Cosmic's end was no less devastating. Kataskevastis activated the Pinnacle to protect the planet from the imminent destruction, and Mitera, in her haste, protected as many Alicorns as she could. But in her grief from slaying her own kin, Mitera's protection was not fully focused. The resulting blast from Ouranos' full form tore the sky, burning it with cosmic fire and all living things felt it's power. Mitera's protection was strong, but not strong enough to save all of them, countless Alicorns were reduced to mere cosmic dust from the blast.
As the wave of Ouranos' destroyed body faded, Alitheia was left to its primal fire and Mitera wept at the sight of her children scattering and moving in fear and agony as they suffered under the planet's new form. Seeing Kataskevastis' aid, Mitera would give anything to ensure her children would survive; no matter the cost. Kataskevastis told her that the Pinnacle served a secondary purpose than just to stabilize Alitheia. The Pinnacle had within it the power to rewrite the planet, both the surface and create new beings to inhabit it. But such power demanded a sacrifice. Descending into the Pinnacle, Mitera gave up her own eternal life and form, transforming back into the cosmic light and energy that once made her.
By doing so, Mitera remade the surface of Alitheia, transforming the land back into its ancient beauty. But this time, Mitera gave more to the planet. From the endless depths of her thoughts, her feelings, her passions, and her sorrows, Mitera gave life to Alitheia in new forms. These forms were endless in diversity and species, but all shared the same quality; she made them all flesh and mortal. The surviving Alicorns were also transformed, their forms becoming those of flesh and mortality filled them. Before she became the energy of what she once was, Mitera gave two final thoughts to the Pinnacle. The first being to give her new mortal Alicorns the longest life spans of any creature ever to exist on Alitheia, the second being the birth of a new Alicorn, one made in the image of Mitera's cosmic form. This Alicorn would hold her memories, her wisdom, her compassion, but more important, her sorrow over what she had done and her love of all life. Before finally vanishing, Mitera spoke only one more word; Thysia, who would be the name bestowed on her special Alicorn, in memory of her Sacrifice.
Thysia was not the first Alicorn, but the one who led them to a new future, a golden age. But throughout the lost histories of the Alicorns, the Alicorns have suffered far worse than anything living being on Alitheia.
With the death of Ouranos, and the sacrifice of Mitera, Kataskevastis was the only Cosmic left to watch over Alitheia. But unlike his former Cosmics, he had no interest in involving himself in the affairs of the living creatures. He would honor Mitera's sacrifice and let her children and newly made mortals live on Alitheia, but he would also respect Ouranos' wish to protect the planet, should the new mortals become a threat. Only two thoughts of worry crossed his endless mind; the first being that the Alicorn Thysia had knowledge of the Pinnacle and what it could do. He would ensure that she would never activate it, lest she rewrite the planet again. The second being that the only things to also survive the rewriting of the planet was the Bloodstone, and the dragons that were close to it. These creatures could possibly prove a treat to other life. It was impossible to fully know, but what Kataskevastis did know for certain, is that Dragons and Alicorns would forever be mortal enemies.
Thysia did as she felt she was destined for; to lead her race to a better future. The Pinnacle's change not only gave the one everlasting Alicorns morality, but it also changed them physically. The Alicorns bodies were all each solid colors but many were different colored. Another, being that each Alicorn were split into two distinct physical differences. The first, being that most were larger than their other Alicorns, and held a shaft-like reproductive organ between their legs; while the other type was smaller, slender, and had a new orifice between their legs. Thysia, who appeared more towards the latter, refereed to these two types of Alicorns as Mares, or female, and Stallions, or males. Using the knowledge of Mitera, Thysia taught the new fledgling race of Alicorns about things such as gathering the foods that grew across the land, how to build shelter to keep them protected from the elements around them, how to control the light, or magic as the Alicorns soon called it, and most importantly, the rituals and procedure in order to mate and produce new generation.
Thysia's guidance continued for eons, learning that her mortal Alicorns could only live for a few short millennia. Only a few small hundreds lived any longer than a million years. Thysia, as a special creation was gifted with not the same immortality as Mitera, but rather a life span that would outlast any Alicorn, and could only see her new children grow and return to cosmic energy from whence they came. But this brought a sense of content to Thysia, for every new generation was slowly becoming a stronger, wiser, and more beneficial future for the Alicorn race. By one and a half million years after the Pinnacle remade the world, the Alicorns had reached a Golden Age. Their Empire spanned every corner of Alitheia; many Alicorns using their near endless magics to craft marvels, never to be replicated again.
But it was by the end of the millennia that Thysia saw within the Alicorns, a fear. Their magics, though weakened immeasurably by the Pinnacle's effects, were still vastly superior to that of any other life. Even the dragons, their mortal enemy, were not powerful enough to challenge the Alicorn Empire. Thysia, could not stop the Alicorns, should they ever decide to become a threat to Alitheia, as she was using the majority of her magic to keep the planet and Moon in orbit and on the proper path. It was only a matter of time before Thysia had to make a decision that would alter the course of the Alicorns and all future pony life; she would use the Pinnacle.
The Pinnacle was the greatest creation ever bestowed by the Cosmics, as it could bring about a paradise. But just as easily, it could bring the planet back to a primal chaos and fire. Thysia did what she thought was the best for her kind. Even with Mitera's wisdom and memories, Thysia was still only mortal and had the feelings of a mortal.
The reckless use of Alicorn magic could not be tolerated for much longer. With every wayward spell, every cast of cosmic energy cast upon those around them, the Alicorns only brought themselves closer to their own demise. Thysia looked upon this and wept; tears of sorrow, tears of remorse, and tears that begged for forgiveness. Traveling alone to the ancient entrance to the Pinnacle, Thysia faced Kataskevastis and begged to use the Pinnacle.
Your true form once used the Pinnacle to save and restore the Alicorn race. Would you see them destroyed and restored to cosmic dust and energy?
Thysia could not answer such a question easily and wished she didn't have to. With a heavy heart, and love for all life behind her words, Thysia replied: "I do this for the Alicorn's future. Their reckless abuse of their gifts will be their undoing, i must do something and I see no other choice."
Kataskevastis said nothing more, he only stepped aside and allowed Thysia access to the Pinnacle. From within the Pinnacle, Thysia activated it, sending a surge of cosmic energy that burned through the mantle and crust of Alitheia. But unlike he past Cosmic self, Thysia did not seek the recreation the of the planet, but only a mass wave of energy to thin out the Alicorn population. Sacrificing her near endless immortality, Thysia send a series of waves of the stored planet's energy, along with the Cosmics' ancient stored light to strike the planet over. Alicorns by the countless scores were reduced not to dust, but lifeless corpses. Thysia could hear their dying screams in her mind, and see their final moments in her mind. Her heart was now broken, but she had to continue. By the time Thysia was done, she felt as if she had not many years left to her own life, before even her next thought was finished, Kataskevastis came before her.
You have given almost more than your lifespan can bear. You are now on time that is a mere breath to my kind. An eon of a million planetary years lay before you before you will fade, returning to the cosmic energies from whence you came, and with every exhausted use of your mortal magic, your time only grows shorter.
Thysia could only thank the ancient Cosmic for his words before leaving. When she emerged from the depths, Thysia found that her work had succeeded. The only life nearly wiped out was the Alicorns. But Thysia's act had worked too well; their numbers were now reduced to a few small hundreds. And Thysia sat and wept. But a sight brought hope back to her; the sight of Alicorn young who had survived this purge. With only compassion and sorrow guiding her words, Thysia sent her Alicorns away, separating them into thirds. The third that remained with Thysia stayed in the land in which the center of their Empire once stood. Another third took to the air and flew to unknown regions across the continent. The last third traveled to the south, but more towards the ocean. Thysia looked upon the separation of her children, along with the thoughts of her actions, and Thysia wept.
Thysia sent her Alicorns away in order to protect them or let them thrive elsewhere. But why keep a third with her? Was it because she still sought companionship, or what is because she wanted to keep some Alicorns with her in she sent the others to their deaths.
The time of the Alicorn Schism has been a mere horrid memory for Five Hundred Millennia, and Thysia has led her Alicorns the best she could, only using her magic to maintain the orbit of the heaven bodies. In that time, Thysia has seen her Alicorns thrive around Alitheia, forming massive kingdoms and achievements that could never be replicated. But with the coming of these kingdoms, comes something Thysia never meant for: conflict, anger...war. The Alicorns were divided into three primary kingdoms at different corners of Alitheia.
The first kingdom was the one that was built upon the ashes of the Alicorn's former kingdom. Thysia was the ruler of this kingdom and has spent all of her time educating the next generation as best as she could. As much as it saddened her to see many of the surviving Alicorns from the Great Schism age and die, she could not be surprised. Alicorns of that generation lived for only so long, and only the strongest could live for so long. Because her kingdom lay near to a top the original kingdom, her citizens changed very little. Thysia herself has also noticed a change that had begun to affect all of the first generation. This change, she concluded, was a result of Alicorns who were exposed to the Great Schism had slowly begun to physically change. Because of her custom design, Thysia maintained her Cosmic imitation form.
Among the hundreds of students Thysia trained, two of which stood out the most. The near inseparable Solaris and Artemis. Solaris was a white colored Alicorn with a mane, beard, and tail that looked as though it was made of a bright orange fire. As if the sun itself had grown on him. Artemis was near the opposite, his coat was a shade of blue closer to black, with a flowing mane and tail that vaguely resembled the stars, his eyes had become yellow with black slits, and his once feather wings had become webbed and bat-like. Solaris was very prideful and confident Alicorn, but was prone to anger that often left a room burnt. Artemis was the near opposite, almost never speaking, and when he spoke, his voice almost silenced all around it by the sheer tone.
As her most promising students, Thysia gave Solaris and Artemis a responsibility she learned she could not keep up forever. She taught them the secret of keeping the planet and Moon in orbit. As the strongest, Solaris was tasked to keep the planet orbiting by fueling the ancient spell every morning, while Artemis would refuel the Moon every evening. But by doing so, it gave the impression that Solaris was causing the Sun to rise and set, while Artemis appeared to be raising and lowering the Moon. Only Thysia, Solaris, and Artemis ever knew the true secret of the Sun and Moon.
The subjects of this kingdom were changed by the millennia; breaking off into various sub races. The Alicorns that still practiced magic, but at the expense of their own physical power and flight, soon lost their wings and near half their strength. But this allowed them to utilize their magics for everyday purposes. This race of horned, wingless ponies were known as the Unicorns. The next group of ponies were like the two halves of what Artemis looked like. One half of this sub race resembled Unicorns but were wilder looking, with heavier coats, darker manes and coats, slit eyes, and a slight curve to their horns. This race was known as the Threshals. A cousins to the Threshals, were another group of dark colored ponies that had no horns but rather bat-like wings and were more common among the night or late twilight. This race was known as the Bat Ponies.
The second kingdom, the one farthest away from Thysia, was led by the Alicorn called Hekon. His kingdom was settled on a massive continent to the east of the other kingdoms, spanned by a great ocean. The land was unsettled and was littered with numerous ecosystems; from grass plains, to rain forests, to even vast deserts. Hekon's kingdom was settled between the desert and the grass plains, along the banks of several long rivers.
Hekon, unlike many of his citizens, was one of the few who was there during the Great Schism. The long centuries have done a toll on his body, his teal shaded flesh hardening and becoming more crystal-like. His wings near useless for flight, and his magic used more to strengthen his own physical prowess. He was a rather calm and focused Alicorn, preferring to get to the source of a problem to solve it rather than go around it. As much as he used his magic, Hekon preferred to use the strength of his own body to go about the hard works that went about his kingdom.
His subjects, being the farthest from the First Alicorns' home, had under gone a metamorphosis, in which their wings have long faded and their horns shrunk to nonexistence. These new generations still maintained magic, but rather their magic only enhanced their physical power and gave them a better connection to the planet and nature around them. This new sub race was known as the Earth Ponies. Another sub group of creatures that lived within this kingdom had also developed in a similar fashion to the Earth Ponies. But unlike the Earth ponies, this sub race didn't completely lose their connection to magic by the loss of their wings and horns. Instead, this new race of white and black striped creatures became so attuned with nature and the natural forces around them, that this sub race was able to perform a slightly different style of magic with the use of horns. This sub race was know as the Zebras.
The third and final kingdom, the one that lay between the other two was a kingdom that resided in the high mountains, and many, if not all, their towns, villages, and sub areas were made entirely out of clouds. This kingdom was led by the Alicorn Valhalla, another one of the few remaining of the first generation of Alicorns who survived the Great Schism. Only the main castle was made a top the highest mountain on the continent, but almost all the citizens lived within the clouds.
Just like all of her generation, Valhalla's body had become changed. Her dark brown coat became more feather like, her wings grew larger, and her horn was used only to control the winds and weather around her kingdom. Her front hooves had slowly turned into sharp bird-like talons that allowed her to grip onto the hard rock side more effectively. Her pony muzzle slowly metamorphosed into a sharp and blunt beak, allowing her to more effectively break open the hard shelled fruits that hung high in the mountains. Even her mane had become thicker, yet shorter, creating a bestial mane, rather than a pony one. Valhalla was just like the weather she often commanded; calm on most days, but could all of a sudden become the embodiment of anger and destruction. The loyalty of her subjects was the most important thing to her.
The citizens of this kingdom were as diverse and fierce as their ruler. These sub races had long lost their horns, or their connection to the ground. They were denizens of the sky and the boundless freedom that it offered. They maintained their pony bodies, but only had the mighty wings of their former selves. This race was known as the Pegasus. The second major sub race to inhabit the skies of the third kingdom was similar to their Pegasus cousins, but more closely resembled Valhalla for the most part. Living more on the mountain side than the clouds, this sub races' hooves became paws and talons. Their tails lost their vast hairs and extended to both grip and allow better balance in the sky, and their muzzles became feather covered beaks. These sub races were known as the Hippogriffs, and the Griffons.
There are no records of what happened between the three kingdoms and the forming of the Tribunal. So it is more up to speculation, rather than ancient fact.
After another hundred thousand years, Thysia met with the rulers of the other two kingdoms and discussed a way for all Alicorn kind to live in peace and harmony. The forming of what would be known as the Tribunal was formed. Starting with only five members, the Tribunal consisted of Thysia, Solaris, Artemis, Hekon, and Valhalla. With the formation of the Tribunal, each member was given a responsibility for their seat. Thysia acted as the leader and would watch over the Tribunal as a whole. Solaris was given his task of handling the Sun and ruling the Unicorns, Artemis was given the take of handling the Moon and ruling the Threshals and Bat Ponies, Hekon was given command over the ground itself and ruling the Earth ponies and Zebras, and Valhalla was given command over the skies and ruling the Pegasi, Hippogriffs, and Griffons.
With the Tribunal established, Thysia felt she had created a peace between all Alicorns. But it was the emerging of an unknown Alicorn that brought a new found worry and fear for her. Unbeknownst to Thysia, but some Alicorns that survived the Great Schism were cast endlessly towards the dragons' domain, known as the Badlands. These Alicorns had lived in constant fear and danger. These Alicorns, too weak to reach Thysia, or any other kingdom over the eons, had to live as constant prey to the dragons. After all the long and horrid years, only one Alicorn had managed to survive. By some miracle, this Alicorn was able to flee to the North, running and flying countless miles to reach Thysia's kingdom.
When this Alicorn had arrived, Thysia was shocked by the change that afflicted this Alicorn. His coat had become black as a void, and was covered in both scales and fur. His mane was hard and spine-like, his tail was nearly serpent-like, and his muzzle had become more dragon like. Even his teeth and front hooves had become fangs and talons. Though he still looked like an Alicorn, with the only resemblance being a slightly curved and dark read horn, and his wings were still bird-like. When he was able to open his eyes, this Alicorn had green eyes that radiated a purple flame around them. This Alicorn refereed to himself as Tartaras, and Thysia took him on as her student.
There are even less references to Tartaras than there are about the three kingdoms. But it is Tartaras that will become more to the Alicorns and the less Pony species, than they would ever know or would ever want to know.
Tartaras trained under Thysia for over ten thousand years, eventually becoming another one of her top students. His magic nearly as power as Solaris or Artemis. Along with Tartaras, many other great Alicorns had soon showed great promise. These Alicorns were born a generation after the Great Schism and despite the long centuries had shown nearly no sign of the change that affected the others. These Alicorn students were all mares that worked together to strengthen the other. Celestia, Solaris' biological younger sibling, a bold and eager mare that only wanted to make her brother proud of her, with a white coated Alicorn and a flowing pink mane and tail. Luna, Artemis' biological younger sibling, quiet and caring for her brother, always feeling he was often put t the side and shoved under Solaris, with a midnight shade of blue coat and lighter blue mane and tail that was cut short.
The last were the Alicorn mare triplets, Eros, Iris, and Eris. Eros was white coated with a light green mane and tail, with a tone of voice that expressed love and compassion for all life and living beings. Iris was pale blue with a snow silver mane and tail, she was always the first to laugh and the most artist in terms to how her spells looked when cast. Eris was light brown with a white mane a tail was that was cut short and neatly groomed, she was always serious, more often trying to dissuade her siblings from foolish antics and was more of a lecturer, than a relaxer. It was these six Alicorns that Thysia saw the potential of a greater future. Thysia then decided to reorganize the Tribunal to lead the Alicorns as a much more effective society.
With the unanimous agreement of the others, Tartaras, Celestia, Luna, Eris, Iris, and Eros were allowed into the Tribunal and the seating control was reorganized. But it was due to their seat in the Triubal, that these Alicorns would become the last of the Alicorn race; with all others becoming Unicorns, Pegasus, or Earth Ponies. Over an unknown period of time, these Eleven Alicorns would not only be the ruling bodies of the greater expanding and short life spanned Pony race, but would be revered as Gods and Goddesses with different responsibilities and duties.
Thysia was the Alicorn of Fate and Wisdom, worshiped by all ponykind for her calm demeanor, her compassionate reasoning, and her endless levels of love for all life. She was always willing to speak with anypony willing to speak with her, and her authority over the other Alicorns and the newly formed Tribunal Empire was absolute; though she preferred to not undermine her fellow Alicorns. Solaris was the Alicorn of the Sun, as well as the virtue of Honor. Despite his new found responsibilities to keep the planet in orbit, keeping his promise to say it was actually the Sun he was moving, Solaris remained the same, but his reputation of punishing those who would bring about disharmony was as respected as it was severe. Artemis was the Alicorn of the Moon and the Night, choosing to only be seen or active during his time when the Moon was risen and he blanketed the skies of the kingdom with beautiful displays of stars and a race of magical star beings he named the constellations.
Hekon was the Alicorn of Truth and Courage, as well as the patron of all Earth Ponies. While remaining on the Tribunal, Hekon would often walk among the pony citizens, helping them cultivate and teaching new farming methods. He was also the leader of the kingdom's standing army, often relying on a unit of a particularly loyal clan of Earth ponies known as the Apple Core. Valhalla was the Alicorn of Loyalty and Freedom, as well as the patron of the Pegasus ponies. She was just as easily angered, yet could quickly calm as she always had, always pushing her subjects to embrace the freedom the sky could offer, as well as leading the kingdom's air force. Her favorite unit of these flying warriors were a unit of Pegasi, Griffons, and Hippogriffs that were named the Sky lions.
Celestia was the Alicorn of Magic, as well as the patron of the Unicorn ponies. She enjoyed walking among the unicorns and was known to take on several students, many of which were young mares that showed great promise in magic. Solaris was often concerned with Celestia's "enthusiasm" towards her students, but chose to let his sister stay to her own business. Luna was the Alicorn of Dreams and Keeper of the Secrets of all the subjects, which included the Tribunal. Despite being able to learn the secrets of anything, especially by visiting the dreams of those who slept, Luna gave her word to Thysia that she would never reveal anyponies secret unless it was a threat to the Tribunal of the Kingdom. But unlike Celestia or even the others of the younger generation, Luna was much too shy to speak with many of the subjects and stayed close to Artemis.
Eros was the Alicorn of Love and Compassion, tasked with maintaining the happiness of the kingdom and its subjects. This included many events to keep the ponies happy. More often, Eros asked for Iris's help when it came to organizing events and celebrations. Iris was the Alicorn of the Arts and Music, tasked with providing and helping the pony subjects with furthering culture and helping Eros to keep them happy. Eris was the Alicorn of Order and the bringer of Justice. Like many past and future kingdoms, there would often be a disagreement between ponies about a variety of things. Eris was tasked to be the judge and often police of kingdom, with the assistance of a group of dedicated ponies of all kinds called the Binding Truth to monitor the kingdom and capture any criminals.
Finally, Tartaras was the Alicorn of Morality and often the bringer of Fear. Often working together with Eris, Tartaras acted an a punishes of any ponies found guilty of a crime and would ensure that everypony was entitled to their own fair and just chance. But unlike the other Tribunal members, who were loved and worshiped by the pony and sub pony citizens, Tartaras was met with fear and very few ponies would dare speak his name. His dragon-like appearance would be the source of the primal fear all ponies felt around him and more often, Tartaras felt as though his fellow Tribual members would look at him with suspicion, But despite this harsh treatment, Tartaras loyally served his role and would commonly seek Thysia's guidance.
Why did Thysia give Tartaras such a role that would only be met by hatred, suspicion and fear? Did she believe that the ponies would grow to love him? Or was it because pitied him and gave him whatever she could?
The Tribunal ruled this new unified Kingdom for countless more millennia, their primary citadel was a massive kingdom made of pure crystal that rested between an arrange of massive snowy mountains. The members of the Alicorn Tribunal would only be seen within this citadel if Thysia summoned them, many of them lived within or helped in the expansion of the kingdom's territory. Tartaras was the only other member that never left the citadel, with the exception of Thysia. Tartaras would try to walk among the pony citizens, but found that none would approach him, many would even openly flee from him. He was never surprised by any of this, after all, the only ponies that Tartaras ever met with closely, were ones he has been tasked to punished. His mastery of fear allowed him to punish any criminal by having them be trapped within their own worst fears.
"Why did you give me this role?" Was a common question Tartaras would ask Thysia, his tone was always that of concern and sorrow.
"You are the only one I can trust with what i have bestowed upon you." Thysia would just as often reply; her words were always that of kindness and sincerity, but she could sense the growing pain in Tartaras' heart. "The ponies do not remember the fear of the past, but some of them still carry a small darkness in their hearts. I want you to be the one who can brave the darkness, and keep them on the right path." Tartaras would come less and less to seek Thysia's guidance, eventually all together stopped going. Thysia was not surprised, as the Alicorn of Fate and Wisdom, she was able to see all possible futures. But it was her love of Tartaras and all other life stopped her from stopping Tartaras from what he was becoming.
Tartaras' name has been another strange element. He is mentioned as an Alicorn up until his fall from grace. Then few, if any records that mention him mention him as if he was some plague or illness.
For countless years, Tartaras has known and even accepted that the ponies who worship the Tribunal fear him and only worship him out of this fear of his anger. Though nopony has ever seen him angry, as he always had a sad expression. But so long as his fellow Alicorns respected him as he did them, he was content. But over time, Tartaras felt more and more alone among the Tribunal. Even Eris, the only Alicorn to greet him with a smile had slowly become more and more distant from him. Tartaras felt hurt and alone, he was beginning to doubt if his rile in the Tribunal even matter. So he decided to confirm it. Mentioning his plan only to Thysia, Tartaras took off to a remote corner of Alitheia, and entered a deep hibernation. While he slept, another thousand years had passed. Feeling he had spent enough time alone with his thoughts and hopes that the ponies and Tribunal would miss him, Tartaras returned to the kingdom to find that was was not missed. And if anything, the thousand years had caused the ponies to forget him.
"WHAT MOCKERY IS THIS!?" Was shouted through the halls of the Tribunal as Tartaras faced the other members, "I leave for a single millennia and not only do the ponies forget my name and form, but my fellow Alicorns have forsaken me?!" Tartaras did not even bother to hear out his fellow Alicorns, there was no excuse of justification for their betrayal. Tartaras' horn ignited with a magic that seemed to rob all light from the room. "If the ponies have always feared me, then I SHALL GIVE THEM REASON TO FEAR!" And so, just as Thysia had predicted, Tartaras' war had been declared. He would destroy everything that the Tribunal had fought and built.
Tartaras' reason for his anger and hatred was well justified. He felt betrayed by his fellow Alicorns and so retaliated as he felt was the only way he could react. But what followed can not be seen as as evil as the Alicorns or future generations could consider. If Tartaras didn't rebel and war against the Alicorns Tribunal, then the Equestria we know of today would never have come. And with Thysia's power to see all possible futures, she must have seen that Tartaras' actions were needed.
The war that followed was on a scale not seen since the reign of the Ouranos Drakon. Tartaras unleashed the full power of his wrath upon the Alicorn's citadel blasting dark and destructive magics, and drowning the citizens in a flood of endless fear and horror. As for the Tribunal themselves, they were locked in a near endless debate over what was to be done. Despite the rage of some, others saw why Tartaras declared war.
"HE HAS TURNED ON US!" Solaris shouted, his roar nearly shaking the room. "I SHALL END HIS CAMPAIGN WITHIN MOMENTS!"
"Hold Solaris, we must do this sensibly." Artemis interjected.
"SENSIBLY?!" Solaris continued venting his rage, Celestia nearly quiet and cowering besides him. "The traitor has made his position clear and now the ponies, OUR ponies suffer under hm. He is no match for even myself, I can end his threat with but a single burn of my spells."
"And at what cost to the land around it?" Hekon spoke up. "Your rage blinds you and it'll destroy not only Tartaras but it will scorch the land."
"As well as MY SKY!" Valhalla snapped at Solaris. "We must move the battle elsewhere and then we can go at him full force."
"No." The room was immediately silenced by the voice of Thysia.
"Master Thysia?" Solaris asked, his tone immediately changed from anger to that of endless respect. "Have you seen the outcome?"
"Tartaras has made his choice and it is to a future that cannot be changed." Thysia answered. "Solaris, even with your might, your fate is not to defeat Tartaras." She then looked around the room, the look of sorrow and regret painted her cosmic-like face. "Hekon, you will face Tartaras directly and I shall trust you will do what is right. Eris, Iris, and Eros, you three will act as supports, shielding the populated regions and keeping them safe while Hekon battles. And finally, Celestia, you and Luna will go and find a way to free those afflicted by Tartaras' fear magic to break them free to weaken his grip."
"But what of us Master?" Artemis asked, seeing the frustration in Solaris' and Valhalla's eyes.
"You three will assist me in maintaining the citadel and protection something far more important from Tartaras." Every Alicorn's eyes looked among each other, then to Thysia in confusion. Thysia was speaking of the Pinnacle, but did not want to reveal more than she had to. The less anyone knew of the Pinnacle the better. But she had to be sure. "I know you are all not in agreement over my words. But I cannot force you to do anything, nor can I truly stop you. I only ask that you put your faith in me as you always have."
"I must ask but one thing Master." Artemis broke the awkward silence. "I shall not speak for the others, but I must know, will we all be able to walk away from all of this? If we can defeat Tartaras, will things ever be the same?"
"No." Thysia said almost immediately but her sad tone remained the same. "When this is over, we shall all experience a change that will remain with us for the rest of our lives. But knowing all this, weill you still believe in me."
"Without a doubt!" All the Alicorn announced before the meeting was adjourned.
As Eros, Eris, and Iris all but exhausted their magic to teleport then shield every major city with the near planet spanning kingdom, and Celestia with Luna traveled the endless planes of illusion to break Tartaras' hold of them, Hekon was battling with the fallen Alicorn. Unlike Valhalla, who would send endless storms and blade-like winds, or Solaris, who would all but slam the Sun against his foe, Hekon use his own physical strength to fight, and with his deep connection to the planet's physical body, any damages he caused could be repaired. But that did not mean the battle was easy. Tartaras unleashed tendrils of black dyed magic, slashing at Hekon's crystal-like body. Hekon's hoof would slam down, shattering the spells as soon as they reached him.
"You were our brother Tartaras! How could you betray us?" Hekon called to his fallen comrade, back hoofing Tartaras' current torrent of black lightning, destroying clouds and igniting the sky in flashes of dark light.
"You've never considered me a brother!" Tartaras responded, closing the distance between the two Alicorns. Tartaras' talon, curled in a fist, smashed against Hekon's crystal hard face, knocking the Alicorn into the high mountain that held Valhalla's kingdom. Before Hekon could react, he felt the impact of Tartaras' body slamming against him. "You all feared me!" Tartaras' talon repeatedly punched against Hekon's body and face, his crystal body chipping and cracking under the strain. "You all rejected me!" Tartaras then brought his twin talons up and tensed his arm's muscles. "YOU...BETRAYED...ME!"
The impact from Tartaras' talon's nearly shattered Hekon's chest, exposing the solid hoof sized gem that made up his heart. Tartaras then flew back a few meters, looking upon the nearly destroyed Alicorn. His body was limp and almost all life and color was leaving his face. Tartaras looked on for a few more minutes, his mind and senses blind to all around him as his mind raced and knowing that there was no turning back at that point. But in that moment of distraction and contemplation, Tartaras failed to notice not only the presence of two Alicorns soaring towards him at a near impossible speed. Within fractions of seconds, both Eris and Iris had not only flew from where they were previously, but their horns both burned with intense magic and fiery emotions exploded from them. Because of his momentary distraction, Tartaras failed to notice the two Alicorns' magic be cast and fire at him. Tartaras' body was send flying down to the ground below, forming a large impact crater.
"Tartaras!" Eris called down to the fallen Alicorn, while Iris checked on Hekon. "Regardless of your reasons, this is NOT justice, NOT order! You shall down and face the consequences of your actions!"
"Justice? Order?" Tartaras composed himself and slowly rose to face Eris. "You seek to judge me? But who are you to punish?" Eris looked as though she was about to speak, but Tartaras continued. "You have always been the judge of the Kingdom, but it was I who have always punished the guilty." He took a step forward, as if the air was solid ground, Eris' face was losing it's composure and was becoming slightly intimidated. "You did not achieve any justice, only preserved a failing order by passing the responsibility to another. And it is I who have suffered from your injustices. WHERE IS MY JUSTICE?"
"You...are right..." Eris' face lost its previous vigor and emotion. Only sorrow and regret painted her. "I was to ensure that all those who existed had their justice and were to live in peace and order. But in doing so, I broke the very thing I swore to uphold by forcing all the Kingdom's darkness and rot upon you." She looked back towards Tartaras, his body now mere inches away and her face was now streaming tears of grief. "I am so, so sorry."
"Begone from my sight...hypocrite." Tartaras aimed his horn and blasted at Eris, not destroying her, but sending her body soaring through the air like a comet towards the crater below. "You're punishment will be to live with the guilt of what you helped create." Tartaras then brought his attention towards Hekon, who was still nearing death, but Iris' sudden burst of magic grabbed at Tartaras' attention.
"YOU MONSTER!" Iris send torrent after torrent, bolt after bolt of arcane and emotion drive spellcraft at her target. But her rage had weakened her aim, more attacking missing Tartaras than striking as he slowly made his way towards her. "Stay back, stay back, STAY BACK!" Tartaras said nothing as he was within only meters of the Alicorn, before blasting her with the same force that drove Eris away; but this time, it sent Iris screaming through the sky to the far north, farther than the Tribunal Citadel, and crashed into the frozen mountains.
"We have to go NOW!" Solaris roared, ready to leave the Tribunal halls, only to feel Artemis' hoof stop him.
"We must stay brother, whatever Thysia has here that needs protection NEEDS us here." Artemis' words almost sounded as if he was uncertain by Thysia's motives but trusted her nonetheless.
"Please Solaris." Thysia asked, tears raining from her eyes. "I felt Eris and Iris both fade from my mind. I felt their fear and pain. Please, I need you to stay."
"Fine." Solaris growled, before sitting down in frustration. "But the moment Tartaras gets within a hundred leagues of this place, I shall kill him!"
"It will end soon." Thysia commented in a sorrow no one has ever heard. "Hekon has made his choice how this will end."
After defeating Eris and Iris, Tartaras looked back to Hekon. A strangely rising surge of magic was bleeding out from him. Tartaras readied himself for whatever Hekon was planning, Tartaras only blinked, for one fraction of a moment, Hekon was still in the position he was in, and the moment Tartaras' eyes opened from their blink, Hekon was gone, his large arm pressed against Tartaras' throat and the high mountain was nearly destroyed. The only noise that filled the air was a low but ear breaking roar as Hekon continued his assault. His arm nearly breaking Tartaras' body from the impact alone. But he was not done. Continuing his momentum, Hekon moved forwards, himself and Tartaras moving towards the ground. The impact of Tartaras' body against the ground nearly shook the planet's mantle. Hekon, still running on magic fumes, continued moving, his body cracking but his strength only increasing as he pushed Tartaras again.
The speed of their movement, along with the pressure of the very air shattering against his back, Tartaras was rammed through everything that Hekon could smash him against as he galloped Tartaras around the surface of the planet. Hills were flattened, trees were splintered, mountains were given new tunnel-like caves, the very oceans cracked and the waves rose to nearly the height of the clouds. Within the span of perhaps an hour, Hekon had brought Tartaras fully around the planet, and with the collected momentum, his magic near exhausted, but his will remained undying. The final moment of Hekon's attack ended with the final impact of Tartaras' body against the opposite end of the high mountain, breaking it half from the shock and any rock above the massive split was nearly obliterated. Tartaras screamed in a primal sound that froze the blood of every living thing that heard it. Hekon was nearly down, his magic all but spent, and his body was barely holding together.
"I banish you brother!" Hekon roared, as he raised his two forehooves above the nearly destroyed body of Tartaras. "To the darkest depths of Alitheia!"
Hekon's hooves slammed down, the force not only turned the surrounding mountain side to dust, but Tartaras' body was bare through the mountain, deeper and deeper, the impact sent the fallen and broken Alicorn. Until finally, the effect of the attack soon wore down, but by that time, Tartaras' body had been physically sent deep below the planet's mantle. But rather to an empty void of space that lay between the mantle and the outer core. Tartaras, too weak to ever fully recover from this new plane, would have to lay in wait for his chance at revenge. But at the same time, he felt a feeling of satisfaction; the Tribunal was now all but destroyed, and what ever they would recover, Tartaras would make it his very reason for existing was to be the constant rot that would eat away and destroy the Tribunal, even if he had to spend the rest of time destroying every Alicorn left.
This victory came at no little cost, Hekon's body was dying, his weak state prevented him from even maintaining his wings. His body fell down to where Eris had been knocked down. Eris, her own body was nearly broken from the impact and her will all but lost, looked upon the dying Alicorn. Through great pain, she dragged herself to her hooves, and limped over to Hekon.
"I'm so sorry." Eris cried, tears nearly slurring her speech. "If only I saw what he was becoming, I could've-"
"There is nothing that could be done now." Hekon interrupted, his breath was too heavy, his face seemed at peace. Turning his gaze towards the Tribunal's Citadel, he seemed to smile. "This was one of the possible futures, wasn't it?" Reaching into his broken chest, Hekon pulled free his gem heart. Raising it to the air, Hekon ignited his horn, to what would be his last spell. "I declare, that my heart shall be a testament to the strength of my kind, and it shall serve as a source of power and beacon of strength and courage." With a flash of green and brown light, the heart was gone, vanished to a location that only Hekon knew. "It is done."
With his dying breath, Hekon's body fully collapsed on itself, turning into a fine green dust. Eris galloped as fast as her injuries would allow her, her tears soaking against the crystal dust under her. As her tears soaked into the powdered remains of Hekon, Eris looked back towards the sky and the surrounding area. All she could see were trees and death. Finally, after several minutes of thoughts racing through her, Eris finally said one statement. "There is no justice."
After making her statement, Eris turned and hobbled away from the remains of Hekon. She could not return to the other Alicorns, and even if she could, she wouldn't want to. She no longer felt like she could stand with them. What was to become of Eris, the now former Alicorn of Order and Justice, only was left to wander this new region. But it was in her blind grief, that she failed to see that her tears, the final tears she shed as a being of Order and Harmony, had imprinted on Hekon's dust, sprouting a tiny sapling made of a pure crystal plant.
The death of Hekon seemed to echoed throughout the halls of the Tribunal, be it some instinctive feeling, or maybe a unified emotion, but every Alicorn shed tears over the loss of their fellow kin. No tears were greater than that of Thysia, she had long seen that this was to come, but even so, the sight of it all brought her to weep. But there was more to come, more that would lead to the loss of not only the Citadel, but Thysia herself.
The Birth of the Changelings
What is a Changeling? They're insect-like in appearance, but they also bear the resemblance of an Alicorn at the same time. A lost or abandoned sub species perhaps? Or maybe something more sinister?
After the fall of Tartaras, the death of Hekon, and the loss of Eris and Iris, the Tribunal tried to reestablish order in the Kingdom. But the damage had been done, Tartaras had greatly weakened the Alicorns' kingdom, forcing them to withdraw from most of the continent. Eventually, it got to the point where the Tribunal brought their full power to the primary Citadel and within several more centuries, the ponies who were unable to move closer to the Alicorns were left in a state where they became more feral and monstrous, broken teeth soon evolved into fangs over short lived generations. These new wild ponies soon formed a tribe-like society and saw the Alicorn kingdom as more of a threat. In addition to this, a strange frozen wind soon blew in from the north. The Citadel soon found it was being attacked from both the north and south.
Through the now focused mind of Eros, an artifact was crafted to combat these assaults. The Crystal Heart, an crystallized vessel that held within it the love of all those who dwell in the kingdom. This heart served a small number of purposed. The first of which was to use the positive emotions and joy of the pony mortals to emit a barrier that reflected the cold and the feral ponies seemed terrified of the pale pink colored dome. The second effect of this artifact was an unseen side effect. The magical radiation that the heart created slowly metamorphed the pony mortals into a new sub race now called the Crystal Ponies.
But with this new change, came something that the mortal ponies never had before, longer lives. Nothing similar to the near immortality of the Alicorns, but their lives now spanned short centuries, rather than mere decades. But even with all of this, Eros was not satisfied. With the loss of her sisters, an emptiness tore at Eros. She could not do her duty as the Alicorn of Love, but rather focused on maintaining that Crystal Heart.
Eros was experiencing something she had never felt...a broken heart. As a being who lived to spread love and compassion, being so hurt was a foreign feeling. Something that soon drove her to seek out something to fill the void.
As Eros continued to maintain the Crystal Heart, she soon found how unbearable her heart ache was to her. On more than one occasion, she had considered looking for her sisters, and if she found nothing, to just end her agony. But it was Thysia would convinced her to stay and work on the Heart. Among the numerous conversations, the only common thing Thysia told Eros, was "to no let your own heart become a husk." Whatever that meant, the meaning never impacted on Eros' mind. It was by sheer accident, that Eros learned of a way to ease her pain, but it would lead to her own downfall.
Often, Eros would venture out of the protective barrier to look upon the feral ponies. She saw an odd familiarity to these new ponies. How they carved out their way into the world, their brute savagery reflected how cruel life had been to them. To her, they were like kin, maybe even children. But despite their ferocity and primal nature, they seemed to still feel affection. Not simply animals fighting over mates and food, but these creatures seemed to mate for life. These ponies would stay with their partners and if the mate were to die before the other, the remaining would not be able to live on and willingly starve to death. Eros found comfort knowing others could suffer the same pain she could. Especially the Unicorns of these primal ponies.
These Unicorns have long lost the refinement of magic as their ancestors, but still retain enough knowledge to keep the tribes in line. Many tribes led by Unicorns. Feral Pegasus were all but non-existent out in this wilderness. As the more wild and brutal Griffons would prey upon them, the taste of pony meat only fueled their savagery. But Eros noticed something, as the Griffons fed upon their former kin, they seemed to gain more strength. Curious, Eros wanted to see the extent of this.
Over the span of a few more centuries, in secret, Eros experimented on the feral ponies, pitting tribe against tribe, destroying any attempts to grow food, which forced the ponies to feed on each other. And as they fed, their might only grew. Eros was fascinated by all of this, learning that it was not the meat of blood that gave the rise in power, but life force. The same life force that dwelled within all ponies, and their forebears would increase the strength of whoever fed on it. This new knowledge could help Eros better protect the Citadel should the Crystal Heart's barrier ever fail. But so far, the only way to achieve this increase was to feed on the pony's body, tasting their anguish. Eros was determined to find a better way to siphon this power.
What started as an observation, then experimentation, and finally a rogue accident would lead to the fall of one Alicorn, but the birth of a new species. But is a species, but a living plague?
It came to her on in the midst of a dreamless night. Since the loss of her sisters, Eros stopped dreaming and often had insomnia. But it was the shimmering light of the Crystal Heart that rejuvenated the Citadel's barrier, then something struck her mind. The Crystal Heart was the key! The Crystal Heart itself could not be fully used for her experiment, but when the she first crafted the Heart, a tiny sliver cracked off. Taking the sliver in hoof, Eros drove it through her chest and embedded it in the center of her heart. The effect was intimidate and the pain was intense, Eros' chest tightened as her heart raced from the intrusion. The sliver fed off of Eros' anguish and pain, fully crystallizing her heart.
When it was over, Eros felt something new, hunger; a hunger for the life force of all around her. Just being within the Citadel made Eros' mouth water and her body shivered from the energies she was once blind to. In a state of desperation, Eros fled the protection of the barrier and towards the villages of the feral ponies. From there, Eros' hunger weakened but was still gnawing at her mind. When she came upon the first village she saw, the sight of the feral ponies drove her mind to a primal blanket; Eros fed. When her senses returned, Eros was alone among the small village; every feral pony was in a comatose state, the color gone from their bodies, and large bite marks were visible on their heads and necks. Eros' mind could night recall what had happened, but the hunger was gone.
"What have I done?" Eros asked herself, looking upon the carnage she had committed.
"You were only enjoying yourself." A voice echoed in her mind. Within a few scared moments, Eros felt her mouth was moving with the words. The movement was her own mouth, but the sound was her own mental voice. "We finally found something to feed the void in our hearts." Eros wanted to reply, but this strange afterglow feeling only confirmed the voice was right. "Seek more, feed on their life, find the perfect food for our power."
"You're right." Eros commented, her body slowly turning a charcoal black, a black to reflected the endless void she now sought to fill. "With this new discovery, not only will I be able to strengthen the kingdom, but even gain more power for myself." At that moment, both the voice in her mind and Eros' own words merged together. "I...must...feed ..."
Eros' return to the Citadel had not gone unnoticed, however, as she descended back to her private chambers, Thysia was there waiting. Eros was started by Thysia's presence, but not afraid. In fact, it was the opposite, she felt a joy in her accomplishments and wanted to tell her former teacher. But before her mouth could open to tell, Thysia raised her hoof in silence.
"Eros." Thysia's words were like a knife through Eros' mind and body. "I know what you have done, you have made your choice and I cannot stop you. I only offer you a choice..." Thysia then extended her hoof in a gentle manner. "I can remove the sliver from you and put an end to your hunger, or you allow it to fester and twist your purpose and form. The choice is yours." Eros said nothing, but her face was expressed in shock and near disgust, it was obvious now that Thysia would not approve of her achievement. Thysia saw this delay and rose to her hooves. "I cannot force you to make any choice, nor can I take anything from you, it must be willing. Whatever choice you make, I shall not stop you. For it will all be your choice." Thysia then left before Eros could reply.
Eros was beyond angered, she was furious and disgusted with Thysia's words. How could such a good feeling be so vile to her? How could such an expression "twist her form"? Eros only went to bed to forget all that and relax. Hours later, however, Eros was awoken by the familiar emptiness. She had to feed again, but where? As she pondered what to do to satiate this hunger, there was a knock at the door. Within moments, a Unicorn servant mare opened the door, stating something; whatever she had to say fell on deaf ears as Eros stared at her with hungry eyes.
There was something about her expression, her joy, her love of whatever was in her life that Eros' body moved on its own, ripping the mare from where she stood with her magic and slamming the door. There was no screaming or even the sound of a struggle, but after several minutes, the mare exited the room, but unlike before, she bore Eros' eye color; it was Eros in disguise. Somehow, Eros' instinct and need to feed off the positive emotions and love of other ponies allowed her to use magic to disguise herself as them. This then allowed her to venture around the kingdom, luring unknowing ponies to be her next meal.
Eros only was able to go about this feeding frenzy for a short time before she was discovered. Unlike Tartaras, the Alicorn Tribunal did not see this as a betrayal, but rather a falling from grace. Within the halls of the Tribunal, the remaining members looked at their now disgraced sister. After her feeding, Eros' body had warped even more. Her coat was now hardened like an insect exoskeleton, her mane was more a swamp green and hung like a wet silky moss. But the worst was her horn, which was now like a gnarled branch, her hooves now with physical holes through them, and her wings which fluttered like a massive insect.
"Eros." Thysia stated, looking down from her Tribunal seat at the twisted Alicorn. "You have delved into a magic that should never have been, corrupted not only yourself, but your hunger has taken the lives of numerous ponies. For your crimes, you are hereby banished to the southern most barrens of the continent."
"Banished? Me?" Eros only laughed, her voice echoed with a deeper pitch. "I have found a way to not only become stronger, but now I have transcended into something even more."
"You are nothing but a husk!" Celestia snapped at Eros. Many of Eros' victims were ponies that Celestia had well known.
"A husk?" Eros was not even a little offended by the remark, in fact, it only made her chuckle more. "I am a Chrysalis a something great. Even if you narrow minded Alicorns cannot see it." Thysia would hear no more from anyone as she ignited her horn and vanished the mocking and laughing Eros from the room, sending her to dwell in the most remote barrens of the south.
Alicorns are not perfect beings, nor truly without flaws. Tartaras fell because he felt cheated and wrongfully feared and hated. Eris lost all hope in her role and sight of her purpose in life. And Eros fell into a deep depression only to create an addiction, but one that would wipe out the feral pony tribes; which were latter reported by Citadel scouts and records to have mysteriously migrate to the southern barrens where Eros, now named Chrysalis was said to have been sent.
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.
The story of the Three Tribes is one of the most famous stories of Equestria. but the Tears of Thysia aren't showing how the fought against each other, but rather what happened after.
Only a decades passed since the fall of the Citadel. With the former Crystal Pony survivors forming the Three Tribes divided into the Unicorns, Pegasus, and Earth Ponies. There was some challenges regarding their survival, but due to their previous history as a unified Kingdom, the Three Tribes formed a small alliance. The Unicorns of Unicornia used their magic to protect themselves and the other two small kingdoms from the northern frozen winds. The Pegasus of Pegasopolis patrolled the skies and maintained the weather to provide the proper conditions for the last Tribe. The Earth Ponies of Earth worked the fields and farms to provide food for the other two kingdoms.
But as more years wore away at the Tribes, the three leaders of the Tribes: Princess Platinum of Unicornia, Commander Hurricane of Pegasopolis, and Chancellor Puddinghead of Earth met to negotiate their next move. It was decided through much debate, that the Tribes would be divided into vast groups to find land more suitable and away from the frozen winds. While there were far less Unicorns than the other races, the entire Unicorn race followed Princess Platinum, along with her advisor Clover the Clever, the prized student of Star Swirl; Star Swirl himself having been trapped within the Citadel as it collapsed, as well as her own students.
The Pegasus took to the skies, physically dividing the cloud city of Pegasopolis into thirds. The section that accompanied Commander Hurricane and his most trusted soldier Private Pansy was renamed Cloudsdale. With the other thirds being called Las Pegasus and Rainbow Falls. The Earth Ponies, being the largest majority of ponies in the population were the most divided and moved to the most remote places. Only a small group of caravans traveled with Chancellor Puddinghead and her advisor Smart Cookie headed towards the high mountain that lay at the center of the continent. Though many of the caravan would break apart and form towns and settlements, such as Dodge Junction, Manehatten, Fillydelphia, Trottingham, and Baltimare; with the most famous being founded by the surviving members of Hekon's Apple Core founding the settlement of Appleloosa.
After months of travel, it was by sheer coincidence that the groups being led by the Tribes' leaders would unknowingly travel to the same location. But instead of meeting as friends, the Three Tribes refused to share this new land. But it was this disharmony that attracted not only the attention of the Frozen North Winds, but another being.
Just like with the Umbra War, the Tears of Thysia get hazy and it's difficult to see what happens clearly. But it is quite amazing how well the Tribe got along. Maybe the centuries of the story being spoken rather than written added to the more fictionalized version of the Hearth's Warming story that is sung and played every year.
Amidst the chaos that was forming from the arguments the Tribes were causing, a lost being emerged from the neighboring forest. The forest, forever Known as the Everfree Forest, was home to the self banished Alicorn Eris. But in her millennia of isolation, her body had warped to reflect her loss of purpose. Her body was no longer that of an Alicorn, but was now in the form of a new species called a Draconequus. It held parts of numerous different Alicorns and Eris' personality had been equally warped. Instead of helping to restore balance and order as she once did as an Alicorn, this new Eris would use her new chaotic magic to only fan the flames of hate. Though out of her own twisted humor, Eris' actions would only worsen the Tribe's situation. But equally did Eris help the Tribes by crafting a barrerir so powerful that the Frozen Winds could not enter it.
Eventually the Tribes would fall prey to the Frozen Winds, but it was soon discovered to not be a natural cold wind. This wind was alive and it was malicious. Pony shaped spirits of hatred and rage that made up the wind, the Windigos were the harsh winds that once nipped at the barrier that once protected the Citadel. These Windigos were driven by the will of some unknown force that led them to attack the ponies of the Tribe's new home. But it was in this harshness and the random help and hindrance of Eris, that the Tribes formed a new group, this town they settled in was named Ponyville, and would serve as the pinnacle of their unity and joined strength. As they would battle the Windigos and their mysterious leader.
Throughout their war with the Windigos, the Three Tribes would receive no help from Celestia or Luna, who have already established a hidden castle upon the mountain side. But rather help from Eris, but equally would be hurt by her. Though even with such a randomly aligned ally, the Tribes called upon the help the same two mystery ponies who helped defeat Umbra all those years before. But these ponies' help served in a manner not like before. Where the two ponies acted as warriors battling some great evil, instead they would help form the creation of an event that would later be not only seen but celebrated of the day the Winidgos were defeated. This event would be called Hearth's Warming Day, where the songs of the Three Tribes and Windigos would be remembered and sung throughout the following ages.
The Tears of Thysia stopped showing anything about the Three Tribes, but it can only be assumed that they were able to defeat the Windigos and their Leader, but it would have to be something stronger than simply singing. Or maybe it was, it seems to be impossible to know. But those mysterious ponies, twice in history they have appeared, and even the Tears of Thysia cannot clearly show who he, she, or they are. Who are these two ponies?
The series of moments now shown by the Tears is a combination of before the Three Tribes were formed, divided, and then Unified in Ponyville. It seems to show what happened to the Alicorns during this time. But the Tears are also not too clear on every detail.
After the sealing of the Citadel, Solaris, Artemis, Celestia, and Luna did as they were told and saved as many ponies as they could. But for reasons known only to them, they left the three Tribes to fend for themselves while they traveled southwards, to the high mountain that was once Valhalla's kingdom. Due to their own power, the Alicorns reached the mountain in a few short hours and their magic was sufficient enough to craft a small castle on the side of the mountain. With the castle established, the Alicorns named this small kingdom Canterlot. In her excitement though, Luna revealed a small secret, she was pregnant.
During the Umbra War, one of the mystery ponies that helped in the war not only had an affair with Luna but impregnated her. Using her magic, Luna was able to slow down the pregnancy, but after a decade, Luna could not hold onto it any more; the baby had to be born. Despite Solaris' rage and Artemis' disappointment, they allowed Celestia to not only have the foal delivered, but to keep the baby. It was an Alicorn Stallion that Luna named Dreamwalker. This foal would later serve in the birth of a new organization when he would grow older.
As for Solaris and Artemis, they soon felt the cold presence of their own end coming. Being the last of the first generation Alicorns, Solaris and Artemis were only holding onto life by their own willpower. Unable to fully maintain their own spells for the planet and the Moon, both ancient Alicorns revealed the secret of the Sun and Moon to their sisters. Celestia would use her magic to fuel the orbit of the Sun, in addition to the preservation of ancient magic. While Luna was taught how to maintain the orbit of the Moon, in addition to the beauty of the night and the dreams of the mortals. With their roles now passed ot the next generation, Solaris and Artemis rejoined the energies from whence they came and left Celestia and Luna as the last true Alicorns.
The formation of Canterlot has been a mystery, and Dreamwalker's role later on in history is an equally complex mystery. But it is recorded in the Tears of Thysia, that after the deaths of Solaris and Artemis, Celestia and Luna sent out some sort of magic from Canterlot. Maybe as a way to call the Three Tribes to them. That could be why the Tribes' leaders all ended up at the same exact location.
As the Three Tribes would settle in the town that would be called Ponyville at the base of Canterlot's mountain, Celestia and Luna remained silent as the Tribes struggled over resources and the Windigos. Though Luna wanted to help the struggling ponies, remember them from before the Citadel's sealing, Celestia was oddly adamant against helping. Her new role as the one who kept Alitheia in orbit and the loss of her beloved brother had left a coldness in her heart that would soon turn to arrogance and pride. Luna, who could not help on her own, remained distant from the ponies, caring for her son. Celestia even went so far as to use her extra magic to conceal Canterlot from anyone aside from her, Luna, and Dreamwalker.
After the realization of Eris' existence though, was the major event that forced Celestia and Luna to finally take action. With the defeat of the Windigos, Eris found herself now bored and like her mischievous nature, acted against the Tribes. The Tribes, being still too weak from facing the Windigos, were unable to defeat Eris and were forced into her servitude, plunging Ponyville into a kingdom of madness and discord. From her small palace within the Everfree Forest, Eris ruled over Ponyville for only a few short months before Celestia and Luna came out of hiding to face her.
Despite their attempts to learn anything from their fallen comrade, Celestia and Luna reluctantly fought against Eris, but her magic proved too great. It was during one such confrontation that Celestia and Luna discovered the Tree of Harmony, the tree that grew from the remains of Hekon's body and was nurtured by the last tears of order that Eris shed before descending to madness. This Tree bore six gems that would be known as the Elements of Harmony. With the Elements at their command, Laughter, Honesty, Loyalty, Generosity, Kindness, and Magic, Celestia and Luna were able to defeat Eris, turning her to stone. After Eris' defeat, Celestia and Luna welcomed the Three Tribes to Canterlot where they sent word to the other colonies, unifying all the lands of the continent and forging a new kingdom not seen since the age of the Alicorn Kingdom; the Kingdom of Equestria was born.
The founding of Equestria has had numerous versions written about it over the years, but this true version is by far the strangest. Why was Celestia so cold towards the pony Tribes when they needed aid? Was she so grief stricken that she couldn't see their suffering, or was there something deeper? Though as I look into the Tears of Thysia, I can only guess what will happen next.
Generations passed, and Equestria thrived, with Canterlot as the capital city, and Celestia with Luna ruling as equals. Often, the Alicorn Sisters would spend time in their secondary palace within the Everfree that they took from Eris following her defeat. But in most cases, the palace was used for little more than storage for any lost Alicorn relics or knowledge in forbidden magics that the sisters could find. The forest's chaotic nature and wild beasts acted as the perfect guards and protectors of the forest.
But with every great kingdom, came a darker side to it; poverty, homeless, the lost and abused. For years, Luna had looked upon the young fillies and colts; seeing them suffer within both their dreams and their realities. Some were from abusive homes, others were raised in strict and dilapidated orphanages, but most were simply ponies living off the street. On several occasions, Luna would approach Celestia regarding this but her sister always seemed too busy to talk with her. Even their dinners together grew less and less in occurrence. So one night, Luna took to the sky, and took away the forsaken fillies and colts.
Under the light of the full Moon, Luna along with Dreamwalker took a few hundred of these fillies and colts; those who have always wished to be free from their miserable lives, and hid them within the very mountain, through a secret passage, hidden by the night and enchanted by a special song. With this new home established, Luna used her magic to build a small kingdom for her "children", leaving Dreamwalker to lead these lost ponies and appoint her loyal pet and protector Inaba the Great Owl to serve as guardian of the now Children of the Night. Luna's action had not gone unnoticed however, Celestia was quickly made aware of what happened, and she was furious.
"How DARE you steal young ponies from their beds, their homes and hide them in some unknown place!" Celestia shouted at her sister, sitting upon her throne while looking down on Luna as if she were a criminal. "You are to tell me where you have taken the foals!"
"I shall not!" Luna snapped back, her voice chocked with anger and sorrow. "Those innocents were suffering and I freed them as they wished me to. You would've of known that if you actually cared about your subjects."
"Silence!" Celestia's voice nearly shattered the very throne room with her rage. She then looked upon Canterlot through the stain glass windows that aligned the walls. "The lives of every mare and stallion within all of Equestria are my responsibility. As well as the task of the very Sun. The lives these fillies and colts were leading could be improved by other means than fillynapping."
"There may have been!" Luna replied in equal anger to Celestia. "On many occasions, i have approached you, only to be met with silence. If silence was what you gave me, then you've given the same to those suffering....NOTHING!"
"How dare you!" Celestia rose from her seat and stamped her way down to Luna, her hooves shaking the room and terrifying the standing guards. "You will remember who is Princess, and tell me where they are, NOW!"
"And you will remember who is meant to be your equal." Luna was disgusted by Celestia's arrogance and disregard for Luna's own power within the Kingdom. "Or have you been so high on your light filled throne that you cannot see the shadow you cast, or who you cast your shadow on?"
There was no more arguing, Celestia was not given a chance to give a response, as after she spoke, Luna vanished from the throne room. Celestia, in her own rage, called for every guard to scramble and find Luna. Meanwhile, Luna transported herself to the still young Lunar Kingdom, with Dreamwalker having established a small Council of thirteen other Children. Speaking in private, Luna told Dreamwalker of what happened and what they had to do next. Through small discussion, and the feeling that Celestia was searching for her, Luna and Dreamwalker devised a plan. Using his natural magic to alter memories, Dreamwalker altered the minds of the Children, so that they would not seek immediate revenge over what Luna was about to do should she fail. Second, Luna went to Inaba and told him a lie to keep him in the kingdom. This lie, which would become truth in a thousand years time, told of a dangerous mare from a Crystal Empire to the north that she and Celestia were off to defeat and that he must stay t protect the Children.
The final act was to have Dreamwalker alter Luna's very memories of the Children, where she would forget everything about them, including Dreamwalker himself. This block of her memories would last only until the day the Children would be rediscovered a thousand years later. Giving her son one last hug and goodbye, Luna departed, heading towards the palace that lay in the Everfree, sending out a small message to Celestia to meet her there. While Luna awaited Celestia, she looked within herself and found something she thought she had fully hidden away; a darkness. This darkness was born from the Umbra War and fed off Luna's growing distrust, sorrow, and anger towards Celestia. If she had to, Luna would use this darkness.
When Celestia arrived, Luna asked Celestia to call off the search and entrust the Children of the Night to her. Celestia refused. Seeing no other choice, Luna released the darkness inside her, using it to become a being of pure night and shadow; Nightmare Moon was born. Upon being born, Nightmare Moon used to her magic to alter the course of the Moon, having it eclipse the Sun, plunging Equestria into a darkness. Celestia, now seeing what she had drove her sister to do, tried to convince Luna to lower the Moon and come home. But Nightmare refused, engaging Celestia in battle.
This battle tore at the two Alicorns, destroying the palace and nearly killing Celestia. In her last act of desperation, Celestia called upon the Elements of Harmony, and used them against Nightmare Moon, banishing her to the Moon. After that, the Elements turned to stone, and Celestia hair changed from its once pink, to a multitude of blues, greens, and pinks. And with Luna now banished, Celestia took on the role of controlling the Moon's orbit. but with that came a cost. Because of the vast amount of magic required to maintain the Planet and the Moon together, Celestia found she was no longer power as she was before; with magic only as strong as the average Unicorn.
Celestia decided to keep this fact as secret and returned to Canterlot with a face of shame. Celestia had the palace completely abandoned, and returned to Canterlot, telling a story of Luna being possessed by Nightmare Moon and that the banishment was a last resort. This fabrication was enough to turn the public opinion to pity Luna, rather than despise her. Celestia was never able to discover where the Children of the Night were, nor would she ever; as that very night, feeling his mother's loss, Dreamwalker snuck into Celestia's room as she slept. He could've easily taken revenge by means of death, but chose to use his magic to alter Celestia's memories. This not only erased any memories of the missing Children, but also left a suggestion in Celestia's mind to be humble and caring, always doing what it took to establish peace through diplomacy and peaceful means. Dreamwalker then erased the Children's existence from the minds of everypony in Canterlot before returning to the growing Lunar Kingdom, where he would rule as the Oracle of the Night for the next centuries.
Luna's transformation into Nightmare Moon is both a historic fact and a fantasy legend. But to see how it really happened is beyond amazing. It is still sad to see how it happen, and equally terrifying to think what Equestria would be like if Dreamwalker either killed Celestia or didn't alter her memories. Given her anger, she would've led witch hunts or worse.
But for now, I I have everything I need for the Princesses written down and am only disappointed by the fact that this is last I'll look into the Tears. Celestia told me this relic can also tell me my future, I can see everything as it happened, happens, and will happen. But I will only forget it just as soon as I learn it. So I will simply finish writing what I do remember and hopefully remember this feelingof what I have learned rather than the morales themselves.
Well...........I might keep a few extra notes for myself...........The Princesses don't have to know and after all, I am a curious pony.
