Ch2-Pt1: Into the Everfree Forest

>The two of you enter this vast green forest.

>You are bruised and your friend limps.

>You are armed with a sword, a cross necklace, and a torn Bible.

>Your companion holds his battleaxe ready.

>But the forest is quiet.

>The forest feels at peace.

>The two of you walk in the general direction of Canterlot.

>Walking for hours in this misty green desert.

>You're silent, lost in your memories.

>You remember when you first met Twilight Spackle.

>You were almost judgmental when you heard her casting spells and using magic.

>But you learned to accept her.

>And she helped transcribe your Bibles.

>But what of these Titans, you wonder?

"Who started it?"

>Crius turns in confusion.

>"Who started what?"

>You continue looking in front of you, one hand on your sword and the other on your bible.

"The war."

>The Titan sighs.

>"We did."

 

>You're about to speak again, but Crius continues.

>"We praised the Alicorns at first. They were our friends. We coexisted."

>The two of you limp along the makeshift path through the forest.

>You still wonder why such a path would so easily connect Tartarus to... Wherever you're going...

>"And then came Discord, the Spirit of Disharmony."

>Crius stops walking, you slow and look up to him.

>"Most of the Alicorns were killed during the reign of Discord; they had no chance against him."

>He looks up to the sky.

>"Several minotaurs stepped up to form an elite group to crush this demon. We called ourselves the Titans -- we also proved too weak to stop him."

 

>"The two remaining Alicorns..."

"Celestia and Luna?"

>"Yes." He mutters.

>"The Titans, the Griffins, and the Alicorns arranged a council. Celestia and Luna had created a weapon, the Elements of Harmony, they called them."

>You recall Celestia mentioning something about them before condemning you.

>"Powered by magic and other unknowns, the weapon harmonize any being it's caste towards."

"Even a being of disharmony?"

>Your friend nods.

>"At a price."

>"Celestia used her weapon on Discord. Instead of harmonizing, it ripped the disharmony from him. He literally ceased to be, frozen in a fixed point of spacetime, solidified as stone."

 

>Crius keeps his sights towards the sky.

>"Celestia and Luna changed that day. We assume they became corrupted with chaos."

>He turns back to you.

>"Luna had trouble hiding it, but Celestia could play politics. Let us continue walking."

>You continue through this forest, but your eyes are fixed up towards Crius this time.

>"First they declared themselves royalty."

>He clenches his axe.

>"Then they declared themselves gods."

"So what of the war?"

>Your friend groans once more.

>"They used the elements of harmony on anyone whom questioned them. Before long, even ponies filled their stone garden right along with the Discord statue."

>His eyes begin to tear up.

>"My father was the leader of the Titans at that time. He decided that the two Alicorns did not deserve to keep this weapon, so we pledged to take it by force."

 

"And thus the war started."

>"But Celestia was strong. They now controlled the sun, the moon, the weather. They could teleport, they could cast spells..."

>Crius begins speaking in broken sentences.

>He stops talking for a moment.

>"I don't want to talk about these things anymore."

>The two of you continue down the path, evening will be falling soon.