Sins of The Past

Twilight checked her bags; once, twice, three times. She couldn't afford to forget anything -- were she to, she would have to hope that she could find it there. Nopony was allowed in or out of Hajahact, so requesting that it be delivered would be a no-go. A tight feeling clutched at her heart. This would be her first time exercising her authority as a princess; the situation was only made more dire by the fact that she would be completely out of the grasp of her mentor, or anypony else, really.

Supposedly, Celestia had worked out a protection deal with Iron Ire, the newest King of Hajahact, but Twilight had a hard time believing anything they promised. She shuddered at the image that flooded her mind. That poor guard. Shortly after Enigmatic Insanity's remains were returned to her country, a guard went missing.

He was found quickly -- his severed head was left on Twilight's pillow and his torn apart body was discovered hanging by its legs from the window. Blood was everywhere, on everything. It was a clear message from Iron Ire: We have the strength to destroy you. Back the fuck off.

The message didn't go unheeded by Celestia, which was how Twilight found herself boarding a privately-contracted carriage to the the farthest reaches of the known world; if this attempt at diplomacy failed, it would be catastrophe on a whole new level. Even if Iron was bluffing, and their military wasn't as strong as he said, they had proven themselves to be reckless enough for them to be a massive problem. Bodies would pile up as the peaceful nation tried to defend itself against one that valued strength and obedience over all.

She watched the retreating familiarity of Equestria slowly turn into barren lava fields. They had been traveling for weeks; frankly, it was beginning to wear on her nerves. The carriage came to a jolting halt. Twilight rubbed her head, having been thrown forward into the wall between her and the ponies drawing the carriage, and looked out the window. A startled gasp escaped her -- they were at the gates of a massive city. The carriage-pullers were arguing with two massive pegasi, to no effect. They were being barred entrance.

Twilight stepped out of the carriage herself, the stone ringing out loudly beneath her hooves. The two pegasi looked at each other, equally shocked. They quickly swarmed her, leading her to the gates and motioning for the carriage to turn around and go. Little did the princess know, the carriage would never make it back.

The hinges of the gates shrieked, unaccustomed to being opened. Many ponies stood and gaped, the presence of the Royal Guard not being enough to distract them from gawking at the young alicorn. A sharp snap of the pegasus' wings, however, dispersed the crowd.

Twilight was lead through the gleaming city of snow-decked stone. She found herself growing dizzy from the incomprehensible twists and turns the two pegasi were making. Finally, they came to a stop. In front of them was the famed Wolf Castle. She wasn't sure why the castle was called that, but was hoping she could find out. If anything, knowledge of the country's history couldn't hurt her mission.

The doors flew open of their own accord and she was dragged in by an unseen force. A loud flutter of wings announced the quick disappearance of her chaperones. The rooms varied, that much was clear, but they were passing by too quickly for anything else to be discerned. Door after door swung open as she approached them until she was in front of a grandiose pair of mahogany doors.

Unsure of what she was supposed to do, she knocked. A weary voice came from inside.

"Yes?"

"I'm - uh - I have been sent by Princess Celestia --"

She was cut off as the door opened.

"Very odd that one as 'wise' as Celestia would take on a student by the name of Uh." the grey alicorn said, a hint of a smile playing at his lips. "Well, Uh, I am King Iron."

Twilight blushed, flustered.

"My name's Twilight Sparkle, actually."

This was not a good start.