The Fate of Equestria

By theimmortalkindness

Prologue

"You will be great, my son, I haven't a doubt in my heart."

Lucio looked at his mother, thanking her not with words, but with his eyes alone. To become a Royal Guard was no easy task, and he knew this. His mother's confidence was contagious though, and he set out with his heart filled with hope. "I will join the ranks of the Guards," he told himself, "I will serve her majesty, Princess Celestia!"

Lucio was an extremely talented unicorn. Everypony in the village knew that he was destined for more than the calm lifestyle to which they were so accustomed. His mother and father had always spoken very highly of Princess Celestia. It was not until he had seen her in person, however, that he began to dream of serving her. A simple trip to Canterlot, a glimpse at the Princess, and, just like that, he had made up his mind.

He made his way past the quaint shops and small farms, where villagers, who knew of his mission, bade him good luck and a safe journey. It was nothing short of a blessing to have so many ponies who believed in him. He felt that he could carry the very world on his shoulders. When nearing the edge of the village, he looked back. He stared for what seemed like several hours. "Back there," he thought, "I would only surely become a farmer's assistant, or perhaps a keeper of wares." He did not think ill of any such ponies, of course. They were living their dreams. It was time for him to start living his.

He looked at his map. The journey to Canterlot, on hoof, would take 5 days at least. He could have gone by wagon, or taken a balloon. "But where," he thought, "is the adventure in that." No, no, a journey by hoof is one that promises many exciting sights and encounters. He thought of the things he might come across. A dragon, perhaps, now that would make an excellent story to tell.

He recalled stories his father used to tell him. "I once met a great dragon," he would say, "though he wasn't nearly as fearsome as you might think. No, I dare say we had a grand time, me and the dragon, chatting and guessing at the location of hidden treasure." It was very believable that such a thing would have happened to his father. He had been a traveler in his younger days, and quite a jovial one at that.

On the first night of Lucio's journey, he came to a small, but very lively, town. He decided he would sleep at the local inn. It was a place, while somewhat dismal looking on the outside, was quite cozy when he entered. As there were a great many parties being thrown outside, he had trouble drifting into his familiar slumber. Rather than curse the festive ponies, though, he laughed. They were enjoying themselves, and the thought of others being happy was always something that comforted him. Perhaps it was this comfort which finally lulled him to sleep.

He awoke early, before Celestia had even begun to raise the sun, curious as to what the second day of his journey would bring. He was surprised when something quite eventful did happen that day. While washing his mane in at the edge of a lake, a great shape exploded from the water, and towered over him. He stood aghast, looking into the eyes of a mighty serpent. "This is my lake," said the serpent, "it has always been my lake. And you are using it to clean dirt from your mane. I'm not sure that I have ever been so disrespected." He had, in fact, been much more severely disrespected on multiple occasions.

"Forgive me, good serpent," said Lucio. He did not back away or even so much as tremble. "I was ignorant that this lake was so sacred to you. I am truly sorry."

The serpent looked at him, confusedly. "Are you afraid of me, unicorn?"

"I can't say I am," responded Lucio.

"You are a strange one," said the serpent. "Most ponies who behold, in front of them, a water serpent, would flee in terror."

"I suppose I'm not like most ponies then," Lucio said, cheerfully.

"No, no, you're certainly not." The serpent gave a long look to the heavens, as if pondering something. "Tell me," he said at last, "do you care for riddles?"

"Of course, though I don't have many to tell."

"I will be the one telling the riddle," the serpent said, proudly. "If you answer correctly, then I shall allow you the honor of dining with me."

"Interesting," thought Lucio, "I've never dined with a serpent before, much less a great water serpent. And how many ponies can honestly say they have." He accepted the serpent's offer.

"Very well," said the serpent. "This is the riddle: I can hold, within me, life, or I can be a feast."

"Well, that's quite simple," said Lucio. "It's an egg."

The serpent had to pick up his jaw from the water. How was it that this pony could answer the riddle so quickly? In truth, he hadn't before told many riddles, and that was one of the only he knew. He was still in great shock, though. Perhaps he had underestimated this strange young unicorn.

That night they dined near the lake, around a bright, warm fire. The serpent shared with Lucio many tales. Lucio listened with wide eyes and open ears, while enjoying the most succulent apples he had ever eaten. Some of the tales made him laugh, while others made him miss his home. Eventually he fell into a very deep sleep, and the serpent retreated to the depths of the lake.

It was on the third day that the life of Lucio would forever be changed.

In a fairly sizeable village there was a fairly sizeable inn. At this inn, Lucio was treated with the sort of hospitality one might deem “appropriate for no less than a king.” It was mid-morning when he heard voices outside his door. He was not, by nature, an eavesdropper. However, it would be quite difficult for anypony to ignore talk of “a witch” and “the vilest sort of curse you, in your wide knowledge of magic, can even fathom.” Lucio, upon unintentionally hearing such things, put his ear to the door.

“Yeah,” said a gruff sounding pony, “they say ‘er name’s…” The rest of the sentence was muffled. “She can turn a full grown colt, like you or me, into…into…well…something small, something…uns…in…insignificant.”

“Can she now?” said another pony, with a somewhat fairer way of speaking. “And she lives here?”

“Right outside of the village, in some little cottage! I seen it before, but…uh…I didn’t get to close, you know, for fear of gettin’ a curse put on me. It’s there though, cross my heart.”

The more soft-spoken pony made a noise that suggested he was contemplating the matter. “That is intriguing,” he said.

“It certainly is,” thought Lucio.

The outskirts of the village were heavily forested, and Lucio delighted in the sounds of birds chirping and the smell of trees in the spring. Perhaps the pony outside his door had been lying. He could have very well been attempting lead his acquaintance into a terrible trap. Lucio imagined the scenario: He would suddenly be pounced on by a band of ragged miscreants, and he would have to explain himself when they realized they had not captured their target. He was amusing himself with such thoughts, when, in the light of the setting sun, he saw a cottage.

He stared in bewilderment. It was a thing so simple, yet shrouded in such mystery. It entranced him but he dared not move closer. Under the hypnosis of the cottage, he was unaware that behind him, a figure was approaching.

“Come to ask something?” said a voice. “If so, I’ll try my best to answer it.”

Lucio turned quickly, ready to express how sorry he was for snooping, and to beg for forgiveness. The pony he found himself face-to-face with did not wear a look of malice, or any sort of negative expression, though. If anything, she seemed in good spirits.

He was thrice surprised. First: when he was suddenly not alone outside the cottage. Second: when the owner of the cottage appeared not cross, but smiling. He was surprised for the third time when he came to his senses, and truly observed the pony who stood before him. She was dark grey, like a storm cloud that one does not curse, but welcomes with open arms. Her mane was the peculiar shade of blue that paints the sky when it is not quite day but not quite night. Her eyes were yellow as the moon, and Lucio immediately found himself becoming lost in them. She was the most beautiful sight he had ever laid his eyes on.

She spoke again. “Is there something I can help you with?”

“Umm…” said Lucio, returning to reality, “my name is Lucio. I…I’m on my way to Canterlot. Do you suppose you might…know the way?” He knew the way to Canterlot fine. He could have told her that he had, by chance, wandered to her cottage, but he decided to ask her a question. The reason for this being, he simply wanted to hear her speak. And speak she did, telling him of the paths he must take, and what sort of things to avoid. He hung on to every word she said, like some sort of treasure unknown in this world.

“And that should bring you to Canterlot, problem free,” said the mare. “It was a pleasure to meet your acquaintance, Lucio. My name is Midnight sun.”

“It is a truly beautiful name,” said Lucio. Midnight Sun felt kindness in his voice, and rather than parting ways, they continued to speak. Midnight Sun learned how Lucio set off from his village, and of his ultimate goal of becoming part of the Royal Guard. Lucio, in turn, discovered that Midnight Sun was not, in fact, a witch, but nevertheless had an immeasurable amount of skill in the ways of magic.

They spoke not only throughout the evening, but through all of the next day, and the next, and the next. The thoughts that filled Lucio’s mind were no longer of the Royal Guard, but of Midnight Sun. Rather than desiring to serve the princess, his one and only desire was to be with Midnight Sun. It was quite simply, true love. He was in love with her, and she with him.

It seemed like they had been together forever, rather than simply a few weeks. “Come on,” said Midnight Sun, “you won’t be disappointed, I promise.” The forest opened, and as they stepped out, Lucio was stricken with awe.

They stood on a cliff, staring out, across vast fields of flowers, at the brilliant setting sun. Despite his efforts, Lucio could find in himself no words. Yet there were words, common words that filled his mind like the stars in the heavens. He looked happily at the pony by his side.

I love you. I love you.

Many years later…

The pony was exhausted and dehydrated, and she wasn’t quite sure where she was going. With her vision blurred and her head pounding, it was difficult to do much of anything, but she kept walking. She walked toward the voices, for she hoped that voices meant help. Closer, closer; she could make out shapes, all sorts of colorful shapes. She had not enough energy left to even call out. She collapsed.

“I don’t see what all the hype was about,” said Spike, the dragon. He walked beside Twilight Sparkle on a particularly busy day. “I mean, sure it caught my attention, but-“

“Spike, look!” cried Twilight. A white pony with a mane the color of the dawn had stumbled into Ponyville. She collapsed in the midst of a crowd.

“She passed out,” said the nurse, “I reckon she’s been without water for at least two days, poor thing.”

“Where do you think she’s from?” asked Twilight, “Do you think she was running from something?”

“Your guess is as good as mine, bu-“ They were interrupted by the voice of the waking pony.

“Wh-where am I?” she said, forcing open her yes, which shared the same color as her mane.

“Ponyville,” said the nurse. “You’re very weak right now, so don’t try to move too much.”

“How did I get here?” asked the pony in the bed.

“We were hoping you could tell us,” said Twilight. “Where are you from?”

The pony lowered her head. “I don’t know. I can’t remember much of anything. I think...I was on some sort of errand.”

“Well, sweetheart,” said the nurse, “can you remember your name?”

“Yes,” said the pony, “it’s Morning Star.”