800 BNM

13th March

Late Morning

Oracle Mount

Monastery halls

"Good fortune be with you Starswirl.." Siral drawled, stood near the doorway as Starswirl was led to the upper temple chamber by a brown robed monk Earth Pony.

"I think not, given the summoning's specifics of asking of me over others."

With a slight nod, the black furred, white maned unicorn turned to head back to the monastery's archives, willing to pass the time there.

He was led out of the temple's stone steps by the quiet robed Earth Pony, a lower monk that, like all below a certain rank, had taken a vow of silence. Up above them, atop the winding marble covered stairs, the circular, almost bell shaped pillar ringed temple stood isolated on the hills.

Walking up the stone steps, Starswirl gazed around the temple mount, getting more and more alert and tense as they climbed the steps. Normally the Oracle came down to them, and to be called up directly to the temple itself was so infrequent that it was thought to be a sign of changes to come.

One thing was for certain though, the ambiance around the temple seemed to be holding its breath also. Down below around the main halls, the mountain breeze, faint chirps of birds and even the bleats of the locally kept herd of sheep and goats were the natural background in this peaceful, mythical place.

But up here, at the threshold of the upper temple, the centre of Oracle Mount's grounds, the breeze was silent, no livestock noises echoed up here, and no birds chattered their song. Silence, pressing on all senses, a place where the natural world began to be blurred, emanating from the temple itself before Starswirl now.

With a hoof gesture, the brown robed Earth Pony stallion directed Starswirl inside, and as if a voice in his head said it, he was compelled to enter the darkened temple's innards.

Starswirl strode down, confidence feigned as he entered into a place he thought he would never enter in his life.

Oracle Mount

Temple of the Sight

Hoofsteps were silenced somehow in here, as Starswirl stopped at the outside of the circular inner chamber. Inside, a trio of brown robed servant monk ponies, flank and fur hidden from view, marked the edges of the room. Further inside, a set of 6 dark purple robed ponies of unknown kind, two perhaps bigger than others, stared at him beneath the faceless masks they wore, blank grey/blue masks with only some vertical vents for breathing at the mouth, and a set of two slit like eye slots in all of the masks.

Staring around, Starswirl composed himself as he heard more voices in his head, his own thoughts serving others:

Sit, and we shall enter.

Sitting on his hunches, Starswirl stared down at the centre of the circular room, the darkened atmosphere humid with the incenses coming from the vents in the floor below. The air seemed to ripple before him as he saw a trio of dark, blood red robed figures wander through a hidden alcove, almost gliding through the air to sit on the opposite side of the main floor circle to him.

As the humid air made him blink a few times, Starswirl breathed in awe as he saw the Oracle ponies, the three Seers, remove their hoods, exposing only their heads. All 3 were elderly aged mares with stark white fur and traces of dusty grey and black manes. Triplets by the looks of it, all of them Unicorns. And the eyes stared at him from all three, probing, knowing far more than one would think with them.

The rumours were true then, that the 3 legendary Seers of Oracle Mount were indeed blind. But in losing their sight, they gained the ability to truly See.

One of the purple robed ponies, a larger stallion, spoke with a stern voice beneath his mask:

"Starswirl the Bearded. Place your fore hoofs on the floor before you, in the red marked circle."

Keeping his composure, Starswirl placed both hoofs on the red tile marked circle at the centre of the room, while in front, the 3 blind Seers began to speak as one, the voices carrying around like whispers on the wind, piercing like the most frigid of cold gusts into Starswirl's mind:

You are marked, your destiny has become entangled in grave events to come. Menaces yet to emerge loom ahead of you in your future, that much the divine has shown us.

Breathing hard to maintain his cool, Starswirl relaxed, using techniques he employed to calm his mind to focus on any challenge ahead of him.

The red robed mare on the left murmured deeply now, a voice like a low breeze over a mountaintop, though just as much in his mind:

Your past is revealed to me, for I see what has occurred before. History is a cycle that repeats itself, changing in shape, but same in form.

You already have greatness, and you are renowned in this time of peace in your nation, and even further beyond. You have accomplished much already, proving you are worthy of the tasks to come.

The memories of his past, learning under his own master, then rising to influence enough to take his first student, Clover the Clever. When Equestria was reunited, she put in a good word for him, and his opportunities to lend his services and counsel to many grew with it. Hence he became known as a more 'involved' wizard among those of higher magical ability.

The second mare then spoke, her own voice like a sound of rustling leaves:

Your present is revealed to me, for I see what occurs now in all places. What occurs that we do not witness in any moment will have its effect later on.

You are respected among your brethren, despite being more outreaching, and yet also close friends with the most withdrawn of your brethren, the Savant. You are independent, powerful, few in friends but trusted in those you have, and ready in mind and spirit for what you fear we have to reveal of your future.

Starswirl slowly nodded, this was expected, the Seers, like all foretellers, were 3 that saw all. One saw the past, another the present, and the last the future. The future was what the message had been about.

The third mare spoke, her own voice like an icy high pitched whisper in the night:

Your future is revealed to me, murky and uncertain as a whole, but what lays at the end of yours is as we feared. Cataclysms and monstrosities lurk in your future, and in the future of the nation you are borne of. Beyond your lifespan, longer as it is, and yet you still are directly involved.

You, Starswirl, are destined for greatness in times long to yet come. Destiny calls you to the futures that these troubles yield, to learn, gain insight, stifle the unseen threats to the world's balance, and strive to end them if they come to fruition.

All of a sudden, before Starswirl's eyes, the air between them shimmered and blurred into a smoky haze, as the 3 voices then rang out:

Beings of strife and destruction, borne out of that most destructive desire there is, the desire for power over others. Power corrupts all, corrupting more as it grows in strength.

Creatures bred from the need to acquire power, in a time of greatest turmoil.

The Lustful One: A deceitful tempter, taking pleasure in sowing division.

The Gluttonous One: A voracious force, consuming all things like a plague.

The Greedy One: A cunning creature, ensuring it gains in any outcome.

The Slothful One: A careless bystander, apathetic to the suffering of others.

The Wrathful One: A mindless beast, all that breathes is its enemy.

The Envious One: A cold hearted servant, scheming for power and revenge.

The Prideful One: A scheming master, moulding all things to its own ends.

More so than others, the Prideful One shall be your final challenge in your greater destiny that we see.

Beware the enemies that lay closest to your heart, though not yet enemies they themselves may be.

Seek the essences of true Harmony, the greatest power to be had to combat these threats you are to face at the end of your destiny.

A Treacherous One, for you and they to learn of True Loyalty.

A Restrained One, for you and they to learn of True Magic.

A Glum One, for you and they to learn of True Joy.

A Selfish One, for you and they to learn of True Generosity.

A Deceitful One, for you and they to learn of True Honesty.

A Cruel One, for you and they to learn of True Kindness.

Your future is written, you are called to answer the unseen threats to the world.

This is the command of the world, to you.

As the last word echoed like a dragon roar in his mind, Starswirl finally succumbed to the choking atmosphere and mind visions he was constantly receiving.

Amidst the sweltering fumes and experience, Starswirl's world turned on its side as he felt the floor rush up to welcome him with calming silence and darkness with a painful thud.

7 hours later

13th March

Late Afternoon

Oracle Mount

Monastery halls

Blinking, Starswirl looked around. He was in his room back in the halls, and he felt a dull ache in his head. Rubbing his head, Starswirl wondered if it had been a dream.

A slight lump on his head begged to differ, and as he gazed around, he saw a small scroll, tied with the Oracle's seal. Before he opened it, he gazed out a nearby window.

It had been morning when he'd entered, and now the sun was close to setting on the horizon to the west. Many hours had passed it seemed.

Unrolling it, Starswirl saw the cryptic words confirm that what he'd experienced was real.

Heed the words of us. To aid you in your task, your foretelling revealed to you the order in history which the essences of Harmony to meet shall appear. None shall be alive to see each other, but with your destiny laid out, you will live to see them all, before the beings of power emerge to threaten Equestria first, then the world, when conflict is at its height here in the distant future.

For the sake of the greater world, and the damage that is foretold to be done around their emergence, you know what must be done to be able to be around to accept this.

Accept your destiny, and use the spell enclosed here whenever you travel along your destiny's path. It shall stop you when one you must seek to learn from is near in time.

Your destiny is just beginning.

Putting down the letter, Starswirl held his head in his hooves, scratching his medium length grey beard as these troubled thoughts plagued his mind for many hours.

3 hours later

13th March

Late Evening

Oracle Mount

Talk had spread of Starswirl's experience being so great with the oracles that he'd passed out for nearly 8 hours. But this wasn't uncommon with tales of direct experiences with the Seer trio. Visitors who directly were met, becoming so overpowered by the visions, aura and words to the point of passing out was to be expected.

A few curious Magii and Wizards had asked Starswirl what he heard, but he merely said he'd reveal it in time, that it was something he still needed to think on.

But Siral knew Starswirl, and not much got under his skin.

He confronted Starswirl in a secluded part of the archives, and after pressing hard enough, and making sure none of the monks, servants or other visitors would hear, Starswirl admitted what he'd been told.

Archive halls

Stood against a wall, forehoof leaning against the stone wall in question, Siral was quiet after hearing the prophetic visions and sayings Starswirl had been told.

Dubious as Siral was with Seers and Oracles, there were a fair few, the most notorious, that were consistently correct, vague or not as they were in telling the future. The Dalphi Oracle, and the Equestrian Oracle Mount seers were among those with reputation for accuracy.

The black Unicorn scratched his white mane absentmindedly, shifting it from his robe, while Starswirl admitted to Siral quietly:

"I am being asked to do so much Siral... To leave behind this time, everypony I know. I know I already have outlived many, besides those here at the monastery as visitors, but to leave them all for times where I may be the only one of us still living?"

"You would be known for greatness if you went, if these beings of Harmony, and of Power, are as influential as the Oracle Seers predict." Siral reasoned to his friend, though the grey bearded Unicorn stallion paced slightly, questioning his decision to be:

"I have no specific times to go off of, no idea how far into the future these threats are, only that the essences of Harmony will emerge in history before them, at least still a normal Pony lifespan from now. Long lived as we all are, we have limits, and I will not live another 2 normal lifespans easily. There is one course left if I do this, to wait out the time in a way that will not age me."

"You are thinking of some form of hibernation." Siral realized, before he also added: "You did create the stasis spell, which could lend itself to a long sleep spell of some kind."

Starswirl walked over to Siral suddenly, remarking: "Siral, focus away from the how of the situation, and please focus on my actually dilemma, of what me actually going away would mean for everypony now!"

At his stern words, Siral backed off, remarking apologetically: "I just tried to help you if you decide to do it, how I could."

Starswirl blinked a little, as he asked with some apologetic tone to his voice: "If I left, what would become of you Siral?"

"I would manage, in my own way. I did before I knew you."

"But would you miss me?"

"Undoubtedly, but I feel this responsibility of yours is too great of a call."

With a sigh, Starswirl asked: "If you'd been called, not me, would you choose to accept it?"

"Yes. But like now, I'd consult with my closest partner, friend, before I made it final."

"It is that big of a responsibility then in your mind?" Starswirl asked. Siral gave a small smile, as he remarked:

"To travel to ages to come, see how the future unfolds, shape it for the better even? Anypony with a shred of imagination and desire to be a force of balance would accept in a heartbeat."

As Siral finished, Starswirl caught the faint glimmer of ambition in Siral's eyes, the same ambition that drove him to work so diligently behind the scenes, just as Starswirl's same drive prompted him to actively participate in cultural and political occurrences that he saw he could aid.

Thinking to himself, Starswirl added thankfully: "You know if I did this, it would mean goodbye."

"There are many worse, less glorious ways to part." Siral added with some humour. With a faint chuckle, Starswirl guessed aloud: "I suppose you shall want to work with me, one last time, as I form the means to go forwards."

Siral gave a nod, but he stressed: "You shall go first, and I may not use it myself at all. You are the more 'outgoing' one of us after all. It's appropriate you be seated with this ambitious responsibility by forces greater than us."

Seeing Siral's understanding, Starswirl made the last remark between them as they made to leave the archives together:

"I'll tell the others here of my impending quest to who knows when and where. I shall have to inform some in Equestria's courts of my leaving, tie up loose ends. Then, I shall find you."

"See, if you were like me and kept to yourself and each other mostly, we could start sooner."

"Siral, I'll have plenty of time where I'm going, and you may want to cherish the time I'm still here anyway." Starswirl admonished his comrade, sensing it was Siral's eagerness to trial new, experimental magic, coupled with a destiny that permitted such experimentation, coming to the surface.

Starswirl sensed that Siral would likely have a strong legacy as he moved through history, when he set out.

For now, he had loose ends to tie up.

Author's Notes:

The prophetic vision of the Oracles sets up Starswirl's future, and Siral already looks to be a useful ally in forming the means to travel along the path of destiny laid out for Starswirl.

The beings of power will come late in the story, during the Equestrian Civil War era, whereas the beings of Harmonic essence will come first.

Each of the six will be in a different era and region, and I figured it would be more worth storytelling if they were individuals that didn't reflect the 'Element' they would when Starswirl first meets them, to see character arcs from all 6 of them.

Especially given that none of them will ever meet each other, only Starswirl will know them all.