Canterlot Castle's ornate marble halls glistened, gleaming floors reflecting frosty moonlight and shining on the stained glass window that depicted the Withholders of the Elements. Princess Celestia silently strode through the corridor, hooves barely clicking against the granite floors. The foyer was pitch black, causing Celestia to light her way with only the glow of a magic aura.
The alabaster alicorn continued forward, an intricate cobalt door drawing near. The entryway was guarded by two thickly armored stallions, a white pegasus and a gray unicorn. The two saluted the princess and pushed open the ancient door, standing tall and keeping a stoic expression.
Celestia glided into the dimly lit room, fumbling for the light switch. Her golden-slippered hoof bumped a knob, and the lights slowly shone brighter. In the center of the room, there was a tall glass table with a small vase set in the middle. Around the table were three chairs; one with a moon on the back, one with a sun, and one with a heart. The princess trotted towards her seat and waited patiently for her niece and sister to arrive.
It didn't take long for the two to trot into the room, each with a serious expression and a confident gait. After they had settled into their chairs, Celestia spoke.
"Sister, niece. I have gathered you here tonight to discuss an important matter," she spoke in a steady tone, even though she felt as if she would scream. "recently, our tribes have rebelled against eachother and are no longer assisting eachother in desperate times. Riots and violence has broken out. Why, I'm not sure."
There was a drawn out silence, Luna and Cadenza exchanging worried looks and mulling over the issue. Finally, Celestia was the first to speak again, choosing her words carefully and glancing at the two alicorns in front of her.
"Winter wrap up is approaching, and nothing will get done if the tribes don't work together." She looked concerned. Her hooves were folded defensively beneath her chest, making her look twice as small as she actually was. "We must reunite the tribes immediately-"
"Nonsense!" Princess Luna bellowed, slamming her hoof against the table and rattling the vase. "It is the tribes' own insolence that is causing this, not us! If they really must split up, let them discover their own moronic actions!"
"We're the rulers of Equestria!" Celestia shot back, voice louder than Luna's. "We can't just sit fat and happy while our beloved subjects starve to death! We must take action!"
"She has a point," Princess Cadenza mused, pressing a hoof to her muzzle. "Why poke a stick in a hornet's nest? If things get serious, we can help, but I'm sure the tribes splitting up won't stay permanent. They'll realize their foalishness and band back together. I say we each take a tribe."
Celestia realized this was not an argument she would win. "Since I am the eldest and have the most expirience with magic, I take the unicorn nation. They will be divided into three groups, the league, the legion, and the drove," Princess Celestia sighed, lowering her head and setting a hoof in the middle of the table.
"We must fly to the moon every night, so we shall be in charge of the pegasus tribe. The three groups shall be the flock, the swarm, and the brood. We shall protect them until the end," Luna spoke in a calm voice and moved her hoof to the center of the table, beside her sister's.
"I've foalsitted many earth ponies, and helped many bond from a fight. I shall be glad to help them. They will be in groups called the pack, the herd, and the clutch." Cadence pressed her hoof onto the glass table. The deal was set in stone.
"Cadence, Luna. Do you hereby promise to protect your nations to the end, even if it costs your life?" Celestia took both of the alicorns' hooves in hers.
"I do," they both said in a solemn tone. Celestia put down their hooves.
"Then the meeting is over. We shall meet at the end of every two weeks. White flags with your insignia will be raised if anything goes horribly awry. Do not raise them unless completely necessary." Princess Celestia rose to her hooves and strode out. Luna and Cadence did the same.
Little did they know, push would lead to shove, and not a single tribe would be left standing.
Faraway from Canterlot, nestled in the cozy town of Ponyville sat a mare cradling a small, pink pegasus filly with a fiery red mane and a long, silky tail. The foal curled against her mother, nuzzling into her coat as the mare sang to her.
"You were born with the horns of a ram on your head, I was born a maiden in a wildflower bed..." It was her favorite song when she was little, and she knew it by heart. The foal's hospital bracelet, in scrawled hoofwriting, read 'Damara'.
Off in dusty Fillydelphia, a lanky unicorn colt was born, same time as Damara in a fierce late-winter thunderstorm. He had a short mane that was teal as the ocean is deep, and a yellow coat that shone as bright as the sun. His name was Moonbeam, after his grandfather Moonshine, a famous cider brewer. He was quick to learn magic, only a day after he was born.
In busy Manehatten, an earth pony filly draws her first breath. She was generously built, and had strong legs to boot. She's Sapphire Drop, with bright cobalt fur, brash purple curls, and a certain fascination with the ice around a window in winter.
Although highly different from each other, these ponies would share an inseparable bond soon.
