For a past that Is Dead/For a future that Maybe
This time of night, the inhabitants of Dream Castle slept. No guards patrolled its hallways for there had been no threat that could penetrate its walls for many centuries.
All slept, but one.
Empress Cosmos walked the hallways of the place she had called home for nearly two millennia. If any had come across her, they might have wondered why she was up so late, but would never ask for her mind was one that not all could understand.
But there was a point to her wanderings, as much as it tore her up inside. She was remembering. Remembering all that she and so many more had done for the world from here.
For come sun rise…
Cosmos wiped the tears that threatened to fall. It did her no good to think of what was to come. Her mind was made up. She forced herself instead to hammer the images of her home into her mind for all time.
There the Throne Room, where she had announced the founding of ponykind's first true civilization. One she hoped would last for all time. There the Tea Parlor, where she and her friends had spent many a sunny afternoon just talking about anything and everything under the sun.
These and many more she passed. But it was the last that threatened to overcome her.
She stopped before a rather nondescript door, one that was right across the hallway from her own room. Unadorned as it was, those who slept within Cosmos held more dear than any other. And it was their bond together that made what she was about to do hurt all the more.
Pushing open the door softly so as to not awaken them, she entered her Exarch's quarters. The sight within made her smirk. The girls were all curled up together on the floor in a mix up of limbs and manes.
Holding back a snicker, she watched them sleep for a time. She couldn't count the number of times she had found them like this. It still warmed her no matter what.
But it finally shattered her defenses. Letting her tears gather now, she walked over and, very gently, kissed them all on the forehead, making sure she got everyone. Not once did they stir, though Diamond mumbled something in her sleep.
Her smile grew as turned back to the door. Looking back one last time, Cosmos finally gave in and let her tears fall. "Girls. Thank you. For everything." She whispered before closing the door quietly and returning the way she came.
Returning to the Throne Room, she looked around one last time. She wished she could have said goodbye to Megan, Danny, and Molly, but they had passed on centuries before and she still regretted not attending their funerals.
Looking at her throne, Cosmos could only hope that whoever took her place cared about the world as much as she did and would not forget all that gone before them.
Igniting her horn, Cosmos let her tears fall as the light intensified. "Goodbye." Was all she said as the light filled the room.
When the light faded, Empress Cosmos was gone.
6000 years later.
The Everfree Forest. To so many on Equus, it was a place of mystery and fear, where things did not work according to what they saw as the natural way of things
For Moon Petal' it was like coming home after a long time away.
It had been centuries since she had last walked these paths, but she still remembered what it had once been. The shinning jewel at the heart of Dream Valley.
Home to one that even now, millennia after she had vanished, she could never forget. All the times they had laughed together, and stood side by side with her sisters as She guided the world into a better future.
She felt her tears gather as she remembered the day she had vanished from their lives. All the years they had spent looking for her as the world moved on and, in time, forgot about them.
Now even that era was gone. The Apocalypse War had seen to that. All that remained was uncivilized barbarism as the three types of ponies turned on each other and the light She had worked so hard to bring to the world was lost.
And there was nothing they could do about it.
Moon shook her head. It did her no good now to think about what might have been. She had come back here for a reason. A distant dream that might never be.
Even Amber, the one who had found it, said she thought it was a long shot. But there was still a chance, a chance that it could work. And they were willing to take that risk.
It wouldn't be the first time they had for her.
A prophecy, found in the ruins of Dream Castle, told that she would return. In a distant future that might never come to pass. But it was something they all agreed was worth waiting for.
Moon smiled as she concentrated on the path ahead and thought no more of the past.
Several hours later, she came to a clearing deep in the forest. It was a quiet place surrounded by trees on three sides and a small stream on the other. Even the sun seemed dimmer here as it shown down on what Moon had come for.
A small building carved from a single piece of marble. Only one door led inside. Ivy must have chosen the stone for the building. It had always been her strong suit.
Moon's smile grew as she walked up the steps to the door, pausing a moment to read the plaque on it before pushing it open and entering.
There was only one room inside, but it was enough. In the center stood a statue of a mare, one that even carved in stone radiated power and majesty.
Around her sat five sarcophagi. Four had their lid on while the fifth remained open. None had a name or ornamentation, but it didn't matter.
Moon took a moment to look at the other four. She knew who lay within them. Not dead, but in a deep sleep. One that only one could awaken them from.
Or the universe ended, whatever came first. But Moon Petal preferred the first if she was being honest. And she liked to think she was.
She didn't really like sleeping in a place meant for the dead. But this was the only way this crazy idea had any chance of working.
"We will all be together again. I promise." She whispered to each of her sleeping sisters and to the statue that overlooked them all before she too entered her coffin.
As soon as she did, her willingness to stay awake fled and sleep crept up on her. But Moon Petal didn't fight it, and soon she passed into a deep sleep and knew no more.
As she did, the lid slid into place over her and the door of the building swung close, locking with a soft click.
Ages of the world passed by on the outside, the shapes of the lands changed, and entire civilizations rose, prospered and withered to nothing while they slept.
None would ever find their resting place for none ever sought it out. Soon eve the ages they remembered past into myth and legend and then forgotten entirely.
The Three Tribes Era, the Windigo Winter, the rise of Equestria and Discord, the Fall of the Crystal Empire and finally, Nightmare Moon's short lived rebellion.
Not even these woke them. In their sleep, they dreamed of an age of glory and unlimited possibility. But mostly, they dreamed of the mare they had pledged their lives too.
Until the stars changed, and a call not heard in uncounted centuries was sent once more, and a new generation arose.
She who sent the call at the time did not realize what these changes meant for she was not yet ready and the memories of a life she had left behind so long ago remained locked away.
In her heart, she yearned for five that she loved above all others. But she knew, as much as it hurt to think it. She would never see them again, for they had passed beyond the mortal veil long ago.
This she knew. Even if she didn't know she knew.
In the deepest and most remote part of the Everfree Forest, where even the most dangerous of the forest's predators never ventured, the sleepers too heard the call.
And for the first time in millennia, they smiled and waited, as they had for so long.
Unknown time.
Of all the things she had to do before she was ready, Cosmos had come to the last and most unpleasant, but it was one she knew might prove important in time.
She had passed through Curst in the Concordant Domain of the Outlands and had passed into the Tarterian Depths of Carceri.
Visiting the Prison Plane always grated on her nerves. It was not a place one like her should be. But for the future, Cosmos swallowed her revulsion and made her way there.
Getting to Carthrys was easier seeing as she had done this before. Wearing the form, she had once been in one universe (one she was soon to return to) she made her way through the layer's jungles.
The view might have been beautiful, but every plant around her was attempting to render her down into her base components, but she had been through all this enough to be immune to it now.
She had no worry about the Petitioners either. None were near strong enough to threaten her and even those who made it this far were easy pickings.
Her destination on the other hoof? Well that was a different story.
For all that he was an entrepreneur Sinmaker was still a Glabrezu, and Cosmos had no plans to make him angry with her. Inconvenience mostly for his shop was one she enjoyed visiting.
She could probably find just as much in Sigil, but the Lady of Pain was good at keeping even her out and she had no desire to push the issue with her.
After hours of wandering, Cosmos finally came to her destination: The Apothecary of Sin. A name she found that fit well seeing what was sold here, and to who.
Built from cunningly woven scrap wood, the structure sat atop the trunk of a large tree, the one story structure rising high above the acid laden trees below. Rope suspended catwalks provided access above the treetops, though random sections seemed to be missing, most likely victims of a caustic storm.
Getting to the front door wasn't a problem for Cosmos as she just flew up to it. Tucking her wings away, she let her usual benevolent persona drop and fully gave into her darkest persona, save the final layer. But none would ever see that side of her.
Not until the very end of time itself. And Cosmos knew for a fact that was not even in the remote future.
Outwardly she still looked the same. But her mind was now filled with the kind of dark thoughts that even the most ruthless dictator look like a saint in comparison. Even then though she didn't act on them.
Settling herself, she pushed open the door.
Inside was a menagerie of different colors and smells. Every poison, acid, and illicit and exotic substance known to the multiverse was to be found here, some of which normally couldn't be found outside of their pocket reality. Shelf upon shelf filled with the most dangerous, and fun, substances known to mortals.
Cosmos wasn't surprised to see she wasn't the only one here. Several teflings were scattered here and there, an occasional devil, but most were drow. She was surprised to see now all came from the same Material Plane.
Several bore the sigil of houses from Erelhei-Cinlu (notably House Xaniqos, House Zhiq'nah and House Vae), while others came from Menzoberranzan (notably House Baenre, House Freth and House Do'Urden.)
She avoided them all as she would her way around the shop. Many gave her odd looks but no one said anything. And she was glad for it for she didn't feel like explaining. Luckily she knew exactly what she was looking for.
Deathjump Spider Venom, Ground Thassil Root, Demonweb Terror Venom, a bit of Black Lotus, a bit more of Pit Toxin and her personal favorite, Blood of Zehir.
Carrying them all in her magic, Cosmos made her way to the counter to pay and to pick up her last purchase. One that Sinmaker kept out of sight unless one asked for it.
Sinmaker himself said nothing as she came up. She always bought in bulk whenever she was here, even if she didn't always look the same each time. He felt it was her.
Plus, she had brought him some of the exotic substances his shop had ever seen. Some of which he still couldn't make himself.
"Is that all?" He asked in a low grumble. He didn't care how much one bought as long as they paid and didn't make a scene.
Cosmos smiled. "Just one more. A gallon of Sinmaker's Surprise please." She could hear the shock behind as all heard that. What could an equine want with that much, plus what she already had?
Sinmaker though didn't bat an eye though, merely going back to the storeroom and returning a moment later with a large casket he set down on the counter.
Cosmos smirked as she opened a slot on her armor and pulled out the money to pay for it all. She already knew she had enough there.
Sinmaker just took the money and after a moment put it away. "Pleasure doing business with you. Do come back another day."
Cosmos smiled as she grabbed everything in her magic and made her way back to the front door. Now everyone was giving her odd looks or muttering to each other, but she didn't care. She was done here for now.
Once outside and clear of the door she ignited her horn opening a rift through the planar barrier and stepped through, the portal closing a moment later.
This was it. Cosmos now floated outside the Universal Barrier. She was naked, for the Armor of Eternity now rested in the Lost Chamber and the Seven Seals were in place.
But that was the last thing on her mind now.
She had returned to a universe she had sworn she would never return to, sworn to never look back and see where it was going, but something had convinced her to, convinced her she needed to.
Looking through the River of Tine, she was glad she had.
Her heart broke as she watched the girls awake that first morning and found her gone, the years they had spent looking for her.
Her own tears fell. "Girls. I am so, so sorry. I'm sorry we never got to say goodbye like we should have. I'm sorry I never told you."
She also watched as the world descended into barbarism and darkness, one that reminded her far too much of something else, and she would have words with Fauna Luster when she had the chance.
All this she knew. But she also knew that when the time for her rebirth came, she would not remember any of this.
Her mortal form had been chosen. It was one she wore often when she manifested in a universe. It worked here more so because that form apparently had never been intended to exist here.
But that was no problem. She was the ultimate authority on what was and was not.
All was in place now. The changes to the River of Time to ease her rebirth had been implemented. How long before she was born they began to manifest she didn't know for she didn't bother to look.
As her form began to dissolve and her soul prepared to be born, Cosmos wondered briefly who her Exarchs would be. It was something she had no control over. But she felt whoever they were, she would love them as much as her old ones.
Her smile grew as her body was almost gone now. "Ready or not, I'm back, This time for good." Before she dissolved into a white light that soon sped into the universe, her soul awaiting it's time to be born, her full powers and memories locked away until her full rebirth.
In the universe below, on a small world in an otherwise unremarkable system of planets, all beings suddenly felt a sense of dread and relief in equal measure fill, but none knew why.
And across the vastness of the world five seeds were planted, ones that would take many years to blossom and not even their bearers knew they had been chosen.
But each felt the honor done to them, even though their souls did not know why or for what purpose they had been chosen.
And two fillies, the last od their race, felt hidden seeds planted in them long before germinate, and new purpose filled them even in their young age.
A purpose that would not be fulfilled for many years and after many adventures, many of them they could never have imagined at the time.
AN: Yeah this is being reposted. I wasn't happy with how I was doing somethings in the original. Now included is an expanded background and a bit more before the Rebirth. I actually have two chapters that explore the end of the Apocalypse War and the bits Moon Petal was thinking of. But those will be posted at a later date.
And for those who do somehow figure out who these five really are, please keep it to yourself. I won't be saying anything concrete about them until their reveal chapter.