“Well … it could have been worse,” Lyra noted absently, staring out at the sea with a shocked expression.

She had been wearing the exact same look on her face for days now, and Karon knew it would stick with her for many more. He knew because his face was frozen in the exact same one, that of numb shock.

He heard the door leading to the lower deck open behind him, and when he turned to see who it was that was up at the late hour, his eyes locked with Trixie's. They stared at one another for a brief moment, then turned their gaze away awkwardly. And the unicorn went back down without a word.

They hadn't talked since the events in Las Pegasus, instead falling into the same awkward silence whenever they dared look into the other's eyes. Both of them knew they would have to talk about it sooner or later, and ordinarily Karon would have been the one to laugh it off and treat it as nothing.

However, this time it hadn't been nothing. It had definitely been something and he knew it, as did Trixie.

“Do … do you think the princesses will know it was us?” Lyra asked, a small frown breaking the monotony of the shock.

”I don't doubt they know it was us for a second … I signed all those documents with my name after all.”

”Maybe there's a pony somewhere named 'Karon the Awesome' that has no ties to us at all,” she suggested hopefully.

”Maybe … If so I feel really bad for him.”

”Yeah … the Equestrian army didn't look like they thought the whole thing funny,” she said, thinking back to the endless ranks of guard ponies ready to charge into the city.

”No, they didn't. Those siege weapons weren't there for fun,” Karon said, thinking back to the same scene.

”What do you think will happen to the city?”

”They'll get some small iota of common sense back and be re-assimilated into Equestria.”

”That's almost a shame. I worked hard on that flag,” Lyra sighed.

”Well I'm pretty sure it will crop up in some bars as a curiosity, or possible with some rebel faction wanting to bring back the 'Empire of Sin'.”

”I don't think Celestia or Luna likes the idea of having a tiny empire within Equestria,” Lyra noted dryly.

”I guess not. But at least we had some fun,” he said, trying to make it sound like a joke.

Lyra slowly turned her head to face him, and her shocked expression became unreadable.

”Karon … you created a city state and founded a religion....”

”Among other things,” he was quick to add.

Lyra stared at him for several minutes in total silence, then turned back to face the sea.

”Yeah … It was fun.”

Karon's mouth twitched at the corners, and then walked over to the door leading down to the lower deck. The city was far behind them now, and it was safe to say they must have escaped any immediate retribution. Even so, it would be a good precaution getting some sleep, on the off-chance that they were still being followed and would be attacked.

After all, that gorgon had been really pissed.

                               ***********************************************************

The days rolled by to the sound of crashing waves, the weather grew bad when the ship was attempting to take the north route around a large island, and as a result they had to take the south. Karon didn't understand why this seemed to bother the crew so much, and when he asked they only said it was because it would take them close to the mainland.

It was only when Karon cornered the captain in his own cabin that he finally got his answer.

”The land here is cursed, there's just wasteland and bones there. No sailor knows what that place is really, but we all know to stay away.”

”Bones? So you've been there at one point?” Karon asked.

”Me? Oh no, I would never set hoof anywhere near that place. But I know the stories of the fools that have. They say there's bones strewn around everywhere … alicorn bones.” the captain finished with a whisper.

Karon resisted the urge to roll his eyes at the captain's drama, but what he had just said did strike a note with Karon. Without another word, he exited the cabin and left the captain to resume his duties, heading down deck and grabbing his map. He unrolled it and traced his finger along the northern coast until he reached the area where the ship must be.

His fingers stopped just outside the coast of a large peninsula, upon which was written the words 'Alicorn wasteland'.

He tapped his fingers thoughtfully at the map.

”Must be where the alicorn kingdom used to be, the place Luna described.”

”Do you think it's important?”

”I don't know....”

”We should be able to see it soon from the deck.”

He rolled up the map once more and put it back in the tube, heading back up to the deck and grabbing the first sailor he saw.

”When will the mainland come into view?” he asked, ignoring the fearful expression the sailor displayed at the mention of the cursed land.

“M-maybe in an hour,” came the stuttered reply.

Karon turned his back on the sailor and walked to the bow of the ship, where Lyra stood in her usual place.

“Hey,” she said absently when he stopped next to her.

“Hey,” he said back, his eyes scanning the horizon to his left.

“Looking for something?” she asked when she noticed how intently his eyes were roaming the distance.

“Yes, and I have a sneaking suspicion about it,” he answered.

Lyra didn't ask further, She knew she would only gain a quasi mystical answer anyway. Instead she remained silent and waited for Karon to reveal what he was doing. She had to wait for more than an hour, and only when almost two had passed did Karon tense up and lean forward.

Far out in the distance, land could be seen. It had a vague sense of emptiness to it, despite the fact that it was barely within view. Lyra didn't understand why Karon squinted his eyes and took on such a look of concentration as he did, but that was because she didn't feel the calling he did. It rolled out in waves, much like the sea upon which the ship sailed, and it was half something he could hear and half something he felt.

It called to him, drew him towards it much like a siren's call. Not so strong that he would throw himself overboard and try to swim just to reach it, but strong enough that the closer the ship got the harder it became to ignore it.

“Shit.”

“I don't think whatever is calling to us will allow us to pass by without first stopping by and saying hello.”

“Nope.”

“Looks like we have a destination then.”

“Oh the captain is just going to love this.”

“Lyra...” Karon said and broke the silence.

“Yes?” she responded curiously, waiting for an explanation.

“Get your things, we're getting off there,” he said and nodded towards the distant shores.

He left her behind and went to inform the captain, and Lyra looked over at the approaching land thoughtfully, then went to get her belongings and tell Trixie.

As could be expected, the captain did not take the news well.

“NO! I refuse to take my ship closer to those damned shores than I absolutely have to! And what are you thinking, wanting to get off in such a place?!”  

“You don't have to worry about us, we'll be safe. And nothing will happen to you or the ship from taking us ashore,” Karon reassured the livid stallion.

“I said NO! I am the captain of this ship and I say we will sail by that place without stopping and not even once look back!”

“Then I guess we will have to swim,” Karon said with a shrug.

“What?” the captain asked, halting his anger for just a moment.

“You heard me, I don't really have much choice in this. I need to get to that wasteland, even if it means I have to swim. Sure, Trixie and Lyra doesn't have to, but I don't think they'll let me go alone, so they'll swim too. Chances are of course that at least one of us will drown considering how far it is to shore.”

The captain looked helplessly at the human, and Karon knew he had him. The captains shoulder sagged and he sighed in defeat.

“Fine, I'll let you off at that thrice cursed place. But don't say I didn't warn you that there's evil there.”

“Noted. Now change the course.”

The captain mumbled to himself and went outside to bring the ship towards land, no doubt thinking he was leading the three of them to their deaths. Karon didn't have those concerns. Maybe the place did have its fair share of dangerous creatures, but no more than most places would. And the thing calling him had plenty of power to be able to contact him when he was almost halfway across the planet. It would provide some measure of safety for them, he knew that.

However sailors are superstitious, and the captain had long ago decided that the place was evil and held only certain death. Nothing Karon could say to him would change that.

The crew came close to mutiny when the captain turned the ship towards the shore, but after he told them they were only going to get close enough so that they could see Karon and the unicorn mares to shore with the rowing boat the grudgingly saw to their duties.

When they got close enough that the captain announced they would be rowing the rest of the way, Karon, Trixie and Lyra got in the little boat they had dropped into the sea. The captain had to force a few of the bravest of the crew to help get them to shore, and the entire way there the sailor looked ready to turn around at a second's notice.

Nothing happened to give them an excuse to do so though, and the trio jumped out of the boat into the sea, reaching up to Karon's waist and the ponies throats when the captain said he would take them no further. He bade Trixie and Karon good bye, and gave Lyra a quick hug, thinking it to be the last time he would see them.

Karon left them behind and waded to shore while Trixie followed, Lyra remained behind trying to convince the captain they would be alright.

When he sat foot on dry land, cracked and yellow with dust shifting in the wind, the calling reached a crescendo. It filled his mind completely, blocking out everything else, and Karon walked forward in a a haze, images flickering by like loose sheets of paper in front of his eyes.

“Karon?...Karon!?”

The worried voice hardly registered. There was only the calling, reaching out to him, and without really knowing, Karon reached back.

“KARON!”

He fell to his knees, dropping the spear and everything else he carried. He heard voices, and he tried to answer back, but his words only became senseless whispers. Hooves wrapped around him,shaking him, a voice screamed in his ear. It wanted him to listen, to come back.

He couldn't, he was already somewhere else.

                                             **************************************************************

The sun was shining with a pleasant warmth, making the day just hot enough that it drew the alicorns towards the water. Several lakes sat around the city, surrounded by trees in deep green at the height of their growth. Flowerbeds ran in beautiful patterns, mixing colors and smells in a way that both inspired serenity and passion amongst those who enjoyed their leisure time close by.

At the bank of a river, stretching out from one of the lakes, two young alicorn mares where busy splashing around in the water. Guards in white gold armor carved with glyphs and carrying sharp swords stood at a respectful distance. Enough to grant privacy, but close enough still to come to aid in a moments notice should anything happen.

Not that there was any reason to suspect the presence of danger, the few creatures that would name themselves enemies of the rulers of this world knew to keep away from their kingdom. And they certainly would know better than to threaten the two princesses currently playing together in the river, least they bring down such a retribution that the skies themselves would catch on fire.

The smaller of the two, a blue alicorn with a light blue mane, was busy trying to avoid getting splashed by her older sister, an alicorn of slightly pinkish white coat and a mane in a multitude of colors, constantly shifting with the whims of the mare herself.

“What's the matter sister? Isch wittle Woona afjaid of a little water!?” the bigger sister shouted, doing her best to drench the evasive mare thoroughly.

“Tia stop it! You're gonna ruin my mane!” the little sister responded desperately.

Too late, for with a great whoop of triumph the white alicorn threw herself at her sister and pushed her down into the water completely. She stepped back quickly and kept her mane away as the little sister burst from the water with an angry shout, and looked over at her bigger sister with a hurt look, her mane clinging to her face as water dripped from it.

“Look what you did,” she said, pouting her lips and looking miserable.

“Stop being such a foal. It was your idea to go down into the water,” the bigger sister reminded, tossing her still dry mane absently.

The blue alicorn didn't respond, she remained in the slow current of the river, refusing to meet her sister's eyes. The big sister in turn fought to keep her eyes from rolling and walked over to her drenched sibling cautiously. It was one thing to have Looney's mane ruined, it was completely another to have HER's destroyed.

Her's was much prettier after all.

“Alright, stand still,” she said needlessly. Her horn started to shine with a rainbow glow, and she stuck her tongue out slightly in concentration.

The little sister looked up hopefully when she felt the magical energies gather around her mane, twisting and coiling it, warming it. Until eventually it died down, and she looked down to see her own reflection in the water. She gasped in horror at what she saw, her normally beautiful mane was curled and broken in an uneven pattern, looking like somepony had electrocuted a small animal and put it on her head.

“Whoops,” the older sister said and tried to hide her giggle behind a hoof.

“What did you do!?” the little sister cried, close to bursting into tears from the looks of it. The older sister quickly regained her posture at that, she hated when her sister started crying.

“Calm down Looney,” she tried to comfort her, but only seemed to be making it worse.

“Stop calling me that, I hate it!”the little sister screamed and stomped her hoof, sending water splashing and making her sibling retreat.

“Don't forget what mother says, 'hating is a sure way t-” the white sister began.

“I don't care what mother says! She never ruins my mane like this and laughs at me!”

“Fine, fine. Just stop screaming and we'll go back to the castle. Somepony there will know how to fix your mane properly,” the older sister tried to lament with.

The blue alicorn stood uncertain, looking over in the direction of the castle with hesitation in her eyes.

“But Tia … everypony on the way there will SEE me like this,” she whined.

Celestia couldn't stop herself from rolling her eyes now, and she couldn't keep the impatience out of her voice either.

“You're supposed to be a princess Loon … Luna, just suck it up. No alicorn, not even the little ponies, will respect you if you can't even handle a little mane problem.”

Without anything further to add, Celestia turned around and walked over to where the guards stood watch, and Luna soon followed after with a sullen look on her face. They passed the guards by without as much as a glance towards them, they would follow anyway.

The walk towards the palace cut through the capital of Equus, the world of the ponies. From one end to the other, over all of the three great continents of the planet, the alicorns ruled over the lesser ponies, guided them in their ways and taught to them the great mysteries of this world. There were small areas where other creatures resided, some of them able to rival the lesser ponies in intelligence. However they were of no real concern to the alicorns, as long as they did not interfere in the governing of the harmonic balance and the ruling of the world, there was no reason to interfere with them, few as they were.

The capital itself had no name, it was simple the capital. There was no separation of states, no borders except the natural ones, and as such there was only one capital. The center of the world, the home of the alicorn king and queen, the sister's father and mother. For they were princesses, and one day Celestia would take her mothers place, and the stallion she found worthy as a mate would take that of her father.

And it was in the streets of the capital the sisters now walked, one with her head held high and eyes beaming with pride as the immortal beings that saw her bowed their heads in deep respect. Respect for her, a mere filly of twenty, while most of them would have seen at least centuries pass by. It filled her heart with a fierce joy seeing it all, the glory of her home. The only thing that sullied it was the pitiful groans her sisters was making when the pedestrians eyes turned to her.

“Looney stop whining so much, it's not like they'll remember it for long,” Celestia whispered out of the corners of her mouth.

Luna didn't respond, she merely hid her face as well as she could behind her curled tragedy of a mane and looked down in shame. She knew the other alicorns would be staring, most likely sniggering behind her back once she'd passed them by. It wasn't the first time her sister had embarrassed her, and she knew it wouldn't be the last.

Halfway to the castle Celestia stopped and looked to her left thoughtfully, in the direction of the market district where treasures from around the world could be found amidst creatures from everywhere, not just ponies.

“Tia, hurry!” her sister hissed and looked around with a face more red than blue from shame.

“You can go on ahead without me, it's not like you need me to fix your mane anyway,” Celestia answered her dismissively.

Luna stomped a hoof to the ground angrily and marched off to the palace, doing all she could to keep from running. Celestia watched her go with a look of half pity, half amusement. It had been a dreadful mane she had given her after all. Not that it had been on purpose, she just had never tried to fix somepony's mane so quick before. Usually she was allowed to spend at least an hour getting her own perfect each morning.

Shaking her head in annoyance at the failure, she headed towards the market. Perhaps she would find a gift there to cheer up her grumpy sister. She walked amongst the beautifully carved marble structures, the pillars upon which huge roofs rested upon, the street whose marble bricks were so seamlessly fit together that it seemed just a road of liquid light during the day. And the platforms that floated by magic in the air, connected to huge towers that reigned them in and brought order to the chaos.

She never tired of the sight, nor the many creatures that could be found there amidst the exotic wares. Not only the lesser ponies, but also striped ponies calling themselves zebras, which she had been informed was not of the lesser pony kind at all. Often they were accompanied by the elephant rulers of their small piece of distant jungle land, unfit for any pony to live in, and served as their servants.

Then there were the gryphons, lion and eagle as one, and talking to boot. Celestia had yet to meet one with anything intelligent to talk about, fighting and squabbling amongst themselves like common seagulls perched upon their mountain tops.

That, and so much more, could all be found in the capital's market. She walked amongst them and gracefully bowed her head to each and every one that saw her, freezing in place and staring transfixed at her passing. It had often been remarked that she was the most beautiful creature in all the world, and in her experience that was probably true if all the stares she had received since she was born was anything to go by.

However, after having passed by so many strange yet still familiar creatures, she stopped before something she had never seen before. It was grotesque in it's shape, compromised of so many different creatures that the whole was marred, leaving her with the impression he was nothing but asymmetry and chaos, the face of entropy.

She kept herself from backing away with a disgusted face. He was after all a creature of this world and she would one day be its ruler. It wouldn't do well treating any creature unfair no matter how revolting it was. However, she couldn't help but feel a little unwell when it looked on her with … well adoration, no wait more than that … infatuation.

Celestia swallowed hard and kept her regal composure, instead simply lifting an eyebrow in question at the creature blocking her way forward.

“Yes?” she asked, perhaps a little bit cold, but she really did try and sound as friendly as she could.

“I … I … here,” the creature replied, revealing in its talons a bundle of flowers it had kept hidden behind its back.

Celestia looked at the flowers uncertainly, not sure what it meant by it, different creatures had different customs of gift giving and it meant different things. She remained unmoving, not sure what it would mean if she accepted the gift. The creature started to look nervous when she didn't immediately take them, so she focused her attention on him instead and ignored the flowers for a moment.

“What do you want with me?” she asked, keeping as neutral a tone as possible.

“I … I was just thinking … if you … how do you ponies call it … have any special … somepony?” it asked carefully.

“YOU?” she half shouted in disbelief. Did this unknown creature, really think he was fit to become her mate, the first princess and the most beautiful mare in the entire world!? But she carefully remember herself and forced herself to act like a princess should, with grace.

“No I do not have a mate, but I will one day and he shall be the next king. Why are you asking?” she asked with a hint of suspicion.

“I was just...I...Well!” the creature quickly said, panic shining out of his eyes. “I just...have followed you these last days and you've neve-”

“You have WHAT!?” Celestia shouted, not bothering to try and hide her indignation.

The creature reeled back from her like she had struck a blow, and his eyes told of nothing but terror when everything seemed to go wrong. The guards that had followed the princess appeared out of thin air to stand around the two, reacting on her distress and would bring their full force down on the strange creature should she give the word. She didn't.

“I … please … I didn't mean it like-”

“Be silent! I don't know who you are you or what you want, but if I ever catch you stalking me I will not stop my guards from punishing you. I don't know what you want and I don't care. Go away, and never let me see you again. You don't belong here and I don't want you. Go, go to whatever place you have in the world. I will only be as merciful as I am right now once, and only because I am supposed to be,” Celestia said in a low hiss, glancing at the crowd around them staring curiously.

The creature looked to be in pain, his face was twisted in disbelief, like he couldn't understand how things had gone so wrong. He sank down to the ground in defeat, and the flowers he had carried fell from his talons. For a brief moment Celestia felt pity at his broken spirit, but she quickly corrected herself and lifted her head high, looking down on it with cold judgment, before turning around and leaving it there.

The encounter had robbed her of any desire to remain at the market, and it was in a foul mood she headed back towards the palace. She had never heard of that kind of creature before, and it was strange for all living things had been discovered and cataloged. Even the smallest of tribes like the otters were well known, so where had the creature come from?

She decided she would tell her parents about it all. She wanted to know what it had been that apparently had stalked her without being discovered. And if it wasn't dangerous, it could be sent back to its own kind to remain there, far away from her and the beautiful alicorn kingdom. Such a creature had no place among them, and certainly not with her. Had she just imagined it or had the creature actually seemed … interested in her? If so, it was foolish as well as repulsive. No, it would go away and stay with its own kind, she would see to it.

Never once did it occur to her that it was alone in the world.

                                    *****************************************************

“Karon wake up!” a voice screamed in his ear.

Two pairs of hooves were wrapped around him and … was he flying? His body wasn't touching the ground, and what little he could feel there seemed to be air all around him, except where two pony bodies were pressing themselves against him, trying to bring him down.

He tried to speak, wanted to reassure them that it was fine, that there was no point in resisting. Something wanted him to see, wanted him to know. And nothing would keep that from happening.

He wanted to reassure them, but he couldn't. And before he even managed to open his mouth he was yanked back into the past.

                              **********************************************************

There was nothing that could be said that hadn't been said already. It had gone on for so long now, never before had a tragedy like this struck the peaceful world of the alicorns, and the charges they had been deemed to watch over. Even so, one lone voice kept on it's rebellious protest, denying defeat and holding on to the small sliver of hope.

“Mom! You promised! You promised, you promised, you promised, you promised!” princess Luna screamed, making sure that the queen knew full well, that she had indeed promised.

“I know my Luna, but the little ponies need us. Something has been interfering with their duties and making the lives of many difficult, they have asked for our help.”

“But can't they wait?! You promised just you and me would be going to visit the old forest today!”

“I'm sorry, but I can't abandon the little ponies if they have asked for our help. Your father and I will go and make everything right, and when we return you and I can go to the forest.”

Luna pouted and looked away angrily, but still asked in a careful voice.

“You and me … JUST you and me. Tia isn't allowed to come?”

“Yes Luna, just you and me.”

Luna shifted her weight from hoof to hoof carefully as she contemplated the promise, and arrived at the conclusion that there was little she could say or do anyway to change it.

She sighed and nodded, her mother smiled down at her in understanding and nuzzled her briefly. Then her face turned serious and she left the room, leaving Luna alone with her thoughts. The mare remained where she stood for a few minutes, going over how long it might take her parents to go to the lesser ponies and fix whatever problem they had.

The most optimistic answer seemed to be measured in weeks, and it didn't leave Luna happy about it. Several weeks with only her sister as real company? It was better than nothing for sure, anything to avoid having to visit another of the lords dinners and having them question if her sister had found a mate yet.

Because they always had a suggestion otherwise, but never one for her.

She went outside into the grand hall, marble pillars held up the ceiling high above and kept the walls separating the outside with the inside to a minimum. She could see her parents fly away from the courtyard down below, her mothers golden coat and red mane standing in stark contrast to her fathers deep black coat and silver mane. With them flew many guards, very many,

Luna stopped and watched them disappear into the sky with a worried frown. What kind of problem could the lesser ponies be having that required so many guards?

She shoved the question out of her mind, it didn't really matter anyway. Whatever it was it would not prove a threat to the king and queen. Their power was legendary, and Luna didn't believe for a second anything in this peaceful world could or even would seek to harm them.

She walked through the halls until she reached her sister's room, well one of them, but it was her favorite and was where she could usually be found.

She knocked on the shining door, made mostly out of gold, and waited. It took a long time before her sister opened it, and when she did she looked … ruffled. Well not really, however Luna did notice that while no hair was out of place and she looked as groomed as always, her usually vibrant mane was of darker colors, and her eyes didn't shine with confidence as much as normal.

“What do you want Looney?” she asked curtly.

“Mom and dad has left, so I was just wondering if you wanted to do anything?” she asked back, ignoring the twinge of irritation at the name.

“Can't, I'm too busy right now,” Celestia told her, about to close the door.

“Wait! Doing what?” Luna quickly asked.

“Just … reading,” the older sister said.

“About what? Is it something I can help with? Please...?” Luna hastily begged, thinking of how many lords families must be itching to invite her to another dinner.

“I … fine. Just don't touch anything else and you can come in,” Celestia agreed, opening the door wide and letting her little sister in.

Luna entered and saw a huge stack of books next to a coach upon which several books laid open. Curious, Luna trotted over and read the titles. They were all dealing with different creatures besides the ponies that lived in the world.

“So … what can I help with?” Luna quickly asked, she knew her sister would kick her out in case she got bored with her.

“I'm...looking for something. A creature...” Celestia said, contempt and irritation clear in her voice.

“Any special creature?” Luna asked and levitated a book up before her.

“Yes … I just don't know what it's called, and it's driving me crazy. I meet it a few weeks ago in the market and it said it had been … stalking me. I told mom and dad but they didn't know what it was either, but said they would tell the guards to look for it just to be safe,” Celestia told her.

“Why didn't you tell me!? What if it has been following me too?” Luna asked, shocked her sister hadn't even mentioned it once.

“Oh please, I think it was in love with me. Why would it be in love with you too?”

“Because you're so much better and deserving of love than me?” Luna asked with venom in her voice.

Celestia sighed and shook her head, “I never said that.”

“No, but you thought it,” Luna murmured and the room fell silent.

Celestia walked over to the books and sat down in the couch wordlessly, not looking over at her sister when she levitated a book to herself, instead asking out loud, “So...? Are you gonna help me find out what this creature is or not?”

Luna went over and sat down beside her sister, levitating one of the books and opening it before asking in a flat voice, “What does it look like?”

Celestia paused her reading and thought back to her encounter.

“It was like, a mix of so many different animals. It had a goat's head I think, but two different horns. And … A lion's paw on one arm and … an eagle's talon on the other. And much more, if you find it, you will know it.”

Luna wasn't sure what to make of the description. It sounded like something her sister would have made up to gain more attention. Not that she needed more. Still, it was better than dinner with the lords, and so she dug into the pile of books with her sister. She had expected the game to last maybe the rest of the day, instead by the end of it, they had found not a single reference to such a strange creature like she claimed to have seen.

And so the days went on, and Luna found herself in her sister's room more than all the times before. The collected books were read and thrown out in a fit of frustration, and servants and scribes found and brought new ones in, with the same result as before.

Days turned to weeks, and both the princesses found themselves torn between their new found obsession, keeping to it mostly out of a stubbornness not to surrender, and worry for why the king and queen had not returned.

There were many officials and alicorn nobles that helped run the day-to-day basis of the alicorn rule, yet none of them seemed to have any idea why the king and queen were late in their return. The thought that something could actually go wrong with the rulers … it had never even been considered.

The sisters had not been happy with that answer, and in an attempt to calm them down, five hundred of the alicorn guard had been sent to assist in whatever was holding the king and queen from returning. Doing so had gained a begrudging thank you from the princesses, but had not cured them of their worry.

To add to their burden, weeks of searching hundreds of books had gained them absolutely nothing. Even though Equus had turned out to be full of strange and fascinating creatures, no mention of the strange creature that had stalked Celestia could be found. Which was making them even more worried. What could this mysterious being want?

“What if it's something new, something that has never existed before?” Luna asked one day, staring up at the ceiling.

Celestia looked up from her usual place on the coach, putting down the book hovering in front of her face. “Don't be ridiculous, we know of every living thing that exists in this world.”

“Then where is this thing you met? Why can't we find him or his kind somewhere?”

“I don't know … maybe, maybe he's the only one that exists,” Celestia suggested.

Luna held her tongue at the thought. The only one.

“If that's true … he must be so lonely,” she finally whispered.

Celestia looked at her like she was insane, or just plain dumb.

“He didn't look lonely, he just looked … wrong,” she said and shuddered.

Luna did not look convinced. She sat still and stared with a distant expression at the ceiling. Abruptly, the stillness and calm of the lazy afternoon was broken by a scream from outside, and after the princesses shared a look of surprise, they ran out to investigate.

Outside, in the far distance, framed in by the pillars holding up the hall, was a cloud. But not just any cloud, not the usual white fluffy clouds the pegasi created. No, this cloud was pink, and red lightning seemed to be shooting out from it. Alicorn guards were flying up towards it, their horns alight with powerful magics that went flying into the cloud.

The ones watching the event from down below were gasping and screaming in surprise at what was happening. The magic of the guards battled with the power of the strange cloud, sparks of all kinds of colors were shooting out of it, and Celestia's mane was shining in a pale yellow of fear at the sight.

Eventually the cloud dispersed, and the alicorns cheered as the guards returned down to the city victorious. But the princesses didn't cheer, instead they both stood with the same deep frowns, their sisterhood obvious to any that would have looked at them.

“What was that?” Celestia asked out loud.

“I don't know,” Luna said.

“Of course not. Thank you, commander obvious,” the white mare added dryly, not quite hiding the nervousness underneath the sarcasm.

“Sis … I have a really bad feeling,” Luna continued, not caring about her sister's jab.

Celestia didn't answer, she didn't need to. They both felt it, the chill touch of fate, marking this moment. The king and queen possessed great skill in reading the times and the coming future, and they had said both the princesses would develop it soon enough. And now they felt it, for the first time destiny was whispering of what was to come.

At that moment, they both wished their parents could be there, to tell them a comforting lie. To tell them it was nothing, and they didn't need to as afraid as they felt.

After all, it had just been a pink cloud, how bad could that be?

                                                       ********************************************************

“Karon … please answer....”

“...Lyra?” he croaked, parched lips slowly parting to let the words slip out.

“Karon!” two voices shouted in relief, and briefly his eyes fluttered open to see both the unicorns' faces staring down at him.

“It's okay … please just … wait,” he whispered.

“What? Karon wait...!?”

His eyelids fluttered, then closed. Their protests turned dim and distant, unimportant. The voices, the minds that whispered across the empty wasteland, they called to him. They knew the distress of his companions, and they knew patience, ancient patience. But time was growing short, and he needed to know. He knew because he was allowed to know.

And so he didn't resist, when they dragged him back to another time.

                                                              ***********************************************

“Dad … what is wrong? Please tell us,” Celestia begged with her sister standing silent at her side.

The three of them were standing at the queen's sickbed. Grim faced, their father had remained silent ever since his return, only asking them to remain silent and not to get in anypony's way. Neither Celestia or Luna had obeyed of course, but their insistent questions had come to a halt when guards had brought their mother back hours after their father, sick.

The king had disappeared into some kind of council with the other alicorn lords, and he had not come out from it until the sun had set and midnight struck. By that time, the princesses had stood at their unconscious mother's bed for hours, waiting in fear for somepony to break the silence and tell them what was wrong.

He joined them at his mate's side, looking down on her with a haunted expression. Despite fearing the answer, Celestia asked in a strained voice, “What's wrong?”

“We don't know,” came the hushed reply, and the father motioned his two daughters to the other side of the room.

“What you mean you don't know? What happened to mom!?” she asked loudly.

Her father tried to give her a stern look, however it was tarnished by the deep weariness marking his features. He sighed deeply and looked over at his beloved mate, her mane slick with sweat and a feverish blush shining on her cheeks. His face darkened as he thought back to whatever had happened, and when he looked back to his daughters there was something in his eyes the sister had never seen before.

Anger.

“We arrived at the summit held by the lesser pony leaders. They told us of some monstrous creature tormenting them, disrupting the harmony that allowed the ponies to live as they were meant to, the harmony we alicorns are duty bound to guard,” he began explaining, and the sister listened with rapt attention.

“They said at first it had been nothing, harmless pranks and small disturbances. Some of it had even been amusing to the ponies apparently. But they increased in malice and greatness, until they lost entire harvests, control of the weather, and had their magic rendered useless. That's when they called to us...” their father shook his head and thought back to the conversation.

“We were so sure it would be quickly and easily solved, there was no reason to suspect otherwise … until we meet the creature. It was a parody of everything of this world, a mix of many different beings, both animal and thinking creature. It spoke to us, taunted us and accused us of ruining its fun...”

Both Luna and Celestia's eyes had widened at the description of the creature, but they didn't dare interrupt their father's story.

“We tried to use our magic against the creature, to bind it from causing more harm until we could understand it and how to help it … nothing worked. For every spell cast and form of magic weaved, it evaded us. It was like its very nature eluded us. Its own magic was so powerful, so strong … and it didn't work like ours. It mocked the rules our power shapes itself after, and turned it against us, and the more we struggled, the more it twisted our power and took it for its own … we lost.”

The two sister looked at one another, the conflicting emotions within them plain for the other to see, yet they didn't speak up about their suspicions. Luna was waiting for her older sister to take charge, like she always did, but Celestia didn't for reasons unknown to her.

“Dad … what happened to mom?” the white mare asked instead.

“It … the creature … it cursed her. It had spread disease amongst the ponies, in addition to the famine it is creating, and it cursed her with that disease,” he answered slowly.

“But … but we're alicorns! We can't grow sick....” Luna protested in disbelief.

“No, we can not. We were freed from that weakness when the first alicorn was created … but this creature, it has changed the rules. It has taken the harmony we have preserved and the structure we have built around it, and it has replaced it with something else, fouled and corrupted. It doesn't obey any laws or reasoning I can guess at. It is … pure chaos and corruption … it is discord.”

“But what are you gonna do? We can cure mom … right? And you're not gonna let this creature continue doing bad stuff?” Luna asked, looking up at her father.

He didn't answer, and that scared the sisters more than anything else so far. He extended his wings and hugged his daughters close, Luna pressed herself to her father's side and stared over at her sick mother with uncertainty and fear. While Celestia pressed her wings harder against her body, and stared down at the floor, her gaze distant and one of self torment.

It did not take long before the sisters were ushered out of the room by old alicorns there to tend to the queen, claiming their presence would hinder their work. The king disappeared to try and rest, and prepare for the many duties he would have to see to when he woke, leaving Luna and Celestia alone with their dark thoughts.

It was in Celestia's room, surrounded by the discarded books from their long hours of searching for the creature that seemed to have been wreaking havoc right under their noses, that the sisters sat on the usual coach. No light was lit, and the dark was total for a long time before some alicorn somewhere took up the royal task of raising the moon. That was the final sign, the one act that tipped the scales to make it impossible to deny that something was happening, something was changing. And for the worse.

“Tia … why didn't you say anything about-”

“Because I didn't want to okay! It's not like it will matter anyway....”

“You don't know that. What if all of this has something to do with that time you saw it in the market?”

Luna regretted the question as soon as it had left her lips. Her sister, the older, smarter, prettier and confident Celestia looked over at her with a terrible malice flaring up within her eyes. It was a look beyond anything Luna had ever received from her sister, even after she had done something that had really annoyed or angered her, never had Celestia looked on her like that.

“It. Had. NOTHING! To do with that,” she said slowly, and Luna shrank back in fear of her sister and nodded emphatically, too afraid to speak.

Celestia looked away hastily, breaking eye contact like she was ashamed of what she had just done, and when Luna dared to raise her head her sister refused to meet her eyes.

“I'm sorry Looney … I'm just … It has nothing to do with that okay? Mom isn't sick because of anything I did, I didn't do anything wrong....”

“I believe you Tia,” Luna said and moved over to her sister, placing a wing around her tentatively.

It was something she had never done before. Her sister had always been the one comforting her, often after having done something mean to upset her. Now it was different, everything was different. In just a few weeks beginning with her walking in to her sister's room and helping her search for a mystical creature that would soon turn out to be a monster.

Her sister didn't move, didn't react to the unexpected presence of her sister's wing around herself. She simply stared out into nothing with eyes Luna didn't want to look into. It was better to simply hold her bigger sister, to lean into her and hope that things would get better soon.

They both fell asleep on the couch together, and after an uneasy rest plagued with nightmares, Celestia was the first to wake up. The sun shone in through the windows, and judging by its strength, it was late. Although, since it took so long before somepony raised the moon, it was entirely possible it had only passed a short time before the sun had been raised with abnormal speed.

“So easy,” the white mare whispered to herself, thinking of just how fragile their existence was.

It was all it took, one sick regent, one rhythm disturbed and harmony was lost. The realization begged more questions out of her, and she wasn't sure she wanted to know the answers to them. After all, if one sick regent- one sick mother- was all it took to shatter the flow of peace, what could happen if even worse changes occurred. What if her father grew sick too? What if her sister got sick? What if the sun or moon refused to be raised or lowered? What if … what if … what if it was all her fault?

She had started breathing heavily, panic crushed her chest into a small rock of doubt and shame, and she was close to hyperventilating. It wasn't right, nothing was right. She was the beautiful Princess Celestia. She was adored by everypony, every living creature. A being like her couldn't cause something like this, wouldn't do anything to make her mother sick.

No, it had nothing to do with what happened at the market. Maybe it was not the same creature … and if it was, it was still not her fault. It was his fault … that ugly, deformed creature … the discord.

“Discord,” she whispered out loud, tasting the name she had just given it.

It would do.

She turned to her still sleeping sister, she hesitated at waking her up, despite her own uneasy sleep Luna didn't look to be suffering of any nightmares, she looked peaceful. Celestia decided it would be best to leave her there to enjoy her sleep, it would not last anyway. She turned from her sister and exited the room, her nightmares fading from memory, but the feeling they had brought forth still haunting her. The worst part wasn't that they had left her with a sick feeling, the worst part was that she couldn't tell whether they were just nightmares or visions of what was to come.

Or so she told herself, and firmly ignored the sickness in her chest, whispering that she already knew the answer.

She went to see her mother first, but was told to stay away by the guards outside her chamber, saying the queen needed rest. She was going to protest if it wasn't for one of her mother's favorite servants telling her her mother had regained consciousness, but was still too weak to speak with anypony, and if she returned later, maybe the queen would be strong enough to see her daughter.

Worried about her mother, and angry at the insensitive guards, she went in search of her father. He would no doubt be commanding the guards to search for Discord, and once he was found they could put a stop to all of this. They would force him to lift the curse and cure her mother. They would restore harmony to the land and make right all wrongs. That was the duty of the alicorns. It was the reason for which they existed, and they would never fail that duty, for as long as they remained.

With the guidance of a pair of guards – was it just her imagination, or was there a lot more of them than usual – she found her father. He was inside a room that she had been told hadn't been used in centuries, the war room. It had an enormous map painted over an entire wall, and a large circular table stood in the middle of the otherwise barren room. At the moment, three alicorns stood there and, surprisingly, one pegasus.

Celestia cleared her throat before making her entrance, and all four of them looked up, three with disinterest, and one with sadness. Her father was the latter, and Celestia's voice stuck in her throat at the sight. What could possibly have happened to have her father look even more sorrowful than before?

“Dad, what's wrong?”

“Everything my dear, absolutely everything,” he said with a weariness that sounded wrong coming from her father, the alicorn king of black and silver that had always seemed so strong and indomitable.

“Now, now Astra, it's not all beyond hope. This creature of yours-”

“Discord,” Celestia interrupted, and the others blinked in  surprise.

“What?” her father asked in confusion.

“The creature, it needs a name, and since it has not given one, we will name it Discord,” she said calmly.

“Discord,” her father repeated, as did the others before nodding in satisfaction.

“Well, as I was saying....” the alicorn that had spoken continued, a stallion with red coat and copper mane. “This Discord might be powerful, and we don't yet now where it can draw such power from, but it is not all powerful, we know that. And even though we are having difficulty calculating just how much power it has, it would be simply impossible for it to resist the combined might of the alicorns,” he finished.

The pegasus present, a light blue mare with a mane white as snow, cleared her throat loudly and gave the alicorn a stern glance. He in return looked at her bemused but added, “and the power of our lesser kin of course. They are right now busy searching the lands for this Discord, along with thousands of our guards, nearly the entire force we possess. Once we have located its hideout, where it is no doubt shaking in fear right now, we will contain him and bring him here.”

“And what will you do with him?” Celestia asked, not sure what answer she would be satisfied to hear.

“We have yet to decide. The most optimal solution would be to remove his power, either by binding it or perhaps placing a curse of forgetfulness, or perhaps sealing a part of its mind or soul into a soul jar. It simply depends entirely on what the nature of the creature is, a nature we do not yet understand.”

The rest of the gathering looked to want to add something to the stallion's brief accounting of their options, however her father looked at them sternly and shook his head.

“Celestia, I love you, but this isn't your place. We need to discuss further how to mobilize the guards to make sure this creature doesn't slip through our net, and your mother needs her rest to fight the disease … please, see to your sister. Your mother and I will do all we can to take care of this world and correct the wrongs that have been made by this Discord. It will be your task to see to your sister and to care for her.”

“Looney can take care of herself, I want to help!” she protested loudly, just barely keeping herself from stomping her hoof.

“Don't call her that! And your time for that will come eventually … and I pray to the stars it will not be anytime soon. You are not ready for this kind of thing Celestia. You haven't seen the places of suffering that still exists in this world despite my and your mother's best efforts. It will change you to see those kind of horrors, and how easily it spreads, so go,” her father finished with a voice of iron.

It was pointless to resist, she knew that. So she turned around with all the grace she could muster and walked out of the room, leaving them to plot whatever things they would be plotting. She definitely didn't want to go back to Looney now that her father had ordered her to do it, so instead she decided to walk out into the city. Maybe she could find something to distract her, or a gift for her mother once she was strong enough to talk.

Her new found enthusiasm for the idea quickly died once she actually reached the market. Where it usually was a place of color and life it was now … strained. The usual banners flew from the high perches of the city's buildings, and the market was just as crowded as usual with all the interesting characters from all over the world. But it wasn't the same. There were even more present at the market than usual, however many of them were ponies with miserable expressions, huddling together in groups and speaking in hushed voices.

Celestia received the usual stares, but they were different as well. She was used to awe and adoration, not … hope mixed with fear. They were looking at her in a completely different way, they were looking at her like she was something she was not. There was no word for it she could think of, and it unnerved her. Even here, in her favorite place in all the world, this Discord had touched and warped everything.

She shuddered from their collective gazes, and when she realized that looking for a gift would have to entail speaking to the owners of those stares, she quickly changed her mind and headed back to the castle. She didn't want to be in the the presence of such...

She didn't know ponies, even alicorns, could look so … pitiful.

It couldn't be that bad, right?

When she reached the palace, she realized she had no where else to go than back to her sister, hopefully still sleeping. Despite  the fact that Luna would probably ask a lot of stupid and annoying questions, Celestia didn't want to be alone.

When she reached her room, she found Looney, still fast asleep. She breathed a sigh of relief and joined her sister on the couch, resting her head on a fluffy pillow. Luna's calm breathing was reassuring to listen to – even if she snorted at the thought as soon as it had entered her mind – and it did not take long before she closed her eyes and pretended to be asleep.

It was nice, to shut away the world and its wrongness for a moment, yet not have to deal with all those nightmares taunting her, telling her they weren't nightmares but the future.

She drifted into a state of meditative half sleep, keeping herself from surrendering to the tempting blackness entirely. She knew what waited there. Soon enough Luna woke up, and, with some reluctance, Celestia opened her eyes and watched her sister sit up and look around confused. Her expression was dazed, but as the mist of her dreams cleared away and memory returned to her, the peaceful expression she bore fell. Then she noticed Celestia staring at her.

“I thought for a moment it wasn't true, that it was just another dream,” she said quietly.

Celestia didn't reply. She sat up wordlessly and looked out the window. She must have been inside longer than she thought, for the sun was nearly gone, and soon her father would raise the moon. To remind her that some things never changed, her stomach growled.

In response, Luna's stomach growled loudly as well, and after a quick expression of shock, Celestia began giggling. Luna smiled, but it didn't reach her eyes, nor did it drive away the worry from them.

“Do you think mom's better?” she asked.

Celestia's mirth vanished without a trace, and she looked her sister in the eyes.

“I was awake before, and went to check on her. They said she was awake but couldn't talk to anypony, that she needed more rest alone. And dad is busy doing guard stuff or something,” she said.

Her sister accepted the news stoically, doing nothing but looking away sadly, and pressing herself a little closer to her sister. Remembering what her father had said about taking care of her sister, Celestia put a wing over Luna and leaned her head against her's.

“Do you think everything will be ok?” Luna asked quietly, her voice trembling.

“Of course it will, eventually,” Celestia replied, ignoring the mocking jeering of her dreams.

They asked servants to get them food, and then ate entirely in silence. Celestia busily trying to distract herself from her dark thoughts, and Luna eating simply because she felt empty, and didn't know what else to do.

Despite having just woken up, they went to rest after that, Celestia alone in her bed across the room, and Luna back in her own room. They had asked the servants to make sure they both knew the first minute their mother was strong enough to see them, and had been reassured it would be seen to.

It still took three days before they were told they could see her.

Both the sisters ran towards their mother's chamber as soon as they got the news, both of them wearing big smiles on their faces. Finally, after days of waiting and hearing nothing from their mother or father, they could see her. And she would tell them everything was alright, that she was well now and would go with their father and put everything back together the way it was supposed to be.

The guards finally let them through at the door, but once they were inside they realized something was wrong. The room was almost in pitch black, the windows were covered and a lone candle stood lit at the table besides the bed. Nephete, the alicorn queen of the world, and their mother laid on the bed, looking far worse than the last time they had seen her.

Beside her stood their father, his cheeks wet with tears and a look of despair in his eyes. Luna didn't stop inside, she went straight over to her mother and threw her wings and hooves around her, hugging her frail form tight. Celestia stopped, stood unmoving and staring in denial at her mother.

“No,” she whispered, refusing to believe what she knew the scene before her meant.

In the back of her mind the visions in her dreams cackled with glee, gloating with their truthfulness, their very existence.

“Tia, my sweet Tia,” her mother said when she saw her oldest daughter standing frozen.

She moved Luna over to one side, offering her now free left hoof forward towards Celestia, beckoning with an embrace. But Celestia couldn't move, refused to move. She absolutely refused to acknowledge a reality where this could be true, where those nightmares could become reality.

“Tia please, I don't know … how long I can stay,” her mother said sadly.

Something inside her broke, and Celestia ran to her mother and threw herself into her offered embrace. She began crying hysterically, sobbing so hard it felt like her chest was going to explode. Luna was taken aback by her sisters behavior, but then she looked over at her father, the trails the tears had left behind on his cheeks and the pained expression he wore. Then she looked at her mother, noted the frailty of the usually sleek and beautiful alicorn.

And she understood.

Her lips started to tremble and tears forced their way from her eyes. She drew a shuddering breath to ask if it was true, but then she met her mother's eyes, and they told her everything. She fell in beside her sister, hugging her mother as hard as she dared, feeling how skinny her body had become, and hating her for it. Hating her for daring to die so soon, it was supposed to be centuries before it was even supposed to be possible.

She hated her mother for dying, and then she hated herself for hating her mother when she wasn't even going to be alive soon. Not going to hold her on the nights when she felt lonely, or comforting her after Tia had done something mean and not even apologized for it. She loved her, couldn't she understand that? You couldn't die if somepony loved you so much, she needed to stay.

Why couldn't she stay?

Their father soon joined them in the embrace, and Celestia felt hot tears land on her face, but she barely noticed. She tried to bury herself in her mother, to hold on to her so tight she couldn't leave. All the while the dreams haunted her, pressing at her mind. And all the while a memory was pressing at her heart, a memory of meeting a repulsive creature at the market one day, and from the memory sprang a question that was eating her heart.

Was it her fault?

                                                  *************************************************

“No, no please...” Karon rasped, his throat so parched it felt more like a dried leaf than flesh.

“You're awake,” Trixie's voice said, relief evident despite the muddy mist that surrounded Karon's mind.

“I...I don't want to...” he begged quietly, clutching at his chest like it was breaking.

“What? What's happening?” Lyra asked, quickly joining Trixie at his side.

“I don't want...please...no more,” he begged to unseen listeners.

“Karon, please tell us what is happening?” came the desperate plea from Trixie, her hoof stroking his forehead.

He couldn't speak anymore, already the pull was strengthening. The ones pulling him understood, but it changed nothing. It wasn't over yet.

                                             ******************************************************

The queen of the alicorns, the queen of the entire world of Equus, was dead. And she wasn't alone. Thousand had died by now, weeks had passed without capturing Discord, and during that time the situation had worsened by far.

Drought, famine, storms and disease ravaged the entire planet. Great swarms of insects were spawning in places they'd never been seen in before, devouring crops and leaving nothing for the starving population. Any magic the ponies used either didn't work as intended, or the effect was soon useless because something else happened that changed everything.

Entire pegasi cities had crumbled when they turned to liquid chocolate or something else, some ground houses had been turned to gingerbread, leaving the nearby population fighting each other for the scraps. In other places the animals had changed, in distant lands where the elephants, zebras and camels lived, the small and, until now, harmless jackals had grown and gained real intelligence. And now they hunted mercilessly anything they could get their paws on.

And neither the alicorns or unicorns could restore control over the sun and moon, no matter how much they pooled their power, it was never too long before they went back to an arrhythmic cycle. Sleep was denied to all, and only when they collapsed out of exhaustion was anypony able to sleep, and never for long, as some new change occurred that demanded adaption … or inevitable destruction.

What was worse, the magic of the alicorns seemed to be failing. It had sustained the peace and harmony of Equus for times untold, and it was built into everything, the entire world depended on it. The great platforms that hung suspended in the air, tied to the great towers of the capital, had crashed when the magic couldn't support them anymore, killing hundreds.

War broke out, a word unfamiliar in its meaning previously, and only in existence as a kind of contrast to the idea of how Equus was supposed to be. The distant nightmare of what could happen if the alicorns failed in their duty. And they had failed.

Celestia and Luna sat with their father, his appearance aged by centuries over the course of months. Two months, since his wife had died, and he was already halfway towards joining her. A disease similar to the one she had succumbed to ravaging him, as it did so many other alicorns.

By some miracle, neither of the princesses had been tainted by the impossibility. The idea itself was so ridiculous, an alicorn disease? They couldn't get sick, they were immune to the weaknesses of the lesser species, it was how they were made. And now this impossibility was killing them all, along with their land and the world they were sworn to protect.

Two thirds of the alicorns had died, ironically many of them had died out in the world, doing their best to maintain order and harmony, fighting Discord's influence. It was an irony, because many deaths had been at the hooves, claws or paws of the lesser creatures they were trying to aid, desperation and anger driving them against the alicorns.

And now, the sisters sat with their father in the war room, the great map had been recolored to display the many changes that had come to the land. And where it had nearly been completely green before, now only a few patches remained amidst the sea of brown and yellow of rot and desert. Dust of crumbled buildings, decaying much faster than they should have, sweeping in great storm across the land, burying those still daring to cling to life.

“Dad … what are we going to do?” Luna asked.

Her father shifted uneasily, his eyes revealed that there was no certainty in whatever answer he could provide. He turned to face the great map, slowly trailing his eyes over it, until they stopped at a few mountains, located to the far south, on the small continent where the gryphons lived on tall mountain tops.

“There is … one that might be able to help us. But I can't be sure that he will do anything, or if he is even there anymore,” he said quietly.

“Who?” Celestia asked, her voice emotionless.

“An old being, older than any alicorn. I have never meet him myself, but his existence has been recorded for all alicorn royalty to know of, and it is told that if any great crisis should arise, he should be consulted.”

“But who is it?” Celestia asked again in monotone.

“A dragon. One of the truly ancient ones, I don't know his real name, they guard such things closely. But the name recorded is Eldros, and it is written his last location was in a cave below the mountain the gryphons call Elpis.”

“So why haven't you already gone to him if he can help!?” Celestia asked, a little anger slipping into her voice.

Her father stared at the map for a long time before answering.

“I didn't think it would get this bad, and once it did … what time was there? But now we have tried everything we could think of, and nothing has worked. There's no hope left save for ancient stories left by ancient beings about ancient powers....”

The defeat in her father's voice made Celestia narrow her eyes. That he would give up after all they had paid? All that had been stolen? But she had to admit to herself that much of the anger was because she understood him.

“When are you leaving?” Luna asked in a small voice.

“I'm not,” her father replied without taking his eyes off the map.

Luna and Celestia gave each other a look at the response.

“Who are you sending then, Fortitude?” Celestia asked.

“No, only alicorn royalty were allowed the knowledge of this Eldro's location. And it was said only the royal line would be allowed to see him.”

“You mean we're supposed to go?” Celestia asked, knowing full well what the answer would be.

“Yes, you and Luna … I need to remain here and stay in charge of what we have left. The pegasi say there is a great dust storm heading this way, and who knows what it might be carrying with it. We need to shield the capital as much as we can from it. You, you my beautiful daughters, need to go to this Eldros. Find out if he has a solution, a way to stop this monster called Discord, and return if there is one....”

The king fell silent for a few heartbeats before continuing, his voice determined.

“...And if there is none, I want you to stay with him.”

“What!? NO!” Celestia shouted, she couldn't believe what she was hearing.

Luna stood frozen, her mouth open in shock at the suggestion, no, order.

“Yes, you will. If the records speak truth, then he possesses power beyond anything we or this Discord can hope to wield or fight against. You will be safe with him, if nothing else remains...”

“I'm not going to stay in some dark cave with some old dragon while you and everypony else suffers and … dies like mom,” Celestia said, her voice containing as much determination as her father.

“If nothing remains out here but death, you will. If you have not returned within two weeks, I will gather everything we have left to fight Discord's magic. Hopefully, it will draw him out at some point, and give us one chance at stopping him.”

“How?”

“I don't know, it doesn't matter. Whatever it takes. There is no room left for hesitation.”

“But … how will we find the way? I have never been very far from the capital … and neither has Tia,” Luna asked carefully.

The king turned around to face his daughters, and the question looked to have genuinely confused him. He turned thoughtful for a minute, then his face shifted into resignation.

“I will send you there,” he said.

“But...” the sister's eyes turned to the map, and the huge distance between the capital and the far away mountains of the gryphons.

“Is it even … possible?” Celestia asked.

“Yes, but it will leave me weak. And I don't know how much power I will be able to use to protect the city. I will have to rely upon the others strength mostly. But you will have to return on your own, or if you can convince him of it, let Eldros send you back here.”

“Are you sure?” Luna asked with concern, her eyes taking in her father's tired form.

“There's little choice left to us. Eldros might well be our only hope,” he answered.

He walked over to them, looking down at his children while a small smile touching his lips.

“I love you Celestia, and you too Luna. I love you more than anything. You're the real hope for the future.”

“What are you talking about!? You're still here with us!” Celestia shouted angrily.

“I am, but I don't know for how long. Even if we will catch and stop this Discord, I'm sick and tired. This disease has stolen most of my old strength, and even if this would be over tomorrow, it will not return to me.”

Celestia shook her head, refusing to listen to what he'd said. Luna stood silent, trying to hide her trembling.

“My daughters … please look at me.”

Reluctantly, Celestia meet his gaze, and Luna joined her at her side, tears trickling silently down her cheeks.

“I love you, as doe- … as did your mother. You are the most beautiful things in this entire world, and you will live on no matter what happens. You. Will. Live.”

Celestia couldn't keep herself from weeping, why would her father say such thing. Didn't he get it? They had already lost mom, what was left if they lost him too?

“Find Eldros, find a solution. Remember what once was, and make it real again. I'm trusting you, placing a burden that is too heavy for you, because I love you, because I can't see any other way. And I hope … I hope Eldros has no solution. I hope he says no and you remain with him, until another age comes by, where all of this is history so ancient it has no meaning any more, and you can return grown and whole. I hope it's true, because if it isn't … you will suffer so much.”

He pulled them into an embrace and kissed their manes before pushing them away, tears fell to the floor freely, and his horn shone with a silver glow. Too late, the sister realized what he was doing. Celestia only had the time to open her mouth to shout, to scream, before she was swallowed by light, and then left in darkness.

She screamed for a long time, and from her left came the sound of Luna's sobbing, joining with her cries as it echoed down in the dark. Only when her throat was worn sore, and Luna's sobbing had grown tired, soundless, did she realize they were in no limbo of teleportation. They were below ground, in a cavern.

Their echoes hung in the air, all the more distinct amidst the silence that had reigned there for such a long time, that any sound was an unwelcome stranger.

“Hast thou finally ceased thy weeping? Long have I slept, and yet waking to the sound of breaking hearts was not a welcome change.”

The voice rumbled forward out of the darkness, and a light began to shine. Red as the early morning sun, and as the sisters carefully approached it, the shape of an enormous red dragon took shape. Both the sister's eyes widened in fear. Just the sight of the ancient being was enough to have their instincts scream in terror. It did not move, nor did it open its eyes. It was still asleep in body, but its spirit was awake, and lightly touching upon the princesses' minds, yet the power still threatened to simply burn them away.

“I've been waiting for thy arrival sun bringer, and thine as well moon keeper. I am aware of the goings of the world above, and I have what ye seek. A price must always be paid for such power, and if ye are willing, it will be done.”

“What ... power?” Celestia croaked out, her voice trembling in a way it had never done before.

“Two kinds: one of ancient force, and the other … knowledge.”

“And ... the price?”

“A vow.”

“What … kind of vow?” Celestia carefully asked, swallowing the worst of her fear.

“To be the guardians of this ancient force, until the time where the new wielders shall appear.”

“I … and how will we know when that happens?”

“The new wielders will form a bond to these forces by their own spirits. No action on thy part is needed. Thy task will be simple, to protect these forces from theft in any manner, until they are passed on.”

“I accept,” she said, a small measure of her former confidence returning.

What could these forces be? And what knowledge did he talk about? She would accept all he could offer, and she would use it. Now they had a chance.

“And thy sister? Doest thou accept moon keeper?”

“Moon...? Yes, I accept,” Luna said, her voice barely audible.

“It is done.”

The voice rang out with the clarity of metal striking rock, and the vibration of the voice left the cave quaking, alongside the sisters' spirits.

And from the red gloom, other lights began to shine. In a miasma of rainbows there rose six gleaming crystals from the dragons treasure, and floated before the princesses. They were tantalizing in their beauty, somehow both complex and simple in their symmetry.

“These are the very Elements of Harmony. They are the spirit of this world given focus, tools to channel the power of the living planet. They can only be wielded while serving its design, and thou may only use it in service of it. Anything less … and thine punishment shall be severe.”

“But … how?” Celestia asked, unable to take her eyes off the crystals.

“It shall be natural. If this world desires its power to be used, it shall happen. Thou will only be the channel through which the water flows. If the elements accept thy heart as worthy that is.”

“What does that mean?” she asked.

“Open thy heart and see.”

At first she didn't understand, but then she felt it. Celestia felt the light of the crystals bathe her in it, tasting her, testing her. It was sinking into every part of her being it could find, until finally it was satisfied.

“It is over, the test is done and the choice is made.”

Luna backed away a bit, so that she wouldn't get in the way of her sister, and whatever this new power would do to her. She was just happy there was hope again.

“Sun bringer. Thy heart has been weighted, and in thee Laughter, Magic, and Generosity have found a home.”

Three of the crystals floated forward until they touched her brow, and there they twisted, melted into pure light until they took the form of  a large golden crown. She smiled, but then she noticed the three remaining crystals, hovering before her, unmoving.

“Moon bringer, in thy heart Kindess, Honesty and … Loyalty have found a home.”

Luna stared in disbelief as the three crystals floated over to her and formed a crown upon her head, similar to her sisters, but silver instead of gold.

“The secret to the elements lies in the attunement to the wielder. Keep within thy hearts the presence of their spirit, and they shall channel their power. Sun bringer, in thy heart there is the need to share, both in wealth and laughter, and it has been deemed enough. Do not lose those qualities, or the elements shall abandon thee. Magic is the binding component of all the elements, and proved the clear focus of their power. Thou shall be the center. As long as thy sister and thou remain bonded strong, the elements shall be linked as well.”

“And thou, moon keeper, to thy heart has kindness taken root. For thou has within it the presence of compassion, even for wicked souls, for thou know the burden of loneliness and the pain it may bring. And thou know no deceit, thy mind is clear and so is thy voice of falsehood, as thy heart is still young. And loyalty is the strength of thy heart and spirit. Despite the mocking and trickery played on thou by thy sister, thou have remained loyal and true. For thou know she is thy sister and know of her love for thee … and as long as thou know thou are loved, as long as thou are sure of thine bond as sisters and do not forget … thy loyalty will remain....”

There was something about the final words the dragon spoke that struck a cord deep within Luna's heart, and she didn't like the foreboding feeling it evoked. Nevertheless, the sisters stood taller than they had in months, now wielders of an ancient power, strong enough to defeat this Discord.

But it wasn't over yet, and the dragon had promised two gifts of power....

“What is the knowledge tho- I mean you, spoke of?” Celestia asked.

“Hmmm. Thou has named thine enemy Discord. A fitting name, more than thou suspects. Before thou leave my home, thy minds need to understand his reasons. What ails him at his core, and drives this madness.”

Celestia held her breath, the dragon knew. It knew it was her fault, and he would say it, he would accuse her, blame her.

“It is his nature.”

Celestia stopped squirming for a moment, processing what the dragon had just said, his voice heard only in her mind.

“What?” she eventually dared ask.

“It is in his nature. He is in truth Discord, and his nature is to cause such things. To upset the order, bring wrongful corruption and twist harmony into disharmony. A discordant tone in the harmonic song that was once sung, and echoes still.”

“But...”

“His actions were inevitable, it took time for him to form a body, a consciousness, a thinking mind. Yet, it was inevitable, as was the chaos he would bring.”

“Then why didn't you stop him!” Celestia asked, anger giving her the strength to actually let a bit of accusation enter her voice.

“It is not in my nature, nor is it my purpose. That is thy task, and the purpose of the alicorns. I have waited, and now thou are here.”

“It could all have been saved....”

“Perchance, or maybe what has been destroyed was destined to fall. However it may be, thy role is clear, as is thy path.”

“Defeat Discord,” she said.

“More.”

Confused, she felt the need to look back at her flank, and she twitched in shock at what she saw. Her mark, what the lesser ponies called the cutie mark. It had appeared, so soon. It was normal for it to take a century before an alicorn found themselves, yet there it was, a sun.

She heard a gasp, and saw Luna staring at her own flank, where a patch of darkness now sat with a crescent moon in its center.

“Thy road is far lengthier than thou suspects....”

Celestia was going to respond, was going to ask more questions. But the red glow winked out of existence, and in surprise she held her tongue until another light blinded her, and after she had held up a hoof to shield her eyes, she saw she was somewhere else.

They were standing on a beach, and before them stretched a sea as long as their eyes could see. They turned around and saw what once would have been a jungle, teeming with life. Now it was only a few rotten plants, hollow and dried out husks of trees … and bones. Bones of elephants, picked clean by starving birds and other creatures.

Upon their heads the crowns began to chime with a soft note, and Luna and Celestia both felt a calling. Like the elements were speaking to them, and they knew what they were supposed to do. And so, armed with the very forces of the world they stood upon, they went about their task.

Guided by the elements, giving impressions and feelings, they flew across the land, restoring the natural, harmonic flow of nature's balance. The power of the elements restored life, made withered seeds awaken once more and grow. They made the weather bow to their will once more, and soft rain feed the growing life. What would have taken years took minutes, as the world itself was healing the wounds wrought by a mistake given form.

They flew across the land, and slowly what was lost was restored. And what couldn't be restored, was soon replaced with something new. The elements knitted the patterns of creation seamlessly, and neither the princess of the moon or the sun tried to interfere, the power flowed through them without halt.

They slowly made their way across the lands, from jungle to savannah, where the trees were beyond saving, barring a few. To the arctic cold of the north, where a meager few of the strong pine trees still held up, accustomed as they were to hardship. And they would be the parents to many of the forests that grew.

Slowly but surely they moved, restoring order, reshaping the wicked and mad rules and forms Discord had imposed on the environment. His magic was resisting, he was noticing what was going on, but against the elements his power was meaningless.

The two bearers calmed the storms, quenched the droughts, eradicated the famine and healed the plagues. All that was wrong and unintended was pushed back. Weeks passed, and when almost a month had passed of tireless work, where the elements had sustained the bearers, temporarily freeing them from the need of rest, food or drink, turning them into perfect mediums. Only then did they return home.

It was all that remained, all else that could be saved had been saved.

The minds of Luna and Celestia gradually regained control, and the elements retreated into the back of their minds, waiting for the moment when the power would be unleashed and the final wasteland restored.

The sisters landed outside the capital, and simply stood there, at the gates of the greatest city of their world.

It was broken, the gates unhinged and rotten. The walls were weathered and worn, splattered with filth of all kinds, and the city was more a ruin than any home. Eventually they entered, their hoofsteps sounding on the cracked marble roads. It was Eerie to them, they had seen so much destruction, but it had been against distant lands they had never seen before. Now they were home, in a city they had grown up in, and they couldn't recognize it even. The few landmarks that remained were twisted parodies of what they had once been.

All the living things were dead, and to their shared horror, alicorn bones littered the streets. Skulls of what could have been friends grinned at them from the dust covering the ground, all that remained of once splendid buildings and beautiful works of art. When they reached the palace they slowed their steps, not wanting to but knowing they had to face the destruction of their childhood home.

Their kingdom, in ruins. Their legacy, cracked and blanketed with dust and bones.

They searched their rooms, the gathering halls, the archives. And it was finally in the war room they found the first signs of life. Inside were several alicorns, all half starved and many of them with a deranged look to their eyes.

They didn't recognize any of them, save one.

“Fortitude!” Celestia exclaimed, and ran to the stallion.

His red coat was washed out, and his usually shiny copper mane was ragged and clinging to his face, stinking of despair and sweat.

“Princess?” he asked in surprise, and looked over at Luna much the same.

A few of the other alicorns reacted to what the stallion had just said, but most remained still, staring into nothing with empty eyes.

“Yes, we're back. We have brought with us something, something that has helped us drive back Discord's wicked magic. The land of the alicorn's is all that's left now, OUR land is all that's left in need of saving. All that remains now is finding where Discord is hiding in it, then end him and restore our land.”

“You have … saved the others? Saved the lesser ponies and the other living creatures?” he asked in disbelief.

“Yes, we have been in all the parts of the world. The … elements have lent us the power, and with it we have been able to do so much in so little time, and now we're almost finished.”

“I had no idea … we all thought you were gone, having fled or been taken by Discord perhaps.”

“But … Dad sent us away, to bring back help. Didn't he tell you?” Luna asked, confused.

Fortitude stood uncomprehending for a moment, then his face twisted into a grimace of sorrow.

“You don't know … I found your father in this room weeks ago … I don't know if it was the disease but … the healers said he'd used up too much magic, it drained him of all he had left. His heart didn't have the strength to keep beating.”

Celestia slowly backed away, shaking her head slowly. Beside her Luna stared at the stallion who had known her since birth, firmly convinced he would tell them he was just playing a cruel joke.

Then it sank into her, her dad was dead. The queen was dead, and the king was dead. That left them … there was no one else, they were the rulers now. It was all their responsibility, it was all their burden.

“You … you will all help us find Discord, you will gather all the forces we have left … and you will help us destroy him!” Celestia hissed, rage unlike anything she had ever felt before gripped her heart firmly.

But the stallion only shook his head, looking over at the other alicorns.

“You don't understand, this is it. We … this is what's left,” he said and motion with his hoof at the others.

“No,” Luna whispered, looking at the sick and broken individuals barely holding on to life.

“Yes, it is. When I found your father dead, I did what we had planned. I gathered all we had left, every single alicorn still alive, all the wisest, strongest and most powerful of the lesser ponies as well. And we made our stand here when the great storm came. It was … a stupid move, but it was all desperation had left us with I'm afraid.”

“When the storm hit, and the accursed magic came with it, we tried to push back. But so many of us were barely conscious, so hungry and deprived of any real sleep for so long … our own magic ended up misfiring in so many ways that I think we killed ourselves more than the storm did. And then Discord's own magic came into play, twisting what we did into other forms. Most of it could have been harmless had it not been mixed with all the other magic being thrown around...and so...” he finished, nodding towards the group of alicorns huddling together. “We are all that's left, the rest died, either by exhaustion or some magic accident.”

It was too much. Celestia turned and ran out the room, Luna followed after her, leaving behind them the ugly evidence of their doom, the doom of their entire race.

Without a word she took to the air, the power of the elements exploding from her crown. It sent out ripples of power, bouncing from every thing it came across, and carrying with it the whispers of what was found. Luna lost herself to the power as well, and soon the two avatars of the world were searching frantically for their enemy.

They found him, and they chased him. Chased him across the wasteland, where every broken ruin and empty desert of dust and bones cackled with malicious glee at them. Finally, they cornered him within the capital, the only place they had left for him to run to.

They arrived soon after he did, and it was in a broken plaza where fountains had once stood. Now it was a mass of cracked stone and piles of broken masonry. Discord stood there, waiting for them, he was wearing an expression of annoyance on his face, and barely seemed to acknowledge their existence.

The sisters rushed forward, their magic taking over completely, and before Discord could utter a word, and he had much to say if the look of surprise was anything to go by, a beam of rainbow lights struck him.

He tried to shield himself, to escape, far too late. And slowly, from his feet up, he started to turn to stone. When the transformation reached his waist, he turned his eyes to meet Celestia's, and just for a moment, something wordless passed between them.

Perhaps it was his nature, perhaps it was inevitable. But it was she that had given the push, that final push. It was not her fault entirely, but it had been her pride and naivety that had helped him to embrace the monster he had been born as. She was not guilty, but she was not innocent.

He threw his head back and laughed, a laugh of the irony of fate, and just how cruel in its apathy it could be. He put a paw to his chest and raised his talons high, as if receiving praise after having put on a good show, never once halting his laughter. And then, it disappeared, and all that was left was stone.

The sisters stood silent, their enemy, beaten. Finally, after all the suffering and wanton destruction, it was over. But not all could be saved, not all could be restored. The sisters looked at the other with sadness, and most of all, weariness. It was their duty now, to govern the entire world, to rule over all in peace and harmony.

It was what alicorns lived for, their sole purpose.

But their age was over, and when Luna and Celestia looked at the city around them, this strange sad place that echoed of something familiar, they felt nothing. It was all emptiness.

They turned as one, and looked at the castle, where the last alicorns beside themselves were hiding, nursing their wounds. Wounds that ran to deep to be licked, too deep to do anything but fester in darkness.

The sisters left that day, ignoring the elements winking out and becoming dormant, ignoring the cutie marks speaking of their place in the world. They left their home, the graveyard of their people, and the place where one sister's pride had helped lead to the destruction of an entire era of peace and prosperity. The duty of the alicorns was forgotten by choice, and the seat of their power remained empty.

They left, but they never stopped carrying the memories.

                                                               ***********************************************

Karon sat up slowly, his head throbbed like crazy and his heart felt like it had been wrung out multiple times and then spanked with a riding crop for good measure.

“Wow....”

“That's … one way to put it.”

“He's awake!” he heard Lyra shout from behind him, and before he could react she was in front of him, staring into his eyes like he would disappear at any moment.

“Yeah I'm awake,” he said and tried to stand up, only to fall back on his ass.

“Gravity … thou art a heartless bitch.”

“Karon!” he heard Trixie shout, and felt two hooves wrap around his neck and holding him up.

The unicorn herself moved into sight at his left, looking at him with terrified eyes.

“Yeah, yeah I'm alright. It's over now,” he said and rubbed his head.

“What's over?” Lyra asked.

“It's...” Karon went silent when he felt a presence, and he turned his head to the right, where in the desert sun two ghostly figures took shape.

“What is it?” Trixie asked, noticing his expression.

“Ghosts,” he whispered.

Lyra and Trixie looked around nervously, unable to see them.

“G-g-ghosts? What do they want?” Lyra asked, spinning around trying to spot them.

Two alicorns, one a stallion with a dark coat and mane of liquid silver, the other a mare of golden coat and red mane, like autumn leaves fluttering in the breeze. They stood silent, unmoving, and there was such a sadness about them that Karon's heart began to ache.

“They're waiting,” he finally said, understanding.

“Waiting for what?” Lyra asked, as if expecting the answer to be, 'for you to drop your guard'.

“For their daughters to come home and heal what was broken,” he said quietly.

“What? Something here needs fixing,” she asked half joking.

“Yes, everything … but most of all themselves.”

The ghosts stood silent, sad, their message heard, the story of a fall told.

The dust billowed in the wind, and then they were gone.

------------------------------------------------------------Author's note--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I have to admit that I partly took inspiration from Discordantly made by cosmicunicorn over at Deviantart. You should go check it out, or alternatively, you could go here.

Also, I was listening to Deionarra's theme from Planescape: Torment for like 80% of the time I was writing this, so blame the tragedy of it all on subtle influence from game masterpieces. In case you're curious and have never actually played it (shame on you...seriously) you can find it here.

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