The Timeless Chronicle

The lights gather. The sun shines brightly through an open window. I'm in a house. A house of clay and hay.

I look around, I have not seen a house like this in my life yet, but I think I've read on something like it. There are two more doors at the hind wall, and two more windows to the sides, but basically the whole house seems to be this one medium sized room. There's a wooden table in one part, and a fireplace next to it, with a kettle hanging over it. By the back wall I see some shelves, stacked with dried foods and herbs. The rooms, upon examination, are small, closet-like in size, but house two sleeping bags each, on different levels. They looked as if someone had heard of the idea of bunk beds, but has never seen a bed.

There is a whistle outside. A pony stands just before the house, and I see others coming, from various buildings in the vicinity, and from the fields. A small group forms, and somewhere in it I recognize Clover. She is hiding behind her family, a bigger green earth pony stallion and a dull-red unicorn mare. There are two more foals, jumping around, by her side, but she seems to be just intimidated, not moving an centimeter, always in her parents' shadow.

The last pony arrives and the group begins to move. They seem to have set out for the bigger, stone building on the other side of this spread out village. It wears the symbol of the sun on its front door, so I can only assume that it is a church.

As they enter, there is some tension in the atmosphere. Some of the ones in the front, the first ones to enter, are not content. However nothing happens and everypony sits down.

In the very back of the church through an open window a ray of light shines, and where it lands, there is a lectern. An old greying pegasus, whose colours are lost in time, slowly walks up to it, and opens the book standing on it.

"Today," he announces, "we will have a shortened Ritual of the Sun, my ponies. The reason is a friend of mine, that hath visited this village, a very important pony whom I wish to introduce to you."

There is a short commotion, but the sound quietens instantly, as the preacher's lips part again.

"Be welcome, oh life giving force, on this day where thou shinest the brightest. Be welcome, and know our thanks, for without thee, we would be nothing. Be welcome, and blest us, for in thy shining fire, we are judged, and we shall prevail. Expungest the evil from our souls, and helpest us in our daily life, and we shall give ourselves to thee, as we have done for ever. Transeat."

Every pony stands up, turns in a circle thrice, waves their forehooves and repeats, "Transeat."

The pressure in the room falls. Ponies relax and the old one goes into a backroom, disappearing from the stage.

Soon he emerges, with a familiar grey-blue unicorn. He presents, "This here is Star Swirl the Bearded, the most powerful conjurer in this land, and the pony to whom I owe my life. If it wasn't for him, my latest travel would have ended much differently, with me returning not to this hometown of mine." He looks over to Star Swirl again, and the latter nods his head. "He is in search for a student, wishing his knowledge vanish not in time, and his search of the most fitting pony has led him here .

"I have myself, after hearing his troubles, have recommended him to look at one particular talent in our community. Moonycharm, could you please step up here?"

I looked back to where Clover is sitting, and see her, sulking into the seat, trying to escape everyone's attention, with little success. Finally, she is pushed out of her seat by what I presume to be her brother. On shaking legs, she walks up to the front.

"Art thou sure this poor thing is capable of magic? Walking seemeth to be a hardship for this creature." Star Swirl looked at her suspiciously.

"I am the one who hath teached her the beginnings of magic. She is certainly a perfect learner, and with a right push, she is capable of amazing feats. Wouldst thou care to share, Moonycharm?"

The mare just manages to squeak out a silent "What to do?" and seemingly foiled in on herself.

"'Tis simple, my dear," Star Swirl says, taking out a scroll from his porch. "Just followest the instructions, and after twenty minutes, showest me what progress thou hast made."

I look over Clover's shoulder and see the instructions to a basic shield spell. Basic, but hard to learn. I needed at least a day of practice before I could stabilize the barrier enough not to let things through.

Ten minutes pass, and most of the ponies leave the church. Clover is still sitting over the paper and slowly grumbling, but soon raises her head. "I think I have it."

Star Swirl looks curiously as her horn begins to glow. She concentrates, closing her eyes, and let's the magic flow. I feel it forming a bubble around her.

Star Swirl looks impressed, but then examines it closer. "Dost thou also think it will last?"

He taps on it once. Twice.

On the third time the field breaks.

Clover looks down, on the vanishing magic shards, and up to the pony magician, and tears start to well in her eyes. "I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to make it like this."

Star Swirl examines her from top to bottom, and looking away, states, "Thou needest to work on thy mind's stability, and while thou hast power, thou needest to channel it correctly. But thou will have enough time to learn this, if you accompany me on my trip to Castle Monorog. Wouldest thou want to?"

The filly's frown turns upside down, as she jumps up in glee.

The light begin to flicker.