~~~~~The Next Morning, Somewhere in the Ki-Lin Kingdoms~~~~~

The two Alicorn sisters stood upon a stone ridge, overlooking perhaps one of the most glorious sights either had seen in many an age. The Endless Waterfall was impossibly high, the roaring of its waters enough to drown out even a full throated use of the Royal Canterlot voice. Countless little waterfalls cascaded down from many of the cliffs below it, only increasing its majesty. They stared for a long time, simply watching the rushing white waters pass them by and enjoying the moment of serenity it seemed to lend to them.

But they could not watch forever, and soon they flared their wings and were skyward once again, heading for the ancient stone mansion that had been built not terribly far from the place. At the sight of the place, both sisters were convinced that other forces were at work here - for the mansion had been built in a very deliberate ancient equestrian style. It had been popular amongst unicorns in the very earliest days of the nation, just after the signing of the Everfree Accords.

As their hooves touched the lush and obviously well-manicured lawn outside the place, Luna was the first to speak. "There is something very familiar about this place, Sister." She said softly, looking up at the delicate stone spires, and the carved fluted designs upon the windows reminiscent of a unicorn horn. "I do not just mean the architecture either. I feel as though we ought to know this place." Luna huffed out, her obvious frustration coming through in her clipped words.

Celestia briefly closed her eyes. She took a deep breath and expanded her senses, her horn glowing to a bright golden light. The light created a beam that swept over the building and the surrounding lawns for a few moments before winking out of existence. Celestia spoke slowly, as if carefully working over the words in her mind, "I do not know, Luna. There is something there that could be some sort of spell, but I would not be willing to stake a wager upon it." She shook her head slowly. "Yet I agree that we ought to know this place. It is maddening."

Luna and Celestia stood silently upon that lawn for a time, and then both burst into quiet laughter. "What a pair we make, eh sister?" Quipped Luna, a tear of joy streaming down her cheek. "Thousands of years of life and rule, and now we are going senile of all things! Truly we live in wondrous times!" Luna's laughter turned into guffaws, and turned to hug her sister fiercely.

Celestia accepted the hug, also laughing nigh uncontrollably. She knew it was merely a reaction to stress, a physical counterpoint to four days of nearly non-stop flight. Yet it was a relief and a joy all the same, to spend a simple moment in laughter with her sister. After several more minutes though, the chuckles died away and the two sisters turned back towards the mansion. "So. Shall we knock on the door, and see who is at home?" Quipped Celestia, waggling her eyebrows at her sister.

Luna smirked. "I think we shall. Perhaps the mistress of the house can grant us some insight as to our next destination." She chuckled. "I do hope that we won’t find Chrysalis living here. That would truly be the supreme irony of the day." She shook out her flowing blue mane and trotted up to the door with Celestia in close pursuit. Luna lifted her hoof and paused. "Hmm. Perhaps we ought to wear our royal jewels. It might make us more recognizable."

Celesta blinked and rolled her eyes - but otherwise did not argue. It was the work of a few trivial moments to hop into the delicate hoofboots, the golden torque and the slim crown. Perhaps Luna was right, there was no telling who might meet them at this doorway. That accomplished, Luna lifted her silver clad hoof and knocked gently upon the weather wooden door at the front of the manse.

There was a momentary pause, then the sound of clattering hooves and a young female voice piping up that could be heard even through the thick wood. "I've got it otasan!" the voice proclaimed, and the door slowly slid open a few moments later - There was a strange paper and wooden screen shielding the rest of the interior of the house from sight directly in front of them, and a little unicorn filly sitting in the hallway looking up at them in awe.

She had a bright blue mane the same color as Luna's and styled in flowing waves, and a coat of creamy white. She also had eyes of a vivid dark green that were slightly slanted at an angle, and narrower than a normal unicorn's. Her horn was different too - It was slightly translucent, and more ridged along the segments. Her little mouth dropped open for a moment, and then snapped shut. She scrambled to her hooves and rushed around the paper screen, yelling in a voice filled with delight. "Okaa-san! Otou-san! Tsukuyomi! Amaterasu! They're here, they're here!" There was a thud of something heavy hitting the floor, and a muttered word neither sister could hear.

Luna turned to Celestia, and said in confusion. "Tsukuyomi? Amaterasu?" her tongue rolled around the unfamiliar terms in her mouth, as if tasting the words. "Sister, have you ever heard those names before?" She asked of Celestia, who shook her head slowly. Names were powerful things in the right hooves, and while both Celestia and Luna had worn different names throughout the ages, they had never heard these names before.

They did not wait long. Two new unicorns, each much like the young filly walked slowly around the screen. They appeared to be middle aged, with only a fine net of lines around their slanted eyes telling of their age. Their manes, coats and tales had been colored in a pale mimicry of the two sisters. The female unicorn with a creamy white coat and a deep vivid pink mane, the male with a coat of rich midnight blue, and a bright sky-blue mane. Both of them had bright green eyes though, in the same color as the filly's.

They stood for a moment in the doorway, obviously filled with awe. It was enough to make Celestia just a touch uncomfortable before the male of the pair spoke, both of them bowing deeply to her. "O' glorious Goddess Amaterasu. O' glorious Goddess Tsukuyomi. We are humbled by your presence amongst us unworthy mortals." His voice was soft, but thick with conflicting emotions of joy and sorrow.

The female of the pair remained in that deep bowing position as she spoke, her eyes fixed firmly to the stone before them. "I am called Cherry Blossom, your Radiance's. This is my husband, Gentle Hoof. Our home, and all within it are yours to do with as you see fit. Please, be welcome in our home, and allow us to greet you with the courtesy you are due." Her voice was thick with humility, and a gentle awe that reminded Celestia of so many of her petitioners at home - though few had shown such obvious worship of her.

Celestia arched an eyebrow - as the little excited filly from earlier was poking her head out from behind the screen and looking at them with no small amount of cheerful exuberance. It was enough to conjure a smile onto her face - and Luna's as well, she noted. "We are honored by your offer, Cherry Blossom. We would be glad to guest within your home." said Celestia, keeping her tone of voice at its most serene and formal. "But please, would you make us known to your daughter as well?"

Cherry Blossom and Gentle Hoof exchanged a quick look with one another before slowly standing up from that bow. Cherry gave the little filly a mildly reproving look, and then sighed exasperatedly. She gently pointed her hoof in front of her, now clearly speaking to the filly. "Come and greet the Goddesses with propriety." She said in a soft, but obviously loving voice.

The filly bounced up in front of them, full of what Applejack might have called 'vim and vinegar.' Celestia could not hide her smile at the young ones courage, especially as she made a quick little bow - an echo of what the parents had given - before speaking in that bright voice. "It is a very great honor to meet you, Goddesses! My name is Twinkle Star!" She bounced up and down twice, smiling at them. "Have you come to see the Wall of Tales?"

~~~~~The Twilight Hall~~~~~

Silent moon sat silently in the center of the pitch black room. She did not care that it was dark - being blind had that effect on a pony - she only cared about the work in front of her. The lightly slick stone slowly drew down the edge of the blade - once, twice, thrice. Then over to the other edge and again - once, twice, thrice. The gentle sound of the stone honing the edge was like the ticking of a clock. It soothed and relaxed her. She needed the soothing and relaxation right now.

A whisper of sound, the barest hint of movement, and Silent Moon was no longer alone. Silence reigned in the darkness still, before a gentle voice she knew too well spoke. "So. It's almost time." said Shadow Dancer, her own voice thick with emotion. Moon bowed her head once - nodding as she turned over the ancient blade and continued her task. She said nothing, unable to trust her voice right now.

So Dancer spoke again. "We can..." She swallowed softly. Dancer had never been very good with the emotional things. “We can find another, Moon." She paused and licked her lips audibly. "Winterlight. We can use her! She'd probably be ecstatic about it!"

Moon had to laugh at that - a gentle, tinkling sound. "No, Dancer. She is the very last pony we wish to place this burden upon." Moon fell silent again, and then spoke softly. "There are others we could call, you are correct. Others who would even be superb choices for the task. Yet all of those we could choose have their own part to play in what is to come." Her words were calm - as even and measured as a perfectly flat stone.

Dancer was considerably less calm. "Damn those prophecies! And Damn the one who spoke them!" She cried out, a voice wracked with anger and fear. "And most of all DAMN HIM!" She cried out into the room, her voice echoing off of the stones for a few long, painful moments before her form crumpled to the floor.

Moon did not move for a time, and then she stood slowly - leaving behind the blade. She lay down next to the crumpled, weeping form of Shadow Dancer and slipped into her forehooves. They tightened around Silent Moon possessively, and Moon spoke softly. "Do not damn him, Dancer. He was no more responsible for the fate of this world than you or I. He merely sought to change it for the better." She gently nuzzled her cheek to Dancers, hoping she could soothe her beloved.

Dancer sniffled and shook her head firmly - holding Moon tighter to her form. "Damn Celestia then, for not living up to her responsibilities." She grumbled, for a moment sounding just as Tantalus had done so many years ago. Were Moon inclined to enjoy ironic humor, she would have smiled.

Instead, Moon spoke again. "And what would you have done, in her place? What would any of us have done? I do not damn her, Dancer. She is no less a pony than you or I. She has a heart, and to do as fate demanded would have broken her heart completely." Moon lowered her head, softly. "This is the way it must be, Dancer." Her words were gentle, insistent. Accepting.

Shadow Dancer said nothing for a few long minutes, her hooves stroking up and down Moon's body slowly. "Then we're going to spend the rest of today together. No more brooding, no more hiding." Her voice was calm, firm. "You're not leaving my hooves until she comes back. You understand me, Moon?"

There was a pause, and a soft bell-like laugh. "As you wish, Dancer." said Silent Moon, smiling gently and kissing her beloved.

The sharpened dagger lay forgotten, for now, upon the stone.

~~~~~~Sweet Apple Acres~~~~~~

They were five now.

Almost six once again, divided only for a time - and now to be reunited anew. The five friends sat in companionable quiet at the kitchen table. Sweetie and Applebloom were upstairs, playing their new favorite game - one which no longer disturbed either Rarity or Applejack. Dash and Applejack sat with one another, hoof in hoof. Twilight had been tickled by Dash's rather sexy suggestion on how to treat them now, but had insisted it would wait until they returned to the Hall.

Rarity had attached herself to Twilight - injured hoof and all. Twilight had noticed that the injury was healing rather rapidly - the barest touch with her horn told her the hairline fracture would repair itself within a few days - thanks to the power of the Shadow now coursing through Rarity's veins. Rarity nearly worshiped her now, in a display of Love so total it deeply touched Twilight's heart. She had already whispered dark plans of the things that they could do to the other friends - and how much they could enjoy it together.

Pinkie Pie sat alone - but not alone. She was in between and alongside all the other four ponies at all times. She'd roused the whole household this morning with her lusty antics with Big Macintosh, enough so to get a fair number of amused catcalls and jokes from the other girls when breakfast was finally convened.

Twilight knew what had to come next though - there was no more time to waste. She would need to claim Fluttershy, and return to her Hall. Something was tugging at her now, something deep and powerful telling her that time was of the essence. For all she knew, one of Equestria's many foes were already on the move - and if she hesitated any longer, it would be too late to fully stop the chaos before it could begin.

Her head came up, rising from where it had hung against her chest during her brooding thoughts. "We're going to Fluttershy's house." She said quietly, and a sea of nods greeted this statement. "We're going to claim her, with all possible speed." She paused, raking her eyes across her assembled friends. "I'll be counting on you all for your assistance. With luck, she'll be completely ignorant of what's gone on the last week. We'll need to get her when her animals are mostly out of the way and busy."

A moment of silence followed, then Pinkie spoke up. "After lunch then. All of her animals go outside to play around that time." She nodded sagely, with the assurance of somepony who knew the schedules of everypony in town.

Rarity piped up next. "I'll go in first, Beloved." She cooed at Twilight, stroking her good hoof along the shadow-mares cheek. "Fluttershy has always been easiest around me. I'll make sure she can't run for it, then you can come in and work your... magic." She whispered softly, a little sigh of pleasure accompanying the word.

Dash smirked. "AJ and I can keep the animals away from the house once Mistress starts working." She purred out, and Applejack smiled viciously - nodding her head in slow agreement. "Of course, that does leave..."

The unspoken word hung in the air like a dark cloud. It had been reason Twilight was so hesitant to go after Fluttershy, and now she had no choice. "Discord." Twilight said softly, looking out the kitchen window of the Apple household. "We'll just have to see if he sticks in his nose... and deal with it if he does."

~~~~~~Ki Lin Kingdoms - House of Tales~~~~~

Past the paper screen, the Sisters found themselves in quiet admiration at the beautiful home that stretched before them. Though the style of much of the furniture and art was a little alien to their Equestrian sensibilities, it was still beautiful in its own right. Sweepingly simple lines of ink brushed onto the canvas created vivid, colorless pictures of scenes of battle and everyday life. Those that were colored focused on the depiction of the Ki-lin form, often emphasizing the horn or the eyes.

The furniture was all simple in design, but beautiful in the gently graceful carvings that covered so many of the flat surfaces upon them. All through this, the bouncing and excitable filly bombarded the sisters with questions - much to the amusement of the father, and the amused irritation of the mother. Luna fielded many of those questions, adopting a playful mien of her own as she answered.

Celestia focused on the content of those questions, and used them to extrapolate some knowledge of what was going on here. Celestia had been called many, many things in her lifetime - but she had very rarely been referred to as a 'Goddess'. Oh certainly, the ponies of Equestria used her name much in the way other cultures used the names of their Deities. Yet she was just a pony - a powerful one, whose history in Equestria was the stuff of legends - yet still just a pony. She had hopes, dreams, and lusts and fears same as anypony.

Yet here these three unicorns were treating her as though she were strictly of the divine. It was a little unnerving, though Luna was obviously having fun with it - teasing the little filly with tales of their 'Castle in the Sky'. An apt enough description of Canterlot, perhaps, but still unnerving for all of that. They had travelled through several large rooms within the home now, and seemed to be going in a spiral towards the center of the house. It was a very curious configuration - yet once again, there was a strong feeling of remembrance that tickled at Celestia's thoughts.

Luna was now bearing the little filly upon her back, who looked to be having the time of her life. Celestia decided this would be a prudent time to break in with a few words of her own. "Cherry Blossom, please be at ease." She said, putting on her very best motherly and comforting voice. "I would like to ask you some questions, if I may."

The white coated pony blushed a little, scuffing her hoof on the floor as they walked before speaking in a gentle and demure voice. "Of course, Goddess Amaterasu. I apologize if we have been perhaps a bit too..." She bit her lip, as if not daring to say a further word on the subject.

Celestia cut in, a sly smile on her face. "Worshipful?" She suggested, and got a much deeper blush out of Cherry. Celestia chuckled brightly, receiving an awed look from Gentle Hoof as she did so. "No need to apologize, my dear. We are guests in your home, and as such we owe you the proper courtesies as well." Celestia bowed her head to the pair of them, and then smiled winningly. "So tell me, how long ago was this Wall of Tales created?"

Cherry looked to Gentle Hoof, who stroked his waxed beard for a moment as they walked - the spirals of their path becoming much tighter, and Celestia was certain they were nearing the center of the house. "It is difficult to say, I fear." He said, slowly. "The family records are at times a little incomplete, but were I to venture a guess - I would say fifteen hundred winters have passed, since they were completed. More than two thousand at least, since they were begun by the One who Will Return."

Celestia blinked - trying to wrap her head around that particular span of time - but even more importantly, that strange title at the end. "The One who Will Return?" She enunciated slowly, as the male Ki-Lin pushed open one last door to reveal a set of ancient stone stairs leading down into the bowels of the earth. She looked up to Luna, who was now gently lifting the filly to the ground and looking seriously down into the stairwell.

Gentle Hoof nodded slowly. "Yes. You will find what you seek below." He gestured slowly. "It is written in the ancient texts that you two most descend alone. Later, when you have seen the Wall for yourself, I will answer what questions I can - but It is forbidden for me to interfere with your interpretations, o' Goddess." His words were humble - but also gently chiding, as though they ought to know such things.

Celestia took in a deep breath and began to descend the stairs quickly. At last - she would have some answers. She only hoped they were not too late to make use of them.

~~~~~The Everfree Forest Edge~~~~~

Life was Chaos.

Any creature with a brain could tell you the same of course, though so many of those with brains elected to think that life came from some silly concept of Harmony. There was nothing so singularly chaotic in the world as a newborn child - and nothing so beloved and vital either. Babies were messy, it was a fact of life. Babies wrecked things, broke things, explored and learned without limit or boundary. Any creature that told you every little bundle of joy was not born from Chaos was a fool.

Discord should know, he'd called no few of them fools in his time. Of course, he'd had to make a few adjustments to his world view recently himself. Perhaps, he thought, he'd gotten a little too wrapped up in Chaos as an end, rather than the means to an end. If anything, his association with Fluttershy had proven to him beyond any shadow of a doubt that one could spread lots and lots of chaos while still having friends.

Much to Discord's horror - he'd found that by obsessing over pure chaos, he'd forgotten the ultimate point of Chaos as a whole - it was change. The world needed change, almost as much as it needed things like air to breathe and food to eat and chocolate milk to drink. It needed to be shaken up, forced to be different, and thrown out of its comfort zone. Only by making things change did things ever get more interesting. The more fool he, he had forgotten that little lesson in his anger at Celestia raining on his parade.

Well, he was older now. Wiser. A little crazier, and a whole lot more interested in making real Chaos, and not just random weirdness. Which wasn't to say Random Weirdness was bad, just that he had other tools in his belt to use too. Random Friendship for example.

It was Random Friendship that had him sitting out here, in the middle of a packed dirt road and sitting on a plushy leather chair - It was the color of dark red wine, and had brass studs nailing the leather to the chair itself over the cushions. A tall pitcher of lemon sweet tea accompanied him, along with a book he'd borrowed from another universe about some chap named Faust. Lovely fellow, Discord thought he would get on fantastically with him were they ever to meet. Odd that he shared a name with the Goddess, but he'd often thought that universe was full of even more chaos than this one was. Maybe he'd visit someday.

The book was not why he was here, though. He was here to try and talk some sense into Umbra, before that damn creature really started getting under his talons. Sure enough, five little ponies all reeking of Umbra's special brand of magic were trundling up the road to him. He sipped daintily at his tea and shut the book, poofing it out of existence with but a thought. He'd retrieve it later, if it mattered.

The five friends came to a halt some thirty yards away, and Discord paid them no mind - he lifted his glass again and drained it of the sweet and tart liquid, having come to realize how much he enjoyed a good drink again after the last thousand years. Once so drained, he took a bite out of the glass and crunched it with relish. Silicates. Yum.

At last, the purple one stepped forward - Twilight Sparkle. Of course, Umbra would have chosen her to bear the seed. Who else would be naive enough to take that offer? He smirked slyly. "Are you going to come out and talk, Umbra - or are you going to hide behind your little servants?" he said with jovial malice, Twilight's half opened mouth snapping shut in surprise at him.

There was a moment - a pause in the world, and suddenly the eyes that looked at him were shaped like those of a dragon. The mane of the purple one dripped like the veriest liquid, and the voice coming from her mouth was very familiar. "Discord. It has been a long time." She cooed softly, as the other four ponies behind her sank to their knees in obedience. "What in the name of the void brings you here of all places?" Was that sexy, sultry female voice - completely out of place from the young unicorn.

Discord suppressed a smile. If she wasn't quite so arrogant or self-assured, Discord would probably have liked Umbra. Of course, given that she was far too much like him - he disliked her more or less out of spite. "I know why you're here, Shadowtits." He cooed back, in his best imitation of a handsome stallions voice. "And I've come to give you fair warning that the little mare in the cottage behind me is off limits."

Twilight looked surprised at this - a look that slowly faded into a sly, lustful look. "The Void and the Sun, Discord... Has emotion at long last penetrated that thick leathery heart of yours?" She asked in a voice that dripped with suggestiveness. "Thousands of years of playing the loner, and a little pegasus mare is all it took to break the skin. How incredibly delicious."

Discord snorted in derision. "Spare me, Umbra. I've no patience for that little game of yours any longer. You've created a fine amount of chaos with your scheming already. Don't think I'm not thankful for the amusement either, but I'm afraid my amusement will come to an abrupt end if you think you can take her from me." He leaned forward, all jovial nature gone and replaced with an ancient anger. "She is mine. You agreed to not touch things that are mine. Or have you come to break our bargain?"

Silence reigned over the road for a few moments, and a rich - gentle chuckle slowly came out of Twilight's throat. "Oh, I don't think so Discord. She is not yours any more than she belongs to her friends here. She belongs to harmony, Discord. She is one of its champions." There was a sly, slick smirk upon her face. "You have taken no steps to remove her from that position, and so you have no authority over what may or may not happen to her at the hooves of my Shade." Twilight took a bold step forward, then another - walking in such a way as to go past Discord. Her friends had lifted from the ground and were following placidly behind her.

Discord's felt a blaze of frustration and anger in him... until cold hearted practicality snuffed it out in the hearth. She was not only right, she was practically daring him to throw down the gauntlet instead. "Don't push me, Umbra." He said quietly, bringing the unicorn to a halt directly next to him. "And don't think for a single moment that I won't crush you if you touch her." His voice was quiet, firm and resolute.

Twilight Sparkle shook her head and smiled at him, coyly. "I look forward to it, Discord." She whispered in tones that suggested something much more than mere anticipation, and continued on past him - her friends firmly in tow.

For a time, Discord sat silently. If he took Fluttershy away, he'd be breaking the deal by getting in the way of her plans - and she'd have the advantage over him just long enough to cause a real headache. He'd probably win eventually, but the world he'd inherit from that victory would be... not very much fun at all. Discord slumped back into his chair, stroking his claws against each other. Then a light went off in his mind, and he pulled out a little silvery coin from the ether. It was marked on both sides '1 Free Day' with a big happy face etched onto the surface.

Discord smiled slightly. It looked like the world still had a sense of humor Discord could appreciate. He snatched the coin out of midair and banished the rest of his things to the ether. You want to play the long game, Umbra? You'll regret thinking you can out play me."

Discord let off a braying, joyous laugh that snapped to a halt a moment later. His griffon claw gestured - plucking a tall black domino from nothingness. Written upon it was the word 'Fluttershy' and he placed it on the ground delicately, all by its lonesome - then turned away. Kick it over, Umbra. I dare you. And watch what happens when I decide to really cut loose when you do.

Discord then vanished into thin air, leaving the domino behind.

An hour later, it fell slowly towards the earth and vanished - leaving behind only a faint rumble in the ground.

Author's Notes:

Yes, I'm fully aware that I'm both plundering and horribly mangling Shinto mythology here. Shaddap, it works in my head.

Also, yes, I am basing the Ki-Lin very, VERY Heavily off of several different asian cultures, melded together.

Oh yes, and I am not going to do the Fluttershy thing off screen, but I've got some really super important plot stuff coming up that needs to get out first. So just be patient, cuz things are going to get really sexy with her soon !