A quiet sigh of contentment escaped from the lips of the tall white alicorn as she watched the sun set on the second day of peace after the escape of Discord. The sight of him reminding the immortal Celestia of ages long past. Before the recorded time of the new world. The beginning of the age of harmony. Though hundreds or possibly thousands of years had passed the scars of that time had still not fully healed.
As the princes wandered down long forgotten pathways of memory while watching the sunset, the doors to her room swung open on well-oiled hinges. From the shadow beyond the doorway stepped a midnight blue alicorn with a mane of stars wearing the features of sadness and concern as she approached the contemplative princess of the day. Sitting next to her the two watched the last rays of the sun dance across the sky. They talked. Not with word but emotions. Small movements and looks as they both walked down the pathways of memory reliving moments of great sadness, of joy, pain, and despair, but most importantly love of one long lost.
When the last rays of the sun vanished Luna stood, a tear escaping from her eye she looked toward her sister and finally spoke.
“Let us not cry sister for we both know that is the last thing he would wish. He did it all for us and the rest of pony kind. So we could live in this world of balance and harmony. His sacrifice gave us all the life he could never have, so let us not cry but rejoice for the world he has given us."
Celestia gave a sad smile and lifted her head. The tears that were shed having left dark steaks in her ivory white fur.
“You're right but I just wish more would remember him so they could rejoice with us."
“You know that cannot be sister but there is always the old man if you truly wish to have someone to rejoice and remember with."
“Yes but it has been so long even he might have forgotten, besides I don't want to bother him at such a late hour."
“I doubt that matters, he was never one to be upset at late night visits especially seeing as how we never visit him any more to begin with. I think he would just be happy to see you and not from the back of a crowd."
“Perhaps you're right but still I worry."
“Do as you will but I would feel better knowing you are not alone this night. I know as well as any how grief can damage ones soul."
She left that last comment to hang in the air with a weight made heavy by the experience of true loss, Luna flew off the balcony into the night leaving Celestia to ponder the advice.
****************************************
Meanwhile in a small town far off to the edge of the Everfree forest a purple unicorn with a stripe of pink running through her mane was busy turning a the Golden Oaks Library upside-down.
CRASH
“Where is it? There has to be something here about it. Spiiiiiiike!”
“I can’t find anything Twilight and we’ve checked every section, on every shelf in the library. There’s just nothing here other than the normal reference saying what every pony is taught in school. What he as a statue represents.”
“That can’t be, he has been around for hundreds of years and the only information on him is what he represents. I can’t believe that, there has to be something more on him somewhere. His origins, his true weakness, turning him to stone worked for a while last time. But we’re going to need a more permanent solution if we don’t want to have a repeat of what just happened the other day. He’s too dangerous to leave unchecked.”
“Twilight you’re stressing out too much over this. Besides from the look of things you would have needed to live as long as he has to know anything more about him and to do that you’d have to be practically immortal”.
“Immortal...Immortal... that’s it Spike you’re a genius! Princess Celestia might be able to give me more information. She’s immortal which means she might have been around almost as long as he has. She has got to know more than what she told us when we went to fight him. Spike take a letter”.
“Yes m m maaaaaaam”.
The last sentence was punctuated with a yawn as the young dragon’s eyes began to droop. The involuntary display was not lost on Twilight as she realized the sun had gone down. When she looked out the window she saw that the moon was approaching its zenith.
“Well we have been up all night. Let’s go to bed Spike, I can contact the princess tomorrow. With that the pair went up the stairs to their respective beds. Spike’s head touched the pillow and within five second flat he was snoring. Twilight had a bit more trouble falling asleep. Her mind still whirling with the mystery of the chaotic being called Discord. Where did he come from? Why did he have so much power? More importantly was there any way to truly stop him? Eventually sleep over took the young mare as she drifted off into a fitful sleep.
~~~
It was approaching late afternoon when the train pulled into Canterlot. A city of ancient history, and stunning architecture, with buildings as old as the Renascence era. Many of which were still standing in all their gothic glory as a testament to the resilience of the city. This sight combined with the sight of the royal palace standing proudly in the distance with its tall gracefully curving spires of pure marble and gilded turrets was truly a sight to awe any pony who had never seen it before. It did its job quite well as the ponies began to file off the train. Those who were used to the extravagance of the city (for it was their daily lives) simply grabbed their luggage and continued on, smirking with their noses up in the air.
"Tourists."
A few of the passengers did not even go to claim luggage. They simply got off with a couple of saddlebags they had brought onboard with them. One such passenger was a purple unicorn with one stripe of pink running through her violet mane.
"Hmm so the princess said to meet her at a mask shop in the market district called Masquerading at six tonight. But it’s only noon. That means I have plenty of time to check the royal library for any information they have on Discord until my meeting with the princess".
Twilight muttered to herself as she wandered through the station still going over a list hovering in front of her. When she finished with it she promptly tucked it in her bag and hailed a taxi, with a whistle that would do any Manehattenite proud. As the carriage pulled up the stallions pulling it asked the fair mare.
"Where to lady?”
“The Canterlot Royal library.”
They were off racing down the roads and back alley ways until they arrived at her destination. She hoofed over a few bits before the carriage quickly turned away and took off. Looking up at the building she now stood in front of Twilight paused to marvel at the building. The Canterlot royal library was a massive building with centuries of knowledge stored under a single roof of polished bronze. Every part of the building bespoke of history long past. Engraved marble columns framed either side of the door way spiraling from the floor up to the overhang of the roof. The engravings were that of vines carved into the marble in such a way as to make them look like the leafy vines of stone were an independent object resting on the surface of the stone. Above the massive building’s door arch on the ledge of the roof supported by the columns was an engraved mural of the two royal sisters. Similar details covered the building from top to bottom. Many were now indistinguishable due to the passage of time. Letting out a happy sigh Twilight entered and there she stayed searching top to bottom for more information on the mysterious figure called Discord. She looked for something, anything more than just a reference to him as the avatar of discord and chaos.
As the sun set its light played in the atmosphere painting colors across the sky like an errant child refusing to go to bed. A taxi carriage could be seen leaving the royal library and a slumped figure riding within.
“I can’t believe it I searched the entire royal library and still nothing, how can this be? OK Twilight just calm down you were expecting this, that’s why you’re meeting the princess tonight. But why at a simple mask shop in town? I wonder what’s so special about it?”
This continued while the stallions pulling the carriage shook their heads as they continued onward to the market district. Into an older part of town were the buildings changed from stone and painted beauty to a more simple design of bricks and wood. Various stalls and shops dominated the street but most were closing up for the night. Here the carriage had to slow down to a near standstill to avoid equestrian foot traffic. Twilight stuck her head out and began shouting.
“What’s the holdup?”
We’re in the market. There’re too many ponies in the way for us to go any faster, sorry lady”.
“Oh that’s OK I’ll walk from here, thanks boys.”
“Right.”
Twilight proceeded to pay the stallions before she said continued on foot looking for this mysterious mask shop. The sight of the market district never ceased to amaze Twilight. The hustle and bustle was a sight to behold even at this late hour. Ponies rushing back and forth. Vendors hawking their goods. Store fronts crowded with window shoppers all looking into what the store had to offer ogling the gems, dresses, shoes, and loafers. All of this sound and energy in one place. Accompanied with the discordant music of doors opening and closing, bells ringing, and the clop of hooves on pavement. All in all a rather interesting sound to say the least. Twilight mused on this to herself.
“Hmm I wonder if this can be considered the shoppers sonata, or maybe the bargain hunters’ symphony?”
With these thoughts she let a quick snort and a short laugh. She continued her musing as she walked along until the crowed thinned and she found the building she was looking for. A small two story shop sandwiched in-between two others. All of them made out of plain smooth planks of wood, weather sealed and worn with time. Above the door hung a modest sign consisting of a banner carved into a large wooden oval with two masks underneath of happiness and distress. The two masks of theater and drama.
The entryway was big enough that even the tall alicorn princess Celestia could fit through easily. A simple window was on the left side of the door like that of a house. But there were no display windows or even anything to advertise what the shop was selling inside. As Twilight studied it she noticed that all the ponies of the late night crowed passed right by it as if they couldn't see it or as if it didn't exist.
“But then how can they not see it? It’s not like its hiding or anything, then again I guess there is not much call for masks unless its nightmare night or a masquerade ball is going on at the palace. All I need to do is wait for the princess, I guess I might as well wait inside.”
With that she took a deep breath and stopped. She exhaled and berated herself.
“It’s just a mask shop why should I be nervous?”
She gave out a sharp quick laugh and walked up to the door. The door swung open easily, quietly, and shut just as softly behind her. Oddly enough this unsettled her more than if it had been creaky and slammed shut. Looking into the shop it was surprisingly spacious with a wide open center floor ringed by a counter in a U shape. Masks lined the walls and shelves. Some were just hanging. They were arranged in a way that was both chaotic and orderly, at the same time. The variety was astounding. There were masks of all sorts ranging from the tribal ones much like in Zacora’s hut, to beautiful feathered ones made of gold and studded with diamonds. There were even some made for nightmare night designed to look like skull or ghouls or beasts. The overall effect was awe inspiring, overwhelming, and intimidating at the same time. It was a shop unlike anything she had ever seen before. But at the same time nothing new. It both put her on edge and at ease. But the most overwhelming sensation was that of curiosity. She proceeded farther into the shop until she heard a soft rumbling that stopped her dead in her tracks. Looking around she could not see the source of it, neither could she see the owner. As this thought struck her she said loudly.
“He.. helooooo any pony there?”
No reply so she repeated louder this time.
“Hellooo is there any pony here?”
This time she got a reply but not in the way she expected.
“snrk hu waaaa.”
This was followed shortly by a loud crash and several masks falling off the wall into a heap atop of the pony that fell from the support beams above.
The earth pony had a light blue almost white coat, and a mane of varying shades of reddish brown. Spiked back into a long sweep with one large lock resting on his forehead. He wore a golden mask on his face accompanied by a goatee the same color as his mane. He stood up quickly sending masks flying back onto their shelves while the golden one stayed on his face. The mask he was wearing had two eye slots spaced wrong for any normal pony, one above the other on the left side of his face. While the other half had a gem shaped star framed by a crescent moon on the right. With one leg resting up on the counter he said with a smile.
“Welcome to my shop I’m the owner of Masquerade, how may I help you today?”
“Ummm okay first things first I got a question.”
“Yes?”
“How did you send all those masks flying onto the shelves without being a unicorn?”
“Ancient pony secret.”
“What? That makes no sense.”
His only reply was a grin followed by a very puzzled expression accompanied by a new mask of dark blue with swirls of white. Instead of a moon and star on the right side there were three question marks. As he stared behind her, what caught her attention first was the new mask.
“How did you...?”
Then she looked behind her and saw what had caused the look of surprised to him. Princess Celestia had just walked in. Then something that truly sent poor Twilight through a loop was the blur of light blue and red that sped past her and hugged the princess then said.
“Well I’ll be it’s great to see you little one.”
“And you as well old man it has been far too long.”
“I’ll say. But what brings you here now?”
“Do I need a reason to visit an old friend?”
“No and I appreciate the thought and visit but we both know that’s not the reason. We both know it involves that poor confused student of yours over there.”
“How did you know she was my student?”
“Ancient pony secret.”
And with that they both burst out laughing, the princess musical and soft, his rough and loud. It wasn't long before Twilight interrupted.
“Will some pony explain what going on and why his mask keeps changing!?”
The owner of Masquerade was the first to reply.
“Well you see girl the mask will be explained along with the reason you both are here I’ll wager. But I think I’ll let the princess do the explaining first. Seeing as how I will have my fair share of talking soon enough.”
Masquerade looked toward the princess. She nodded and proceeded.
“You see Twilight things are not always as they seem. I’m sure you’ve noticed that there is no mention of Discord’s origins in any books or documents in the libraries in Equestria. That’s because no pony knows except me, my sister, and one other pony. That’s because his story is accompanied with another. The origin of the elements of harmony. I brought you here today because my version and my sister’s version are tainted with memory loss and personal feelings. That’s why when you wrote to me I told you to come here. For you see, the only other one who knows the story is standing right next to me. I’d like you to meet the pony Luna and I call uncle, his name is Timeless.”
With this last statement Masquerade removed his ever changing mask. His fur’s color changed to that of his mane and his mane turned to sparkling sand running ever downward only to disappear before it hit the floor. His eyes were swirling vortexes of history with hourglass pupils and his cutie mark of theater masks and scrolls disappeared only to be replaced by an hourglass in the shape off the symbol of infinity. But on top of it all the part that left Twilight confused was the fact that this pony was still hornless and wingless. A simple earth pony that radiated waves of ancient power and a kindly smile. He was no bigger than before. Holding his head high he spoke in the voice of a story teller with experience.
“I aim to tell you the full story. I am a keeper of memories immortal and true. I watched it all and even had a small part to play. But that will all be revealed in time for now it grows late and the air cold. Let us retreat to the back near the fire and I shall tell you a tale lost to the flows of history.”
Twilight did not know what to make of this but she would not let the princess down so to the back of the shop they went. Twilight found herself inside of a cozy sitting room with books lining the walls. Two chairs and a couch were arranged in a semicircle around a rug with the fireplace at the head. Taking the chair closest to the fire Timeless settled in and waited for everyone else to follow suit. Twilight took the other chair while Celestia lay on the couch. All eyes turned to him and the room seemed to darken until it was only them. He looked over his two guests and began.
“To know the story of Harmony’s great enemy Discord one must hear the story of a simple Pony, a unicorn of little power. With a talent for blacksmithing and various crafts from the metals and gems dug up from the earth. This stallions name was Grey Rain and his time was that of a time before harmony.”
“His time is a time when princess Celestia and Luna were still young fillies at the ages of five and three when he found them. He was a kindly soul with not an ounce of cruelty in him. But in all of us is buried something dark that sometimes can surface in the worst of ways. Back in his time there was no harmony in the earth, sea, or sky. The sun and moon raised themselves. The plants grew without control worse than that of the Everfree forest, where every day was a struggle just to stay alive. Magic was utter chaos filling the planet with pockets of magic so intense the formed vortexes visible to the naked eye glowing and warping anything that touched them.”
The Beginning
The truth is you don't know what is going to happen tomorrow. Life is a crazy ride, and nothing is guaranteed.
The air rang with the sound of steel, shaping, forming, groaning, changing, and becoming one with its destined form. Then a hissing clash of fire and water, as the metal ticked and popped underneath the surface of the burning water, settling and finalizing its shape. This is the music of the forge. A sound more satisfying symphony the grizzled stallion had not found. But today the music was off not its usual pure ringing when he struck. But the dull clang of steel that was forced into the form it now resides in. A form so repulsive is sickened him to even look at it. But unless he was to draw attention to himself Rain had to fix the weapon. Levitating it in front of him he inspected the weapon.
The blade was of the duel crescent variety. Used by the unicorns not powerful enough to summon their own magic blade. So instead they crafted magic swords with a curved cruel blade on each end. So that when levitated and spun it created nothing short of a buzz saw. Effective but messy. The worst part was the fact that it did little more than dismember an opponent causing them to feel unimaginable amounts of pain in the grisly process. Then the shock and the stare. With their limbs gone and nothing more than a bleeding stump remaining. It was a slow death no matter how fast they were killed for when trauma like that happens the world sharpens and slows, as you see the still spinning blade cut through your loved ones …
Bang!!
The sound of the door being slammed open pulled Rain out of his dark memories. A burly obviously drunk unicorn stumbled in. Followed by two others all of them were laughing loudly. Wearing the royal colors of the mystic empire's knights . The leader stumbled up then more-or-less fell onto the counter. Looking over it and yelling at the soot stained grey unicorn with the black main. “hey smithy I’m here to pick up my glorioush weapon.” Rain kept his face impassive as he walked up to the counter with the wicked weapon floating next to him and said. “before you get it back I will require the agreed upon payment.”
“You doubt the wordsh of a royals knight?”
“No I just require payment for services rendered as with any business.”
“You should jussht be honored that a royal knight even graced this small town obscure pissant blacksmithy for repairs your oing the empire a feavor.”
The only reply the knight got was a gaze reminiscent of the metals that Rain worked on. Hard, impassive hazel eyes and a stubborn frown tucking at the corners of his mouth. After a minute or two of this the knight grumbled, his horn lighting up with the aura of his magic. A small coin pouch levitated onto the counter. This was quickly whisked away. The cruel blade was dropped unceremoniously on to the counter. Rain then turned away and proceeded back towards his forge. However the knight was far from through with him. Angry and with his mind clouded in a haze of alcohol the knight shouted.
”Insolence! You will treat a knight of the royal unicorn army of the magic empire with proper respect.”
With that the knight used his magic to throw a small but rather heavy brass bell that Rain kept on the counter for his customers to use so that they might get his attention when he was in back. The bell flew through the air striking the smith right behind the ear with a loud clang and with a thump Rain fell unconscious.
Dreams are a curious thing that are said to have the ability to give one glimpses of the future or allow one to visit loved ones long dead. Unfortunately for Rain his dream involved the second option. His dream was that of the past of the day his wife and family was killed.
It was a beautiful day and the sun was high. Birds were singing. Various wild flowers and grasses were blooming. Nature was in perfect balance that day. As if to say, “I defy you” to a chaotic world. His village was alive, the small mixed population was excited because today was the day the roving traders arrived on their rout to the neighboring kingdoms. And of course the market was set up in the center of town, and chocked with the various stalls and bodies of the pony’s that greeted the travelers to haggle and sell their wares. The only pony who wasn't there was Rain. Never one for large crowds he only went to see the traders if he needed metals. His wife had gone off with his mother and father to see the market and greet the traders so he had the forge to himself, and since the caravans had not arrived yet that meant he had no orders at the moment. Walking to the back corner of his shop where a lone barrel stood with various pieces of scrap metal sticking out of the top. He carefully pushed it to the side revealing a small section of loose board on the wall. Gently pushing it aside revealed a small box of wood trimmed with gold leaf. He gently picked it up and took it to the forge.
Opening the small clasp and flipping the lid up, one could see the inside was a collection of gears, springs, and a single figurine entwined in the arms of another. The first was a mare of a light golden fur and copper mane with a bronze rose tucked in her hair. Wearing a dress made of ivory embroidered with tiny strands of silver wire. Then enchanted so as to flow around her as the figurine moved, imitating the flow of silk. The other figurine was a grey unicorn with a black mane. He was dressed in simple red vest with a shirt that had a bit of lace at the throat and around the base of the sleeves. Together they stood embracing each other on a small platform. Rain looked at the figurines remembering the night of the dance.
The grace and delicate beauty as she danced. Golden Grace could have gotten any stallion she wanted, if she wanted any. Having rejected dances from every suitor that had asked her, she danced across the room alone she stopped in front of a single gray unicorn. With a mane of black standing alone next to a window holding and adjusting a delicate rose of bronze. He was lost in thought as he watched her approach. Nervous and fidgeting he never once took his eyes off of her. Hooves and horn always busy adding ever more details to the little bronze rose. Here in front of this lone shy unicorn she stopped. She looked him over top to bottom her eyes settling on the delicate rose with tooling and embroidery on every petal and leaf, not unlike his cutie mark. It gave the small sculpture of bronze a life of its own. Looking back up into those hazel eyes she gave a gentle smile and held out a hoof before asking this plain, rough unicorn to dance. All he could do was blink surprise. He was still speechless when she gave that delicate smile one more time. Then snatching the rose out of his hand she tucked it in her mane right behind her ear and led him to the center of the dance floor. There they danced, never saying a word just swaying to the music and spinning ever so softly, looking into each other’s eyes.
When the dance ended they walked out side by side into the garden. Under the full moon, talking softly to each other and looking at the stars. They slowly walked towards town until they reached the edge of the city. There they stopped on a rise overlooking the city. Then there under the moon and stars she kissed him. The world seemed to stop, and fade until there was nothing but the two of them and that moment.
He was wrenched out of the memory by a scream in a familiar voice from outside. Dropping the music box he ran outside. Looking down the street only to see flames and smoke peaking above the buildings from the direction of the town center. “Grace” he uttered not stopping to think he ran straight toward the smoke. Straight into the heart of town and whatever was going on. Rounding a corner what he saw stopped him dead in his tracks. It was a raid by the neighboring kingdom of the magic empire. The unicorn Supremacists that believed every race was inferior. That every non unicorn must die. They were killing everyone that was not a unicorn. Mares, colts, fillies, none were spared no matter how young. And there in the center of it all was his beloved Golden Grace. Backed up against a stall with a look of pure terror on her beautiful face. In front of her was a unicorn. In heavy armor colored black, blue, and gold. Two curved double sided blades made of pure magic spinning next to him. Laughing the unicorn brought the blades around sweeping low in an unmistakable arc for the legs. This black hearted stallion was not just going to kill her, he was going to do it slowly one piece at a time. As the blades were about to hit Rain's world went black. He woke up screaming, sweating, and cold as if he had been doused with icy water. Rain looked up into the bright light of day. Realizing that he was outside and surrounded by unicorn solders.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Rain looked around getting a picture of his surroundings as a burly unicorn knight trotted up a smug grin on his face. There was no doubt in his mind that the stallion before him was the one from last night, due in part to the fact that he reeked of apple whiskey. Primarily he recognized his own work the double crescent blade strapped across his back had a jagged scar running down the center of the blade. The same fracture and as he now realized covered up with delicate tooling designed to turn the fracture from a jagged scar into thorny vines running up the length of the blade. To top it all off while he had been lost in his memories he had hidden a rune of durability in the roots of the vines. The only thing that passed through Rain’s mind was.
“Spirits damn me! I can’t even do simple repairs without screwing myself over.”
The burly unicorn knight stopped in front of Rain. Not bothering to get up Rain just stared up at him, face impassive and hazel eyes hard. The unicorn knight gave a dark chuckled then said.
“Welcome to the army of the mystic empire crafts Pony. We are pleased to welcome you amongst our ranks, especially a craftsman of your level”.
To emphasize this point, he levitated his blade out of the holster on his back holding it aloft for all to see.
“I am Silver Blade of his majesties royal knights, and your superior in every way. You listen to orders and do as you’re told without problems, and I won’t be forced to cut your horn off.”
Spinning the blade it the air he brought it around, stopping just as it touched his horn, Silver Blade’s face just inches from his own.
“Are we clear?”
The only response Rain gave him was to stare straight into his eyes.His eyes were green eyes like moss on top of stagnant water. Silver Blade snorted and stood up straight looking to the nearest soldier in the group surrounding them saying.
“Shackle him, then take him to the repair tent and assign him a go-for, one of the bastards.” Looking back at Rain he gave a crooked smile saying.
“When you shackle him use one of the black ones that should make him more…. cooperative.”
The solider jumped when he was first addressed then saluted, turned and ran off quickly.
“The rest of you are dismissed. Find something useful to do.”
He looked back at Rain one more time and sneered, soon walking off. He quickly disappeared into the maze of tents along with the few other soldiers that surrounded him. Finally having a moment to himself, the first thing Rain did was examine the itching at the base of all his legs. It seemed to come from right above the ankle before his hooves.
Shackles, shackles were the cause of the itching as they began to chafe. Chains also stretched between his front two legs and his back legs as well. He also noticed an extra bit of chain leading from the back right shackle to a large post.
“Ah that explains why they were willing to leave me alone. Damn! Chained like a dog. But what did that pompous prick Silver Blade mean by shackling me? I already am chained unless….”
A deep sense of dread washed over Rain like a tidal wave when his suspicions were confirmed. The unicorn solider returned carrying a black iron collar by a chain in his mouth. Rain backed away repetitively saying.
“No no th…that you can’t no.”
Rain panicked as the soldier approached, turning and running off to the left, only to be cut short by the chain falling. Face first into the ground, his horn glowing as he lit up the chains, instinctively looking for the weak points in the metal. Finding them, he began to use a fire spell he had learned for lighting the forge. Three links began to glow, weakening them even more. Without much effort he snapped first the chains between his legs, then rolling up onto his hooves he snapped the one connecting him to the post and took off. Darting in between tents running as fast as his legs would carry him, the remains of the chains dragging behind him. The racket he produced was nothing short of spectacular. Soon almost every soldier in that part of the camp was hunting him down. Lead by Silver Blade, everyone was under orders “not to kill him”, his skill was too valuable. Had it been any other smith, they would have been dead, however Rain was unique for he was one of a select few that knew about and could inscribe magic runes into items. Silver blade wanted that ability at his disposal and he would not let such a prize escape, so he pursued Rain a wicked grin on his face as he thought of the ways he would “punish” him.
Rain ran dodging soldiers, ropes, and nets that they threw at him. Chains and other metal tools of submission that they threw he simply deflected acting on instinct. As he ran he could feel the strength leaving his body, the broken shackles weighing down his hooves. The sound of the chains dragging eliminated the need for stealth, so he ran nonstop until he reached the crest of a hill. Finally able to rest, Rain took a truly good look at the camp. There was no end to it, tents stretching on for miles in all directions with no end in sight. The shock of what he saw shook Rain out of his panicked stupor standing on top of that hill in the light of the camp illuminated by the light of the setting sun. What truly shocked him was not the sheer size of the camp, or the thousands upon thousands of unicorn soldiers (some with the black collar around their neck, some without), but the location of the camp. A location he knew by heart from the small river winding up around the edge of the trees to the east to the now trampled fields of grass covering everywhere except one area, which was full of the burnt out husks of buildings. To the western end of the buildings laid a blank patch of dirt where the forge had been. Where in the field between where he stood on the north end of the valley lie the now trampled tombstones of his wife, Golden Grace. His village, everypony was gone, dead, or worse. Falling to his haunches and feeling numb; he sat there, unmoving as the despair overwhelmed him, leaving him hollow and broken. He didn’t move when the burly unicorn knight with the sickly moss green eyes walked up behind him, a black iron collar dangling from his mouth by a chain, a smug grin on his face as he clasped it around his neck. He didn’t fight back as the collar clouded his mind, taking away his free will. When he did move, it was not of his own accord but that of the collars orders forcing him to stand and follow the knight.
After that the collar was only ever removed once by the knight; after he had been strapped into a torture wheel so that he could feel the pain they were about to inflict. So the knight could enjoy his screams. Three days and nights, he was tortured nonstop until the kindly unicorn, Grey Rain, was no more than a husk. This stallion of art and creation was now reduced to nothing more than a robotic slave, sent to work the forge repairing weapons and armors. Tools of death and destruction, mind clouded by the collar with only brief moments of clarity. Within a few days the knights had runic weapons emblazoned with runes of fire and strength.
It is said within the darkest places there is still light a small spark or flicker of hope, joy, and life, like a ray of sun cutting through the clouds to hit your face in the middle of winter signifying the coming of spring. And it was one such moment of clarity that a savior appeared in a most unusual form.
