A Veiled Pilgrimage

Thousands of years ago, Equestria lived in Harmony.

No one knows what it was that changed the balance, for too much has been lost to time.

All that is known is that Twilight Sparkle alone emerged victorious. A sole ruler.

What kind of plan or scheme was it that she had enacted to separate and hunt down the other alicorns, one-by-one? Did they simply trust her? Did they even fight back? Was there a battle? Battles?

Historical accounts claim Celestia was the first to fall, being the one Twilight most wanted to make sure was dead for peace of mind and the biggest risk to her ambitions.

Second to fall was Luna, who must've become enraged upon learning of her sister's fate if she ever did.

Third to fall was Cadence, who had once considered herself a sister to Twilight.

Some accounts say that Twilight killed them out of greed for power, that she had somehow concocted a method for stealing their power in death. Others claim she simply wanted to rule alone, and dictate to the world without anyone being able to challenge her.

It was so stark of a contrast, that the very Princess of Friendship could become the most evil of them all, that many ponies had refused to believe it until the dark influences grew far and wide and the disappearance of all other alicorns were confirmed.

Twilight had announced to the world her victory, and ascendance to the high throne.

Then, thousands of years passed.

What this account will not tell you, is that there was also sacred treasures brought to be hidden by the very mare who saw to their final resting places. These treasures could not be destroyed, and they defied Twilight even after her great victory. Nor could they be used by her.

But that is all that could be said, really. No one knew of them anymore, except those who managed to avoid the imperious eye of the tyrant. Most were caught eventually, but even now, it had not been entirely snuffed out by cold touch of foul play.

That what was once called Equestria lay stagnant for millenniums now, yet hope still shined through like a seed sprouting through the fallen leaves on the forest floor, pushing them aside to make it towards the light. Yet for how large the forest was, how few of these seeds could exist?