Forests, mountains, fields, settlements, it was all coming together to form a landscaped that told nothing but grim reality and wasted potential for peace and harmony. Embers still burning atop of the fallen trees, dried up rivers with aquatic creatures struggling, begging to extend their last seconds of living and ponies helpless stuck in caves and dwellings, praying to their newly crowned princess for salvation so they can once again enjoy living on their land under the glory of her sun. Equestria was becoming a wasteland.

*CRASH*

Another tower collapsed as the lunar part of the diarchy crashed into it, her shield protecting her from any more major damages. Celestia's glare quickly changed from one of concern for her sibling to that of determination as her head whipped back to the ruthless creature which dared to lay such waste to their home.

"You have forsaken reason, refused diplomacy and reduced our sanctuary to ash!" Celestia roared, her wings proudly carring her higher and higher into the sky, "You leave me but one choice!".

The tyrant rested his double sided weapon, causing the ground below it to bend under its weight. A scoff escaped him, rattling the horryining iron armor he took so much pride in, "Hmph! I've lost count of how many times you've said that by now, your highness!".

"Enough!" she shouted, a ring of pure magic forming around her.

"Oh please, another shockwave? Or is it some sort of beam this time?" he mocked her, recalling all her previous attacks that failed oh so miserably against his mighty form.

The princess did not respond, her mind fully focused on the magic's natural flow. Shapes began taking place withing the ring, various symbols representing different values of Celestia's equine society. Laughter, loyalty, honesty, generosity, kindness and magic!
Gifts of unity given to them by the magic of harmony itself... the Element of Harmony were by her side.

"Long enough have you walk this land without opposition, striking fear, terror and hopelessness into the heart of creatures who were yet to wrong you!" her voiced echoed through the air, passing her judgement onto the malevolent being that stood underneath her.

"This aura... what are you doing, dear princess?" the tyrant intrigued, his eyes narrowing underneath the heavy helmet.

"Now... let this world's harmony decide your fate!" came Celestia's shout.

The ring of pure harmony collapsed in on itself, quickly reforming itself into one singular point of condensed energy. With a gutteral yell from her majesty, it fired a blinding beam into the sky, piercing the gray clouds the plagued it for days. The armored being looked up, a expression of curiosity forming under his helmet as the laser went far beyond anycreature's field of vision.

"Ha! All that talk just to misfire? Honestly, I'm a little offended because you seem to be treating my conquest with very little respect for m-"

*ZAP*

The iron tyrant's irritated accusations were cut short as a painful stream of rainbow filled his vision. He had foolishly lowered his guard, something like an airstrike never crossing his mind as a thing those alicorns could be capable of. It was of no issue however, he managed to withstand things much worse than sume puny rainbow. All he had to do is lift his all-powerful mace and... he could not move his arms. With a ping of uneasiness, he looked over and saw his limbs turning to stone one by one. His eyes widened, panic and denial rushing through his system.

"What?! N-no, what is this?!" his voice tore through the beam's deafining flow, reaching Celestia who frowned at his inevitable demise.

"It's over, your fate has been decided!"

"How dare you-" the stone was now reaching his neck, its progress only speeding up with each part of his armor that it swallowed, "this can't- argh!".

"CELESTIAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!" he roared, hoping to fill the princess's heart with terror.

Celestia gazed down upon the scorched land where the fearsome tyrant roamed mere moments ago and where a massive statue now stood. Harmony's powers slowly faded, letting her descend upon the rubble that was once her and Luna's palace. That's right, Luna! The princess of the sun turned on her hindlegs, galloping towards the place her sister was burried under. Just as she reached the pile of debris, the younger alicorn bursted out of her imprisonment.

"T-Tia! Are you alright?!" she questioned with deep concern.

Luna's sister enveloped her in a tight hug, burrying her head in her mane, "I should be the one asking that, dear sister..."

Returning the hug, the two alicorns felt relief wash over their bodies. It was done. The tyrant of iron was gone, sealed away by harmony itself. Equestria would live to see the sun switch places with the moon once more.

"Tia?"

"Mhm?"

"I know we are celebrating but..." Luna's gaze swept through Celestia's side of the table, countless plates that used to host variety of sweets now laid empty, their sugary goodness having server their purpose (a little too well, she thought).

The white alicorn looked down at her collection of porcelain and silverware, all stained with sugar. She swallowed the most recent piece of Royal baking team's delicious triple-layered cake and waved her hoof dismissively, "Oh please, sister! I haven't gone past my usual limit... that much", a rumble escaped her stomach, forcing the princess to give her sister a sheepish smile.

Shaking her head, Luna's eyes narrowed at the display of shameless gluttony, "Uh-huh, yes... as always, sister..."

The ocassion for such reckless indulgence was ofcourse the celebration of anniversary of Twilight Sparkle's coronation. A whole year has passed since the Legion of Doom carried out their assault of Equestria, striking fear, terror and mistrust in ponies and creatures from all the lands. Such event, the destruction... it seemed familiar. Too familiar...

"Is something wrong, Tia?"

Snapping back from her thoughts, Celestia noticed the puzzled expression on Luna's face. She gently cleared her throat, making sure any lasts bits of cake went down the right pipe and reassured her sister, "Of course Luna, just jogging my memories a little".

"Any interesting ones in there?" a slightly tired voice asked from their side.

Turning their heads, the former princesses were greeted by Twilight's beaming but noticeably worn-out smile. Poor dear must've been so busy. Just a few years ago Celestia and Luna had to split the attention of the ponykind between themselves, each getting their own fill of addoration and resposibilites. Now thought, Twilight had all that spotlight on herself and it was showing.

"Oh, it's just old history, your majesty" she joked, still admiring the journey her ex-pupil went on to become who she is now.

"JUST old history?" Twilight questioned sarcastically, "My passion for learning had not changed since becoming a princess, I'll have you know, pri- I mean, Celestia!"

The two sisters chuckled with Celestia slowly getting up from her seat, "Old habits die hard, do the not?" she smiled warmly, looking down at the princess.

The night was still young when the gathered alicorns agreeded to take a stroll and catch eachother up on recent happenings. What more was there to do but enjoy their company? Equestria had faced and thriumped over all the evils that once stood against it.
Peace and quiet were the two main nouns used to described their home now, just how Celestia had always hoped.

"Ah, darn it..."

Ground Digger swore, his hooves holding yet another broken relice he had just dug up. It's been 4 hours since he and his team descended the ravine near the Castle of the Two Sisters. This was suppose to be their golden ticket to the hall of fame as archeologists. Only issue was, instead of said ticket, all they found were broken vases, worndown paintings, old books destroyed by countless rains and overall misery everywhere one would look.

"Boss, the others are getting hungry, should we leave for today?" asked Trivial Matter, concerned by his co-workers' hungry groans.

"Can't ya eat down here?" came Digger's cold reply.

"We left the lunchboxes near the campsite above..." Trivial stated, hint of hesitation present in his voice.

"What? Who's idea was that?!" Digger raised his voice.

"Y-yours, sir..." stuttered Trivail.

He facehoofed. Of course it was.

"Alright, fine! I'll stay here for a couple of minutes, y'all go ahead and prepare the grub, understand?" commanded the stallion, making Trivial Matter nod in haste and rush off towards the others, bearing good news as well as boss's grumpy mood.

Now alone, Digger looked around the pitch-black part of the ravine, only his oil-lamp providing any means of illumination. As he was ready to give up, maybe scoop up a few more broken handles and plates on his way back, a hand reached out and tripped his hoof. Falling muzzle-first into the damp ground below, his heart rate shot sky-high as his eyes darted around to the monstrosity that was surely already munching on his hindlegs. What he found instead was just a stone fragment sticking out a ground, resembling
a armored glove of some kind.

"Piece a rock, don't scare me like that, would ya?" said the boss as he got up to his full height and began inspecting the finding. Over the next few seconds his panic died down, puzzlement faded and all that was left was hope. His eyes dazzled with stars, his golden ticket was once again within his reach! The hand wasn't just a piece of a broken art installation, no. It felt heavy, only a few brushes from his shovel revealing that it was still connected to something bigger underneath.

"Bingo..." Digger whispered with a satisfied grin. Turning around, he looked up to the top of the opening they all descended from and shouted: "Aye, boys! We got a hit over here! Send the unicorns and drop the ropes, we're pulling it out!"

It didn't take long for the whole team to redouble their efforts, the effects of which began showing fruit a mere hour later. After some careful removal of the ground, a few spells to check the finding's stability and a nod from Digger himself, the statue was lifted using ropes and placed where the ground wasn't soaked. Once standing at its full height, the stone creation was easily triple average pony's height, possibly even overshadowing the former princess of the sun.

That was only the height, however, as the main design of this creature was even more eye-opening. Ragged and unsymmetrical armor with a dozen or so engravings etched into its surface. A helmet that borea striking resemblance to a pony's skull with some spiked and uneven halo behind it, seemingly hanging by thin air. One last part of this creature's intimidating presence was the large double-sided mace that it was clenching in its right hand, the size of which almost matched the being's own height.

That was it. Their fame, luxury and recognition, all trapped within this stone prison. While his muzzle only showed a smug smirk, on the inside Ground Digger was jumping from joy like a little colt. Finally, his efforts and dreams were going to become a reality. 'There! That's what you get for not believing in me, father!', he thought to himself.

"Alright, begin railing it in!" Digger's orders sounded throughout their rocky surroundings, "Oh, and unicorns, secure it from the bottom in case the ropes break! We need that thing in mint condition..."

With Ground Digger ascending to the surface and the unicorns taking their job as done, the statue was left in the hooves of the crewmates above as it carefully and with grace made its way to the surface. If only there was a pony to notice that the cracks, that were previously thought to be just the effect of time's passage, were now growing larger with each pull...

Author's Note

Hi and hello!
From the very start, this isn't going to be a weekly or bi-weekly story, I'll update it when I have the time to do so.
I created this story as something I can always go back to just to write something with less grandure and more for the fun of it. That said, I do have 2 more chapters ready to wrap up this introduction mini-arc.
Love you all and thank you for reading my stories so far!