Shattered Reality

by The Lost One

Chapters

Prologue: Reminiscent
Chapter 1: Dreamscape
Chapter 2: Family
Chapter 3: Training

Prologue: Reminiscent

PROLOGUE: REMINISCENT

October 18th 1483 A.F., 7:20 A.M.

Castle of Faust, Badlands, Equus

*Journal Entry # 16

Date: October 18th, 1483 A.F.*

It’s been a full year since my rebirth and nothing seems to have changed. I still wallow in self pity and despair every waking moment, longing for the touch of my loving Luna only to feel the cold seep deep into the cracks of my body. I dare not reveal myself to her though, not in the state I am currently in nor do I find that I have courage enough to reveal myself to her or my once beloved friends.

On the rare occasion I would visit the site at which I was buried, letting the cold wind flow through my bones and slowly growing muscles. No longer was I alive, but a skeleton regrowing the form of a living creature, luckily I had not developed most of my senses yet or I would be in shock no doubt from the pain. On my outings I kept a cloak on me to cover my face, but also put in place a spell to disguise myself as a regular pony.

On the rare occasion I would be joined by another pony who wished to pay respects to me or another family member or friend of theirs who passed away long ago or from the war that rages on. When a friend or family member of mine comes, I always find myself walking or teleporting away as they approach in fear of them discovering who I am. I constantly resist the urge to latch onto them, because I know I’m not that pony anymore.

The time I spent in the Abyss, as Faust calls it, made me lonely and depressed with only sad and broken thoughts clouding my mind. I wave them off the best I can only for them to return with the same voice I had heard during my descent there. The only two voices I ever heard, my voice and the voice of a creature I caught few glimpses of as it moved amongst the darkness with me. As to what it said is a story for another day, for I still fear its words from the bottom of my soul to this day.

I digress from my intentions of writing today though, seeing as this is the one year anniversary of the day I was reborn, I might as well celebrate it as my new birthday. Today I plan to make a visit to my grave and walk amongst the ruins of the castle to see if I may find the chamber Faust told me of. I’ve got a long trip ahead of me this morning to the Crystal Empire so I bid you adieu until later tonight or the next time I choose to write in your pages.

-Sit ad semitam reperio viam vestram pravis.-

-End of Entry-

I closed the journal shut on the cluttered spruce desk, holding my hoof on the cover as I sighed and stood from my chair. I took my hoof off to reveal the engraved cover of the journal, it had my name at the top and in the middle had the symbol of the army I once affiliated myself with, The Pack. Faust made me the journal a couple weeks after my rebirth while I was still holed up in my room trying to cry through empty eye sockets.

The pages were made of papyrus and the binding of her maroon mane and the covers of leather, engraved on the front was my name at the top. It took me two days to engrave the symbol of The Pack onto it, using a knife in hoof and black ink to fill in the lines. After I finished detailing the entirety of the book I had Faust cast a spell on it so that it would never age and never tear. I knew I was not going to write in it much, but I felt it a good way to put down my thoughts when they became too overwhelming for me.

I brought myself back to reality as I levitated the journal into a nearby saddlebag and locked the latches into place. It took me a great deal of time to even be able to do a simple levitation spell again, and even now its hard for me. Slowly my muscles regrew as a perk of being a true immortal, it meant I would be reborn, but this time Faust cheated my death and resurrected me as a Skeleton. Sadly she could not repair my muscles, organs, skin, coat, mane, tail, feathers, and magic, the best she could do is allow my body to repair itself over time.

The first thing to start regrowing were from my hooves up, and now I have muscle and skin on most of my legs with muscles and organs slowly forming through the interior of my body. I still feel nothing so I do not know of the pain that courses through the growing parts of my body. Most of my senses dulled to a point they are almost useless. My hearing, taste, feeling, and smelling are slowly coming back now but my sight, for some odd reason my sight was perfect when I returned with no impediments even with no eyes.

“Ahem” I was startled by somepony clearing their throat to my left. I quickly turned towards them to find it was Hazed Star who was trying to get my attention, just as most everypony here he was too a skeleton. Sadly though he would never regrow as I am.

“Illius me paenitet, seems I am lost in thought this morning Star. What mayst thou need of me?” I proceeded to ask him to break the silence. If I could show any emotion it would be that of great embarrassment.

“Tis nothing that I need of thee, but what I do request of you. I for one wish you a happy day of rebirth Lost Solstice, but I do request that you find time to take a stop here on your way out.” He reached into his ribcage, pulling out a slip of paper with an address on it. “If it be worthy of your time, wouldst thou bring the book upon the back of that slip back to me?” He proceeded to ask as I turned it over.

The title of the book was, “Legends of Old”. I looked up to him trying to raise an eyebrow but forgetting I didn’t have them I proceeded to question him. “I may pick this up upon my return through Appleoosa, the name may be odd but it shall not hinder it. Only one question I ask to thee is what it may be for?”

He straightened up in what I’ve found as his way to express his happiness. “Great! It be for research, nothing more nor anything less." He finished.

"Alright, be that as it may, I shall pick it up on my way back, also thank you Hazed Star for wishing me happy rebirth even though I am still a ghost to Equus. It means a lot." I put the slip into my saddlebags and held a hoof out to him. He shook it wholeheartedly as he turned to leave through the entrance of the castles main study.

As he exited the study I looked down to my hooves, losing myself in my thoughts once again. As much as it pained me to admit to anypony, Hazed Stars company is something that I now long for because with him I don’t feel alone. Him of everypony in the castle, was the one I could rely on as a friend.

After I was brought back to life, he was one of the first ponies that talked to me, not down to me but actually to me. He treated me not as a superior or an inferior to be the case I’m in, but as an equal standing pony to him. He is the only friend other than Faust that I have right now.

I brought myself back to reality, remembering I had a train to catch this morning that would take me to the outskirts of the Crystal Empire. I pulled the hood of my cloak over my head and cast the disguise spell on myself before walking towards the exit of the library and out of the castle.

October 18th 1483 A.F., 4:18 P.M.

Crystal Station, Outskirts of the Crystal Empire, Equus

My trip to the Crystal Empire was quite uneventful, and quiet. Just the way I like it. Nopony in the car I was in spoke to one another, keeping to their own devices.

As we arrived to the station we were greeted by the Pack guard, checking everyones ID’s and birth certificates to make sure no one was an Equestrian Legionnaire. Luckily I had brought fakes of both that imitated the real deal, each one based off of my real ID and real birth certificate. My new name was Bright Prism, a weird name to most but a name nonetheless.

“Please remove your hood sir.” One of the guards asked as I handed him the ID and certificate. I complied, removing my hood, keeping my eyes shaded from the light. My coat was a pristine white that almost shimmered, my mane and tail were both an almost fluorescent rainbow due to the myriad of colors that danced through them. My mane was flat against my shoulders and back, reaching halfway down my forelegs before stopping. My eyes were a turquoise blue that would pierce even the darkest of nights.

The guard read over the certificate with prying eyes to find if there were any signs for it being fake. He looked up at me only a few times to make sure everything was in check with the certificate and identification card. After he finished checking over it he handed it back to me.

“Everything seems to be in order, please enjoy your stay in the Crystal Empire Mr. Prism.” He stated, his face as stern as ever. I gave a slight nod before returning the ID card and certificate to my saddlebags. As I started to turn around I felt a hoof being placed on my shoulder.

I turned towards the pony putting their hoof on my shoulder to find myself staring face to face with someone I wished not to see. Standing there with her lavender hoof on my shoulder, on top of my cloak was none other than Twilight Sparkle.

My breath caught in my throat as I realized she was no longer a unicorn, but an alicorn. She was looking at me with questioning eyes that seemed to stare into the very being of my soul. Time stood still as I took in the memories that flooded back to me, but I was quickly pulled back when I saw her start to speak.

I shook the thoughts from my head before responding, “I’m sorry miss, but could you repeat that, I was lost in thought for a moment.” I stated as I turned to her fully now. She gave me a small smile.

“I was asking if you were alright, from what I can tell you don’t seem very happy?” She stated, her gaze softening as she lowered her hoof.

I looked at her for a moment, looking into her eyes to find that she was being sincere about wanting to know. I gave a sheepish smile. “Tis that obvious huh?” I started, “It’s true, I visit the Crystal Empire not for joyous reasons but to mourn somepony at the Crystal Graveyard.” I finished, letting my gaze drop to the ground.

“Oh…I’m so sorry,” Twilight started, causing me to look back up to her feeling as tears started to well up behind my eyes. “um if it isn’t too much trouble, do you mind if I join you? I’m here for the same reason.” she finished her voice becoming low and laden with sorrow. I gave her a small smile, wipping the singular tear from my right eye.

I lifted my head up and gave her a quick hug. “It would make my day a little less gloomy if you would, but first may I ask your name?” I asked pulling away from her.

“Oh! I’m so sorry! My name is Twilight Sparkle, and you are?” She replied quickly blushing slightly.

Of course, I already knew her name before hand but if I were to just say her name, it would turn into an even more awkward situation than it is now. “My name is Bright Prism, tis a pleasure to make your acquaintance Miss Sparkle. Shall we be on our way?”

She gave me a smile before we started to walk to the stairs on the left side of the train station platform, onto the gravel path that lead to the center of the Crystal Empire.

October 18th 1483 A.F., 5:04 P.M.

Crystal Square, Crystal Empire, Equus

On the walk to the main square in the center of Crystal Empire, underneath the Crystal Spire, Twilight and I talked about our interests and fond memories that played a major part in our lives. Mostly we refrained from talking about the ones we came to visit.

It tooks us only a few moments to get to the Crystal Graveyard from the Crystal Square. As we approached the entrance to the graveyard, I stopped. Twilight stopped beside me, looking up to the sign above with a sorrow filled face.

“It seems we have arrived…” I mumbled quietly, not hiding the sadness that was heavy in my voice as I crossed the threshold.

“Yeah…” I heard her mumble from behind me as we started to walk in the same direction. We stayed silent looking around at the graves that littered the seemingly endless graveyard. Many of the tombstones were made of marble slabs, carved into each one was a saying they were most remembered for, their name, and the span of their life.

As we got further into the graveyard, the gravemarkers started changing more and more. Becoming more diverse and unique, marking that we were starting to get into the rich section of the graveyard. Far ahead of us I could see the gravemarker of the one I came to see. My gravemarker.

“I take it you’re here to see someone of prominence?” I heard Twilight ask quietly from behind me. I stopped dead in my tracks as I quelled the anger inside of me.

“Twilight, everyone that died is of prominence to me. Whether I knew them or not, so please do not refer to the rest of them as if they are not important.” I stated, not trying to hide the irritance in my voice.

“I didn’t mean it like that Prism-” I cut Twilight off by putting up a hoof.

“You may of not meant it like that, but it was said that way.” I stated as I started walking again. The rest of the way we walked silently, both of us heading directly for my gravemarker.

The gravemarker was made of a crystal, just as most of the rich markers were, but what made my gravemarker stand out from the rest of them was the unicorn made of pure crystal that stood on top of a marble platform. On the front of that platform laid a plaque.

In remembrance of Vice Commander Lost Solstice

Born August 7th, 1470A.F. - Died October 18th, 1475A.F.

Husband, Friend, Father, Soldier

“When I am gone do not remember me for who I was, but for what I did.”

Underneath the writing was my cutie mark, the Theta-Delta symbol. I sat in front of the gravemarker in silence with Twilight sitting beside me, her in silence as well.

I started to lose myself in thought once again.

I had protected all of them, but not without a cost. Every waking moment I remember back to that day and how the events played out, starting with the kidnapping of you Twilight. When I found that out, I couldn’t sit there doing nothing especially when I saw what they did to you. No longer though, do I find myself regretting what I had done.

What I gave up to defend the ones I love was worth it to the end, and never will I look back with a second thought upon it. I did what I believed was right and what I believed would bring a long standing end to the bloodshed of the war. Never once had I thought, that what I did would take my life away or affect anyone as it did throughout the world.

Luna, everyday I think about you and our child, waiting for the day I can finally hold you both in my hooves again. I love you and I miss you so much. I hope the day I come back you can forgive me for hiding away, but if you were to see me in this state it would only bring more pain than anything else.

I was brought back to reality when I felt Twilight start hugging me, I also felt tears streaming down my face and heard her silently sniffling. It took me a moment to return the embrace, but when I did I felt a pang in my heart.

Her single act of kindness towards a pony she hardly knew, or at least thinks she hardly knows, made me feel happy. Through my year of recovery, not one pony that I knew ever hugged me or even opened up to me as she did in this short span of time. Twilight, you sure are something else.

I broke away from the embrace after a couple minutes and wiped the tears from my eyes. Twilight turned away from me and placed a hoof on the plaque on my gravemarker.

“So, you came to visit him as well?” She asked quietly. I walked up beside her and gave a small sigh.

“That I did Miss Sparkle, you could say that he was like a brother to me.” I stated solemnly. Twilight looked over to me with still misty eyes.

I could see on Twilights face, even through her current mood that she didn’t understand. “He must’ve not talked about me much, from what I can tell you two were close friends, am I correct?” I probed.

Her eyes widened, but she turned away before speaking, trying to hide her face under her mane. “He…he was more than a close friend…he was like family to me.” She started, “It’s all my fault that he’s dead to begin with…if I…if I never got kidnapped, he might still be alive.” she finished, almost breaking down now.

“It was never your fault Twilight.” I heard a familiar voice say from behind me that caused my heart to skip a few beats. I slowly turned around, “No…”, I mumbled silently as I saw Luna coming up the path towards us, or more precisely the grave.

I kept telling myself to run, to run and never look back, but for some reason I couldn’t. Time slowed as Luna approached, watching as her starfield mane flew in the cold breeze. Her beautiful teal eyes shimmering in contrast to her dark blue coat.

My heart was pounding ferociously against my chest, begging me to leave. My hooves stayed firmly planted on the ground, not moving a nanometer no matter how much I begged them to.

By the time I managed to move one hoof, she was already right next to us. “Hello there, who are you?” She asked as I was brought back to the current time.

I found myself brought mute as I heard her voice. Twilight was looking at me as well, waiting for me to answer her. “I’ve got to go.” is all I could bring myself to say as I felt my motor functions return to me, sprinting down the gravel pathway as fast as my legs could take me.

Not once did I look back as I flung my hood over my head as I reached the entrance of the graveyard. I ran as fast as I could towards the train station, taking no time to breath.

As I reached the platform there was a train already waiting at the station, ready to leave back towards the station in appleoosa. “Bright Prism! Wait!” I heard Twilight yell from behind me as I jumped into the train car as it started to pull away from the platform.

Chapter 1: Dreamscape

ChApTeR 1: dReAmScApE

Come the day my breath holds and my light burns out. Come the night my breath releases and my light ignites. Fighting for my life, fighting for my unknown strife. Lights ignite the air as sparks breaking against swords clashing. The fight for ones life starts, and the fight for the world ends. Chaos liberates him, yet harmony rejects him. The creature of darkness, the creature of light, the creature of balance, and the creature of disparity.

February X, MMCLXXXII B.F.

Frigora septemtrionemque vergentibus, Equus

The land beneath my hooves is covered in snow, yet the sky is barren of but the setting sun on the horizon. The air biting bitterly at my unshielded muzzle, the wind flowing silently through my ethereal mane, and the light of the setting sun slowly returning my strength. The world around me slowly darkening as the moon rises in the east by the magic of King Cosmos himself.

Taking in a deep breath and then exhaling slowly, I force myself forward as I slowly open my eyes to reveal the scene before me. Below the ridge upon which I stand, Discordiae stands against the forces of the Crystal Empire, their leader being King Tenebrarum.

“Perdidit Solstitium! Would you get down here and help?! I think you’ve had enough time to heal!” Discordiaes voice piercing the air, causing me to force myself off the edge of the ridge. As I was falling I felt myself start to charge a spell, as I hit the ground the spell released and sent a devastating shock wave through the ground causing the snow to fly into the air. Effectively it created a snow cloud to cover my movement as I charged towards Discordiae, horn ready with a lightning spell.

As I reached Discordiae, I could see he was busy with a platoon of Crystal Guards each one clad in crystalline armor and weaponry that was dulled due to the cover of the snow. “Perdidit Solstitium, enemy at 3o’clock!” Discordiae shouted, throwing an enemy into an oncoming spear, causing it to stop dead in it’s tracks.

I turned to face the oncoming enemy to find a hoof connecting with my jaw, causing me to stagger a little before returning the hit with a brutal shock of lightning. It sent him flying back into the snowbank with the lightning evaporating into the ground below.

I turned and starting running towards Discordiae who was riding himself of the last soldier by turning his armor into lava, melting the guard in a brilliant blaze. He turned towards me as I reached him and gave a smirk, “Took you long enough.”

I kept silent as I rolled my eyes and nodded my head in the direction of the army standing behind the snow cover. Sadly, our cover did not last long as a team of unicorns sent a huge gust of wind towards the front, causing it to disperse into the air and onto the ground.

As the cover dispersed we were greeted by the field army being led by King Tenebrarum, with him being at the head of it. His armor covered every part of his body, head to hoof, all except three defining features. His vibrant green and red eyes that had purple smoke emanating off of them, along with his satin curved horn and pure black ethereal mane and tail.

His armor was made of a darkened steel laden with crystals and gems varying from opals to diamonds. All along the armor it had intricate designs that were draconic in nature, making the design all the more fearsome to any would be enemies. Along his back he wore a gilded red cape, bringing together that he was of royalty, more precisely the king of the Crystal Empire at the time.

“You shall lay down thine arms if you wish to see another moment upon this planet.” King Tenebrarum shouted across the field, barely reaching us. “Leave us to our own devices for you nor Faust and her children take no rights to this land. Tis your last warning before we unleash Tartarus upon you.” He yelled, causing the world to fall into silence for all except the calm wind that blew over the battlefield.

Discordiae took a step forward, “Thou hast taken the last life of the Crystal Empire, King Tenebrarum. You took a chance at wielding the forbidden and now the time for thee to pay the price hast come, lay down YOUR arms and we will show you the way back to the light. If not than you will have condemned your own demise.” He stated grimly, his face in a deep scowl.

Laughter, not only from King Tenebrarum, took over the battlefield before falling into silence once again as he started walking towards us, his eyes glaring holes into our heads. “To say you of all should show me to the light is a joke in itself Discordiae, the God of Chaos have you not fallen from grace? Thou art more naive than even the smallest of fillies.” He said with a small chuckle.

As Discordiae started walking towards him I grabbed his tail in a field of magic, causing him to look back at me with a disapproving glare. I ignored it, shaking my head as I started to walk towards King Tenebrarum. Discordiae kept silent behind me as I approached him, my face expressionless but my mind yelling to attack him.

King Tenebrarum started laughing again, “So comes the silent one to no doubt glare into my soul, helplessly hoping that I will give in. You dare insult me so grimly?” He finished not bothering to hide his anger. I kept my stance despite him closing the gap between us.

“One so silent is the one thou dost not wish to burden.” I said flatly, causing him to reel back in surprise. My voice filled with no remorse for him. He quickly recovered from his momentary shock.

“So the silent one finally speaks? Thine voice is wise and laden with intelligence; yet the words you speak that of the naive Rulers no doubt.” He replied, this time his voice lowering and losing any anger he had from the last he spoke. “I’ve one question for you silent one, answer with what thou heart brings true as a last wish for either I or my son. Why dost thee personally stand against me?” He finished, losing his practically demonic voice almost entirely now.

I wore no expression as I spoke. “You berate me Tenebrarum, “ lowering my voice so only he could hear, “I work not against your goals but under my own to rid the land of Discordiae. The Queen and King did send me, not to attack you no, but to ask your help against my so said ‘ally’. We know of the items that go on behind your walls and know you are not of evil descent but Discordiae does cloud you in hopes to take your kingdom. So to thee I say you are saved.” As I finished I cast a spell on him that rid any influence Discordiae had placed on him.

King Tenebrarum shook his head vigorously and staggered a little before he finally fell to the snow. It took a couple of seconds for the spell to fully take its hold as I saw the eyes of his army fade to their normal eyes again. Shortly after King Tenebrarum slowly got into a standing position, holding his head with one hoof.

“Gah, my head…” He whispered staggering again, this time I caught him hearing a bewildered gasp come from behind me. I turned around to find the sound had come from a dumbfounded Discordiae.

“Thou hast made a grand mistake Discordiae, trusting the silence is allowing the light to shine through.” I shouted, my voice booming now. For the first time in a long time I felt the magic flowing through my body, burning my veins as I slowly started to turn.

It was cut short as Discordiae sent a spike through my stomach, large enough to pin me to the ground. Discordiae quickly made his way over to me and whispered, “Chaos is coming, and you nor anyone else can stop it.” when he finished, everything around me faded into darkness.

January 26th 1484 A.F., 9:57 A.M.

Castle of Faust, Badlands, Equus

I shot up in my bed, panting, drenched in sweat. The area on my bed where I was lying on my bed was drenched in sweat as well, along with some fur and feathers. I swiftly moved my hooves to my stomach, quickly I remembered it was only a dream, but I also remember it as an event that happened in one of my lives but playing out different than it had in the end.

I swung my legs out of the bed, slowing my breathing down so I could calm down and held my head in my hooves.

Over the past few couple of months, ever since I found that chamber the memories of my past lives come back to me every night as a dream. Even though I had dreams of other lives, that one was the most prominent one that replayed over and over for usually three days. Always starting off the same way above that ridge.

“Dreams again Lost Solstice?” I heard a voice split the air behind me, causing me to jump out of my bed fully revolving to the source of the voice. Standing there on the balcony outside of my room was Faust herself.

Once I came to the full realization of who it was, I felt myself let out a breath I was holding in by accident before responding. “Honestly Faust, you need to stop doing that to me. It’s starting to become a nuisance, not to mention a little creepy.” I stated flatly, pointing an accusing hoof at her.

She waved it off as she crossed the threshold of the room, making her way to my dresser. Laying on top of said dresser was my newest Journal, this one bound by a few strings of my mane to draconic leather from a dragon that had attacked the castle a couple weeks back. The engravings on the front were draconic as well, but the main symbol on the front this time was not The Pack insignia. The insignia present on the front now was my old platoon patch from the year I came to Equus.

The insignia was a grim reaper with skeleton wings on a shield patch that normally was worn on the shoulder. In the middle of the grim reaper was a crystal that was based off of the night sky, enchanted for it to look ethereal when hit by the moonlight. Under it, it had the Roman numeral ‘II’ or 2 in modern Equestrian language, and under that my name once again.

I joined her as she opened to the first page of the Journal revealing a warning that I had placed for those who would choose to read without consent. Of course Faust had my consent to read at her leisure as I knew she had no reason to deal with my thoughts and it was her who enchanted it.

The silence was occasionally broken by the sound of a turning page as she flipped through the Journal, taking in the information it possessed with ease. As she got to the last page that I had written on I quickly closed the Journal in worry of what she would think of the thoughts. Much to my surprise she didn’t object.

She only turned towards me saying, “I’m sorry Lost Solstice, if I knew the dreams would become that much…”

The room fell into silence as I took in her words. “Faust, you’ve nothing to feel sorry for. You know I was bound to see it soon and better sooner than I did later.” My voice quiet and calm, yet slightly burdened with sorrow.

Not another word was said as she exited through my bedroom door. The only sound of her hooves stepping lightly on the ground and the door creaking open and closing softly behind her. Again, I was reminded of how lonely I was now seeing as Faust was practically the only family I had now.

I was fully healed now and nothing kept me from getting stronger and learning, let alone keeping my mind preoccupied with learning of the lives of each and every creature that calls this castle home. Yet every night I had a single dream that would always make itself known from the depths of mind I have tried to keep it locked in.

The same dream that happened before the fall into my history. The same dream that always causes me to wake up begging for it to be real. The same dream that always tries to keep me with her until we can no longer breath. The dream of Luna and our son.

I felt a pain in my eye, causing me to jolt out of my thoughts. Thrusting a hoof to my eye I found that it was nothing but the shock spell I placed on myself that was connected to my thoughts. Every time I would think about that dream, the spell would send a shock through my body, emanating from my nervous system.

The shock had lost a great amount of potency from the day I began using it though, the shock hardly phasing me when I consciously thought of it. The times I accidently slipped into the thought, as I did now, causing a sharp pain in my left eye.

Enough is enough… I thought to myself. This pain and this dream have gone on for far too long. If I keep concentrating on it, one day it will kill me and I will never get the chance to see them again. …Faust, may you forgive me for what I do.

As the thought crossed my mind, I didn’t hesitate to start packing my saddlebags with my old and new Journal along with a single other possession. An item that I had obtained earlier this month from the castle in the Everfree, pure magical essence. Luna’s essence.

January 26th 1484 A.F., 6:42 P.M.

Grand Library, Castle of Faust, Badlands, Equus

The rooms center was cleared of any tables, chairs, and lecterns that littered its once cluttered interior. In the middle of the room now was a double ring, on the inside edges of the large ring were old symbols made of a magic mixture. The symbols to ward off any unwanted intruders and spirits that may try to take shelter in my body.

In the middle of the inner circle was a full moon with the mare in the moon, surrounding that full moon were all the phases of the moon in clockwise pattern it went as follows: New Moon, Waxing Crescent, First Quarter, Waxing Gibbous, Full Moon, Waning Gibbous, Third Quarter, then finally Waning Crescent.

Each of the moon's made of charcoal and bone meal, mixed with the small tube of Lunas Essence. The room contained 8 other unicorns, each one of them masters of a different type of magic; Light, Dark, Fire, Water, Air, Earth, Wards, and lastly Protection Magic.

The Master of the Dark Magic, Hazed Star. The Master of Light Magic, Sed Lux. The Master of Fire Magic, Dark Ember. The Master of Water Magic, Kindred Storm. The Master of Air Magic, Aerem Monstrum. The Master of Earth Magic, Fallen Timber. The Master of Wards and Traps, Sly Leaf. Last, The Master of Protection Magic, Clypeo Sancta.

All of them were once living unicorns from across the land, each one renowned for their talents from a young age. Most of them dying to the claws or hooves of those they trust for either making a small mistake, or stirring suspicion in the town they lived in. After their deaths, they resumed their studies into the magic arts they specialized in. Undisturbed, and secluded from the cruel world around them.

I looked around to find that all preparations were made for the trip into my mind. All of the Masters ready and waiting to activate their seals. Not one of their faces were readable though, considering one, that they had their cowls pulled over their heads and two, they were each skeletons.

As I started to walk towards the center, there was a loud knocking on the doors to the library. The room was only permeated by the sound of the flickering flames, casting the shadows of each of the Masters against the wall behind them along with my own against the entrance to the library.

As I started to turn back towards the center of the room there was another knocking, this time accompanied by a voice. “Lost Solstice! Don’t do it!” The voice rang through the solid oak doors.

“Please don’t do it Lost Solstice! I know it’s hard but if you do it this way, there will be no turning back!” The voice yelled again. I chuckled lightly.

“Faust, I dare not go back now. If it shall soothe thine heart somewhat, know that the choice was mine if I do not return.” I replied shouting. My voice holding no emotion at all.

That was when I heard it, when I heard her start to cry. “Solstice…please…please don’t do this…I’m begging you.” She said between her gasps for breath.

Hearing her cry broke my heart, it truly did. Yet my mind was already made up, “Forgive me Faust…” I said, letting a single tear fall from my chin before I turned towards the center of the room. I slowly made my way to the Mare in The Moon, urging every muscle in my body to continue despite the pleas she screamed.

I sat in the center of the moon, facing towards the entrance as the door finally opened. Sadly for her though, it was far too late for her to reach me as the barrier around the circle ascended towards the roof, closing the area with an airtight seal.

The sorrow and despair in her eyes through the translucent barrier. The pain, the anguish, the sadness, I could feel it all as she wept and screamed for me to stop. So I did the only thing I could do. I closed my eyes.

“Goodbye Faust…” I whispered quietly as the final tear fell off my muzzle onto the design below, causing the floor below to turn into an ethereal portal. The last sensation I felt was that of me fading into the darkness.

Unknown Date

The Mind of Lost Solstice

My eyes slowly struggled open as my sensations returned to me. First sight, second feeling, third smell, fourth taste, and lastly hearing. The world around me cast in a glow of a vibrant white light, the light casting the shadows of the ruins onto the wall in front of me.

I slowly got to my hooves, coughing lightly as I did so. The first thing that I noticed other than the shadows and light was that I was standing at the far end of a hallway, the ground covered in soot. I looked around to find the source of the light, immediately regretting it as it nearly blinded me.

Down the hall from me I could see the ground and walls breaking off into an empty area. What in the… is the only thought that came to mind as I spun around to still see the shadows of ruins on the area around me.

When I turned around again I could see the hallway starting to repair itself, urging me to walk down it. Gulping slightly I started down the hallway, keeping my pace slow and cautious with my mind analyzing everything at a million miles per minute.

As I got further and further down the hallway the soot on the floor started to clear away and the light started to dim slightly, fading into the light of torches. Shortly after I found myself standing in an atrium, but not standing alone.

In front of me stood a young Luna who could be no more than a few years old. She stood there looking at the skylight above her with an amazed expression. I looked around to find if there were another exit or entrance I could go through, but sadly I found none. When I turned around to go back the way I came, the hallway had turned into a solid stone wall.

I whipped my head around back towards the scene before me as a voice cut through the air.

“Luna?! Where are you?!” the voice yelled from seemingly nowhere. I looked around for a while before a door appeared behind where Luna was standing.

I kept my gaze on the door as it opened up to reveal the one who was calling to her. The one who came through the door at a lightning pace was Queen Solar skidding to a halt only a couple feet behind Luna.

“Oh thank Mother, Luna are you alright?” She asked worriedly, inspecting Luna thoroughly to make sure she had come to no harm. Luna paid her no mind, keeping her gaze stuck firmly on the night sky above.

“Luna?” She asked quietly, looking into her eyes to try and gain her attention. It was to no avail. The Queen sighed as she decided to sit next to her daughter, draping her right wing over her and pulling her close.

I watched the scene before me for what seemed like a lifetime before Luna finally broke the silence. “Momma?”

“Yes Dear?”

“I feel it again.”

“Feel what darling?”

“Someponies watching us, I can feel it.”

“Tis nopony else here my dear, only but us two.”

“Than…than why do I feel it?”

The room fell into silence as Lunas gaze fell from the skylight over to where I was standing. I froze in shock as I saw Lunas eyes stare straight into mine.

She slowly pointed a hoof towards me, causing me to start shifting uncomfortably as I looked around for an exit. The only exit being the door the Queen had come from.

When I looked back what I saw chilled me to the bone. Where Lunas eyes were, were gaping baren holes with small streams of blood flowing out of them.

“You left me…” was the only thing she said, over and over again she repeated that line. Having had enough I charged towards the door and down its hallway, the walls covered with paintings of a different pony. Each and everyone of them following me with their soulless eyes.

I quickly lowered my head and closed my eyes, charging blindly. It’s not real. It’s not real. It’s not real. IT’S NOT REAL! I screamed silently in my head.

A moment later I found myself falling face first off of the edge of the hallway and into the night sky. Quickly turning back I opened my eyes and saw the place I had just come from. It was a castle floating on large chunk of land, the area surrounding the castle filled with trees, bushes, grass, and flowers of all sorts.

What terrified me more than the floating landmass was the fact that it was bright, as if there were a sun shining on it despite the night sky surrounding everything. I started to flap my wings to slow my descent but quickly found that my wings had been stripped to the bone.

I turned to face the direction I was falling to find a snow laden landmass below me, this one significantly larger than the one I had just come from. Sadly for me, I wasn’t able to stop my descent or the pain that followed from me landing face first into a snowbank.

Oww is all I could think to myself as I crawled out of the bank, rubbing my head where I hit the bank. Hastily I was brought out of my stupor as the cold made itself known to me rather unpleasantly if I might add.

As I brushed the last of the snow off of my shoulders I realized that my wings were no longer boney, giving me the chance to fly into the air. Flying a few meters off the ground, I was quickly made aware of the place I was in as a spear flew past me.

This was the Crystal Empire, more precisely the day that The Pack had taken it as their headquarters. Lucky for me, the spear came from the battle happening beyond the ridge in front of me. Although what did pose the biggest question for me was why I couldn’t hear anything?

I flew a hundred feet up to get a clear view of the two clashing armies below me. At the head of The Packs army was none other than Azriel, and at the head of the Equestrian Legion Army was General Faio, a gryphon.

Below me I could clearly see the battle taking place, every stroke of the sword and spear, every arrow finding their mark in a soldiers head, shoulder, back or leg, and every spell being flung at their opponent. Yet not one thing was heard from it.

The world was silent, the world was not as it should be. The war that engulfed all of us was another pointless war towards a peace that wouldn’t last. The world was better off under the hooves of Celestia, despite the lies she had spun to make the peace last.

I could no longer take the scene before me, causing me to start flying towards the Crystal Spire. Not bothering to look back at the days I wish to forget. The days I were a demon.

As I started to approach the city, the stars went out and I burst through a shield, causing me to quickly draw in my wings and start plummeting. As soon as I realized that I wasn’t met by the ground I opened my eyes to find that I was falling again.

This time though, it was different. My wings were tucked in as tight as could be, but I was going upwards; more precisely I was falling upwards. Surprisingly the place I had been flying towards was nothing but an illusion splayed on the inside of an invisible sphere that kept the landmass suspended in the air.

I was brought out of my thoughts as I heard a soft weeping coming from the newly formed floor above my head. The weeping slowly grew to a loud crying. I started to slowly turn over to put my hooves on the ceiling, now the floor for me if you want to be technical.

I put my head to the floor in an effort to hear the any conversation that may of been happening outside of the crying. I could hear murmurs but they were drowned out clearly by the tears being shed. For Fausts sake, let me hear them! I thought to myself.

I got my wish, but not as grandly as I hoped. I found myself on the other side of the floor when I lifted my head up, the crying coming from directly in front of me.

My blood ran cold as I stared at the scene. In front of me on a hospital bed was…me. My eyes closed with a look of peace on my unmoving face. I looked to my chest to find that I wasn’t breathing and any signs of life had fled from my body not too long ago.

Out of curiosity to find the one who was weeping on my bedside, I quickly moved forward. Laying there at my bedside was Luna. She had my right hoof cradled in her hooves, mouthing something that was drowned out by her sobbing.

Seeing her in this state broke my heart to pieces, and yet what else did I expect? Just as she weeped now I had wept for Jazmine when I heard she was dead, more precisely that her death was faked now.

I was about to leave through the double doors that sat at the far end of the room when a shadow in the room caught my attention. The shadow was staring back at me.

“Show yourself.” I demanded. The only response was a crazed laugh as the shadow faded out of existence. Geezus, my minds creepy.

Waving it off as just another part of my broken mind manifesting itself I started to walk towards the double doors again. As I put my left hoof on the door I was quickly thrown off my hooves, landing in the middle of the room on my back.

“Oh but what fun would that be Lost Solstice.” Someone stated from the back of the room. I shook the shock of the blast from my body as I turned my upper body towards the source of the voice to find the shadow staring at me again.

I turned a little more, cracking my back then turning the other way and cracking it again. “You know, not a bright idea attacking me right now. For one I’m determined to see this through and two anyone or anything that gets in my way is nothing but a memory that can be destroyed.” I stated with anger lacing my voice as I stood on my hooves.

“Oh but I am more than a memory Lost Solstice. So. Much. More.” The voice said again, sending a black bolt into my chest. The bolt bouncing off onto the ground.

“Most who come to their own minds don’t know how to control their mind. Luckily for me I’m not most creatures.” I said flatly as I shot a lightning bolt at the shadow, causing it to scream in pain and disperse. “Lesson one, don’t enter a psychos mind without knowing them first.”

“Lesson two, don’t assume anything till all is done.” The voice retorted as I felt something pin me to the ground, quickly shackling me to the floor.

“Lesson three, memories act like dreams.” I stated as I faded through the floor and appeared above the creature that recently held me down. The creature was pitch black, almost completely opaque with the most notable feature being its yellow gleaming eyes.

“And lastly Lesson four, Never underestimate me.” I yelled as I conjured a sword above him. Jumping towards the sword off the ceiling and catching the sword in a veil of magic, I pushed the sword down the middle of the creature turning it into two separate shadows that quickly vanished into the air.

“We will see Lionel.” The voice laughed as the room fell into silence. I looked up towards the scene that held Luna and I, she was still crying and yet I stayed limp. I dispelled the sword and rose to my hooves.

“Requiescant in pace.” I whispered as I turned back towards the double doors and made my way out of the hospital ward. Beyond the double doors laid a waiting room, the benches nearby filled with my friends and peers all of them either weeping or silently cursing themselves.

My face darkened as I felt the pain I had caused them during my time. I turned away and let the scene fade as a distant memory. When I looked around again I found myself standing in the middle of an atrium.

Below me was a half moon, half sun insignia based off the cutie marks of King Cosmos and Queen Solar. Easier said in modern times as the symbol of Faust. However the room had not stayed as an atrium as the walls and roof faded out of existence.

The world around the platform slowly began to form as ruins and vegetation took over the surrounding area with the warm sun permeating the air. The scene before me was one I recognized, but a scene I tried desperately to forget.

The rolling hills encompassing the world around us to the edge of the horizon. The rare tree that dotted the beautiful and long untouched land. Yet as beautiful as the scene was, to me it was an ugly mar that Equus bid me to endure.

This was the day I had lost Jazmine, more precisely the day she died in my life.

At the far edge of the platform a younger, darker, and more anger driven me stood facing the sun with a face barren of any expression. Deep in his eyes a fire that burned for a lost love to return, but only strangled by the death that toppled this once joyous being.

I remember standing there for hours on end, not moving in the slightest, just letting the world continue its endless rotation of the sun. Never once breaking my visage. The only thought on my mind at that time, were the times I had spent with Jazmine and my old friend who no longer found it in himself to keep hold of his old life.

That was the day I truly knew the meaning of alone. The day I became a monster.

“When the day comes that I know the meaning of pain, it will be a day long remembered and a day I forget who I am.” The memory started speaking. The voice wasn’t coming from me or my past self, but from the memory itself.

“It will be the day I lose everything, the day that I become something less than what I really am. I will have endured a suffering greater than death itself and my sanity will break. The world around me will become a grim place where only pain and suffering brings me joy.”

“Even the most beautiful of places and images will only bring upon anger and despair. Those around me will be in danger, even if they’re the ones I call allies. The very thing that will have kept me steady, will break and fall away taking me with it. I will still be alive, but that day. That horrible day…I will die and something…malevolent shall take my place.”

The passage wasn’t just a random thing. This passage was what I told Jazmine almost ten years before, yet only being remembered now and recited in my head that day. Even the the passage was as old as the day my father was taken away.

I pulled my cowl further over my face to hide the scene from me as it only brought me pain. A day like this should be drowned by the sound of lightning and thunder in the skies above.

This place may be in my head, but that doesn’t make it safe for me. Still I need to push further into the dreams and memories. Both mine and hers.

“Lionel?” A familiar voice pierced the air in front of me. Must be a subconscious memory of someone speaking to me, just as many had tried to that day. I’ll just let it pass. I thought to myself.

“This memory must be painful for you, isn’t it?” The voice this time speaking directly to me. I stopped walking and looked up to the alicorn standing before me. Faust.

The Masters must’ve let her into my mind as well, no doubt not by their own choice. I gave her an angry glare, “Very” was all I could say and all I needed to say for her to know she overstepped her boundaries I set in place.

She looked down at her hooves before speaking. “I just want to talk, is that too much to ask?” she said quietly.

I didn’t hide my anger with her. “You chose to come to my mind, so yes. It is.” I stated angrily as I tried to walk past her my way blocked with one of her wings. “Don’t push me right now Faust, tis your only warning.” I said flatly as I pushed her wing back in and made my way to the grassy field at the edge of the platform.

“Why Lionel…why are you doing this?” She asked, this time I could hear her choking back tears. I turned back around to her.

“Why Faust? Do you really want to know why?” I asked, already knowing her answer. I made my way to her side and put a comforting hoof on her shoulder. Even though it made me mad that she came into my mind, it also made me feel at ease knowing someone else was there for me.

“The reason isn’t just to rid the dreams of Luna, Faust. I know you already know this. Mainly due to that anything I think is relayed into the thoughts of anything and anybody present here. Yet now you want me to confirm it, no?” I asked as she looked up at me, holding back her tears. She gave a small nod.

“Fine, but I find it will be easier to show you rather than to tell you, but we have to wait till we get back to the castle to do so, okay?” I said rubbing my hoof on her back between her wings. She gave me a small smile, rubbing her eyes with one of her hooves.

“Lets get going Faust, staying in my mind any longer than need be will be bad for me and extremely bad for you.” I stated as I held a hoof out to help her off her flank.

Chapter 2: Family

Chapter 2: Family

Youtube Video

Journal Entry # 102

Date: June 8th, 1484 A.F.

Happy birthday little brother, it’s been quite a long time hasn’t it? I remember the first day I met you 52 years ago, the day you came home cradled in mothers arms. I had been begging Dad to know when Mom was coming home with you. I had always wanted a little brother of my own after going over to Jacks house to stay the night, seeing how happy he was with his little brother. It was something I wished I could experience, no matter how young I was or you were.

That day you came home I was only 4 years old at the time, barely turned at that. I was so ecstatic that I was beaming from ear to ear. I didn’t know much at the time about babies, let alone how to take care of you but I never let that stop me. When you started to cry I was always the first to you, unless of course you were crying right next to Mom or Dad.

I remember the day Dad died and what became of me. When we finally got home I holed myself up in my room crying without relent from the tears. You waddled into my room and simply stared at me for a few moments trying to understand what was going on. Even though you probably couldn’t comprehend anything that was going on.

I looked up to you through my tear soaked eyes and snot covered face. You just as oblivious as ever, but what caught me off guard was you trying to hug me despite not knowing. I held you crying my eyes out. Soon enough we both fell asleep, you from just being tired and me from crying myself to sleep.

That day I made a pledge to myself, even if it were one that came from a child, that I would protect you until my very last breath just as Dad or Mom would’ve done.

From my first grade year to my eighth grade year I protected you from harm and did what I could for you. Me, you, and Mom. We were a happy family with not a care in the world. Yet that happiness was only the building that was to be the base of our demise.

I remember that horrible, horrid day. I was taking a test in Algebra when I got called to the office, I asked if I could finish the test but they said that I needed to come now. So I did what any kid with his head on straight would do, I did what I was told and went to the office without another moment of hesitation. When I got there I was greeted by the Principal, Assistant Principal, and a handful of cops.

All of them were saying sorry to me for reasons I couldn’t even begin to comprehend. That was until one of the officers took me aside and told me what had happened. My mom was killed in an accident.

Now I know that it seems normal for someone to cry, but I couldn’t bring myself to shed any tears. The only thing that came to me was anger, pure and horrid anger. I stood in that spot for a good thirty minutes before even taking a step, my head hung low and my eyes widened in shock but my fingernails stabbing deep into my hands causing them to bleed.

They tried to talk to me but I heard nothing of what they said. I simply walked slowly, occasionally tripping down the hallway towards my class. I walked in the door and a bunch of kids just stared at me, I went to where I was sitting packed my stuff and walked out. The teacher chased after me trying to get me to stop and return to class but I started to run.

I ran and ran, never looking back and never stopping. I didn’t care where I ran, I just ran. The world around me was just a narrow passageway of darkness. Surprisingly when I finally stopped running, I didn’t find myself at home or at any random place but at the front of your elementary school.

I walked into the school, hood up over my eyes and covering my face with my backpack slung on my shoulders. I walked down the 4th grade hallway towards your classroom. Once I entered the classroom I looked around finding you doing History work the teacher asking me who I was and why I was there. I didn’t say anything to her, only walking over to you. She yelled and yelled for me to get out, yet I tuned her out with only you on my mind.

I kneeled down and hugged you as tight as I could, telling you the horrible news through pained breathing and broken voice. The look on your face just destroyed me even further. I stood up and looked at the teacher through my broken eyes and said “He will be back when he deems he is alright. Neither you nor the administration of this school will say otherwise.”

She started yelling for help as I packed your belongings hastily and picked you up as you cried into my shoulder. I walked out of the classroom, the teachers and students all looking out of their classrooms at the scene that was unfolding to find us two. I heard sirens in the distance so I started to run, I ran and never looked back. I kept you in my arms as I ran, telling you everything would be alright, that we would get through this, that we were okay.

I ran home with you in my arms, you fell asleep halfway there leaving me with a deadweight, but not a weight I was unwilling to carry. When I got to the house there were already police waiting for us, so I woke you up ready to face what they had in wait for us. I held your hand as we crossed the barren street towards the police.

After that day I knew that I would always protect you as you were the only thing in the world that mattered anymore to me. We were placed in an orphanage in the town. Many families came to try and adopt us, but I would never let them take you without taking me or vice-versa. We were there in the orphanage for 5 years.

You were finally a freshman in high school and I a senior. That year was nothing but another tear filled one when you decided to run away from the orphanage, more so away from the pricks who constantly bullied you. I tried to stop you, sadly it was to no avail. It didn’t take long for those same people to come after me for the same reason they did you.

Only days after you had left did they start picking on me. For a few months I just ignored them, letting them have their fun. They insulted me? I ignored it. They hit me? I ignored it. They insulted my family? I drew the line.

One day when I was sitting at lunch, hood over my head to hide my pain, they had chosen to sit next to me. Each taking potshots at me with pitiful jokes and insults. They called me worthless, they called me loser, they called me stupid. Of course I had already believed I was worthless, stupid, broken, a loser, a nothing.

When I finally heard enough of them I said, “Leave me alone, you’re not funny nor are you cute. Just leave me be.” One of them quickly chose to throw me off the bench onto the ground behind me. I laid there for a second and picked up a piece of grass stuck it in my mouth, laid back and put my knees up.

“Thanks for that, now if you don’t mind I’m gonna take a nap, wake me up when ya leave alright?” I stated sarcastically pulling my hood further over my face and putting my hands behind my head. Of course afterwards they started making fun of me and kicking me to try and get at me. I let them continue for a while.

No one else had stepped in to stop it, not a student, not a teacher, heck not even the security guard. Of course they wouldn’t, the jerk offs were part of the football team and we were going to state so no one wanted to lose them. What made me snap was when one of them said, “Your mother deserved to die you loser!”

Once I heard that I grabbed the guys leg and flipped him onto his back and landed knees first on his chest. Everyone was surprised, my hood was flung off and revealed that my face was black and blue with blood coming out of my nose. “What did you say?” I had growled at him. He simply smiled back and said, “Your. Mother. Deserved. To. Die.”

Once he said that, before I could realize it I had broken his neck turning his head 180 degrees to face the ground. For the second time in my life, I had started to turn this time with more control and a stronger fire in my heart. My veins, organs, muscles, bones, my skin, heck even my hair felt like fire as I slowly grew into the menacing creature I had known many years ago.

Everyone that was gathered were either too scared out of their wits to move, or were smart enough to get away before hell broke loose. Almost everybody except for the guys who had started beating me up had fled to the safety of the building around the enclosed outdoor area. Yet the walls around us were made of glass so they could see what was going on.

They locked the doors behind them so the group and I couldn’t get in or out. I turned towards the star quarterback, standing a full 3 feet over him. I slowly walked towards him as he backed away from me, not taking long to fall onto his rear end and scrambling to the wall behind him as I stood over him. Eclipsing his small pee ridden form.

I grabbed him by his jacket and lifted him up above my head. “Remember this face and remember it well because the next time you see it, it will be the last one you ever see.” Was all I said to him before dropping him to the ground. I turned towards the rest of his little group, “The same for all of you.”

That day was a day I will never forget, nor will I ever resent. That day I never returned to that school, I gathered my belongings and left the orphanage. After about two years of solitude in the wilderness, even in your death you’ll never believe the way I survived, I chose to return to civilization hoping my image had faded luck had it that I did.

I chose to lend my skills to the United States Marine Corps. I was 18 at the time I joined and when I met you again was when I was 25. Just fresh out of the OCS. When I heard of a Corporal with the last name of Varellian I just had to find out who it was that had my last name. Of course anyone with a curiosity like mine would’ve sought that out as well.

Luckily for me you were being assigned to my regiment so I didn’t have to do much searching. That first day I saw you I waited until you were about to leave before pulling you aside, “Corporal Varellian, come here a moment would you?” I had asked.

“Sir?” You asked as you jogged into place in front of me giving me a salute. “At ease soldier just want to talk, informal of course.” I said, putting a hand on your shoulder. You gave me a relieved smile, “How would you like to go out for drinks later? Sound like a plan?” I offered you, causing you to tighten up again.

“Yeah I know a Captain asking a Corporal to grab a drink with em, don’t worry it’s fine.” I said hitting his shoulder with a playful punch. After that we met up at the pub downtown and before we entered the pub I asked, “I’ve got one question before we go in kid, what’s your name I mean your full name?”

You were taken aback by the question, “Shouldn’t you already know sir?” You retorted. I gave a smile, “Just answer the question.” I said rolling my eyes. “My full name is Neil Preta Varellian sir.” When I heard your full name my heart stopped and I fell into the chair behind me. “Sir are you okay?” you asked.

“You…you…you’re my…b…bro…brother.” I managed to stammer out causing you to become just as shocked as me. After that day, nothing was the same for me. A part of me was happy that you were okay and that you were where I could always keep you safe now. Yet another part of me despised you for running away back then, leaving me alone.

We fought side by side a few times, soon enough Jazmine joined us as well. Then the day came when I was running the rescue op to get you and Jazmine but that day I found you dead in the closet and Jazmine already miles away when I reached her.

Now I’m in a completely different universe separate from the universe we have come to know, or in the very least a multitude of galaxies away. My old life has faded and the new life I have taken is all but enjoyable being away from my only family I have left.

Hopefully some day soon I can do something to get them back. Maybe, just maybe, I can find a way to talk with you, mom, and dad again. I wouldn’t doubt it with how impossible this universe has been thus far in my journey. I love you little brother, and you will always live on in my memory despite the fact others may have forgotten already.

-Sit ad semitam reperio viam vestram pravis.-

-End of Entry-

Chapter 3: Training

Chapter 3: Training

October 18th, 1484 A.F. 3:35 P.M.

Crystal Graveyard, Crystal Empire, Frozen North

I watched from afar as the procession passed, mourning the fallen in the recently finished battle of Baltimare. The Pack was running a siege on the city to gain a port for their new Changeling allies. The siege was a success with little casualties, yet most of the casualties were high ranking officers. The casualties compared to that of the Equestrian Legion were staggering, it was a 3 to 1 ratio.

The siege took place over the course of the past month and only ended just yesterday. The damage to the city was great and the damage to the moral of the Legion was even greater. They didn’t lose many officers, but the deaths were not taken lightly as some of the soldiers stationed in the city had a family there they were protecting.

“We should be moving while we have the chance Solstice, we know not what may happen if they recognize you.” My friend Orion said quietly from behind. Orion was a rare breed, a Dragon-Pegasi hybrid. His mother an ice dragon and his father a pegasi, sadly both of whom were killed over a century ago by its nearby village inhabitants.

Orion found his way to the depths of the Badlands where the Castle of Faust stands. He’d been traveling across Equus to find a place where he would be accepted without question, sadly many saw him as a monster. He had a Cobalt Blue coat, along his back was an armor like vertebrae. His had one blue eye and one red eye, both slitted like a dragons. The last noticeable feature were his dragon wings.

“Orion they may not see us, they mourn for others today not for I. So let us continue, lest you choose to believe me when I say I’m who I am.” I responded cockily as I shot him a grin. He rolled his eyes at me.

“Let us be away than ‘Lionel’” He retorted, using one of his hooves to quote “Lionel” to me. I turned towards the large grave marker at the end of the path and pointed towards it with a nod.

“Tis over there Orion, follow.” I said flatly as I started to walk towards it. Orion following shortly behind me. The walk was relatively quiet aside from the priest blessing the souls of the departed a ways off now.

As we reached my grave marker I sat down and lowered my head in respects. I lifted my head back up to look over to the gawking Orion. He took a double take between the likeness of the statue and my face.

He tried to speak but found himself at a loss of words. He sat down next to me. “Never take my word as a lie Orion, or you’ll find it’s the truth sooner than you think.” I stated flatly as I looked up to the statue.

This statue was made shortly after I died when I was supposed to be 47 years old, now look at me 9 years later. 56 yet not aged a day since then. This statue was a reminder to me that I lost 9 years but also gained 9 years.

Orion removed his hood and let out his wings much to my surprise, but I chose not to say anything as I turned back towards the statue again. “So, you’ve been technically dead for 9 whole years?” He asked without any hint of surprise.

I didn’t answer him immediately, “Yes…but…it’s for the best I stay hidden for now Orion. As to why you shall find if you stay long enough with me.” The air between us fell silent again only broken by the clopping of a group of hooves proceeding towards us.

I looked around to find not one of my friends, but all of my friends and family proceeding towards us. My heart started to race but I forced myself to stay in place. I was disguised and maybe it was time to talk with them, even if they knew it wasn’t me. Orion however shifted very uncomfortably as they approached.

I removed my hood causing Twilight to gasp. I gave her a small smile. She returned it as they all stopped a few feet behind us. Lunas gaze piercing me I stood aside to let her get to the grave.

“Why are you here?” She said coldly. I just stared at her, my expression unchanging and flat.

“Not to have a picnic if that’s what you’re thinking. Just as you’re the wife of him I am one of his friends all the same.” I retorted gesturing a hoof at the grave. Her gaze lightened slightly as she sat in front of the plaque and put her hoof on it. I turned to Twilight.

“Tis nice to see you again Twilight, has the year been good to you?” I asked quietly. She glared at me before replying.

“It has been good, but what I want to know is what was that last year Bright Prism?” She demanded. I motioned Orion over to me. It wasn’t so much for support as comfort.

I opened my mouth to speak but choked on my words for a second. “For…for last year…i’m sorry but there are some reasons I cannot explain openly Twilight.” I flattened my ears against my head and looked away closing my eyes.

I felt a pair of hooves wrap around my neck and when I opened them I was surprised to find Pinkie Pie wrapped around my neck instead of Twilight. Confused, I returned the hug Twilight just smirking as she suppressed a laugh.

“Who may the pink one be?” I asked as I parted from the hug. Pinkie was smiling at me.

“I’m Pinkie Pie!” She exclaimed holding a hoof out. I shook it without hesitation. I smiled back at her as the others walked up next to her and Twilight.

“Tis a pleasure Ms. Pinkie. Twilight may you introduce me to your others?” I asked letting go of Pinkies hoof and gesturing it towards the others. Standing from left to right were Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Jazmine, Spike, Applejack, Rarity, Pinkie Pie, and finally Twilight.

After introductions I turned towards Luna with a solemn look on my face as I walked next to her. On her other side was an alicorn I hadn’t seen before, no doubt from the color of his coat it was my son. A lump started in my throat as I tried to speak but chose to instead sit next to Luna.

I put a wing over Luna, much to everyones surprise, Luna simply looked up at me with a glare before a weak smile splayed itself across her muzzle. She put her head down again, “Last year…Twilight said you knew him…like a brother.” She stated aloud.

I sighed before replying, “Tis true Princess Luna. I knew him as I would my own blood, I know that he did not speak of me much but who would believe a dream.” I turned towards Jazmine who was mourning only a couple feet behind me with her head hung low.

“Many would believe, but few would see.” Luna replied, finishing the saying and giving me a smile. She had remembered almost every quote I used from the day I arrived to the day I died. I turned back to her and gave a smile. Seeing her like this again brought a great deal of happiness to me.

“Seems that you know a few of what he has told you no?” I probed as I held a hoof out to her to help her up. She took it and stood up, I saw our son glaring at me but ignoring it.

“I have…but if you two were such good friends…why would he never mention you?” She asked with an accusing hoof. I shook my head.

“Some secrets are better kept unknown Princess Luna.” I sighed and put my hood over my head. “Tis almost time for me to away from this dark place.” I turned and motioned to Orion to signal our departure. He said his final goodbyes to his newfound friends, Twilight and Spike.

I felt a tug on my cape, turning around I saw Luna lifting her hoof up from it. “Would you not care to stay for the night? We are having a feast tonight and it would be nice to know his secret more.” She offered. I softly shook my head.

“I may not stay Luna. May it be that I see you again this year on a visit or the next anniversary. Be it that you stay in good health until we cross again.” I stated, keeping my eyes locked on the ground. When she didn’t reply I turned and started walking down the path.

I didn’t hear Orion following me so I turned around and saw him saying goodbye to Luna. “Come Orion, we must be away.” I shouted to him. He gave me a nod and ran up to me. I looked over to Twilight, “Fare thee well Twilight and may we see you again soon.” I shouted to her.

Before she replied I wrapped me and Orion in a field of magic and teleported to the edge of the Crystal Empire. Shaking the dizziness from my head we made our long trek down the path towards the Crystal Train Station where a train was waiting to take us to Appleoosa.

---

May 16th, 1485 A.F. 6:15 A.M.

Training Grounds, Castle of Faust, Badlands

I stood on the edge of the terrace overlooking the garden below on the edge of the cliff that the Castle of Faust stood upon. The air flowing through my mane, my eyes closed as I basked in the first rays of the morning sun that was slowly making its way over the edge of the world. This was one of the rare mornings where there were no clouds on the horizon or anywhere around the Castle, the day was going to be beautiful.

The edge of where I stood was a cleared out sand platform for extracurricular use. Where as most of the other inhabitants used this for a quiet study area, I used it as an area to hone my skills. The area was occasionally laden with blood from fights between me and one of the various trainers that lived here.

Day in and day out for the past year and a half I had worked myself to the brim everyday training. Every day I got a new injury, but never once did I let my injuries get in the way of my goal. It was clear to the trainers they wouldn’t get rid of me easily, or get a day of rest unless I had made plans in advance.

I was brought out of my thoughts as I heard the creaking of the great doors that lead out into the platform. I turned to face the sound just as a half asleep Orion walked towards me. His head low and his eyes dreary he stood next to me.

“Salve Orion.” I greeted him. He gave a long drawn out yawn. His wing poked me in the side as he tried to stretch them out.

“Why do we always have to get up this early Solstice?” He complained. I chuckled lightly much to his irritance.

“Tis not a better time than the morning to get a good exercise in Orion, or do you want to return to your bed and discontinue your training?” I replied cockily. Even though I was not at my peak condition, I could still give Orion a run for his money and heck, maybe today I’d show him the surprise. He rolled his eyes and sighed out a no.

“Then let us get flying.” My feathers were already preened as I jumped to the ledge below and went to its edge. I stood on my hind legs and let myself fall backwards off the ledge, my wings close to my sides. I turned so that I would be flying upright and thrust out my wings to bring myself into a glide.

A few meters below me stood the forest that surrounded the base of the cliff and the castle far above. I looked behind me to find Orion falling in the same manner that I did, bringing himself into a glide a couple feet below me. Only now did he seem a little more awake than he was before.

“Now see, morning flights are like a cup of coffee.” I said jokingly. He only gave me a confused look. “Right, forgot you’ve never had coffee.” I said quietly as I looked ahead again.

We flew around the base of the cliff for about 30 minutes before we finally decided it was time to get our training started for today. We landed on the ledge of the platform at the edge of the Castle. Laying, sitting, and standing around the edge of the terrace were the different trainers. Most caught up in idle conversation.

This was Orions first training session with all of the trainers, mostly he trained by himself before hand when I woke him up in the morning. Most of the trainers looked over to us as they fell silent, Orion just gawking at the skeletons before him. From the atmosphere I could tell they were nervous about the hybrid standing next to me.

I cleared my throat before speaking, “Hello everybody. As you all are already aware, Orion is to start training with us from here on out. If you wish to not train with him, speak now because I will not have you give him hostilities for what he is.” Two pegasi trainers stepped forwards.

They were twins when they were alive, one named Cloud Jumper the other Storm Jumper. Both of whom were personal guards for King Cosmos himself. “I speak not to deny the training but to ask but a simple question if allowed.” Cloud Jumper stated.

I gave him a nod. “You told us that he were a pony dragon hybrid, yet it seems to me he may be a thestral. Orion, be you sure you are not mistaken?” Cloud Jumper asked to Orion. I looked over to Orion who simply glared at the stallion.

Orion closed his eyes and said something to himself I couldn’t make out. He looked back up to Cloud Jumper, his face happy once again. “I know the similarities are astounding Sir, but I know what I am.” He stated flatly.

“How can you know for sure Orion?” Storm Jumper asked this time.

“My mother was an ice dragon from the frozen north and my father a pegasi from the Crystal Empire. Both of whom died over a century ago due to a villages inhabitants seeking their heads because they were no more than scared of what they may have done if allowed enough time. I have been traveling Equestria ever since.” Orion retorted.

Cloud Jumper and Storm Jumper took in the information. They muttered about themselves for a few moments before speaking again. “Having lived for over a century must’ve been harsh watching friends or family waste away, was it not?” This question caused grimace to find its way to Orion face.

“Not one bit. No one has ever come close to becoming family, let alone a friend. I’ve lived this century wandering from place to place, being ran out of town for fear of what I am. I’m a freak of nature and no one has shown me the slightest kindness all except for Lost Solstice here. Tis the only family or friend I have now.” Orion stated solemnly.

Cloud and Storm Jumper both fell silent afterwards and returned to the spot they came from. No one else stepped forwards to protest his training with them. “If that is all than we shall start with hoof to hoof combat.” I stated before taking my position in the middle of the terrace along with two trainers and Orion.

With that combat practice started, Orion with the basic combat trainer Captain Light, and me against Colonel Silhouette. Despite it being basic combat training, it seemed like Orion was having a lot of trouble. No doubt this was due to him always relying on his strength to hit the enemy instead of using actual tactics.

Him and Captain Light went at it for hours, Captain Light always coming out on top despite Orions constant attacking. While Captain Light isn’t exactly strong, she is very smart and remembers everything from her basic training classes and her job. Orion was determined to learn but today was his first day so she was just measuring what she had to deal with, just like she did with me.

As for me and Colonel Silhouette, we went hand and hand in fighting. We were just sparring for today, not learning anything knew mostly because I had learned all I could from him. He taught me some old techniques and I taught him some fighting styles I remembered from Earth. Of course some styles were a little harder to do because of hooves instead of hands and feet.

We took a break every now and again to watch as Orion and Captain Light kept going at it for hours on end. By the time we stepped in to end the hoof to hoof training for the day Orion had cuts and bruises all over his body, panting from exhaustion with one black eye from a nasty right hook the Captain gave him.

Orion didn’t want to stop and kept trying to attack Captain Light so I had to sedate him using a sleep spell. I apologized for him to Captain Light who waved it off. When Orion woke up it was 1 in the afternoon. He was furious at me for using a sleep spell on him, especially since he was “winning” his fight with Captain Light.

“You were not winning Orion, you were getting your flank kicked. The proof is evident all over your body, not just your eye.” I stated jokingly as I pointed to his left eye. He let out a huff before crossing his forelegs to pout.

“At least I can still kick your flank.” He grumbled. I laughed even harder. “You know it’s true!” He exclaimed in anger.

I regained my composure before replying, “The only reason you won that fight is because my strength was hardly recovered and my muscles were still relying on my magic to keep them moving fluently.” I stated taking a bite of my eggs.

Despite my time as a pony, I still ate meat and dairy products whenever I could. Most of the residents in the castle didn’t like the idea of a pony eating meat but it didn’t bother me any. The first few times I tried eating meat in my pony form though, it was horrible not only did it taste awful but it left me with a horrid stomach ache that kept me in the barracks for a week.

Even with the pains that it gave me I kept eating it till they went away and the taste was acquired again. Orion looked at me with disgust as I took a bite of the pork chop I was eating as well (sidenote: yes pork chops and eggs). “How you eat meat is completely disgusting.” Orion scrunched his nose as he said this.

“Honestly Orion I’d expect you of everyone here to like meat. I mean a dragon that doesn’t like meat? Kind of odd.” I stated causing him to roll his eyes.

“Just because I’m part dragon doesn’t mean that I have to like meat. Just like you being a pony doesn’t mean you have to like flowers.” He replied slightly irritated.

I nearly choked on my food as I tried to reply, bursting into a fit of coughing. It was Orions turn to laugh at me. When I got a hold of myself I knocked him off the edge, watching him flail in the air for a second before flying back up to me. “That was a cheap shot!” He cried.

“You laughing at me while I’m choking is cheap.” I glared at him before finishing up the last of my pork chops and eggs. He rolled his eyes as he landed next to me, sitting on the edge again.

“You were knocked into the air for a reason, you have flight training next.” I stated as I stood from the ledge and started making my way back to the terrace before he pulled me by the tail.

“You just said we have flight training, where are you going?” He demanded to know. I rolled my eyes.

“I said YOU have flight training next. You’ve only got wings, I have wings and a horn Orion. I am going to the library with the Masters of Magic to work on a long distance teleportation spell I’ve been developing.” I said as I yanked my tail away from his teeth. He groaned. “You wanted to train with me Orion, I will be with you in an hour when the time is right.” I finished with a smile.

“When the time is right? What are you talking about?” Orion asked. I chuckled before turning and walking to the door, “WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?!” He yelled after me as I shut the twin oak doors and made my way to the Grand Library.

I spent the next hour working on the long distance spell. Progress was slow today as Hazed Star decided to pull a prank on Sed Lux when he went to get a book by pushing the ladder from under him. Sed Lux fell into a pile of bones, it took almost 20 minutes to get him put back together. The rest of the time we spent researching the roots of the teleportation spell and what effects it has on the user.

The spell was overly complicated to the point it caused the user to get a large headache if they teleported too long of a distance. For the most part it was instantaneous because of the amount of magic that was poured into the spell. We didn’t make much progress other than removing the time constraint in which the spell is cast, creating a teleportation spell that had the same adverse effect but used less magic to cast it.

I said my goodbyes to the Masters and made my way back to the training area to find that Orion was sleeping on a cloud above the terrace. Where he got the cloud was a mystery to me as there were no other clouds as far as the eye could see.

I smirked as an Idea came to me. I flew up to where he was and whispered, “There's four banana spiders on you.” No sooner did I say that did he jump off the cloud and plummet to the ground below screaming the whole time.

I landed next to him, falling on my back grasping my sides with my hooves as I laughed. He slowly got up, rubbing his head from the impact he sustained. “Oh har de har har Lionel. So funny.” He said angrily.

“It was extremely funny Orion, and you deserved it. You were supposed to be training, not sleeping on a cloud.” I poked a hoof at his chest as he batted it away. “Well at least I can show you the surprise finally. Are you ready?” As soon as the words left my mouth he nodded ferociously.

The trainers and Masters all gathered around the perimeter of the terrace. All of them had not seen it before either, so this was going to be a first for them as well. I smiled, “Hello everybody! It’s time I show you what I can truly do, but first thing I want to tell you is to not be scared as I will not hurt you. Secondly, when I revert back I will not be dead but will be more than likely unconscious so be ready for that.” As I finished addressing them they all looked at each other in confusion.

I walked towards the edge of the terrace and turned to face them just as the great oak doors opened to reveal Faust. She held a smile on her face as she watched me from afar. She knew exactly what I was going to do. I gave her a smile and a nod, she returned it. I closed my eyes, stood on my hind hooves and breathed in deeply and let myself fall into the open air behind me.

That’s when I started to recite the passage inside my head.

Bring me the light, bring me the fire.

Bring me the air, bring me the earth.

Let the sun guide my heart and the moon my soul.

I call upon the creatures of Equus to give me form.

Come to me now in this time of need.

Lend me your wisdom, Lend me your strength.

I call upon you Tiamat.

Give me form!

As I finished the last verse I felt my body start to grow and my veins ignite as the raw magic flowed through my body. I felt as my horn shrunk into my head and my wings grew exponentially in size. My muzzle started elongating and the coat that once covered it turned into black scales. I reopened my eyes as my eyesight increased dramatically, allowing me to see the leaves on the farthest tree on the horizon flowing against the blue sky under the beauty of the sun.

My hooves turned into giant maroon red talons, and my tail became a long scaled appendage that was no longer covered in my hair. Just as the coat on my snout turned to scales, so did the coat everywhere on my body. All markings of the ethereal flow of magic through my body turned into blackened scales. My ears shifted downwards and turned into small holes and where my ears were, two horns replaced them. Spines protruded from my back each one going from maroon red at the bottom to a bright yellow at the tip. The spines continued all the way to the end of my tail where it shrunk to nothing.

As soon as I felt the burning in my veins stop I let out a roar that shook the very ground beneath me. I quickly turned over and glided along the top of the forest under me doing a loop around to stop in front of the terrace I had fallen from. I hovered there for a minute taking in the two looks of utter amazement from Faust and Orion. The rest I couldn’t tell what they felt, other than seeing all of the mouths agape so I took it as surprise.

I had dwarfed the castle entirely, Faust was only as big as my claws, Orion only slightly smaller than Faust due to his heritage. Orion was almost looking straight up as I hovered before them. I smiled down at him.

“This,” I started gesturing a claw down the length of my body, “is what I can be.” I finished off my statement. I heard a laugh come from right below me. It was Orion, “What’s so funny?” I asked.

“You’re a female!” He pointed out blatantly. Nobody else was laughing except for him, when he realized this his rolled his eyes and stood up turning towards them. “Come on! You all gotta think its at least a little funny don’t you?!” He asked. Nobody laughed but many of them did facehoof or shake their heads. Faust glared at him viciously.

I landed on the edge of the terrace with my two front claws and my back claws digging into the side of the cliff to hold me there. I brought my head down right behind Orion, “Gender carries no importance here Orion, let alone sexist jokes. Be it wise that you heed this, for your own good. For one Faust, one of the creators of Equus, is a female and two Captain Light, your combat trainer is female.” I stated. The ground rumbling as I spoke.

His eyes went wide at the realization. “Oh buck me to Tartarus…” He mumbled quietly. I looked over to Captain Light to find her crossing her forelegs, her head down in what I found to be anger. I lifted my head from the ground before continuing.

I picked up Orion by his scaled spine with my front left claws and brought him to my eyes. “Don’t think you’re getting out of flying practice either. Your job is to keep up with me.” I grinned with satisfaction as he hung his head and let out a loud groan. Everybody in the terrace laughed.

After I had my fun I threw him into the sky above me, quickly meeting his altitude as he regained control. “Ready?” I asked, he gave a nod and then we were off.

The mountains that were a mile away took me no more than a few seconds to reach in the span of 10 wing beats. Orion on the other hand was still near the castle. For about 2 minutes I hovered there waiting for him to join me. All the while silently singing Hurt by Johnny Cash to myself, one of the few songs I remember from Earth.

As he started to approach me I took off again, this time straight up. As soon as I felt I was high enough I could see the edge of Utopia at the edge of the horizon, having the sight of a dragon had its perks. The world around was beautiful, and yet it was ugly as well as I saw the areas in which some of the recent battles had been fought.

I stopped looking around when my eyes fell upon the Tartarus Chasm. My good mood had been ruined in that split second, turning from happy go lucky to depressed and broken. The memories of that horrid battle flooded back like a dam breaking.

The screams…the horrible, horrible screams of the innocent and the screams of the Legions soldiers as they flung themselves over the edge of that horrible chasm. Over 800,000 creatures died that day. It was a horrible day remembered by both sides of the war for a long time. The images of that day, just standing idly by as we watched them commit suicide. All those poor civilians that had been brought there by the Legion…every single one of them dead.

That day it took every ounce of power that Luna could expense to keep me from trying to interfere. If I had tried to rescue them, the same force that was making their death so enticing would have taken me as well. Even with that knowledge I wanted to rescue them all, yet all I could do is standby and watch.

I was brought out of my memories as I felt four hooves land on my shoulder. I brought a claw up to my cheek to find that I was crying and when I looked over to Orion, he gave me a sorrowful look. “What’s wrong Lionel?” He asked in a soothing voice.

I shook my head. “Tis…tis nothing Orion…just remembering something I had long since wanted to forget. I shall be fine.” Of course we both knew I was lying when I said this. Whenever something got to me, memories or recent happening. I would have nightmares of that situation, replaying over and over in my mind.

“Let us return to the castle. Our training will end here for today…” I stated as I brought my wings in close to my side. Orion held on tight to one of my shoulders scales with his front hooves while the rest of his body was upside down. I turned so that my head was facing the ground and flung out my wings to swing into a glide towards the castle.

No sooner had I touched ground with my front right claw did I start turning back. Yet as soon as I did, everything went black, just as I had expected.