Celestia's Tale
by SherlockSparkle
Loosely Based Off / Expanded Upon the Comic "Discordantly"
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Part One: Discord
Book One: An Insight on History
I: A Matter to be Dissected
Starswirled the Bearded was not always subject to that title, but of course, everypony recognizes the mention of his name today. Although he is of little relevance to this volume, we shall have to go into some detail about him; this is what the first half of this section is dedicated to. But first; one thing about pony history must be clarified.
II: A Misconception to be Obliterated
Everypony should also be familiar with the traditional seasonal play of Hearth Warmer's Eve; a custom passed down along many generations. However, there is a certain aspect that is historically inaccurate. This, I will explain to the best of my ability.
Now; the fact that the unicorns used to raise the daytime and nighttime celestial bodies. The pageant typically says this plainly, and nothing more. Thus, it is implied that they, as a group, do this. This is not the case.
There was once a mare called a sun-bearer; one who performs this duty. It is rumored that they never age. So then, why is that term a title, rather than a reference to a specific pony? Yes, the role is passed down. But why give it up? If we think long and deep enough, we will more or less easily perceive that immortality is tiring, and it weakens the spirit. And boredom; it can drive anypony to insanity: When given the option between a hell of torture and one of boredom, a wise colt shoses the latter. Sun-rising is an arduous task; one must study for literally decades to achieve sufficient ability and knowledge, and practice for even longer, which consumes a lifetime before you even get to try. And by then, we would all have perished long since, due to unnatural circumstances prior. So the quality mentioned in the second sentence of this paragraph is necessary. A disciple is chosen, studies for a life, and made immortal by her mentor, whose strength ultimately fails afterwards, leaving the new sun-bearer with her responsibilities. Of course, a direct period of uneven rises and sets is expected to follow. As for what is said about a threat to stop this cycle in the play, this is empty, since it is rather unbeneficial to anypony. Lastly: "What about before them?" That, I can not answer.
Though you may question the importance of the previous information, it's certainly worth identifying if to properly comprehend a chapter to follow later.
III: Starswirled
Now, back to the matter of Starswirled. What kind of pony was he? How long did he practice magic? What of his age when he left this realm? We barely know anything of the sort; his legacy is all he has left behind for us. So let us see, then, his life . . .
IV: Starswirled Born
Starswirled was born Moonfeller: a normal pony. "Great" is not a synonym for "immortal". Interestingly enough, he showed no particular interest in magic in his young age, though he was quite good. And if somepony has a talent and he or she exercises it, they must have a passion for it. How Moonfeller's was gained shall be explained.
His father was a merchant of sorts; a salespony that travelled to other lands, for selling and purchase. His mother was a learned individual, and supervised the education of him and his brother: he was around five years elder. He was a physically active colt, and greatly enjoyed sports. Moonfeller, however, was a timid foal.
When he was about eleven or so, his family was on a trip to a hostile country, to see if they had any trade that could be bartered with their own people. They came from the major city of Ravalox; a place within the Unicorn realm. The area they were visiting was inhabited by earth ponies.
Even then, there was much prejudice against other tribes, so naturally, Moonfeller addressed this question to his father: "Why are we going to an earth pony city?" To which he replied: "Because we're their friends."
When they arrived, however, they were shunned by the entire city - every inn was shut to them, and every door was locked. As the sun began to fall, they finally decided to rest in a small garden, in front of a small house on the outskirts, even though it was a chilly night. But one kind-hearted filly noticed them, and inquired Moonfeller's father.
"Are you sleeping here for the night, sir?" she asked politely.
He simply nodded, with a grim expression on his face. His gaze turned towards the rest of the family, trying to keep warm by huddling together.
"Have you really knocked at every door, sir?"
This time, he replied with words: "Every corner, nook, and alley; everywhere. So I shall have to sleep here for the night."
"What about this one, sir?" She pointed to the house righy behind them.
"The one with the attic light? Before us?" he shook his head.
"Then try, sir." And she trotted off.
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And so the family knocked. The answer was an old colt, clothed in ragged robes. When they asked if they could stay, the stranger said they were more than welcome. Stunned, they entered, and their host soon prepared a delicious broth for supper. As Moonfeller ate hungrily, he happened to look up. The colt was staring at him intensely. Slowly, he got back to finishing off the meal.
Later that night, he creeped out of his bed, past his sleeping family, and up the stairs to where he had seen the light earlier, in front of the house. He found himself in a large library, filled with countless thick volumes. The colt was reading a handful of them at an illuminated desk in the corner of the room, staring at each and every page intently. After watching in silence for a while, the foal managed to muster the courage to speak.
"Hello?" he whispered timidly.
The host looked up from his reading, and turned to face Moonfeller.
"What is the matter, my dear foal?" he asked.
"What is your name, kind sir?" Moonfeller responded with a inquiry.
"I am the Historian and Consultant of the Provincial King in this city; Rogsne." He replied.
"If you are a Royal Consultant sir, it is unlikely for you to be associated with a colt of history, sir." Moonfeller was surprised; a Consultant was of very high status in any village, town, or city; in his home, a historian was librarian, usually categorized in a lower level of society. "And to think of it," he thought, "what is a pony of that importance doing out here?"
"Well, I think the ones that are truly wise are those who read." The supposed "consultant" chuckled as he pulled out a book from a shelf close-by. After looking at it for a few moments, he put it back in its place, and came towards Moonfeller. Then, he took him downstairs to the dining table, and lit a candle for light. Setting it on the center, he gestured fore him to sit; this, he did as well. So they continued their conversation.
"I was always in love with books, my lad." He resumed where he had left off. "All sorts: Reference, history, fictional works, poetry . . . words were like hooks, and my gaze would never falter once I was hooked. One time, an art teacher of mine scolded me for reading a philosophical text I was in class. But what seemed to anger her most was not that I was being distracted, but that the book was more interesting than her class!" At this, they both laughed.
"But as a historian," he went on, "there is always a certain subject that I am greatly intrigued by."
Now Moonfeller was listening carefully to the colt. "What?" he urged, eagerly awaiting his answer.
"Magic!" he exclaimed. "I've always wanted to see it in action! Until now, I could only imagine . . . oh, such a wonderful thing I've read about! Spells to cure, enhance, create . . . and for simple enjoyment, and beauty. But how racism dominates this world; my foal!" now his face turned dark. "So much of it; accusations, threats, greediness for only one's self . . . it's repulsive. Ponies were meant to live in harmony. This world really does need some magic . . ."
The Royal Consultant cut off abruptly, and bowed his head down, in deep though. Moonfeller stared, waiting for him to get up. Soon enough, he did. And he was looking at him expectantly.
"Well?" he asked. "Can you do it?"
Moonfeller was puzzled. "Do what, sir?"
"Magic!"
It took him a second to register that he wanted him to perform some sort of spell. Sadly, he shook his head, as he possessed no knowledge of the potential power which he had. Disappointment fell upon the elder's face.
"A pity." His tone proved his feelings. "Though I supposed I can't do anything about that . . . rude of me to ask. But still!" he brightened up. "We don't need a horn to make magic! This world really does need a certain magic: Friendship! Think; what we could do unified! That has been my goal in recent years. But I am afraid I set it too late; I am old and weak; my strength failing. And nobody will listen! They turn off their ears. But someone must carry on this mission . . ."
Stunned, Moonfeller watched the colt's head sink once more. When it was lifted again, his words were as weak as what his age suggested.
"I see something: A . . . spark- in you. I do not know what it means, but you are unlike this generation. I see something great- maybe even a civilization!- that is founded upon your shoulders. I think you're the beginning of something . . . something new." And so he ceased a third time.
Minutes later; resuming once more: "I have pressured you too much, now; I am sorry. Go; have some rest."
Eventually, Moonfeller arose from his seat. Before he trotted back up the stairs, his eyes lingered upon the Consultant once more.
"Will you not retire as well, sir?"
He didn't respond. So Moonfeller went back to bed. This was the start of his studies, and his legacy; the very thing that prompted him to indulge in a field for which he is now renowned. The experience would remain with him for the rest of his life.
V: Throughout the Years
Initially, Moonfeller was a pony who didn't understand the meaning of friends. He would be nice in school, and helped others occasionally, but he never had anypony who he could call a "friend". His grades in academics, magic, or whatever the field might be were good, but nothing else. In athletics, however, we cannot say the same.
After his encounter with the Royal Consultant of Rogsne, his social attitude was reversed. He tried immensely hard to support friendship and relationships in the community, and he became known for his universal kindness to everypony else. It is also known that one time, a released convict was denied a place to rest in the town, out of fear that he would rob or murder them. Remembering his former situation in Rogsne, he allowed the colt in. As he was about to leave once more, he slipped something into his hooves- a 2-bit coin; presumably all he had. How grateful we would also be in his place! Alas, as in this case: History repeats itself quite often, and the past plays a key role in how the future will evolve.
Growing up, he also started to take a more profound interest in magic, recalling the words of the the consultant. One day, he wanted to go back to Rogsne, and display an aurora over the entire town- so that the old colt could have his wish fulfilled. Moonfeller progressed greatly, but nevertheless, when he really did go back during his teenage years, the great Royal Consultant of Rogsne (He was revered well by everypony.) had already passed away. He wore black to school for the next few weeks. When somepony asked: "Why are you wearing black when there is no loss in your family?", he would reply: "A colt just as dear to me has left this world."
Eventually, Moonfeller decided that his major was to be magic. And so in his senior year, he often stayed up entire nights studying, practicing spells, going over notes, and- well, reading non-stop. (A habit that continued well throughout his life.)
When the time for graduation came, he was the top student in the entire country. He was awarded a medal for outstanding achievement by the ruling monarch, and made a speech in front of a large crowd, gathered before him. While he was doing so, he noted that he thought- though he only thought- that he saw the face of the colt who had prompted him to do so.
Moonfeller attended one of the best universities in the land as he continued his studies in magic. His professors were surprised at how fast he learned, and he was able to complete college in half the time somepony would have on average. Of course, now he would have to narrow down, and chose a specific field. And he was greatly intrigued by celestial magic! How the precise movements throughout the stars the sun-bearer had to enact; it fascinated him very much. So he thought that he would focus on this for the next few years.
At the age of 21, he went to the shrine of the very pony who he had admired for a long time: The Sun-Bearer. And now, before we begin describing this visit, we shall go over a little of the geography of ancient times.
VI: The Lands and Times that were Lost
Our country of Equestria is beautiful, but one who could see an accurate portrayal of the regions of the Frozen North as they were 10,000 years ago can't help but feel sorrow for the loss of our former lands. If anypony happens to go, do not expect lush pastures, green fields, and waves of smooth hills that go beyond the horizon. A barren wasteland of ice, cold and shadowing mountains, and blizzards that ravage those glacial plains is all that is left. But before then . . . a marvelous sight to behold. And so rich in history!; lore, legend, and myth that covered the mountains and flatland in a mystical fog of enchantment. Now; a basis.
Here is a brief explanation of the history of this place.
Nobody knows when the Equestrian landscape was made. Some scientists theorize that we are on a constantly evolving planet- ponies gradually having grown to their quadrupedal stature, and that land has progressed along with it. But is this plausible? We have one major fact that contradicts this: The sun and moon are raised by our means, and currently the princesses. Then what happened before we were able to do so? Are we the gods of our world, having brought light? I would say this is just as pointless a question as asking whether the dragon or the egg came first, because we cannot solve it with our information. All we know was that time, as of record, started roughly 24,000 years ago: During the First Age. It was started when the ponies supposedly overthrew the iron grip of the celestial deities, and began a regular, mortal life. The land was divided initially into three tribes: The unicorns, the pegasi, and the earth ponies. However, they eventually became divided even amongst themselves, and at the beginning of the following era, there were nine countries of Ancient Equestria. During the previous one, many technologies that we use today were invented: The printing press, watermill, and arched bridges, to name a few. Also, there was mathematical and scientific learning progressions, such as the discovery of algebra, the abicus, dozens of chemical compounds, and more. And so peacefully everything went on, without that many bumps along the way. It was the time of the Great Graymane, who was the wanderer of Ancient Equestria. His home was the tavern, his bed the inn mattress, and his life a bag with everything he had. He helped describe the wonders of the world at the time, and told the more reluctant travellers about the marvelous waterfalls of Old Polonyta, or the lively décor of the Golopesus banners. At the peak of his fame, he became brave enough to venture to the uninhabited South. Despite warnings, he went, and was never heard from again. The reader may speculate all he or she would like on what happened.
This was also the time of the great mythology that so many modern ponies take an interest in. There was a theory: Not one constituting of numbers and figures, but of a spiritual meaning. Many fables, legends, and myths, of heroic epics, and mighty ventures into the unknown, were all apparently woven through the fabric of time and space. History happened throughout, so you actually couldn't call it history! It was more so prophecy, if you want to call it that. You didn't know whether it had happened, or was yet to come. It was a beautiful story, and one that seemed to make perfect sense in any foal or filly's eyes: "You know all of them? The devils and demons and all such? The head of a mare or lamb, with the body of a dragon or bird; isn't it just surreal?" It might seem like a fairytale, but it is nevertheless a very preferable illusion. But as somepony might have guessed, peace is never eternal in a mortal world. The First Age was ended with the successful defense against the deities' attempts to regain control over the land. The ponies banded together in one alliance, and managed to destroy the physical connection between the real and spiritual dimensions. But they weren't completely vanquished in our realm, and they resided to the Barren South, thousands of miles even beyond the Badlands. There, they still dwell.
However, they were divided even amongst themselves, and the unicorns' land consisted of two kingdoms: Unicornia, and Hornsworth. The former was the homeland of Princess Platinum, Clover the Clever, and Starswirled the Bearded. They were a quite rich community, and their minds were bursting with the arts, and diversity amongst them. This money, sadly, was distributed unevenly, and the mass majority of the population was in poverty. Hornsworth was a land of mediocre status; often unmentioned by any records from Unicornia. It was squandered by their fellow unicorns geographically; constantly on the verge of being overtaken. But it always barely managed to stay afloat in these terms, and in economical ones. The fact that it has, though, is very interesting, and their military forces were particularly strong.
The Pegasi were more aggressive and war-like, and tended to break apart and unite repeatedly (Alas, union never lasted for long.) throughout history beforehand anyways, so the four separate nations formed out of them was no surprise. Actually, if the narrator was to be more precise, they were city-states in the sky: There was one mega-city in which everypony dwelt, while they simply owned (and guarded) the rest of their territory.
One of the two more dominant pegasi city-states was Glimun. A citizen never failed to show his or her pride. When banded with others into a larger group, pegasi may be quarrelous amongst themselves, but in independent cases, you can never break them apart. Their loyalty is bottomless, and in this gathering they are a terrible foe to behold. This is the same in the other city-states as well. Gilmun was the home of the best athletes in the land, the most famed being Loft Goldenwing: An abnormally wide wing span- 40 hands, and a height of 15. It was rumored that he could fly 200 miles straight without breaking a sweat. He was also the first to achieve the miraculous stunt of the Sonic Rainboom as well. After straining his limits to do so, he finally accomplished it after years of practice, retaining faith in the then-ridiculed idea of the mythical feat, but died due to the effects of exhaustion (and illness cause by it) a few days later. Despite the Unicornian's biased beliefs, Gilmun also had a decent educational system, and they believed that both a healthy body and a healthy mind was crucial and necessary for all.
Wintervale was a nation which resided in the upper-most layer of the atmosphere. No bird ever flew by, and their hearts were often just as cold as the weather that came there. They were the most ruthless of the pegasi tribes, and also the most unforgiving. There are records of incidents in which visitors were imprisoned for unintentionally breaking some unkown law of the place- which was frequently something quite ridiculous- in prisons to rot and waste their lives there. This dead-serious attitude was also prominent in the Ancient Equestria Games, in which they would beat the life and soul out of their opponents. Forbidden deeds could even include carrying off "government property"- usually some cloud drifts and wisps that had tagged along. And sometimes for actual but low-level crimes 4th degree illegal endeavors, such as thievery of a loaf of bread- got ponies caught up in forced labor for 20 years. Also due to their natural ignorance of the rest of the world, as well as others, we don't know that much about their social interaction, daily lives, or anything of the sort. They refused to have anything to do with other ponies; hence no trade. This eventually led to their gradual dissipation from the historical records by the later period of this age.
Author's Note
a.) Notice how this part of the story is structured like a certain famous novel? If you guess correctly, I'll be very pleased. :)
