Over 10,000 years have passed.

I was once banished to this parallel world known as Earth. It had many similarities, but at the same time countless distinctions. It made me curious, indeed. I discovered much information worthwhile about this realm. It is a little like a mirror, every living human on this plane has, theoretically, a natural counterpart on Aldara, or 'Equus', as many call my home domain today. Some of its inhabitants argue and call it by another title, suiting their own beliefs. How utterly pointless. But my home dimension's true name was sadly lost to time, excuses could be accepted in this case.

And even the mortals who died in one world, had in many cases a counterpart in the other at one point in the flow of time. The magic of Terra was slumbering for many millennia, though its connection to Aldara shall be the key to its awakening.

Secrets of both realms, told and untold, are waiting for their discovery.

But all in due time. I have to say, if they didn't imprison me in this world, I wouldn't have found this new magic, nor these opportunities within my reach. The dominant species of Terra, the humans, have so much potential. Sadly, they refuse to acknowledge the truth right in front of their very eyes. Magic, a great gift, coupled with an even greater responsibility. In order to handle it, a calm mind is mandatory. It exists in this world like on Aldara, even if it needs a stronger push in the right direction. Sometimes magic showed itself to humans in some forms and in the earlier days of their race they even built a connection. But in time magic was forgotten and explained as a fantasy of the mind. Such foolishness.

I shall make them remember.

In my existence I watched how entire civilizations emerged and perished. Empires crumbled, mountains were created by the forces of nature itself and prosperous forests turned into deserts. I witnessed many events, but if I learned anything about the way of creation, then it was the following: 'Everything is destined to fade away and be replaced anew, even gods'.

I remember the progress of the human culture. They achieved many great things in their short lives and learned to adapt to the circumstances they had to face. Until this very day mankind strives for more. For power, for influence, for a world built after their own image. But the victims of their own history never died in vain. All of those self-proclaimed conquerors never knew the truth about their own world.

Pathetic.

Humans endured, pulled themselves together and worked with each other to form at least a little kingdom of peace. A little bit of harmony, of order, or their own form of chaos, even if only for a short time frame.

Still, many of them dedicated themselves to a new way of life, which conflicted with reality. To ignore everything that was incompatible with their little world. Be it a world of religion, a world of science, a world of dreams, or a new world entirely. Unfortunately, magic, a force in its own right, is one element many humans, no matter their beliefs, decided to forget. They even abused it, labelling it as their definition of 'evil', an excuse to commit unspeakable sins in the Dark Age.

Hypocrites.

They forcibly closed off their senses against everything they didn't understand and couldn't explain in words of their own. Just because it would question them, because it would unsettle the foundations of their fragile ways of life.

I shall make them remember.

Then again, there is the world of Aldara, my home. Where many species exist, known and unknown. Even in imprisonment I could still observe both planes, thanks to prescient arrangements I made before my banishment, consequently I was still aware of the most important moments, worthy of being remembered.

I watched how the events of history unfolded themselves before my eyes. The inhabitants of Aldara were, and still are, like humans in many regards. Some of them played a bigger, others a smaller role in the making of the world. There are five of many different species, which made the biggest impact on history and they will play a greater role in the upcoming storm I will unleash.

The mighty race of the Dragons, for example.

Once they were the most dominant species, but lust for treasures and power let their kingdom crumble to dust and ashes, the curse of mortality hit without mercy. The cursed still call themselves dragons out of pride, but they try to hide their fall from grace and are only shades of what they once were. Nowadays those less impressing relatives of the true Dragons are content with a cave and gemstones, representing greed and simplicity. A mundane life in solitude is their desire, only left behind during the Great Dragon Migration.

But quite a few of them live in the ruins of their former domain to this very day, waiting for the opportunity, for fate, in the shadows of Dra'thyron, the Eternal City, in the heart of the 'Dragonlands', as most mortals call the former kingdom in this age. Only a few remember this land under an older title, Dra'za.

Seven kinds of Dragons existed at the dawn of Aldara. Dragons of the elements of fire, water, lightning, wind, earth, magic and life. Majestic, powerful, living forces and embodiments of their element. They decided to retreat from their rightful place when the curse appeared. Their later existing lesser brethren took this initiative and spread beyond their domain. But such is the difference between the Dragons and their fleshy cousins, the drakes. Such momentousness can't be ignored, if some wish to compare them.

I wonder though, will they be able to reclaim, even if just a percentage, of their former glory?

Griffonstone, the once proud capital of the Gryphons of the split kingdom Gryphonia, succumbed to a mere mockery of its former brilliance, just because one little item was stolen from them. The Idol of Boreas, one of the Gryphons' most precious artefacts. Whoever held the idol would be declared the ruler of all Gryphons and may assemble their kind under one rule once again.

There are five higher noble clans, who seek power in their own way: The Redclaw Clan, the Archbeak Clan, the Newfeather Clan, the Eagleeye Clan and the Lionhawk Clan. Each has loyal vassals. In the Gryphons' military are six kind of warriors, playing a role in their culture: Knight, archer, lancer, seer, valkyrie and berserker. The Gryphon Kingdom has a long tradition of prideful warriors, who live after a simple doctrine: 'Live with honor, fight with honor, die with honor'. Will they be able to mark history anew? Gain respect and be acknowledged as a force to be reckoned with? Or will they have to continue this subsistence? Only time will tell.

Changelings; A truly misunderstood race. Almost none tried to learn about them or their culture. What a shameful display of ignorance. For good nourishment they need to harvest emotions. Love constitutes as the mainstay of their diet. Changelings can eat and drink like all the other races, but they don't gain any nutrients from it. They become weak without love, and they can not use any magic if they starve. Especially not if they are in the process of dying from malnutrition.

Because of their appearance and 'parasitic' behavior, they are feared and severed from society. That is the reason Changeling hives exist distributed over the world. There are thirteen to be exact, swarms, on Aldara, which are named after different kinds of gems: The Malachite, Amber, Amethyst, Obsidian, Aquamarine, Axinite, Bloodstone, Citrine, Ruby, Sapphire, Seraphinite, Jadeite and Diamond Hive.

Thus, in many cases, unfounded hatred for them is the reason they only live with each other in form of a hive. A hive consists of six general classes of Changelings.

First there are the Collectors, who search for emotions, especially love, which they can harvest and bring back to the hive.

Next, the Guardians, who defend it.

Then they have Drones, who represent their military with their own structure of command.

Breeders, who support and care for the nymphs.

Workers, who are tasked with assignments, which they gladly do, because it is their duty. Conviction and obligation to work and live for the hive, as it is for all Changelings.

The most important Changeling class though, is the Queen.

A Queen is not only the ruler, but much more. She is like a mother to all Changelings in her hive. She breeds, feeds, cares, protects, fights for them and shares her wisdom with generations to come.

All Changelings of a swarm are mentally connected over a hivemind, which makes it possible to coordinate in near perfection, despite having their own thoughts and feelings. The Queen is the center and backbone of the hivemind, and she can reach all of her subjects with it. Such a deep connection imparts every Changeling an undying loyalty for their hive queen and they would gladly give their life for her.

A hive always needs a Queen.

Unsurprisingly, Changelings are shapeshifters, which means their magic gives them the ability to take the appearance of another species entirely in body and voice. But not memory, should they take on the form of an already existing being. It is the most important aspect of Changeling magic and makes it possible to harvest love undetected. If their magic is strong enough, Changelings can take the form of creatures that are much bigger than themselves.

Next there is Taurien, the land of minotaurs where the inhabitants are born for battle and tradition.

In the great colosseums of Minos, the capital of Taurien, young minotaurs fight in the hopes of gaining glory, respect and recognition from the chieftain of their tribe. Their willingness to fight in battle will make them a force to be reckoned with. The minotaurs walk upon the Gleaming Steppes, which contain the biggest part of their country. There, fueled by the teachings of their elders, are they worshipping their own entity: Azan, Goddess of Nature and the Hunt. And they don't take kindly to intruders on their holy grounds. Notwithstanding, they forgot a being of the ancient times, an important and dangerous part of their old history, which could have a great impact on the upcoming events. Something that slumbers, but could awake at any time.

The Balrog of Dun Rakah.

And at last the race that affected history the most; the Ponies. Small, but resistant, an admirable trait to have.

I remember them in their earliest history. The Ponies of the land today known as Equestria. Four tribes, each living in its own kingdom.

The Thestrali, awake during the nighttime and wandering under the moonlight, whereas all other tribes chose the light of day. To this moment, most of them live in their own domain, Thestrylvania, far away from the other three tribes in the southeast.

Then, there were the Unicorns of Unicornia under the rule of Princess Platinum, daughter of King Bullion, and her royal advisor, Clover the Clever, apprentice of Star Swirl the Bearded, who in turn advised Bullion in his younger years.

The Pegasi of Pegasopolis, under the lead of Commander Hurricane and his subordinate Private Pansy

Finally the Earth Ponies of Earthstantinopel under the rule of Chancellor Puddinghead and her secretary Smart Cookie.

Every tribe had its own branch of magic and abilities, thinking that they deserved more than the others. All the skirmishes they fought with word and sword had a consequence, a threat none of the Ponies anticipated, nor found out until a much later point.

Windigos were enticed. The hatred of the Ponies for each other made them stronger and stronger, so much so that they unleashed a long and merciless winter upon their victims. The blizzards froze the earth and made it impossible, even for the Earth Ponies, to harvest or to find any food at all.

Many died because of the resulting famine. The tribe leaders all came to the same conclusion: They had to leave their kingdom behind and find a new realm. Reinforced by the wish to lead their fellow equines to safety, the three leaders and their second in commands led their remaining Ponies to a new land, untouched by the deathly cold of the unforgiving winter. But the peace in this new kingdom lasted for a short time only. Soon they discovered that the other tribes had settled there, too. A fragile peace and a little trade were the only contacts between them.

In the end they did what mortals always did if something went wrong. They searched for a scapegoat to blame for the suffering they had to withstand, even if it was their own fault.

The flames of war kindled anew, many lost their lives in the heat of battle. On the peak of their last fight something happened and none of them understood how it was possible. But the winter, they had to endure, caught up to them in an instant. The Windigos had returned.

Star Swirl the Bearded and Clover the Clever found out that the Spirits of Hatred caused the blizzard after they investigated the origin of the unnaturally fast approaching storm. Star Swirl ordered his apprentice to search for a solution in a cave, deep in a nearby forest. There he located a strong magical disturbance he never felt before, and sent Clover to investigate the source of this disturbance. In the meantime he tried to at least slow down the wraiths' onslaught.

The young apprentice talked with Princess Platinum about their observations and the princess decided to accompany him in order to protect her subjects. Scouts of the Pegasi and Earth Ponies reported back to their leaders about the plan of the two Unicorns and they decided to follow them, curious about what they might find.

In a nearby forest of foreboding nature, later called the Everfree Forest by the equines, and after many encounters with the indigenous flora and fauna, Platinum and Clover found an old cave and went in to search for the magical disturbance. In the end of their journey they found a strange looking tree made of crystal with six radiant orbs on its limbs. This tree was later called, by the Ponies, the Tree of Harmony.

Suddenly behind them were Commander Hurricane, Private Pansy, Smart Cookie and Chancellor Puddinghead, who in turn demanded to know what the Unicorns wanted to do with the tree. Annoyed and fearing that the other leaders would stop them from helping their fellow Ponies, the magic wielders prepared themselves for a fight. All three sides stood in a fair distance from each other and waited for an opportunity to strike.

But before the situation could escalate any further, the Windigos, now in their unholy true form, infused by hatred, attacked them. The Ponies fought to the best of their abilities in their teams of two, but in the end the cursed souls were too strong. Fearing it would not only be the end for them, but their tribes, too, all six leaders fought together. Pegasi, Earth Ponies and Unicorns, they fought for a common goal. The high amount of determination and the wish to defend their loved ones was answered by the crystal tree, which was the entire reason for their journey into this cave in the first place. The six orbs started to glow brightly in the colors of a rainbow. The massive amount of magic that collected itself in the orbs was unleashed in a bright explosion, which covered not only the cave, but the entire kingdom and beyond. Nothing was damaged except the Windigos, which were destroyed the moment the magic touched them. It forced them to retreat, to disappear, and with them the blizzard in progress.

The Windigos were defeated.

After mourning the dead and helping the wounded, the six equines decided to meet again. Encouraged by the earlier events, the tribe leaders decided to put aside their differences and created a new country for all Ponies, not only for one tribe. The kingdom of Equestria was founded.

This happened 5,000 years after my banishment to the human world.

In the coming years the Ponies of Equestria learned to live with each other, but racism and arrogance, especially by the Unicorn nobility, caused new problems over the years.

Then they appeared. The Celestial Sisters, Princess Luna and Princess Celestia. They were siblings by blood, but something was different about them. They had the abilities and features of all three tribes. Both were young mares, but Star Swirl the Bearded took them in and taught them many lessons before his disappearance. Because they were in their abilities a combination of the three Pony tribes, he decided to call their species Alicorn.

Later they found out, after a few tests of their traits, that they were ageless and eventually they gained the power to lower and raise the sun and the moon. The Ponies saw them as a sign, that their combination of the three tribes had a deeper meaning. And thus, the Ponies of Equestria chose to announce them to be princesses for all tribes.

So began the rule of the Royal Sisters. The Ponies were first like all other races of the world, but it changed. In the next nearly 4,000 years, Celestia and Luna fought wars to defend their subjects many times and tried to be fair rulers. But after the Alicorn of the Sun had to banish her own sister to the moon with the help of the six orbs from the crystalline tree, what the Ponies had come to call the Elements of Harmony at one point. After this, she felt alone, overwhelmed by grief and loss, and paid little attention to the actions of her little ponies. The aftermath of the civil war between the followers of the sun and the moon changed the ruler's way of thinking dramatically.

In the next 1,000 years, Celestia started her own campaign of harmony. She changed history books to make the later generations of her subjects believe that every conflict could be solved alone in peaceful ways.

A noble gesture, but futile in the very end. This foolish Alicorn did all that out of the firm belief that living by the doctrines of friendship and love would bring them everlasting peace and prosperity.

Such ignorance, such naivety.

She banished all practice of deadly spells and not even the Ponies’ own military was allowed to practice magic that could eliminate an enemy immediately. Every major conflict which arose was played down by her after it was solved. She truly lived by the old human saying, 'History is written by the victors'.

With that action Celestia ridiculed every victim who lost its life for a greater cause to give other Ponies the chance to live another day. This forced education on the mind she gave her subjects was sickening. Worse, they believed in her teachings like zealots. They took to her words like a fish to water, firmly thinking she knew the answers to every problem and placed her on a pedestal, equal to a god. Their inability to judge a being for all its actions and to seek the truth, instead of putting every word of their ruler on a golden scale, is astonishing.

Their blindness knows no measure.

How could they truly believe that every conflict could be solved peacefully? Where did they get the arrogance to announce with determination and faith that even to think about solving a problem by force would be archaic or barbaric? Even if there was no other way? They are blinded to reality; They abandoned it.

Until this day they think only their way of life is the right course, since it was their path for over a millennium. Instead of taking the world with a grain of salt, and investigating both sides of a story, they turn a blind eye when it comes to pulling consequences. They only see their own solution, without asking difficult questions. They toss around words like 'good' and 'evil', like they have the right to judge others who don't follow their standard of virtues. Whoever doesn't want to live like them has to be banished, imprisoned or has to follow the path of redemption in their eyes.

Creatures who are violent by nature are labelled 'monsters' and even sapient races who have to consume meat in order to survive are looked upon with fear and judgment, because they take lives. They developed a strong caution, in many cases more a great dislike for everything that is unknown to them. Not rarely the Ponies pass the line between caution and xenophobia, between fear and irrational dislike, maybe even unfounded hatred.

I shall make them remember their ancestors' legacy.

They hide from the truth... yes indeed, hypocrisy is something they have in great amounts. After 1,000 years the Alicorn of the Moon returned from her banishment and six young mares were chosen by the Elements of Harmony. With them they released Princess Luna from the Nightmare Forces. But except for her sister and maybe a few of the proclaimed 'Bearers of Harmony', only the Thestrali and other creatures of the night were overjoyed to welcome back their mistress.

The Ponies gave the Elements labels: Honesty, Loyalty, Kindness, Laughter, Generosity and Magic. One mare, one Element of Harmony. But these famed 'heroes' are like all the other Ponies. They only want to enforce the sun princess' path of false harmony. They completely forget that life is neither easy nor simple. They only want to live in a world of illusions.

I will make them remember the truth.

In the imminent events, they need to learn. They forgot their past, they forgot what their ancestors fought for. I can't deny that Celestia made them forget, but still, they follow her doctrines blindly. An obedient puppet is not better than the puppeteer. Since the banishment of her sister she upheld the tradition to have every year a play, called the Hearth's Warming Eve Pageant. In this play the Ponies reduced a bloody and hard time of war, famine and losses to a foal's play with the most important message. Friendship defeats all odds, friendship will always win in the end, no matter what or who happens. A wisdom truly worthy of a foal's play, because only the youngest of lives could and should have such a naive innocence and worldview.

Nowadays, the Ponies have no longer a real will to defy the odds, no matter the cost. When it comes down to shedding blood or taking a life, these equines in their current mental state will gladly surrender their life and freedom, before they have to lose their innocence. As long as they can stop violence and have a peaceful solution. They place morals and virtues above life itself and don't understand that sometimes you have to take the lives of the few in order to save the many.

What do they want to show the world? That their households can get burned to the ground, their family and friends slaughtered or enslaved by warmongering, bloodthirsty beings, but at least they can say in the end that they didn't lose their innocence? That in the end they had no part in the circles of violence, completely ignoring the fact that they sacrificed everything worth fighting for, because they refused to acknowledge reality?

From such a way of thinking only madness would emerge as the victor.

Ponies of Equestria, love and friendship are the two great bastions you want to hide yourself behind? Some lessons will be painful, that I can assure you.

Virtues are important, they make you to who you are, but following them blindly only leads to your own damnation.

And for the heroes of Equestria, the Bearers of the Elements of Harmony. I will test you and hope that you will prove yourselves.

Bearer of Honesty, Applejack. Sometimes in life only a deceitful lie spares you and others from the most terrible forms of pain, not the honest truth. Before you demand the truth from others, ask yourself: Are you honest in your heart? Are you honest to yourself? Are you willing to sacrifice lives for the sake of being honest?

Honesty never exists without Deceit.

Bearer of Laughter, Pinkamena Diane Pie. Laughter is not always a solution. Sometimes you have to search an alternative path before you lose everything dear to you. Your emotional fragility will be your downfall, if you are not careful. You have to learn to adapt your worldview before you see the smile of your most beloved nevermore.

Laughter never exists without Despair.

Bearer of Kindness, Fluttershy. In order to be kind, you have to be cruel sometimes. Kindness will bring you only so far before it will be crushed by individuals who want to exploit you. Let your desire for kindness not tarnish your judgment in the most important of moments.

Kindness never exists without Cruelty.

Bearer of Loyalty, Rainbow Dash. True loyalty is a two-edged sword. You can not be loyal if you won't receive it in return. Sometimes you even have to chose to whom or what you are truly loyal. If the situation arrives, are you loyal to your heart or loyal to your beliefs? The time will come when you have to decide.

Loyalty never exists without Treachery.

Bearer of Generosity, Rarity. Once the Nightmare Forces clouded your judgement and you succumbed to your inner fears. Generosity can only be given if you learn when to use it, otherwise it could mean your end and that of the ones depending on you. Be aware that generosity has its limitations and self-sacrifice in its name could cause greater pain for all than you ever imagined.

Generosity never exists without Greed.

Bearer of Magic, Princess Twilight Sparkle. Your whole life you blindly followed a path Celestia already set for you, like a puppet. Someone who would save her sister where she failed. She decided to grant you Alicornhood without consulting you and still you accepted it, justified in your mind, because your precious princess knows what she does. You were not even aware of the oblations and consequences you will have to face. To this day you place her on a high platform and view her as an infallible figurehead of justice. You command great power, I will give you that, but you still have so much to learn. You are not a true ruler, yet. You took the mantle of 'Princess of Friendship', but you will have to learn that the 'Magic of Friendship', as you like to call it, is very limited in many situations. Your sheltered way of living will soon meet great challenges, and your beliefs will be tested. I can promise you, you will face much more than the 'friendship problems' your little map gives you. In the end, every action you take will have consequences, especially as a ruler.

Remember, Magic, power and true wisdom never exist without facing the consequences and taking responsibility for what you have done.

You Ponies have to learn again how the world works outside of your illusionary haven, but in order to learn you need a teacher. I see myself as exactly that. I will give you lessons. Important lessons. What will you Ponies do when something happens that will be beyond the occasional Everfree creature and friendship problem?

Of course I can't forget your closest and most valued allies, Ponies of Equestria. The Crystal Ponies, close relatives of yours and the inhabitants of the Crystal Empire, a domain located in the heart of the Frozen North, will play an important role in the future, too.

The oldest and fifth tribe.

And such an interesting little 'Pony tribe' it is, when one desires to count them as such. Nowadays they are Ponies, made out of flesh and blood. But that wasn't always the case.

It happened in the very beginning, before the Crystal Empire even came into existence. When the Crystal Ponies already lived in the Frozen North in their constructed villages and cities. They once were indeed made out of crystal. A special kind of crystal known as Vandyrium. What is indeed interesting is that the same kind of mineral is commonly used by the earth elementals for specially made constructions... but I digress.

With old forms of geomancy, life was breathed into the Crystal Ponies. After their creation, they were bestowed with the important task of fighting, containing and guarding the Frozen North's most vicious plague: The Umbra.

I must confess I was surprised to see these creatures on the plane of Aldara. I was sure that the demons of Tartarus imprisoned them for good. These specimens must have escaped somehow. And still, they were here, seeking to bring doom over this world. Beings made of darkness and hatred, the wish of the Umbra to bring suffering could only be surpassed by their cunning behavior.

It was this calculating intelligence which made the Crystal Ponies what they are today.

A Umbrum is in fact nothing more than a twisted soul, corrupted by darkness. A specter. In order to cause the most damage, they need a host. A host made out of flesh and blood. That was the very reason why Crystal Ponies were artificially constructed like this in the first place, so that these mad spirits didn't have a victim to infest.

The former guardians were maybe built of crystal, but made as intelligent and emotional as every other sapient species. Why their creators thought it would be a good idea to implement emotions like compassion, desire and other sentiments into them is, to this day, beyond even my understanding. It was just a matter of time until this addition would one day ultimately lead to the Crystal Ponies' undoing and, by extension, the rise of the Umbra.

Everything was decided by the acts of two 'sisters'. Bonds of 'family' were artificially created by the unaging guardians, but they were seen as most important for them, besides their duty. Not as a bond of blood, but a bond of spirit. One sister wore the name Eternal Duty, while the other was named Madrugada Amore. When they and their fellow Ponies hunted hiding Umbra after receiving a hint for a potential small hideout, the insane souls tricked them, separating the two in an ambush. It was the cornerstone of the brave Crystal Ponies' downfall.

With help of their dark powers the Umbra created haunting illusions to let the sisters suffer, torturing them with their greatest fears. Sweet promises of knowledge and power beyond their wildest imagination were whispered into their minds in order to end the pain. Eternal Duty fell victim and was corrupted in the end. Not in body, but in soul. Madrugada Amore could withstand the temptation long enough to use her magic and to escape their foes' dark influence. Hearing something that sounded like a death scream from her beloved sister, she retreated, shattered by the loss of her only family.

Under the guidance of Eternal's knowledge, the Umbra úsed everything to forge a powerful magical artifact. They called it the Crystal Heart. Such an irony of fate that their very creation would ultimately be used against them as the key, leading to imprisonment anew. Only this time, under the surface of the Frozen North, hidden from the world's eyes for all eternity.

Powered by hatred, pride, greed, fear and insatiable hunger for power, the Heart was used to transform the Crystal Ponies' bodies from Vandyrium into mortal flesh. Vessels for the Umbra to infest and feed from. It resulted in a last conflict between the corrupted Ponies under the leadership of a corrupted Eternal Duty, much to the shock and despair of her sister, and the remaining guardians, led into battle by Madrugada Amore herself.

Only the crystalline shine and appearance of their coats was a reminder of their former glory.

In their last confrontation Amore managed to steal the Crystal Heart from her sister and filled it with her very essence, her soul, purifying it in the process from the unholy taint of the Umbra and infused it with love instead.

Yes, indeed. The Crystal heart is such a useful conduit for emotions and magic, so that it can be used in many ways.

With that last act in life, Madrugada Amore managed to banish the twisted spirits into the depths of Aldara, freeing the remaining Crystal Ponies from an era of persistent terror. Eternal Duty was turned back into a normal Pony, because this was her sister's last wish she sought to fulfil with her last thoughts, to free her family.

But to no avail. The strain on her body was far too great, she died.

Truly, mortals are easy to manipulate. Give them a few illusions, tempt them with words which meet their desires, and they give in, following you blindly. Like a sheep with its herder.

Since this day, the chosen guardians protected the prison of the Umbra and the trinket to banish them anew, the Crystal Heart, with their lives, as it was the key to everything. The world depended on them.

Shortly after, the six founders of Equestria destroyed and banished the Windigos with the help of the Elements of Harmony. But not every one of these products of necromancy could just be defeated, no. Their own king, Amu'sh, fought mercilessly, enraged that so many of his fellow Windigos perished. He played in his own league and could barely be contained by the newly found artifacts. So, in a desperate need of help, they visited the Frozen North after they heard that the Crystal Ponies managed to banish their own plague with the help of the Crystal Heart and decided to seek support for dealing with the undead king.

In the end, the Ponies of Equestria and the Crystal Empire built a tomb, later known as the Tomb of Amu'sh, and banished him with the combined powers of the Elements and the Crystal Heart into his very own grave. They placed the Heart on a pedestal, thinking it would be safe in the depth of the hidden tomb, in the biggest room and used the Heart as a seal to keep the mad spirit trapped.

A new alliance was formed this day, followed by trade relations and a bond of friendship between the two kingdoms.

Of course, the Ponies, in all their foolishness, chose in a mutual agreement to erase his name and the existence of the Umbra and the Crystal Heart from the annals of history. The remaining survivors, who knew the truth, still, swore to keep their existence a secret from the common Pony. In order to ‘protect’ them from the knowledge of a dark past and because they wanted to grant future generations the possibility of living in undisturbed peace. A desperate act to put the past to sleep.

Such unfathomable naiveté.

These fools really thought their enemies were trapped for all eternity and it was finally over. Oh, how wrong they were.

In the time after their transformation, many Crystal Ponies found love and reproduced. Madrugada Amore was no exception. Many years later her daughter Amatista Amore, who didn't know anything about Amu'sh, nor the Crystal Heart until her later coronation, was declared the first ruler of the Crystal Ponies, Empress Amatista Amore. She and only the chosen guardians were privy to the true history of their people. Only they knew about the dark shadows of their past.

The formerly glorious empire's capital, Coltawa, was brilliantly built, from a purely strategic point of view. I have to admit that and accolade the first empress and founder of the city for her foresight. The veil under which the empire resides is protected until this very day from its own environment and challenging weather conditions. The Crystal Mountains to the south, the Yaket Range in the east, Mount Everhoof in the north and lastly the mountain chains to the west which would lead to Yakyakistan. A naturally created fortress, indeed.

But it doesn't change the fact that the truth, a much valued virtue of you Ponies, succumbed to deceit to keep the Umbras' prison a state secret. One day, your desire to keep everything vile hidden will lead to suffering. It is just a matter of time.

Year after year, the seal that contained the, as the mortals labeled them, ‘Shadow Ponies’, grew weaker and weaker, yet, nobody knew the reason. But I do.

Before her coronation, Amatista found the Heart by accident after she fell into a hidden cave on the search for a solution to the more and more lethal weather conditions. She took it with her after she found it on its pedestal in the main room of the tomb, ignoring the written warnings of taking it for one’s own agenda.

Amore should have heeded the warning words.

Mortals always find a way to make things worse. Without the Crystal Heart on the pedestal, Amu'sh would one day awaken and break out of his prison to bring Eternal Winter once more. His powers stirred already. Nowadays the Crystal Heart is the only item that can keep the threatening storms out of the Crystal Empire's capital. The rest of their once glorious domain is nowadays consumed by everlasting snow and ice.

It will be interesting to observe how you Ponies will handle the dangers that await you in the future. Boredom won't be my concern.

But only if you didn't forget that they even existed in the first place, like it is the case with the king of the Windigos. For example the capital's real name and most knowledge was buried in oblivion after the upbringing of a young colt, the last free living Umbral Pony.

In his childhood he discovered that he was a halfbreed. As such, he had to suffer great pain every year in the duration of the Crystal Fair.

An event that was first introduced by Empress Amatista Amore after she brought back the Crystal Heart and discovered that the Crystal Ponies could utilize it to create a dome of magic for their protection. Since then it was placed in the center of Coltawa to let it regain its power, year after year, through the fair in which the Crystal Ponies infused it with love and hope to keep evil at bay. Not knowing that malevolent forces lurked under their kingdom.

The lack of knowledge about the true mechanisms and the main function of the Crystal Heart is saddening.

Sombra grew up and confronted the descendant of Amatista, Princess Amore.

A Unicorn who took the title of a princess to symbolize her alliance with the already reigning Royal Sisters from Equestria, Luna and Celestia. For this reason, she was titled in her time by everypony as the first Crystal Princess.

In his fury, when he was told that she always knew what he was, he acted like a typical megalomaniacal tyrant. Sombra turned Amore into black crystal, shattered her statue and reigned supreme, enslaving the Crystal Ponies out of spite, blaming them for his pain.

After his inevitable downfall, he used his magic as a Umbrum, and not only took the Crystal Empire into oblivion with him, but erased nearly all knowledge of his subjects from their minds from the time before the millennium long banishment.

In the present, after his second defeat, Princess Mi Amore Cadenza, a distant relative of Princess Amore, rules the empire as its sovereign with her husband Prince Shining Armor. They even have an Alicorn foal, Princess Flurry Heart.

The future will be interesting, I don't need providence to know that.

Since Star Swirl the Bearded opened the portal to this world from Equestria for the very first time, the magic of Equus leaks into Terra. Changes happened in the last 5000 years and I could collect some magic over the centuries.

And finally, I gathered enough of my former strength to escape my prison and return. Truly, I have to thank you dearly, Sunset Shimmer. In the moment you forsake Celestia and came through the portal you helped me more than you will ever know.

It was not your best idea to simply jump into another dimension without a plan, or to inform yourself of what awaits you, I presume? A Unicorn who lost her horn and link to her magic, you must have been shocked, hmm? Celestia denied you your wish, your position, your right, your ambitions, because you had no patience for her teachings to this time, no humility.

But you were right in one point, Sunset Shimmer. She denied you, because she didn't trust you, at least in the sense of the empire she built over the last 1000 years. You wanted to be her equal at all costs, you wanted change. You wanted to bring Equestria in greater contact with the unknown, rather than the occasional political visit of closest neighbors, but that would have meant contact to the world beyond Celestia's utopia, contact with the real world. Where animals have no caretaker, the weather has no schedule and creatures who would just bring the Ponies' demise. That, she couldn't allow, so she dismissed you as her student.

You were too stubborn for your own good. Celestia wanted a loyal Pony who would follow her orders without question and most importantly could be social enough to make friends, developing the ability to work with others if necessary. After all, she needed a bearer for the Element of Magic to save her dear sister, because the Elements rejected her after the banishment of Nightmare Moon. Furthermore she needed bearers for all Elements and an antisocial Pony, who didn't want to make friends, just wouldn't suffice.

Well, she had already a very promising replacement for you with Twilight Sparkle, so she could teach her and prepare her for the 1000th Summer Sun Celebration instead. And look what the former Unicorn achieved, ascension. A princess of Equestria. She gained what you desired.

Celestia gave her your destiny, right? So you started to formulate a plan, how you could get revenge on Twilight Sparkle and your former mentor for taking your greatest wish away from you. For denying you your desires.

You stole the Element of Magic itself, which contained the greatest of powers from all Elements. You brought an artifact with a level of magic Terra never saw before and let it bleed its power into this world. After that, you put it upon your head and unleashed Aldara's essence in pure form into the atmosphere before you were defeated by the very power you sought. Only that it was Princess Twilight Sparkle this time who gave me a helping hand and even set free the power of all six Elements of Harmony combined.

With your little fight you decoyed three sirens, who were banished to this world by Star Swirl himself. For 5,000 years they used their pendants to absorb negative energy, but in such small measures that I could not use it to my advantage. Time has changed.

I must confess that I am very curious. After your incident the human counterparts of the Element bearers were infused with magic from Aldara, specifically Equestrian magic. They obtained Pony ears and longer hair, resembling manes and Pony tails. To play music seemed to be the trigger, at least first. You felt such worship for your savior, Twilight Sparkle, because she set you on the right path and showed you the Magic of Friendship. You eagerly called for her help and together you challenged the sirens.

With the stronger influx of Equestrian magic the sirens collected more power in hours, than in the last 5,000 years together. I felt the release of the spells they used to enchant the humans, especially in their last concert, as you took the source of their power and rendered them magicless.

Your new display of magic in this world surpassed even your defeat. A rainbow colored beam of light, powered by seven young girls. I wished you and the Rainbooms could give me an encore.

Afterwards, you and your friends were even more infused with magic.

But naturally something, or, should I say someone, had to acknowledge your reckless behavior. The human counterpart of Twilight Sparkle, the always curious, scientific mind, wanted to find out what was happening. She invented a device to search for this unknown source of power. Even better, your human friends could harness their magic with just showing off the trait they represented as an Element Bearer in the human world. One after one, the young scholar unwillingly stole the magic of all your friends.

After the events of your ironically named Friendship Games you confronted her and told her off. Made her understand she should not mess with things beyond her comprehension. So what could she possibly do after your little display of honesty? She had to understand it even more than before you reproved her, not able to simply accept defeat in the knowledge department. So she unleashed the collected magic and once again someone, with the right push from you, unleashed the whole power of the Elements into the human world.

She tore apart the dimensional barrier between Aldara and Earth. Through these tears more unrefined magic bled into this world. Later you took upon yourself the same magic and transformed into something greater. Sadly, you didn't even come close to your potential.

It seems you have still much to learn, Sunset Shimmer. I have to teach you that you have to take responsibility. If you truly wish to learn from your past, you have to truly understand. A continuity in your learning process is that you always search for excuses. You succumbed to your own ambitions, but Twilight Sparkle wanted to make you see reason that it wasn't your fault. And after her human counterpart nearly ripped apart the dimensional barrier you made the same mistake as her. Instead of giving her counterpart help to really understand and to learn from her decisions, you blamed others for her faults. Felt that the reasons that all this happened were peer pressure and this petty principal.

You have to learn that true understanding comes from accepting your mistakes and not from placing the blame on others alone.

I had nearly enough magic for my escape. Fortunately for me, the human Twilight was so friendly as to destroy the statue, in which the portal is located. More magic found its way into this domain.

At this point you, with the help of the ones you call friends, released more than enough magic into the world of man. Animals started to change. Creatures humans only knew as mere myths came into existence. They hide themselves in the moment, but they already hunt and already humans paid the price. Plants grew and developed new abilities. Magical abilities, Sunset. Places, ruins, cities long forgotten start to awaken from their slumber. New races are created in that very moment, or already exist. The rule of man over the entire world is over. Things the humans took great pride in will cease to exist.

The magic of this world needed a push in the right direction. You helped a lot to deliver it. Especially the Everfree Forest is one of the places on Earth with the highest concentration of magic now. Yes, the magic of Terra awoke and the upcoming changes can not be stopped.

The last piece of help from you came today.

In the Everfree Forest you and your friends discovered new abilities. They were afraid of these new developments. An understandable reaction, mostly from your new friend, the human Twilight Sparkle, out of fear she could succumb to her inner demons once again. Though much to my joy, you convinced all of them to use their new abilities to the fullest. The geodes from the cave were the last key to my freedom. The freed power of this insignificant woman Gloriosa was just a bonus.

Once upon a time, in the magical land of Equestria, six mares took upon them the burden of six magical artifacts, originating from a crystalline tree, in the Everfree Forest, in a cave.

In the human world you found not six but seven little versions of the Elements, originating from a stone stump in a cave. In a process of growth and again located in this world's version of the Everfree Forest. Is this what you mortals call fate? A repeat of history? Terra's version of the Elements of Harmony?

Well, not exactly harmony. Humans are more in tune with positive and negative aspects at the same time, perhaps the Facets of Life, don't you think?

And you got your own Element, a seventh. What Element do you represent, Sunset Shimmer? Or is it even a real Element? And why should the human world have seven, and not six like Aldara? Who knows, maybe it means something different for you?

Once you looked into the mirror Celestia showed you and saw yourself as a princess, but you were blinded by your own ambitions. Maybe your time of greatness, your time to shine, to mark history, is not over and has yet to come?

One day we will meet, Sunset Shimmer, until then I will remember the help you gave me. I always repay my debts.

It is time.

It was a dark, stormy night on Earth. The clouds were painted in a deep black, an unnatural shade of black, like it was created. If someone asked the witnesses of this terror, many of them would say that this fateful night the sky knew which shape it had to take. It rained in enormous amounts, only to be supported in its effect by upsetting thunder.

In the middle of the Celestial Sea a great maelstrom appeared out of nowhere. It reached deep down to the ground of the sea, maybe even deeper. Suddenly an entity floated out of the maelstrom. It looked up at the sky and with a wave of its hand the storm, which devastated the sea, calmed down, but the maelstrom stayed. This being released massive amounts of magic and evoked the sleeping powers of the world of man. An awakening beyond every event ever witnessed by mankind.

It was a beginning and an end at the same time.

"Finally, I am free," it whispered into the winds with an ethereal voice. The being channeled power to summon its strongest and most dangerous vassals.

Five circles, powered by ancient forms of magic, appeared around it with symbols in the language of the elementals. To its left the summoning circle of Relentless Air, on the right side the circle of Unforgiving Thunder, above aroused the circle of Everlasting Fire, below the entity came into existence the circle of Unyielding Water and in front the circle of Unbending Earth. Followed by incantations in an unknown tongue.

"Hear us elements of both worlds.

"We evoke you and unbind your will.

"We unleash you and set you free.

"May your fire be everlasting.

"May your water be unyielding.

"May your thunder be unforgiving.

"May your earth be unbending.

"May your wind be relentless.

"We evoke you and unbind your will.

"We unleash you and set you free.

"Hear our wish and bring change.

"Hear our will and awake.

"Follow our call and serve as one."

Five elementals heeded its words and arrived from their home, the Elemental Planes, in front of the entity, standing now on their representing summoning circles.

The still clouded night sky encased the five beings in shadows, not much details were seen, but some things were recognizable.

There was the elemental of fire. It had a bipedal, humanoid form, like all five of them, made out of subdued, nonetheless in the darkness clearly visible flames, but was much more massive and taller than a human. It wore a mottled, blood red colored, full body knight armor from the bottom to the top and was at least 3 meters tall. Unholy glowing red eyes in its sockets gave off the shine of anticipation.

Next up was the elemental of water, it had nearly the same body structure out of its own calm, ocean blue element, but it looked slimmer, more agile and wore only armor around its lower legs, feet, torso and wrists in a violet coloration. It was 2.4 meters tall and had softly looking dark blue eyes.

The elemental of thunder had a body made of golden lightning, visible for everybody to see as its cousin of the fire tribe. it looked even slightly slimmer as the water elemental, but even taller than the fire elemental with at least 3.6 meters, a silvern full body armor without the helmet and blazing orange eyes.

The elemental of earth was the tallest of all with 4.7 meters tall and a body much more impressive than the fire elemental in its girth and no armor at all. But not less protected, because its body was made of magical black colored Terraphyte. And then there were its vibrant yellow eyes, stoic, unmoving.

Lastly the elemental of air, which was 2.7 meters tall, had a similar body structure to the elemental of water and was made of visible white, swirling wind with black armor around its hands, feet and chest. Its eyes were a radiant emerald green.

All armors had symbols welded in from an alloy, only to be found in the Elemental Planes, named Zyphorium.

The elemental of fire stepped forward and asked their master in the language of the elementals, known as Kalamdur, "For 10,000 years we were waiting for your return. What are your orders?"

The elemental of thunder asked curiously as it looked around them, "The dimension of your prison. I can feel the magic of this realm awakening. Do your plans include this world, too, my Ancestor?"

A brief nod was at first the only answer, "Indeed, they do. We have much to do, my dear vassals," the entity explained neutrally and looked upon its followers. "Everflame." It focused the fire elemental, "Ano'yil." The air elemental, "Imperion.," the name of entity made of lightning. "Aquaz." The water elemental. And finally it addressed the earth elemental, "Gramrok."

The being turned around and stared into the horizon with an unnerving calmness, "First I have to regain my former strength. But before we search for what is mine, we will give Terra and Aldara a taste of what we are capable of, testing them."

Aquaz bowed gracefully and a soothing, female voice, sounding like pouring water, replied, "As you wish."

It was silent for a few moments before the entity crossed its arms, as if a final decision was made, "It is time to end this age and to start anew. New creatures will roam the worlds, old places will emerge, new knowledge learned, new lands be discovered. Times of amendment shall start. They have to adapt and I will teach them helpful lessons for their future endeavours. I will make those, who chose to forget, remember."

With its power the entity awoke the last slumbering remains of Earth's magic and let it do its work, the final changes began. The being summoned a portal to bring it to its next destination.

Before it vanished, an announcement and a statement was heard over the winds of change, "A new age has begun!"

Author's Notes:

Edited version uploaded: 01/15/19
Proofreader: Javarod

Greetings my avid readers!

I hope you enjoyed the chapter.

I hope you will like this story. As you can guess, I thought about a much wider foundation for this universe, so Book 1 is just the start.

That being said, enjoy the ride.

Leave a comment, advise, opinions or otherwise constructive criticism for me, all is desired.

Thank you very much for reading and stay tuned!