The Hero's Tale

Introduction

Official telegram to High Pristess Astra, Pandemonium Cathedral
Copy to Princess Celestia, Canterlot Castle
Copy to Sultana Amira, Paradise Square, Baharra
Copy to Prince Rugamba, the House of the Stone,
Copy to General Hailstorm of Equestrian Militia, Militia Headquarters, Equestria

Received from Gregory Griffon Library of Griffonsotne, Griffonstone

I have little time, so I'll be brief STOP

My most recent translation of talking bell I struck came back from the University of Whinneapolis rare documents library. STOP

Translation of curse confirms what we feared, STOP

Prepare for all contingencies, XK-class end of world scenario possible more research needed STOP

Suggest increased security around royals, civil unrest distinct possibility, STOP

Heading to Baharra for wedding, will go to their rare books library to find further information STOP

Shades, World Enders, Eaters of reality, possible research Subjects STOP

Hope this is nothing, if it isn't will be a target. Stop

Princess Celestia looked curiously at the telegram, Gregory Griffon had sent copies of this to every major leader in the civilized world, including her general. It was a drastic measure to send General hailstorm a message like this, instead of letting Celestia make the decision to alert the military. Celestia was also confused as to what exactly he was talking about, civil unrest, Gregory becoming a "target" and the end of the world? The humble scribe rarely concerned himself with anything that would make him a target of anything    Celestia was fairly sure the world wasn't about to end around her, as everything seemed rather mundane at the moment. Gregory was even going to Windjammer and Obsidian's Wedding, which she was convinced he woulnd't do if he actually thought the world was coming to an end, so why even mention it?

"Mind's eye," Princess Celestia said,

"Yes your highness?" The Secretary answered from her desk at the side of the throne room.

"Do we have a copy of that Paper Gregory Griffon just published on primordial history?"

"It was in the Griffonstone historical journal," Minds Eye said, sorting though he filing cabinet, "Here it is your Majesty."

"Thank you," Celestia said, opening the magazine and turning to Gregory's article. Every since Gregory had struck a strange bell that spoke a curse on him, the Griffon had been researching deep history in hopes of finding out what kind of curse it was.  This message obviously meant he'd gotten some kind of breakthrough, but didn't brother to give much information. There could however be somthing in the article that would reveal more. Celestia flipped to Gregory's article, the scanned it for "Shades", finding the term halfway through the wandering, meandering article, (Gregory was an Excelent writer but tended to ramble) and finally found what she was looking for:

Before the time of the Primordial gods like Terraria of Jest, and Cosmos the all-father there was in fact more history, recorded in fragments. The most ancient records, kept in multiples societies all speak of a world before the world, if these legends are to be believed we now live in the fourth world, with three preceeding us. The most terrifying aspect of these oldest of legends is tales of the forces that would destroy the world to remake it, they've been called "Shades", "World Enders" and "Eaters of Reality". It is said that they selected 100,000 worthy sentient beings to survive the purging of the world, to live as immortals and Gods into the next world to help in it's rebuilding.
It is said that Princess Celestia's father, Cosmos made a deal with the shades that they would no longer destroy the world to make a new one, and they would only come if called. The one that called them would agree to die to open the gate to unleash them, the current immortal Rulers of the world would be sacrificed and those that did it would become the immortals of the next world. All this co-incides with the docterine of modern groups like the New Republicans, and the Tajir who belive in freeing the world from the rein of royalties and replacing them with the worthy. But, the impetus of this would be the speaking of the curse to summon the shades, which as far as I can tell has been lost to time.

"I don't like the sound of any of that," Princess Celestia said, "Gregory. . .what have you done?"