The Life and Adventures of a Trickster

Chapters

Prologue - The Journal
Chapter 1 - The Dark Magic
Chapter 2 - The Fall of Havel
Chapter 3 - Lost Time

Prologue - The Journal

Prologue: The Journal

A loud screech came from a heavy metal door, it whined while its old hinges began to move again. Light shown into the dusty old room once again, revealing the many bookshelves covered in cobwebs that once were home to spiders long ago. The frail room wheezed as a breeze gusted in, and in stepped a lavender alacorn. Her eyes lit up as she stepped into the forgotten library, and she quickly rushed over to the nearest shelve encompassing any book that peaked here interest even slightly in a magenta glow.

Moments later a purple and green baby dragon came in with an empty wheelbarrow. "So Twilight, what did you want with-" the dragon started as books flew into the wheelbarrow, instantly making it overflow.

"Take these back to my room Spike." Twilight said as she moved to another bookshelf. "We are going to be doing a lot of studying as soon as I find everything I want." Spike sighed and began to push the over filled wheelbarrow away.

After many cycles of this, Twilight had scoured almost every shelf the ancient library had, and Spike had become exhausted. Twilight had told him to go to bed and that she would get the rest herself. After saying their goodnights, the two went their separate ways. Venturing deep into the library once more, Twilight came by a book she found quite interesting. It was a leather journal that seemed to be extremely old, she seemed drawn to this book and as she looked at its cover she saw an odd symbol. It look like two opposing arrows were merging into one.

Upon opening the leather book, Twilight was greeted with a surge of dust. After a few moments of coughing she began to read the first lines.

*********************************

My name is Flare Frost, and you know what, I really hate my name. Its a complete oxymoron and sounds like my parents, bless their fool hearty souls, just threw two things together since my coat is an icy blue and my mane is a fiery mix of orange and red. But enough of my moaning, I should really get on with how my tragic adventure of a life became as such.

Of course for the sake of whomever decides to read this, I guess I should tell you about what my life was like before my adventures started.

I was born into a somewhat wealthy family, my mother was an earth pony peasant and my father a unicorn noble. That probably doesn't sound like a big deal, but back when I was born it was, some of the other nobles wanted to strip my father of his status, however there was just enough reasonable ponies on the council (including my grandfather). Instead my father became part of a new, and might I add, separate status known as middle class. This meant that there children would be allowed into school, they could take part in some noble activities, and my mother would be "freed" of her status. I never understood any of what that meant when I was young, and therefore I grew up ignorantly blind to the horrible world outside our castles walls.

My parents had two children, my older sister cherry blossom who had a vibrant white coat with a pink mane that had cherry red streaks, she also got my fathers dark blue eye's and was an earth pony like my mother. Then there was me, an icy blue unicorn with a fiery red and orange mane, and purple eye's. Even my parent's weren't sure how I got them, but as I was to the world outside, they remained in ignorant bliss to it.

After a few years I started school, the class was full of unicorns my age, we were taught how to use are magic, how to read and write, blah blah blah... All my teacher did was talk though. There were the times we were meant to read, or practice magic, but as soon as that was over she went straight back to talking. It really made me look forward to our breaks were we got to go outside and eat, I would constantly play tricks on my classmates. These tricks would range from simple things like swapping two ponies lunches to elaborate schemes that took a few days of planning. The one I got in the most trouble from was when I was 10, I "convinced" Bard Song, the classes musically talented teachers pet, that Gem Stone, the classes pretty boy, had stolen his harp. As they "solved" the dispute I asked the teacher if she could help with resolving their dispute. As she did so I enchanted the apple on her desk (which was also her lunch) to make her mane change colours and shape. The enchantment didn't work as intended though. Lets just say she had a case of violently explosive diarrhea for the remainder of the week. After she found out it was me who did it, she brought in my parents to discuss my punishment. After explaining what had happened my mother said, "That doesn't sound like anything my little Flare would do." and then I burst out laughing. It was in that moment I got my cutie mark, a weird symbol that I later learned was called a Hand of Eris, it was half red and half blue. Frankly, I had no idea what it meant. My father then decided it might be best to enroll me in the military to "toughen me up." I never had to set hoof in that boring class room again thanks to that prank, but my sister scolded me for doing it. She said I gave up the chance she never had, that I was going to waste my potential. Back then I was to naive to understand, but even if I had known what she meant I don't think I would have changed anything.

A few days later boot camp started for me, I was yelled at and forced to run, but overall it wasn't so bad. There was quite few days at first where we were forced to stand at attention for hours on end, I wasn't one who liked to be still for very long so this was very difficult for me. After the day was done and we were told to get to bed is when I let loose a little. Every night was something different, sheets missing off of cots, two recruits mysteriously waking up in opposite beds, everypony being covered in flour (including myself to draw away suspicion), they were good times. Not just for me though, every one of us got a good laugh after all was said and done.

We all went through boot camp for about a month, we didn't learn much of anything other how to stand at attention and run for hours on end, but what came after boot camp wasn't much better, it was our basic training. For 5 months they made us learn how to fight with and without weapons, then we were given a break. We were allowed to spend a month with our families. One short month.

The first day back was pretty hard for me, I practically melted into my mother's hooves as I told her how much I missed them. When my father saw me he told me how he was surprised that I had changed so much, and at the same time on the inside I was still that mischievous colt they sent of to boot camp. I told him no amount of standing or exercise was going to change me, and he chuckled. Not a chuckle of amusement, but one of worry. I later realized why he was worried.

As if all too soon I had to go back. I had to say my good-byes once more to my family and get back to the training camp, my mother was crying, my father ruffled my hair with a sad look on his face, and my sister gave me a hug, which was surprising since we were always conflicting. She also made me promise to write to her every week.

An hour later I was back at the training camp, ready to practice whatever they were going to make me do. Then they made us do a bunch of tests, some of which were physical and endurance and others were with magic and questions like what we would do in certain situations. Then we were told to wait in the barracks.

We waited there for hours wondering what we had just been tested on, well eveypony else did, I simply pulled a few pranks and told some jokes. Then we were told to meet outside, as soon as we all had gathered up, an officer yelled that when we were called up we would be assigned our division and sent to those barracks. Everyone began to worry, except for yours truly, after all I was just along for the ride.

Once I was final called up the officer told me I had been accepted into the battle mage division, and gave me congratulations that from the tone of his voice seemed to be fake. As I made my way over to my new barracks, I realized that none of the other recruits were following me. I came to two conclusions, either I was the weak link being sent to a place for dunces, or the found me spectacular in some way. I couldn't comprehend either quite frankly, I found myself quite average, and I liked it that way but alas I was on my way to this special division, not knowing what to expect.

As I stepped into the battle mage barracks an authoritative, feminine voice spoke, "Flare Frost?"

"Yes ma'am," I responded obediently looking at the stone gray unicorn mare with a brown mane that was at least twice as big as me, wearing a brown battle robe.

"Hmm, I expected you to be older. Nonetheless, welcome. I am Amethyst Shine, the commander of the battle mage division."

"I've heard about you, you're a geomancer right?" I asked.

"Indeed I am, so kid..." Amethyst began.

"What's your specialty, kid?" said a deep blue stallion with a sea green mane wearing a blue battle robe, an aquamancer I assumed.

"Well I... Haven't chosen what I want to specialize in yet." There was an ambient silence for a few moments as everypony looked over to me, then they all began to laugh. All save for Amethyst, she was smiling, but it was more of an appreciative smile. While I felt like was being looked down upon, she seemed to be looking straight on at me, at my level it seemed.

"So what are you interested in then, kid?" Amethyst Shine said causing everypony to shut up, not daring to piss off their leader.

"Well, I don't want to be pinned down by one type of magic, I kinda wanted to learn about all the types." I wasn't lying either, I really didn't want to be pinned down by one thing, but I may have exaggerated the all the types part.

"Very ambitious." said the aquamancer in a very snide tone. I could tell he didn't like me all that much, Amethyst however seemed...

"I like you kid, keep up with what you're good impression has left and who knows, you might even surpass me one day."

For the next two years I studied about five different combat magics and did some more weapons training. I eventually earned the rank of a blue mage sometime during the second year. As it turns out the robes showed rank not magic style. Who knew? For references sake of you the reader the ranks go, gray, white, green, blue, red, brown, gold (although it looks yellow), crimson, and finally black. I never saw a black mage through out the time I was training, however. I was told that nopony had ever received the rank due to it meaning you were skilled in a form of dark magic that had only been seen once before, and as much as I dug, I couldn't find what it was called. The night I did find out thought, was a very fateful night, the night were my story actually begins.

So, let me tell you about the night, the kingdom of Havel, my home, fell and the raging winter that followed.

***********************

Twilight lay in her bed, using her horn to create just enough light to read so she didn't wake Spike. She was about to turn the page and continue when she heard a smooth serene voice asked,"Twilight, what are you doing up this late?"

She looked up to her once mentor who was looking at her with a concerned surprise. "Princess," she said as she bowed her head, "I was just reading this Journal I found."

Celestia looked at the old leather journal and chuckled, "Ah yes, quite the adventures he had," she smiled warmly at the book, looking at it as if it were an old friend, "Out of curiosity, where did you find it?"

"Beyond the old metal doors marked 'Unlabeled' that I never had access to before in the royal library." Twilight said causally.

"So that's where I left you," She chuckled at the book, "Well Princess Twilight, as much as I would love to tell you, 'you really should continue reading', I really should tell you, you should get some sleep." as she set the journal on Twilight's side table.

"Good night Princess." Twilight yawned setting her head on her pillow.

"Good night Twilight." Celestia said as she closed the door to Twilight's room. As she started down the hall she chuckled, "She's so much like you were Flare."

Author's Note

I hope you enjoyed this prologue and if you liked it don't worry, more to come! (.... Eventually.....)

For the next month I probably will be quite busy with exams coming up. But with my trusty PlayBook I will write when ever I can find the time, where ever that may be!

Also, I am willing to do an audiobook and will most likely make a "soundtrack" for you guys in the near distant future (the audiobook will only be made if enough people want it and the "soundtrack" will just be songs in a youtube playlist, and suggestions are welcome.)

Any and all constructive criticism is welcomed, but know that if your opinion has no supporting facts (eg. I hate this because its stupid and I hate it.) it will be left there to rot in it's non-useful existence.

With that, have a great day, and I look forward to hearing from you.

Argentum

Chapter 1 - The Dark Magic

Chapter 1: The Dark Magic

Twilight awoke to the sound of birds chirping as dawn was just beginning to dethrone the night from its reign. She yawned groggily and looked over to her side table. She stared at the old journal that was resting there for a few minutes before remembering what she had read last night. In an instant, she hurriedly grabbed it with her magic and flipped to the page she left off.
"All types, ranks, black mages... Ah, here we are," Twilight mumbled. "The night the kingdom fell,"

**********************

The night I found out though, was a very fateful night; the night my story actually began.

So let me tell you about that night; the night the kingdom of Havel- my home – fell, and the raging, seemingly endless winter that followed.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I had been scouring the library for a full week, and still hadn't found any information on type of magic that black mages used. Needless to say, it was driving me nuts. I had even managed to sneak into the restricted section, but I’d found nothing. It was so frustrating, since there were ponies who knew about the magic, but for some unholy reason, they decided not to write it down, speak off it, or acknowledge its blooming existence! I had to figure out what it was, before it drove me crazy.

I was walking about trying to think of who could tell me what it was. Then it hit me. …Well, actually, I kind of walked in to her.

“Damn it, Flare! Watch where you’re going," the grey unicorn I’d just bumped into scolded playfully. Amethyst Shine, a skilled geomancer and my only real friend.

“I-I’m sorry, Amethyst,” As she began to walk away, I remembered back to how she had been the one to take me under her figurative wing and showed me the ropes, and most important of all, taught me about the ranks. Oh, and not to mention she was now a gold mage, so she had a ton of access to information that was "not for common eyes”. I was getting giddy just thinking about what I might have access to with her assistance!

I looked up when she was just about to turn a corner, and raced after her. "Hey, Amethyst, wait up there's-“
She stopped abruptly, and I collided into her again. "Ouch..." I moaned, rubbing my snout.

She rolled her eyes at me and sighed. "What do you need?"

"I would like very much for you to answer some questions I have about a certain kind of magic." I replied politely.

Amethyst chuckled. "You know, two years ago, when you said that you wanted to learn all the types of magic you could, I thought you were kidding. But now, here we are, and you are well on your way to becoming the first true mage in almost a century."

Still laughing lightly, she looked me in the eyes. "Fine, I'll answer your questions to the best of my ability."
I nearly jumped for joy. Of course, she wasn't finished. "I just need a little time to drop off this scroll to the high mage. Meet me in my chambers in five minutes,"

“Why not speak here, in the library?” I inquired.

“Why can’t you take orders like an obedient little colt?” Amethyst teased. Then she turned tail and trotted off to deliver her scroll.

I sighed and headed off down to corridor to Amethyst’s room. It’d taken me less time to walk there than I’d expected, so I began to pace outside her door, trying to organize the hurricane of thoughts rushing through my head. How am I going to ask her this? Should I be blunt? Should I beat around the bush? What is a bush? What is the meaning of-

I spun around to continue pacing in the opposite direction, and all too common painful sensation erupted on my snout, derailing my train of thought.

"Sheesh, is this how we are bound to meet for all of eternity?" Amethyst Shine joked as she steadied herself. Then she opened her chamber door and ushered me in.

"So," she said as she removed her combat robe. "What did you want to ask me?"

I shook off my distraction and re-gathered my thought. Then I took a deep breath. Here goes nothing. "Whatexactlyistheuseofablackmage?"

Amethyst Shine’s eyes were blank as she stared at me in confusion. She opened her mouth as if to speak, but I cut in before she had the chance.

"I mean, what I meant to say is… What exactly is the use of a black mage?"

She raised her eyebrow at me and responded coldly, "I heard you. You know it’s rude to interrupt somepony when they’re speaking,”

"I-I-I know," I stuttered. "I'm just nervous, that’s all. Please forgive me,"

She nodded in response. "Well, I really shouldn't tell you about the black mages…" she muttered. "…but as your friend, I think we can manage to keep this little secret between us."

I was ready to leap over hug her, but I somehow managed to restrain myself. "That’s fantastic! Thank you, Amethyst! I can definitely keep it a secret!” Hopefully.

“ … I just have one question,”

The grey unicorn looked at me expectantly, but not saying a word. “Yes?” I prompted.

“… Never mind. It can wait. Go ahead and sit down." She laid down on her bed, in a somewhat seductive manner. I couldn’t help but stare for a moment… or two.

"Flare, my face is here," she said, drawing me out of my hypnotized state. My eyes immediately darted to hers, and I rubbed the back of my head with my hoof in embarrassment.

Thankfully, Amethyst dismissed my actions. "Now then, we’d best get started. For you to understand this specific type of magic, I'm going to have to give you a bit of a history lesson. You know about our creator, right?"

I shook my head. For all the time I had spent in the library, it had never once crossed my mind to open a single history book. I was always too preoccupied studying up on different magic, or pulling a prank on the librarian.

Amethyst began to explain. "Well, all of ponykind was created by Mother Faust. She gave us unicorns our magic, the earth ponies their connection to the land, and pegasi their wings. After years of watching our ancestors struggle to survive, she took a special form so she could live among them and teach them how to use their gifts. She became an alacorn; a pony with a horn on its head and wings on its back that was taller than any regular pony. She brought all of them together, and after they’d learned all she wanted for them to know, she offered to be their queen. Our ancestors graciously accepted, and the newly crowned Mother Faust created herself a king to rule alongside her - another alacorn named Terra. Many peace-filled years passed in the first kingdom, but Terra's mind grew weak due to the circumstances of his creation. He fool-hardily tried to overthrow Mother Faust and take her power for his own. The dark magic he used against Mother Faust was called alacorn magic, and it is that which you seek,"
As my mentor breathed a heavy sigh, I straightened up and started to speak, but she cut me off before I had the chance. "Before you decide you want to learn it, let me finish the story. Mother Faust would have fallen that day, if it weren’t for a courageous earth pony servant who sacrificed himself to protect Mother Faust. He stole her cruel fate from her and fell in her place. As she watched her loyal follower fall victim to her husband’s terrible magic, Mother Faust drew up the last of her strength and banished Terra to the deepest hole she knew of; Tartarus. She then left our fates in our own hooves and disappeared from our world, taking the soul of the brave servant with her,"

I sat there, on the floor of Amethyst’s dimly lit bedchamber, thinking about what I should do with this newfound knowledge. If I were to pursue this dark magic, I could make history, and become the first successful black mage since this King Terra. Of course, I would surely be banished for delving so deeply in such evil arts…

"As for my question Flare…”

I glanced up. Amethyst had her head resting on her hooves, and was staring intensely into my eyes. I’d almost forgotten that she’d had a question for me.

“Yes?”

“I hope you don’t think me too forward, but… Do you have a marefriend?”

I tried to suppress my surprise at her bluntness by answering her without hesitating. "Uh… I, um… No? B-But… that’s not from lack of-“

My eyes widened as a wisp of chestnut-coloured magic swept over me. I felt myself being pulled closer and closer to the edge of Amethyst’s bed. Soon enough, our snouts were just inches apart. I’d never been this close to her to notice before, but she had a nice, calming, earthy smell, almost like a forest. I wondered if all geomancers smelled like this…

Amethyst giggled mischievously, and closed the distance between us as she kissed me softly.

I didn’t struggle to get away, nor did I kiss her back. To be honest, I didn’t know what to do. I just sat there, dumfounded, with my eyes closed, simply enjoying the way her kiss felt.

Just as I was beginning to relax, it was over, and I somehow managed to catch my breath. "… Of trying..."

Amethyst smiled and nuzzled my cheek. “And you wondered why I wanted you to come into my chambers…”

“You mean-“

"Yes...” she purred as she took the drawstring of my robe in between her teeth and tugged it loose, letting the brown cloth fall limply to the floor. “This is the reason I wanted you here, Frost…”

**********************

Twilight sat in her bed with the thick journal between her front hooves. Her wings were flapping eagerly as she read. She was intrigued by the information each page held, but also somewhat worried what she would find out when she read them.

She was just about to turn the page when a loud knock at the door startled her out of her concentration.
"Who is it?" she called, using her magic to slip a crimson ribbon into the book to save her place.

She heard her front door creak open, and Applejack’s southern voice echoed up from downstairs. "Are you ready yet, sugar cube? I thought you wanted us to help you rehearse for the Summer Sun Celebration tomorrow!”

"Oh… T-That's tomorrow?" Twilight called back meekly. She’d completely forgotten the plans she’d made with her five friends. "Hold on, I'll be with you girls in a moment."

She set the journal down on the small table beside her bed, but just as she was about to disappear down the stairs, she looked back at it. It seemed so vulnerable, so out in the open on that table. She hurried over and stuffed it underneath her pillow instead.

As she ran down the steps, Twilight recalled what she’d read. Alacorn magic, Mother Faust, the Dark Mage Terra... Why haven't I heard of these before? She pondered. But she pushed her questions aside for the time being, and went to join her friends.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Twilight and her five companions trotted over to an open field beside the courtyard of the Canterlot Castle, so that she could practice her flying. Twilight’s wings were still incredibly new to her, and if she wanted to stop careening into trees and other ponies every time she flew, she knew she would have to get used to them.

“Come on, Twilight!” a sky-blue pegasus with a multicoloured mane and matching tail called to the lavender alacorn. “I’ll race you to that cloud up there and back!”

“Maybe later, Rainbow,” Twilight muttered. Her previous questions had crept out of her subconscious again, and she was struggling not to think of them.

The pink pony with hair like a bird’s nest beside Twilight began to bounce up and down uncontrollably. “But if you don’t race, you won’t get any practice! And if you don’t practice, you won’t be able to fly! And if you aren’t able to fly, you could fall right out of the sky during your performance at the Summer Sun Celebration! And if you fall out of the sky during your performance at the Summer Sun Celebration, you could squish some poor, unsuspecting pony, just like that! Splat! Pony pancakes!”

Applejack, an orange earth pony with hair as golden as a perfectly baked pie crust, placed her hoof on the pony’s shoulder, holding her still. “I don’t think anything like that is going to happen, Pinkie Pie. Besides, Twilight knows how to fly just fine, right Twilight?”

“Huh? Oh, yes of course,”

"Twilight, darling, are you feeling alright?" asked a snow-white unicorn with a flawless violet mane.

"I'm fine, Rarity. I was just thinking… I mean… I have a question for you all," Twilight responded.

The pale yellow Pegasus hovering above the ground smiled shyly, ducking her head so that her soft pastel-pink hair hid her face, and whispered, “You can ask us anything, Twilight. We’re your friends,” All five of them grinned and nodded in agreement. Twilight smiled back at them. Fluttershy’s right. They are my best friends, but this is still a difficult question… Let’s see, should I be blunt? Should I beat around the bush? … Oh my gosh, I sound just like…

Before she could overthink her proceedings any further, Twilight blurted out, "Have any of you heard of the story of Mother Faust?"

Rainbow Dash, Applejack, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, and Rarity exchanged confused looks, then all together, shook their heads.

“Sorry, sugar cube,” Applejack said apologetically. “Is there anything we can do you help you find out about this ‘Mama Frost’?”

“Actually Applejack, it’s… Oh, never mind. And no, it’s okay. I’ll just go to the library after we’ve finished here and do a little research. Now, who wants a snack? I made sandwiches!”

Twilight levitated six sandwiches out of her saddle bag, giving one to each of her friends. They all sat down in a circle, under the shade of a nearby oak tree, where they talked and laughed together like they always did.

Author's Note

Thanks to my one friend for becoming my editor. Who knew having a Grammar Nazi friend would have perks. Anywhodle, I'm going to be swamped with work for the next week or two due to exams coming up, but lucky for me I get a week of after it! I'll also be taking a writers craft course during my next semester, so I may get even more writing time. So until next time, I hope you enjoyed the chapter and have a great day!

Argentum

Chapter 2 - The Fall of Havel

A soft creak broke the silence of Twilight's dim room as the door opened letting in light from the hallway. An exhausted Twilight trotted up to her bed and dropped on to it. She turned her head every which way in order to get comfortable, but there was a hard lump in her pillow. She frustratedly fluffed the pillow and set it back down, but to no avail. As she sat up and moved the pillow away she saw the journal, just sitting there, taunting her.

After a few moments of internally debating whether or not to read some more of the journal, she remembered what happened before she left. With her curiosity renewed she picked up the journal with her magic, got comfortable, and began to read.

******************

I awoke cuddled up with Amethyst, we had obviously done somethings I am still unsure of, but sweet mother Faust, I would go through Tartarus and back to have something that amazing happen again! Yet still I was unsure of it all, I liked Amethyst a lot, but I wasn't sure that I loved her. She was only a few years older than me, and we had known each other for two long years, and we were really good friends.

"Enough, confusing yourself Flare! Just roll over look at her and decide!" I muttered to myself, and obediently rolled over to look at her.

She was still sleeping there gracefully, her long chestnut brown mane was flowing over her eyes, breathing slow through her nose making a light snore that was really cute. Her stone grey fur was sleek and went perfectly with her body that had curves as smooth as a fine gemstone. And lets not forget how she treated me, she was very caring, helpful, and wasn't afraid to relax around me, and I felt the same way around her.

"So what's your choice?" I muttered again to myself. My choice, well it's obvious-

I had no time to answer myself as the entire chambers shook violently, waking up Amethyst in the process. We looked into each other's eyes, oh those sweet honey gold eyes. We had no time to say anything as again the whole room shook. We mentally agreed on the same thing, we were under attack.

Frantically we put on our combat robes, hoping that we could quickly get out and fend off the attackers from our home. As we ran down the hall, Amethyst asked me," What do you think it is? Hydra? Pegasi? Ursa?"

"I'm hoping it's the middle, I really don't want to have to our only hope."

"As if you'd be a savior." She jokingly said as we came to a opening into the main courtyard. What we saw shocked us both. "What are they?"

There were many legions of ponies made out of different materials, rock, ice, fire, wood, you name it there was one.

"Atronachs.... And lots of them." I replied dumbfounded, I just couldn't believe what I was seeing. The amount of power it would take to summon this many would be that of a god.

As we watched many of our soldiers were being tossed around, frozen, burned... It was all surreal to me, Amethyst was getting closer to me, shielding her eyes to the carnage that lay before us.

"W-we need to find the conjurer, kill the conjurer, and we'll stop these." I said as confidently as I could, "Amethyst, go to the throne room and help hold off them as long as you can."

"Alrig- WAIT, what about you?" She said shakily.

"I'm going to find the conjurer..." I said quietly, unsure of even myself. I lifted my head and looked over to Amethyst, her eyes were wet and all she seemed capable of doing in that moment was staring.

"Prom-promise to co-come back..." she croaked.

After a moment of hesitation I said, "I promise."

After a quick embrace she fled to the throne room, I watched as she used her geomancy to pelt a flame Atronach and best it. As I turned to head to the source of the army a thought bolted through my head. What if...

~~~~~~~~~~~

I ran as fast as my hooves would carry me, dodging in between troops and atronachs alike, blasting some with concussive blasts when needed. I was making my way through out the residential area for low class civilians on my way to the castles gate when I saw a family being backed against a wall by a ice golem and a rock atronach.

They were pleading for their lives, but the soulless creatures were paying no attention, the just slowly moving in for the kill. That is until I used the rock pony to shatter the ice golem with my levitation. After it was surely dead I chucked the rock violently towards the gate in hopes I'd at least damage one of the other soulless creatures.

I looked back to the family who was still cowering. "Quickly get to safety!" I said as authoritatively as I could. They immediately ran off, I was kinda annoyed that they didn't even give thanks, but under the current situation, I really didn't blame them, but the father seemed to give me a dirty look before they ran away. It bothered me for a moment, but quickly escaped my thoughts as I continued to run towards the gate.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I was nearly at the gate when I saw the conjurer. Who ever it was, was wearing robes that completely encompassed their body. A long white horn came out of the hood, and the only facial feature I could see was their eyes. They were red irises with green where white should have been, and a purple stream seemed to be flowing away from them.

Who ever it was had seen me, due to my less than stealthy entrance. The conjurer just eyed me for a few moments, while I stood there. I could feel rage flowing through me, I was ready to strike, but the conjurer just laughed at me with its distorted voice, making it impossible for me to tell if it was a mare or a stallion.

"This is the finest they could send me?! Oh how pitiful, I shall clam this land in king Terra's name more swiftly than thought." the conjurer bellowed.

It was official, I loathed this pony already and it was going to die. I didn't even hesitate as I unleashed a volley of energy blasts and dodged to cover. In less than a moment I heard them all deflect off in many directions. As I moved out of cover to send another blast at the conjurer, the building that was my cover exploded into rubble.

I looked at the conjurer from while I was lying on my back, I saw the conjurer's horn bubbling with a varying violet energy with traces of green with in it.

"YOU INSOLENT FOAL! DID YOU REALLY BELIEVE YOU COULD BEST THE POWER OF KING TERRA?!" The conjurer bellowed as it pulled me closer with its magic. "I WAS BESTOWED THIS POWER BY THE PRECIOUS CREATOR!? NOW FEEL! THY!! WRATH!!!!"

It was then I was zapped with the violet energy, pain tore through my body, it was almost unbearable. I knew I screamed, but but I couldn't hear or see anything. As it began to die down I heard the conjurer mutter something about resilance as it began to bash me against the wooden stakes a top of the walls. With one final thrust I felt something break as I went flying, after what felt like an endless free fall, I splashed into something as my body and mind went numb.

***************

Twilight sat in her bed dumbfounded, she slowly slipped her bookmark to the next page and placed the journal within her side table.

'Did Flare Frost just... Die?' She thought to herself.

Millions of thoughts began to rush through her mind, the most prominent being, 'What about Amethyst Shine?'

Having even more questions flow through her mind, she decided to call it a night and read on in the morning.

Author's Note

Sorry for the short chapter (and the long wait). School made it hard to write (and even harder for my editor to be useful). As compensation, the next chapter will be up very soon.

Hope you enjoy the chapter, and as always: constructive criticism is always welcome and appreciated.

Have a great day!

Chapter 3 - Lost Time

Twilight awoke to a tugging at her side, "Come on Twilight, today's the big day!"

"Mmm wha..." Twilight mumbled groggily as she looked out the window to see that it was still night, "Spike its-"

"Don't tell me you forgot," Spike sighed as Twilight gave the baby dragon a confused look, "Twilight, is the summer sun celebration."

Twilight's eyes went wide as her breathing increased,"Oh no, don't tell me I over slept!"

"You think your number one assistant would let you down?" He chuckled triumphantly.

With her panic attack over, Twilight quickly began to get ready for the big day ahead.

~~~~~~~~~

A very tired Twilight trotted into her dim room, she took of her new crown and plopped onto her bed. After a few moments she rolled over onto her side and faced her side table. After remembering what she had read the night before, she levitated out the journal flipped open to the page she was at, and began to delve within the story once more to answer the question that boggled her the previous night.

*************

A cold feeling washed over me as my mind slowly came back to its senses. My hearing was fuzzy at best, body numb, and as I attempted to open my eyes, my vision was flooded with a flurry of colours and haze.

After what felt like hours in my numb state, my senses began to come back to me. It felt like I was lying on a bed, and I could hear somepony moving around. I twitched my ears and attempted to follow the sound.

"Oh, you are waking up, aren't you?" A sweet feminine voice said. I moved my head slightly in the direction of the voice and attempted to open my eyes once more.

However, this time instead of just a hazy mix of colours, I saw a figure, it seemed to be of a gray blue stallion with a fading black mane. Then it spoke to me in a somewhat gravelly male voice, "Rise and shine Flare Frost, Rise and shine..." His eyes were a pale blue-green that just stared at me, and seemed to pierce my very soul, "Not to imply that you have been, sleeping on the job, but, lets just say your hour has come..." he simply continued to stare at me, every now and again flashing images of fire, broken stone, a crown shattered on a throne room floor, and the conjurer amidst his army of atronachs, but he was always there as semi transparent apparition. " The right pony in the wrong place can make all the difference in the world..." He finally appeared right in front of me, in a gray shade this time. "So wake up Flare Frost, wake up and smell the ashes." as he said that final line he floated back and slowly disappeared as the room came into view.

The room I was in was quite bland, there was a few cabinets filled with various herbs and liquids in bottles, but asides from that it was simple room in a wood cabin. It was the mare looking at me from beside a table just left of the bed, she had a vibrant sapphire blue coat with a glistening violet mane and her dawn magenta eyes were almost irresistible.

She continued to stare at me for a few moments before she called out, "Doctor Bezon, he is awake."

"OH eXceLlent!" an exotic male voice called from the other room. I heard various clangs and crashs before a very odd pony stepped into the room. He was black and white striped (or was it white and black striped?) like nothing I had seen before. His mane was the same way, although the stripes were very random compared to his body, and his green eyes seemed to be very small and jitter around within whites that seemed much to large. "NoW, lEts seE the RocOvEry."

The "doctor" then started to rub his hooves all over my chest, forelegs, sides, and my face. In a very random order.

"iT sEEmS tHaT He hAS aNd WIlL mAKE a fUlL RecOVerY!" 'Doctor' Bezon said, giving a mad giggle every now and then. He then bounced out of the room in a very clumsy fashion nearly smashing into one of the cabinets.

"Sorry about doctor Bezon, he's just a bit mad. Brilliant, but mad." The sapphire mare said with her voice that was as smooth and sweet as honey. "So what's your name?"

After a few moments of staring slack jawed, I came to my wits and spoke, "Oh me," I said hoarsely, "I'm Flare Frost, from Havel. And... Where am I exactly?"

"Havel... Hmm, well your in the little town of Vasne," she said with a touch of worry, "Umm, I should probably tell you that..."

"Havel fell?"

"Yes," she said, her voice full of remorse, " And... You have been unconscious for a week now."

I went slack jawed again, "Did... Did Amethyst survive?" 'stupid me, how would she know?'

"From what we have heard, pretty much everyone survived hone, but... They are all slaves now."

I just lied there dumbfounded, then after a few moments I rolled out of the bed and stumbled towards the door. After doing possibly the best impression of doctor Bezon anyone had ever done, I made it outside. The mare who's name I had not gotten yet was calling after me urging me to take it easy and rest.

She had caught up to me I asked her with a fiery rage even brighter than my mane, "Which way?!"

As she made her way outside she began to shiver, I then noticed that it was lightly snowing... In the middle of summer? Had I actually been out for longer than a week?

"You can't be thinking of going there, Its a 4 day trip north, and this crazy weather has been getting worse each day!" I noticed something odd about her, on one side she had a wing, but there wasn't one on the other side.

"You're a pegasus?" I asked, somewhat stupidly I might add.

"I-I," she stuttered, "I was... How are you not cold anyways, its freezing!"

"What? Oh, well I did study a bit of cryomancy," I elaborated, "and what's your name anyways?"

"Come back in and I'll explain everything you want to know." She said as she stepped back inside. Obediently I began to stumble back, but before I entered I took a look at the town. It seemed lifeless, abandoned house all over, ponies packing caravans in order to flee south to warmer places (most likely hoping to gain access to the crystal kingdom), and the skeletons of what used to be a busy marketplace and thriving farms.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Dusk Dash, once the lead combat medic of the Grand Pegasi Army, star flyer, and caring mother. The once pegasus whom had found me floating on a stake in the river and saved me. Now she was Fallen Dusk, all because of a jealous apprentice who knew he would never be able to surpass such a good mare. He had cut off her left wing in a scouting mission to retrieve a fallen soldier.

"So you'll never get to see your family again..." I asked.

"Yes..." she said quietly.

"... And they think you are dead..."

"mhmm," she answered with an annoyed tone.

I sat there for a moment, "Seems like were in a similar boat."

"Except you have a chance to get it all back I don't," she said looking away, it made me feel bad for comparing us. She was right, my situation was infinitely better than hers.

"I'm sorry," I said as sincerely as I could and then stood up (noticeably less wobbly this time), "I wish I could help, but, have to go save my home."

"How are you going to do it? You think you can do it alone?" Fallen Dusk asked me, with a very firm tone that was almost authoritative.

"I've got to try," I stated as I shrugged.

"Well I'm coming with you."

I looked back a the one winged pegasus, I found myself dumbfounded that she was willing to help with barely any information about me or anything I was going to do for that matter.

"And don't think I can't help, I still can use a bow," I chuckled at the thought of her trying to use a bow with out magic.

After a few moments of thought, I realized I really didn't have any say in the matter (damn stubborn pegasi) and welcomed her to my nonexistent group of rag tag heroes.

~~~~~~~~~

Dusk had "given" me a choice of armour I could wear for the journey to Havel. Most of it was bulky and not suited for me, due to me being smaller (Damn you youth!) so I took a light leather barding that was more suited for enduring the cold that protection.

Due to my cryomancy training making me more resilient to the cold, it seemed completely pointless. But its not like I had a choice in the matter. After I had gotten it on I saw doctor Bezon packing a bag full of herbs and a few other supplies.

I trotted over and asked "Where are you going?"

"HoME mY PaTieNt, HomE." he said in a less maniacal way, " It HaS gOt FAr tO cOlD fOR Me, BuT I Do hOPE wE wIlL meEt aGAin soMe TiME." he finished after shaking my hoof vigorously.

As he started to trot away I gave my thanks. He simply nodded his head and smiled. Then I sat there, Dusk was putting her armour on and I had absolutely nothing to do. So I sat there and drew a few things in the snow, but moments later however I heard someone shout, "Vergen has fallen! Please anypony, help!"

I turned around to see a fully armoured Knight rushing towards the small town before collapsing a few meters away from me. I quickly trotted over to him, I could see tufts of a deep blue mane poking out of the front of his helmet which was a royal purple with white details that swirled along the edges of it. His horn was dark grey that reminded me of metals used for making armour and weapons. My eyes met with his green eyes that were filled with terror.

"What happen?" I asked in a curious voice, my eyes moving to the deep scratches in his tough metal armour, "Cause you look like you've been through the deepest pit in Tartarus."

"A Litch king..." he stated while breathing heavily," He just showed up out of nowhere and we were over whelmed...."

'This can't be a coincidence,' I thought to myself. A brief moment after pondering it I asked, "Where there any atronachs by chance?"

"No... I do... Actually yes... They broke down the walls..." he said losing strength by every passing moment. I had to move him, only problem was, he was heavy. Like extremely heavy, not going to be able to lift even with magic heavy. So, naturally I dragged him all the way to Fallen Dusk's house.

I assumed by the look on her face when I dragged him in she wasn't very impressed. So It's a good thing I really didn't care at the moment. After explaining how a knight could be very useful to our cause, she used her remaining wing to grab a bottle filled with a strange blue liquid and made him drink it.

I watched as a cut on his muzzle closed itself, I was quite frankly shocked. "See I told you doctor Bezon was brilliant." Dusk said, chuckling at the stupid expression on my face.

"He made that?!"

"Yes, and I think we should let our guest sleep." Dusk said trotting outside.

"We need to get his help," I said following her, "He said that he was from Vergen, any idea where that is?"

"Not exactly, but it is closer to here. However its almost due east, near the mountains, where Havel is northwest." She explained pointing her hoof to show the directions.

As I looked East, I saw a few mountains, quite large, but were shadowed by a huge mountain far south of them. It seemed to touch the sky, cutting any low flying clouds mercilessly. It stuck out like a sore hoof really.

"What about that mountain?" I asked pointing at the colossal piece of land jetting towards the skys.

After Dusk had seen what I was pointing at she gave me a confused look, "That is the horn of the world. I heard there was once a altar near the top where ponies would go to worship Mother Faust."

I nodded in understanding. "Dusk?"

"Yes Flare?"

"Depending on how things go after the knight wakes up, there is going to be a change in plans."

**************

Twilight slipped her velvet bookmark within the journal as she looked out the window of her room. The moon was at the peak of its journey through the skies.

As Twilight placed the journal within her nightstand, she pondered, 'Why haven't I heard of these kingdoms and their cultures before? Surely they must have survived, right?'

Putting the thoughts to rest she decided that her questions would be answered within the journal as she rested her head against her soft pillows and drifted into slumber.

Author's Note

And here's the other half of the double update. Sorry to keep you guys waiting (even though at this point I think my audience is quite small but whatever, I still love you guys for reading the story.)

Yet again, Thank you for reading this story and remember: constructive criticism is always welcome and appreciated.

Have a great day!

(p.s. It's name the reference time! that's right, there's a reference with in this chapter, can you spot it?)