In the shadowed depths of the theater, a single spotlight flared to life, a silent, shimmering arrow guided by the magic of Luxian light-masters. The gleam fell upon the Ardenian narrator, who stood alone, poised and cloaked in an aura of mystique. As his voice rose, the heavy curtains parted, unveiling the scene beyond—an expanse teeming with Ardenian forms, and at its heart, a throne of stone and iron, flanked by twin pillars spouting tongues of fire. Atop this throne sat a male Ardenian, crown heavy on his brow, his eyes glinting with a wrath barely contained.
"From time immemorial," the narrator intoned, his voice laced with a history old and laden with sorrow, "the sovereign of the Flame alicorns, Ardonius, held dominion over the lands now known as Ardenia, ruling with a resolve as unyielding as iron. But as fierce as his command over his own was, it paled before the depth of his enmity for the Light alicorns." Behind him, the actors wove a living tableau, portraying Ardonius deep in counsel with his trusted advisors.
"Your Majesty," came the urgent voice of a citizen, her head bowed low, "yet another Light alicorn has crossed our borders, slaying one of our kin. They persist, brazenly trampling upon our sovereignty. If we do not retaliate, they will come again, unrestrained."
Ardonius's voice rumbled forth, laden with all the fire of his people, and his eyes blazed with purpose. "They shall know respect, one way or another. If our words cannot hold them back, then our flames will make them cower." He straightened, his gaze sweeping across his assembled council. "Prepare the battalions. The Light alicorns will know the wrath of fire."
As the heavy velvet curtains drew closed, muffling the scene upon the stage, the Ardenian narrator resumed, his voice a low, pulsing heartbeat in the darkness. "Ardonius's disdain for the Light alicorns was no solitary flame. They themselves harbored a simmering loathing in return. In that ancient age, their dominion was presided over by the Lilium Cartel—a council of cunning and potent alicorns who held their own power close and guarded."
The curtains opened once more, now revealing a luminous land—the ancient heart of Luxia, bathed in light and scattered with white flowers glistening like morning dew. Upon the stage now stood five resplendent seats, each a throne equal to the next, adorned with an orb of pure light set within. Seated upon these thrones were five Light alicorns, a council of two mares and three stallions, each a member of the Lilium Cartel, watching with a gaze as piercing as it was unyielding.
"The Flame King clamors for bloodshed once more," murmured one of them, a sly edge to his voice. "We can use his fury to rouse our own. Let the people see the Flame alicorns' lust for our destruction, and they'll rally to our side."
"To stir them, we must be cunning," said another seated on the right, her gaze sharp and calculating. "One of our own struck down a Flame alicorn—rightfully so. But if the rumor takes hold that we struck first, we must silence it. This must be known as their aggression against our people, their transgression against the peace we offer."
At the center, another Luxian alicorn sat, regal and unmoved, his coat pale as starlit frost. "Let them come, let them cast their fires upon us," he said coolly, his tone ringing with quiet command. "Our people know we walk in the Light. They will not bow to the tyranny of brutes."
As the curtains swept closed, the narrator's voice filled the darkened theater once more, his tone woven with years of conflict and loss. "And so, over the passing years, the skirmishes between the Light and Flame alicorns wore on. Hatred festered, giving rise to a chain of attacks and retributions, each more treacherous than the last. In these times, many innocent alicorns fell, their lives lost to the shadow of a bitter feud."
The curtains parted again, revealing the bitter scene of a battlefield smoldering with the clash between the two realms. The actors moved with intensity, their fierce strikes mirrored by the enchantments of Flame and Light magic conjured by the stage crew. As the fighting played out, the stage shifted, turning to reveal a forest caught between the realms—a place marked by the cherry blossoms and fiery underbrush on one side, and white, gentle blooms on the other.
In this quiet forest glade, two young children played, unaware of the enmity dividing their worlds. The young Luxian, her coat shimmering as pale as the moon, toyed with a delicate blossom in a field bathed in dappled light. Opposite her, a young Ardenian, her mane a wild blaze, stepped onto the same patch of sunlit earth. They stared at one another hesitantly, curiosity stirring within them as their wonder slowly overcame their fear.
"H-hello…I'm Ardenu. Who…who are you?" The young Ardenian's voice was a timid whisper, her orange wings flickering like embers as she tilted her head, studying the white-coated child before her.
"I…I'm Luxoah," the Luxian replied, her eyes wide with curiosity. "Are you a Flame alicorn?"
Ardenu gave a small nod, her excitement bubbling up. "And you're a Light alicorn, aren't you? Your coat is so beautiful!" She took a step closer, her eyes bright with wonder.
Luxoah blinked, momentarily taken aback, but then a warm smile spread across her face. "Are your wings really like fire? They look as if they're dancing!"
The two children, heedless of the words of caution from their elders, were soon chattering eagerly, each marveling at the other. The light on stage shifted, marking the passage of time as the young Flame and Light alicorns continued to meet in the secret glades of the forest between their kingdoms. They learned to weave their magic together, creating glimmers that lit up the night, each shared spell a tribute to the cultures they carried with them.
As the stage lights faded and the curtains drew shut, the narrator's voice rose, gentle yet firm. "There will now be a brief intermission. The play will resume in fifteen minutes."
***
In the guest lounge, Masha brimmed with excitement, her mind spinning with questions as she turned eagerly to Yua. "Were Ardenu and Luxoah truly mortal alicorns once, like us? Did they really meet like that? How long ago was this? I've never heard of a member of the Pantheon being mortal!" Her questions tumbled out one after another, her eyes alight with curiosity.
Yua chuckled, shaking her head. "No, no, it's just the legend woven around them! We perform this play every cycle, but everyone knows they were never like us," she explained. "Still, the Pantheon adores this tale. They're the ones who choose the actors every time!" she explained, her own enthusiasm showing.
Masha's eyes sparkled as she absorbed each word. "That's incredible! I can't wait to see Mei's portrayal of Queen Luxoah!"
As Masha chatted animatedly with Yua, two young alicorns entered the lounge, escorted by Xuefeng, the Fifth Paladin. Their eyes widened as they realized they were in the presence of two other Paladins and the High-Priest of Ardenu himself.
The young Ardenian child stepped forward and bowed politely. "Greetings, High-Priest," she said with respect.
Aren turned to them with a warm smile, bowing his head. "Greetings, Hana. Your portrayal of our Majesty was splendid; we are all immensely proud," he said, his tone gentle and encouraging. "And the same goes for you, Huaa. Your portrayal of Queen Luxoah was imbued with grace and honesty," he added, addressing the young Luxian child who had entered with Hana.
"She was remarkable, indeed," Xuefeng agreed, pride evident in her voice. "And I'm certain you'll be just as moved by my daughter Mei's performance. I just returned from backstage; she was a little nervous but determined to give it her all," she said, her admiration for her eldest daughter evident.
"I look forward to it, Paladin Xuefeng," Aren replied with a soft smile. "I'm sure both Mei and Aqasha will bring our Majesties' spirits to life."
At this, he gestured to the others in the room, encouraging them to greet the young actresses. Kolibry was the first to step forward. "You were both magnificent up there—thank you for your performance," he said with a friendly smile, clearly more comfortable speaking with them than the other female alicorns, who seemed a bit intimidating to him.
Yua approached with Momo at her side, soon joined by Masha. The young Luxian's eyes grew wide when she spotted Yua and Momo, recognition sparking in her gaze. "A-are you Yua…Priestess Mei's sister?" she asked, her voice filled with awe for the renowned Priestess.
Just then, Xuefeng, Mei and Yua's mother, passed by her blue-coated daughter without so much as a glance or word. The Fifth Paladin moved to a seat as distant from the group as the room allowed, her presence casting a faint shadow over Yua's moment.
A hint of discomfort flickered across Yua's face at her mother's coldness, but she turned back to the young Luxian, visibly touched by the child's admiration. "Yes, I am! She's my older sister," Yua confirmed, her tone brightening. "You actually look a lot like her when she was your age!" Her words made little Huaa's eyes widen even more, her cheeks pinkening as she bashfully looked down.
"Priestess Mei…she's incredible. She taught me so much and helped me with my performance," Huaa said softly, her tone now shy. At that moment, Momo fluttered over to the young Luxian, chirping and nudging her neck. Huaa's face brightened as she giggled and wrapped her forelegs around Momo in a warm hug. "Could…could I sit next to you for Priestess Mei's performance?" she asked Yua, her eyes filled with hopeful excitement.
"Of course!" Yua replied, delighted, and led the young one back to their seats. Huaa settled in between Yua and Kolibry, her excitement hardly contained as she began telling them how Mei had guided her in preparing for the play.
Meanwhile, Hana looked up at Aren, her eyes shining. "High-Priest, Priestess Aqasha helped me so much with my portrayal of Queen Ardenu! She was so gentle and kind—and so patient with me!" she said, her voice filled with admiration. "One day, I hope I can portray Queen Ardenu just like her!" She beamed, and Aren couldn't help but chuckle softly.
Though he'd seldom glimpsed this nurturing side of Aqasha himself, he'd often heard of her visits to Lilas and knew her kindness well. "You'd make a wonderful Queen Ardenu one day, I'm sure of it," he replied warmly, and Hana's eyes grew wide with joy. "Would you like to sit with me and watch the rest of the play?" he offered.
Hana eagerly accepted and followed Aren to a seat between him and Kolibry. She glanced over at Huaa, who was seated on Kolibry's other side, and the two friends exchanged thrilled smiles, clearly delighted to be near each other. Moments later, the lights dimmed, and the theater fell into shadow as the play resumed.
***
"Cycles passed, seasons slipping by in silence, as these two young alicorns met in secret at the border. With time, they grew older and wiser, and their playful visits became solemn acts of defiance. Together, they conspired to halt the bloody skirmishes that claimed kin on both sides. Though they were bound by different lands and rulers, Ardenu and Luxoah saw no reason for the hate sown between their people. They vowed to thwart the violence, each working in shadow to protect their kin from harm," the narrator intoned, as the scene behind him shifted. The curtain displayed the swift passing of cycles, a tapestry of changing times.
When the drapes parted once more, they revealed Ardenu and Luxoah, now grown, each carrying the burdens of their realms. Ardenu, portrayed by Aqasha, broke the silence first. "Ardonius plans another raid upon the Light alicorns…Luxoah, I can't bear to watch another massacre unfold," she said, her voice dark with foreboding.
Mei, playing the role of Luxoah, lifted her gaze and nodded gravely. "The Lilium Cartel is rallying the Light alicorns as well. Any who dare speak against them vanish. But the voices of unrest grow louder." She glanced toward Ardenu. "We have to act before more lives are lost."
The two looked upon each other in silent resolve, then rose and walked through the shadowed, flickering flame of the forest as the stage slowly rotated, bringing forth the next scene.
The actor portraying the Flame King now stood upon a raised platform, surrounded by his advisors, his voice carrying through the theater with fierce authority. Before him, his gathered people watched, eyes intent as he delivered his proclamation. "Flame alicorns, young and old! The schemes of the Lilium Cartel have come to light. They have bribed our kin, spun their webs of deception, seeking to weaken us—to make us fools while they gather their strength! We will not be deceived. We must unite and end their tyranny, lest our own lives fall to ruin!" His words reverberated, filled with steely conviction and rage, drawing murmurs of agreement from the crowd.
Yet before he could continue, Ardenu strode onto the stage, her steps purposeful and bold, her friend at her side, cloaked in black. As they reached the stage, Luxoah cast off her cloak, revealing herself to the gathered Flame alicorns, and a hush fell over the crowd.
Gasps and whispers filled the theater.
"Who is she?"
"Is that…a Light… alicorn?"
"Why is the king's own daughter standing beside one of our enemies?"
The crowd's murmurs grew into a low rumble, the shock of betrayal thick in the air.
"Father! The hatred between us and the Light alicorns is wrong—it's nothing more than your grudge, nurtured and fanned into flames that consume us all! You are the one sending our kin to die when we could find peace as allies!" Ardenu declared, her voice bold as she faced her father.
Ardonius's eyes blazed, wild with anger, as he beheld his daughter standing with a Light alicorn, denouncing his war. Rage burned within him, hotter than fire sweeping through a parched forest. "Some of us have met the Light alicorns—we've seen them, and they did not strike at us!" she pressed, undaunted by his fury. "You and the Lilium Cartel are both to blame for this endless death and ruin. Stop this madness—please!" Her plea was earnest, her gaze unwavering, but Ardonius was too blinded by wrath to listen.
His fiery wings flared brighter, and his eyes glowed like embers as he stepped toward her, each step heavy with menace. His horn burned with searing magic as he advanced, and his voice, slow and venomous, held an unrelenting fury. "How dare you stand before me with one of them, and cast blame upon me for the agony they have wrought upon us?"
Seeing her father's intent, Ardenu's magic glimmered, and from fire she summoned a Katana, its blade glinting like molten silver. She took a breath, and with resolute sorrow, she moved, closing the distance and driving the blade into his heart. In a single, shattering stroke, the tyrant's reign came to an end.
Ardenu's face was set, her eyes dark with grief as her father's body crumpled. She held the Katana, heavy with the weight of her deed, then turned to Luxoah. "Please, Luxoah—take this Katana. Accept it as an apology for all the wrongs we Flame alicorns have dealt, and as a gift of friendship," she said, bowing low before her friend, her magic lifting the blade toward her.
Luxoah's gaze softened, and with a gentle nod, she accepted the Katana, imbuing it with her own Light magic, entwining it with the Flame. She raised it high, her voice strong as she declared, "With this Katana, I vow to end the Lilium Cartel's rule, as it ended the Flame King's tyranny by the courage of my dear friend, Ardenu. Together, Flame and Light shall stand as one, free from fear!"
And in that moment, the blade gleamed with a brilliance both fierce and pure, a promise of peace forged in shared resolve.
"With her steadfast friend Ardenu at her side, Luxoah embarked upon the journey to Yueling," the narrator intoned, as the stage lights shifted, casting the passing figures in a radiant glow. Luxian actors kneeled in reverence, eyes lowered in solemn gratitude for the pair. "The Light alicorns, having learned of Ardonius's fall, now paved the way, bowing in respect as Ardenu and Luxoah made their way through the land," he continued, while the stage slowly rotated to reveal scene after scene of the two alicorns' passage.
At last, the grand mansion of the Lilium Cartel loomed before them—its windows darkened, its doors barred as the tyrants within cowered, gripped by fear. They had heard of the king's death, of the uprising in Yueling, and now, here stood the two young alicorns at their very threshold. The once-mighty Cartel, now cornered and desperate, awaited the reckoning that came in the form of Luxoah and Ardenu.
With a steady gaze, Luxoah strode forward, Ardenu close behind. Inside, the members of the Cartel huddled, their faces etched with terror, stripped of their former power. Luxoah moved through them like a wraith of moonlight, each movement precise, each step a testament to her mastery. Her blade shimmered with an otherworldly light, gliding as if on air. She was a blur of ethereal grace, her mane trailing like stardust, her coatl of light casting an aura that gleamed like a full moon's glow.
Once the Cartel lay defeated, Mei, portraying Luxoah, turned to the crowd and to Ardenu, awaiting her. The strain of the play had grown heavy upon her, a quiet heat building in her body since her first step onto the stage. At first, she had dismissed it as the anxious warmth of performance, but now it surged, breaking through her control. A sheen of sweat glistened on her coat, her breath quickening, shallow and uneven.
It was time for her next line, yet no words escaped her lips. Her gaze was fixed upon Aqasha, an orange fire beginning to kindle within her eyes. Her gray contact lenses smoldered away, revealing her true golden irises, bright and unrestrained. Faint wisps of smoke drifted from her mouth, her coatl flaring erratically, its movements a chaotic, disjointed reflection of her own inner turmoil.
A shriek ripped through the air—sharp, unnatural. Mei's familiar cried out as she surged forward, the Katana rising at her side like a specter awakened.
Once dull, the blade now gleamed with violent clarity, wrapped in searing light and hungry flame. It pulsed with a purpose no longer ceremonial.
Leyla's heart stammered. Adrenaline surged through her as she started to run—toward the stage, toward the danger. But she froze mid-step.
Ayzat had emerged from the fire behind Mei.
Silent. Swift. Terrifying in his precision.
He reached her—but not in time. Mei's blade had already struck.
Fate, ever cruel, had shifted, it's intended target was gone.
The Ardenian narrator had seen what others had missed—the tremor in Mei's magic, the break in her eyes. He moved without hesitation and flung Aqasha aside.
The blade found him instead.
Metal drove into the flesh. A sickening thud. The Katana had pierced his chest, clean through.
Mei's scream followed. It was no ordinary cry, but a broken, soul-torn sound—raw and agonizing. The kind of scream that came from somewhere far deeper than the throat. It clawed through the city, rattling every heart it touched.
As she collapsed and darkness claimed her, sparks spilled form her lips. The sounds of the theater came back full force, crashing through like waves of a storm—gasps, cries, chaos.
Parents scrambled to shield young eyes. But they were too late.
The stage had already been stained.
The two little queens wept uncontrollably, crowns slipping from their trembling hooves. Aren reached them first, sweeping them into his hooves. Kolibry followed, wings folding around them like a curtain against the world.
Aren's heart was torn between duty and terror. He held Hana tightly, whispering what comfort he could—though he hardly believed it himself. The small one clung to him, trembling. Her gaze had never left the stage.
Kolibry shielded Huaa, her sobs soaking into his feathers. She couldn't speak, couldn't look away. His own thoughts raced in circles, trying to catch up with what had just happened. There was no time to understand—only to protect.
Yua stood frozen.
Eyes wide. Lips parted. Not breathing.
She stared at the stage as if it were a nightmare she could not wake from. Tears spilled down her cheeks, slow and silent. Her sister lay unmoving, pinned beneath the weight of Ayzat the Wingless.
But it was Xuefeng who broke.
Her face crumpled, twisted by a grief too sudden to contain. Her knees locked. Her wings hung useless at her sides. She could not reach for her child. Could not move. Could not breathe.
Only one thing escaped her—a single, desperate, heart-wrenched cry that tore free of her lungs and echoed through the entire theater.