As the sands time filters into the empty bottom of the hour glass, glances of the lives that have been affected by the individuals in this story. Their emotions and personal thoughts fill the blank canvases known to be journal pages. Our two main characters, as well as others, share their inner-most thoughts as their lives carry on.

~Shining Armor
~Rarity Belle

April 27th, 992 in the year of Our Princess, Celeste Delanise Valkyrie.
It turns out that this will be the last time I ever date anypony for a while. I think that with the previous events of the past few months, and especially last night, my interest in mares have pretty much dwindled to that of a mustard seed. My mom still knocks on my door, asking me if everything was okay. And to this moment I refuse to answer.

I didn't bother going to school today. Why go and look at the faces of the ponies who would taunt me for my inability to defend myself? My friends would only want to talk about what happened last night and that was something that I just didn't want to talk about. They were my friends, but I just didn't want to face them after being so humiliated.

Finally read the letter that Rarity sent in. She was pretty peeved from my response, which was fine. I was willing to accept the consequences of my actions, but now she says that she didn't wanna talk to me anymore. I guess I really did a number on her.

I'm done with all of this "royal duty" nonsense. Whenever I find the strength to get out of this bed, I will march to the detainment center and file for my resignation. It's sad that I'm gonna let my dad down so early in my career.

Hell, what career?

April 27th, 992 C.D.V.
Worst. Birthday. Ever.

I went to school thinking that I could live life like nothing had happened. Well much to my misfortune, I was wrong. I couldn't help but to start crying when I finished my lessons in class, realizing that I didn't have to send a letter to my princ Shining Armor.

Why did he not like me? I may be younger than him but my maturity far surpasses those of other fillies my age. But that didn't matter now. As soon as I made it home, I ran to my room and ripped up all the letters that he had sent to me over the past five months. Of course, I made the mistake of wanting to keep myself attached to these letters. But I have to be a lady of my word and destroy all of the letters that I received.

My mom cooked dinner as usual. My father took to drinking his problems away. For some odd reason, he held a bitter disposition with mom at times. Their fights became more frequent and I had to spend more nights at the bakery with both Mr. Cream Cake and Cup Cake.

Cup finally started talking to the stallion she had a crush on for so long...

...I hated her since.

May 1st, 992 C.D.V.
Dad came home today. But instead of being his usual smiling self, he was unusually bitter. I don't know what's going on with dad, but whatever it is, it's not good.

Mom had a long day at work too. I guess nopony was really in a mood to talk. I wasn't exactly in the chipper mood myself. Today I had to explain to practically the entire student body what exactly had occurred to have a prince come to the school and curbstomp me into the grass, pend for my execution in front of my fellow classmates and why did I break up with a princess. You would think that after saying that you didn't wanna talk about it, they would leave you alone. Go figure. After about a full seven hours of constantly saying no, I finally caved and told them what exactly happened (everything that I was aware of). But of course it had to be the administration to take things to another level, saying that treason was inexcusable and that I would be expelled if I didn't explain.

So after I told the administrative staff, the staff told some of the teachers, some of the teachers told the other teachers, then told the other students. I couldn't even make it past the final hour without it getting back to me in the form of a rumor. Now everypony is saying that I tried run away with the princess and that Blueblood was there to put a stop to it. I didn't even meet up with my friends today because I tried to leave as soon as I could.

Fuck this city, fuck this day, fuck everything in all of creation.

...At least Twily had a good day.

May 2nd, 992 C.D.V.
My mom had asked me to see if I could spend a week with the Cake's. They told me that they wanted to go on a cruise to fix their marriage. My mom had finally told me the reason why their marriage was so unstable. It had something to do with Shining Armor.

It seems that I was spot on with the assumption that my mother was secretly engaging in illicit affairs with the one that I thought was to be my hero. If only I hadn't been so busy worshiping the ground he walked on, I would've uncovered the truth far sooner than this. No matter, it would be a while before I can find trust in my mother again.

Father's leg has gotten better. He's managed to walk with the assistance of a wheeled crutch. He still drinks from time to time, but it doesn't get to him like when it initially started. Those first few days, mother had to watch what she bought and how much of it. I guess she wanted to do something to ensure that he wouldn't get any worse.

My bags are packed and soon will be this journal. If only they were packed to move to Canterlo Why did I write that? Canterlot is where He lives. I don't want to move there for the time being.

May 6th, 992 C.D.V.

My dad came in from work really unnerved about an order that was issued to him by somepony he called "a spineless, selfish, cold-hearted, jelly-brained, arrogant son of a bitch".

I had an idea on who he was talking about. And boy did I agree with every word he said.

It seemed that he had a time period of twenty-four hours to make his decision whether or not he would participate of be punished accordingly.

I'm suddenly regretting the fact that my father talked me into staying in the guard. But if it was my only chance at a face-to-face encounter to sink a blade into that blue-waffled, crusty-cunt-flake coated, ass-n-heynnesy smelling, fucknugget excuse of "royalty", then believe I was going to go through hell to get it. And I was not going to pass up on an opportunity of ending him where he stood.

He needed to die.

May 7th, 992 C.D.V.
Well it would seem like dad will be here at home a lot more often than normal.

Apparently, he resigned his position as Captain of the Guard and his status as a royal guard altogether.

Princess Celestia tried to make him reconsider his early retirement, but it seems that he was pretty firm on his decision.

I don't understand why the hell the princess was so insistent on having him stay in the guard. Neither did I understand what exactly did he order him to do. Whatever it was that caused my father to set himself to an early retirement, must've really been fucked up in it's nature...

...Then again, it's BlueBitch we're talking about.

May 8th, 992 C.D.V
Cup and I got into a fight today.

I told her that she didn't need to be with a stallion who wanted to do nothing but break her heart and leave her crying in the late hours of the night. But the only thing that went into the late hours of the night was the constant slinging of words between the two of us.

She argued that I didn't know what I was talking about. She even said that she loved him. At this point, I wanted to bring some sense into her. And within five minutes, I just wanted to beat it into her.

Mr. Cream Cake did all he could to break us apart. He even had us sleep on the separate floors. I made myself a palliate on the kitchen floor, while she got to sleep in a comfortable bed.

I wanna go home. I can't stand it here.

May 8th, 992 C.D.V.
It seems like with each passing day, Blueblood's cruelty could not even begin to reach the levels of what he did to me on the night of the dance. And today father just informed to me and mom why he needed to be ousted.

Blueblood made an arrangement to illegally "purchase" an orphanage in the Canterlot Slums. And by purchase, I meant blackmail the owner into selling his deed. It even got so bad that I heard one of his most trusted guards resigned in shame after Princess Celestia caught on. And of course, Blueblood used the guards around him as a scapegoat.

He piled the charges, sent them on a poor lamb's back and guided him into a burning building. I hated him more than ever. Not only for trying to kill me, but also trying to use my father as a scapegoat in his operation.

Nine times out of ten, the princess let the guard go so she could eliminate all of his possible connections during his search for his new accomplice.

It's a shame that the will of one could ruin the lives of many.

May 9th, 992 C.D.V.
My parents came home only to find out that me and Cup got into a pretty big squabble. As Cup told her side of the story and I told mine, my mom summarized that it was I who started it out of spite of my recent romantic interest being nothing more than a flub. My dad whispered into my ear that he would punish me when I had arrived home for my misbehavior.

My plot is rather sore from the punishment that my father bestowed upon me.

His hooves hurt...

I wanna go to someplace far away from here.

Life just isn't fair.

May 10th, 992 C.D.V.
I have never seen mom so angry in my life.

I finally told my parents what all happened the night of the dance. She literally erupted in a sea of white and purple flames. I didn't even know that fire burned in those colors. My father was more physical with his anger management. He bucked the kitchen table into the wall and left a large gaping hole. We had to eat on the floor for dinner.

Later that night, I saw mom wearing a long black cloak as she walked outside of the door. She told me that she was going to the library. For what, she didn't say.

She came back home with a bunch of combat magic books and dropped them in front of my door as I slept. When I woke up, she was banging on my door. She wanted to start what she called "Intermediate Defensive, Generative and Assault Fortification" regiment at that moment. Pleaded to her that it was far too late and she replied with the first letters of her regiment name; I.D.G.A.F.

...This was going to be a long night.

May 29th, 992 C.D.V.
Hooray! Our teacher, Mrs. Saddlewood, had just placed me in charge of making the costumes for the school play this year!

I've never been so exited. Applejack could do nothing but cheer me on. Surf and Turf rejected the idea of having a blank flank take over the costumes and objected to the idea of being in the play. So they told the teacher that they wouldn't participate if I was the one who was doing the costumes. They were promptly dismissed and I was left with a big smile.

Finally, a moment where my artistic talents could be realized for what it was; art.

This will be the best summer ever!

June 14, 992 C.D.V.
This is turning out to be the worst summer ever.

The heat is horrendous, my mane is becoming frizzled in the sun, I'm starting to sweat and my costumes aren't coming out exactly as I imagined them. What makes it worse is that the the summer play performance was twenty-two days from now and I have no idea on how these costumes were going to make it on fabric in contrast to how I had it on paper.

I'm so pathetic...

June 15th, 992 C.D.V.
My summer just got a little lonelier.

Applejack, wanting to pursue the lifestyle of her parents, moved away to Manehattan to see if she could make it in a sophisitcated lifestyle. I envied her, though only for a bit. I learned that jealousy was not often to lead to successful friendships. That was last month's lesson.

But I couldn't wait to see her come back after spending all of her time in the luxurious life of being an uppercrust citizen. I only regret that it would be her who would live it first before me.

June 21st, 992 C.D.V.
My first patrol mission.

I was assigned to secure one of the travel routes that the princess was to take to the Summer Sun Celebration. Sadly, Twily would have to see me after my task was done. She wanted to watch Princess Celestia raise the sun on my back. She even wanted to go on all the rides at the big carnival they held in the Central District.

But yet again, my duties held me from having any fun. I remembered my dad saying that this would take some of my free time off my schedule, but I didn't think that it was so "no fun allowed".

I had to stand in the position of attention for a full four hours, with no breaks. My hooves hurt from standing in one spot, my legs ached for being so stiff and my eyes hurt from keeping them open for too long.

Finally the sun rose over the horizon. I could imagine my little sister being so excited over seeing the princess raise the sun. I bet that she wants to become a powerful unicorn one day. But unfortunately, her development prevented that. She should've been casting spells like a year ago, but the doctor said that it would be likely that her magic growth would be stunted compared to most other ponies her age.

My mom had different plans. She signed her up to take courses in the elementary department of my school; Canterlot's School for Gifted Unicorns.

If there was anything that I wanted to happen, it would be to take my little sister to the school I went to.

I wanted my mom to be right about her. Twily can do it. I know she can.

June 30th, 992 C.D.V.
So me, mom, and dad surprised Twily today with the letter of consideration to the Canterlot School for Gifted Unicorns.

She was so cute. She danced back and forth while she wore what could've been the biggest smile she ever had. But of course my ears folded in on themselves as soon as my mom read out that there would be an audition for her entrance exam.

Little Twi put on the bravest face and told all three of us that she would do everything she could to pass. It cheered me up, but only lightly because she wasn't aware of her current condition.

Mom, I hope that you're right for this.

July 3rd, 992 C.D.V.
Oh my ribbons and threads! These costumes are absolutely horrible! I can't get them to shine or anything. Mrs. Saddlewood told me that the costumes were just fine, but I didn't want them to be fine...

...I wanted them to be glamorous.

I wanted the ponies to witness in awe my talent and hard work. I wanted them to see my whole entire line and be amazed at what they are seeing. I mean sure the teacher likes it, but she's only saying that to be nice.

There's got to be something that I can do before the day after tomorrow, or else my big debut will be my big de-flop.

July 4th, 992 C.D.V.
What. The hell. Was that?

Out of nowhere there was this big explosion that rocked the entire city. And shortly after that explosion, there were lightning bolts firing from the school's elementary wing. And then there was a dragon that showed up out of fucking nowhere. I grabbed my spear and started making a dash for the area.

When I had got there, everything seemed to calm down for a bit. But there was one noise that stood out above everything else; my little sister's voice.

After running up three flight of stairs, down a corridor and into the classroom where my sister's voice was coming from, I saw both mom and dad smiling and crying. I even saw Princess Celestia herself in the classroom. But what grabbed my attention was something that I didn't think I would see coming until a year or two from now.

MY LITTLE SISTER HAS HER CUTIE MARK!

I ran into the classroom and swept up my little sister, swinging her as I hugged her little brains to mush. My day had been made... except for the bit of bad news that came after.

Princess Celestia said that she would have to start her training immediately. So effective tomorrow, my sister would be moving out and living in the palace with the princess.

She wouldn't be attending school with me. She would be home-schooled by what could be one of the best instructors in all of history; Princess Celestia herself.

But there was one lingering thought that stayed locked in my brain since two months ago.

Blueblood.

July 4th, 992 C.D.V.
My horn dragged me from my own room and into the craggy heights of ghastly gorge. I didn't know why but I figured that it had to been my destiny at work... that is until I saw the giant rock standing before me.

I screamed and stomped my hooves as I cursed my horn for being so useless. I just couldn't accept that my destiny was that of a gigantic rock. It was absurd. I would be a laughing stock if all I was known for was being able to find rocks.

Then suddenly, there was this extremely loud explosion. As I looked into the sky, I saw a large wave of prismatic light streak across the sky. And the sound wave that it produced had shook the entire gorge. But it also shattered the absurdly large boulder before me into two halves. As soon as I found it safe to approach, I saw something that completely changed my whole entire life.

GEMS! GEMS EVERYWHERE!

I smiled wide as I saw the beautiful array of colors that shone brightly against the sunlight. If my horn had sent me to this rock that had all of these gems inside of it, then maybe that's what I needed... FOR MY COSTUMES!

I lit my horn and placed it against the rock to see if that was what my horn reacted to. But as it's light glowed against the gems in the boulder, I could also see the gems under my hooves. I turned around to see if there were anymore.

Gems to my left. Gems to my right. Gems below and above me. Gems galore.

Then I had an idea popped up in my head, sounding like a bell timer. What if I could somehow place these gems into my fabrics to cause them to glitter and shine like I originally planned?

It's going to be a lot of work to move these gems, but it's worth a shot.

July 5th, 992 C.D.V.
Twily had already left an empty void that nopony could ever fill.

She had packed her things, her books, her Smarty Pants doll and took her wits with her. Now there was nothing to fill my mornings with juvenile laughter. She would no longer be able to race me to breakfast, race me to dinner, throw things at me or tell me some of the things that she learned out of various books. She was gone now...

...to the lair of the beast. I would be lying if I didn't say that my dad was doing all that he could to get himself back into the core. But everything he tried was a dead end.

But he did ship out the paperwork that could have me posted inside of the palace for duty. I would just have to leave home in order to do so.

I agreed without a second thought to slow me down. This was a chance to protect my little sister and take out Blueblood in a single setting.

The only time that I wouldn't be there is when I had to go to school. But even then, that's better than not being around in case something was to happen.

Hang on Twilight. Big bro's coming.

July 5th, 992 C.D.V.
The costumes came out without a problem.

The audience was so mesmerized by my work that the parents were asking the teacher who was the designer of this year's costumes. And much to their surprise, it was me. None of them were even expecting a school filly to be the one responsible for the array of colors that they saw on all the lovely costumes.

When I came out from backstage, all of the parents were looking at me, jaws dropping to the ground below. As I walked forward, I heard a gasp come from the audience. I turned my head to the direction of the disturbance to find my mother covering her mouth with her hoof, tears streaming down her eyes.

I was wondering what was making her cry but she continued to call out to me, pointing at me to look at something. I turned around to see what she was talking about but I came out inconclusive as I stared at the three diamonds I was wearing...

...wait. I'm not wearing any clothes.

I looked at my flank one last time and couldn't believe what I was seeing. My breath evacuated at the sight of my own cutie mark. I didn't know what to feel except woozy. I let myself fall against the stage floor and closed my eyes, trying to make sure that I was really dreaming.

Instead, I actually fainted.

July 6th, 992 C.D.V.
Applejack came back to Ponyville.

She decided that her place was on the farm and not in the big city. Though I can't imagine why she would stay on a dirty old farm over the luxury of being in a high-class state of living. But to each their own I guess.

We both talked about how we managed to get our cutie marks. But of course it turned out that that large explosion had led to our cutie marks. If there was one thing that we shared, despite our differences in tastes, it was that we shared the same occurrance of how our destinies came to be.

I'm glad that she is my friend.

July 12th, 992 C.D.V.
I was placed before the Counsel of Three today as they decided whether my abilities would be suitable for a position within the palace guards.

Princess Celestia was there, so was Blueblood and... well of course Her.

Twilight was nowhere to be seen at the moment. Maybe she was attending a class or something. But my mind was more focused on his meeting. My helmet hid who I really was, and it was to a major advantage that half of the entire guard had white coats and blue manes like mine. But the only defining thing that was to set me apart was my cutie mark and even that was covered in twelve layers of fucking heavy-ass cloth and two layers of steel. So they didn't recognize me... that is until Princess Celestia asked me for my name.

The moment I told them who I was, I saw Cadance jump out of her seat and Blueblood hold his hoof over his mouth to cover up his laughter.

Yeah... Keep laughing bitch.

If it wasn't for my mom's I.D.G.A.F. training regiment I wouldn't lasted as long as I originally thought, which was twelve seconds. And my grand total was a time of three minutes... standing.

Princess Celestia was most impressed at my abilities and offered me a position at the courtyard. I pleaded her for a position by her side, which made Cadance visibly saddened. I didn't care. Blueblood made a plea to have me placed at his side to be nothing more than his lapdog and scapegoat. I willingly agreed to his proposition, meaning that I could carry on my plans to off the bastard.

BUT NO! Cadance begged the princess with this long sob story on why I should be her guard instead of Blueblood's. Princess Celestia came to her decision and told me to attend to Cadance's every order.

I don't know which evil is lesser. The stallion that tried to kill me or the mare that endangered everyone I knew and love was trying to rip me away from any hope of protecting my little sister.

July 13th, 992 C.D.V.
Mom and dad came back from the hospital with some rather good news.

I was going to have a little sibling. I only hope that it is a girl so I can dress her up and brush her mane like I do to mine. I can't wait to see what the future has in store.

My life had drastically improved over the past few months. I guess my cutie mare is one of good fortune.

July 14th, 992 C.D.V.
I finally managed to see Twily again.

And her method of greeting me was a lovely little kick to my scrotum. Ouch.

It seems that Cadance managed to tell her about our break-up and she, of course, took the side of the winning team. Girls always wins when it comes to arguments. There is no such thing as winning against them. She was also getting some playtime in with Cadance too so that could explain the opportunities she has to speak with her.

And Twilight gave me a piece of her mind. If there anything that my sister could do, it was lecture me to death. But in her lecture, she managed to explain that Cadance had a hard time in the palace with all of the nobles being mean to her.

It didn't take a scientist of the newly-acquired rocket technology to fill in the blanks.

I feel so stupid for treating her like that. I hope that she could ever forgive me.

October 4th, 992 C.D.V.
It seems like three months had passed in the period of a week. Being a guard in the palace was hard work. I can barely even update this damn journal.

So it seems that Cadance was a little bitter about the whole break-up thing because I didn't apologize. She had successfully taken it out on me in various methods that involved ropes, whips, chains, paddles, beads and more prominent in her arsenal...

...strap-ons. Yeah I couldn't sit right for weeks. I managed to get back into school without too many issues. The only thing is that I have to be back on palace grounds by five thirty in the evening, or 1730 as they would perfer. But there was some good news out of this ordeal.

Blueblood managed to run out of scapegoats and Celestia managed to strip him of much of his authority and sentenced him to twenty-six thousand hours of community service at a small village known to be Trottingham. So that meant that I wouldn't see Blue for almost a full five years. I didn't really like the punishment, but hey I'll take that over nothing at all.

Me and Cadance's visits from Twilight have already started to shorten to as little as one hour per week, as her schedule would allow. She really loves that schedule.

October 9th, 992 C.D.V.
Longshot managed to make the same mistake that I made with Pearl.

He met a cute little mare from Ponyville (a seductive little freak to boot). If I remembered correctly her name was Elaina Love-Tap Mash. If that name wasn't an indicator of her highly overactive sex drive, then I don't know what is. Now she's pregnant with a foal and she thinks that it belongs to Longshot.

So Longshot, Poindexter, Azure and I decided to take this upcoming weekend to go out and start window shopping for cribs and the My Little Filly playsets.

We all even pitched in to buy diapers to send over to Ponyville just earlier this week.

We were all doing the same thing that we did when I had found out that Pearl was pregnant. And in the end, I realized how fucking awesome my friends were. I love those guys.

...no homo.

December 2nd, 992 C.D.V.
There are things in life that can make you happy. There are things that can make you sad. There are things that can alter your life forever. And then there were things, that even the strongest stallions in all of Equestria, couldn't hold their tears to.

I was summoned to Las Pegasus in order to help with the surveying of a crime that occurred in a small apartment complex. Of course there were the bodies of a mare and a stallion. They lied with their eyes halfway open, looking at something in the center of the bed. As the investigators continued to explore the scene, there was movement in the center of the two bodies. As we tried to see if the victims were still alive, we all just turned our heads in silence as a newborn foal was recovered from in between the two parents.

I just watched as the crying, infantile filly was wrapped up in a blanket and sent to the medical team outside for evac.

It was too cruel for fate to leave that young filly alive in between the decaying bodies of her parents. They protected her even until the very end. They gave their last breaths and their remaining body heat to keep the filly safe and warm inside of the cold December air.

Later, it was determined who was the closest family members to the young foal. So the authorities would ship her off to them and inform the family that they had encountered the two deaths of family members the closest to them. Whoever was going to see after the foal was going to be a crying mess.

Me on the other hoof... I wanted to go home and hug the nearest foal that I could see.

...Twily. I love you. So much.

December 3rd, 992 C.D.V.
I came into the palace causing a ruckus.

I protested my duties in favor of seeing my little sister just one more time. I just wanted to hold her. I wanted to let her know that I was here for her. She was my little sister and I will be damned if I will let her be harmed.

Eventually, I started galloping up and down the halls, screaming for her to come out. I didn't care how many of the other guards tried to stop me, I demanded that I saw my sister.

After about three hours of running around the palace and vocally protesting, Princess Celestia finally came to me and asked what the problem was. I asked her if I could tell her in private, and she acknowledged my request.

Forty-five minutes later, I finally got my wish.

I know that stallions are supposed to be strong when they're in front of their younger siblings, but I broke down and hugged her tightly and kissed her forehead. I smelled the lavender in her mane and saw the shine in her eyes. I felt the warmth of her body kindle against mine, the softness of her fur. The sweet voice that called me her Big Brother Best Friend Forever. My little sister...

...She was worth more than my own life. And I would give mine up to protect hers.

No questions asked.

December 3rd, 992 C.D.V.
I could only offer my condolences to her as she stood motionless, speechless as they told her the news.

Applejack's parents had been killed.

Poor thing, she didn't know how to react. Her big brother was constantly screaming in the yard about how unfair it was that he couldn't see his parents again. Poor Granny Smith was tearing up as she made all the letters to inform the other family members of the deaths.

Applejack just stood there, not knowing where to start from.

~Applejack

December 3rd, 992 C.D.V.
Princess Celestia can raise the sun and the moon...

...so does that mean that she can give ma and pa back?

I tried to reason with them, to have the princess come over and bring back ma and pa, but all they keep rambling on is the fact that my little sister, that we didn't even know existed until today, was there with them.

It just ain't fair I tell ya. SHE GOT TO SPEND TIME WITH MA AND PA AND we don't even get a day to...

...

...

...

...it just ain't fair.

December 10th, 992 C.D.V.
They held the funeral for Applejack's parents today.

It was a quiet and somber affair.

There isn't much to say...

Applejack... I so sorry.

December 25th, 992 C.D.V.
This was the first Heartswarming Day that the Apple family ever had without the little bit of hope of my parents coming home. Instead, we have a little sister who just started to walk on her own.

Ma and Pa were beyond dearly missed, they were wanted.

But all we have of them is the bow that they found in Applebloom's crib, Pa's yoke and Ma's old stetson.

Me and Big MacIntosh swore to wear those very items with the pride of the Apple Family. We were Applebloom's parents now.

December 25th, 992 C.D.V.
I spent this day in the hooves of my father, who managed to find his happiness once again and my mother, who was with foal.

We even invited the Cakes over to share the occasion with them. Mr. Cream Cake, Cup Cake and a stallion named Carrot Stalk came over to wish us a happy Heartswarming.

I made up with Cup and she introduced me to her new stallionfriend. He was really kind and good humored. Albeit he was rather awkward at times and clumsy, he seemed to be a good match for her...

...I wonder how He's doing.

December 25th, 992 C.D.V.
THIS SUCKS!

I can't believe my superior instructed me to stay here on patrol for the holidays while he went out and got plastered all over the sidewalk. THIS IS SO FUCKING UNBELIEVABLE!

Well, at least Twilight was safe at home with mom and dad. I bet they must be having a pretty nice time. But the fact that I won't be there to see them this year because of my duties makes me so angry. Now I know what dad felt when he was on patrol.

But Cadance was there to kinda put a smile on my face...

OKAY, FINE! I CONFESS! We started talking again. Only this time, we took things one step at a time and got to know each other for who we truly were.

I could've never thought that a princess had to go through so much hell, just to experience happiness.

April 6th, 993 C.D.V.
We're... so... screwed...

It's estrus season again and all of the maids are running across the palace to find guards to plow. At this moment, there are mares trying to bust down the doors of the barracks were the rest of us (who were lucky enough to escape) were shacked up inside of. This place was our last fortress of solitude. If this fell then we would all have to service the two-hundred plus mares that battered the door. Pegasi mares have already tried to invade using the windows. Unicorns have started to throw tables and chairs into the windows. The others just pushed a fallen pillar, like a make-shift battering ram, into the door.

We cannot get out...

They have taken the overpass, and the third corridor.
We have barred the doors... but cannot hold them for long.
The windows shatter around us.
The ground shakes...
Screams resound through the air.

We cannot get out...

A shadow moves in the darkness of our escape.
There are too many.

We cannot get out...

They are coming (that's what she said).

May 13th, 993 C.D.V.
Today, my prayers have been answered.

Symphonia Wenda Belle, shortened to the common name of reference Sweetie Belle, was born today in the Ponyville General Hospital.

She has emerald-green eyes, a white coat like mine, and a curly pink and purple mane.

She's so cute.

August 1st, 993 C.D.V.
My dad has came to a decision on his career.

He would run right back out on the field this season after his horrible leg injury and would do what he could to bring back the championship.

I hope that he's making the right decision.

August 11th, 993 C.D.V.
Not much to write about.

I went to a meeting. I ate lunch. hung out with Cadance and that was it.

...I'm so bored. Honestly can't wait to go back to school. Senior year is going to be the entire shit! I'm going to make this the best damn senior year ever. Hell, you can only have one senior year. It's gonna be great to see all my friends graduate from class and become guards with me.

I am so going to roast their shit in basic training.

September 12th, 993 C.D.V.
Longshot had to run to Ponyville this week.

Elaina had went into labor and she's being treated at the Ponyville General Hospital. On today, Longshot and Elaina are the proud parents of a strong young colt by the name by the name of Trigger Mash. From what I heard, she was pretty adamant on the name.

Either way, it's awesome to know that he's going to be raising his own little sniper. I am honored to be a friend of that stallion. I wish him all the success with his family.

October 9th, 993 C.D.V.
My parents are leaving on a vacation to Las Pegasus.

They can go over there if they want to, but the image of the dead family in the cold hotel room holding their filly still haunts me to a certain degree. True, it is one isolated incident, but it was enough to persuade me into not taking a visit anytime soon.

Senior year is pretty awesome thus far. These golden halls I walk shine ever so brightly as me and the boys take our daily slow-motion walks down the hall. We do it specifically to pick up mares (though I am taken at the moment). Poindexter grew out of his small framed figure and into something a little more built. Longshot grew tall and slender, mares can't seem to resist him, despite the fact that he does have a baby's momma down in Ponyville.

Azure has kinda melloed out after these past few years. He's really taken his lessons seriously and started to get into his classes. Though that doesn't matter after three years of nothing but B's and C's. But I'll give it to him; he really started to grow up.

Two to three years can really bring a lot of change...

November 5th, 993 C.D.V.
I can't stand the fact that a dream from a long time ago comes back to haunt me.

I had it again. The dream where the knight came to save me from the jaws of the evil dragon. I hate that dream because every time I have that dream, I end up thinking about things. When those things come to my mind, I try to rid myself of the feeling that comes shortly after I wake up. When I can't get rid of them one way... I end up being unlady-like in my attempts to rid them once and for all.

It still hurts me. But why does it keep coming back to do more damage than it does pleasure?

Dear Faust, make these dreams stop.

December 14th, 993 C.D.V.
There was an attack on Canterlot.

Members of the Ghost Griffon Faction came in from the northwest to attack our railroad lines. We managed to hold them off and regroup for a counter-attack. As soon as our aerial specialist force, Codename Wonderbolts (yes, I meant the show group), came flying in to take the fight to them, they couldn't do much but turn tail and haul ass.

Civilian casualties have been kept to a minimum, being that of a total of fifty six wounded and three lives lost.

Twily was helping out with the medical teams down below. I did what I could with my magic for our boys that got banged up in the battle. Sadly, I couldn't save all of them.

Dad, I now understand what all you meant by our jobs requiring us to lay more than just our lives on the line. Thank you for coming back home safely and with a sound mind.

I couldn't do what you did.

January 7th, 994 C.D.V.
I was assigned to a specialist squadron today.

Mission: Classified.

Status: Target eliminated.

...Can I really hold Twilight with this much blood on my hooves?

January 8th, 994 C.D.V.
Our teacher managed to inform us that there was the possibility of a war breaking out with the Griffon Kingdom.

I've never been so scared to hear those words come out of a pony's mouth. Immediately after school, I ran to my mom, thinking that the worst had happened.

To my temporary comfort, it would seem that when they say that a war could possibly break out, it means that it hadn't started yet.

But still, what caused all of this?

January 21st, 994 C.D.V.
I can't believe that the Griffon Kingdom has the balls to say that they weren't the ones responsible for this attack. This is bullshit!

They are the ones responsible! Those guys had their crest on their talons. They used their tactics. They wore the fucking uniform that had the damn sigils and everything!

And Princess Celestia just bought it!? Something has to be done about this! Innocent ponies are going to die if nothing is done!

FUCK SENIOR YEAR! WE NEED TO LIVE TO FUCKING GRADUATION!

~Cadance

January 21st, 994 C.D.V.
Shining Armor is very angry in hearing the results of our meeting.

I'm trying to convince him that we don't need to start pointless engagements and march ourselves into an early grave. I don't want to see anymore families crying over the bodies of their lost sons, fathers, brothers or friends. Even romances come to their untimely ends in the trenches of the front lines.

And that was one thing that I couldn't bear to see. I didn't want to be by the side of my dying Shining Armor. I didn't want to see his mother praying in a corner, only for the news of her son's passing to send her mourning to the floor. I can't look at Twilight and say that her dear brother has lost his life.

War is not needed and we, Equestria and the Griffon Kingdom, have already come to that agreement.

January 30th, 994 C.D.V.
The documents came in and stated that it was a rebel group large in number who wore the uniforms of the Griffon Forces.

These guys wanted to start a war simply because they didn't agree to the land-trade agreement. They wanted to keep the crystal mountains for their mining exports. So they wanted us to declare war on an otherwise peaceful nation.

I can't believe that there are some individuals out there who want to cause a immense amount of bloodshed over a land that is practically inhabitable. And all of it for the sake of greed...

...oh no.

Anypony but him.

February 3rd, 994 C.D.V.
It seems like that everything that happened with this talk of war was nothing more than a fluke.

What kind of pony, griffon or whatever would think of something like that? Starting a war for your own personal gain. Oh well, that business is now done.

I was asked to do the costumes for the drama department for the local high school. Apparently, my reputation had preceded me. So starting tomorrow, I will be heading out to find more gems to use with the fabrics. I guess I can come up with something in a short amount of time.

March 10th, 994 C.D.V.
I can't believe they actually liked my designs!

The production of Little Pot of Horrors came out alright, but the citizens of the town have really come around to me and wished me all the best on my future endeavors.

Ooh! I suppose that means that I will be a little more busy than usual. Less time to spend with Applejack...

...I suppose she would understand that business is indeed business.

April 27th, 994 C.D.V.
I believe that no other birthday shall top this as best.

MY MOTHER AND FATHER BOUGHT ME MY OWN PERSONAL SEWING MACHINE!

Now I don't have to bother my mother about using hers. It was getting rather annoying. Things were getting out of hoof especially the messes that I had to clean up in her room. But of course, mom and dad did tell me that I would have to work in the garage from here on.

I'm perfectly fine with that.

May 4th, 994 C.D.V.
Me and Applejack had a bit of a falling out.

Our differences were too great. She desired to work in the dirt, while I chose to live in organized chaos. She's blunt and harsh while I was gentle and fair.

It also didn't help that a stallion named Caramel that she had a crush on turned out to have a crush on me. I graciously declined, causing him to embrace sadness. And Applejack sought to defend him.

I think this will be the last time we ever speak to each other.

May 28th, 994 C.D.V.
We all graduated high school today.

My mom and dad were standing on the side of the stage as I claimed my diploma. Azure managed to come out swinging, though he just barely cracked the top half of the class. Poindexter made Salutatorian, surpassed by a surprisingly intelligent Longshot. Our jaws dropped when they initially claimed that Longshot was actually the Valedictorian. I managed to pass on honor roll as was happy with just that.

But of course, the mares of our class was left in tears as we all said our final farewells. And just one last time, the four of us in our caps and gowns walked in slow motion down the halls, just so the mares could scream at us one last time.

Outside of high school, life had taken a toll on me. But here, there was an escape from all of it. Here was where I made my mark and would always remember the fond memories in these colored halls.

Hail to thee our Alma Mater. Canterlot School for Gifted Unicorns. Shit was real.

June 16th, 994 C.D.V.
I am practically swamped with orders.

My teacher notified me that there were a few of her friends that were in need of a few trims and fits for their outfits. And being that I am the only one for miles that has an eye for extreme detail, my name had came up on the list first.

Of course I was not in it for the pay. My father's finances allowed me to purchase much of the fabrics needed to do the job and my attention to detail while being frugal in my usage allows me to minimize the amount of fabrics and threads used in my repairs.

After all, who needs payment when I can find gems in the ground?

June 18th, 994 C.D.V.
Big Mac paid me a visit today.

It turned out that his little sister's favorite ribbon had a large tear in it. She also wouldn't stop crying over it apparently. So he came over to get it repaired. I offered to do it free of charge.

He started talking about Applejack and how he was worried about our friendship was dissipating. I told him that it was just fine and that he didn't need to worry about it. After all, she and I are no longer friends after all.

After I finished tending to the ribbon, he placed a bag of bits on the table and left me chasing after him. I constantly screamed to him that this wasn't necessary but he returned my statement, saying that a mare's got to make an honest living and not allow herself to become a tool for somepony else's personal gain.

For a stallion of few words, he sure knew how to cut deep.

October 11th, 994 C.D.V.
The boys have officially entered into basic training.

And I was their drill sergeant.

...

...

...MWUAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

YOUR FUCKING ASSES ARE MINE YOU INBRED SHITSTAINS!

January 7th, 995 C.D.V.
I know my friends hate me for the hell they went through. But for the moment they can relish in the fact that they won't be seeing my face for a short period of time.

Today, they had successfully displayed the skill and conduct needed to complete their courses. Basic training was completed.

Now I pray that they are mentally ready for the real shit that's gotta go down.

Hoo-vah!

September 2nd, 995 C.D.V.
I can't believe this day has finally come.

I am now a student at Ponyville High. The students there are a variety of ponies. Though the school is a bit smaller than I thought it to be, I can easily say that this should make for an interesting year. Can't wait to meet some of my other classmates.

September 19th, 995 C.D.V.
Mr. Cream Cake had a heart attack at work today. I went over to the hospital and found out as soon as I got here about the bad news.

This day was the day that Cup lost her father.

He died on the operating table shortly after he came in. Sadly, the stress of his job became too much and he finally broke down. Cup had always said that he would...

...out of good taste I won't even finish that statement.

couldn't ever know how she feels about this. Her father ran the business and she was more of the co-captain of the ship that was the Sugarcube Corner. Now everything that once held her is now lost.

It's a good thing that Carrot took that internship over there at the bakery, otherwise she would be in this all by herself. He really was an amazing stallion. I consider her extremely fortunate not having to try her luck in a herd and be the lucky one chosen. He loved her and only her.

I wish that I would one day have a prince come say that about me... Oh who am I kidding? But I digress...

Rest in peace, Mr. Cake. Your wife welcomes you with open hooves.

February 17th, 996 C.D.V.
I can't believe that Princess Celestia has placed me in charge of a huge, thirty-day operation to wipe out the last of the Black Claw, the defected military core of the Griffon Kingdom.

And as it turned out, Azure, Longshot, Poindexter and I were all in the same group. What are the chances of that?

But I do know this; when we finish this mission, there will be a huge promotion for all of us in this.

Now if you would excuse me, I have a mission to complete.

March 21st, 996 C.D.V.
HO. LEE. FUCKING. IN MY ASS. SO DEEP I CAME. AND BARFED SEMEN. SHIT!

PRINCESS CELESTIA JUST MADE ME THE FUCKING CAPTAIN OF THE GUARD!

I am the youngest stallion to ever achieve this honor.

Can't write right now. I'm finna go get my ass drunk to shit!

...

And Cadance just literally fucked my brains out of my dick and into her womb. Best sex ever.

November 13th, 996 C.D.V.
When they say you can find help from the weirdest of places, they meant it.

A strange pink mare with a untamable, yet fluffy mane and tail, came prancing into town with a wagon full of balloons and streamers.

She was quite bold in her approaches... a bit too bold. She walked into Sugarcube Corner and ate about half of the inventory! But she also paid them back in full. She actually enjoyed the food so much that she offered to stay there and pay rent.

Cup and Carrot really needed the money to keep the business afloat, so reluctantly they agreed to her proposition. Then she rambled on and on...

...and on and on and on and-WILL THIS MARE EVER SHUT THE HELL UP!?

Finally her irrational sense of reasoning led her to believe that she should work over there at the bakery. The only thing she wanted was a place to stay.

I do believe she has a good heart, despite that mouth of hers running of the energy of a miniature sun.

April 13th, 997 C.D.V.
This was the worst estrus season yet.

Not only did we have to lock ourselves in the tower, but we had to abandon said tower in search of a more secured location. As we ran down the sunny corridors (curse you Celestia) into the emptyness of the throne room, Cadance thought it would be funny to pull that same stunt she did back in high school. She flew in, ghosted me, and left the others to be ruthlessly rutted into the red rugs of the main hall.

After Cadance was finished with me, I got a really weird letter in my room saying that I was in for the rutting of a lifetime.

Please no. My dick hurts.

April 15th, 997 C.D.V.
Remember that little letter placed on my desk? Guess who wrote it.

...Yup, I'm eternally screwed.

Twilight had successfully placed traps all over the entire castle. Oh sure, lets give unrestricted access to the female student of Princess Celestia that just so happen to be my little sister. And when I finally got caught...

...lets just say that little sister did growing up, did some homework and was ready for her extra-credit courses.

...

...

...

...I am utterly hopeless. My sister proceeded to rape me and I did nothing but enjoy the shit out of it. I know it's the pheromones that did all the hypnotic damage, but still...

...I have a mighty need to scrub my balls with a barbed-wire sponge.

April 27th, 997 C.D.V.
I have the best parents ever.

What did they do? Oh nothing shy of BUYING SOME LAND, BUILDING A BOUTIQUE AND SENDING IT MY WAY FOR MY SIXTEENTH BIRTHDAY!!!

I can't believe this is actually real. Sompony please pin-

...

And Pinkie Pie shows up out of nowhere and pinches me.

This day is truly the greatest! There are no words.

March 23rd, 998 C.D.V.
I had a strange dream tonight.

Apparently it was strangely erotic.

I ended up saving this one really beautiful damsel in distress. I tear off my armor and start kissing her, planting my lips whereever she so desired. And in the end, I ended mounting her.

I just hope that Cadance can't see into my dreams because if she could, the my shit is beyond fucked up. She'll be trying to tear my dick off and use it as her personal sex toy.

Welp, I guess it about that time to rub a good one out.

March 23rd, 998 C.D.V.
There is a reason that I keep a pillow placed firmly in between my hind legs.

It's because whenever I have that accursed dream, I start to ache inside. That aching turns into an itch that only the gentle cool feeling of my pillow grinding against my nethers can scratch.

Curse this dream, it drives me to ride myself silly. It's a system now. My dream comes up, I masturbate, I go to sleep. It's all like clock work. EVERY. SINGLE. NIGHT.

Why can't I soothe my inner cravings? I try to date other stallions, but none of them fill me with the excitement I feel whenever I dream about my prince saving me.

Maybe I should stop looking for him and let him come to me...

...but that will take too long.

December 14th, 998 C.D.V.
I tried to recreate my interaction of that dream I keep having with Cadance.

Nothing at all.

I'm more than scared to ask Twilight. Knowing her, she would say yes in the name of science. But you know what's really odd? The fact that dream always have the same mare with the indigo mane set in large luxurious curls. I want to plow that snow-white ass into the sheets. But I already do that with my current marefriend.

Maybe I need to ask Cadance about a threesome.

...

She said no.

January 3rd, 999 C.D.V.
I have to be dreaming a horrible nightmare.

I woke up this morning and thought to myself that this was going to be a beautiful fucking day. Birds are chirping and shit. Then I head into the breakfast nook and start making my waffles. Before I can even get myself a cup of batter, my jaw drops at the sight for sore eyes. And by sore, I meant burn my shit until they sizzle and crackle out of spite.

FUCKING BLUEBLOOD HAS ENTERED THE GODDAMN CASTLE!

Welp, there goes the year.

November 19th, 999 C.D.V.
There were two transfer students that I met from Cloudsdale High.

One ran into me and constantly apologized for bumping into me. I told her that it was okay and that she just needed to watch where she was going. But for some odd reason, I could not keep my eyes off of her. Her clean yellow coat, her long flowing pink mane and tail, her sweet little voice that trembled as she spoke. Her curved eyes. Her fragile demeanor...

...It was just... too... cute.

She and I had to get to know each other. She took after most of my interests after all. I believe that we would be the best of friends...

...until Applejack showed up with the other transfer student.

She was more suited to Applejack's tastes. Unkempt mane and tail, bold choice of colors (almost as if she couldn't choose which one was good enough so she decided to wear the whole damn rainbow on her), hyperactive and all the more, to put it blindly, HARSH.

She scolded poor Fluttershy for speaking with me. Apparently Applejack's been persuading her to join up with her.

And to think that these two pegasi actually were life-long friends when they were so different.

~Celeste Delanise Valkyrie (Celestia)

December 31st, 999 C.D.V.
Oh dear sister...

How have I long missed you.

The preparations are almost complete.

I do see that you are more than willing to participate now.

Your room has been readied for your arrival, dear sister.

Do you remember when we were younger?

How carefree we were when we were fillies?

It will all be the same.

We live in a gentler time.

Nopony will ever shun your night again.

They seek pleasure in your nights.

...Your stars.

They will aid you in your return to me.

I love you dear sister.

And happy new year...

...the years of the Sisters Reunited.

June 20th, 1000 C.D.V., 0 S.R.
I don't know why she has us writing that new year format down like that but I guess it's for a good reason.

Twilight left for Ponyville today. Princess Celestia has left the palace without an escort. And of course, she ordered that she would leave the palace alone.

Princess, what is it exactly are you planning?

June 20th, 1000 C.D.V.
I met another guest to the town, her name was Twilight Sparkle.

SHE CAME FROM CANTERLOT!

If it wasn't for my father's trade into the Seaddle Seaponies team, then I would be living there myself. She also had a cute little baby dragon named Spike with her. I think he has a little crush on me (so cute). Anyways her mane was a mess and I decided to tidy her up a bit. Turns out that bangs are her thing (though I don't see why personally). She left without as much as a goodbye.

Later we stayed up to party with Pinkie Pie and the other ponies here in the library. And Twilight quickly retired to her room. Well there's nothing that could be worse than having a party pooper along for the ride.

June 21st, 1000 C.D.V.
It got worse!

A large scary-looking alacorn mare came to Ponyville, kidnapping Princess Celestia and proclaiming that the night will last forever. She actually grabbed me and slapped me. Of all the nerve.

Anyways, we went to find the answers in the library. Then we had to trek into the unknown depths of the Everfree Forest. I fell down a cliff, I kicked a manticore in the face, laughed at some ugly looking trees, cut my tail off for a sea dragon to use as a mostache (seriously, my tail looks absolutely luxurious on his face)... Stop that.

To summarize everything in a few seconds, we went into the castle, followed the glowing from the other side of the castle, reunited with Twilight, big flash of light and now I'm wearing this lovely piece of enchanted jewelry on my neck.

Princess Celestia came forth and greeted her student Twilight... SHE'S CELESTIA'S WHAT!!?!?

Oh and trivia for the day; Princess Celestia actually has a younger sister named Princess Luna. Just going to let that sink in for a bit.

Anyways, we got back into town, had a celebration and Twilight was permitted to stay here with us to study her lessons in friendship.

I sure hope she has some for that rowdy Applejack.

June 21st, 1000 C.D.V., 0 S.R.
Okay, the night lasted a little longer than most us were comfortable with. And I'm a little upset that Twily will be based in Ponyville from here on. And I'm perfectly fine with whatever Celestia orders me to do...

BUT WHO IN THE BLUE SAM HELL FUCKING A MULE IS THAT!? IS EVERYPONY GETTING A BUY-ONE-PAIR-OF-WINGS-GET-A-HORN-FREE SALE OR SOMETHING!? HOW MANY FUCKING ALACORN PRINCESSES ARE THERE!?

There was this princess that we apparently didn't have for like a full one-thousand years. So what else is going to pop up that we should be aware of? Is one of the damn statues going to come to life? Will random shit start raining from the sky? Is a whole fucking nation just going to appear out of thin air? Let me guess, my sister is already an alacorn princess. I am sorry but none of that shit seems likely nor does it seem logical.

I am lost with all the shit that has been happening under my damn watch and Princess Celestia being so damn cryptic about shit is not going to help me at all. I think I need a drink.

And... Princess Luna... no way... she just didn't.

Azure... I think you're going to have a few problems buddy.

Author's Note

I covered 8 f*cking years in as little as 11,000 words. *Pant Pant*
So what do I win? Nothing.

You've read 8 years of mainly two character's lives in a nutshell.
What do you win? ACT 2 to be issued sometime during the course of 8 days.

I like the number 8.