King of the Humans!

Chapter: 4 - I used to be an adventurer like you...

Grabbing Lyra by her forelegs, I pull her behind a wall to hide from whoever had visited the castle. Squinting my eyes, I watch from the shadows as a procession of ponies walk past. The group had no uniform coat colour, showing a sign that these were just regular ponies without true order. Protecting their coats, a set of make-shift iron armour is strapped across each pony with thick belts, buckles and straps. Some similar to Lyra, in that a horn would poke out through their manes whilst giving a random glow. This glow seems to signify their use of magic, as the unicorns are shown as mostly carrying lanterns to light the way for the other "breeds". Though I seem to have been absent during the pony evolution, I can clearly see that other breeds existed. A couple had wings, whilst most had no noticeable magical features and instead wielded more heavy armour and weapons. Some form of enhanced strength, perhaps?

Shaking my head to clear my thoughts, and readjusting my helmet, I guide Lyra against the wall to sneak past the ponies. Placing my hand against the entrance to the main hall, I gently pull and open the door with it giving a muffled creak in response. Heart hammering in my chest, I guide Lyra through the gap quickly before hurrying through myself. Gently closing the door, I turn around with my back against it whilst giving a relieved sigh. Slumping back, I receive a sharp yet frantic jab from a hoof. Opening my eyes, they widen even more at the sight they give.

Before me stands a large group of ponies of varying breeds, all equipped in the same uniform armour unique to their race. Such as the winged ones having more streamlined armour whilst the larger ponies (lacking any peculiar limbs) had thicker armour composed of more plates and buckles suggesting stronger defence. What is included across all the armours is a single feature, a small mark that I just can't quite make out from the distance. Advancing slowly, one of the heavily armoured ponies approaches cautiously with a fluffy blue cowl covering his head with his ears peaking from two holes cut into the material.  Advancing towards me, he stands before me in a fixed stance with a blue snout poking out from the shadows produced by the blue hood.

On instinct, I spin around in a full turn with my blades' tips coming to a stop against the neck area of the pony. Though trying to hold his composure, I can feel his light shaking vibrating along the metal. My eyes glare into the darkness of the hood in an attempt to prove my superiority in speed.

"Speak your business, pony!"

"We are here on an important task, sir. We have simply came to fulfil the task set to us."

"Do tell in what this task entails."

"Perhaps, if you answer an important question."

"Go on."

"Well. Are you the 'King of the Humans'?"

"I was. But that time has flown by like sand in the wind."

"In that case, we have been sent by our ancient leader to retrieve you from the area and meet up with him in his stronghold. He says that you should recognise him when you meet, and then he will give you the answers you obviously require."

"Shall we make haste?"

"Indeed. Companions, let's make our way back to the Stronghold!"

Immediately the so called "Companions" form into organised groups in squares before leading themselves through the wooden entrance, one at a time. Such organisation teases my memory with a face, name and other memories lost to me. Dismissing the feeling, I bring my mind back to the present as I follow the contingency of ponies to wherever they are headed. Feeling the metal against the leather coating my fingers, I shift the weapons over my shoulders and slide them into their respective leather sheaths. Hearing soft mumbling to my side, I turn and acknowledge the presence of Lyra once again, having forgotten she was with me before all the excitement.

"How are you holding up, Lyra?"

"Oh, fine. Just a bit anxious. I'm just unsure of what is to come."

"If we're going on a long trip, how will the people you know react?"

"It's fine, I guess. I was meant to have a camping trip by myself in the castle. I said I'd be back in a few days, having explained that I was investigating what seems to be your kingdom."

"That's fine, then. You can follow me if you want, you may learn things others have not."

Satisfied with my answer, she turns away to gaze around her surroundings with some of the pony warriors in formation around both of us for maximum protection. Staring at the shoulder pad of a nearby warrior, I finely spot the details of the symbol emblazed onto the metal plate. The symbol of a wolf's head, sideways, presents itself to me with a length of a Celtic knot depicted below the head in a similar shade of white. This symbol is also depicted elsewhere, like on the flags that some warriors had sail from the poles of their spears. Dismissing the sight, I turn my eyes on the path to see where we are actually heading.

The sight of the chasm encircling the ruins greets me with it's crooked maw as we are led near the edge where it seems some warriors are actually descended slowly down like they are moving downwards on stairs. As I expected, a set of stone steps descend down into the chasm below, the thick smell of ancient rock and must seeps under the metallic helmet enclosing my face and drifts down my nostrils and causes me to scrunch my nose in disgust. Coughing from the putrid air, I too begin my descent into the slight darkness. Finally reaching the bottom with Lyra in tow, I take note of the water. Rotten leaves and decaying matter is strewn across the aging water like a grotesque carpet on a water bed. Erratic bugs fluttering across the water surface to catch the less-fortunate inhabitants of the sloppy gloop.

Turning my gaze from the mess, I see a large wooden and metal boat anchored where the chasm widens wide enough so that the ship could sail in and out of the ancient harbour. Eventually arriving at the board of wood set for me to step aboard, I walk on deck and seat myself on a nearby chair as the rest of the soldiers and Lyra file onto the vessel too. Once the final pony was on-board, a warrior steps forward and retrieves the plank for later use for when we exit. Lyra quickly joins me on the chair beside my own, and I give her a few words to wake me upon arrival. She then nods in understanding.

With a sigh, I lean back into the chair and fall into a slumber as the ship sails out into a nearby river bound for an ocean.