The Library of Forbidden Secrets

The Plague

A terrible plague had spread across Equestria, it affected all, nopony was spared its wrath, not even the Princesses.  The Everfree Plague, as it was called upon discovering where it seem to originate from. It did not bring death, but it did keep the economy of Equestria ground to a halt. It seemed to devour magic, sap strength, and destroy crops. Unicorns were without the magic, Pegasi had been left grounded, and Earth Ponies hadn't the strength to carry out any sort of labor in the smallest sence of the word.  In a few instences it would seem that other countries had taken advantage of the helplessness of Equestria. Griffans had expanded their territroy over Manehatten. With no guards the city fell in a few hours. The Dragons of the badlands had taken to raiding the now unused mines of jewels and other gems. Even the changlings had begun to return, abducting ponies from hospital beds in the middle of the night.

"Dearling, I must protest, you'll reading yourself into an early grave is not going to help anything." Rarity said as she watched helplessly as Twilight tore one book after another out of the Canterlot Archives. She had spent the last month reading and researching The Everfree Plague. Her mane was an absolute mess, and her pupils were as small as pins. She tore through "Supernaturals" for the 6th time but could glimpse nothing from it. For some reason, the Mane 6 had been spared from the effects of the plague, but they all chalked it up to having something to do with the Elements of Harmony.

She was becoming desperate for answers. Twilight wished her #1 assisstant had been there, but he was in the Canterlot infirmary, struck with the Plague. He would have known where to look. Spike would also had relished the chance to spend more quality time with Rarity. Twilight shed a few tears knowing that until she and the others could lift this curse that had been slowly eating away at the land, he would remain the most afflicted. The shimmering Unicorn, who's coat was a white as her horn was, flipped her beautiful purple mane over one of her eyes. It was then that the smell of Apple Pie quaffed into the room as well as Apple Cider. AppleJack soon walked into the room, carrying 4 pies and a jug of piping hot Apple Cider.

"Y'all get it while it's still hot now, ya hear" the others of the Mare 6, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, and Fluttershy had just entered the room to the smell of Apples. Applejack was as country as they got, her 10 gallon hat stood tall on her lustrous mane, tied back in a Pony tail with a ribbon. It was blond and like silk to the touch. Her orange coat brough attention to her athletic build. She was also the most truthful of the 6, and wouldn't hesitate to lift a hoof to help another pony. There was a special case that this became more then apparent, and it all started with when a Stalion by the name of Ófærr. A Nordic Pony, he had come to Ponyville to seek a new life after the death of his wife and unborn foal. He was a veteran of battle and it showed on his face, which had a crescent shaped scar, running from his forehead, over his left eye, and down to his chin. He had been regarded with suspicion from the get go, but besides Pinkie Pie, Applejack took to him rather quick, what with them both being working ponies by nature. Even she though felt a little outclassed by this Stalion, his sheer strength was astounding, he managed to build a house, complete with 4 rooms, a vegetable garden, and even a Hot Springs in a single day.

Rainbow on the other hoof was a tad mischievous, her rainbow mane and tail as playful as she was. Such descriptions continued with the others. Soon the Mares sat around each other, discussing their finds when as always Pinkie Pie has to do something akin to Pinkie Pie. She suddenly sits down on a book, which in turn knocks over a few more, finally, knocking a book shelf down. The others all turn to look at her and with a collective sigh they begin to pick up the pieces of what had just transpired, till Dash noticed some part of the wall had been destroyed, revealing a hidden Doorway.

"Girls! Over here" She beckoned to the others to come and see.  The Mane 6 crowded around the destroyed wall, it clearly led to another chamber. After an hour of working Rarity into not worrying about dust and the like getting in her mane, it was decided that they were going to investigate. Hell there might be something down there that could help in looking for a cure or at the very least, something to lighten the somber mood that had settled over the mares.

"Stand aside y'all" It was left to Applejack to finish what Pinkie had started. With a few well placed bucks and the wall collapsed, to show what looked like a device of some kind connected to a large, steel box that opened at the front.  It could hold a fully grown Manticore easily. With hesitation the others stepped onto it a box as the front seemed to open. It was easy to see how it was activated, as Twilight demonstrated, placing her horn into it and applying magic. It began to glow quickly and slowly descended towards a dark, unused tunnel, much to Rarities lament.

Soon the device reaches the tunnel, and the 6 depart from it, the Unicorns using their magic to cast some light into the tunnel. After a good hour of wander the Mane 6 had all but given up again till Fluttershy pointed out something up ahead of the girls. They soon come upon a pedestal, with a large, dusty, yellow tome sitting upon it. As Twilight reaches out to touch it with her hoof and the others share nervous glances a blinding white light fills the room. "Do not touch that my faithful student" It was a voice that was not filled with malice, but held a slight contempt about it. Celestia, bowled over from the strain of using her magic, stood there before them.

"Princess!" An exacerbated Twilight exclaimed. "You shouldn't be using your magic" She was silenced by a hoof to the mouth as Twilight tried to run to her master, recieving a chuckle.

"Let me catch my breath first alright" after a few moments to sit against a wall she began to speak again. "Twilight, I never though you of all ponies would find this book, come, there is much to discuss." It took them several hours to return to Celestia's chamber, stopping every so often to allow the Princess to rest. It did not take long for the party to reach the steel contraption.

"I really must ask, who created this? I have never seen a device like this before?" Twilight asked her beligered master as they climbed into the machine and let it rise to the castle now out of the dusty catacomes, much to Rariteis and Dashes happiness. Rarity cause the dust and dirt would ruin her prized mane and fur. Dash cause it was too narrow down there and it didn't allow her to fly around like she enjoyed doing.

"Well, that will be all explained in due time my little ponies" Celestia explained, it calmed down a certain over zealous mare but the others weren't bying it.  Leading them back to her private chambers, she opened the door to show a weakened Luna and Cadance lying in sick beds besides her own. Twilight rushed to their sides and exchanged a few words between them before returning to her mentor's side.

As they sat down, Luna looked with amazement at the book, she couldn't beleive after all this time, that someone had discovered it. Cadance was lost at the significance of the book. "My Little Ponies, since you have discovered this book, I think it would be best that you discovered why it was it was placed deep beneath Canterlot, farther down then the Crystal Caverns" Cadance shivered at the thought of those caverns.

"I reken it was fer a good reason, Princess" Applejack spoke up, a little nervouse at the sight of Luna just blankly staring at the book.

"That I did my little ponies, Twilight, tell me, has the name, Dagon ever come up in your studies?" She asked as she looked to Twilight.

"Only small parcels here and there. According to lore, myth, and legend.  He was a creature unlike any other, although descriptions were wide and varied. From a serpent as large as Canterlot, with wings, to a stange bie-ped, its knees pointing the opposite direction, tendrels covering its mouth, a scorpion like tail, and praying mantil like arms sprouting from its back, standing some where between 6 to seven hooves tall. His powers were as widely diverse from what I can gather. He went unrivaled until you and Luna came, casting him down." She replied, the others looking on in silence as Luna and Celestia fought back a tinge of sorrow at the prospect of such endevors.

"Actually" coughs some "That is a lie, created to protect a much bigger secret" Luna replied, bearly being able to push her self up. Celestia rushed to the side of her sister. Twilight was dumb struck at the prospect of being wrong about something regarding history.

"In actuality, even with both of us at full power, I doubt we would have put even a dent in him. I have not told the truth, reguarding who it was that taught me to raise the sun. What is written is not correct, it was he was the one who taught me to raise the sun, taking over as his pupil when I was just a filly myself, about the same age as you were when I took you under my wing Twilight Sparkle. His powers truly were unmatched, but he was as kind-hearted as they came" Celestia stopped for a few mins, remembering the time the 3 of them spent together before resuming once again. "He left not 10 years before we started our war with Discord, never to be heard from again, take this to heart, he is older then both Luna and I are.  As old as the stars themselves from what we had gathered during out time with him" This announcement shocked all those in the room, except Celestia and Luna of cource.

"You mean to say that there is someone who could easily defeat Discord without lifting so much as a hoof!? Where has this all powerful pony been all these years, sunning on some island." Dash asked a little ticked off as she remembered all they had to go through considering when it came to besting Discord the first time. That last part made Luna and Celestia share a look before they burst into a fit of laughter. Pinkie quickly joining in for no apparent reason, "What, was it something I said?" She looked to the others and at Cadance for answers but never got any.

"Sorry" Luna says stifles a giggle "Sorry for the laughter, Element of Loyalty, its just you might not be to far from the truth" With questioning gazes turned to Celestia they all look to their princess for answers.

"Um...might I uh, ask, if it wouldn't be to upfront, how did..." Fluttershy trails off as she hides her head in her tail.

"I think what scardy feathers over there is trying to ask is how in the hay did you two meet this, whats his name?" Dash asked, crossing her front legs as she awaited an answer. The Princess began a long and amazing tale of their meeting, but kept out the parts on what Dagon looked like, hey even Princesses needed a little fun.

3 hours later

"This book" Celestia turned to her stunned Ponies "contains all the research I did in trying to finding him again. I spent the next 10 years before our fateful battle with Discrod traveling the world looking for clues. In my search I recorded all signs of his passing, till I struck a dead-end. His last appearance was in a deserted temple of some kind, within a wild and untamed jungle. I had to turn back when I discovered a massive Black dragon living in it." The others had never known the Princess to run from a fight, it must have been formidable to make her turn around.

"Why did you run, was it big, did it try to gobble you up, whats the inside of a dragon's mouth li-" Pinkie Pie was cut short by a hoof to the mouth by Twilight.

"No, I had to return to challange Discord as lawful ruler of Equestria. I have had no chance to continue my search. Twilight, I want you to go over this book, find clues, and bring my old friend back no matter what. Is this clear?" She reared up from sitting down, looking on her student. Twilight simply nodded. "Good, take the book" Celestuia quickly levetates it over to Twilight, who quickly took it. WIth her friends in tow, they exit the room, it was soon after they had gotten out of ear shot, it was then that Luna and her sister, after exchangeing glances begin to giggle uncontrollably.

"Sister, I wonder how he will react to seeing how much we have grown." Luna asked between giggles.

"It's safe to assume that he might pass out. The little fillies he watched over have all grown up." The sisters share a laugh as Cadance just decides to go back to sleep, her head throbbing.

End of Chapter 1

First attempt at a Fic so if you have any grievances feel free to speak them now. I Go~