In the beginning,
all that existed
was Darkness.
For a long, long time
Darkness lived in solitude,
growing ever so lonely.
Out of sorrow and despair,
Darkness shed a tear.
From the tear were born two brothers:
Sword and Shield.
Sword claimed it could cut through all that exists.
Shield claimed itself impenetrable.
Thus, the conflict was born --
a truly vicious conflict, lasting
seven days and seven nights.
In the end, Sword breached Shield,
and Shield shattered Sword.
Pieces of Sword rained down to make the sky.
Pieces of Shield rained down to make the ground.
Stars were created from the sparks of that battle.
The 27 gems adorning Sword and Shield
transformed into the 27 True Runes.
And thus begins the world as we know it.
~'The Story Of Creation' translated by Twilight Sparkle
Canterlot, the seat of Equestria's government. It was here that the Royal Sisters made their home, where they rose the Sun and Moon and watched over their little ponies as best they could. At the upper most tower, surrounded by wards to keep them hidden from prying eyes, the sisters sat over a Chess Board, looking down on the game worriedly.
Celestia looked upon Luna with anxiety, for the pieces were in play. Their brothers and sisters, scattered and broken, dared not come together, for fear of disrupting the great balance the world found itself in. And yet, BECAUSE they were broken, the balance was gradually shifting. A Great Game was in motion, and many of the pieces threatened to awaken their siblings... and not in a way that would benefit anybeing.
"Sister," called Luna, seeking to comfort the life-giving sister with cool reason. "There is naught that can be done... already our own pieces walk the board and only so much can we extend our influence to them. Doing any more wouldst only upset the already precarious balance we are maintaining."
Sighing, Celestia nodded her assent, seeing the logic her sister brought before her. "I understand what you're saying Luna, but even so I wish there were something we could do to bring our broken family together again. We may not be able to rebuild the Shield and Sword without destroying the worlds they have created, but the least we could do is show them what is happening to our world so they can see why we need their help."
Ill used to seeing her sister so distraught, the Princess of the Night moved in close to comfort her older sister, a single dark-blue wing draping as best it can over the Day Princess' larger form. Smiling softly, Celestia returned the gesture, bringing her sister in for a comforting embrace. All was silent between them as they simply allowed themselves to bask in the comfort of the other's presence...
"Ahem" called a pair of voices in unison, shattering the calm scene with their sudden existence.
Alerted to the new presence, both sisters glanced up at the intruder, eyes widening in shock at who it was, and more importantly, what they were. "G... Gate?" asked Celestia hesitantly. "Is... is that truly you?"
Stepping closer to the Sisters, twin beings came into view. It was as if someone took two ponies, split them right down the middle, and attached the mismatched pieces to form two new beings. One half of each was a blue Unicorn, with half of a horn protruding from the split forehead and an orange light coming from its eyes, the other half an orange pegasus, wings folded neatly on her back and eyes that glowed blue. There was no mane or tail to the odd amalgam of two ponies, aside from an aura of whitish-blue energy that flowed not unlike the manes and tails of the celestial sisters.
"Indeed Sisters. It warms our hearts to see you in good health after these many years." The two ponies spoke in unison, making an odd duet that seemed to echo throughout the room despite the softness of their tone. "We apologize for our long slumber, for it seems we have missed much." Looking down in unison, they spot the game board between the sisters, noticing that the side closest to Celestia seemed complete, while the other had but a handful of pieces before the game even begun. "We see Circle is playing about again... an intriguing yet dangerous game, but to what end does it play out?" Moving to either side of the game board, the two beings known as Gate examined the pieces in play in more detail... before sharing a grin.
Glancing at each other worriedly, Celestia and Luna wondered what was going through the shared mind of their sibling before feeling a powerful build up of magic in the room. Turning back to Gate, the sisters gasped as they both raised their wings, the whitish-blue energy of their manes gathering in the space between the upraised wings, forming what could only be described as a miniature galaxy, over a hundred pinpricks of light visible in the swirling ether between them. Celestia looked at the mass curiously... but Luna's eyes widened in shock before looking to 'Gate'. "You mean to summon the Stars?!"
Celestia gasped and gazed in wonder at Gate upon the revelation.
Chuckling, Gate merely shook their heads, before bringing the swirling energies to a stop, leaving the pinpricks of light to shine over the board. "We do not summon them at all... for already all of them exist in your world, Chosen without guidance. We only mean to activate the first... the rest shall follow, as they always do. All they need... is a push." With those words, an arc of electricity jumped between the two halves of Gate's horns, grasping the star at the center of their constellation... and sending it plummeting down towards the game board.
"But... if you activate the Chief Star... then what Rune will sponsor this being? Surely they need a power to rally behind if they are to have any chance." Celestia asked, uncertainty coloring her tone as she glanced at where the Star fell onto the board. "None of us can, since we already bound... and any one of our sleeping brethren might not take kindly to being awoken if they are not guided properly."
The only answer to Celestia's worries was the echoing laughter of 'Gate' as they shook their head in unison. "You and Night may have forgotten, since both of you have been awake for so long... but our brethren see all, even while asleep. If any wish to be the sponsor of the Star, they will call to it themselves. Just as they would call any others they wish to bear them in this time of need. Now, we must do as we always have... sit... and wait."
Before the star struck the board, it stopped, hovering in place for a moment, before splitting up into five smaller lights, just as one of the few pieces on Luna's side, a draconian being carved of pure jade, toppled from an unseen force. "Pray we do not wait too long, Gate else it will be the end of this world as we know it." Celestia whispered. Concentrating on one of the streaking lights, Celestia leaned down, lightly touching one of the moving pinpricks with her magic to alter its course a bit. ".... Be ready, my faithful student... the time for testing is over..."
Our world, affectionately dubbed 'Equus' by many a pony scholar, is an interesting place where many beings, and not just ponies, work to keep the planet in balance. Everybeing, from the greatest Dragon to the lowly Parasprite, work to achieve this state of Harmony. But there are some beings who are so intrinsically tied to the world that their very existence helps to maintain the world, each with their own role in the Great Cycle. We ponies do this by aiding the cycle of Life directly. Raising and lowering the Sun and Moon, nurturing Nature and even manipulating the weather. It is these important tasks that allow us to be named the Custodians of the Cycle. But, we must never allow this to cloud our judgement and forget our allies throughout the world, each with their own roles.
The Hippocampi below the waves, who maintain the currents of rivers and seas, ensuring our world shall never be lacking in water and safe passage may be found for those who travel the waterways of the world.
The Hippogriffs of the far Reaches, whose tireless efforts prevent monsters like Frost Trolls and Wendigos from covering our world in Ice, and who regularly risk life and limb against greater monsters from Beyond who might threaten innocents, both intentionally and non.
The Zebra, who maintain relations with spirits to protect the sacred paths of the afterlife, so none may be denied safe passage on their eternal rest.
The Deer, who help nourish and maintain all things green and growing, caretakers of the ancient wood as well as being solely responsible for the spread of the Four Seasons.
And finally, the enigmatic Qilin, who maintain the leylines of our world, spreading precious mana through it from the greatest manafont of all, the Dragon's Nest, all so everybeing can tap into it in our day to day lives.
It is these six races, including our own, that make up the Marked Races of Equus, they who moderate the world so all others may flourish in peace and Harmony. Should any one fall or fail in their sacred duties, all others shall feel the weight of their loss, and the world may fall into a terrible imbalance...
- Excerpt from 'The Journeys of Starswirl the Bearded' by Clover the Clever