The Different Prince

Our king moved the sun, was a statement in this world that took almost everyone's breath away.

We sat in the shade of an outcrop in the canyon. A few million years underground tended to make one a little sensitive to sunlight. Corner Stone was encircled by a number of archeologists and historians, Twilight and Mother at the front, with myself close by. It was barely an hour since she'd seen the sun again. She was amazed at how the landscape had changed. Claiming it had one been a forest of trees with a giant lake.

Twilight wanted as many ponies recording as possible, not wanting to miss a single word.

He would call her name and bring us the morning, then sing her farewell, to give us night. She had a faraway look in her eye, as if she was actually watching her king. His name was Cinder Spark, for he was the son of the first king, who lit the first fire. Ages came and went, he kept up his duty. First in solitude. Then a mare caught his eye, and it wasn't long before they were wed.

Not sure if anyone really knew what a wedding was in Equestria. Until now anyway, Mother had a glint of recognition in her eyes. Though it was faint.

He had many designs, but was busy tending the fires and calling they sun's name. So he sought those who might make them a reality. My brother and I shaped and stacked the first stones. We became his chief architects. We taught the tribes the art of carving stone, and stacking them so they would not fall down. I hope he is alright, my brother.

We were all very sad for her, of course, but, we needed more answers to satisfy this raging curiosity that burned in our brains. We sent nice thought in her direction, of assurance and hope. She seemed to appreciate it. I asked her if her brother was almost as larger as her.

She replied that she was almost as large as him. Great a bigger giant possibly slumbering beneath the world. Hopefully as well mannered.

His bride became the first queen. Her name Field of Reeds, for her man was just as glorious. Her ambition ignited just as though Cinder had caught her aflame. She made his designs bigger, and built our kingdom around him, keeping him safe. For all his strength he was not that strong. We loved our king and knew his enemies beneath the vermin of foulest disease. Those who would see the first fire extinguished.

It was fairly interesting to hear. This king was perhaps not so giant as I had envisioned. Though, maybe larger than most stallions of today. Still though, as I listened, I realized that there was once a great race that valued their males. I had some private questions to ask her sometime.

He wished no one be burdened with calling the sun's name to make the morning. Though we sympathized, there was none who could take the duty from him. And he could only stop if he wished up to perish. He loved us too much in return. Then, one morning, he came directly to me. Speaking of a knew project that would end his need to call the sun's name. He gave me his designs of the World Movers.

Here it was, the thing everyone was waiting for.

Twelve great stone kilns, thick as twice of me and many times as tall. Each would be filled with the exact amount of fuel of the same kind, stacked to the smoke release on top. A large window at the body to feed the flames. When lit they would suck in great amount of cold air from the bottom and push higher amounts of warm air through the smaller hole in the top, creating thrust.

Was she just describing what I thought she was describing? My mind did a couple backflips as I tried to dismiss such an idea as too wild..

To light them, there would be a loose stone in the bottom through which they could be lit safely. But, the power of these mighty movers, we feared, would need a great foundation to hold it still so we would not lose our course. My brother conceived of the dome, stones shaped to lean on each other for strength, stronger than any flat surface could manage. We moved his people within them, seeing them as shelter from the heat these greatest flames would surely produce. When it was over, we would open them up and let them watch the sun guide itself across the sky, free of her bonds.

But... I had many fears... now realized... but I cannot blame him in his eagerness to be free himself. None of us could have known. I voiced my fears, urging him to instead find a pupil who he could teach to move the sun in his stead. But, he called such a thing a curse, unfit for even the darkest beings. His queen believed in his ambitions, as well as her own, and supported him as a good queen should. Even, I pray not, to her own folly. My brother too, had concerns. For we both knew stone better than our brightest students. But, we trusted our king, and knew he was right. The sun need not be chained, lest our end fail and we perish in the cold blackness.

She lowered her head and we saw giant tears splash upon the ground.

My poor foolish king. When did our love not become enough? Surely, had we truly concerned ourselves, this trouble and death I have awoken too would never be.

We were all quiet, giving her time to decide whether or not she wanted to continue now. This was going to be hard on her for many years to come, most likely. She could have been the last of her kind. And she never even got to say goodbye.

He must have secretly been planning the lighting of the fires. For I was asleep when they lit. At the same time, in the same hour, on the same moment, the fires would be lit and our world would moved. The bonds of control would shift from our king's voice, to the sun's own pull. We instead bring in a new era of the world moving around the sun.