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For a time, the ponies of Equestria knew peace. Ruled over by the magical alicorns, Princess Celestia, and Princess Luna, the peace was likely to never end. The only enemy the ponies had ever truly known, their natural predators such as cougars, and wolves, were no longer allowed in the sacred kingdom. They were feral beasts, the predators, bent only on killing and devouring any herbivore in sight.
In days of old, the monsters would hunt in packs, taking out any stray ponies that dared roam just outside their towns. Though their hooves were fast, and their kicks were strong, the ponies were still no match for the beasts. The beasts might have been feral, but they weren't stupid. If they ever dared to attack a town or city, the local military would immediately scare off the beasts, clad in armor and carrying weapons. With their weapons always at the ready, the monsters dared not attack. They were cowards. They lost all hope. Until she arrived…
Prologue
Ponyville Library
1018 C.R. (Celestia's Rule)
Twilight Sparkle had always been a bookworm. Every book in that library of hers had been read at least three or four times each. If anypony had a question, they were most likely to come to her, even about the most trivial of things.
Because of this though, when Twilight didn't know something, she would make it her personal mission to discover everything about the matter. This had only happened twice before, thankfully, because both times, she locked herself in her library for months, sending her baby dragon assistant, Spike, out to get food. She would also use him to receive new books, especially from Princess Celestia's personal library.
Unfortunately, as fate would have it, Twilight was asked a question she just could not answer…
A few days earlier...
It was a Tuesday afternoon, and like every Tuesday, the Cutie Mark Crusaders were at the library. Not to read, of course. No, they were too busy for that. The trio was still looking for their cutie marks, and was still trying everything they could think of to get them. Twilight thought they were crazy, but loved their enthusiasm, so she promised them they could come in every Tuesday (normally a dead day at the library) and look up new ideas for their 'crusading'.
"Hey, Twilight, can ah ask you something?" Applebloom asked, reading through a book titled 'Astronomy for Fillies'. Twilight didn't even look up from her book, but let out a sigh.
"Applebloom, I'm sorry, but I told you little ponies before, I don't think your sister would appreciate me turning you fillies into frogs to get a transforming cutie mark." Twilight gave Applebloom a look, who giggled at the idea.
"No, now I think ah'm gonna try and get my Equestrian history cutie mark!" She said happily. Her orange pegasus friend laughed.
"Who would want an Equestrian history cutie mark?" Scootaloo snickered, trying to grab a book on the top most shelf as she did so. "What would it even look like, a boring old history text book?"
It was cute, watching the Crusaders talk amongst themselves. Much like her own group of friends, the Crusaders didn't have much in common. Sweetie Belle loved to sing, and practice sewing, Scootaloo loved her scooter, action and watching Rainbow Dash fly around, and Applebloom seemed to enjoy creating things out of wood, and just having a good time. They were so different, but they always got along. Twilight wondered if she would have been like that as a filly, had she not spent so much time on her studies.
"Now girls, there is nothing wrong with the quest for knowledge." Twilight said proudly. She closed her book, and walked over to Applebloom, taking a seat next to the bow-wearing filly. "Now tell me, Applebloom, what about Equestria do you need to know? Celestia's first rules and regulations? Maybe the great iron age of ancient Pony Times?"
"Naw, I wanna learn somethin' they don't teach us in school" It was cute, how much Applebloom spoke like her sister. That southern drawl that always gave out a feeling of friendship. Twilight smiled.
"Oh, going outside the classroom, I see. That's great Applebloom. Maybe something like the great Pegasus Prejudice Age? Are they still not allowed to teach that? I think it's very important, personally. It's just as bad as the Unicorn Prejudice Age, just because they could use magic. I mean, we're Unicorns-"
"Uh, Miss Sparkle? You're going on a rant again." Sweetie Belle said softly. Twilight smiled sheepishly. Though she hadn't taught Sweetie Belle everything about sewing, Rarity sure taught her sister everything there was about being polite. She was the only filly in Ponyville that ever called Twilight 'Miss Sparkle', no matter how much Twilight insisted they be on a first name basis.
"Actually, Twi, I wanna know if you can teach me about why Princess Luna was banished?"
"Oh?" Twilight said, a little uneasy. It's no wonder the filly didn't know. Ever since Princess Luna's return, the story of the Mare in the Moon was taboo to most ponies. They thought the story of her past would hurt her already sensitive feelings. But, Applebloom had asked for help. It was for education after all, not to torment her teacher's sister. "Well, she went against Princess Celestia because of the unknown force that possessed her, of course. She wouldn't lower the moon, so unfortunately, Princess Celestia had to banish her for a thousand years."
"Oh, I know that ol' ponytale, Twilight. I wanna know the real reason why. Princess Celestia could have lowered the moon herself, couldn't she have?"
"Well you see, Appl-" Twilight's eyes snapped open. She was right. Celestia was older, wiser, and ultimately more powerful. Had Nightmare Moon's only offense had been not lowering the moon, Princess Celestia could have easily lowered the moon herself. Not lowering the moon was no reason to banish. "I… I don't know…" Twilight's brain hurt. Could she be over thinking it? Maybe she sent Luna to the moon to prevent her from controlling it? No, that made no sense, she probably had more power when she was on top of the rock she had control over.
"Uh… Miss Sparkle… your eyes are starting to look like Miss Ditzy Doo…"
Seeing Twilight's eyes like that forced Applebloom to withdraw her question. She didn't mean to break the smartest pony in all of Ponyville. She was just curious. Sending one's sister to the moon for a thousand years seemed awful mean. Applebloom decided she'd only banish Applejack there for two or three years. Five if she was really mad.
Sweetie Belle informed the group that she'd rather take fashion away from Rarity for a little while. That was more than enough.
Scootaloo told her friends she'd never ban Rainbow Dash from anything.
"But Rainbow Dash isn't your sister Scootaloo"
"S-shut up!"
As the fillies argued, Twilight thought to herself. Why am I so bent on figuring this out… what's done is done. It's history now… But still, the idea that Celestia would only banish her sister because of one incident, and for a thousand years, too. It bothered her. It seemed unlikely of her more than merciful teacher. Maybe I'll send her a letter. She would never lie to me about something like this.
The rest of the day went on as normal. The Crusaders found something new to try out (this time it was Cutie Mark Crusaders Lawyers, inspired from what Twilight assumed was the main characters father in the novel 'To Kill A Parasprite'), and Twilight waved them away, before slamming the door shut, and locking it.
"SPIKE!" The lavender pony bellowed. She walked over to her open copy of Mare in the Moon, and looked at it closely, before yelling again. "Spiiiiiike!"
This time, she was answered by a groan, which meant he was up. Spike was just a baby dragon, and he needed a lot of rest, but Twilight knew he would just fall back to sleep after she was done anyways. The purple-scaled dragon walked down the stairs, stretching and scratching his sides as he did. "What's all the commotion about?" He asked. "You know Tuesday is my day off."
"No time Spike. We have a crisis on our hands." Twilight said, closing the Mare in the Moon book. Spike looked more than displeased.
"Unless it's zombies, I think you can wait until my nap is over." Spike yawned, beginning to make his way up the stairs. Twilight was getting annoyed.
"Spiiiike."
"All right, all right. What do you need?"
"Take a note, please." Twilight picked up a quill and paper with her magic, and levitated the two objects over to Spike, who grabbed them. He pressed the quill to the paper, and instinctively wrote Dear Princess Celestia
Dear Princess Celestia,
I'm sorry to bother you, but whilst studying with my friends little sisters, one of them brought up a good point. Would you really banish your sister to the moon, simply because she wouldn't lower the moon? Couldn't you have lowered it yourself?
This is not supposed to be an charge on your Majesty; this is only a question I ask in the pursuit of knowledge. If I am wrong, please at least inform me of my misjudgment.
Your Faithful Student
Twilight Sparkle
And a very cranky Spike.
"Spike, was that really necessary?"
"Sorry." Spike walked over to the window, and opened it. Holding the paper in front of his mouth, the baby dragon let out a small breath of fire, turning the letter into nothing but embers, blowing in the direction to Canterlot, more specifically, Princess Celestia's castle. "Okay, I'm going back to bed."
"No, Spike, you have to wait until Princess Celestia sends another letter back." Twilight pleaded. "I know it's your day off, but it's going to bug me until I know for sure. Plleeeaaasseee?"
Spike groaned, but gave nod of agreement. "All right, but it better not take l-" Spike belched mid sentence, and Twilights ears shot up. The Princess had already written back. A letter appeared from the flames that Spike had produced. Spike grabbed it, and began reading
My Faithful Student Twilight,
I was hoping you'd eventually catch on to that old ponytale's glaring hole. This story was actually never approved by the Celestian Court, but I let it pass as it was a much more family friendly version of an otherwise dark tale.
If you are interested in the real history of the Mare in the Moon, I would be more than happy to lend you the only book in my personal Library that carries the story. But I must warn you, Twilight Sparkle. The story is not for the faint of heart, and after reaching a certain point, there is almost no going back. I am not proud of what I did, or who I was, my student, but I'm sure you will be able to see past my evil, for the sake of knowledge.
Yours truly,
Princess Celestia
P.S. Twilight, you should let Spike go back to sleep. He is only a baby dragon.
"Now I'm going back to bed." Spike yawned, handing the letter to Twilight to look over again. Good thing she did, there was a P.S.S. that Spike didn't read.
I know it's his day off, but he could at least read the last part… She thought to herself. "Let's see… 'P.S.S. I would also recommend bringing some friends with you on the last few pages of the first chapter.' Now what in Equestria could that mean?"
As she wondered about that, she heard another belch, and then muffled screams from Spike. "Help! Twilight! A book showed up and landed on top of me!"
Twilight sighed, know it was her fault the book feel on her little assistant, and quickly trotted up the stairs to help him out.
Present Day…
Twilight didn't get very far in the book. Not as far as she normally would have. In a few days, she was only about halfway through. To be honest, she was a little nervous about starting. She was about to crack open an ancient secret that might tarnish the images of both her lifelong idle and teacher, and her teachers sister. Both of these beings were her rulers, the Princesses she has grown to love and respect. What if she found out something she didn't want to know? And what was the last thing that letter said? "I would recommend bringing some friends with you with you on the last few pages of the last chapter." Twilight reminded herself. It still didn't make much sense. But the Princess had never led her astray before, right? Maybe it was a good idea to bring the girls together.
Little did she know how badly she needed to.
Sweet Apple Acres
Later that afternoon
"No."
"But you don't understand, we could-"
"No."
"If you could just give me-"
"Twilight Sparkle, for the last time, no! Ah don't have time!" Applejack said sternly. She only realized afterwards how loud it was. "Ah'm sorry, Twilight, ah really am, but ah don't know if Big Mac can handle picking these apples himself today. You know how over worked that pony is."
This had been happening all day to poor Twilight. Not a single pony was interested in the book, or figuring out what exactly happened to Luna. Rainbow Dash told her she was far to busy practicing for the next time the Wonderbolts were in town, again. Rarity's boutique was busier than usual, as some of her dresses for Hoity Toity needed to be finished by the end of the week. Pinkie Pie was nowhere to be found, and Fluttershy didn't like the tone of the letter. She was afraid that what she found out would be scary, which was more than enough reason to stay home.
Twilight sighed. "Okay, Applejack, I understand."
"Listen." Applejack started, feeling bad that she couldn't join one of her good friends. She put her hoof on Twilight's shoulder. "Ah'll work extra hard for the next 3 hours or so, and ah'll come hang with you later, okay?"
Twilight smiled a little. "It's okay, Applejack, you have work to do. I know you'd come if you had time." She chuckled a little. "It's a little hard not to believe the element of honesty."
Applejack nodded her head and the two said their goodbyes. Twilight admitted she was a little upset no one could join her, but if it really was dark, maybe it was best that she read it by herself.
Back at the library...
The beasts might have been feral, but they weren't stupid. If they ever dared to attack a town or city, the local military would immediately scared off the beasts, clad in armor and carrying weapons. With their weapons always at the ready, the monsters dared not attack. They were cowards. They lost all hope. Until she arrived…
This was the fifth time Twilight read through that part of the second paragraph. What weapons could they be talking about? As far as she knew, Equestria never had a use for weapons. The fact that they existed in the past just seemed unlikely. But she couldn't dwell on it; she had to keep reading. She heard Spike walk down the stairs, and walk across the room to the door.
"Hey, Twilight, I'm going to the store. You seem to be too caught up in… whatever it is you're doing." He said, opening the door. He looked back, expecting a response.
"Okay."
Spike stood there for a minute. When he realized that was all he was getting out of her, he sighed, and left, shutting the door behind him.
"Sorry, Spike." Twilight muttered under her breath. "I have to find out what happens. No more goofing around." After reading about her return for the sixth time, Twilight finally turned the page. "What?"
Though she was only halfway through the book, the pages that followed were almost completely empty. There was only one paragraph, written by someone that was all too familiar. It was Princess Celestia's!
I'm sorry I have to do this to you, Twilight, but you did ask me for this. I am about to send you to a world completely different from your own. You will be able to learn everything you want to know, and more. First hand. I wish you the best of luck, my magic will protect you to the best of my ability.
"What is that supposed to mean?" Twilight asked herself. As she did she suddenly felt queasy and dizzy. She tried to stand up in her confusion, and only felt worse. "Oh, no, that doesn't… Spike… Spike…" She cried. As she did, her voice felt hoarser and hoarser. Each time she closed her eyes, she found them to be harder to open, darkness beginning to take control. Twilight felt as if she was blacking out, and no one was there to help her out if something went wrong. She tried to walk for the door, to tell someone of her misfortune, but before she could, Twilight passed out.
Unknown Place
Unknown Time
Twilight finally came through; the uneasiness she felt minutes ago was slowly subsiding, but was still there. She slowly stood up, and opened her eyes. She decided immediately this was the greatest mistake she had ever made in her life.
"What is this…?"
As Twilight's other senses came through, she didn't quite know what to expect. Explosions, gunshots, all sounds Twilight has never heard before. Ponies and beasts yelling as they charged each other. Twilight looked away. She couldn't watch this.
She decided this was her new greatest mistake of her life.
They were ponies.
They were young male ponies.
They were dead young male ponies.
Twilight did the only thing a reasonable a pony like her would do.
She ran.
Twilight ran a quickly as her legs would carry her. Away from the battle that she knew was taking place. Away from the bodies of young colts she just witnessed. Away from the screaming and pain of whatever was howling. Running away from what sounded like a threat.
"Rouge soldier! Tranquilize her! Grab that mare! Grab that mare!"
That was the last thing Twilight heard. She felt a sharp pain on her flank, before she fell to the dirt, and fell into a deep sleep.