Foreword:

Before you lies the story of Equestria,

turning toward a great disaster.

Twisting of fate in a tale so antiquated,

by shifting roles of pawn and master.

Inspired by music of the Bard SylphStorm,

collected into this list of play.

Follow now into the first parts of the scheme,

hear now what history has to say.

Do not take these words to be the standard,

as they simply lay the foundation.

After this introduction of the tale,

it will take another organization.

The larger path followed by each chapter,

starting and ending in singular arc.

Joining whole in chaotic waltz design,

completing the story in a way stark.

Shatter Storm

Track 01 Dark Clouds:

I. Stargazer

So young, the two Princesses to be were. Groomed to became rulers, but what was left behind in their rearing?

As the youngest of the pair was struggling to keep with her sister, she found her comfort where it had always been for her. She loved nothing more than to watch the night, she was even named so perfectly “Luna” like the moon that was her oldest and truest friend. In those quiet, lonely nocturnal escapes, she concerned herself only with forgetting the trails of her training, and not the approaching destiny sneaking up on her and her sister. Her sadness repressed by the heavens laid out so bare, her heart repossessed by the darkness that covered all. Those calming moments would conceal the truer fate, neither sister would ever guess the their greater destiny was not to become Equestria’s rulers, but its salvation.

Looking back now it seems so easy to place these two in the roles, ponies in those days were barely out of the turmoil of being a divided people. All of the troubles behind them were nothing to what would come; with the chaos of Discord, the enslavement of King Sombra, the cruelty of Lord Tirek, and so many other terrors forgot. Yet these two stepped up and faced their destiny, the first Alicorns to be seen in records, and beloved heroes to all. Yet this did not win Princess Luna her place of attention, or her proper respects that she so deserved.

Our little Stargazer had faced much, but loneliness is an enemy not so easily defeated.

II. Luna’s Lament

Princess Luna saw more and more that the ponies were not interest in the wonders of the night. Shunned and ignored, a Princess and her creation left to neglect.

Bitterly, in the darkness of her solitude, she served the ungrateful ponies who had an undeserving and peacefully sleep through her glorious nights. With nothing but herself, the whispers could come to her, telling her that it was the ponies who should serve her. The ponies should be made to see the wonders of night, and forced to enjoy or suffer if they resist. Consuming her every thought, the twisted words of the unseen now dictated her motives by setting her to make the first moves into a new order.

Princess Luna raised herself an army, seeking out the only ponies who saw things her way. The feared and shunned Bat Ponies of Hollow Shade, and with them she spread her growing wickedness across the land, little by little drawing Equestria into a darkness of her new Republic. Refusing all the while the day more, until she completely stopped it from coming.

Luna’s Lament would be turned into Lunacy

III. Raise the Sun

Forced to confront her sister, Princess Celestia challenged Princess Luna’s actions, pleading to her to end all the madness and return to the way things were. When this did not work, and the pony she once knew became the wicked Nightmare Moon, she was again pushed to act against all her heart and fight what was her sister.

Battling, and eventually defeating Nightmare Moon was not to be the end of the story, though the rest was buried to history and time. The soldiers of the Lunar Republic did not relent with their leader gone, and Princess Celestia had to call upon her own faithful ponies to combat the Bat Ponies still clinging to their master. Brave and loyal ponies of the two Princesses battled for their respective camps, across the seas and fields, from pony to parasprite, dragon and bird, all watching as the war raged on. Those victory of this struggle is well known, the story itself and all those who fought it is not. Silently, the Solar Empire again endured, but not without one last great battle.

Calling out “Raise the Sun” Princess Celestia’s warriors went into the fray.

IV. Battle of the Third Day’s Moon Rise

The final battle, the last push for those desperate to achieve for their Princess a defeat of the one who taken her from them. All lost to the annuls of time, and not even the mistress, Princess Luna, would know of these brave and bold champions to her lost cause. Holding their ground until the rise of the Full Moon, knowing that in the full light of their now imprisoned Princess they would turn the tide of their war. Sadly despite their efforts, they could not hold to the end of the third day.

The Bat Ponies, for all their noble loyalty, would be forgotten in time. Forever banished to their small, hidden lands of Hollow Shade. Over the long coming years of solitude, even they would start to forget their history. As the generations passed, and the new caring less for the previous, knowing only their fate to be left to themselves in their dark paradise and focusing on their own pleasures. They found little need to concern themselves with anything but the moment, almost forgetting that their was anything beyond their hidden woods.

The Battle of the Third Day’s Moon Rise, had set before the first ray ever shown.

V. In the Morning Mist

Alone for hundreds of years, Princess Celestia suffers the lingering memories of what she was forced to do, haunted by choices and regrets. She attempted looks into the future, as the images of Princess Luna stand in the corners of her foresight. The echoes of Nightmare Moon’s prophecy now more clearer than her lost sister’s voice whispering those gentle blessings. “Hush now, rest your head, off to sleep with thee” With each passing year, the risk of the return drawing the moment nearer.

Much has changed in Equestria, as new towns and cities grew like the people, and the pains of the past so far removed that old dangers seemed only like old mare’s tales. Hope seems that even a suspended threat still waiting this year’s longest day, could be no more than lost history to never be fulfilled. Passing like a bitter breeze, leaving but a shiver but no danger. However, Princess Celestia had become far more wise to such risks, and knew that if precaution was to be taken, effort must be made to ensure that her ponies would not suffer her neglect again. With the Elements of Harmony not but stones left to collect dust in her former, forgotten home, she had to seek another means to aid against a foe who nearly defeated her before. Hope seemed lost without the Elements, but yet a spark has called to her, and in the surprise of a young Unicorn, the future was clear to the Princess.

Taking a special interest in the young pony who held such great power, Princess Celestia presented the Unicorn with much to help shape her into her destiny. The young pony had what others dreamed of glimpsing, what others thought only legend, artifacts and records unknown to all but the Princess herself. She absorbed all this, still wanting more. Princess Celestia had found her champion, and a friend that would revive her expectations and dreams for a greater tomorrow.

VI. Heroes

Now it is time for the student to meet her own calling as Luna and Celestia once did before the Tree, as the moment long awaited arrived, and the mythic dread became reality once more. Nightmare Moon made good her promise, and returned in all her glory and fury. Equestria, refreshed in the name and all the fear it once invoked, was again bathed in an endless night. No Princess to stop the wicked mare, no Elements to challenge her. Equestria was doomed.

Six heroes would be there when the longest day of the year became the beginning of night time eternal, as Nightmare Moon returned to enact her revenge. As other coward, Twilight Sparkle rushes to act. Joining her boldness to act, Applejack charged in the truth of the cause, Rainbow Dash flew to loyalty’s call, Rarity graced the need with all her generosity, Fluttershy dared to show kindness in adversity, and Pinkie Pie boldly laughed at the challenge of wickedness. Together they made the trek to the Everfree Forest, each meeting challenges that showed their truest nature.

Every trial bested, and friendships forged, they made their way to the castle of the Royal Sisters. Their courage was the last chance for Equestria, and prove themselves the heroes needed. Sticking together they would get through the storm, knowing that the bonds developed in their quest would not shatter here.

Twilight Sparkle believe she alone was to undo the wicked acts, but in her foolish attempt, she nearly lost it all, but the comforting calls of her new friends seeking her awoke what was needed to revive the Elements of Harmony. The six young ponies had became Spirits of Harmony, and together won and defeating Nightmare Moon. Their work undid the damage a thousand years unmended, and freed Princess Celestia. Their efforts also returned Princess Luna to the light, and reunited two sisters.

All seemed well for Equestria now, with both Princesses and the Spirits of Harmony. The ponies of the land embraced their heroes and Princesses, surely ushering in the dawn of a new era of peace and Harmony…

“Now What kind of story would that be to read? Happy ponies, and friendships. Far too sickening a thought, if you ask me” The a figure lingers just beyond the sight of any peering eyes, his smooth and charming voice was tainted with twisted desire. “Let us be done with these preliminaries, and join in the chaos of an Equestria plunged into The Shatter Storm”

Author's Note

The first Track is a quick summery of the events that lead up to the main story. This is not the format of the story to come, just a compilation of stories to set up the rest of the Album.