Mother Nature is Disappointed
At the heart of Equestria was a forest, dense and dark with winding, well-lit paths that led to the castle town that acted as the trade capital of the kingdom. A castle of stone stood at the centre, spires reaching past the treetops as a beacon to wayward travellers while houses, businesses and small farms dotted the surrounding land ponydom had carved out for themselves with the deep, dark woods.
The night sky lit up with brilliant flashes of magic. Like fireworks, the air shone with the clash of titans, dark blue light pitted against shining gold as the guardians of Sun and Moon fought high above their proud pony city.
Their subjects hid within their homes, peering through their windows at the two gods that battled in the skies above. The aftershock of their mighty blows rung within the bones of their people, screaming of danger, of something far more powerful than the mere mortals that once saw them as protectors, as stalwart guides.
Now the people cowered, their fear sunk into the earth, carried by the wind, and soaked in starlight. Unease spread to every corner of the land, unsettled the mind of every mare, stallion, and foal as the kingdom waited with bated breath for the fighting to end.
And in some far-flung corner, hidden away by ancient magics the fear of the people, the anger of the gods, the unrest within Equestria touched the mind of something else.
Eyes like storm clouds snapped open as the great being’s attention was pulled to the conflict. From within a secluded meadow deep in the western mountains the ground rose and crumbled away revealing an ivory beast covered in a fine layer of moss.
A lion-like head turned skyward, feathered wings snapped open, and powerful legs launched the ancient creature into the air. With a flap of its wings, the force of it kicking up dust and clumps of grass, the beast took flight.
It flew without rest, the world below passing in flashes of colour too indistinct to make out the myriad of settlements that no doubt lay scattered upon the surface of the world. Specks of light dotted the horizon, distant, brief flashes of colour that slowly got larger as the beast neared. Wingbeats slowed into a glide as a blob of grey became a castle and the flashes were deadly, powerful blasts of magic.
A snap of its wings sent it rocketing forward, claws outstretched it snatched up a speck of white in one talon and a spot of black in the other.
The Beast of The Eternal Earth stared down at the two deities disapprovingly as she hovered in the air. Two mares, one white with an ever-moving mane of an aurora, and her counterpart as dark as night with a starry mane both looked on in tense, terror- filled silence.
The great beast blinked, it spotted a mountain nearby and landed atop it, its audience still grasped in its claws.
“Release us!” The Night commanded once the shock and terror had faded. “You have no right to interfere!”
With a raised brow at the sheer arrogance this mare was exhibiting, the creature spoke, voice as soft as a gentle breeze.
“I was summoned,” it said as it sat on its haunches, serpentine tail coiling around its feet. “Or were you not aware of the deal made ‘tween the heavens and earth?”
“Deal?” The Day echoed, confused for a moment. “Just who are you?”
A blink, a heartbeat was all it took for it to understand.
“Ah, so I am truly forgotten then…” the creature said tiredly. “I don’t know why I am so surprised, most that walk this world are indeed of the fleeting sort… But to answer your question Little Sun, I am A Fact of this world, an entity interwoven into the very fabric of creation, a stable pillar of the natural forces,” it explained while The Night still struggled against its grip. “You of Sun and Moon have sown fear into the hearts of your people, the skies tremble with the power of your barely restrained might, The Great Darkness cries out in agony at the shift your conflict brings…”
“…Balance must be restored, so I have awoken to quell this needless fighting… as I have always done since time began their endless march ever onward” it stated.
“Needless?” The Night huffed. “I was denied my due, my respect! All while she frolics with our subjects without a care in the world!”
“And what do you expect me to do?” The Day shot back, both mares now glaring at each other. “We cannot make our ponies love you, Luna! You can’t force them to live with eternal night!”
“Do not call me that!” The Night hissed.
A growl rumbled from the beast, the two gods remined of their predicament, looked away from one another and The Day looked properly ashamed while The Night looked bitter, waiting for another chance to tear into the white mare once more.
The beast took a moment to observe the two as it thought over the situation, it knew little of the world, only the faint traces and whispers left behind by magics long lost to time, but these two were immortal, time and age meant nothing to them, and perhaps, time was what was needed.
“Neither of you are fit to return to your duties,” it decided. “The Sun and Moon shall continue as they always have, and the two of you shall be no better than your people ‘til you have grasped the nature of your error.”
“What? No!” The Night exclaimed, horn lighting up with magic that splashed harmlessly off the beast’s body like water off a duck’s back.
“Yes,” it said with an air of finality. “Reflect upon what has led to this, on what you should not have done and when you understand that and why, I may permit you some small portion of your old privilege…”
It cast an equally serious look at The Day, who was already wilting and resigned to her fate. “Do not think you are blameless in this grievous misuse of divinity, Little Sun. Both you and Little Moon bear the responsibility of your actions both before and during this incident.”
As it placed the two of them on the ground, they winced in unison, and the symbols of their power and divine rights separated from their flanks to remain in the talons of the beast. The ponies stumbled as they adjusted to the loss of their gifts, and it wondered why these two saw themselves so highly.
Their job had been done before, with far less importance, by those far less inclined to disturb the natural way of things. But it supposed that such things were a part of the natural course when mortals were the ones to claim the power of the heavens.
Mortals were such strange, lively creatures.
“W-what about our subjects?” The Day asked.
“Hm?” the beast peered down at her, amused. “I only took away your right to command the heavens, your mortal bound oaths are still yours to perform.”
“Ha!” The Night crowed. “I may have lost the night dear sister, but I can still take the throne!”
“Are you quite certain?” it asked. “Your people may disagree with both of you… The eras of this world are bound by the whims of the mortal soul, you who have inspired fear and endangered the safety of those under your care may find no welcome waiting for you.”
As The Night stormed away, horn sparking uselessly as she tried to call upon her magic, The Day looked up at the great beast apprehensive.
“…And if you are to be our judge, jury, and executioner… What do we call you?” she asked.
It smiled, baring teeth that glittered like diamonds, what name to use this time? There were too many to choose from, and it as it rifled through its memory of the many names and titles it had gained over time, one stuck out to it.
“A name… yes I suppose I should go by something… Hestet. You shall know me as Hestet,” it replied and looked at the mare pointedly. “Now run along Little Sun, you have much to make up for and much to ponder.”
Author's Note
So, not doing so well, bit sore, bit stressed, but I just opened a word doc and tried writing something. This was the result, not my best, not my worst either, but I just like the idea of something very old and very alien just waking up to something and going "No, stop that."
As for the name? it's a combination of Bastet and Hestia. The Beast is a sort of lion-dragon-golem thingy... Fun fact: The document is labelled Moss Sphinx Dragon Thingy.
