The History of DawnBreaker, Nightmare Moon and Pony of Shadows
Ah, I see young Fillies and Colts you have come to hear a tail. Hrmm, Shall I tell you of star swirl the bearded, and how he defeated slags the snoring Dragon? Perhaps you would prefer a tail of Pinkie Pike the clown, and how she got herself stuck in a revolving door over in ManeHattan?
Oh? What is this? Ah, you say you do not want “foal” stories, that you want one for the grown ups? Very well, with the days getting longer, and we shed our winter coats for something cooler in summer, perhaps I shall tell you the story not many a pony knows. Get yourself comfortable, for my Tail shall take us back in time. Back before we had Princess Luna and Celestia as the higher rulers of Equestria, to a time before the existed. In fact, we are going so far back, this is before NightMare Moon was …. Shall we say for lack of better words, turned Evil.
Be warned, this is a tail not for the faint of heart, or easily scared. For this tail is but grimm, and can be somewhat scary.
Hmm, you still want me to tell you then? Very well, but know I must take us back to when Equestria saw its first two Alicorns, where we came to have the great goddess Alma the Mother-of-all. Now settle in, for I must begin with how all great stories do, and that is Once upon a time….
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The land of Equestria was but a much wilder land then. It did not have the modern cities, and conveniences you may take for granted today. No, the weather came and went as it pleased. It was one cold winter’s night, a small fire to keep her warm in the cave she lay, we we now call Alma, the Mother-of-all gave the unicorn goddess who gave birth to two Alicorns. The first the land was to see in fact.
The first to be born was named Dawnbreaker, For her coat was as white as the snow outside that cold lonely cave. Her eyes were of the darkest red, with yellow pupils. Her coat and mane was of the strangest yellow, with fiery red streaks. Stranger yet, from the moment she could stand, her tail and mane would burst into a eternal fire that could melt the thickest of ice, and when the cutie mark of a large sun adorned her flank, even though she was yet a foal. Somehow, without training, she turned to the mouth of the cave and with a mere bat of her eye, the sun started to crest, breaking the night and earned the name we know her of today.
The second to be born, was indeed a Alicorn as well. But her coat was as dark as a moonlit sky. Her eyes were the color of moonlight, with cyan surrounding her reptilian pupil. Her hair was of a light blue. Like her sister the moment she could stand, her hair turned transparent, and one would swear they could see the very stars in there, but unlike her sister, a large crescent moon surrounded by night clouds adored her flank. Her name was Lunar Cycle.
Now young Fillies and Colts, do not give me that look, I know what her name is that we know her of. If you wish I shall cease my story here. Yet know this; I have indeed told you this was going back in time, and if you do not wish to know how things came to be first, then the rest of my tale will not make sense to your ears, and perceptions. Oh, you want me to continue? Shall you stop my tail to tell me I am wrong again? No? Every well let's continue ….
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She seemed to be able to control the very moon, and call back the night, which did not please her sister who enjoyed the warmth of the sun and light. So, it is written this was the start of a eternal struggle, that would last as we know for a eternity. However it was in their bickering they did not see their poor mother Alma the Mother-of-all was weakened terrible by their birth, and with their sudden fight of who would rule the sky would bring the warm, then the bitter cold, Alma the Mother-of-all could not adjust properly, and ceased to exist on our plane of existence, she was called to the glorious halls of Valhoofla where she helps guide all ponies to this day.
But I digress. I shall also not bore you with the two sisters and their growing up, perhaps if you are interested we can have that tail for another day. However you can let me know what you think after I am finished this one, as I will not spin the magic of my story for those who do not want to listen to it. Now, was I? Ah yes.
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The lands were savage like I said, were even the different races of pony would fight to either protect or steal what limited resources the others had. It was nothing to see earth ponies invade the caves of the pegasus, (and yes this was way before their cloudsdale was built) for shelter, or the pegasus invade the unicorn lands for their tools, or the unicorns invade the earth ponies for their bountiful food supplies.
Of course, on top of that, Dawnbreaker took great delight not to mention savored the chaos, and subjugation of those ponies she would come across. She would often swoop down to some village, of whatever pony fraction demanding their complete and utter submission to her. Those that defied her, would only have her horn glowing blood red before they were incarcerated on the spot.
Now, Lunar Cycle was as opposite to her sister as, well pardon my pun: night and day. Her greatest wish was to bring happiness in the night sky she would carefully make every night. Her way of trying to cheer up those ponies of the land, that faced such clear and uncontrollable hardships. Were Dawn Breaker prefered to not only be around, but to also show herself and force her will on the ponies of the land, Lunar Cycle wanted nothing more to be behind the scenes. She would silently morn when she came across the carnage of destroyed villages.
Perhaps it was the wheels of fate, maybe it was her late mother who felt her daughter's sadness from within ValHoofa who felt her daughter's sadness of being alone that guided her that fateful day, but it was by pure luck Lunar Cycle came across the still smoldering village. Normally she would just carry on, however something deep within her told her to investigate.
As she walked to the entrance of the village the stretch of still smoldering bodies of both ponies and gryphon's seemed to hold the undertone of her Sister’s magic. The very sights and smells where sickening enough, however knowing her sister had a hoof in this made her stomach want to empty its contents, but she was able to hold back that evacuation/ She wanted to get out of there, to flee as she normally when her sister was around, but a sound cased her ears two twitch, in it’s direction.
She walked carefully, hoping to hear it again. A weak groan coming from of the hut’s, barely able to support it’s still smoldering walls. A survivor? Here? How? She thought to herself, as she gave no regard for her own safety as she rushed in, her eyes quickly adjusting to the lower light levels and she saw how.
A grey unicorn colt lay there. His Cyan mane and tail with its streaks of power blue, was matted to his body, that adorned multiple deep wounds, The deepest running across his flank where she could barely make out a black shield with a blue “c” on it, and two swords at opposite angles ran behind it. He raised his head to see her standing there, and she could tall the deep gashes across his right eye meant he would never see out of it.
Even in his weakened state, he felt a desire to defend, even this hut that could fall down around them at any moment, but the moment he stood, he screeched then fell to the ground. Lunar Cycles heart went out to him, and sure she could have turned to let him fall prey to his injuries, There was a creaky, of the walls that had decided they had finished their life expectancy of being a shelter. She had no moment to decide, she just wished she had made the right decision.
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Her horn flared Cyan as she walked out of the village, lucky to get out of the hut when she did, for no pony could survive that, let alone that poor lone survivor. Sure she could spread her wings and fly, instead of choosing her steps carefully, however she did not want to jostle the lone survivor that was on her back, her magic trying to keep him as steady as possible.
Bless the great moon above she thought as she finally came across a cave just as the sun started to set, signally her Sister was going to sleep, and it would mean she could present a night sky. Which she hastily brought forth. She could not allow herself the luxury to plan when there was a wounded that needed carrying of.
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Over time, the lone survivors, which she came to know was called Lost Legacies. A fitting name considering what happened to him. However his wounds healed, and though he walked with a limp that he tried to hide, caused by his damaged leg seemed to not cause him much trouble. Lunar Cycle found herself wanting to spend time with him. Not out of sympathy for the visible deep scar’s that littered his body, nor was it out of the fact he now had one eye to see out of, while the other that once had a makeshift patch over it, only being replaced when it was tattered and torn, now had one made of her own wing feathers. They would travel collecting and trying to help those they came across, but they always would return to that cave she had first found. For some reason it felt like home to the both of them.
No, it was for some other reason. Almost like he was growing on her, and not just in the physical sense, but it seemed in a emotional level as well. Which become ever so clear to her, when she closed her eyes to rest, as she sun started to raise on the horizon, and slipped into a deep sleep. It was not long after that she slipped into the dream realm.
Something was wrong with this dream. For she was before her sister Dawnbreaker, that seemed to hover high above her. DawnBreakers horn was flairing the blood red hue of her magic as Lost Legacies was raised up. Dawnbreakers magic held him firmly by the throat, as his hooves flailed. He was being strangled as Dawnbreaker laughed asking what her weak scared sister would do.
Lunar Cycle took to the sky trying to charge her sister, but it seemed the harder she tried to bridge the gap, the further away they seemed to get, while she could only watch as Lost Legacies life was being snuffed out.
She awoke to feel Lost legacies body close to her, his hooves petting her, his voice soothing her beating heart telling it would be ok.She could stare into his good eye, and should have resisted the impulse to bring her muzzle to this …..
Well lets just say one thing lead to another, and somewhere in that night, Lost Legacies went from someone she felt she had to care for, after all he had been through, to special best pony. In fact, she would pretend to sleep and have bad dreams so they could ….well young colts and fillies lets just say so they could become special best ponies over and over again.
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Among the good dreams, the nights they would simply sit at the mouth of the cave cuddling each other to admire her handy work, trying to ignore the odd roar of some beast in the distance, there were plenty of bad nights where they had to defend their home from invading tribes, monsters, which Lost Legacies proved time again to be a worthy fighter, his moves and attacks blending seamless with hers, like a well choreographed routine. Then there were the bad dreams, always involving herself and Lost Legacies in peril. Which had they just been hers, she would have to live through them, however, one night Lost Legacies seemed to have a similar one, causing them to both wake, gasping for air, only to describe to the other of their shared experience.
Which, increased in frequency, causing them to talk what they would do, thinking it was Dawnbreaker who found a new way to attack them. That was when they came to realize their only action was to face that bloodthirsty mare. Lunar Cycle was indeed scared, but she she drew on the strength and confidence of her special best pony who felt together they had the strength to get her to back down.
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So, one cool morning they set out. Not knowing where they would find Dawnbreaker, but guessed travelling East where the sun would rise was some clue. Of course a little over a half day’s trotting found Dawnbreaker sunning on a rock, her back to them, which she kept as the tone in her voice could not hide the sneer in her voice asking the duo what they were doing there, adding the insult that only her weaker sister would pair herself with one of the weaker pony fractions.
Lost Legacies wanted to toss his own insult to her, but as he opened his mouth, Lunar Cycle put her hoof to his chest, looking at him, telling him to stay quiet. With that she gave a reply, anger not being able to be hidden in her voice as she explained that the so called lessor fractions could be enjoyed not enslaved. Those very same fractions were not there for the Alicorns sport, but to help build the land. She then added that she stayed clear of her sister to this point, but had DawnBreaker chose to continue attacking them in dreams, Lunar Cycle would not be as diplomatic.
Dawnbreaker jumped up, turning to loom over there, her horn with it’s usual blood red glow around it, sneered saying it was not her, that she actually enjoyed those dreams and never wanted to have her weaker sister in them, then scoffed as she could see the fear in her sisters eyes.
What DawnBreaker did not realize is that fear did not come from her looming over them, but just how similar this looked to Lunar Cycles first dream. Lunar Cycle tried to keep her best brave face on, as her heart beat so wild in her chest, it threatened to burst out of it. She had to get the both of them out of there, immediately, and with that, they said they would take their leave.
But as they backed up, Dawnbreakers horn flared a deeper red, stating she was not amused that the came to her with nothing but accusations, while she was sunning themselves, and using she would impose a heavy penalty for such insolence, commanding them to leave. Then smirked as the fools turned their back to her, taking a few steps before she lowered her horn aiming it at Luna Cycles shouting she changed her mind, and unleashed a hellfire blast at her sister.
Before she could complete her turn turning around to defend herself, she felt a set of hooves give her a hard shove as Lost Legacies pushed her out of the way, taking the full brunt of her attack. He did not have enough time to scream in pain as he was turned to blackened ash,falling to the ground, then scattered with the wind that blew around them. Causing Lunar Cycle to stand their frozen, unable to blink as her mind processed what had just happened to her, while the wild laughter of her sister filled her ears.
Dawnbreaker could not believe her luck, as she continued to laugh. She had just dealt a crippling blow, that none of her magic could ever bring to be. Had she not been relishing her act, she would have taken notice of her sister turning to face her, pure hatred radiating off her body. Luna Cycle let out a wild cry as she annihilated the rock Dawnbreaker was standing, causing the sun mare to land on the ground, sprawled awkward out.
Dawnbreaker barely got her senses about her, when she seen a pair of dark night colored hooves rear above her, and coming down, aimed at her head. Dawnbreaker rolled out of the way, suddenly sensing the power fueled by pure hate coming off her sister. Dawnbreaker tried to plead with her sister, saying how sorry she was to Lunar Cycle.
Lunar Cycle horn flared a alamering deep cyan color as she growled that Luna Cycle was gone, turned to ass, that she was her sister's Nightmare of the night. Dawnbreaker gulped, and took to the skies, desperate to escape, and possibly regroup herself, but Lunar….no Nightmare Night was close on her hooves. Thus started a war that lasted centuries, However, being preoccupied with such a war allowed the so called lessor fractions of ponies start to come together.
Then finally one night, they stood before a young crystal tree, centuries of being at each others hooves, hoping one could have just a once of extra power to outdo the other, Their horns lowered at each other, flaring dangerously, then both released a magical blast Simultaneously. Causing a tug of war, where the loser would be sent to the other plane of existence. However Dawnbreaker had something up her forelock she thought she could use which was to ask what would Nightmare Moon’s precious Lost Legacies think of her.
This did cause NightMare Moon to lose some concentration, causing her own magic to dwindle, as Dawnbreakers magical blast got so close to her, she could feel the heat threatening to singe her horn. She closed her eyes, a single tear escaping them as she whispered to her lover she was going to come home, to be in his arms.
With that, she snapped her eyes open, saying they only way to end this was to have a mutually assured destruction, then tilting her horn quickly to the right while she released her own death blow, she felt the impact of her sisters burst fact her in the chest, with a feeling like it was cutting through her, just as she heard Dawnbreakers own death shriek,.
They feel to the ground, at the same time, and as NightMare Moon closed her eyes for the last time she thought she could hear her Lost Legacies calling to her. She would have smiled but she was longer in her body.
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Now, now dry your eyes little one, for the universe never destroys its energy. Be you Pegasus, Unicorn, Earth and yes Alicorn ponies, Dragon, Gryphon, even Discord himself, we are all part of that energy, The young crystal tree they found around, and actually pulled their essence, their souls if you prefer into it. Causing it to have the symbols of a sun and crescent moon nestled in clouds. Somehow it knew it could bestow it’s powers to…… well...only Alicorns can have Alicorn magic to …..well I am sure you ready the diary of the two sisters. It explains more than I ever could. But now you know how DawnBreaker seeks to destroy ponies, while NightMare Moon prefers to, try everything she can to save them, even if it is via subjugation
Now you might be wondering what happened to Lost legacies? Well, he was not brought up to Valhoofa to be with Alma the Mother-of-all Nor was he brought down to Tardarus. You see the universe can be a fickle thing, and due to the deep love he had for Lunar Cycle, later known as NightMare Moon, and due to his demise being so swift, he was sent into something called Limbo.
He feel his existence there, he just knew he existed there. He could not move around with his hooves, but merely go there, must like how a wisp of smoke travels on the wind. For he was little more that. A barely conscious wisp of smoke on the wind. He continued to move around not being hungry for he had no stomach. Not thirsty for her had no mouth. Yet in the distance he felt something powerful calling to him. Within a blink of your eye, he was there, as a part of the either opened up around him, and he was infused with a powerful energy, that seemed to hate ….. Somepony or was it someponies? He could not tell. However it was that hatred that caused Lost Legacies to be raised to a level of consciousness. Even if he knew he had just being given all the magic and abilities of Umbra as he passed from Luna’s death blow, Lost legacies would not who that was.
Then, within another blink of an eye, Lost Legacies started to be pelted with the very energies of everypony that was once part of the Crystal Empire, that Ubra had set to be destroyed upon his death. With each new Energy shape, Lost Legacies felt the strength to give himself a form. Which he used what material he had at hand, that being the shadows.
However as he formed with the various forms of energies, Ubra’s seemed to he most dominant causing his horn to be shaped the same as his predecessor. Even taking on the same desire to gain power, Which he used to leave limbo and enter our land, only to call Limbo his new home.
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Now my silly fillies and colts, the hour grows late, and I grow tired of my tail spinning. Now run along to your homes.
What's that? That never happened? Your right. I made it all up.
Whom am I? Well I am the descendant of Lost legacies and Lunar Cycle being special best ponies, but you are right, it never happened.
Author's Note
This was going to be a story that had a small amount of back story which included Dawnbreaker, and NightMare moon, then focus on Pony of Shadows. However it seemed to take on a life of it's own.
I have tried to make sure those who have not read The Diary of the two sisters, I have left it spoiler free, while somewhat acting like a Prequel to that, while the part dealing with Umbra deals with after the fact of Fall of Crystal Empire that can be found on YouTube.
Alma Mother of all was taken from a wonderful book I remember from my childhood called Birth of the fire bringer and just felt right to have my giving a nod to that series.
