The Chronicles of Soul

Hello. I am Soul Storm, Supreme Wizard to the Court of King Aegis, Sovereign Ruler of the four Kingdoms of Equestria.

It is now fully one month since the King's messenger Pegasi came to my abode late that night and the letter he bore rests beside me now - a heartfelt plea from the stallion I have come to regard as Lord, Master and true friend. On learning of the King's failing health I rushed immediately to his side, taking with me a few herbal preperations to ease his pain.

I arrived early the following morning and as I sat down beside the Unicorn, he summoned what remained of his once considerable strength to grip my hoof. 'You must do this for me,' was all he said, and as I looked deep into his tired eyes he repeated this one sentence many times over, growing more delirious as the hours passed and the terrible illness slowly claimed his mind.

My heart was heavy as I gave him the assurance he sought, not because I was reluctant to grant his dying wish or because I feared for my own life but because the mission his letter had described was almost certainly doomed to failure. The enormity of the task was beyond his comprehension and yet it had to be attempted for the sake of our little ponies.

It was late afternoon when I eventually left the King's chamber, bidding my friend farewell in the almost certain knowledge that I would never see him alive again.

As I trotted back along a dark corridor towards the main part of the castle, my head hung in sorrow, a courtier suddenly appeared from a side passage and ushered me into a small, dimly lit antechamber. On the desk before us lay a finely embossed gold casket. The courtier slowly removed the lid and, with the utmost reverance, eased the mighty tome out of the deep red cushioned lining of the casket and passed it to me. The King had not exaggerated. The book in which I was to record my journey and upon which I made this entry was indeed beautiful and very strong. My friend had made sure that whatever misfortunes befell us in the months ahead, this great book would be equal to the rigours of the quest.

Gently, with my magic, I released the gold clasp that sealed the book and began to turn the pages, each of which was fashioned from the finest parchment. As I neared the back cover I motioned to the courtier to avert his eyes, for if the King had indeed made the legendary Blueblood Amulet available to me then it would surely be secreted here. I myself had not seen the Amulet since the Battle of Herbverion which took place some one hundred years ago, but as my hoof fell on the final page of the book I recognised the unmistakable turquoise glow of the stone beneath.

I turned the leaf and once again found myself entranced by the Amulet's beauty. A small velvet-lined recess had been created within the hard cover of the book and it was here that the Amulet rested, retained by an ornate metal brace. A soft, gently pulsing light emanated from the centre of the stone, briefly illuminating the darkened room. For a few moments I allowed my mind to travel back through the distant past, recalling the various myths and legends in which the Amulet was alleged to have played its part.

Though many of the stories were apocryphal, I knew from my own experiences that the Amulet's power was beyond doubt. I knew too that it had been the servant of masters both good and evil, and that the responsibility associated with being its temporary guardian was therefore considerable. As I closed the book and replaced it in the casket the courtier once again returned to face me, bidding me good fortune as he gave me a specially crafted leather saddle bag in which to carry the book. I thanked him before quietly taking my leave and making my way back through the shadowy corridors to the main gate.

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Day One,

The day of our departure dawned bright and clear. A thin mist hung over the vast natural harbour which rings the port of Alliandra way below my clifftop home and from a small window in the corner of the room I could see the last of the provisions being loaded onto the four ships the King had provided for us. By noon it was high tide and the strong easterly breeze that sweeps down the valley from the Griffon mountains at this time of year was set to carry us on our way. I read the King's letter one more time before placing it carefully in the opening pages of the book and I resolved that it will never leave my side.

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'My Dear Soul Storm,

Many are the tribulations that I have endured throughout my long reign over the Equestrian Kingdoms, yet your unfailing guidance and friendship have sustained me, just as they sustained my Father during his rule and his Father before him. Your powers are indeed formidable and your knowledge unsurpassed.

My friend, were you able to resolve my health now that it is fading I know that you would do so. I know also that a Wizard's magic, however great, may not disturb the natural order of life and death, and so I accept my fate. It pains me to tell you that I am growing weaker by the hour and I fear that the end of my earthly days will not be long in coming.

My greatest regret is that there is one more thing I must ask of you, Soul Storm, before I depart this world. This task is so daunting that I can scarcely bring myself to set down the words upon this page and the very idea that I should have to ask it of one who has served me so well brings me close to tears. Please try to find it in your heart to forgive me, for I know of no one else who could attempt such a mission.

You will have heard, I am sure, about a fearsome malevolence which is rising in our world. Many a long year has passed without threat from the dragons which reside in the Equestrian Kingdoms save for their occasional attacks on our livestock, but something has changed. Our villages are under siege and many of our subjects have been taken by these terrible beasts. I am not given to understand why the dragons have turned against us, but my dying wish is that I should rid my ponies of this appauling curse. There have been rumours that the exiled wizard, Septimus, has set himself against us and is commanding the dragons with evil intent. History records a similar event one thousand years ago when the wrath of the dragons was visited upon the world but few survived to speak of that cataclysm and how it came to pass. All that I can tell you is that it came to be known as 'The Dragon Storm'.

And so, Soul Storm, what I must ask of you is this; I will put at your disposal one hundred of my fiercest warrior ponies, four ships and all the necessary provisions for the journey if you will seek out these dragons and destroy them. The Blueblood Amulet, which has been held securely in the castle vaults since the reign of my Great-Grandfather, will of course be made available to you should you accept the commission. It cannot protect you from serious harm but the eye of Blueblood, preserved in the centre of the Amulet, has many properties which are well known to you.

It is my wish that my son, Agorius, accompany you on the journey despite the dangers you will undoubtedly face for he has much to learn before he is worthy of my title. He is headstrong, and such is the spirit of youth, but he has always shown great interest in your teachings and I believe your guidance will help him win the respect of our fellow ponies. Had my health not failed me, I would have waited longer before intiating Agorius but my hoof has been forced. I hope you agree that he is ready and trust that you will protect him as best you can during your travels together. In time he will make a great king. Of this, I am sure.

Lastly, I must ask you to document your expedition and gather such artifacts as you deem relevant for it is possible that, should your mission fail, there will be others who are brave enough to meet the challenge and follow in your hoofsteps. Their chances of success are poor but the knowledge you have acquired on your travels will serve them well, echoing through the centuries as a testament to your efforts and those of the courageous individuals who aided you.

As I write this, a master craftspony is working through the night to create a book of great strength and rare beauty according to my design. You must keep it with you at all times since it contains a small compartment which provides for the safekeeping of the Amulet. An abundance of parchment leaves on which you can make your entries forms the main body of the tome, which will henceforth be known as 'The Chronicles of Soul'.

I wish you good fortune, and need not remind you of the urgency of the task which awaits you.

Your very great friend,

Aegis Agorius

Sovereign Ruler of the Four Kingdoms of Equestria.'

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When the knock at my door finally came I was standing on a terrace looking out at the ocean and trying to imagine the battles that lay ahead. The arrival of the porters shook my reverie and I led them through to an area where a large wooden crate had been assembled containing almost all the knowledge, materials and equipment I have gathered over these past three hundred years. As I watched the unsteady progress of the porters down the steep track towards the harbour I prayed that the crate would be safely delivered to the scenes of these dreadful encounters, for there cannot be the faintest hope of victory without it. When the time came for me to leave I placed the book in the specially made saddle bag that hung loosely over my back, threw on my dark cloak and started down the path towards the ships. Mindful of missing the turning tide, we departed almost immediately.