Author's Notes:

Time for another story of AOA-ness, one that is of a recursive quality.

I bring you to the tale of Shinning Starlight and her strife during the war between what remained of Humanity and the land that was once known as Equestria.

Know however, that this tale has an easy thing to it... not every is what it seems...

Based on the writings of Jed R, Author of “The Avatar of Albion”, and TheIdiot, Author of “TCB: Shades of the Unsung” with materials present from other sources as well.

“These do bring back memories. This one is still warm. What is it? The recollections of a great lover? A catalog of conquests? We will soon find out. You wouldn't appreciate that, would you, Mr. Whatever-your-name is? Not the sort of conquest you would ever understand. Let's see, a touch of unhappy childhood, a dash of teenage rebellion, and last but not least, a tragic death in the family.”

Dr. Schreber, “Dark City”

“The mind of the subject will desperately struggle to create memories where none exist…”

R. Lutece, “Barriers to Trans-Dimensional Travel”

***

Time is always passing. The present ever shifting with each moment coming and going by. The things we’ve done exist in our past for preservation or for reflection; the memories we have these events are precious by every definition.

The things we do here and now, will immediately shape what comes next in our close future. These actions we commit will have consequences for each one done, regardless of intentions well or nefarious.

But it’s the future that makes us afraid - we don’t know what will happen, or if it’s in our control entirely. All we do know is that we have our memories and experiences to guide us.

We usually hold them deep within our hearts and never let them go; sometimes they are treasured, other times we wish that they never happened - regretting the worst actions of possibilities that have been done, are happening and will be done.

Our personalities are shaped by these memories and experiences, they describe who we are and give the indication of what we might do.

But, what happens when our memories are taken from us? Replaced even? And we can’t remember our true selves at all?

***

There are many ways to start a story, tell a tale or make a film. With so many ways available, why would anyone choose to write something that is based on another story? That’s a good question. Writing a story of a story is just building off someone else’s universe and basically advertising that said universe like an ad on TV for a (subjectively) better show that the person should be watching. So why do it?

If I could give an answer, maybe it’s because sometimes we want more of the same thing and previously created things materials just aren’t enough. Or we want more of the same but with our own spin added to it. Because that is the purpose of whenever someone writes a story to flesh out ideas that were already made - things like expanding on a simple concept and making an entire universe out of it while also going to such lengths to build on these ideas; to explore all the possibilities that can be done with it.

Now, one may be wondering what this tale is? The answer… is a recursive one - simply put it’s a form of story that basically have their story take place somewhere else while the original would occur, with common practice being that their characters would be entirely original and to have the story itself being those characters going around the original’s setting, thus making their story up entirely.

A point to make is the fact that other times, recursive stories tend to exist for the purpose of expanding the world they’re in by taking place in other areas within the world by using unique characters of their story to flesh out the world they’re in along with other canon characters that did appear in the original story from time to time.

Now - in this world… in a land called Equestria ten years ago the Diarchy that ruled the nation, Princess Celestia and her younger sister Princess Luna, would find an anomaly a mile outside of Las Pegasus’s borders.

As it would turn out, on the other side of these anomaly was an island that had a portal - one that led to a new world called Earth and home to a race known as Humanity; one that was very ethnically and politically diverse.

At first, Princesses Celestia and Luna approached the people of Earth - these humans - with friendship and kindness, as they attempted to approach all things. Though the humans could not traverse the portal between worlds, they seemed open to friendly terms of co-existence. Soon, however, cracks would begin to show - cracks that would begin with the creation of a potion that would transform the human form into an equine one, with the intention of having Ambassadors and others cross over the divide. These Converted would, after a time, forget all about their ties to humanity and instead seek to embrace the new lives, names and relationships they had made as ponies; most of them having resigned from the various agencies and embassies that they had been employed in or helped establish.

At first, this was the limit of the problem - after two years though, disaster struck. First, Princess Luna died under mysterious circumstances - the official story was that she had died of illness, though many rumours to the contrary, some being very outlandish, circulated. Then something worse happened; the Barrier that prevented humans and human technology from traversing the portal began expanding outward from Portal Island, destroying anything - and anyone - it touched. The human race, in vain, tried stopping it, but nothing in their great technological arsenal was capable. The only thing mankind could do was die - or, as many did, convert and begin new lives as ponies.

Equestria was forced to watch as the human race was exterminated, their history obliterated. Though it was a horrible fate, there were those who saw the horrors that humanity unleashed, the butchery, the terror, the monstrosities of Gilead and the other extremist forces that dragged the human race kicking and screaming into its apparent destruction, and these ponies said that maybe… just maybe… the human race deserved to die.

After all, instead of seeking refuge and a chance at a new life they instead chose death.

It all came to a head with only one land mass remaining unconsumed by the barrier - the islands of Great Britain and Ireland. For they survived due to the actual magic of Earth, which has long since been underused, and made a blue barrier that prevent Equestria’s from destroying them and rendering all of humanity extinct.

For a moment, there was respite and rejoicing… but then, the war would begin.

It would be a war that amounted to a brutal, bloody conflict - countless millions of lives, ponies and humans alike, falling as what remained of humanity (along with ponies that have defected to the other side) fought desperately to survive the onslaught of the forces of Astra Solamina Maxima, the Alicorn who had once been the benevolent Celestia.

At first, this war was a battle of half-measures and retreats. The human race fell back again and again… until one day, years into the conflict, hope was born in the form of David Elliot, the Avatar of Albion - a man who had already become a hero, now host to the power of Britain herself, chosen to fight for humanity in this, it’s darkest hour…

And yet, this story… is not his; this story belongs to somepony else this time around.

***

The Everfree Forest. January 25th. Year 6 of the New Solaminan Calendar (2030 AD).

Our story begins in Equestria, or… it was Equestria once upon a time. Maybe it still was, underneath Imperial decrees and roadblocks, Royal Guard marching hither and thither and hundreds of recruitment posters everywhere you looked, demanding you do your part for the Solaminan Empire. If it was Equestria, though, it was an Equestria long since changed by its experiences, and not for the better. Where once friendship and harmony had been the watchwords of this once great land, now duty, honour and military might were the most important things one could have. Equestria was a fortress, a military machine, and that machine had little sympathy for its cogs.

Nowhere could this be seen more clearly than the once proud town of Ponyville. Many of the citizens of this quiet hamlet had long since abandoned the town, either at the outset of the war with humanity as part of the Mass Exodus to that tiny island or out of discomfort due to the Converted and their fanaticism. What was left of the town's population had seen a rise in Converted labourers, come to work in factories and foundries set up in the once homely town.

In its outskirts stood Twilight Sparkle, the Element of Magic (one of the two Elements of Order left really) and High Commander of the Equestrian military (though her authority usually only extended - by choice - to her personal guard, the Archmagi). She was investigating a strange source of magic that was coming from the Old Castle of Two Sisters, the place where, a long time ago, she had first harnessed the then Elements of Harmony to defeat Nightmare Moon.

That had been a long time ago. She had brought an escort group of Archmagi with her - these ponies having been hoof picked as her own personal best and enormous potential as magicians and battle-sorcerers - certain that whatever it was, she was prepared for it; the Archmagi were armoured in their specialist anti-magic, enchanted gear, which was designed to be able to withstand just about any spell thrown at it.

“My lady,” a mare named Gentle Flower, one of the comparatively few Converted Archmagi (in general of their ranks, not just this group), said quietly. “We are approaching the area the magical reading came from. What are your orders?"

"Is there any sign of what caused this spike of energy?" Twilight asked, ignoring the pang of emotions the word 'spike' caused. ‘That was a long time ago, and he chose his fate…’

"None, milady," Flower said with a sigh. "We can't understand it."

Twilight looked in the direction of the castle - the old fortress was unassuming, but looks could be - and often were - deceiving, that was a lesson she had learned long ago, and her belief in it had only strengthened as the war progressed.

“I will go in alone,” she finally said to the Archmagi. “Hang back - I will signal if I need assistance.”

“Understood,” Gentle Flower said.

Twilight turned and marched toward the castle, still feeling prepared for just about anything.

***

The Castle of Two Sister remained as it had been since the first time Twilight had seen in a long time ago - old, abandoned, quiet… it almost made one want to set up a lab here, either for the secluded nature of the place, or perhaps out of nostalgia.

It was where she and the others became the Elements of Order after all. Nostalgia was a powerful thing. Maybe she would get to study it sometime, after the war was over and she could finally rest.

The Element of Magic continued forth, her horn glowing as she slowly approached the throne room of the fortress - it was here that the energy was spiking, reaching its absolute peak. She braced herself, knowing that there could be anything beyond these doors.

‘The magic weapon’, she thought to herself. Could it be the humans' weapon? That was… not a happy thought; considering that said weapon had claimed the lives of her friends and others, time and again every time it was encountered unfortunately.

Opening the doors, Twilight found herself looking at… something strange.

The throne room of the ancient castle looked… new - it was restored, just as beautiful as Solamina’s throne room; possibly more so.

‘Was this what this was like before?’ she found herself wondering for a moment, before her attention was claimed by something else.

In the center of the throne room, passed out, was a young unicorn mare sleeping softly - ignorant of everything. It seemed as though she was the source of the energy… or the spot she was lying in was.

“What in the name of…?” Twilight said softly. She approached the unicorn - there didn’t seem to be anything physically wrong with her, but…

Suddenly a flash of some kind hit Twilight, causing her to shield her eyes… yet as soon as it came - it died down.

The Element of Order opened her eyes to look upon the young mare, who moaned softly - starting to awaken...

***

Her eyes opened as her mind came to; for a moment, there was no memory of anything at all, a kind of blissful emptiness that made her feel happier than anything for some reason, and then it came to her. Her name… her name was Shining Starlight, and she was an actress of the theater… and… she was apparently standing before the Element of Magic, and was in some kind of castle?

“Twilight Sparkle…?” Starlight asked out of confusion, her eyes narrowing at the mare before her. “Where… where am I?” She began to look around, “Is this some kind of new castle Empress Solamina created?”

“No, this is the castle of the two sisters,” Twilight replied, frowning slightly. “Who are you?”

“Oh, well… it makes sense you wouldn’t have heard of me - you are the Empress’s student after all and the High Commander,” Starlight responded. “My name is Shining Starlight, theatrical actress for New Manehatten and winner of two Pony awards for best Leading Mare in a row.” She finished, giving a theatrical bow of sorts that a pony of her profession would do.

“You’re right,” Twilight said bluntly. “I haven’t ever heard of you. You do know this place was swimming in unknown magical energy, right?”

“Really?” Starlight responded, eyes focused. “I don’t sense anything.”

“Well, take it from me,” Twilight said with a wry, sarcastic smile, “this place was a veritable beacon of magical energy - an unknown type, too." She decided to refrain from sharing too many of the possibilities - it wasn't this mare's place to know what might have been. "Do you know what might have caused it? Or how you got here?”

“I… I don’t know,” Starlight replied, pure confusion on her face. “Last thing I remember was retiring for the night in my apartment, feeding my pet cat and then…”

She suddenly stopped, her teeth gritted as her snout began to suddenly bleed.

"Ugggh,” she groaned in pain, before collapsing.

“Ah buck,” Twilight swore. She sent a blue bolt into the sky to summon the Archmagi - blue being the symbol of an injured pony on the ground. She sighed.

“This is too strange,” she muttered.

A moment later, Gentle Flower and a half dozen Archmagi arrived, looking entirely alarmed - they had clearly expected to find Twilight injured, and had come with all possible haste accordingly.

“We saw the signal,” Flower said, before stopping in her tracks and her eyes widening in shock. “My - my lady Sparkle.”

“What is it?” Twilight asked, frowning. “What’s wrong?”

“You’re… you’re…” Flower said quietly. “You’ve… changed.”

Twilight scowled, before looking down at her hooves… and frowning. The odd grey hair in her coat, the odd streak that she’d gotten use to… they were all gone. Her eyes then widened.

“What… what happened?” she murmured. None of the others responded, not that she needed them to. She motioned for them to take the injured Unicorn away.

***

Twilight stood at the Hospital, waiting for some kind of answers from the place…

Doctor Stable soon came - a puzzled expression present on his face.

"Ms. Sparkle, a word if you please?” he requested. “It’s about the Mare you brought in.”

“What about her?” Sparkle asked, ignoring the incorrect form of address for the moment.

“Well, we ran her blood as you requested and… it isn’t regular Unicorn blood,” he said seriously, “There are traces of Earth Pony and Pegasus blood as well, but it’s genetically arranged in a way like an… Alicorn would,” Dr. Stable finished, dropping a verbal bomb shell of sorts.

“That’s…” Twilight said, frowning. “I take it you mean more than the usual traces from mixed group parents?”

“Indeed,” he nodded. “All three bloodlines traits are simply… mixed together in perfect harmony, too balanced for mixed parentage.”

“It sounds almost like you’re describing Alicorn blood,” Twilight frowned thoughtfully. She scowled. “How is that even possible?”

“I don’t know, but given everything that we’ve all experienced these past few years - especially your… recent rejuvenation, it seems that the impossible are becoming more and more probable.” Dr. Stable said. “Though, it could be that she is to Ascend like Princess Cadenza had - if the stories are correct that is," he added.

Twilight scoffed. “A stage actress ascend? Please. Such things do not happen to just anypony.” She narrowed her eyes at the unconscious Unicorn. “There is definitely something off about all of this, though. I want you to keep her under close observation, clear?”

He nods, breathing a sigh. “Yes, Ms. Sparkle.”

“Commander,” Sparkle corrected absently, before walking out. She had other duties to attend to, although she decided to devote thought time to this puzzle - most of her duties weren’t that arduous on brainpower anyway.

***

In New Manehatten, it was a sunny day within the converted city - within a studio apartment (and sleeping softly within her bedroom) was a familiar mare oblivious to the nice day.

An alarm clock soon sounded before a pink glow of magic would turn it off in absentmindedly fashion - however, to her mild displeasure, there came the sound of a hoof banging on her door soon after.

“Twilight! This is your wake up call!” A voice shouts from the other side of the door, causing the Unicorn to groan and pull her pillow over her head with her hooves. “You aren’t going to make us late again!” The voice persisted

Shining Starlight, her roommate and fellow cast member… and friend; why didn’t she pick Rarity to stay with again?

“Hang on, hang on,” she said tiredly. “I’ll be up in a minute.”

She frowned. There was a kind of grogginess hanging over her.

“What is this again?” Twilight muttered. “Where are we going again?”

“We need to get to Rarity’s early to make sure our costumes fit - we don’t want any mishaps when Solamina and Princess Cadenza come," Starlight reminded, still on the other side of the door and respecting her roommate’s privacy. “Besides, we still promised we’d see Applejack for lunch," the mare added.

“Right,” Twilight said, frowning. She had known that. Of course she had known that. “But what about…?”

She paused, frowning more, now feeling a sense of confusion.

“We can still have a light breakfast if you get out of bed.” Starlight said, “Now please get yourself ready, and quick.”

With that there’d be the sound of hooves trotting as the mare walked away and to the kitchen.

“What about the…?” Twilight muttered, but she lost the thought. The Unicorn sighed and just shakes her head, before looking into her bedside mirror - she looked a little ruffled, but she could live with it. Sighing once more, she headed for her door and opened it.

The hallway was littered with various pictures hanging, amongst them being pictures of Twilight’s folks and family that were still in Canterlot, her brother in the Royal Guard and such. There were pictures of her with her friends, a big old group shot of the Seven of the them standing in front of the Statue of Liberation that New Manehatten had. Also some pictures of Starlight’s, things like Pinkie Pie having drawn on her when she had too much to drink after a party - that mare couldn’t hold her cider or wine… especially the cider.

“Starlight,” Twilight muttered to herself. Something was… off, but she didn’t know what it was. “Starlight…”

Shining Starlight… was that… no, that couldn’t…

‘Do I know her?’ she wondered.

Of course she did - there was no way she didn't. There was all this photographic evidence and preserved memories of what they’d done together.

‘But why does it feel wrong?’

She didn’t get an answer, though there was the sound of her roommate working quickly in the kitchen to fix up a light and quick breakfast for them both - today was a big day, and tonight was even bigger; it was the first time they would ever perform before the Empress, let alone the Crystal Princess… that her brother had a crush on.

“Hey, Starlight,” she said quietly, “d’you think we’ll…”

She paused. Something was off. Something was definitely off. She scowled, and went over to a window, looking out at the city.

It was as busy as could be - various horse drawn cabs present, ponies walking around, Pegasi flying about… it was New Manehatten alright; complete with a view of the Statue of Liberation and the Hudson Bay.

She frowned. Something was wrong. What was it? What was she missing?

“Starlight, did something happen?” she called out.

“What?” Starlight called back, finishing up Twilight’s dish before levitating it to the table. “What’da mean something happened? Did your brother finally cave in and try asking Princess Cadenza out?” she asked, a humorous grin on her face.

“I just…” Twilight said quietly. “I feel like something’s wrong. Like…”

“Solamina deciding to attend just one theatre production out of probably hundreds between here, the rest of Earth and Equus?” Starlight asked, grinning slightly. “I know, I was shivering with excitement when I got up, but it doesn’t make any sense for her to just see us - we’re not special.”

“Earth…” Twilight repeated. “Earth. Why do I think something’s wrong with Earth?”

“You’re starting to sound like that Stallion who keeps yelling stuff when he isn’t in the alleyway,” Starlight points out. “Nothing wrong with Earth, it hasn’t been since Solamina finally finished purifying it like, fifteen years ago.” She trotted out of the kitchen and sat down at the table. “Now come on and eat, or are you not hungry now?”

Purifying Earth? Finished? No, that didn’t sound…

“We never finished,” Twilight murmured. “Did we? I don’t remember… I remember…”

Blood. Fire. Death. Fear.

“It didn’t…” Twilight said, frowning. She trailed off. Her mind wasn’t working properly.

“Twilight? You okay?” Starlight asked, having noticed her quiet and unmoving roommate. “Something bugging you that I don’t know about? You can tell me, I’m your friend remember?”

Blood. Fire. The smell of smoke and ash on the air, the screams of ponies. A figure that stood before an army, sword in hand, a harbinger of death…

“The…” Twilight murmured. “The Avatar of Albion.”

“That boogyman?” Starlight said, her face a tad disgusted. “Twilight, he doesn’t exist - he was just some creation by the humans to scare us. Solamina herself proved it.”

“No…” Twilight murmured. “He was… he was real... I saw him… he stood in front of us, and he… he…”

“Warriors of Equestria! Thou hast come to make war on the sovereign land of Albion and the human race. Turn thy army back or die.”

What were these memories? What was going on…?

“Did you have a nightmare or something?” Starlight asked, concerned by her friend's words and manner.

“I…” Twilight murmured, frowning. “I don’t remember. I just remember…”

“I am the Avatar of Albion.”

***

Commander Sparkle shot awake, eyes wide. She coughed slightly, feeling a wave of nausea sweep over her, and got out of bed.

“Spike, take a…” she began, and then she stopped. Even after six years, she still occasionally called out to her old assistant. She scowled. If only he hadn’t chosen the path he had chosen…

But still, what kind of dream was that? Why was she put into the role of being Starlight’s roommate and… apparently having her deceased friends with her in New Manehatten in a life that she didn’t live?

Just who was Shining Starlight?

She scowled. She had once loved mysteries - but that had been before the war. Now all she loved was getting to the bottom of them, having them done with, so that she could focus on her duties. So that, she decided, was what she would do.

High Commander Twilight Sparkle trotted out of her quarters, it was time for answers and to find them one way or another.