Equestrian Prehistory

        The princesses stood in their regal glory, manes flowing supernaturally, and blocking the light coming through the door. But their countenances softened and Celestia lowered her head to Twilight. “My student and good friend, I'm so happy to see you, even if our meeting is under less than ideal circumstances! Now, please raise yourselves, this is no time for bowing.”

The ponies in the library raised from their bow of reverence and Dusty spoke first, interrupting Twilight in a greeting. “Oh, your majesties, what is it that we don't know?”

“War!” Luna shouted in the royal Canterlot voice. Then she blushed as Celestia glared at her.

“War.” She said again, quieter this time. “Ponies and others have been relatively peaceful for centuries, with the worst of skirmishes being fought with pastries, vegetables, and mean looks. As long as my sister and I have been alive-quite a long time indeed-war has not existed.”

“It hasn't always been that way. This find had proven that.” Shorty said flatly.

“True. And now we know that it is far worse. Early Equestrian history was not recorded very well. We have only had mere shards of bone, ceremonial cloth, and crude petroglyphs to go with the myths.”

“But what if the myths are true? The terrible stories of violence and death! What if this is not just a lone find, an anomaly?” Twilight asked, exasperated.

Celestia stood silent for a moment, then said gravely “I know a way to find this out. It requires a great deal of magical talent and courage. Few ponies are capable, and I have faith you are capable. My dearest student, Twilight, I ask of you a great favor. A favor you may turn down at no cost, blame, and without shame. But it is very dangerous. I know you are capable of what I will ask you.”

Luna interjected, her royal austerity interrupted by a rare show of fear “Are you asking her to use the...pool?”

“Dear sister, I believe there is no other choice.”

“I concur, however, the idea is rather radical.” Luna said quietly.

Twilight, fearful and hopeful, said “I have taken your tasks before, I'm sure I can do this.”

Celestia interrupted “Before you accept, there is something about magic you don't understand yet, as it takes years of learning, and dare I say the experience of death itself to control.”

Twilight's mouth was agape. “Death?”

“Do not fret Twilight, your studies will allow you to understand much, but there are some things that must be experienced.”

“Death?!”

“I am not suggesting that.” Celestia smiled “The experience I speak of is different. But first, I have a story. Do you ever wonder how magic is even possible? By all known physical laws of the universe, it should not exist, and yet it does.

“Magic is a manipulation of the universe at the smallest scales possible. Everypony is capable of it, in different ways and strengths.” She began using magic to show scenes of ponies and others doing things such as cloud manipulation and earth moving.

“Death is one thing that is unavoidable for all, even for seemingly immortal being such as us.” She showed scenes of cemeteries.

“But death is not the end. Every living thing is connected at the smallest scales of the universe. On the smallest scales, the quantum levels, distance and time have no meaning, so everything exists together, in harmony, you might say.” Celestia showed scenes of particles bouncing around.

“The magic that all living things contain becomes connected at these levels. When somepony dies, their magic lives, full and strong, because of the lack of time and space. It is effectively an afterlife.” She showed scenes of ponies from what seemed to be all times of history interacting, all joyfully.

“Somepony with a special talent for magic can access this and see, hear, and experience the thoughts and lives of beings from the past. Using a series of spells, and special locations, you can do this, Twilight. There are means of doing it.”

Twilight gave it thought. “How is this dangerous?” She asked.

“You must be willing to quite literally lose yourself. This pool that we speak of is the method. But it has never been used for what we wish to do, and rarely suggested, as it is very dangerous. But the truth of our past must be known.”

“Why can't you, Princess? Your magic is so much more powerful.”

“Because, Twilight, I would be using my magic to keep you alive. I will be your heart, brain, and lungs during this task. And being somepony else's means of life is not easy, harder than what you will be doing. It will take most of my considerable magical ability, and quite a lot of my physical energy.”

“How does this pool work?”

“It is a magical gateway to all of time, it is enchanted to be used as a means to take over the life of another, which is why we protect it. But it appears to be nothing more than a normal pool. A spell must be cast to use it properly.”

Twilight was silent. “I want to think about this. It's scary, but important.” She said.

“As I said, there is no shame in turning this down.” Celestia said.

“How long do I have to decide?”

“As much time as you wish.” Luna said.

“We will be waiting to hear from you, yea or nay.” Celestia said. With that the royal sisters departed with their guards.

Twilight had been so caught up in the excitement that didn't notice Spike was crying, until he hugged her foreleg. “I can't lose you! You don't really want to do you? You're like the only family I have!” He sniffled.

Twilight hugged him. “Spike, I'm scared too, but I don't even know if I want to yet.”

“Why is it so important for ponies to know about our past? It will only scare them to know that we were so violent.”

“Ponies already know that. Our history has been false. The importance of this find is in knowing that we value life now far more than we did at that time.”

“Why does that matter? We aren’t going to devalue life anymore.”

“Nopony knows that Spike. This is why we have history; so we can understand the past and learn from it.”

“Are you going to do it?”

“I just don’t know, Spike.” Twilight trailed off, slowly shuffling off to lay by the fireplace.

It was time for thinking. If I don’t do this, ponies are in danger of believing a lie. If I do, ponies could be crushed by the truth.