Aviators - Ashes

(NOTE: Honesty is excluded from the story for a reason. The element existed, but isn't mentioned in the prologue.)
Well everyone, the wait is finally over. Mirrors has arrived, and you can get it now on Bandcamp with 10 new songs and 6 bonus tracks!
As for this song specifically, it's a pony song, and it's a type of fanfiction in a way. We don't have much background as to where the Elements of Harmony originated, and this leaves a lot of room to develop theories. This song is about my theory... That Celestia was surrounded with five partners, all of which she lost due to her immortality. She watched the world burn to ashes, as she stood unable to die.
Download the full album here:
music.soundoftheaviators.com/a...
itunes.apple.com/us/album/mir...
The album will come to iTunes and other stores in a week or so.
Lyrics:
When the world burned I faced the task
Of rebuilding what I made
I'd raise the sun again
I'd bring them through the end
And day by day they passed away
Right before my eyes
Six became a team of five
I couldn't help but pass them by
Ashes to ashes
Dust to dust
Honor to glory
And iron to rust
Hate to bloodshed
From rise to fall
If I never have to die
Am I alive at all?
When flames would rise to my allies
I'd feel the pain inside
I was the victor at a cost
With every war a friend was lost
On deaf ears fell my cries of hurt
As the last one drove insane
He turned and went astray
Only my own blood to fade away
The nightmare began when it all ended
My own blood the one I had befriended
Ruled in harmony
With the better side of me
But things broke down just when I thought I
Had lost everything I could I
Let her slip away
She turned her back on me

[@aaaaanotthebees]

I remember finding Aviators during my brony phase and being absolutely blown away. Five years later, this song still holds up as one of the most emotional songs I've ever heard. Bravo.

[@writer4000]

Me too and I think I still have that brony part of me soooooo

[@TheGlitchBox1]

Dat description. It gave me goosebumps. "She watched the world burn to ashes, as she stood unable to die."

[@klystron2010]

Huh. Reminds me of Fluttershy in Fallout: Equestria...

[@rhiannonrainey1412]

Okay, didn't expect to see a My little pony song. And its great. "If I never have to die am I alive at all", the question many immortals seem to ask themselves in literature today

[@sunshower6560]

Celestia - Kindness Luna - Loyalty Discord - Laughter Sombra - Generosity Starswirl - Magic Amore - Honesty?

[@alexfrostbound4401]

Really cool interpretation! Each of those are sad to think about. Kindness forced to watch it happen would be the hardest especially after neglecting loyalty...

[@Victor-056]

1:26 This verse was also used in the Acoustic version Apolcalypse State of Mind... Which is fitting as Nate/Nora had lost everything... Their son is gone, their Spouse is dead, their world has burned... What are they even living for? ...And considering 'Ashes' is Celestia's Song, I can see her and Nate or Nora meeting in a bar, staring for an awkward minute, before Nate/Nora just passes her a Drink and waves at a chair.

[@SteeleWingX]

i always found it funny, that there are so many brony musicians who are better than many of today's pop stars, and aviators is one of them.

[@rhazien2502]

he is not brony anymore sadly

[@ender01o66]

@@rhazien2502 wdym?

[@rhazien2502]

@@ender01o66 he quit the fandom bro, he does not make brony songs anymore, he is still making music just not pony related

[@ender01o66]

@@rhazien2502 I know he still makes music, I meant, where did he say that he's no longer in the fandom (and, yes, I know the fandom is kind of dead rn, oof)

[@rhazien2502]

@@ender01o66 I don't recall him saying it out loud that he quit but he has not done pony songs for a very long time

[@fairyhaven13]

"Six became a team of five." So... Honesty died just before the song's beginning, which is why Celestia is weeping. She's also mourning about someone- a female- leaving. Her sister is already listed, so Honesty must have been a girl before she died. Wonder who she was...

[@Kayriel]

Possibly the ruler of the Crystal Empire before Sombra, Cadence's ancestor.

[@jacobcentamore4901]

I think I figured out why Honesty was excluded. I think the Honesty Element belongs to the one telling the Story (the one singing the song). It takes an honest person to tell a deep story like this.

[@raymondsanxhez819]

i agree with you on that and I'm still gathering evidence on the previous elements of harmony owners : 3

[@heavensdevil6943]

the issue i have with this theory is that it speaks of the singer raising the sun, which is indicative of the singer being celestia

[@thedragonden3294]

unless honesty is the one telling the prolouge

[@hunterbarker55]

Pinkie Twinkle good thinking

[@Kayriel]

Singer is definitely Celestia. Said the one who became the Nightmare turned her back on her (the singer). Luna became the Nightmare.

[@Cyber9Hound]

"If I never have to die, am I alive at all?" Celestia was questioning her own existance. That is terrifying to think about.

[@benmckee1122]

"I'm 14 and this is deep."

[@fluori5890]

@@benmckee1122 I think you can think of it as deep on a 14 year old level and deep as an adult level, just have your midlife crisis first and built up existential questions, also smoke some weed.

[@aurorafauna4195]

If you haven't.... Read the Last Unicorn

[@Speed001]

@@aurorafauna4195 The Last Unicorn is a fantasy novel by American author Peter S. Beagle and published in 1968, by Viking Press in the U.S. and The Bodley Head in the U.K. It follows the tale of a unicorn, who believes she is the last of her kind in the world and undertakes a quest to discover what has happened to the other unicorns.[1] It has sold more than six million copies[3] worldwide since its original publication, and has been translated into at least twenty-five languages (prior to the 2007 edition). In 1987, Locus ranked The Last Unicorn number five among the 33 "All-Time Best Fantasy Novels", based on a poll of subscribers;[4] it ranked number eighteen in the 1998 rendition of the poll.[5] wikipedia org/wiki/The_Last_Unicorn

[@aurorafauna4195]

@@Speed001 Dude, I know. I have read it and watched the movie.

[@corvusalistairjulianranold2603]

I listened to this song many times over the course of a few months, albeit only with minor concentration as I had it going in the background while doing schoolwork, and I had ABSOLUTELY NO idea this was a PONY song until today when I casual glanced at the description...

[@mathewunknown8266]

For a moment I wondered when did I make this comment, as It is true to my experience, took me a moment to notice name. What a coincidence.

[@corvusalistairjulianranold2603]

@@mathewunknown8266 huh! I see what you mean. In fact I even got confused when your comment popped up on my notifications for the same reason: saw the profile picture, didn't read the name. By the way: do you know what the original source of this image we are using is? I can't remember where I found it.

[@WindWalker666]

It sounds as though the original Holders in this song either became an extreme or an anti-thesis of their elements. In that case, Honesty would most likely have been the changeling Queen.

[@papasquat123]

When I choose this song I didn't think it would be a my little pony song. Let alone one about ultimate death

[@DrewTruesdell]

Me neither

[@kevinrodriguez7580]

Same bro, I was shocked when I found out

[@Jerkfaceman]

Me neither

[@GlueEater-ix9gl]

Hey i don’t care its good

[@AlphaWolfShadow]

Not often do songs bring tears to my eyes, Aviators, but yours, more than any other brony artists, nay, almost any artist, have done it to me with gems like this. So moving, so beautiful, so tragic, and so haunting. I don't know how you can stand to write things like these without bursting into tears as you record them, but you've got a strong will...stronger than many. Love the song, love the album, love it all. Keep up the absolutely fantastic work as always. Love from Wisconsin, Brony Wolfheart

[@StainedRevenant]

(Reply to About) That truly is the often unseen truth to immortality. While you yourself cannot die and live without fear of such, you are forced to watch the ones you care for die around you one by one until you're the only one left. You gain new companions, only to lose them too in time. And so the cycle continues without end. Pretty soon you submit to the fact that no matter what you do, things will never change. No matter how many friends you make, every one of them will fall eventually, leaving you yet again alone. In the end, eternity is more a curse than a gift.

[@TheVampiresVengence]

And yet what if one with immortality decided to resist any feeling of affection of others? Then, would they not feel much loss and thus would it be a curse anymore?

[@StainedRevenant]

TheVampiresVengence Affection of others is inevitable. Even if the one with immortality thinks nothing of it. Deep within any character, even a villain, there is the want of either acceptance, companionship, or love. It just takes some longer than others to realize it. At least that's how I see it.

[@TheVampiresVengence]

That is true but I would like to believe that there are a select few of us that are able to control their inner emotions to the point where they can almost instantly change their personality around others.

[@TheVampiresVengence]

Heh. I just realized that i also responded too you comment on Her Darker Side. It's a small world after all.

[@TheVampiresVengence]

True. I was just saying that there are a few like that but that doesn't exclude those who are traumatized

[@kuroorchid2455]

'Ashes to ashes, dust to dust' *yells* GODDAMNIT JTMACHINIMAAAAA

[@Sayincraft]

your gunna burn with the REST OF US! xD(I thought he was gunna sing that too)

[@lol-tz3mg]

Ashes to ashes, Dust to dust, We are nothing more than dust, And to the dust we shall return. Amen.

[@darknightmares1729]

YEEEEEEESSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! JT FOR LLLLIIIIIIIIIFFFFFFFEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!

[@winterbonnie_8]

@@apmusicalicornpicturesmusi35 I think he's implying that JT copied but idk ashes to ashes and dust to dust are commonly used phrases

[@petercoulthard804]

Even after all this time, this is still a very powerful song.

[@nabielk.608]

I thought the thumbnail was a plasma bombardment from Halo so i thought, "Oh look, a Halo song made by Aviator"

[@CommentIsUnrelated]

Gods, I love this song so much.

[@TrayIcon]

"If I never have to die, am I alive at all?" your lyrics are always so beautiful. thank you

[@jamesweaver6741]

The One benefit of the googleplus/youtube mashup... I get to like aviators songs all over again.

[@GoldRaptor00]

0:46 when the fire nation attacked

[@sananaryon4061]

Eyyyyyyyyyy

[@makoons-sanhighlights4702]

Yas!

[@DrSwagger]

Jason Ross AAAAAYYYYYY

[@dr.dylansgame5583]

lmao

[@closetoeverthing]

Jason 💘💀🇺🇸💔

[@TolianTiger]

It's a shame that I can't favorite this twice. It deserves more than a mere "Favorite".

[@Linkmaster134]

Season 4: Destroying one headcanon at a time.

[@SilverWolfAlchemist]

I really want to see someone do a music video to this, it would be so interesting

[@ronhuret5113]

Fucking out here in 2021 and still finding songs that hit me right in the heart and soul

[@yesimstuntdude]

The chorus makes this entire song worth listening to again.

[@duskoversmoke]

*Until everything changed... WHEN THE FIRE NATION ATTACKED!

[@firenova1977]

"NOTE: Honesty is excluded from the story for a reason. The element existed, but isn't mentioned in the prologue." Best background pony.

[@MistressChara]

Here's what I think: Luna mustve had the element of kindness due to celestia still being loyal to equestria Discord with laughter Sombra with generousity Starswirl with magic and tireks brother as the element of honesty In the song it sort of points out their deaths "Day by day they passed away" "right before my eyes six became a team of five" suggesting starswirl died of unknown causes "Flames rise to my allies" suggests sombras death at the hands of the nightmare dreamscape and then the other elements "Every war a friend was lost" suggests tireks brother died fighting sombra or another foe The one who went insane would be discord and the one of her own blood is obviously luna What do you guys think?

[@jameskovacs8825]

Sounds logical

[@wilogan1951]

i like that i would believe it

[@Zelapher]

i always felt luna had loyalty and lost it becouse of the agony of being both immortal yet invisable. and celestia kindness becouse for one she forgave disord mourned luna's loss and helped twilight become what she is without thinking about losing her.

[@MistressChara]

Zen Laph Its all mystery, thats all it will ever be.

[@Zelapher]

That is a oxymoron, for every mystery is merely a question that has yet to have been answered.

[@theEternaleye-t5y]

that moment you realize its about MLP

[@astolfo3821]

Day by day, song by song, 150+ all Aviators. I love you and your work.

[@bookbronies2510]

One thing that frustrates me in our community: People changing their works of art to fit the flow of the show. If something was made before or even during a new episode changing the validity of that item, then it should be left alone. One should not change what they have made for such a reason. Keep in mind that we are not in the same universe of MLP:FiM anymore, so anything is possible. I congratulate Aviators on being himself.

[@RogueT-Rex8468]

Seven years later and I find these words that somehow clicked a realization. Thank you.

[@johnmathieu2981]

I love this song since it actually goes with the idea that immortality isn't all it's cracked up to be and how Celestia had to learn to say goodbye to everyone she loved and used to know over the years. This also brings up the new problem with Twilight if she becomes immortal.

[@art245aid5]

Moral of the story: power corrupts, and history repeats itself.

[@darkblightballas7445]

But now our heroes have broken the cycle begin again as a wise man always says

[@F0rever.B0red]

Aviator music makes me cry that his works of art of made into music videos would be emotional

[@Oathkeeper156]

I've listened to this song several times and only just now decided to look at the description and actually watch the video. Needless to say, I'm shook.

[@auroria117]

Wow. it's been 3 years since I've listened to this song

[@aidenpoketrainer9280]

This song brings tears to my eyes Dx

[@rowie_32]

"Hate to bloodshed" the vibrato in the voice got me

[@_adstrum]

Ashes to ashes, dust to dust... Many of those who sleep in the dust of the ground will awake, these to everlasting life, but the others to disgrace and everlasting contempt. That is the true meaning of that long lasting saying... Sorry, got slightly carried away with that one :P Awesome song dude :D

[@adragonsilver]

day off, what better way to spend it than listening to your songs and drawing, probably games later

[@HenningsEdits]

This is the song I looked forward to most from the entire album. So worth the wait. Definitely my favorite song by you!

[@starfall2558]

Amazing song, however. Always remember don't make the instrumental too loud cause then on a speaker you can barely hear the voice clip within it So it be best to listen to this via headset everyone

[@DeathbyProxy]

Oh man the instant you started singing I got goosebumps all up my arms :D this song is beautiful!!!!!!!

[@greenswampify]

This song. This song makes me get shivers everytime I listen to it! You made an epic job here and I thank you for it

[@ShardedBrony]

Its weird listening to this after season 4 premier because the elements are from a tree.

[@ShardedBrony]

vasya baloonov that happens to me too, it just makes all head-cannons on the origins of the elements just weird to listen to.

[@TheAsexualJellyBean]

That's what we have parallel universes for ^^

[@SparkySummers]

***** The tree is brought up again indirectly, through those keys they're finding, that unlock that box that came from the tree itself. It is still relevant, but they don't masturbate over that fact because its a relevance that needs to stay in the background.

[@resultfulbody8750]

I think its even weirder now after the season 7 finale.

[@VanguardJester]

the chills are strong with this one..

[@ultimatehalomuffinpony3355]

I like how now we know where the elements came from.

[@danglerfish4175]

I like to think that Sombra was corrupted by the fearful magic, and that Honesty fell in the battle to banish Sombra. Starswirl died later of old age, leaving Celestia, Luna, and Discord. Discord couldn't cope with the loss, and so he went insane.

[@masterofpuppets4771]

"Ashes to ashes,Dust to dust" part gives me Metallica vibes

[@Mariofireball900]

Until everything changed... when the Fire Nation attacked...

[@ohno8398]

+TheSonicSilhouette You little!- Okay, that was funny.

[@matthewgordon3281]

+TheSonicSilhouette NICE!

[@jonathancarter8772]

+TheSonicSilhouette NICEEEEE

[@colinreed5034]

Ha

[@ReanimatedYatzi]

Glad to see I'm not the only one who wondered about the Elements.

[@wocknwoll10]

I cant get over how great this song is, aviators you did a awesome job as always

[@jewCful]

This song gave my chills throught it all, great song Aviators keep up the awesome work!

[@kingkenofthunder]

when my dog died today this was the first song i decided to listen to... when i lose something someone or anything that makes me sad it was always lurking around loving on my dog and listening to this song i can't think of another song that would work like this one...

[@zora1heart]

another master piece Aviators! is sounds so awesome! your one of my most fav pony musicians!

[@NibbleManiac]

This song greatly improves the atmosphere of WW3. Like Albert Einstein said, "If we have a WW3, we'll be fighting with Sticks and Stones." This rings so true because no one can ever like eachother. The world needs peace and to remove atomics for good.

[@radia9098]

This is beyond awesome! It seems like every song you make just gets better.

[@mlgproplayer2915]

My HeadCanon: Bearded Guy - Magic King Sombra - Generosity Tirek's Brother - Kindness Discord - Laughter Luna - Loyalty Celestia - Honesty

[@SoundOfTheAviators]

Honestly isn't mentioned, but it isn't stated that it didn't exist. I have plans to explain the exclusion of Honesty with a future song. ;) ...At first it was a mistake though. xD Instead of rewriting, however, I figured I'd work the story around the fact that there were six, but only five made the history books. Just think.... Who might be very very old, and be forgotten through the sands of TIME....?

[@Lunacide59]

Woah, chills. This song is brilliant! another awesome job Aviators, and I love the theory! keep up the good work bro.

[@KingHeartFelt]

Well, season 4 just squashed this theory. I liked the theory though, very interesting.

[@Theholtenator]

yeah but it's still an awesome song and theory

[@HenningsEdits]

Yeah, he hasn't done a lot of guitar playing in the past, but nearly every song on Mirrors has acoustic or electric guitar segments. He really took his music into a entirely new direction with this album. And I think it sounds fantastic! :D

[@ClockwerkzNewBeatz]

This actually makes a ton of sense. Every other element in this was where the opposite is true. Chrysalis could have been honest in the past, but some kind of corruption that the others faced could have made her into a lair like in the canterlot wedding. It all adds up

[@ShardedBrony]

HOLY SHIT!!!! When i saw the title, i thought it would be like, a um, a song of destruction. This was SO much better. as always, you sir, you never fail to impress. i like this more than friendship.

[@HenningsEdits]

He made it himself. If you download the album on bandcamp, you get this one, as well as a couple of other wallpapers and a teaser for the follow-up of Mirrors.

[@PivotsPCgaming]

That premier livestream was so much fun, amazing song and album, as always

[@darknessproductions1357]

Still my favourite song to this day.

[@NatPJ1]

I also think that if this were all true, it would be interesting to know how Celestia feels about how it all turned out. I would think it would be very sad and terrifying in that position. To have watched your friends and even your sister turn against what you all stood for must be terrible, and then to loose your friends and be on your own, and then have 1000 years while they're all banished to fear you will turn as they did.

[@EmilepwnsAll]

I love this SO MUCH

[@mushmonkey15]

Completely normal to have gotten chills reading that prologue... right?

[@soulyman1]

You are always one of the best people to look for. When you comment, I have nothing but admiration and to be in total agreement. Sincerely, Soulyman

[@Sinestra666]

I find it funny that you make this song, then less than a month later, they explain where the Elements of Harmony originated from. XD Hasbro's out to ruin you! Amazing song, by the way. Absolutely splendid.

[@sveafischer7602]

Honestly a brilliant way to look at it! A nice story with lots of meaning, and can be listened to without knowing anything about ponies. Brilliant.

[@anderewisp1]

Beautiful.

[@faithkoskela99]

This sounds mystical.

[@closetoeverthing]

Faith Koskela

[@closetoeverthing]

🕟🕓🕝🕜🕖🕢🕒🕣🕘🕓⏰⏳🕙🌒🌘🌕🌓🔥💣💥👽👽👽👽👽👽😈👿🤒🤒🤑😘😍😥😻

[@ganondorfchampin]

Best Aviators song yet, love those metal ballad guitars.

[@badlydrawnturtle8484]

It takes a lot to bring me to tears. You came pretty close with this one. Congratulations.

[@joshuafowler2942]

7 years later and.this song is still amazing

[@Dengar97]

This is perhaps one of your best, most amazing tracks so far. It's absolutely incredible. :o

[@polarspectrum5973]

Beautiful in instrumentation and vocals. :3 Y'all are one of the best we have.

[@TheAviatorsFan]

Awesome song! The production quality of instruments and vocals is fantastic. They sweep you away into the story. Keep taking risks and being creative...

[@zagreusnyx360]

THAT MAKES SO MUCH SENSE.

[@KRA_Z]

THIS IS SO BADASS

[@AkjACEKids]

Beautiful

[@nadaemam5943]

This is beautiful

[@RailtracksHD]

Keep up the great work. I've already listened to this song like 100 times!

[@RioZLander]

i really like this a lot

[@Korzoa]

All I can say is that this song is beautifully made, just like all of your other songs.

[@LuisGT]

I counted the seconds since I preordered Mirrors... And it is FANTASTIC!

[@mikulek04]

It really resembles "Everything ends here" by Gunpowderbob, especially at the beginning

[@varvazinuangel]

So much yes!

[@DavidMasonferdaboys1]

The music you make is absolutly gorgeous.

[@DelphiDovahkiin]

I like this way of thinking.

[@Khazorhoth]

Amazing job, stayed up watching the stream last night, was a good time

[@TachiTekmo]

Wow. Unreal. The chorus with the prog chords. Heavy, man. Heavy. Bravo!

[@TFSWOLF]

Ill be right on that. I often use music, especially aviators to inspire me

[@lightman5588]

That would be awesome!

[@ZardBrood]

WOOHOOO! Mirrors is finally out! The wait is finally over, the album is here. This song is so amazing, along with Where I belong. You got yourself an amazing album here Avi, can't wait to see what the next album release will be, and future works by you.

[@DemonRykuKyuubi]

This is fantastic. I'll be downloading the album as soon as I can!