-Chapter I- The Rise of the Crystalline Guardian Pt. 1

-The Crystal Empire, Equestria

-15th of March, 1008 A.D.

-6:30 A.M.

-Sapphire

*Book One: Discord*

Throughout history, there has been a being of the dark among us, always different, yet very similar to ourselves. Though she is known by many names throughout time, they are never remembered by those whom never knew her, never recited through history, forever to be the unknown hero, despite what their achievements were, they shall never be known...or perhaps, maybe they will someday. The line of the Power Keeper shalt never fall, lest they be bested by its mortal enemy, created by same hands as she, with the sole purpose to hunt down and destroy her brother, the Abysmal Demon Manus...

I lied on my bed, waiting for I did not know what. The only knowledge I had of the events that were to take place were the soon arrival of one of my instructor, Starswirl and our daily lessons in magic. Recently we have been focusing on wards and how they work, as well as other spells that majored and focused in the art of defensive magic.

My mind gradually wondered away into its personal reality within my memories. I imagined myself back before I had even considered entering Princess Celestia's School of Magic. I pictured myself as I am now, walking through open Equestria alone, rather than reality of the past when I was but a young filly. I sighed at the memory of the relief of fillyhood ignorance, without need to know so much about the world, but just happy and content with existing within it alone. These memories warmed my heart with feelings of joy washing away the worries of the present, that is, until I was six...

My name is Sapphire, just another Crystalline Equestrian resident dwelling in the Crystal Empire. Though I wasn't being affected personally yet, rumours have been traveling about that beyond the cluster of homes and buildings, constantly bathed in the lighthearted atmosphere of love that emanated from families and friends throughout the kingdom, King Sombra was growing rather fierce and randomly would burst into maniacal laughter. His rule has been doubted often recently, and although I never supported him exactly, it still sets worry heavily into the air. Some say his sanity is dwindling away, others say he is only nearing the end of a long-planned goal, setting light to his giddiness and gaiety. Either way, this did not prove to be a seemingly positive future for the empire. I sighed at the worst-possible circumstances that penetrated my thoughts, forcing their way through into my mind despite my efforts to push them aside.

For awhile I occupied myself by looking through my crystalline hoof at objects around the room, tinted the bright-blue of my body and of a somewhat distorted shape of their normal state, until I heard a short series of knocks on the door of my home.

"Sapphire? Are you ready?"

"Yes sir," I replied. As I got up from my cushioned bed in the corner of the one-roomed

house, I stopped and lowered my head next to the ear of my scaled friend, Faith. "Faith, come. It is nearly the break of dawn," I softly whispered into her ear, flicking irritably at me.

"I still don't see why I must be awake at such an early hour," the baby, blue messenger dragon complained as she turned over in her soft bed, "you are always saying a youthful dragon at an age such as mine should always get as much sleep as he or she can," she continued in a mumble.

"I also always tell you to go to rest earlier in the day, rather than staying up near the middle of the night such as you do."

"Doing only what it is that I am assigned to do," she stated in rebuttal.

"True, and I am very grateful for what it is you do, too," I sighed. "All right, you may rest for awhile longer. I shall grant you another hour, how is that?"

She smiled at her verbal victory. "Very much appreciated. Thank you Sapphire."

I couldn't help but let loose a slight giggle at her as she yawned before curling back into a ball and closing her eyes. I quieted myself as she drifted back to sleep, indicated by her breathing lightening, and grew slower with each inhale and exhale. The tranquility of sleep seemed like a pleasant time, though I ignored the thoughts of going back to bed to avoid temptation. With a sigh I turned back to the direction of the door where Starswirl waited.

"I apologize, Starswirl," I said softly as to not awake Faith. I opened the door to reveal the kindhearted face of the elder unicorn. He wasn't from the Crystal Empire, which was shown obviously through his looks as not being a crystal pony, but a plain coat of black and a small collection of short, grey whiskers upon his face. His eyes were a yellow, full of wisdom and knowledge with years of life experience and did nothing more than simply smiled. I had known Starswirl my entire life, though I was Celestia's student in magic, who lived across the country in Canterlot, Starswirl was the one who taught me most of what I knew. This was mainly due to my unwillingness to leave the Crystal Empire and its extensive knowledge within the library in the city, and for many more reasons, including the many memories shared within the city and especially within my home. However I often would either leave to Canterlot to visit her or vice versa. When we couldn't meet, one of Celestia's closest friends, Starswirl, would care for me and be the one to teach me as much as he could of what he knew.

"It's quite all right," he assured me. "I understand that she wouldn't want to be awakened this early in the morning," he added in a whisper similar to mine, "after all, she's not the one who has lessons." He gave a quiet, hearty chuckle. "Come along." I followed him outside of my door before closing it softly behind me and continued along with him to wherever he felt it necessary to hold our next lesson. "Oh," he began suddenly, "before I forget, Celestia wanted me to let you know that we are heading to Canterlot after this morning's lesson." He gave me a warming smile.

I gasped with excitement. "Really?" I said, unable to contain my giddiness. It was somewhat rare to go to Canterlot, Celestia was always so busy having to deal with the responsibilities of ruling an entire country, as well as dealing with the rulers of the lands that surrounded Equestria. I smiled brightly, about to dash out of the room to complete our lesson as soon as possible.

"Calm yourself, calm yourself," he said with a chuckle, "if you wish to finish you must

keep with my pace, I couldn't go much faster if I tried."

"Yes sir," I said, eventually settling down. I couldn't wait to go back to Canterlot, although it hadn't been long since I was last there, it was still fun, and I was able to learn from the Princess directly. It wasn't that I had anything against Starswirl, but I looked up to Celestia as something like a sort of role-model. My happiness immediately disappeared when the worst possibilities entered my mind for reasons she'd like to see me. Did I do something wrong? Could it be bad? I grew more anxious the more I thought about the very possibility. Could have I done something that would make Princess Celestia or Princess Luna angry towards me? What would it have been, though?

I did my best to restrain my fear as we trotted together across the brick pathways of the city to where Starswirl's residence lied. I wasn't sure if I was to be nervous or excited, for I found it strange to be told of traveling to Canterlot to visit the princess, rather than following the usual routine where Starswirl tells me of this news as we finish, telling me to head for the train station just before I take my leave. This change must've been for an explicit reason. It must've been a special occasion of some sort, whether it be bad or good, to abandon the normality of the process. Contemplating upon the very idea worried me more, causing my anxiety to rise with each passing moment as I continued to think about it.

This way of thinking was but one fault in my unique way of thought, for once I had mentally discovered a negative reason for an event, I couldn't help but cling to the thought, and I would be unable to push the idea aside, allowing me no peace of mind whatsoever. I remembered that we were still moving onward, while my mentor led. I shook my head to clear my mind, getting the nerves to ask of the situation.

"...Sir?" I asked fearfully, my legs shaking unwillingly.

"Sapphire, you have no need to call by 'sir', address me as though I am a friend. Unless, of course, you do not wish to see me in that sort of light. I guess it doesn't make a difference to me, so if that is the case you can call me as such."

"Yes sir – er – Starswirl, I mean..." I corrected myself quickly.

I heard his slight chuckle. "Like I said, it doesn't make a difference to me, I was just informing you that you may...as I have so many times already."

"Forgive me Starswirl, it is just difficult to do so with such a legendary being such as yourself," I said apologetically. I admired his patience with me and my habits.

"What was it you were about to ask, Sapphire?"

"Oh! Yes, would you happen to know...just what the reason was that Princess Celestia wished to see me?" I asked, quickening myself so that I was to his side, keeping an equal pace to his.

He stopped suddenly, then turned his head towards me in a confused manner. Then closed his eyes and smiled, a sign that, I had figured out awhile before, meant that he understood, or at least believed he knew. "Sapphire, why you must dread on everything possible still dumbfounds me. I wouldn't worry, little one, for Celestia is not normally the bearer of negative news. I think your worrying is unneeded."

"But what if I'm not?"

He smiled again. "Sapphire, I command you to stop your dreading any longer, for our next lesson awaits...or rather, your test," he said with another chuckle.

I swallowed hard. "Test? What do you mean 'test'? Did you already inform me? Oh, I should've prepared-!"

"Sapphire!" he cut me off, "Do not worry, for I believe this will be an examine that will be difficult to fail. Especially since it's more of a review."

"Review?" I asked uneasily, yet my confidence slowly increasing.

"Yes, just to go over and make sure that we have mastered the spells that I have educated you."

I relaxed as I let out a loud sigh. This, I thought I could surpass without much difficulty. Finally as we walked up to the grand, heavy doors of Starswirl's home, I was shocked to see an obstacle course of a sort to be revealed from the other side.