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Description
"Excuse me, Mr. Dragon? Are you Spike the Brave and Glorious?"

"Mmmn. The Brave... and Glorious. I fear I haven't heard that name in over a hundred lifetimes. Who might you be, little pony?"

"My name is Sunny Starscout, and these are my friends!"

The old dragon cracked a weak smile as he watched a white pegasus fly upwards to get a better look at him, "It warms my heart to see that ponies have finally melted the ice in theirs." and then his smile fell. "But it's too late... Too late.."

"Too late?" asked Zipp, "Too late for what?"

"Many many years ago, before your great-great grandparents were even a thought, there were five Alicorns that ruled the various parts of Equestria. Each Alicorn's magic and lifespan is connected to what it is they rule over, but they're still susceptible to illness and pain. And that is what happened to Empress Twilight Sparkle."

He could see the light grow in the little orange earth pony mares eyes, a big smile on her face told him that she recognized that name. It forced a deep rumbling purr to escape his chest. It caused the cave to rattle, tiny pebbles shaking from the cave walls. He noticed the only stallion and the unicorn tremble in fear.

"Twilight was the princess of Friendship and Magic. But you see, after her friends, wife, and eventually children died, she gave up hope. My best friend lost her way. And then a great calamity struck Equestria..."

"Oh yeah!" Sunny piped excitedly, "The war between the Earth Ponies and Pegasi!"

"No." Spike answered sharply, "There was something *before* that war. Once Twilight had given up hope, she stopped ruling the kingdom. Most decisions fell unto me and her advisors. For a while we managed... But eventually ponies and other creatures alike began to demand they see the Empress. One day I went to wake her up from slumber, and she was gone. No note. Not even a feather was left behind. She abandoned her crown and kingdom. I'm not sure if she's alive or dead.. but I have no hope that she is alive."

The five ponies before him all seemed to frown and feel a sudden sadness, a sigh left the grand beast. "After Twilight left the kingdom, we were invaded by the Umbra. Shadow ponies. Creatures made of complete darkness and hate. They swarmed the lands of Equestria, destroying every last shred of sanity to the divided kingdom. And soon enough, the creatures left the country, and ponies ran away, segregating themselves to find a new home as they were too afraid to trust in each other."

"And then the war?" asked Hitch.

"And then the war." answered Spike.

Description
"Excuse me, Mr. Dragon? Are you Spike the Brave and Glorious?"

"Mmmn. The Brave... and Glorious. I fear I haven't heard that name in over a hundred lifetimes. Who might you be, little pony?"

"My name is Sunny Starscout, and these are my friends!"

The old dragon cracked a weak smile as he watched a white pegasus fly upwards to get a better look at him, "It warms my heart to see that ponies have finally melted the ice in theirs." and then his smile fell. "But it's too late... Too late.."

"Too late?" asked Zipp, "Too late for what?"

"Many many years ago, before your great-great grandparents were even a thought, there were five Alicorns that ruled the various parts of Equestria. Each Alicorn's magic and lifespan is connected to what it is they rule over, but they're still susceptible to illness and pain. And that is what happened to Empress Twilight Sparkle."

He could see the light grow in the little orange earth pony mares eyes, a big smile on her face told him that she recognized that name. It forced a deep rumbling purr to escape his chest. It caused the cave to rattle, tiny pebbles shaking from the cave walls. He noticed the only stallion and the unicorn tremble in fear.

"Twilight was the princess of Friendship and Magic. But you see, after her friends, wife, and eventually children died, she gave up hope. My best friend lost her way. And then a great calamity struck Equestria..."

"Oh yeah!" Sunny piped excitedly, "The war between the Earth Ponies and Pegasi!"

"No." Spike answered sharply, "There was something *before* that war. Once Twilight had given up hope, she stopped ruling the kingdom. Most decisions fell unto me and her advisors. For a while we managed... But eventually ponies and other creatures alike began to demand they see the Empress. One day I went to wake her up from slumber, and she was gone. No note. Not even a feather was left behind. She abandoned her crown and kingdom. I'm not sure if she's alive or dead.. but I have no hope that she is alive."

The five ponies before him all seemed to frown and feel a sudden sadness, a sigh left the grand beast. "After Twilight left the kingdom, we were invaded by the Umbra. Shadow ponies. Creatures made of complete darkness and hate. They swarmed the lands of Equestria, destroying every last shred of sanity to the divided kingdom. And soon enough, the creatures left the country, and ponies ran away, segregating themselves to find a new home as they were too afraid to trust in each other."

"And then the war?" asked Hitch.

"And then the war." answered Spike.