The Strange Tale Of Ezekiel Henderson

Henderson was offered no explanation of the Princesses' reaction to his removing of his helmet. Nor one for why they were leading him through several locked doors, down into the bowels of the castle.

Gone were they sparkling marble floors and velvet curtains when they reached a rather imposing looking iron door. Only after a complex series of glyphs were pushed did the door open to reveal a small library. Henderson watched as the two mares began to search through shelves of ancient looking tomes and scrolls.

"Our apologies, Lance Corporal Henderson." Luna spoke while she used her magic to remove items from the shelves, "Haste is of utter importance, provided our memory serves us well."

"And what memories might those be?", Henderson was getting impatient.

"Here it is.", Celestia blew the dust off of a large, leather-bound volume. She set it on a table in the middle of the room, and began to flip through the pages.

"Many a moon ago," Luna had turned her attention back to Henderson, "a group of fortune seekers discovered this, deep within a cave system in the far reaches of the Everfree forest."

Luna nodded at the old book, directing Henderson to step where he could see it better.

Celestia continued to flip through the pages, until she came to the page she wanted. Henderson couldn't believe his eyes. Covering one of the old, vellum pages, was a rendering of a human face. It was rather featureless, the eyes were hollow, it was bald, but human none-the-less.

Twilight and her friends, told to stay in the throne room but unable to contain their curiosity, came trotting into the room. All five gasped in unison when they saw what held the others' attention.

"Wait a second," Twilight stepped closer to the artifact, she lifted one side to peer at the cover, "You let me read this when I was just a filly." She looked at Celestia. "That would explain why Ezekiel looked so familiar.", referring to Henderson's first facial uncovering, in one of the streets of Ponyville.

"Yes. The recent disappearances of similar pieces drove me to store this more securely than in my study.", Celestia was still looking at the book.

Henderson snapped back to reality, "Wait, you said you read it. What does it say?", he looked at the page opposite the face, it was covered in characters, runes, if he remembered sixth grade history class.

Twilight looked embarrassed, "I don't know, I just looked at it for the pictures." She turned the page, revealing a rather detailed drawing of some type of machinery.

Henderson looked at Celestia and Luna.

"I'm afraid we don't know either. We've never been able to translate the text, despite many a scribe's best efforts.", Luna said.

"However,", Celestia began before Henderson's disappointment had fully taken hold, "We have the location of the cave from which it came on record. Perhaps if it was searched again, this time for information rather than valuables." She looked down in thought.

"Excellent idea,", Luna finished her sister's plan, "We will send some of our best to search the caverns. You needn't worry, Lance Corporal Henderson, soon we will have some answers."

Henderson wasn't worried, pissed would be a better term to describe his mood. He was, however, appreciative of the Princesses' efforts to help him.

"Thank you, Your Highness."

Henderson would have rather gone with the "Princesses' Best" to the caves, he didn't handle idleness very well. The two had again instructed Twilight and her friends to make Henderson feel welcome in Ponyville, and that they would send word the moment they learned anything.

Over the course of the next two days, Ponyville's mayor introduced Henderson to the town's population; Cheerilee had further introduced him to all the little colts and fillies, who absolutely adored him; and Twilight had explained some of the great moments in Pony history to him.

Now it was a bright, sunny day and Henderson was helping Applejack in her orchards, "For your room 'n' board.", she had said. She was trying to teach him to apple buck.

"Then kick straight out.", the orange farmer grunted as she bucked the trunk of an apple tree.

Nearly all the apples fell out and landed around the tree, which she set about putting into baskets.

"Now you try, soldier boy."

Henderson walked up to the trunk of another tree. He wasn't about to get down on his hands and actually buck the tree ;however, he turned to the side and judo kicked the tree. One apple fell out.

"Mmph..", Applejack stifled a laugh, "Ah think it's safe to say you ain't an apple bucker.", she said through a grin.

Henderson shrugged, "And now you know why I left my parents' farm and joined the military." Even though they had worked a cattle ranch.

They shared a chuckle at that.

"Ezekiel!"

Both Henderson and Applejack turned to see Twilight galloping towards them, flying above her was Rainbow Dash, who's leg had been healed thanks to one of Twilight's healing spells.

"Ezekiel!", she repeated.

"What?", he asked.

"Ezekiel, we....just got a," she was panting, she'd run all the way from town.

Dash, who'd landed, rolled her eyes and finished for her purple friend, "We just got some news from the Princess."

Henderson's eyes widened, "Well?".

"It isn't good."