Love and Slavery.

Matthew helped unload the train as Twilight and her friends were setting up camp near the forest line. Night Fire stood nearby with her spear in her hoofs watching for any sign of danger.

“Let me give you a hoof Matthew.” Matthew looked to his right to see Luna using her magic to help move the boxes off the train “I don’t understand why she needs all these books.” Luna chuckled as she placed another box down near the other boxes.

“From what I’ve been told they are books on human ways written by an unknown author.” Matthew said as he placed a box of food near the other boxes “That’s all the boxes your highness.”

“You can just call me Luna, no need for highness.” Luna said with a smile.

Cadance wrapped her hooves “Stay safe Twilight, just send a letter and I’ll be on the first train back here.”

“Tell shining I’ll come visit when this is all done.” Twilight said hugging Cadance back. The two pulled away from each other.

“You all stay safe everypony.” Cadance boarded her train and it began to slowly leave.

“Tonight we’ll camp here, tomorrow we’ll move onwards into the forest and we should hit the ruins by nightfall.” Twilight said as everypony started to set up the tents.

Applejack sat in her wheelchair watching as everypony began to set up their tents. She saw Matthew setting up her tent “Matt, ya don’t have ta set up my tent.”

“I don’t mind Applejack.” Matthew said with a smile as he put together her tent.

With everypony’s tents all set up they put together a fire and started cooking dinner.

“We seem to be a tent short.” Luna said counting the tents.

“Oh my, we might have forgotten Matthew’s tent.” Rarity said.

“It’s alright.” Matthew spoke “I can sleep outside.”

“Ya ain’t gonna sleep outside, Ya can sleep in mah tent.” Applejack said making everypony look at her.

“It’s fine Applejack, I can slee-” His words were cut off by the orange mare “Nonsense Matt, ya can stay in mah tent, there is enough room for two.”

Meanwhile back on the train.

One of Cadance guards came walking up to her “Ma’am, we found this tent in the food car.”

“Oh? I’ll take that.” Cadance used her magic to take the tent from her guard and placed it in a seat near her “Could you fetch me some tea?” The guard nodded and left “If what I felt between Applejack and Matthew is a spark of love, then the spell I cast on Applejack’s tent shall awaken love between the two.” Cadance looked at the tent “Let’s just hope I’m right.”

Celestia sat in her ceil. It was damp and dark. Her body bruised and beaten along with her own mind.

There was a light within the darkened room as Celestia saw none other than Blaze using his fire to cut the bars on the doorway “Don’t worry Tia, I’m getting you out of here.” He said.

“N-No, his m-magic binds me here.” She said in a weaken voice “F-Find L-Luna, p-protect her.”

The final bar broke and Blaze made his way inside “I’m not leaving you here in his hoofs, I’ll get you out of here.”

“H-He cast a spell, I’m trapped here.” Celestia watched as Blaze tried to break the chains from her hoof.

“I’ll find away to break you out, I’m not gonna leave you here where he can treat you like this!” Blaze eyes started change from their normal emerald green eyes to blood red.

“Blaze, you have to go, you need to protect Luna.” Blaze looked up at Celestia still rage in his eyes “She needs your help.”

Blaze placed a claw onto her cheek “I’ll get you out of here Tia, I promise you that.” He took off out of the cell and made his way out of the castle.

He was safely on the outskirts of the castle he spread his wings and took off into the night sky “It’s time I face judgement in order to save my new home.” He flew south east “ I just hope father isn’t still mad.”

Amber walked through the halls of the crystal castle. She was given a job working at the library, she was happy to work instead of being home all day. She made her way inside the library and saw the old librarian sorting through the books “Hello, I’m ready to start work.” Amber said with a big smile.

“Welcome my dear, I’m Golden Book.” The old mare said with a smile. Golden Book showed Amber around the library. It didn’t take long for Amber to learn where everything went and how the books were numbered.

Golden Book was surprised how quickly Amber learned everything so quickly. The old mare then let Amber sort through the books and place them around the Library shelves.

Amber walked along the many bookshelves. As she walked she notices a book with a dragon’s crest on it. She placed her hand on crest and felt like she knew this belong to someone she knew.

“I see you found the book of the great dragon king.” Amber looked over at Golden Book as she walked over to her “That book holds the story of a great dragon king who was a human.”

“How could a human be a dragon king?” Amber asked.

“It’s a legend but it is said the dragon king was born of a dragon’s egg, he freed his people and after years of rebuilding set his sights upon our kingdom, he killed the king of ice and brought warmth to our kingdom.” Golden Book looked upon the book with a smile “This book was given to us by him, he said it belonged here with us for it holds our past and future.”

“He must have been something great.” Amber said as she looked back at the book.

“Take it home, read what your first king wrote.” Golden Book said as she walked away leaving Amber to think about her words.

“Excuse me, I’m looking for a book.” Amber looked at a mare standing before her.

“W-What book are you looking for?” Amber asked the mare.

“The book I’m looking for is called the stone heart, do you know where that is?” The mare asked.

“It should be in the T section. I’ll take you over there.” Amber said taking the mare over to the T section “If you need any helping finding the book please ask.” Amber said leaving the mare alone to search for the book.

Silver Heart sat on his throne as Braeburn, Filthy Rich and Flash Sentry stood in the room in front of him “I’m so glad you all could make it, with the throne now mine we don’t have to worry about Celestia getting in our way.” Silver Heart moved off his throne as he walked towards the three stallions “ However, one of you I have no use for anymore.”

Braeburn felt his throat close as he felt the air get crushed out of him “You’ve outlived your usefulness to me. Don’t worry, the afterlife is something even you will enjoy.” The sound of Braeburn’s neck could be heard snapping “His death wasn’t without a cause, Mr Rich, you are now the new owner of Braeburn’s business, I want as many humans in chains, do not fail me.” Mr Rich nodded as he was allowed to leave the room “As for you Flash, you still are useful, you will lead my army north and you will take the Crystal Empire in ten days. I want the soldiers who are loyal to me ready to fight, those who don’t accept my rule they shall soon taste their own chains.”

Flash nodded and left Silver Heart with the body “It’s a pity, if only you could have foreseen this happening, you would have ran the moment I visited you with my idea, you wouldn’t lying here on the floor dead.” The body lifted into the air and broke apart and absorbed into Silver heart.

“It’s sad.” Silver Heart looked around the room with alarm on his face “You once told me your kind was much more powerful and that us humans were just animals needing to be killed or enslaved.”

Silver Heart was searching the throne room trying to find the voice “Yet, here you are, stealing the live force of other ponies to keep yourself from changing into the very thing you hated.”

“SHOW YOURSELF YOU COWARD!” Silver Heart yelled out.

Before Silver Heart stood a human knight “I thought by making you into the thing you hated you would understand us better, instead you let the hatred inside your heart grow and has become even darker than before.”

“How are you even here!? Your body should be in the ground rotting away!” Silver Heart yelled angry.

“I am dead Silver. Yet my duty isn’t done yet.” The Knight said “I spared your life on that battlefield centuries ago, I was hoping the good inside you would have shined through and you would have been freed from the chains you placed on others.” The Knight walked through Silver sending chills down his spin “My fight is over, but your fight is not yet over brother. Will you see the truth before you? Or will you die with the lie?” The Knight faded as Silver stood there with anger in his eyes.

“YOU ARE NOT MY BROTHER!” He yelled out into the darkness.

Matthew sat on the log with his sketchbook in his hands as he was sketching the scene before him. Applejack was smiling and chuckling with her friends.

Luna took a seat next to Matthew as she watched him sketch out the scene before him “I figured you would like the sketch book.” Luna said with a smile.

Matthew had pushed the world away as his mind was focused on Applejack “I haven’t seen anyone this focused since Tia and Mark, Tia always was so caught up in her own world nothing could pull her out of it.”Luna smiled as Matthew continued sketching.

Luna watched as everypony enjoyed their drinks and food. Tonight’s enjoyment was something that brought a lot of joy to the hearts of those that have been sadden these past weeks.

As the night grew on Matthew’s vision began to blur and he fainted. The last thing he heard was Applejack’s voice calling out.

Everypony surrounded him as they tried to figure out what was wrong with him. The bonfire burst to life as a dark figure appeared in the fire “To save the human, to the castle, only honesty and loyalty shall awaken the sleeping king inside, beware, if more shall take the sleeping king forever sleep shall he shall remain.” The bonfire went out.

“S-Sleeping king?” Twilight tried to figure out what dark figure meant by that.

“In order for Matthew to awake Applejack and Dash must take him to the ruins.” Luna said “If we all try and make it their together Matthew shall remain asleep forever.”

“But why did it call him King?” Twilight said trying to figure that part out.

“We need ta hurry and get Matt to that castle!” Applejack said worried.

“I can make a quick cart, Dash you’ll need to pull as Applejack can’t go far with her leg injured.” Luna said using her magic to start building a wagon. Twilight soon joined in by helping.

Dash looked at Matthew “Twi, just how far is this castle?”

“It’s about a day to reach the castle but with your speed you can get their in at least a few hours.” Twilight said “Just watch where you're going and keep going straight and you should reach the castle.”

Dash looked away from Matthew and looked right at Twilight “Make sure the cart has straps, we’re getting to that castle as fast as possible.”

With the cart built they placed Matt onto the cart “Just get there safe.” Twilight said.

“We’ll meet you guys there!” Dash took off flying with the cart strapped onto her with Applejack holding on for dear life as they were off.

Within Matthew’s mind.

Matthew sat on a throne, his mind racing as he tried to figure out what was going on “King Matthew! We have before captured three ponies who were slaves before your rule!” Three men dressed in armor came rushing inside with three stallions chained as they were brought before him.

Matthew could see the stallions were scared, Matthew then felt a hand touch his shoulders “King Matthew, these stallions were once slavers, I believe we should enslave them to teach them what it’s like to be a slave.” The man said.

“No, they will face trial for their crimes.” Matthew said standing up.

“Sir, with all do respect, these ponies enslaved our kind, we won the war, we now can make them pay for what they have done to us all.” The man said.

“I don’t care that they enslaved us, we will not become them.” He said stepping forwards towards the stallions “They will be tried for their crimes and brought to justices, slavery will not happen in this kingdom.” Matthew looked at the other human’s in the room “If we become them, hate will never leave, we’ll always be at each other's throats if we keep treating each other as the enemy.”

The ponies and the people faded away and the room faded as Matthew now found himself standing in a field “W-What is going on?” He asked looking around.

“You have past the first step young king.” Matthew saw a woman with black hair and blue eyes standing before him in the field of sunflowers.

“W-Who are you?” Matthew asked.

“I am the Goddess Lucy, I am the mother of all humans.” She said as she placed her hand on his cheek “You Matthew, you are very rare.”

“W-What?” Matthew was confused on what was going on.

“In time you shall learn, right now you just passed the first trial.” She said walking past Matthew and through the sunflowers “You showed mercy towards the slavers.”

“Why am I facing these trails?” Matthew asked watching Lucy walked through the sunflowers.

“War is coming and only the king of Avalon can stop this war.” She said looking back at him “You are the future king, the one who shall break the chains and unite the kingdoms all over the world.”

“I-I’m no king, I’m just a human.” Matthew said looking down to the ground.

“We shall see Matthew, now, remember, remember everything that has happened to you, and use that to better yourself.” She said as the world around Matthew faded away.

Lucy stood within the sunflowers as she looked at the spot Matthew was standing at.

“You are the key to not only freeing Avalon but you shall free the world from the darkness.” She walked up to a wilted sunflower and brought the light back into it.

“Still after all these years you're still tending to these sunflowers.” Lucy looked to see Discord hovering in the air.

“What do I owe the honor of your visit old friend?” Lucy asked.

“I need a favor.”

To Be Continued.