Princess Celestia stood alone on a small rise as she stared into the distance. The moon was absent in the night sky above; the only light available coming from the stars. Miles away, on a blood soaked ridge line a battle raged as the ponies of the 1st, 3rd, and 7th Equestrian Legions engaged the fearsome Black Talon Griffon flock. The ridge, known by most as 'The Farrier's Way', marked the border between Equestria and the Griffon lands to the north.

Celestia watched in silence as half a dozen Bomb Spells detonated in rapid sequence. Screams of pain and anguish followed. If not for her enhanced hearing, Celestia never would have been able to hear the cries. The distance was enough that, even with her excellent eyesight, she could barely make out individual figures, outlined by a dozen fires started by flaming arrows and Incendiary Spells. The war with the Griffons, fierce and bloody though it was, was not what had drawn the Sun Princess to the frosty north of Equestria.

"My Princess, she is ready." Celestia turned her head away from the battle and looked down at Thunder Wing, the Captain of her Royal Guard. Celestia gave a slight nod, and glanced at the large gathering of ponies which had formed a rough perimeter around her. A hundred white and gray Pegasi clad in golden armor shuffled about nervously, their eyes scanning for threats. Several stretched and refolded their wings. None were comfortable with the Princess being so near to the front.

Thunder Wing had expressed his own reservations, but Celestia had overruled him. The Princess desperately needed to meet the pony she had traveled all the way from Canterlot to see. Celestia slowly strode towards a rickety wooden cottage hidden in a small grove of ancient trees. Instead of a door, a heavy wool sheet hung in the doorway.

Celestia glanced at Thunder Wing, who had moved to follow her. "You will wait out here." Thunder Wing hesitated, before bowing his head and took a small step back. His displeasure was obvious, even in the dim light of the new moon sky. Celestia lowered her head to avoid the top of the door frame, pushed the sheet aside with her magic, and stepped inside.

The interior of the cottage was dark with only a few small candles providing light. Fog swirled all around the single room in hypnotic patterns. In the center, on a pile of ragged pillows, sat a unicorn mare with a pale gray, nearly white coat and white mane. The mare's cutie mark was a grandfather clock half obscured behind a parted curtain. The mare's eyes were hidden beneath her mane as she stared at a candle.

"We were told you requested Our presence," Celestia said, refraining from using the Royal Canterlot Voice. The pony did not speak, only dipped her head slightly in affirmation. Celestia waited, but the mare remained silent. The sound of a muffled explosion in the distance prompted Celestia to press the silent pony. "Speak, Mare of Time, or was Our journey for naught?"

As if it had been waiting for Celestia's question, the smoke all around her instantly changed its pattern. Instead of many independent swirls and loops, the smoke began to slowly circle around the Mare of Time. The smoke circled faster and faster, becoming a whirlwind. Then, as quickly as it began, the smoke stopped.

For many minutes, the smoke remained still. Celestia resisted the urge to shift her weight, trying to maintain her regal appearance before the mysterious pony in front of her.

Suddenly and without warning, the smoke divided upwards into two parallel columns around the Mare of Time, who looked up at Celestia for the first time. Celestia took an involuntary step back from the sight.

The Mare's eyes were completely white and looked eerily unseeing, while at the same time seemed to see completely through the Princess. The Mare's lips moved wordlessly for a fraction of a second. Then, the words not matching the movement of the Mare's lips, a great, booming voice pulsed in the Alicorn's ears. The sound was so horribly loud, yet so completely soft, it forced the Princess to her knees. It was as if a billion tons of silk were pressing down on her eardrums. Celestia covered her ears with her hooves in an attempt to shield herself, all thoughts of 'Royal behavior' having been thrown out of the window by the white hot pain lancing through her skull, but the voice seemed to be inside her mind.

'Mare of Burning Star above
heed my warning
lest all your kingdom turn to dust.

When the Wheel of Night
reclaims its lost patron,
the Monster of Slight
Banished by Harmony,
And the God of Chaos
Forced from His throne
A Rain of fire will fall to ground
to deliver our Salvation.
Looked upon with Trepidation
Sired by a Lion
with the Heart of a Lamb.

Then the World Itself shall quake.
An Evil force made to wait
shall pierce the Heavenly Veil.

The sounds of Battle will resound
And the Land of Peace
will feel War.
Kindness lays upon the floor,
appears to breath
Nevermore.

A rage contained, a rage released
The only way to Slay the Beast
But when Titans Roar
And fists do Clash,
If left alone to their fight
All the world shall turn to ash.

Good may win, it may not
But Good it won't remain.
Evil in the end shall have its way
Unless the warrior's hand is stayed."

The Mare of Time's lips ceased to move, and she returned her unseeing eyes back to her candle. Celestia rubbed her head with a hoof and struggled to stand. When she finally managed to raise herself on shaky legs, the Mare of Time tilted her head in her direction without taking her eyes from the candle.

"I have no more words for this world. I think...I think I would like to rest now." The Mare's voice was a tired, raspy whisper. It was so quiet Celestia debated for a moment if she had truly heard it at all. The Princess of the Sun opened her mouth to inquire further, but was stopped when every candle in the room was simultaneously extinguished, plunging the cottage into total darkness.

By the time Celestia managed to conjure a Light Spell, the room was empty. The pile of cushions the Mare had been laying on appeared undisturbed. Celestia nodded her head sadly, understanding whatever it was that had given the Mare of Time her power had taken its leave. Thousands of years of experience allowed her to recognize the few times when she had no say in certain matters, and she recognized the Mare of Time's exit as one such instance. As the large white Alicorn turned towards the doorway to leave, a small wisp of smoke floated past Celestia's ear.

"It shall End where it All began. Farewell, my Beloved Celly." Celestia jerked her head abruptly in the direction of the voice. It was not the same gravelly whisper as the Mare of Time's true voice, but instead a soft, silky tone. One she remembered very well. Not only that, but it had called her 'Celly'. Only two beings in all of existence had ever called her that, and one was currently sealed in the moon. But when Celestia again searched the cabin, it remained empty.

Suppressing the urge to sigh again, Princess Celestia stepped back out into the Night, the words of the prophecy weighing heavily on her mind.

So that's it for now. Please tell me what you think, any tips you may have, and if I made any spelling or grammar errors.