This story is set before the adventures in the books take place. Disclaimer: I don't own any of the original Unicorns of Balinor, but all of the ones that you haven't heard of (too lazy to list them) are mine! So back off!!
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It was dawn in the Celestial Valley. The rising sun cast soft pink lines through the twilight sky, slowly revealing the beauty that was this magical place. As the light raced through the trees and over the crystal river, many unicorns could be seen peacefully grazing on the sweet grass that grew in the meadows. The light grew stronger, and the characteristic that sets the Celestial Unicorns apart from any others was immediately evident. Each unicorn in the herd was a different color of the rainbow, from fiery crimson to deep purple.
This morning, as they did every morning, the entire Celestial Valley herd assembled as a rainbow under the Crystal Arch. Facing the east, they awaited the arrival of Numinor the Golden One, leader of the Celestial Unicorns. Then, as has happened every morning since the start of time, the stallion peaked and descended down the mountain just as the bottom curve of the sun detached itself from the top of the valley's wall. He halted in front of the rainbow ranks and began the Ceremony to Greet the Sun.
"I greet the rainbow," Numinor called out.
"We welcome the sun," the unicorns replied.
And then they all sang the first part of the Ceremony:
"Red and yellow, orange and green
Purple, silver, and blue
The rainbow we make defends those we guard
In Balinor's cities and fields."
The Golden One asked, "When will we cross the Crystal Arch, to walk the earth below?"
"When the dwellers of Balinor need us!" the Celestial unicorns responded.
Finally, they all turned to face the rising sun and pledged in a mighty chorus: "We guard life! We guard freedom! We guard peace!"
The Ceremony to Greet the Sun was over. Most of the unicorns immediately dropped their heads and began to eat the fragrant grass. They were a peaceful herd, who used their incredible powers only when necessary.
The lead stallion made his way down from the ledge and into the meadow below. Passing the members of his herd, he felt a swell of pride as he once again thought of how they were his. But now was not the time to be looking over his ranks. Numinor could sense that something was amiss across the Gap. He just wasn't quite sure what.
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Meanwhile, on the other side of the meadow, Atalanta, the Dream Speaker, approached the Crystal Pool. She too was having the feeling that all was not right in Balinor, and she would be able to judge that for herself using the magic in the pool. Her soft lavender eyes gazed intensely into the clear water, which allowed every detail of the amethyst base to be seen.
She was about to begin her connection when something stopped her. She sniffed the air lightly, and could smell that something was different. When closing her eyes didn't help unveil the source, she opened them and looked all around her.
It was spring, the time of love and new birth. Newborn birds could be heard in their nests, and new growth could be seen all over the lush valley. This could also be illustrated in the herd. Many new unicorn foals had arrived over the past few weeks, and they could be seen running happily through the grass in their new home, playing foal games and the such. The mares that hadn't thrown foals this year were also busy, finding their mates and...
That's it! Atalanta realized. What she had smelled in the air was love. Shaking her head slightly, she returned her attention to the Crystal Pool and Balinor. Being the Dream Speaker, she had never had the time to have foals with Numinor, her mate, and that had always been fine with her. But why? she thought to herself. Being the Dream Speaker doesn't take up that much of my time. I could do it with a young one.
But no, she countered. Numinor would never agree. He has too many other things to worry about. Oh well. It's a pity, really.
With that, she returned her thoughts to the crystal waters of the pool. Show me Balinor, she instructed. The rural town appeared in her thoughts and in the water. Now, show me where the trouble is.
The purple mare opened her eyes, expecting to see the eye of Entia the Shifter or other evil. But instead, the scene she opened her eyes to was that of the Celestial Valley, the grass rippling in the wake of an unseen breeze. Her eyes opened wide in shock. Instantly, the serene image vanished, leaving Atalanta breathing heavily and staring into clear waters.
After a few moments, when the initial shock was over, Atalanta tried again. Looking into the Crystal Pool once again, the Dream Speaker thought, Show me the cause of this turmoil. What she saw made her gasp out loud. Stumbling backward, she quickly turned and made her way down the hill and toward the bronze stallion's meadow.
After she left, the image that had so frightened her remained for a few moments. It consisted of Atalanta together with the Sunchaser, with Numinor off to the side, an enraged look on his face. In the center, stood a large unicorn, even taller than the Golden One himself. His long, moss green tail dragged the ground behind him, and his mint-colored hair grew on skin that stretched tightly over well-formed muscles. His hooves were made of a rusted copper, the original orange peeking through in various places. His jewel was an emerald, gleaming sharply against the muted greens of his body. Finally, his horn was made of jade, very tall and sharpened to a point in the fashion of the Shadow Unicorns. While this surprised the purple unicorn, an obviously Celestial Unicorn's horn being sharpened, what shocked her more was the small note below the picture of this stunning stallion. At first, it looked like his name, but when Atalanta looked closer, she saw that it was a copy of his bloodlines. And it read: "The Sunchaser X Atalanta"