Slightly different version of this image (different crop).

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Over 1000 years ago, unicorns were a despised race of creatures. Back then, the world was ruled by Chaos and Disarray, two of the most dangerous monsters who ever lived. Chaos was called the “Father of Monsters”; Disarray was called the “Mother of Enemies”. These tyrants wanted to drain every last unicorn of their energy. And many of their subjects were willing minions.

Most ground ponies hated and feared unicorns. They feared unicorns’ powers, and they wanted to feel in control. Being able to go after unicorns was one of their last comforts. Most pegasi felt the same way. To these creatures, alicorns were an absolute abomination.

As a ground pony, Seth Appleheart grew up in a world that taught that unicorns were monsters. As a child, he could remember seeing unicorns being forced to fight like gladiators. He also remembered seeing some restrained so that everyone could beat them up. At the time, Seth kind of enjoyed this violence. Seth wasn’t quite at the bottom, but he certainly wasn’t one of the big dogs. Being able to hurt someone who couldn’t fight back was once one of his last senses of comfort — especially if he felt he could justify it. Even then, however, he felt something was wrong. He didn’t like being beaten up, and it was hard for him to do the same to another without some sense of guilt.

As he became an adult, Seth stopped encountering unicorn prisoners. Most ponies were convinced that unicorns no longer existed. By now, some ponies thought unicorns were just mythical beasts. For a long time now, Seth realized that he just wanted to be loved. He lost his family when he was little. He could hardly remember them, but he remembered how much it hurt to lose them. Seth wanted to be loved and protected. And he wanted someone he could love and protect.

Since he was a teenager, Seth had been enslaved to work in the deepest, hottest mines. As an adult, it had been years since he had seen the sky. Some of his fellow miners didn’t believe there was such a thing as the sky. One day, Seth was kicking through some really tough rock. The rock suddenly collapsed, catching him by surprise.

When he got back up, Seth saw something that was pink, blue, and yellow. He thought he had found a giant gem. He wished he could have it for himself; it would be a shame if Chaos and Disarray cut it up. Upon closer inspection, he thought it looked like a pony. He saw a pair of wings; was it a pegasus? Then he saw the horn of a unicorn.

Seth thought he was dreaming. He had never seen an alicorn. Up to now, he wasn’t sure they ever existed. It was a beautiful alicorn mare. She was a majestic-looking figure. Far from looking like a monster, she looked like a sleeping angel. Seth had always wanted a girl he could call his own. Could she be the one?

The alicorn was fast asleep, but she was still breathing. Then she woke up. The alicorn was terrified that she had just been discovered. But Seth quickly assured her that he didn’t want to harm such a beautiful creature. Seth asked the alicorn what her name was. Her name was Hope Unquenchable.

Hope soon realized that this ground pony was in love with her. She noticed the scrapes, bruises, and scars from his many years of mining. She felt sorry for him; she knew he must have been a poor and oppressed creature. Both of them longed for someone to love. And they longed for someone who loved them.

One week later, Seth and Hope secretly married. As far as anyone knew, Hope was the last of her kind. But Seth and Hope didn’t want it to stay that way. They wanted to save the alicorn race. And they had the feeling it might hold their key to freedom.

For their honeymoon, Seth and Hope couldn’t actually go anywhere. But they came together and built a nest. That night, they conceived their two daughters: Skysparkle and Stellanova.

All their lives, Seth and Hope had lived without special marks on their flanks. In those days, most ponies had no special marks. Many creatures were enslaved to hard labor. Those who were “free” lived in fear of starving or getting attacked by deadly monsters. Chaos and Disarray didn’t like things getting too happy. Consequently, many ponies didn’t really know who they were. Discovering one’s special mark might even be viewed with suspicion.

Skysparkle and Stellanova would eventually rise up and help free the world from Chaos and Disarray. The creatures the world once despised — they would be key to rebuilding the world.

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Art by Parcly Taxel.

Starponys: The Spectrum of Friendship © and ™ of M. Wayne Howell ([email protected]), along with all characters therein.