Prelude to Equestria

Carvon awoke to a dim room, tucked away in a well knitted blanket. The light from the early morning sun slowly flooded the floor, as it crept in from under the drapes. The bed was so comforting it was as if he were lying on a cloud. Carvon felt rest that he had not felt in days. The pain on his side and in both of his limbs were gone and he could move freely.

He could hear the faint voices of a mare and a stallion talking in the next room. He moved his head back and forth on the pillow to look around, but was too comfortable to get up. The room was very homely; it gave him a feeling of nostalgia.

It was decorated in a warm earth pony fashion. The drapes over the windows glowed a bright red from the sun and the walls were lit a taupe brown. The unmistakable craftsmanship of the furnishings themselves were unforgettable, for he had seen them in his own home as a young colt. Even the bed he lay upon had a comfort those military cots could not compare to.

The aroma in the air was nothing to mistake: carrot, potato, and cabbage stew. There was something all too familiar about this. Tears rolled down his eyes as he jumped from the bed and galloped through the door. There stood his mother stirring the pot, and his father at the table just as he had remembered them. His mother and father both smiled. “Please eat your food, dear. It’s going to get cold,” his mother said with unsettling glee.

Carvon stood at the doorway, aghast. “Mother, Father? This can't be real...” he said to himself in surprise as he galloped to express his love.

Then Carvon looked to his mother and father and felt a strange feeling of emptiness. His parents slowly dissipated and darkness quickly crept around him. The lonely sound of silence clouded his mind as if it were its own being, gouging his spirit with the pain of his past. “Mother, Father… please don't go,” he whispered to himself in sorrow and despair.

Carvon opened his eyes, finding himself lying in a grey, dull and drab room; his beautiful dream had ended. He looked over to his left and saw that a stallion had just walked out of the room wearing a medical uniform. He heard a voice on the other side of him and turned his head.

It was a mare dressed in medical attire as well. She had a wavy light purple mane which flowed down like a spring river, fluffing up on both ends. Her eyes were a lime green, and she had a coat that was a dark purple. “Don't move too fast dear; the potion’s effects are wearing off,” she said as she wiped his forehead clear of sweat.

Then he remembered and jolted forward violently. “My soldiers! Are they okay, and what of the battle, did we lose!?” he shouted, still drowsy from the potion.

The nurse quickly trotted to him and calmed the startled stallion. “You need to lie and rest. If not for your soldiers, you wouldn't be speaking this night,” she said, pushing him back towards the bed.

Carvon relaxed and felt his energy drain rapidly as he fell back towards the bed. She looked to him with displeasure. “You were lucky enough to be saved by your comrades. From what the officer told me, you were in pretty bad shape. They fought off the rest of the invaders fairly easily and then took you straight here,” she said, trotting to her records.

The nurse sat at a table only a few feet from Carvon, writing away on her paper. The doorway which lead out into the other room was dimly illuminated. The only sounds Carvon could hear were hooves echoing down the halls.

Carvon slowly eased back into the bed, feeling exhausted and weak from the potion’s effects. “Was anyone sent back to the forward post?” he said, with a quiver in his voice.

She looked up to him sadly. “The officer said a large number of troops were being sent out there to gather the fallen,” she said with grief.

Carvon’s face didn't change. “I wish I hadn't awaken to this nightmare, but the king needs soldiers, and for me to think that is selfish,” he said, as he turned his head to look out the window into the night sky.

His eyes watered a little and a look of sadness drew upon his face. The nurse moved over to him and slowly turned his head with her hoof. “I’m sorry for your losses. The officer told me of your valiant deed; you should be proud. Not many would have done what you did,” she said softly.

Carvon looked at her with some gratitude. “Thank you for that, but I believe any stallion would have done the same,” he said, modestly.

There was a brief pause as the two thought in silence. “Did you happen to catch the officer’s name?” Carvon asked, turning to look back out the window.

The nurse smiled and nodded in approval. “Yes, of course. He said his name was Kern. Do you know the stallion?” she asked.

Carvon took a breath of relief and looked to the nurse. “Yes, yes I do. He’s fought by my side for many years. Is he here by chance?” he asked.

She looked to him and smiled once more. “Yes, actually, he is waiting for you downstairs,” she said happily.

Carvon looked back to the window and into the night sky. “Good. Please call him up here; I don't want to keep my good friend waiting,” he said.

The nurse walked to the door leading into the hall and turned to Carvon. “I'll be right back, so don't get up, okay?” she said, trotting out the door.

Carvon looked out the window as the trees danced in the shadows to the winds soothing blow. The moon and stars all in attendance as usual rarely missing the show. He lay there and thought to himself, Look at all of those stars, all living in one existence, with little conflict to our own knowledge, peace in its entirety. One day I hope we can achieve unity and exist as they do for the sake of all life on this planet.

It was a short time before the nurse walked back into the room with a bucket of water and ice. She walked to his bed and put the bucket on the floor. “I sent for him; Officer Kern will be up shortly,” she said, pulling a cloth out from the water and ice.

The nurse wrung the cloth of water and ice, draining it into the bucket. She put the cool rag over Carvon’s forehead. “Those healing potions you took enhance the dream state of anyone who takes them, often immersing them into nightmares and terrifying memories. On the other hoof, they work exponentially fast. The side effects are also not as bad as some. How’s your side?” she asked, gently pulling the covers down.

Carvon wasn't surprised to feel that his limbs and side were healed, for he had been on these sorts of potions before. The haunting nightmares of his past never seemed to let him live in peace. He looked up to her. “I feel much better. Wait, I just realized we never introduced ourselves.” he said with concern.

Her brow raised and her mouth opened a bit. “Well isn't that just rude of me; my name is Jenna Plumb, and, well, I kind of know your name already. The officer told me,” she said, looking away shyly.

Carvon clicked his hooves together and kept on looking towards the window. “Its fine. Well it’s nice to have you here Jenna, you've been very comforting. Would you mind telling me where I am, though?” he asked in a low tone.

Jenna turned back to him and put the cloth into the bucket. “You’re in the Daisy Green hospital, second floor, right here in the town of Fair Fence,” she said, wringing the cloth again.

Carvon accidently pushed the sheets off of the bed. “Sorry Nurse Jenna, it’s just a bit hot in this room, though that rag is making things much cooler,” he said, rustling about.

Jenna just grinned a bit. “Well of course you're going to feel a little uncomfortable; we just had you take a healing potion,” she said.

Just as Carvon was going to say something, Officer Kern walked into the room and looked to Carvon with a salute. “Lieutenant Carvon, how are you doing?” Kern asked.

Carvon looked to him with a disapproving look. “Pull the mask off, Kern. You're not in the presence of the lieutenant now, and you know you don't have to salute me,” Carvon said with a smirk.

Kern just laughed. “Of course I don’t you old fool; I'm just making sure you're still all there in the head,” he said.

Jenna looked over to Carvon and gave him an empathetic look. “I guess we'll just have to finish our conversation another time,” she said softly, dropping the rag into the bucket.

Kern looked over to Jenna. “Well that’s just nonsense. No need to stop your chat because I'm here; continue your story or whatever it was you two were talking about,” Kern said, still chuckling.

Jenna fixed her cap and trotted over to the table where she had been writing. “No, it wasn't that important. You boys just catch up with one another and I'll sit over here to finish my work,” she said, pulling out a chair.

Carvon gave her a kind nod and then looked to Kern. “I'm just glad you're here in one piece. If not for you I'd have been dead hours ago,” Carvon said, with a sarcastic look upon his face.

Kern chuckled a bit. “Yeah, but fighting all of those pegasi sure made me hungry. I think you’re getting me some dinner for saving you and taking back the post,” he said with a grin.

Carvon didn't look surprised. “You big hog, you're always hungry, and besides, I already saved your hide more times than you can remember,” Carvon said jokingly.

Kern looked to the ground and then to the ceiling. “Yeah, yeah, I was just... you know, not on the top of my game all of those times,” he said hesitantly.

Carvon rolled his eyes. “Sure Kern, you just keep telling yourself that,” Carvon said, laughing to himself.

Carvon’s expression suddenly changed to a far more serious one. “So when I sent you out for aid, how did you get more help in such a short amount of time?” he asked.

Kern’s face went straight. “Well, we sped off as quickly as we could to the nearest posts, but more than halfway across the lines we ran into a patrol team who were on their daily route. They came with us, and luckily for everyone, we hadn't gone too far from the post. When we came back we could hear them chanting and crowding around the gate. We knew that someone was held up inside,” Kern explained.

“Well I'm glad everything worked out. Was a messenger dispatched to inform the king of this attack?” Carvon asked intently.

Kern looked to him with confidence. “Of course, we made sure to send him out to the nearest outpost as soon as we found the patrol team,” Kern said.

Carvon looked to him with pride. “Well then you did everything you could have. Thanks old friend; this is not just some petty deed to go unseen. You saved my life and for that I am grateful. In all my years of service our friendship is what has held our bonds together, not the steel which binds us,” Carvon said, holding his hoof out to Kern.

Kern shook his hoof. “Brothers until death,” Kern said in a low tone.

Carvon let go. “I need to go to my men. Excuse me, Nurse Jenna, am I able to leave the facility now? I am feeling much better,” Carvon said.

Jenna looked up to him from the table where she was organizing her records. “Well I'll just have to run one quick test on you and then we'll see if you’re good to go,” she said, pulling a cotton swab from a glass container that sat on one of the counters.

She walked over to Carvon and lifted her hoof to his muzzle. Carvon stuck his tongue out and Jenna swiped in once with the swab. She then dipped it in a clear substance which turned the tip blue. “Looks like you're all set, Carvon. The potions effects should have worn off so you shouldn't feel any more discomfort or pain,” she said, smiling at him.

Carvon looked to her from the bed, still a little tired. “Thanks Nurse Jenna for all the help. Hope I can see you again, just not in these circumstances,” Carvon said, creeping out of the bed.

Jenna just smiled. “You can just call me Jenna. I hope to see you again too, but there is no need for thanks, Carvon. You’re already doing us a valiant service. Your stuff is in the chest over there. You don't want to leave without that,” she said with glee.

Carvon smiled to Jenna and then looked to Kern. “Thanks Jenna. Alright, I’ll get ready to go. Then we can go feed that pit of a stomach of yours you big hog,” he said as he went into another room to change.

A good chunk of time passed and Carvon finally came out dressed in his armor, to find Kern sitting at the table talking to Jenna. “Finally!” Kern exclaimed happily.

Carvon laughed a bit. “Alright, but before we go, do you even know where we are going to eat? It’s very late and I'm sure there's no place open at this hour,” Carvon said with concern.

Kern just held a puzzled confused look upon his face. “Jenna, do you know of any places?” Kern asked.

Jenna thought for a second and then answered. “Well theres always the inn which is open 24-7, and then theres the hospital lounge area with its own food, but I wouldn't eat it, since it’s not that great. Your best bet is the inn,” she said.

Kern thought as well and brushed his chin. “Well I guess the inn would work. Besides, the rest of my men are there waiting for me; damn fools may have eaten everything already,” he said with a laugh.

Carvon looked to Jenna then to Kern. “Well I'd like to say thanks again Jenna, and we’ll finally be on our way,” he said with a smile.

Jenna nodded and saw them out of the hospital. The land was covered with tall grasses and shallow murky waters. There were large trees that stood far from one another, but no companions to accompany them. The stars were strewn across the sky in their majesty and reflected onto the waters, creating a sparkling shimmer of mesmerizing lights. The night air held a slight breeze of chilled winds as the land danced to a flowing green sea of vegetation.

Carvon and Kern said their goodbyes to nurse Jenna and trotted out of the hospital into the clear night. As they trotted along Carvon looked back at the hospital. “Now that I can see the hospital in full, its actually quite small for a two story complex,” he said.

Kern kept his eyes ahead as he trotted. “Well we aren't exactly in a major city; Fair Fence is a medium sized farming community. I’m almost surprised they have a hospital,” Kern said.

“Well actually that hospital wasn't there a few years ago. I remember when they established it, but that’s when the war was really bad. Now that the front has pushed forward it’s more for the community,” Carvon said.

“Yeah, but now the problem is that there is no closer hospital to the front line. Daisy Green is the only hospital in between the front and the second line of defence. That distance is country and open ranges, which can be very dangerous for wounded soldiers,” Kern said with grief.

“Well I've heard that there will be a forward base of operations constructed to house wounded and munitions. But who knows when exactly that will happen; the king has his hooves full with other matters,” Carvon said.

“All we can do is hope for the best and wait for this war to keel over,” Kern said with a low tone of voice.

The soldiers trotted down the road for some time as they drew towards the inn. They couldn't really hear much commotion and all was quiet. As Carvon loped closer to the inn he could make out the sign which read, “Picket Inn”. The inn was a tall two story building with a hay roof, the support structures were made of wood and iron. Vines crept up the side, meshing it to the earth.

A large tree rested at the inn’s side, covering it in shadow. A white picket fence surrounded its area, cutting off at the edge of the road with an open gate. There was no one out front, though a lightbox illuminated the area around the gate. The two soldiers walked through the gate and down the short path to the entrance. As they walked into the inn the innkeeper, who was behind the bar, looked to them. “Welcome back Kern, come back for some more greens?” he said with a cheerful voice.

The innkeeper had a grizzled grey beard with a light brown coat. His mane was also grey, which sat like a hedgehog upon his head. His face was washed and weathered from a life of hard times and wonder. He kept his inn tidy and cozy, yet all the tables were empty and not a soul stood at the bar.

“Oh I see you've met Kern. Yeah, no surprise there,” Carvon said, rolling his eyes.

Kern loped to the bar, taking off his helmet. “Hows it going, Marv? Allow me to introduce my oldest friend: Carvon Blackhoof,” he said joyfully.

Carvon looked to Kern with discontent, but not surprise. “Nice to meet you Marv. It is Marv, right?” Carvon asked, taking off his helm.

The barkeep cleared his throat. “My names Marvin, but I don't mind if people call me Marv. Everyone seems to like it anyhow, so why stop them?” Marvin said, hoofing them plates.

“I guess. It suits you, but I prefer to be a little more formal with others,” said Carvon.

“Oh come on Carvon, liven up. People are different outside of the front lines. There’s no need to be formal,” Kern said.

Carvon looked over to Kern. “You know me, Kern. I am the way I am; that’s how it’s always been. By the way, where are all the others?” Carvon asked.

Marvin looked up, now making their sandwiches. “They took to their bunks a while ago, after having a few drinks with that patrol group you guys came in with. Rowdy bunch they were, but there haven’t been good times in here for quite some time now, so it was almost a relief,” he said with a grin.

Carvon looked a little surprised. “They didn't cause any trouble now, did they?” Carvon asked.

“Why of course not, they were just having a bit of fun, that’s all,” Marvin said, hoofing them their sandwhiches.

The sandwiches were triple breaded and held fresh, juicy, thick cut slices of tomato, topped with fresh snipped daisies grown straight out of Marvin’s garden. The lettuce was a nice green, thickly cut, with a good texture to it.

Kern looked at the sandwich in awe. “I'm so hungry I could eat a tree,” he said, biting into the sandwich, crunching and munching away.

A poorly dressed stallion trotted into the inn and glared at them almost immediately. He was small and looked sickly, with his bone structure slightly protruding from his body. The innkeeper looked to Carvon and then to Kern. “Oh, not this guy again...” he whispered.

The poorly dressed stallion curled his hooves in anger and his face scrunched in anguish at the sight of them. His balding head and intense facial expression were far more disturbing than his drunk strut. “You! You brainwashed fools! You fight to die, falling in the hooves of the dead who gratefully take you!” he shouted, veins pulsating on his head and neck.

“Billy you damned fool, get out of here! There's no need to cause any fights,” Marvin said, while making more sandwiches.

“Fights! I’m a pacifist you arrogant fool, how dare you serve their treachery in this establishment!” Billy shouted, flailing his forelegs.

Billy flailed his forelegs around as he blabbed on about the war and how wrong it was, while Carvon sat at the bar, annoyed with him. Kern didn't seem to care as he dug into his sandwich. “This guy’s crazy; does he always come in here?” Carvon asked.

Marvin looked to Carvon exasperation. “Just ignore him; he hasn't caused much trouble before. But then again, not many soldiers come in here, either,” he said, handing Carvon another sandwich on top of the unfinished one.

Kern sat oblivious to the whole situation, eating sandwich after sandwich. Carvon couldn't eat with a mad stallion in the room. Then, the crazy pony drew closer to him. “Damn military drones, all you do is fight for a lost cause, killing innocents and the like!” Billy shouted.

Billy lifted his hoof as he drew closer, and Marvin looked over to Billy. “Damnit Billy, get the hay out of here!” Marvin demanded.

Billy got too close to Kern and Carvon finally spoke. “I wouldn't do that if I were you,” he said, still munching on his food.

Billy looked intently towards Carvon, then to Kern, and then to Marvin. “I'm staying out of this one Carvon, sorry,” Marvin said, as he made another sandwich for Kern.

Carvon looked at the crazed stallion and rolled his eyes. “What are you gonna do about it? What, this big guy gonna hurt little old me? You’re all drones! You wouldn't hurt me; I'm a civilian!” Billy said, laughing intensely.

Carvon just shrugged. “You're just a waste of time, you crazy bastard,” he said, taking a bite out of his sandwich.

Billy bit his lip and frowned, his eyes widening as his veins intensely pulsed on his head. His eyes shot around the room in all directions and grew wild. His ears twitched and his body jolted forward. He lifted his hoof and knocked Kern on the back of his head.

Kern spun around and out of his chair, kicking Billy in the gut. He flew back like a horseshoe, hitting a nearby bar stool. The crazed stallion hit the floor, groaning in pain. He flopped back and forth like a fish, frothing at the mouth. His eyes squinted and his face scrunched together. “My stomach, oh my stomach, I think he… he broke my stomach! I’m gonna... call the guard on you!” he exclaimed, as he drooled on the floor.

Kern sat back on his stool and finished off the rest of his meal as if nothing had happened. Carvon just chuckled and looked to Marvin. “Sorry Marvin, but I warned him,” he said, still eating his second sandwich.

Marvin just laughed and walked over to the now curled up pony. “Ah, he got what was coming to him,” he said, dragging Billy out of the inn.

Kern sat back in his chair and looked to Carvon. “Oh, were those not the best sandwiches you've had in days?” he queried with a heavy breath.

“Yeah, much better than that military slop they call food back in the barracks, and a good show too,” Carvon said, barely finishing his second sandwich.

Kern hoofed his face and shook his head in embarrassment. “I did it again didn't I?” he asked.

“Yup,” Carvon replied.

Marvin walked back behind the bar and just laughed. “Sorry, I can't hold my composure; that was just too funny. You should have seen the look on that guys face when you kicked him,” he said.

Kern didn't look surprised. “Well he must've done something really bad to piss me off that much. All I remember is walking in and eating my food, now I'm talking to you guys,” he said sincerely.

“Well let’s just say he won't be coming around here anymore. You know what, you guys have made me laugh like I haven't in a long time. The meals on me, and your friend Kern here already paid for your room,” Marvin said with a smile.

“Are you insane? My hog of a friend here ate about seven sandwiches! I'm going to have to pay or you’d be getting ripped off,” Carvon said.

“No, no, I insist, please, it’s just a few sandwiches. Besides, it was all worth it,” Marvin replied.

Carvon nodded. “Well alright, thank you Marvin,” he said.

Carvon looked to Kern as he stretched and yawned. He felt a weight over his body, as if his armor was twenty pounds heavier. “You know what, I'm getting tired as well. Lets hit the hay, Kern.”

The light from the moon seemed brighter now, flooding through the open door. Carvon got up out of his seat. “Your rooms is upstairs, second door on the right,” Marvin said, as he cleaned up the bar area.

Carvon nodded and trotted up the stairs. Kern looked up to Carvon. “Hey, I'm glad you’re okay… the gods watch you Carvon, just pray they don't take you,” he said quietly, trotting to his room below the stairs.

Carvon walked into his room, closing the door behind him. He got down next to his bed and raised his hooves. “Luna, goddess of night, let my faith be strong and my passion be stronger,” he whispered.

Carvon took his armor off and peered out the window. It was so peaceful; there was nothing he loved more than the natural scenery the gods had given him. He crawled into bed closed his eyes, and slept.

"'Fights! I’m a pacifist you arrogant fool, how dare you serve their treachery in this establishment!' Billy shouted, flailing his forelegs."