The Emissaries

"A long time ago, there were three big continents. The first is the northern swamp where monsters are said to live and where no civilized creature can last. The second is the southern icy desert, uninhabited and hostile to life. The third was the largest. However, he had no name. There were two types of terrain on it: the northern meadowland and the southern area mostly consisting out of mountains and volcanoes. In the north, the first alicorns came to be. The residents were peaceful and used the magic they were given, as well as the natural resources to build their houses, plant fields and preserve nature. In the south, however, the dragons reigned supreme. They are aggressive and only accept strength. Born with one, two or even three heads, they quickly became aware of their superiority, as well as their greed for fighting and precious gems. For centuries, the multi-headed dragons fought, while the single-headed dragons had to work hard. But one day, ponies, explorer on a journey, entered their domain. For the first time there was agreement in the Dragonlands. The agreement over the idea to ensalve the ponies and make them the work force. A dragon named Kreng took advantage of this unity and challenged one dragon previously regarded as the leader of a group after the other. And in the end, when he defeated everyone, he proclaimed himself a warlord and founded the Dragon Empire. His first act: an attack on the peaceful ponies. With unprecedented brutality, the dragons raided the ponies, destroyed their homes, burned the land, enslaved them, and killed anyone who tried to resist. Soon there were no more free ponies and the once green country became a stone desert. The ponies worked day and night in the mines and on houses and palaces for their oppressors. Those who could no longer were grilled and eaten alive. All hope was lost for the alicorns. But one night seven alicorns appeared out of nowhere. They freed the other ponies and led them west, to the edge of the continent behind which the great sea began, feared by everyone. There, the seven alicorns showed their impressive power and raised a huge continent from the depths, larger, more fertile and greener than their old homeland. But soon the dragons caught up. The ponies had barely gotten used to their new home and freedom when the dragons suddenly invaded their country to massacre the ponies as punishment for their flight. But it didn't come to that. The seven alicorns, later known as 'The Ancients', challenged Kreng and his generals to a fight. If the Ancients won, the Dragon Empire had to leave and was never allowed to cross the border between grasslands and stone desert again. If the dragons won, however, the ponies would have returned to eternal slavery. Kreng and his generals accepted. Their struggle continued for three days and nights until the Ancients defeated the dragons and the Dragon Empire retreated. This was followed by millennia of peace. The alicorns built cities and were taught how to use their the magic to its fullest by the Ancients. The Ancients themselves lived in a floating castle with which they traveled across the country. But then, one day, the Dragon Empire attacked stronger and more brutally than before. With their new leader Warlord Magnor, they started a war against the alicorns. But this time the alicorns knew how to defend themselves with the newly created 'combat magic'. The war, which later became known as the Great War, lasted no less than 6,700 years before the Ancients managed to crush the entire dragon army at the Battle of Mount Olympus. Previously, an Ancient, the tailless Shadowcorn, enraged by the pain the dragons caused, immersed himself in the studies of dark magic, which eventually corrupted him and turned him into a monster with red eyes and black fur. Finally, in the last battle, he was completely lost and attacked both friend and foe. No one knows exactly what happened, but at the end of the battle, Warlord Magnor and most of his soldiers were dead and Shadowcorn was gone. While this battle didn't mean the end of the war or hostility, it did leave a void that was filled by the young dragon general, General Trion. This dragon general offered the ponies an armistice that continues to this day. Both dragons and ponies were tired of the war, which is why Trion entered both stories as a hero and received an impressive statue in both realms. He was also the first warlord to die a natural death more than 20,000 years later. A few years after the war, the remaining six Ancients disappeared without a trace. A millennium passed, in which the only mentionable event was an attempt to colonize another dimension. Though this failed because of a demonic being. One day a family of alicorns appeared, claiming to be direct descendants of the Ancients. It didn't take them long to convince the ponies it was the truth. The leader proclaimed himself king over the Alicorn Empire. For several generations they lived in luxury and ruled over the other ponies. But with all the power and luxury they were slowly being warped and finally became tyrannical. This caused the general of the royal guard to rebel. After a few years the time had finally come: the rebel leaders achieved their goal and managed to kill the king and queen. However, they couldn't catch their son Discorn. The general abolished the titles 'King and Queen' and replaced them with 'Crown Prince and Crown Princess', to which he and his wife were crowned. Their reign was calm. It was only during the reign of their son that the Alicorn Empire experienced something notable again: Once again a tailless pony could not resist the temptation of the dark magic and gave in. The pony, known from that day on as 'Shadowcorn', however disappeared the same night it surfaced. Millennia past. Then, a catastrophe shook the Alicorn Empire: The gate, which was once used to colonize the other dimension, opened and Discorn, believed dead, returned! With powers never seen before, he let us feel his revenge and put the Alicorn Empire in ruins! Not even the royal guards or the crown prince could stop him! Fortunately for us, a mysterious ray appeared that defeated Discorn and restored all damage. But there is no trace of Discorn. Many questions have arisen. But if our heroes' mission is successful, these questions will be answered soon."

A male, gray alicorn with a pince-nez, short black mane and tail, and a feather writing in a book as a Cutie Mark, put down his pen with which he had been writing in a book, closed the book and put it on the shelf. The cover said:

"Brief history of the Alicorn Empire for ponies with concentration problems"

Then he walked to the window to his left and looked out at the portal.

"Soon or not at all. We don't even know what gruesome creatures are lurking over there. Ignorance is an illness that needs to be eliminated. But sometimes ignorance is better than the price you have to pay to stamp it out. I hope they are alive and well. Even if the mission fails. With the current disputes between the dragons, we cannot allow the Crown Prince and the army to leave us."

The pony sighed and returned to his table, where he took an unwritten book and started writing something on the cover.