Chapters Introduction
I’m old now, I’m not the young naïve man I once was, so full of innocence and hope, with not much to go on aside from what little I knew of the world at that time. I think it’s now the time, to tell you all, what really happened.
It began, a long time ago. In a land filled with beauty, wonder, and magic. A place, the likes of which could never exist in the world today. The land of Equestria, a world filled not with the cruelty and dishonour of man, but of the hope and love of its native inhabitants, ruled under a great kingdom, Canterlot. Reigned by the wisest and greatest of all its rulers, Princess Celestia, and Princess Luna. And it was under their rule, for over a millennia, that this great and prosperous land lived in peace and harmony. Their cities teaming with the contagious elements of happiness and laughter, and throughout the land, everyone was happy. It was told by the great princesses that their reign would last throughout the entirety of existence, that they were destined to watch over the land for all of time. Princess Celestia, the eldest of the two, controlled the rising and setting of the sun, watching over the ponies of this world by day. And her sister, Princess Luna, would watch and protect her subjects in the night, protecting them from the nightmares that may haunt them in their sleep.
But these happy times would not last forever, for when Luna came to be, the ponies of this world didn’t seem to worship the night as much as they did the day time like her sister, but instead slept through the beauty of the night she had created for them to enjoy. This realisation festered within the fair princess’s mind, poisoning her judgement, turning into an unfathomable jealousy, the likes of which would consume the princess, changing her into the being of hate known as nightmare moon, declaring that she will never again lower the moon, that the world be covered in the darkness of night for all eternity. Seeing what her sister had become, Princess Celestia, through great sacrifice and power of will, banished her sister to the core of the moon in the sky, imprisoning her underneath its cold surface, never again unleashing her new found evil upon the world. And for one thousand years, the Princess Celestia would control both the rise and set of the sun and moon, but in those thousand years, she never forgot the princess she banished to a cold and lonely prison, feeling a deep sorrow for the sister she felt she abandoned to the furthest reaches of the moon. She could never forgive what she had to do, and she never forgot.
A thousand years passed, and the legend of the mare in the moon withered over the time, only to be recounted in passages of ancient books and scrolls, to be read over and remembered by those who wished to lose themselves in the magic of these lands. That, is when she came. A young mare, known to her family and friends, as the young Twilight Sparkle, a student of the Princess of the sun. A most faithful and intelligent young unicorn, she was known for her great intelligence, and talents in the ways of magic. It was only after her reading of the legend of nightmare moon, that she felt a dark presence in the lands that enveloped the capital, and it was this darkness that caused her to have nightmares of a shadowy figure, speaking of her return to the world of Equestria, dooming the land to a nightfall for all eternity. She warned the princess to prepare, for whatever was about to happen. But the princess had other plans for our young heroin. She was to be sent to the town of ponyville, a simple community, filled with wonderful, and beautiful ponies of all races, living together in a perfect harmony.
There lived the Unicorns, magical and powerful beings, Pegasus’s who ruled the skies, and earth ponies, the strongest both physically and mentally, who tended to the fields.
It was here where the young pony met her closest, and dearest friends, the elements of harmony. A bonding of which would change the course of Equestria, for all of time. There was Applejack, a farmer pony, hailing from the territory of Sweet apple acres, she represented the element of Honesty. Pinkie Pie, an earth pony who never seemed to let the sadness of the world let her spirits down, and she represented the element of laughter. There were two Pegasus’s, the first being Rainbow Dash, a tomboyish cyan coloured pony who couldn’t keep still for one minute without feeling the need to stretch her wings, clearing the skies for all of ponyville of any clouds that blocked out their perfect days in the sun and moon, she represented the element of loyalty. The second was Fluttershy, a simple and kind Pegasus who preferred the company of animals to that of other ponies, she represented the element of kindness. And then there was the second unicorn in this small group was Rarity, an elegant and very etiquette unicorn who seemed to have a great talent in the world of fashion and style.
It wasn’t long after until, it happened. A storm of darkness the likes that this land had never seen before descended upon this town, for Nightmare moon had returned, seeking revenge against the one who kept her for all those years, in a sorrowful and lonely prison. She took up residence in the princess’s old castle, residing in the everfree Forest, a dark and mysterious place, where magic, and bad things reside, where anything could happen. It was only together, that these six unlikely guardians where able to unlock their hidden potential, and by wielding the six mystical gems of the elements of harmony, were able to finally defeat Nightmare moon, transforming the princess back to her original state. She was returned to her former self, and joyfully reunited with Princess Celestia, and throughout the land, everyone was happy.
Time had passed, and the mane six would continue to change the course of history, with such great adventures, such as the defeat of Discord, the lord of chaos, the defeat of Princess Chrysalis and her changeling army, the return of the crystal empire along with the defeat of the dark lord Sombre, and the wedding of the prince Shining Armour and Princess Cadence. Throughout these adventures, Twilight had learned the value of friendship, and it was thanks to her friends, and the tutoring of Princess Celestia, that she became the great Princess Twilight Sparkle. The world had a new princess, and it seemed as if this peace would never again be forgotten. But, deep within the shadows, an ancient enemy lay in wait, watching, plotting its return, regaining its full strength. Waiting for the perfect opportunity, to exact its intentions to conquer this land, and all those who lay their hooves upon it.
That, is where I come in. For quite by chance, it appears that fate had decided that I should play a part in this tale. It started, as you might expect, in a field. Not a ponies field which would be filled with hay and flowers, this was a humans home, in the world you see it as today, only from a time before many people could recall. In a town, far from the borders of any dark grey city, or any noise of which would ruin the tranquil atmosphere. With a quaint stone house in a little town, surrounded by green fields and rolling hills, a sky of which can be seen for miles around, and the sounds of the air were filled with that of birds and the rustling of branches and leaves on the trees. This was a peaceful and prosperous part of the world, and yet far beyond that of anything very interesting happening. The life of a farmer is one that doesn’t really play into anything adventurous, or even magical for that matter. We are a simple folk, living off the salt of the earth, highly respected by all those we encounter for our kindness and hardworking hands. Our lives were completely ordinary in our case, and nothing strange, ever happened.
Author's Note
This is my first attempt, and yes it's still a work in progress. Thank you for reading, I'd love to hear any comments you may have :)
Chapter 1 A Strange beginning
You managed to find yourself a quiet little spot underneath an old oak tree in the field opposite, studying the old history of the world of which we live in. You find yourself fascinated by the myths and stories told by your ancestors, from the ancient worlds of Greece, Rome, Britain, the Far East. But that would have to wait, as it looks like the day is drawing to a close.
As you stand up, looking upon the hills around, you often wonder what lies beyond your borders, daydreaming of what adventures could be had in the lands that are beyond your gaze on the horizon. But this is a fools dream, knowing in your heart that there may never be a chance to go and visit these lands.
The day brought about the usual chores, cleaning the house, feeding the animals you’ve associated with on your land like birds, cats, cows, even the Shetland ponies you find have taken up a permanent residence across the land. You’ve always been one with nature, having been practically raised on a farm itself, it seems to be the only real life you’ve ever known. Soon after, you decide to go star gazing. It’s a beautiful summer night, the tint of orange still at the base of the sky, the cool cut grass under your feet as you walk into the field, and the sound of crickets fills the night air.
The night time brings a certain easiness to your heart, you feel as if you could truly be yourself when looking upon the stars, and no one could ever judge you, no one could ever question your actions, and you didn’t need to worry about the happenings of the world. That’s when he came by. An old man. He seemed to have a funny way about him, draped in an old purple and light blue cloak, with a large pointy hat cocked over his eyes. What was most bewildering about this old man was this very strange hat. It had a charcoal grey belt with a gold buckle, and a series of small bells around the brim. He was not a stranger upon these parts, since you would often see him in the markets of the town, but never fully conversed with him, other than the occasional greetings as you passed each other in the street.
It was as you rested against your favourite tree, where he approached, right hand on his satchel, staring at you with a contented and bewildered look, as if he had just seen something, or in this case someone, who put whatever was troubling him in his thoughts to rest.
“Good evening”, those seem to be the only words you can muster to the old man.
“And how is that so?”, replied the old man, hiding a smirk, as if to show that he is simply playing with you.
“Sorry?”
“How is it a good evening? Do you mean to tell me it’s a good evening? Or that you want me to feel good this evening?".
You almost stumble upon your reply “If-If I had to decide, I’d say all at once I assume”, blinking in await as to what he would say next.
“Is there something I can do for you?” you answer. He doesn’t seem to flinch a muscle at your remark, but you just can’t stand awkward silences. You pray that he simply says no, and moves along his business, but this is not what comes to pass. As an alternative, he simply stays in place, and breaths easily, with a glow in his eye.
“That will all depend upon yourself”.
“I’m looking for a certain someone to share in a little voyage with me”, smiling expecting an answer straight away.
“Wait, are you asking me if I want to go?”
He smiles to your question, content with what seems as the reply you just gave “Splendid, that is absolutely splendid news, I knew I could count on you”
He is starting to make his way into the town, and so you stop, but only to be beckoned by him to follow him. This night just keeps getting odder and odder. Still, curious as to what he meant, you follow in pursuit.
Author's Note
More chapters are coming soon, I promise
You both sit at the far corner of the establishment, in a booth lit by a single candle light, shrouded in secrecy and darkness, unbeknownst to which you’re completely clueless. You bring the glass to your lips in unison, the cold bands of condensation running down your fingers, taking a healthy sip of the amber swill. As you both take your seats, the stranger finally decides to talk, only after sipping his ice cold beer mind you.
“Now, It brings me great pleasure that you so willingly agreed to accompany me on this little quest of mine” he says with a smirk.
Without meaning to sound rude, you place your glass on the table, and ask “Listen, sir, I don’t mean to bring your hopes up, but I am a little bit lost in what exactly you are trying to tell me. What quest? Why are we here?” You stop to give yourself a very inquisitive look, “in truth I’m a little bit worried about why I followed you so willingly”, bringing the beverage back to your lips to quench your dried out throat. You’re not sure as to why, but something tells you that what this old fellow is trying to say, may just make you walk straight out of the pub.
“Well, I suppose the question as to what I am talking about is the only one that matters, but I assure you, all your worries will be put to rest in the next few minutes Mr Knightley”.
Did he just use your surname? “I beg your pardon?”
“Oh I know quite a lot about you Mr Knightley, for you see, our brief encounter was not as random as you might have expected.
“You may not remember I belong to the title, but I know you have heard of my name before, I am Starswirl, and Starswirl is by how I am known throughout these hills”.
It just clicked in your mind. For as luck had it, you have indeed heard of this man’s name before, yet truly never knew that he in fact fitted to it. Your eyes widen, as the gears in your head shift into motion, pulling out any and all information on the man known as Starswirl.
You extend your hand to take his, in order to shake it. You feel guilty that this had not dawned upon you any sooner. The stories he would tell you all when you were much younger, would fascinate and bewilder. He spoke of such powerful beings that they could move both the sun and the moon. Of dragons, gryphons, Minotaur’s, great kingdoms made of jewels and rare crystals. Of folk who were akin to a peaceful way of life. Of great sorcery, witchcraft, and in the rarest of cases, great evil beings who were defeated by a chosen few, who were deemed the bravest in all the land. These would resonate in your young life for a great many years to come, in a time where the world seemed simpler, and not so filled with the despairs and sorrows that would occupy your younger life in years to come.
“I remember those when I was just a young boy. My apologies Starswirl, I had no idea you would still be around” you spoke before you thought of what you were about to say, making it sound as if he wouldn’t be around long enough for you to ever speak to him again.
He couldn’t help but shift in unease, his smirk turning into an annoyed frown “And where else would I be might I ask?” leaning in to see how you would climb out of the metaphorical pit you seemed to have dug yourself into. Yet, you say nothing, just allow your eyes to dart across the bar, hoping that the awkward moment would soon pass, and that the topic of conversation may be changed for the better.
“Well, I’m glad to know that you do remember me for something, however vague your memories may have become” He sits back, giving you a sense of ease that he’s not holding what you just said accountable towards any further transgressions. “Still, I do remember a young boy, who would question me about all those stories, on whether the town’s people survived, what ever happened to such and such, if the evil could ever be vanquished. But, I never told if they truly lived happily ever after. Because the truth of the matter is, I don’t know if they ever did” your head cocks to the side, examining as his eyes begin to droop idly, and a deep look of sadness forms from where his cheerful grin used to be.
Now, your first assumption at the beginning of this encounter, was that maybe the bearded traveller had already a few too many to drink, and just wanted to talk to someone, anyone who would listen to his stories. But as much as you listened, you find out that this may not in fact be the whole case. It seems as if he’s harbouring a deep sadness behind all his quirky mannerisms, secreted inside by all his cheerful quotes and reminiscences of celebrations passed.
“You know, out of all the tales you recounted, I think the one that stuck with me the most was of the lord of chaos discord, and that the skies rained a chocolate produce, the lands ran on hinge in the multi coloured sky, and all the creatures of the land reverted to a shadow of their former selves. And when the two immortal princesses rose up to vanquish the lord of darkness, his name would be forever etched into the stone of which he would be locked away for all eternity”. You see his eyes widen in delight, that you remember this in such specific detail, in fact almost in sync to how he told it all those years ago.
He sits forward “I’m curious Mr Knightley, why it that you’re fondest story is of one of turmoil, and an ensuing great battle?”
“Well” you say, “I suppose that out of all your stories, they were mainly about quiet societies, with not much going on in between the good people’s lives outside of their daily routines. So in a way, slightly reminiscent to my own. So, whenever there was cause to rise up to a challenge, the need to take a stand to do what’s right, then it just makes that peace worth fighting for. I remember the stories of battles, because underneath all the hurt, the ugliness of hate and war, there was a glimmer of hope. A reason to continue fighting. For the freedom to maintain that tranquil life, to hold onto what was most precious to those in those stories? Those tales stuck with me, because in the end, they just proved that what good there is in the world, no matter how small it is, it is worth fighting for”.
The old man can’t help but crack a slight smile, as so do you. But his smile seems more meaningful than your own, sighing a breath of relief looking into your honest words, as if they came straight from your heart, and they put all his worries to rest.
“I feel as if you’ve now earned the right to know why I’ve summoned you here Mr Knightley”.
Earned the right? What did you do to show that you didn’t deserve to know?
Your face remains motionless, as if to question every syllable that just passed his lips, but you humour him “They. All. Came. To. Be. As in, they all really happened?”
He notices what you’re thinking, as if he is reading your mind “Now, before you judge on what I had just told you, you must enter into this with a very open mind, and please, do not think that these words are of a folly old man, because they are in fact all completely true”.
“What do you mean completely true?”
“Never mind that right now, I want you to tell me you solemnly swear that you will heed every word I say, as if they would be my last”.
This is starting to get stranger by the minute, something you didn’t quite expect to happen was to be put on the edge of your seat by the old travellers’ tales. His eyes are darting around the room now, the pub is still bustling with people, but not filled to the doors with loud noises, but that of lowered conversations of the patrons consuming their liquid refreshments.
“There is a darkness brewing Mr Knightley, an ancient evil is awakening from its slumber. All around us, its presence can be heard and seen, even tasted on the very tip of your tongue, like a cloud of ash which is slowly washing over these lands from a toxic fire”, he looks down towards the note, then back to you, “I called you here tonight, because I need your help”.
“My help? What darkness? Who’s returning?”
He shushes up, only to quickly glance around so as to know no one is watching us, yet he shivers as if someone had just opened up a door to a brisk winter wind, “I’m leaving town tonight, upon heeding this important message from the one known as princess Celestia”.
“Wait, The Princess? Celestia? Of the stories you used to convey? She is real? How?”
“There is much you are going to find out about in the next few days Mr Knightley, a lot of it will seem impossible at first, frightening even, but with a great amount of courage, and no small part of charm, it will all become clearer over time”.
You’re intrigued as to the realisation, that who you once thought of as just a character from a few stories, may in fact be real. But how can she be? It was told that she was so powerful, that over thousands of years, she controlled the sun and the moon in the sky, is it even possible for someone, or something to be able to have that much power? The thought of someone being that strong now sends a shiver down your spine.
“And where do you intend to go to with this information?”
“There lies a hidden portal in the old forest, one which cannot be found, except for those who already know where it lies. The path is old now, but still strong enough to sustain a safe route, as to be able to allow someone to pass through without any secondary effects”.
“Secondary effects?”
“Why yes. You see, certain portals require a great amount of magical energy to be kept open, and sometimes, these gateways can give off a certain aura which can be passed onto another who would be journeying through its doors.
Continuing from where he left off, “Now, if this gateway does however give off a certain magic, it could have dire consequences on the traveller who is venturing through it, it may even send them to a dark abyss, or maybe even to a whole new land, even change their physical attributes, no one really can say, since no one has ever tested this theory out”.
“Well, Sir, this is all very interesting, but I still fail to see what this has to do with me”.
Exasperated, you try not to show the storyteller that you’re starting to grow impatient “By what you have told me up until this point, it seems as if there isn’t much that I can do other than slow you down, and if what you’re making out to be a dire situation is true, then you really can’t afford to be wasting any time by bringing my useless self along”.
“I understand your frustration, but you must know I wouldn’t have gone on this journey, had it not been with someone I have utter faith in. I chose you because you have proven to me that you can be both loyal and brave, by that answer you gave me. And now, I ask of you to prove to me, that you weren’t just saying all that because you felt sorry for a lonely old story teller”.
Before you can ask anything further, he stops, looking as if something has immediately caught his attention. The sound of a glass falling and smashing on the ground can be heard from outside, and then, just like that, the room goes dark, the candles blown out by a door suddenly opening. His gaze darts back to you, shuffling the scroll back into his satchel, remaining very silent, yet in a panicking way, whispers to you the following chilling words.
“They are here…..”
Chapter 3 Rush to the Start
The silence is deafening, horrifying if you will. And just as you thought that tonight couldn’t get any stranger, something just blows all your thoughts out of the door. As your eyes adjust to the dark, the light from the street lamp just outside illuminates three silhouettes, standing in the entrance of the hallway.
These figures had a maleficent aura about them, masking their appearances underneath their black hoods. They all appear before the barkeep, moving silently towards the barkeep, as if they were all just hovering above the ground. These three figures seemed to intimidate all those around them, even the dog which was barking outside was reduced to a faint whimper, and ended up cowering in the far corner.
These beings gave a cold chill to the atmosphere we breathed, the light was quickly giving way to these unwholesome individuals. They bore three dark cloaks which cove red the majority of their bodies, save for a slit down the middle, where you would find possibly their very hands and torso. The barkeep remains motionless behind his pedestal, observing what these beings could possibly want. And with a quick shift, he notices the closest to him of the three travellers reaches into his cloak, the hand by which is an armoured what appears to be claw of such, there being five digits on each hand, they closely resemble to those of an insect like tendency, long and bony, with a grafted tendon on the end of each finger.
The cloaked stranger pulls out what looks like a scrap piece of paper, and without muttering a single syllable, starts to breathe deeply, facing the poor unfortunate landlord. You look around to notice everyone is starting to shift in their seating arrangements, you look to see if the bearded voyager has any advice in this situation, but it appears as if he has slid out of the back entrance, leaving you flabbergasted, looking around frantically by turning your head left to right.
A slight tap comes from the window, its Starswirl, at least he has the courtesy to wait for you before just legging it like a chicken for some unknown reason. He looks as if he is mouthing you something from behind the frosted glass. You couldn’t tell what it was at first, but it seems to be slightly clearer the closer you get to the window.
“Run if you want to live you fool”.
You try and stand up, but the gaze of the third being to the left of the one holding the paper up at the bar is starting to slowly move his head in your general direction. You quickly gather yourself, and hastily make your way towards the exit.
You step outside, quickly turning right, hoping to see quick thinking Starswirl waiting for you outside. But he doesn’t seem to be anywhere in sight, so you make your way down the road, and that’s when you hear it. A loud scream arising from the brewery of where you just departed from. Your gaze jolts around to check its origin, waging if you should return or not, but instead, the fear of those beings coming to attack you turns your fast pace, into a sprint for your life.
The sound of quick footsteps emanates on the cobble road. Another scream can be heard, and another, and before you even know it, the sound of terrifying panic ensues behind you, the town folk have been awoken by this spectacular commotion, with lights flicking on all around you in the houses all around. You feel like such a coward, running from these foul creatures, but you can’t do anything for them now, not if you get attacked too.
“Quickly, follow me! Keep your head down”.
Like a new born puppy, you followed the mysterious Starswirl’s word, and stayed close to the ground. Your knees start to hurt from the position at which you are rushing at.
The night air feeling cool and crisp, the sounds of crickets in the distance, as you ventured onto a dark and lonely road, leading out of the country town, and into the fields that lay beyond. But, as of many nights in the past where you would wander to clear your thoughts, this journey, was not as merry or care free, and you had expected from the past. For the screams, and glow of fire lit the sky of the world where you once hailed from.
“The life you once knew is gone Logan, but if we stay for too long, we will meet the same fate as those poor people back there. Our mission is far too important, we must keep going”.
Wiping away the your tears, you turn back to your guide, and keep wandering down this dark dusty road.
“Hold up. Starswirl, what was that back there?
Starswirl simply stands there, looking at the ground, sighing to himself, ready to finally confess as to what is going on. He looks to his right, and finds a tree in a field close by, next to a long stone wall.
“We shall rest there for the remainder of the night, it’d be far too risky to stay for too long, so we will venture forward to our destination at the break of dawn”.
“Starswirl, answer my question!”
“I WILL, you must learn to be patient my young friend, but first we must make camp. Then, and only then, will I fully clarify to you our circumstances.”
With slight hesitation, you do as he says. He called you his friend, this notion sends a slight shiver down your spine. This man pulled you out of everything you’ve grown into these past few years, and he expects you to call him your friend? It might be because of him that those people back there lost their lives to those vile mortals. But, the thought of getting some shut eye soon does bode well in your mind, so you feel ready to once again follow this man’s notion.
You get the camp set out, Starswirl conveniently had two blankets pulled from his satchel bag, and managed to start a camp fire using the broken twigs and branches found at the bottom of the tree, quite how he started the fire without flint or tinder is beyond you, but this didn’t stay in your mind for very long. Clutching at your dusty blue jacket for warmth against the night time chill, sitting on the opposite side of the fire, you stare blankly at the dancing flames as they escape into the air. Coming back to reality, you stare into the man’s eyes, and with every fibre of your being, try desperately to read his thoughts, as to what exactly is coming to pass.
“Starswirl, please, just tell me, what is going on? You talked about a message to this so called Princess Celestia, is that what those beings were looking for? Why didn’t we warn those people back there? And who are those people chasing you?”
“Those people who are chasing us, are not people.”
You’re taken aback at that comment, raising both eyebrows to the very possibility that they were not human.
With a wave of his hand, something amazing happens right before your very eyes. The flames that were tickling the night air, have somehow woven their way onto the old man’s hands, flickering away between his fingers and right palm, and yet they didn’t seem to be burning him. He was manipulating the fire with his hands! This is impossible, and yet it’s happening right in front of your own two eyes.
“Logan, I am not of your world. For I come from another land, a faraway kingdom, filled with magic and sorcery. In this land, I was known as one the greatest and wisest of all its sorcerers. And it was here were I became known as Starswirl the bearded”.
And with one breath, he blew onto the fire in his hand, and as if by magic, a shape resembling a castle sprouted out of the undistinguishable flames. It looked amazing, with spires towering over what appeared to be a mountain side, with plenty of smaller flying beings dotted around the tops of the rooks.
“This is the kingdom of Canterlot, my home, and home to the greatest of all the kingdoms of the land of Equestria, peaceful, and prosperous”.
Then, as quick as the image of peace came, the kingdom disappeared under a dark cloud of smoke, engulfing the beautiful image that lay before you.
With a shift of his hand, six smaller figures appeared before us, in the fire itself this time.
“Now, not too long ago, this evil reappeared in the form of the fallen princess Luna, promising to cover all the land in darkness, as it once tried to before. Fortunately, Princess Celestia had foreseen this event, thanks to her beloved pupil, and May I say very talented young pony known as Twilight, and sought her young pupil, to find the elements of harmony, a group of magical items that if worn by the correct users, grant amazing power. This power was used to finally vanquish the evil from Princess Luna’s heart, freeing her from this hatred, and reuniting her with her sister”.
With this story, he looks to you, with a soul piercing gaze, his frown has returned to his normal state, blowing smoke from the fire.
You look to him with the same gaze.
“Our only hope to save both worlds, is to return to Equestria, and use the elements of harmony once again, to stop this force before it continues to spread, and consume everything in its path. That is why I called upon you Logan. I am old now, but I still have plenty of magic left in me to make it through to Equestria, and I need you to be my assistant as we make our way into my home world. You’re young, and physically capable to take on such a task. So, I chose you because you are pure of heart, and I truly do believe you’re loyal and honest enough to not use this information to your advantage.”
You feel touched by the compliments he just gave you, and you even give off a slight smile. But, this is just too much information for you to be able to comprehend. So, this land that he often spoke of is in fact real, proving that he is from another world by using actual magic, the stuff of legend. And that he must return to stop an all-out war with an unstoppable force known as the nightmare. And even more so, has asked you to accompany him on his great and noble quest.
You question him further “So, is the answer to this conflict in that parchment you have in your satchel bag?”
You begin to understand now. Those things wanted whatever is in that scroll, as to wipe out all that is good in both your worlds. You feel something burning up inside you. Something you never thought you would feel before. You’re not sure if it’s excitement or even fear, but whatever it is, it is taking hold of all your senses. You all of a sudden want to help him in his task, you want to travel to far lands and slay the nightmare, and meet magical sorcerers, and visit kingdoms no one has ever seen before. And with that thought, you smile to the wizard, and put out your hand for his to shake.
“Starswirl, can you promise me that I will be able to come back after all of this?”
“Then, I will help you in any way I can Starswirl. I promise you, we will get this done”.
With a smile, and a nod, he droops his eyes, and proceeds to lean against the tree, still fairly close as to be near the fires warmth. You smile back, and return to watching the flames lick the burning cinder, wondering what may happen on this journey. Your eyes begin to droop as the flames die out. The time for peace appears to be over, and the time for an adventure begins.
Chapter 4 The Masters Call
This forest that stands ahead is a green and pleasant land, with singing birds and tall trees all around. But as soon as you look close enough, it is not the area of serenity you’d come to expect.
There stands a lonely castle, abandoned long ago, with walls crumbling, covered in dead ivy and branches. Its roof black from appeared to be a massive fire, from a time long forgotten by the world of which you stand in. A howl creeks upon the wind, a cry from a massive pack of changelings. These monsters are not grounded by the natures of physical appearance, insect like in their stance, they possess no morals, nor do they have any sense of good or evil, they just consume, then move on to their next target. These mindless beasts seem to be taking refuge of this woodland without a master, or so it would appear. From out of the woods, a lone creature appears, with the vilest sneer. A Minotaur, but not of the kind you would expect from the passages of ancient Greece. This Minotaur seemed to possess armour made from the blackest, and darkest of all known metals, wielding a large battle axe in its right hand, and a crooked whip made of tail and bone in the other. Such a being seems to take precedence over the smaller changelings, keeping them in order with a crack of his whip.
Looking to his right, he notices the old castles tallest tower, encircled by a cyclone of grey and black clouds, lightning cast overhead. A lone dark figure stands at the window of this dark desolate land, looking over her so called mighty kingdom. For this was Queen Chrysalis, ruler of the changeling army. She once tried to conquer all of Equestria with the help of her vast army. But was thwarted by the now legendary mane six, and the new prince and princess of the great and powerful crystal empire. Long has she waited for a chance to exact her ungodly revenge on the inhabitants of Equestria, and rule with utter prejudice against all those who oppose her mighty sovereignty.
Looming over from the tall tower, she gazes upon her vast army of changelings, scattering and moving like an army of flies, moving over a large landscape. As far as the eyes can see, all there remains is a grey landscape, dotted with dying trees and large stones, on the edge of what seems to be a never ending forest. She savours this sight, breathing in the poisonous air, smiling, knowing that her forces have almost regained their full strength since their last attempt of conquering the land of the pure.
“Isn’t it marvellous my pink friend?” she says, smiling back to the little wannabe unicorn.
But she barely looks up from her collection of colourful rainbows she has managed to design for herself.
“Make it quick” she orders the changeling.
“Your majesty….” Stuttering in pure terror, “T-t-the M-master is calling for you through the m-mirror….”
The Master it speaks of, is none other than the presence of the Nightmare itself. Now, since the nightmare cannot take on a full form, it can channel its thoughts and orders through special portals, which appear through magic mirrors, leading to its dark chasm. The evil queen’s eyes grow wide. She may seem very powerful, her force is nothing compared to her dark mentors sheer power of nightmares.
She shudders for a split second, then turns around, gaining her composure as she trots through her chambers wide doors. Making her way down the old corridors in her castle, she comes to a door. Behind this door, is a room so dark, that even the slightest inch of light coming from the sky over the dark clouds couldn’t even scratch its surface. She enters the chamber, the door slamming shut behind her, due to some unknown force coming from inside. There stands a dark mirror, her reflection being the only thing visible in its exterior.
As quickly as she entered the room, a large flash of light comes from the mirror, showing a dark pair of red eyes, slit as if they were very angry with the queen’s current actions. She cowers at the sight, bowing down to them in an obedient manner. Gaining her wits about her, she composes herself by taking a deep breath, upon which the mirror seems to do the same, but with shorter breaths, looking down at the insect queen.
“What are thy orders, my lord?” She asks the mirror.
A short whisper comes from the darkness all around her, then the sound of a dark grizzled voice comes from out of nowhere.
“The messengers have located the last whereabouts of the accursed Starswirl. It appears that he seeks to return to the world of Equestria. Make sure that this does not come to pass.”
Three figures circle around the dying bartender. He is covered head to toe in blood and ash, lit only by the blazes that have taken vacancy of what was once a prosperous communal. Trying desperately to get away, he starts to crawl away on his left side, whilst his right is badly charred. With barely enough strength left in his body, he tries to call for help. But in vain, as the closest figure takes a slight step forward, towering over the poor man’s soon to be lifeless corpse.
A whisper escapes the creature’s mouth, but sounds more like a screech from a bat.
The poor man looks up in fear, not knowing what would happen next. The words the hooded demon seems to have uttered, have prevented any words to pass his lips. In a desperate bid to stay alive, he tries to plea with the three visitors.
“Find the wizard, at all costs, do not rest until you find him. Kill anyone else he is with”.
And with that order, the three beings float at a high speed over the fields, they have a target. And nothing is going to stop them.
Chapter 5 The Gifts of Enlightenment
Your back isn't hurting as badly as you thought it would. Who would have known that sleeping up against an acorn tree could be so comfortable, with the embers from the camp fire from earlier last night are still warm, as the sun is rising from the east.
You check your surroundings. It seems as if you've just awoken from some horrible dream. So much fire, and death. And the screams. You can’t get those peoples screams out of your head, why couldn't you have helped them? Why was it so important that you lived? You would have thought since the last time this happened………..
No, you shake that thought out of your head, you need to stay focused, and there is no need to keep looking back into the past.
Looking over your left shoulder now, the image of the old tired wizard greets you, and he appears to be staring off into the distance somewhere. Would it kill this guy to let you in on all this madness? It seems as if he is still hiding quite a bit from you. You can’t imagine why, after all that has happened in these past two day, you start to wonder if you’re just an accessory in this old wizards hair brained scheme.
“How did you sleep?”, turning his head around slightly to notice you getting up.
Before answering, you stretch your arms in the air, letting out an audible yawn. You're not so sure why, but you don't even take into consideration how impolite it is to yawn in front of others without covering your mouth. Maybe it's the fact, that because of him, your whole life has been burnt to the ground. But, just to show that you're willing to comply with him, you answer his small talk.
“Fine thanks, can't believe a tree trunk could be so comfortable to dose off against”.
It's been 3 hours now, but to you it has felt ages. You're running on an empty stomach, and you didn't want to tell starswirl before, but even though you slept well your body is still aching from the days journey before. Trying to put on a brave face and just try to walk it off, you instead give a look of forced determination, which some may take as either anger, or even frustration. And this doesn't go by unnoticed.
"Uh, Starswirl", you ask as politely as your mood is permitting you to do so,
"Look I know you're main concern is getting to, uh, wherever it is we're going to, but don't you think that those dark messenger things would be chasing us right now? I mean, if they find us, do you even have a plan?" This is coming off snark ire than you anticipated, but it is a concern that needs to be dealt with, atleast in your opinion.
That's when it happened, it looked as if a light went off in the old mans head.
"Logan, I must ask something of you",
Another favor? You answer him "Sure, what is it?", why did you say that? What is it with you and just blindly agreeing to things lately?
"If you had to take a life, would you?",
"Uh, what?",
"If you had no other options, would you...." But you cut him off before he can finish that sentence.
"Ok, let's get this one thing clear, because I think you may have the wrong idea about me, but I am against fighting. I'd never hurt anyone, or anything if I can possibly help it, why would you ask me that?".
He nods, and points to a clearing between the trees on the side of the path.
"We shall stop there for a moments rest", and with that you both trotted down to what seems to be a shallow stream.
He picks up a stick, and throws it to you. And then picks one up himself.
"I want you to hit me with that stick". His eyes narrow in a stance that would ready him for an attack.
You look confusingly at the stick, then back to Starswirl, then back to the stick, and smiling, you realize that this is some kind of weird joke, how can he expect you to hit an old man? So you lower your stick.
He hit you! The sneaky old bag of dust hit you!? With a STICK to boot!
"OW', you yell ' What did you do that for?".
"Ow? When an enemy stabs you with a sword, or shreds you with claws, or bucks you in your chest, you're going to say ow?".
Ok, now he's asked for it, you've put up with far too much nonsense already, you're not going to put being hit on the head on the long list of things to bitch about.
You swing right, he moves left. You lunge forward, he steps back. You try a blow to the head, he ducks, and sweeps your feet with his stick, causing you to fall on your back against the wet rock on the ground. The slight sensation of pain you feel is so uncomfortable, but then again, you've felt worse, from falling out of trees when you were a child.
He helps you up, but there is a concerned look on his face.
"You have the right idea of how to fight' he looks at your hands, 'but you don't actually posses any actual talent at defending yourself do you?".
You raise an eyebrow, rubbing your neck and sarcastically answer him, "Wow, what tipped you off? The fact that I just told you not five minutes ago that I avoid fighting in any situation, or the fact that you just handed my ass to me with just a twig?".
"Now there is no need to be snarky with me young man".
"Snarky? You tripped me up with a stick, what was that supposed to teach me? How to get my butt handed to me? Because spoiler alert, I already know how to do that".
"It was to teach you that you must learn to defend yourself", standing up and walking over to you, placing a hand on your shoulder, " And you were lucky it was just a fall on your back. If it were those dark messengers, you would be in a much much worse state than you are now my young friend".
"If those Messengers were here, at least they'd tell me what I'm here for instead of being some mysterious.... " but before you finish mumbling under your breath, Starswirl bops you pretty hard on the head with the butt of his stick stating that he knew what you were going to say.
This seems to go on for hours now, you get up, he knocks you down. Sometimes on your back, other times on your front. If you were on the sidelines watching, you would have probably thought it had stopped being funny about five hours ago.
It's starting to get dark as the sun sets. Starswirl has opted to go to a nearby rock and perch on top of it, legs folded and his eyes squinting into his left hands thumb and forefinger, starting to see a pattern here.
You're scrambling to your feet, your whole body aches. There are bruises all over your face, your legs are shaking, your arms are all beaten up, and you use your tongue, just to make sure all your teeth are still in place.
"it seems as if you are somewhat of a novice at combat", he points out, with both palms of his hands, "And we don't have an eternity to properly train you".
You go wide eyed, with one of your eyes twitching in annoyance. You've been at this for 8 hours, and it's only now he is deciding to act upon it? No, Uh uh, NOOOOPPE, not this time, it's your turn now. It's your turn to act like a smart ass.
"OK, listen, Starry pal of mine, now, I am aware of the urgency of our *ahem* 'finger quotations' Epic quest to save an enchanted world from certain annihilation, and you for some odd reason want to drag my worthless ass along for the ride, but......" I can't stress on how long he pauses before breathing in deeply, "Aren't we still be chased by some blood thirsty, Supernatural murderous dark messengers, who wish for nothing more than to cut our heads off?".
Now his eyes widen, going silent. and the only thing you can think of right now is yelling in his ear, flailing your arms in the air, HOW? HOW COULD SOMETHING LIKE THAT SLIP YOUR MIND?. But, you don't, you just let that particular penny drop.
"And we don't seem to have come any closer to preparing you for the journey ahead have we", he enters into a deep thought, rubbing his chin with his right hand, and rests his arm with his left hand, then it looks as if a painful lightning bolt hit him on the head, "Mr Knightley..."
"Uh, I think it's just Logan at this point I think" you say interrupting him.
"Logan, do you believe in enlightenment?".
Now you're intrigued, "Enlightenment? You mean like religion?", he shakes his head slowly.
"I'm talking about discovering what you are truly are capable of". He gets up from his sitting position, placing his satchel over his shoulder. You both start to make you way once again to the forest.
As you walk, he continues with his explanation. "You see, where I come from, my people often discover what they are truly capable of at a very young age. Once they discover this, they often tend to veer towards these talents for their destined career, or perhaps what they are meant to do in life. These phenomenons are often called 'Cutie marks'".
"Cutie marks? What are they?", you ask bemusedly. It just seems a little surreal that there would be such a thing called a cutie mark. He then proceeds to explain what a cutie mark truly is, telling you that they are a form of tattoo, which magically appears when the said party discovers their true talent. For some reason, this surprises you a bit more than a story of a far away kingdom, and a supposed unstoppable force of evil hell bent to cover the world in darkness.
"Now, human beings in this world don't have such an ability. It's up to you throughout your entire lives to discover who you are meant to be. Where you belong".
This hits you a little closer to home than he had anticipated, as you haven't truly found where you belong yet, or at least you don't know any more. You're approaching a low bearing part of the woods, where a clearing in the trees shows the orange tinted sky from the setting sun. He sets himself down on the soft leaf and moss covered ground, beckoning you to do the same. As you both sit crossed leg facing each other, he sticks his hand into his satchel, rummaging around for a minute before pulling out a small vial. It's a clear glassed cylinder, with what appears to be a bright purple liquid inside. He examines the contents by holding towards the sunlight.
"In the other world, my home, I was a respected sorcerer. A conjurer of sorts. My kind would often come seek me out for advice, spells, and in most cases, elixirs".
"You used to create elixirs? With Magic?".
"Correct. But this one is very special. For you see, it was created for a single purpose....".
You lean in anticipation, staring at the so called magic potion.
".... to unlock the true power of any person who drinks it". This potion he says, apparently unlocks an individuals true potential, perhaps what they have hidden deep within them. Now he's got your undivided attention for sure.
"I've held onto this vial for many years, hoping that once I return to my world, I would pass it to my successor, in hopes that they could be able to replicate my work, and bring forth a new collection of heroes when the world needed them the most". He looks as if he is getting a little bit emotional now. Like taking a gamble on a high stakes game of cards.
"Logan, I realise that you haven't known me for a long time. And I can't force you to trust me, but I do feel as if I can trust you. You decided to follow me on this journey, with very little information, and yet you have a certain spark to you, which tells me that you will get this done. So, as my trusted fellow traveller, I am going to give you what you need, to be able to survive this adventure of ours". And, as if handing out a sacred artefact, he places the vial in your hands. You take it delicately, marvelling at how it seems to glow when you turn the small glass container.
Reaching his satchel, he hasn't even noticed that you were already drinking the contents quite rapidly. Raising his head, his eyes widen in shock noticing that the vial is now crystal clear, rid of any of the potion that remained inside.
"Uh, what did you just do?" He yanks the bottle from you, seeming horrified, "WHAT DID YOU JUST DO?".
You do nothing except let out a quiet belch under your breath. "Sorry, I guess I couldn't hel....", but you're cut short. All of a sudden, you feel something. Vision starts to go blurry, and you're chest feels as if it's burning from the inside. All your senses seem to have ceased to function. All you can feel now is pain, terrible pain. But you're not even able to scream, your voice is caught in your throat, and for a split second, everything is black.
Starswirl seems to have his anger subsided for a mere moment, scattering to your side, shaking your shoulders and lightly slapping your face.
"Stay with me Logan, stay with me here". You're vision is almost gone.
he is shouting now, confused by what is taking place right now, and all starswirl can do is yell your name. "Logan..... LOGAN!!!".
Author's Note
Hello everyone, I apologise for the delay for this chapter, I've been swamped in work lately and not really had a chance to come back to my PC. If you have any constructive thoughts, please comment below.