The Crystal Chronicles [Past]
A six-part fanfiction series with an intricately woven plot.

Parts one through four are events that take place before the fall of Nightmare Moon and are recorded here.

  • timeline Timeline notes
    Notes

    Story timelines are titled respectively; anything outside the CC timeline is titled MLP: FiM, or History of Hearths Warming. Those left blank do not visually/verbally occur within the show or the novels.

    In order of general occurrence:
    The Lands Beyond
    History of Hearth's Warming
    Stardust
    Moon Spark
    The Legend of the Crystal Empire (TLotCE)

    Most of these are something of placeholders, for better organization
    Time periods:
    Ancient
    Portmanteau existed for some time before the founding of Equestria. Notable events:
    ~Grogar's rise and defeat
    ~Migration to Equestria

    Founding
    From the start of the new country, to the appearance of the Red Eye. Notable events:
    ~Formation of the Crystal Empire
    ~Arrival of Queen Liliane

    Dark
    A period of uncertainty, until control is resumed over the sun and moon. Notable events:
    ~The Fall of Portmanteau
    ~Del Darken Marung
    ~The Nightmare Forces are subdued

Time label

The Lands Beyond

Alidia
Description

Ancient
One of this world's oldest civilizations, inhabited almost exclusively by Pureblooded Alicorns (the exception being young fillies and colts who have not yet reached Alicorn status).


Notes

Surrounding Alidia are other civilizations, though none as advanced as the mighty Alicorns.
The Capra are a race of simple-minded goats who reside in ore-rich mountains.
The Harpies are half pony, half bird creatures.
The Hellions run in packs across the plains between their neighbors. They are wild and wolflike, with scraggly wings that are incapable of flight.
The Zebras live in a lightly forested part of the plains. They sometimes trade with the Alicorns.
The Wyverns are a powerful, yet unorganized group. They seek the Crystal Trees that grow protected inside Alidia, though they have yet to successfully infiltrate the strong walls that border the city.

In this event

The Olden Province is established

Description

Ancient
Consisting of three separate communities, belonging to the Earth Ponies, Unicorns and Pegasi


Notes

Notable leaders include Princess Platinum of the Unicorns; Chancellor Puddinghead of the Earth Ponies; and leader of the Pegasi, Commander Hurricane.

Time label

MLP: FiM

Grogar declares himself "Ruler"
Description

Ancient
Grogar, the Father of Monsters, seizes control over the farmlands and pastures that would soon become Equestria.


Time label

MLP: FiM

Grogar is defeated by Gusty the Great
Description

Ancient
Gusty, an extremely talented young Unicorn, united Unicorn warriors under her command to bring Grogar's tyranny to an end.


Notes

This was before the establishment of Equestria, and the subsequent destruction of the tensions between the different tribes. As such, Gusty's team consisted of only Unicorns.

Tartarus
Description

After the usurpation of the Father of Monsters, his lair is repurposed as a dungeon to house his most evil creations.


Notes

Notable monsters created by Grogar:
Discord/Draconequus (Who later manages to escape imprisonment.)
Cerberus (Made to guard Tartarus.)
Cockatrice
Ophiotaurus
Chimera

Star Swirl is born
Time label

Moon Spark

Moon Spark is born
In this event
Time label

History of Hearths Warming

Migration
Description

Ancient
After the Windigoes cover their homeland in snow and frost, the leaders of the Olden Province take action and set out in search of a new home.


Notes

Along with their respective assistants: Clover the Clever, Private Pansy, and Smart Cookie.

Time label

Moon Spark

The Split
Description

Ancient
Part of the migration group is separated in the Crystal Mountains. The group that makes it out goes on to found Equestria.


Notes

Among those who make it out are the three leaders, and a very young Star Swirl.
Star Swirl's mother, father and young sister Moon Spark are among those who get left behind.
Roughly six weeks of travel on hoof, from their original home to the Crystal Mountains.

In this event

The Migration moves on
Description

Ancient
Unable to save the splintered section of their group, and in desperate need of food, the rest of the Migration continues down the mountain.


Time label

The Lands Beyond

Lorelei fuels the fires of discontent
Description

Ancient
A Crystal Keeper in Alidia begins her quest for power.


Notes

Lorelei was an extremely beautiful mare, even for a Alidian, but underneath this beauty lay terrible and dark desires.
Born Alicorns are destined by tradition to care for the Crystal Trees beneath Alidia, and raise and lower the sun and moon together.
She wanted full control over the sun and moon, a task meant to be shared among her fellow Crystal Keepers. She tricked them into feeling discontented so they would leave, and she could assume control.

In this event
Time label

The Lands Beyond

Queen Liliane leaves with the Royal Sisters
Description

Ancient
Sensing what is to come, the Queen of the Alidians leaves her homeland and people behind. With her three daughters--Celestia, Andromeda, and Luna, she seeks a new home elsewhere where they can be safe.


Notes

Part of her talent is an ability to sense the future, though it is never clear. This ability she referred to privately as "Future Sight." Like a sense of deja-vu, it comes and goes quicker than the flap of a hummingbird's wing.
Danger lay ahead. She had to choose between finding a way to protect her people, or taking her daughters where they could be safe.
She is in possession of a gem tree seed.

In this event
Time label

History of Hearth's Warming

Equestria is Founded

Description

End of Ancient Period. Start of Founding Period.
The Tribes begin to merge


Notes

Other notable civilizations present around this time:

1: Seaside village (Rockhoof's home)
2: Swamp Bayou (Mage Meadowbrook's home)
3.a: Cloudsdale (Home of Flash Magnus)
3.b: Torch's territory (Another large, tyrannical dragon)
4: Somnambula (Somnambula's home, for which she was named)
5: Neippon (Mistmane's home)
6: King Sombra's territory (Soon to become the Crystal Empire)

In this event

Brywood is built
Description

As the tribes begin to merge, the first Equestrian village is built.


In this event
Time label

Stardust

Liliane meets Star Swirl
Description

Founding
Upon arriving in the new land of Equestria, Liliane encounters a young wizard, and begins teaching him what she knows about magic.


Notes

Alidia is far more advanced in magic than the newly-founded Equestria. Even the ever-talented Gusty the Great, and Clover the Clever could not compare.

In this event

The Crystal Keepers leave Alidia
Description

Founding
Discontent with having to live beneath Alidia in a life they were forced into, most of the Crystal Keepers, save Lorelei, exit the city.


In this event
Time label

Stardust

Queen Liliane leaves Equestria
Description

Founding
Leaving her three young daughters in the care of Brywood, Liliane journeys back to Alidia.


Notes

Her Future Sight gave her a glimpse of what was to befall Alidia -- a much clearer vision than any she'd ever received up to that point. She knew disaster would befall this new land if she did not try to stop it. So she makes the long and arduous journey back without her daughters.

She also entrusts her crystal tree seed to Star Swirl, enhancing his power

In this event
Time label

Stardust

Brywood looks after the Sisters
Description

Founding


In this event

Formation of the Crystal Empire
Description

Founding
After driving Dragon King Sombra and his subjects out, the Crystal Keepers build the Crystal Empire.


Notes

Roughly eight-nine weeks of travel, from Alidia to the dragon's home.
They also start to procreate with other ponies, segregation being non-existent within Alidia.

In this event
Time label

The Lands Beyond

The Red Eye
Description

End of Founding Period. Start of Dark Period.
Without the other Crystal Keepers to stop her, Lorelei succeeds in taking control of the sun and moon, creating a blood-red eclipse that covers the lands all creatures inhabit.


In this event
Time label

The Lands Beyond

Lorelei's betrayal
Description

Dark
Lorelei is stopped by the members of the Mantle, and order is restored in Portmanteau. But not for long.


Notes

Though Lorelei is extremely powerful, she is no match against all six members of the Mantle.

In this event
Time label

The Lands Beyond

The Trial
Description

Dark
Lorelei is tried for her actions, and ultimately stripped of her magic and banished.


Notes

A series of actions practically unheard of in stately Portmanteau. The Mantle deems Lorelei far too dangerous for their peaceful city, and use a ritual that sucks every last ounce of magic out of the mare. Then they banished her, which was as good as an execution.
Since raw magic cannot be destroyed, they had to seal it beneath Alidia where it could never be released.

In this event
Time label

Stardust

The dragons settle near Brywood
Description

Founding
After being driven out of their home by the Crystal Keepers, the dragons journey south and discover a huge mountain suitable for them.


Notes

After the Red Eye, the more superstitious dwellers of Brywood become extremely antsy, believing the arrival of these violent beasts to be a sign that they should not be in Equestria.

Time label

The Lands Beyond

The Wyverns attack
Description

Launching an attack on Alidia proves to be successful, as they are still reeling from the loss of their Crystal Keepers.


Notes

They infiltrate the grove where the Crystal Trees grow and decimate them. They also stumble upon the room that houses Lorelei's magic, and unwittingly release it.

Time label

The Lands Beyond

The Fall
Description

Dark
After the attack from the Wyvern's releases Lorelei's magic, it rages out of control, and the Lands Beyond are lost.


Notes

See Horn Rot, Raw Magic and The Nightmare Forces on how raw magic affects its surroundings.

In this event
Time label

Stardust

Del Darken Marung
Description

Dark
The sun and moon are no longer controlled by the Alidians. This affects the lands all across the world.


Notes

After studying an Old Ponish blog written by a language nerd, I decided to write the title for the Historical Document in Old Ponish. Considering it's also written in Old Ponish, I went for it. It should translate to "The Dark Morning"

Time label

Stardust

The Six Wizards take control of the sun and moon
Description

Dark
Lead by Star Swirl, using the guidance of Queen Liliane, they bring an end to the darkness.


In this event
Time label

The Lands Beyond

Queen Liliane subdues the Nightmare Forces
Description

Dark: 1053
Start of a fuckin period lol I DUNNO


In this event
Time label

Moon Spark

The possession of Moon Spark
Description

The Nightmare Forces take hold of a young mare trapped in the crystal mountains, who goes crazy with power and blows up half the mountain


Notes

This immense explosion of power creates the Broken Pass, and sends Moon Spark into a deep sleep to recover her energy

In this event
Time label

Stardust

Celestia, Andromeda and Luna assume control of the sun and moon
Description

After the five wizards lose their magical abilities in their attempts to raise the sun and moon, the three sisters work together and take over this duty


Time label

Stardust

Andromeda Befriends Fallen Tree
Time label

Stardust

Fallen Tree Expresses his Affections
Description

A member of the village guard pursues Andromeda


In this event
Time label

Stardust

Celestia, Andromeda, and Luna earn their Marks
Description

After Andromeda gets together with Fallen Tree, Celestia and Luna find they must take over the sun and moon by themselves.


Notes

Since their respective talents seem to involve the sun and moon, Andromeda's sisters do not resent her decision.

Time label

Stardust

Andromeda and Fallen Tree are wed
In this event
Time label

Stardust

Soon to be Pillars are all in Brywood
Time label

MLP: FiM

Lord Tirek and Scorpan arrive in Equestria
Description

Hearing of the magic possessed by the Equestrians, the two brothers journey there from a distant land, intent on stealing their magic.


Tempest, Dahliah, and Nebula - the Lost Sisters - are born
In this event
Time label

MLP: FiM

Lord Tirek is Banished to Tartarus
Description

Having made friends with Star Swirl, Scorpan decides to leave the Equestrians alone, and outs Tirek for his misdeeds.


Time label

MLP: FiM

The Pillars are formed
Description

Stygian brings together six ponies from different backgrounds: Flash Magnus, Mistmane, Meadowbrook, Rockhoof, Somnambula, and Star Swirl, to create the Pillars of Equestria.


In this event
Time label

MLP: FiM

The Sirens are Banished
Description

The newly formed Pillars banish the Sirens from this world


In this event
Time label

Stardust

A group of Crystal Ponies visit Brywood
Time label

Stardust

The Dragon War
Description

Equestria goes to war against the dragons


Notes

Initiated by King Sombra, after Princess Platinum, Commander Hurricane, and Chancellor Puddinghead attempt to hold a peace conference, and he kills them.

In this event
Time label

Stardust

Death of Andromeda
Description

Sacrificing herself for her people and her family, Andromeda puts an end to the Dragon War at the cost of her own life.


In this event
Time label

Moon Spark

Moon Spark Awakens
Description

The young mare awakens from her slumber, with no memory of prior events.


In this event
Time label

Moon Spark

Moon Spark and Luna become Friends
Description

While trying to find a way to restore Moon Spark's memory, Luna befriends her


Star Swirl Returns
Description

After defeating the Sirens, the Pillars visit their respective homes


The Sacrifice of the Pillars
Description

With Stygian running rampant as the Pony of Shadows, Star Swirl and the other Pillars make the decision to imprison him in Limbo.


Nebula is Adopted into the Crystal Empire
In this event

A Gift is given to Coal
Description

At the crux of the coronation, Coal's subjects present him with a stunning blood-red gem


In this event
Time label

TLotCE

The Coronation of Nebula and Coal
In this event

The Possession of Coal
Description

King Sombra takes control of Coal from within the Dragon Amulet


Time label

TLotCE

Death of Queen Alstonite and King Tanzanite

King Sombra Takes Over
Description

With the power of the Dragon Amulet, Sombra begins his transformation back into a dragon


Nebula destroys the Amulet
Description

In a fierce battle against Sombra, Nebula uses her magic to destroy the Dragon Amulet. However, it is not enough to stop him completely.


Time label

TLotCE

King Sombra Enslaves the Empire
Description

Though almost thwarted by Nebula, Sombra still has enough power to assume full control


Notes

Q: Why doesn't he just destroy the Empire?
A: He does not possess the power he needs to kill every single one.
B: Because this was once his home, and the ponies who now inhabit it are the ones who drove him out. He wants to trap them, make them afraid, and make them suffer.

Time label

TLotCE

The Crystal Unicorns and Pegasi are executed

Celestia and Luna Investigate
Description

Trade between their nation and the Empire has ceased without warning. Suspicion drives the two sisters to pay a visit to the Empire, where they discover an evil king.


Discord Escapes
Description

Having made his way out of Tartarus, the draconequus plans to enslave a portion of Equestria


Time label

MLP: FiM

Discord Takes Over
Description

Without the sisters to protect Equestria, Discord makes his move


Time label

MLP: FiM / TLotCE

Battle of the Crystal Empire

Description

After taking over the Crystal Empire, King Sombra is opposed by the Royal Sisters, who eventually defeat him with the aid of Nebula.


Time label

MLP: FiM / TLotCE

The Crystal Empire Disapears
Description

After his defeat, Sombra is banished into the frozen north, but not before he could cast a spell upon the empire that made it disappear for a thousand years.


Notes

He meant to cast it on himself to prevent death or permanent banishment. But he took the Empire with him.

The Tree of Harmony is Found
Description

Celestia and Luna finally discover the means to overthrow Discord


Time label

MLP: FiM

Rise and fall of Nightmare Moon
Notes

See Crystal Chronicles [Present] for events that happened after

In this event

Brywood is Rebuilt
Description

Celestia and Luna tell Star Swirl about the Dragon War, and the death of their sister.