Diary of a Lancer : Tune of Bladesby AvkittiLitChaptersChapter 1: The BOOMChapter 2: Demanding AnswersChapter 3: Family MattersPrologue: An Adventure Starts In A Good BookChapter 1: The BOOM"Life was normal growing up in Haven. The town was located out in the open, uncovered by the forest which surrounded it. That bare spot covered in tall grasses was where the town settled. The citizens showed no concern for the happening of the world around them, but I always wanted to go beyond our lands borders. But within time, I would get the chance to experience what it was like outside of the safety of Haven. But that chance would become a journey, and I would fall victim to the most life-threatening event in my days and years to come..." Within Eternity's Plains, basically the middle of nowhere, a fortified, independent city, known as Orvilia, stood robustly under the gray blanket of clouds that loomed overhead. Populated by only three thousand and five hundred Earth ponies, including the military which guarded the perimeters, the fort is, without a doubt, safe from any harm. A large stone castle erected from the center of the city. Surrounding the castle were bunches of apartment structures, cafes, bars, apothecaries, and a thick, cobblestone wall surrounding the city. Inside a central watch tower, two Earth pony guards stationed themselves here to watch for any danger or signs of trouble, since the everlasting gray clouds hadn't moved, nor dissipated in weeks. At the top of this watchtower, a large, round room is built to watch over the city with a bird's-eye view. Two, long tables aligned with each other, carrying maps, compasses, and bows and arrows. Finally, surrounding the room, four balconies erected from the tower, each pointing north, south, east, or west. "Yet another day with no sunshine," an orange Earth pony guard said. "Yeah, and we are supposed to be watching for trouble," the other annoyed pony guard said, "and not sitting on our tushes and doing nothing all day!" The orange pony sat up to look to the other one with an eyebrow perked up. "And your point is?" he asked. The guard simply rolled his eyes and replied, "Just get up, Citrus!" Having been called by his first name, the lazy, orange pony jumped to his hooves. "Okay, okay, just don't report me, Indigo." "I might as well, for this has been going on for too long!" Indigo exclaimed. "Have you even been getting enough sle-" Indigo was cut off from continuing his sentence when a crack of lightning and thunder shot from the sky. Both of them looked up to the sky in all awe as a light show of black, white, and otherworldly colors danced across the clouds. "Black lightning?!" Citrus exclaimed. "What the hell? We have to warn someone about this!" Indigo exclaimed. Another minute passed as the blackened volts of electricity swirled and circled the sky. Then, with no warning at all, a shock wave burst from the sky towards the castle that centered the fort. BOOM! Boom! A roaring boom was heard from afar; followed by a mild tremor that shook the small Earth pony town of Haven. Despite not having woken up by the sounds of working ponies outside, Navin Inkpot was awoken by the soft boom. He shot up from the alarm and fell out of his bed. He didn't move, he just laid there on his back looking directly at the ceiling. Navin Inkpot was a curious Earth pony. His coat was the color of ash. His mane was as black as the night streaked with silver that hung low over his neck. His hard, black hooves clicked as he trod on the floor. His green eyes stood out above everything, but his iconic black spot on his face wasn't found anywhere else in Haven. An ink pot over an unrolled scroll adorned his flank. He was a unique member of his family, the name Inkpot was a nickname for his color. His father and newborn brother were both named after elements of the earth, and his mother and beloved sister both have names that were flower related. Navin was fun-loving, adventurous, curious, but all the same afraid of the outside world. He was born in Haven, raised in Haven, and still in Haven. Although living most of his life there, he never had time for friends. Instead, he used his fun-loving nature to write adventurous short stories and shared them to his family as a colt. But, as he grew older, he began secluding himself in his room, writing journal entries. Long ones. He only came out to do yard work and other chores, so he was active. But still, he just laid there, playing dead. He suddenly gasped for air. "I'm not dead," he whispered. He was drenched in sweat, for he had awoken from a nightmare. Breathing heavily, he decided that he must tell somepony of his fantasy. He'd even forgotten about the boom that disturbed him from slumber. "I'm not dead," Navin said more energetically. Navin sat up in sudden realization and once again, he shouted, "I'm not dead!" He quickly jumped to his hooves and slammed his bedroom door open and paced down the hallway. "Am I not dead? I can't be sure," Navin panted as he scurried down the hallway. The smell of breakfast still lingered in the hallway. Navin could tell that it was flat bread 'n oats again, only there was a much fruitier smell that followed it: apples. Indeed! It was Sunday- the only day Navin could sleep in. When he passed by the kitchen, an apple strudel for him for all the work he had accomplished in the field throughout the week. But, with no time to waste, he took only one bite out of it and continued out the door. The outside sunshine greeted him with warmth and sight. Navin's eyes adjusted to the brightness of the sun and finally caught glimpse of his hometown, Haven. Haven was a peaceful and secluded town that is home to about one hundred ponies. The dirt roads were easy to trot on for sensitive soles. The many houses were two-storied duplexes, and had tiled roofs above them. A small, but tall, bell tower rang for important events, especially signals for danger. Mares, stallions, and foals gathered at the church in the northeastern section of town everyday at noon for daily prayers to the spirits that watched from above. The atmosphere that morning was clear and good enough to breathe in, which gave Navin more proof that he was still living. The nightmare he had was too real. Navin smiled and turned around to face his house. It was the smallest one in the town, with only one level and only four rooms. The window shutters were opened, letting in the morning light to illuminate the house from within. A row of flowers grew adjacent to the house, which Navin's mom grew for sandwiches. Resting at the edge of town, if there was an attack on Haven, Navin's house would likely be the first one to be destroyed. Navin heard some sort of commotion behind him that he didn't notice before. He looked over his shoulder to see a crowd of Earth ponies scattered all over the street, leaking from the structures. They all looked towards the source of the mysterious boom. Navin was gonna call on his mom, dad, and little brother and sister to come outside, but noticed them joined in the crowd. His mom, Lilium, was a beautiful mare, despite going through labor three times. She was a tanned to perfection with a hot pink mane and long, sleek tail. Resting on her flank, which was difficult to not notice, was a blood-red lily flower, connected to a green stem. His masculine father, Quake, was as brown as the rust on a shovel. His mane was as black as Navin's, and was well tended. Three rocks marked his flank. He was built to handle tough yard work and any future battle. Navin looked up to him as a role model all his colthood. His sister, Rose Bud, lives up to her name. She was an alluring maroon and she kept her copper mane and tail short. Although she was still a blank flank, Rose Bud was determined to find her talent. She was very lively and full of happiness, and that's why Navin wouldn't part with her. Navin rushed towards his family and came up to Quake first. "Hey, dad! Did you hear the boom, too?" Navin asked rapidly. "Navin! You're awake," Lilium said in her sweet voice, but it had some sort of concern in it. "Yes, I am, and I had a dream last night!" Navin exclaimed. "I was in this citadel of some sort, and there were shadowy figures fighting with silhouettes of ponies. Then, I was attacked, there was a boom, and-" "And what?" Lilium asked. Navin looked at the crowd of puzzled ponies. The entire family looked around in worry, except Quake. He stood strongly and without a look of apprehension on his face. What was that noise? The question was burnt within the minds of of everypony who'd heard the strange boom. They all turned to the sound of fanfare coming from down the street to the right. The mayor, standing at the hoof of the bronze statue of his great great grandfather at the town center, had everypony's attention. All the citizens gathered in the center, but Lilium halted Rose Bud, who was already ahead of her. "Hold on, Rose," Lilium stopped Rose Bud in her tracks. "But Mom, I'm old enough to attend meetings," Rose Bud said with confidence. Quake chuckled, "Rose, you don't even have your mark, yet." He turned to face Navin, and with a broad smile on his face, "Navin, take your siblings inside and watch them, we'll be back." "No no no, I'm coming, too," Navin backed up and positioned himself rebelliously. "Son, you must ensure that your brother and sister are safe. Now, go!" Navin's father sounded more and more aggressive. Something bad was gonna happen, and his father was concerned for the first time in forever. Navin lost his pose and expression and was entrusted with this responsibility. He looked towards his mom, whose face begged him clearly please. Navin couldn't resist the entrancing facial expression. Navin thought of how his parents had told him that one day, he would have to take responsibilities seriously and not to ignore them. With a nod of understanding, and his mind rid of doubt, Lilium handed Granite to Navin. Quake sternly shot a look at Rose Bud. She looked at him back and her ears dropped. With a look of disappointment, she followed Navin to their home. Chapter 2: Demanding Answers"Then, one fateful day, a mysterious boom came from the west, followed by mild tremor that shook the ground beneath our hooves. Different leaders dispatched volunteers and veterans to find the source of the blast. This put my father in danger, and the rest of my family trembled because of his decision..." Navin reached the entrance to the door of their home and opened it with a push of his foreleg. Questions filled his head as he trotted into the house. "A nightmare, huh?" Rose bud asked from behind. Navin turned to face the filly. Her magenta eyes stared straight through his. "Yeah, how about I go more in detail?" Navin asked. Rose Bud plopped on the floor and looked up to her brother. Navin, still holding Granite in his forelegs, began his story, "It began in a citadel of some sort, and all around me were thick columns. I was on some raised walkway, I looked over the sides and the columns went all the way to the black below. "All around me were wounded ponies, all dressed in capes and helmets. Around there shapes were some sort of white vapor, and they moved slowly. I was breathing heavily, I could feel everything. "Suddenly, there was muffled banging. Coming from all sides, bigger silhouettes of ponies attacked the group. i just stood there and watched the carnage of the battle. Screams were heard clearly as fire rained from above. "I didn't notice one shadow coming towards me until a heavy feeling struck my chest, and I found that I have been jabbed by a pike. That's when I woke from the terrible fantasy." Rose Bud, with her jaw practically touching the floor, closed her gaping mouth and shrugged. "Maybe it was a sign," she said, "you should see therapist." "Hey, didn't you have strange dreams, too?" Navin asked. Rose put a hoof to her chin and said, "I actually recall this one dream I had when I met this puny weirdo who wouldn't stop yapping his jaws, and caused mom's, dad's, and your heads to blow up." "Really?" Navin inquired. "Did you know what it meant?" "No," she shook her head, "can you guess?" "Maybe-" Navin thought for a moment, "maybe it means that something is bugging you so much that you might just snap one day. Was there something bugging you?" "Yeah! It was at the time shortly after Granite was born, and he wouldn't stop wailing day and night." Navin acknowledged her realization with a low hmm, and turned to take Granite to Lilium and Quake's room. He paused and his ears surveyed the surroundings. It was a loud, heavily accented voice caught his attention. "Hey, what's up?" Rose Bud asked. Navin didn't answer, he shushed her and she grunted. Navin turned around and gave Rose Bud the foal. "Take Granite to Mom and Dad's room, now." "Why?" Rose Bud asked as she took Granite into her forelegs. "I'll be back," Navin said. "Wait! Can I come?" "Stay put, Rose!" the ignorant Earth pony stood her ground and stomped to her parents' room to put Granite, who now was awake and cooing, to sleep. Navin checked to see if she wasn't sneaking behind him. She was always a sneaky filly. Both Navin and Rose had the best sibling experience throughout their lives. Unlike other siblings who couldn't get along, they spent quality time with each other through thick and thin, highs and lows, and ups and downs. But little did they both know that their relations will be changed forever. Navin continued out the door and grabbed the handle in his mouth to close it behind him. The voice of the mayor still clung to his ear. He wanted to know in all the world what he had to say about the incident that shook the world. The curious Earth pony rounded the corner of a nearby duplex. Uncovering from the shadows, he observed before him that the whole town filled the plaza. They needed answers, and they expect the mayor to answer their questions. Navin then noticed his parents that turned out to be in the back of the crowd, their rumps facing his direction. He recoiled behind the close-by building, but still exposed his head, to which he could still see the mayor. The mayor was a stout, white pony that had his brown mane swept back and a mustache grew from his lip. He wore a fine, red cape that positioned him higher than anypony in the local heirarchy. Questions like What was that? What's going on? and What do we do now? came from the crowd. "Friends, friends," he started, "I can assure you that there is nothing to worry about." His voice soothed the crowd, but hooves raised to ask questions. The mayor counted them and pointed to a copper mare in the front. "You, there, speak." "Well, how do you know that nothing's wrong?" she asked. The question drew many comments from surrounding ponies. It was considered a threat to question the mayor's knowledge. The mayor didn't want to arrest her in public, though there were officers around him to do the job, so he smiled and looked to everyone as a sign that this was to answer all of their queries. "I'm the mayor, your most trusted leader," he said to all, "I'm always right." Always right? Navin thought, scratching his chin with a hoof. I think otherwise! "Everyone! Settle," the mayor started, "anymore questions?" "Yes! Here!" Navin didn't mean to shout that loud. He covered his mouth with a hoof, making another word unable to escape. Everypony turned to face him, even his parents, which were shocked to see him. His father put a look of acrimony on his face. Navin swallowed a wad of saliva down his drying throat. He never had this many ponies staring at him. And his dad glared threateningly at him. "Well then, share," the mayor said to Navin. His posture was steady, and his amber irises could force anypony to speak. Inkpot gulped and took a few hoofsteps forward. "I'm sure we all think that you really don't know. If you do know that this isn't a possible threat to us all, then...uh-" Navin was hesitant to continue, for he was sure that words spoken like that to a mayor with all the power in town would surely get him shoved into the slammer. "Then what?" the mayor asked calmly. Navin gathered the courage to speak, "Then prove it." Nopony spoke. Even his father lost the angry look on his face. It turned into a look of worry and shock. "I previously stated, as the mayor, that I am always right," he responded, "and you expect me to prove that there is nothing to worry about?" "I have my doubts, sir." The mayor looked around at the ponies who all turned to him, hoping that he'll have a solution to this problem. He feared that if he didn't attempt to try and varify the situation, that more and more ponies would begin to ponder his power. Having been cut off from outside forces, these ponies were brainwashed to think of the mayor as their hero, lord, or god. Clearing his throat, he began to speak, "Very well then. We all have been a bit spooked about the whole boom incident, but I still can assure that absolutely nothing is to harm us all. As Mayor Piggly Harshtrot IV," his full title, "I'll dispatch a party of volunteers and, or veterans, to survey the source of the 'boom'," the mayor looked around for anypony who understood. "Any volunteers?" There was a silence that could've lasted forever, but "I volunteer," was heard loud and clear. And that voice came from the back of the crowd. Quake, Navin's father, had volunteered to go on this mission, and Navin was dumbfounded. Quake had seen some action at one point of his life, but did that mean he could fend himself from outside enemies? "You, sir," the mayor pointed him out, "state your name and role." "Quake; veteran," Quake said. "Care to tell us of your story?" the mayor pleaded. "All I can say is that I've killed many in my days. Fought with the 14th Ranger Legion, I did. Cavalry. Swept the southern theaters clean of the rebelling Earth pony provinces." "Thank you for volunteering, you brave soul. Anyone else?" After he spoke out, another pony courageously volunteered, and another, and so on. Maybe they knew they'd be alright now that they had a hardcore old-timer. Soon, about twenty-five mares and stallions alike had raised their hooves. "Okay, all volunteers meet me in the main hall at sunrise for your initiations," the mayor said as he strutted towards the hall, "you're all going to need it." Everypony soon trotted about their business, some congratulated their volunteers for their decision. Quake, having nodded in understanding, turned to face Navin. But his facial expression changed for the last time, and this time, he looked infuriated, but at the same time looked as if he accomplished something. "I'm sorry, dad," Navin said. "Well, you're gonna see sorry when you've realized what you've done," Quake said sternly. Navin understood, for when he said those words, he put his father in danger. How was he supposed to know what was waiting for him out there? What would have happened if his dad didn't volunteer? Would he still be forced anyway because he was a veteran? Yes. Quake has seen the scenes of battle before. Just twelve seasons ago, he came back from fighting with the barbarian pony provinces of the south. Fighting was easy for him, but he took severe wounds to his hind legs and had to be dispatched from the regiment. If Navin just kept his mouth shut, his father wouldn't have to embark on the possibly long journey. And Lilium, her eyes literally cried out in anguish. She looked up to Quake, for he was taller than her, and tears formed in her eyes. She's taking it all too seriously. "But Quake, your legs, will hold for that long?" she asked him. "Will you go that far without stopping?" Quake returned his gaze to his beautiful wife and replied, "We'll talk at dinner. Navin has a lot of things to explain to us." Navin reeled into himself and puppy-eyed his father as he walked past him. Quake just stared ahead to the home where Rose Bud hadn't a clue to what happened just now. Chapter 3: Family Matters"It seems that our family changed that day. Our relationships changed, but we were still family. When I see father walk out the front door into the unknown, I see a never shrinking hole form in my family..." The atmosphere as they dined on their soggy veggies was sullen. Nopony spoke at the table. All of their faces were shadowed with sorrow, except Bud's. She looked at everypony's face and wondered in her simple mind what caused them to be like this. Earlier when they came in, Rose Bud was ready to walk out the door with the crying foal in her hooves. "What happened out there?" she asked. "I was about to investigate myself." She looked up to the facial expressions upon each of their faces. Quake was still staring forward, not minding Rose at all, Lilium was melancholy, head down and eyes closed, forcing tears out of her eyes, finally, Navin came in looking scared. Rose Bud was greeted by his surprised green irises as he called on her. "Rose, I-" "Okay, what'd I miss?" she asked in demand. Navin tried to come up with a way to explain, but just wanted to wait til supper. "Nothing. Wait until dinner, okay?" He trotted past her slowly, and she followed behind. Here they were now eating, but none wanted to share what happened today with Rose Bud. Lilium quietly and gloomily fed Granite spoon-fulls of collared greens, and Quake can be heard breathing in and out repeatedly as he ate. Rose Bud, almost giving in to her thoughts, still pondered as to what caused her family this dismay. Navin was at his worst, anger built up inside him. Why can't he decline the mission? Why can't he stay with us? His mind was filled with these thoughts. He twitched with anxiety and the desire to slap his dad in the face and call him an idiot. Without feeling for his actions, he snapped and stomped his hoof on the table, almost tipping over the bowl of greens. "This won't happen! I won't let it!" he shouted. "It's too damn late, then," Quake thundered. "Why are you so mad with me?" "You know damn well why! You don't ever talk back to the mayor! Don't you know he has the power to execute you on the spot?" Granite started crying and Lilium tried to soothe the foal by holding him in her hooves, constantly shushing him. Rose Bud began to fear the outcome of the argument. Her face was almost completely buried in her forearms. "But why?" Navin asked quietly. "Why did you so foolishly come forward to this operation?" "Why is it a big deal?" Quake shouted, silencing the room. He came closer to Navin, as he too stood up from his seat. "You don't know what's out there. You are too stupid to-" Quake whacked Navin in his face and he fell to the floor due to the forceful blow. "Quake!!!" Lilium shouted at him. He traced towards Lilium, Granite, and poor Rose Bud, who was now sobbing as well. He lost all anger in his body. He realized the action that he took towards his son. Navin pulled himself up, but remained on the cold floor. He felt a warm, wet sensation coming from his muzzle. He caressed it and felt warm blood drip onto his hoof. He gasped. His father laid a strong blow unto him. Rose Bud sniffled, "Daddy, why'd you hit him? Does he have to bleed?" Bud galloped to her room before Quake could answer her questions. Navin gazed up to the stallion that used to be his role model, his hero. Even though he was taught right from wrong in some ways related to this, the blow was triggered by anger. Quake stared at him as well, but fear flooded his eyes like an overflowing lake. Quake stumbled back shakily. "Navin, I-I'm sorry," he started as Navin stood to his hooves. They once again locked eyes with each other. Navin's eyes started to water, too, but didn't want his parents to see his tears. "Navin, please-" Navin galloped to his bedroom as well before his father could continue. Quake, wide-eyed in disbelief, looked down at his hoof that he struck Navin with. His limbs shivered, a chill crept up his spine, and he stumbled towards the chair in which he sat in. He gazed in Lilium's direction. She was holding a silenced foal in her hooves. "Why did you do that, Quake?" she asked quietly. "Why?!" she was louder that time. Quake was ashamed of himself. The feeling made his back legs unable to move, but he didn't bother to get up. "I wasn't myself, Lilium," he answered to his wife, "I don't know who I am anymore!" He wept softly on the floor. It was too much for Lilium. She couldn't blame him for that, or for the sights he'd seen in war. She carefully laid Granite down in his chair to trot over to aid the fallen warrior. "Lilium," Quake called, "don't come anywhere near me!" She stopped in her tracks and decided to speak to him in that distance. "He's gonna let this all go, one day," Lilium said to him, "he will never hate his 'number one father in the whole world.'" Navin used to call him that until he shut his family out long ago. Those memories hit Quake like a steel pike across his temple and he shuddered as the feeling of regret sickened him. He had committed a criminal act. The Earth pony religion is, or was, based on peace and friendship. You'd be cursed by Solarus of the Sun and punished by Maria of the Moon if their teachings were wronged. If their were to be any conflict or war, all the soldiers are blessed, or given "permission" to carry on their duties. Quake's act of aggression could get him arrested for assault onto another living being. His tears finally busted through his internal dam and began bursting out of his eyes. "Oh, Solarus," he began, "forgive me!" Navin was standing at his door, glaring at his room with frustration. He was thinking about how his dad had swung a hoof on him when all he was trying to do was prove his point about his dad's foolishness. He didn't want him to throw himself into combat as soon as he just recovered from the scars of his past. The gears in his mind spun so quickly, that they started to spark. He rushed towards his desk where he'd press paper on to write his entries. Without thought of his actions, he turned and bucked the desk, sending it flying in the air almost. Chips of wood scattered across his face and he rushed over to his bed. He tore off all the sheets and chopped the bed in two. He took three heaving breaths and practically had steam blowing from his ears. Navin, finished with his short breather, turned to his final target: the bookshelf. In just one jump, he was there. He slid his hoof in a small space between the bookshelf and the wall behind it and departed the two. Now, using both hooves, he pulled the shelf and it fell over with a loud bang. He flinched and grunted as the shelf, along with all the books on it, collided with the hardwood floor. Outside of Navin's wrecked room, his dad was listening to the racket. He thought he should enter the room to interfere, but he felt that Navin was fussed at too much. Quake knew he shouldn't do more harm to Navin, nor did Lilium, who was gazing over her shoulder as she was just about to enter her room. "You've done enough, Quake," she said to him. "You too make up by morning before you leave." Quake sighed, his ears dropped to the sides of his head, and he trotted slowly towards Lilium. "He's quiet already," he said after he noticed that the noise had pended to silence. "I hope for the better tomorrow, Lilium." Meanwhile, Navin was nearly passed out on the floor. He doesn't remember falling, because all the turmoil went away with the leaking steam. Am I dead?he thought to himself. Am I dying? "I hope so," he said out loud. He rolled over and faced the ceiling. "Where are you, light? Take me far away from here." The door to his bedroom quietly creaked open and a little rose-colored head peeked through. "Navin, what happened in here?" she asked through sniffles. Navin recollected himself and locked eyes with his sister's. "I'm sorry to have disturbed you from something, Rose," he said to her. His throat was sore, so he spoke quietly. "I was close to sleeping, but I heard loud noises." "I'm so sorry," he apologized. "Come her." He gestured for his sister to sit next to him, to which she instantly proceeded to do. She galloped to her older brother and greeted him with a warm embrace. "What is to become of us?" Rose Bud asked. She was now sobbing silently and it broke Navin's now injured heart. "I don't know, little sis," he answered as best as he could. "All I can say is that I wish Dad some good luck tomorrow." "He's gonna need all the luck he can get," Rose Bud responded. "Is it true, Navin?" "What?" "The dangers. You said that nopony knew about the obstacles that waited for him." Navin looked up to the sky and hoped that he was wrong about what he stated. What larger-than-life being could be lurking out in the unknown? Oh how Navin wished there wasn't one! "Don't worry, Rose," he encouraged his little sis hope for the best, "we'll give him the best farewell, tomorrow!" "You really think so? After what happened tonight?" she asked. Navin stuttered, but gathered the guts to speak proudly. He lifted his sisters head and gazed into her beautiful eyes. "I promise you!" Prologue: An Adventure Starts In A Good BookSpike sighed as he compared the address on the library's front door with the one on his card. Twilight Sparkle had given Spike an assignment to read a novel a grade above his level of reading. He accepted the task for his friend and "legal guardian", but he thought otherwise about long novels and much rather stick with comics. Besides, she states that all great adventures start in a good book. The library was a big, bricked building with a glass dome in the center, the Manehattan Carnegie Hall. Of all her favorite libraries, Twilight dropped Spike off at this one at the center of Manehattan. The doors that allowed entrance to the structure were made of smooth mahogany with golden decorative knockers. The windows on all sides marked the building's two stories. Spike gazed upon the building with awe, but snapped out of it to get back on track with his task. "Okay," Spike muttered to himself, "let's do this for Twilight." There were a lot of ponies in Manehattan, and without Twilight at his side, he was reluctant to show himself to the civilians. The fear that ponies would shriek "LOOSE DRAGON!" in his presence filled him with dread, so he sought shelter inside the library. As the mahogany doors shut behind him, he paused to gawk at what awaited him inside. And he thought the outside was big! The inside was larger than the outside of the library. On either side of him, columns stood to hold a balcony above him. Ahead was a path to the check-out area. Spike knew that's where he should head, so without hesitance, and a heart full of courage, he strutted down the aisle. In the dark room he'd entered from, he couldn't have noticed the rows of bookshelves to his sides. Each row sectioned with numbers and letters. Beyond the bookshelves were staircases, which lead to balconies with even more books. Spike had no idea that his feet were still moving when he crashed into the front desk, his library card dropping from his claws. He had been freed from his trance and faced the librarian before him. She was a grayish-blue coated mare with a styled, black mane. Her snout was raised, but she still looked down to Spike to represent her superiority. She cleared her throat and adjusted her glasses to perfection. "Uh, hello Miss-" Spike squinted at the label on her desk that stated her name, "-Blurb?" The librarian nodded slowly, "Precisely." Spiked picked up his library card. "I'm here to check out a book." He handed her the card that he held from Ponyville to Manehattan. "Sparkle?" Miss Blurb examined the card which had Twilight's name on it all along. "I'm here to run an errand for Twilight Sparkle," Spike corrected, "or do an assignment, I don't know." Spike shrugged his shoulders as he spoke. The librarian squinted her eyes at Spike, which made him even more nervous. "Very well, then," Miss Blurb finally responded. She then explained the sections of the library to Spike, to which he nodded in understanding. And with that, Spike roamed about the first floor for anything he could find interesting enough to read. There were many to choose from, but Spike tried to stall himself from reading them. Heck, some of them were even ones Twilight read to him as bedtime stories. After browsing through the first floor, he advanced for the second. He gained access to the second floor by climbing up the stairs adjacent to the last row of bookshelves he checked. The books on this level were much thicker than the ones on the first. He knew that these are the books he was looking for. Minutes turned to hours of searching for the right book, but that's still because he stalled his way through the entire library. That's when he realized that there was no hope. After flipping through the pages of a random book, he closed it and buried his face in his claws. Spike groaned, "How am I supposed to explain to Twilight that reading books are hard!" He raised his face and stared through the glass dome that showed the outside. Tall skyscrapers blocked the sun, but a small space showed that the celestial orb was just settling beyond the horizon. "Wow! What time is it? Have I been in here all day?!" Spike shouted out loud. "Yes," the librarian must have heard him, "I forgot you were here. Having a bit of trouble? Come here." Without a question, he obeyed Miss Blurb's order. He zoomed down the stairs only to be stopped by a bark from Miss Blurb,"Hey! Is this your first time in a library? No running!" She certainly had great ears, for she could hear the soft pitter patter of Spikes feet in the vast library. Spike finally reached the main desk and waited for something Miss Blurb had to say. But instead of talking to him right away, she looked around and observed her surroundings. After supposedly checking for anyone surveying them both, she bent over under her desk to get something. Spike heard her rummaging through objects and the sound of muttering. She let out a distinct "ah-ha" before Spike could say another word. Miss Blurb came out from under her desk with a strange looking book. The front of the book was brown and rough, not like regular books. Spike traced the golden lettering, which was written in some sort of foreign language. Spike's finger traced off the front and touched the exposed paper within the book. The papers were thick, which made the book thicker, and the whole thing was dusty. "I haven't taken this out in ages," the old librarian stated, "and I think that you should read it." Spike ran a claw through the front print that shone golden in the light. "What does that say? That doesn't look Equestrian to me." "I studied it for a long time, but i found some sort of ancient language that existed long ago called Erithian. It says Guide to the Equinaquai Wars" Spike knew what war was, but that wasn't a common term in Equestria. "Wars? But there wasn't any war in the last 4,000 years! At least Twilight told me that," the skeptical dragon exclaimed. The librarian simply chuckled at his remarks. "I suggest you read it." Spike looked at Miss Blurb puzzled. "What's it about?" "Well...are you looking for adventure, excitement, romance, and tragedy? Well, believe me, it's not only a work of fiction! This here novel is based entirely on real events!" Miss Blurb was advertising this book to Spike. It was in her name, anyway. "Real events? That's nonfiction, right?" Spike asked. "Heck yes!" she shouted aloud. "But how long ago? Isn't the whole thing written in Eritha- something? How can I read it?" the dragon interrogated the librarian, expecting her to answer all his questions in one sentence. "My my, what so many questions you have! Listen here, the book has Equestrian in it. So you can understand it," the mare handed the book to Spike, "and, believe it or not, this is one of the first pieces of the Equestrian language!" "Woah! Where'd you get-" Spike was interrupted. "Just read it! You'll see what I mean by exciting!" Spike smiled at Miss Blurb and turned to walk to the nearest table. He stopped when he found that he forgot something. "Do I need to check it out?" The librarian held up the card. "Done!" "Okay, then," Spike continued on towards a spot to read. Spike turned another corner of bookshelves and found a table and a few chairs, which were spotlighted by a lamp from above. Spiked looked around for anypony, but soon found that the whole library was mysteriously vacant. Well, it was almost closing time, so Spike had limited time in the library. He couldn't bear to be outside in Manehattan after dark. Spike slowly approached the table and placed the book on top of it, followed by a soft thunk. The room suddenly turned deathly quiet. "Okay, let's get started," Spike tried to sound quiet, but the silence made him sound like he was yelling. Then, Spike opened the book. For no reason at all, a chill went through his scales and up his spine. He shivered in his seat and tried to find the starting point in the book. Spike noticed that the first signature and page were written by mouth. It wasn't as neat as Twilight's writing, as she wrote with her magic, but it'll have to do. "Okay, let's start," Spike rubbed his claws together rather rapidly. " Forever will my mind be tortured by the screams of terror and sounds of the long battles I have fought in. Numerous times was I able to live through each one and watch as other innocent ponies died behind my survival. The Fourth Equinaquai War started in times where my kind was caught up in everlasting peace and a chance to rebuild our great society in Eriath. But besides the pain I've endured, you, the reader, must know what happened, what events that should lead to this time of hell and damnation. Let me start all the way back to the simple life of me, Navin Ink Pot, before it all started..."
Chapter 1: The BOOM"Life was normal growing up in Haven. The town was located out in the open, uncovered by the forest which surrounded it. That bare spot covered in tall grasses was where the town settled. The citizens showed no concern for the happening of the world around them, but I always wanted to go beyond our lands borders. But within time, I would get the chance to experience what it was like outside of the safety of Haven. But that chance would become a journey, and I would fall victim to the most life-threatening event in my days and years to come..." Within Eternity's Plains, basically the middle of nowhere, a fortified, independent city, known as Orvilia, stood robustly under the gray blanket of clouds that loomed overhead. Populated by only three thousand and five hundred Earth ponies, including the military which guarded the perimeters, the fort is, without a doubt, safe from any harm. A large stone castle erected from the center of the city. Surrounding the castle were bunches of apartment structures, cafes, bars, apothecaries, and a thick, cobblestone wall surrounding the city. Inside a central watch tower, two Earth pony guards stationed themselves here to watch for any danger or signs of trouble, since the everlasting gray clouds hadn't moved, nor dissipated in weeks. At the top of this watchtower, a large, round room is built to watch over the city with a bird's-eye view. Two, long tables aligned with each other, carrying maps, compasses, and bows and arrows. Finally, surrounding the room, four balconies erected from the tower, each pointing north, south, east, or west. "Yet another day with no sunshine," an orange Earth pony guard said. "Yeah, and we are supposed to be watching for trouble," the other annoyed pony guard said, "and not sitting on our tushes and doing nothing all day!" The orange pony sat up to look to the other one with an eyebrow perked up. "And your point is?" he asked. The guard simply rolled his eyes and replied, "Just get up, Citrus!" Having been called by his first name, the lazy, orange pony jumped to his hooves. "Okay, okay, just don't report me, Indigo." "I might as well, for this has been going on for too long!" Indigo exclaimed. "Have you even been getting enough sle-" Indigo was cut off from continuing his sentence when a crack of lightning and thunder shot from the sky. Both of them looked up to the sky in all awe as a light show of black, white, and otherworldly colors danced across the clouds. "Black lightning?!" Citrus exclaimed. "What the hell? We have to warn someone about this!" Indigo exclaimed. Another minute passed as the blackened volts of electricity swirled and circled the sky. Then, with no warning at all, a shock wave burst from the sky towards the castle that centered the fort. BOOM! Boom! A roaring boom was heard from afar; followed by a mild tremor that shook the small Earth pony town of Haven. Despite not having woken up by the sounds of working ponies outside, Navin Inkpot was awoken by the soft boom. He shot up from the alarm and fell out of his bed. He didn't move, he just laid there on his back looking directly at the ceiling. Navin Inkpot was a curious Earth pony. His coat was the color of ash. His mane was as black as the night streaked with silver that hung low over his neck. His hard, black hooves clicked as he trod on the floor. His green eyes stood out above everything, but his iconic black spot on his face wasn't found anywhere else in Haven. An ink pot over an unrolled scroll adorned his flank. He was a unique member of his family, the name Inkpot was a nickname for his color. His father and newborn brother were both named after elements of the earth, and his mother and beloved sister both have names that were flower related. Navin was fun-loving, adventurous, curious, but all the same afraid of the outside world. He was born in Haven, raised in Haven, and still in Haven. Although living most of his life there, he never had time for friends. Instead, he used his fun-loving nature to write adventurous short stories and shared them to his family as a colt. But, as he grew older, he began secluding himself in his room, writing journal entries. Long ones. He only came out to do yard work and other chores, so he was active. But still, he just laid there, playing dead. He suddenly gasped for air. "I'm not dead," he whispered. He was drenched in sweat, for he had awoken from a nightmare. Breathing heavily, he decided that he must tell somepony of his fantasy. He'd even forgotten about the boom that disturbed him from slumber. "I'm not dead," Navin said more energetically. Navin sat up in sudden realization and once again, he shouted, "I'm not dead!" He quickly jumped to his hooves and slammed his bedroom door open and paced down the hallway. "Am I not dead? I can't be sure," Navin panted as he scurried down the hallway. The smell of breakfast still lingered in the hallway. Navin could tell that it was flat bread 'n oats again, only there was a much fruitier smell that followed it: apples. Indeed! It was Sunday- the only day Navin could sleep in. When he passed by the kitchen, an apple strudel for him for all the work he had accomplished in the field throughout the week. But, with no time to waste, he took only one bite out of it and continued out the door. The outside sunshine greeted him with warmth and sight. Navin's eyes adjusted to the brightness of the sun and finally caught glimpse of his hometown, Haven. Haven was a peaceful and secluded town that is home to about one hundred ponies. The dirt roads were easy to trot on for sensitive soles. The many houses were two-storied duplexes, and had tiled roofs above them. A small, but tall, bell tower rang for important events, especially signals for danger. Mares, stallions, and foals gathered at the church in the northeastern section of town everyday at noon for daily prayers to the spirits that watched from above. The atmosphere that morning was clear and good enough to breathe in, which gave Navin more proof that he was still living. The nightmare he had was too real. Navin smiled and turned around to face his house. It was the smallest one in the town, with only one level and only four rooms. The window shutters were opened, letting in the morning light to illuminate the house from within. A row of flowers grew adjacent to the house, which Navin's mom grew for sandwiches. Resting at the edge of town, if there was an attack on Haven, Navin's house would likely be the first one to be destroyed. Navin heard some sort of commotion behind him that he didn't notice before. He looked over his shoulder to see a crowd of Earth ponies scattered all over the street, leaking from the structures. They all looked towards the source of the mysterious boom. Navin was gonna call on his mom, dad, and little brother and sister to come outside, but noticed them joined in the crowd. His mom, Lilium, was a beautiful mare, despite going through labor three times. She was a tanned to perfection with a hot pink mane and long, sleek tail. Resting on her flank, which was difficult to not notice, was a blood-red lily flower, connected to a green stem. His masculine father, Quake, was as brown as the rust on a shovel. His mane was as black as Navin's, and was well tended. Three rocks marked his flank. He was built to handle tough yard work and any future battle. Navin looked up to him as a role model all his colthood. His sister, Rose Bud, lives up to her name. She was an alluring maroon and she kept her copper mane and tail short. Although she was still a blank flank, Rose Bud was determined to find her talent. She was very lively and full of happiness, and that's why Navin wouldn't part with her. Navin rushed towards his family and came up to Quake first. "Hey, dad! Did you hear the boom, too?" Navin asked rapidly. "Navin! You're awake," Lilium said in her sweet voice, but it had some sort of concern in it. "Yes, I am, and I had a dream last night!" Navin exclaimed. "I was in this citadel of some sort, and there were shadowy figures fighting with silhouettes of ponies. Then, I was attacked, there was a boom, and-" "And what?" Lilium asked. Navin looked at the crowd of puzzled ponies. The entire family looked around in worry, except Quake. He stood strongly and without a look of apprehension on his face. What was that noise? The question was burnt within the minds of of everypony who'd heard the strange boom. They all turned to the sound of fanfare coming from down the street to the right. The mayor, standing at the hoof of the bronze statue of his great great grandfather at the town center, had everypony's attention. All the citizens gathered in the center, but Lilium halted Rose Bud, who was already ahead of her. "Hold on, Rose," Lilium stopped Rose Bud in her tracks. "But Mom, I'm old enough to attend meetings," Rose Bud said with confidence. Quake chuckled, "Rose, you don't even have your mark, yet." He turned to face Navin, and with a broad smile on his face, "Navin, take your siblings inside and watch them, we'll be back." "No no no, I'm coming, too," Navin backed up and positioned himself rebelliously. "Son, you must ensure that your brother and sister are safe. Now, go!" Navin's father sounded more and more aggressive. Something bad was gonna happen, and his father was concerned for the first time in forever. Navin lost his pose and expression and was entrusted with this responsibility. He looked towards his mom, whose face begged him clearly please. Navin couldn't resist the entrancing facial expression. Navin thought of how his parents had told him that one day, he would have to take responsibilities seriously and not to ignore them. With a nod of understanding, and his mind rid of doubt, Lilium handed Granite to Navin. Quake sternly shot a look at Rose Bud. She looked at him back and her ears dropped. With a look of disappointment, she followed Navin to their home.
Chapter 2: Demanding Answers"Then, one fateful day, a mysterious boom came from the west, followed by mild tremor that shook the ground beneath our hooves. Different leaders dispatched volunteers and veterans to find the source of the blast. This put my father in danger, and the rest of my family trembled because of his decision..." Navin reached the entrance to the door of their home and opened it with a push of his foreleg. Questions filled his head as he trotted into the house. "A nightmare, huh?" Rose bud asked from behind. Navin turned to face the filly. Her magenta eyes stared straight through his. "Yeah, how about I go more in detail?" Navin asked. Rose Bud plopped on the floor and looked up to her brother. Navin, still holding Granite in his forelegs, began his story, "It began in a citadel of some sort, and all around me were thick columns. I was on some raised walkway, I looked over the sides and the columns went all the way to the black below. "All around me were wounded ponies, all dressed in capes and helmets. Around there shapes were some sort of white vapor, and they moved slowly. I was breathing heavily, I could feel everything. "Suddenly, there was muffled banging. Coming from all sides, bigger silhouettes of ponies attacked the group. i just stood there and watched the carnage of the battle. Screams were heard clearly as fire rained from above. "I didn't notice one shadow coming towards me until a heavy feeling struck my chest, and I found that I have been jabbed by a pike. That's when I woke from the terrible fantasy." Rose Bud, with her jaw practically touching the floor, closed her gaping mouth and shrugged. "Maybe it was a sign," she said, "you should see therapist." "Hey, didn't you have strange dreams, too?" Navin asked. Rose put a hoof to her chin and said, "I actually recall this one dream I had when I met this puny weirdo who wouldn't stop yapping his jaws, and caused mom's, dad's, and your heads to blow up." "Really?" Navin inquired. "Did you know what it meant?" "No," she shook her head, "can you guess?" "Maybe-" Navin thought for a moment, "maybe it means that something is bugging you so much that you might just snap one day. Was there something bugging you?" "Yeah! It was at the time shortly after Granite was born, and he wouldn't stop wailing day and night." Navin acknowledged her realization with a low hmm, and turned to take Granite to Lilium and Quake's room. He paused and his ears surveyed the surroundings. It was a loud, heavily accented voice caught his attention. "Hey, what's up?" Rose Bud asked. Navin didn't answer, he shushed her and she grunted. Navin turned around and gave Rose Bud the foal. "Take Granite to Mom and Dad's room, now." "Why?" Rose Bud asked as she took Granite into her forelegs. "I'll be back," Navin said. "Wait! Can I come?" "Stay put, Rose!" the ignorant Earth pony stood her ground and stomped to her parents' room to put Granite, who now was awake and cooing, to sleep. Navin checked to see if she wasn't sneaking behind him. She was always a sneaky filly. Both Navin and Rose had the best sibling experience throughout their lives. Unlike other siblings who couldn't get along, they spent quality time with each other through thick and thin, highs and lows, and ups and downs. But little did they both know that their relations will be changed forever. Navin continued out the door and grabbed the handle in his mouth to close it behind him. The voice of the mayor still clung to his ear. He wanted to know in all the world what he had to say about the incident that shook the world. The curious Earth pony rounded the corner of a nearby duplex. Uncovering from the shadows, he observed before him that the whole town filled the plaza. They needed answers, and they expect the mayor to answer their questions. Navin then noticed his parents that turned out to be in the back of the crowd, their rumps facing his direction. He recoiled behind the close-by building, but still exposed his head, to which he could still see the mayor. The mayor was a stout, white pony that had his brown mane swept back and a mustache grew from his lip. He wore a fine, red cape that positioned him higher than anypony in the local heirarchy. Questions like What was that? What's going on? and What do we do now? came from the crowd. "Friends, friends," he started, "I can assure you that there is nothing to worry about." His voice soothed the crowd, but hooves raised to ask questions. The mayor counted them and pointed to a copper mare in the front. "You, there, speak." "Well, how do you know that nothing's wrong?" she asked. The question drew many comments from surrounding ponies. It was considered a threat to question the mayor's knowledge. The mayor didn't want to arrest her in public, though there were officers around him to do the job, so he smiled and looked to everyone as a sign that this was to answer all of their queries. "I'm the mayor, your most trusted leader," he said to all, "I'm always right." Always right? Navin thought, scratching his chin with a hoof. I think otherwise! "Everyone! Settle," the mayor started, "anymore questions?" "Yes! Here!" Navin didn't mean to shout that loud. He covered his mouth with a hoof, making another word unable to escape. Everypony turned to face him, even his parents, which were shocked to see him. His father put a look of acrimony on his face. Navin swallowed a wad of saliva down his drying throat. He never had this many ponies staring at him. And his dad glared threateningly at him. "Well then, share," the mayor said to Navin. His posture was steady, and his amber irises could force anypony to speak. Inkpot gulped and took a few hoofsteps forward. "I'm sure we all think that you really don't know. If you do know that this isn't a possible threat to us all, then...uh-" Navin was hesitant to continue, for he was sure that words spoken like that to a mayor with all the power in town would surely get him shoved into the slammer. "Then what?" the mayor asked calmly. Navin gathered the courage to speak, "Then prove it." Nopony spoke. Even his father lost the angry look on his face. It turned into a look of worry and shock. "I previously stated, as the mayor, that I am always right," he responded, "and you expect me to prove that there is nothing to worry about?" "I have my doubts, sir." The mayor looked around at the ponies who all turned to him, hoping that he'll have a solution to this problem. He feared that if he didn't attempt to try and varify the situation, that more and more ponies would begin to ponder his power. Having been cut off from outside forces, these ponies were brainwashed to think of the mayor as their hero, lord, or god. Clearing his throat, he began to speak, "Very well then. We all have been a bit spooked about the whole boom incident, but I still can assure that absolutely nothing is to harm us all. As Mayor Piggly Harshtrot IV," his full title, "I'll dispatch a party of volunteers and, or veterans, to survey the source of the 'boom'," the mayor looked around for anypony who understood. "Any volunteers?" There was a silence that could've lasted forever, but "I volunteer," was heard loud and clear. And that voice came from the back of the crowd. Quake, Navin's father, had volunteered to go on this mission, and Navin was dumbfounded. Quake had seen some action at one point of his life, but did that mean he could fend himself from outside enemies? "You, sir," the mayor pointed him out, "state your name and role." "Quake; veteran," Quake said. "Care to tell us of your story?" the mayor pleaded. "All I can say is that I've killed many in my days. Fought with the 14th Ranger Legion, I did. Cavalry. Swept the southern theaters clean of the rebelling Earth pony provinces." "Thank you for volunteering, you brave soul. Anyone else?" After he spoke out, another pony courageously volunteered, and another, and so on. Maybe they knew they'd be alright now that they had a hardcore old-timer. Soon, about twenty-five mares and stallions alike had raised their hooves. "Okay, all volunteers meet me in the main hall at sunrise for your initiations," the mayor said as he strutted towards the hall, "you're all going to need it." Everypony soon trotted about their business, some congratulated their volunteers for their decision. Quake, having nodded in understanding, turned to face Navin. But his facial expression changed for the last time, and this time, he looked infuriated, but at the same time looked as if he accomplished something. "I'm sorry, dad," Navin said. "Well, you're gonna see sorry when you've realized what you've done," Quake said sternly. Navin understood, for when he said those words, he put his father in danger. How was he supposed to know what was waiting for him out there? What would have happened if his dad didn't volunteer? Would he still be forced anyway because he was a veteran? Yes. Quake has seen the scenes of battle before. Just twelve seasons ago, he came back from fighting with the barbarian pony provinces of the south. Fighting was easy for him, but he took severe wounds to his hind legs and had to be dispatched from the regiment. If Navin just kept his mouth shut, his father wouldn't have to embark on the possibly long journey. And Lilium, her eyes literally cried out in anguish. She looked up to Quake, for he was taller than her, and tears formed in her eyes. She's taking it all too seriously. "But Quake, your legs, will hold for that long?" she asked him. "Will you go that far without stopping?" Quake returned his gaze to his beautiful wife and replied, "We'll talk at dinner. Navin has a lot of things to explain to us." Navin reeled into himself and puppy-eyed his father as he walked past him. Quake just stared ahead to the home where Rose Bud hadn't a clue to what happened just now.
Chapter 3: Family Matters"It seems that our family changed that day. Our relationships changed, but we were still family. When I see father walk out the front door into the unknown, I see a never shrinking hole form in my family..." The atmosphere as they dined on their soggy veggies was sullen. Nopony spoke at the table. All of their faces were shadowed with sorrow, except Bud's. She looked at everypony's face and wondered in her simple mind what caused them to be like this. Earlier when they came in, Rose Bud was ready to walk out the door with the crying foal in her hooves. "What happened out there?" she asked. "I was about to investigate myself." She looked up to the facial expressions upon each of their faces. Quake was still staring forward, not minding Rose at all, Lilium was melancholy, head down and eyes closed, forcing tears out of her eyes, finally, Navin came in looking scared. Rose Bud was greeted by his surprised green irises as he called on her. "Rose, I-" "Okay, what'd I miss?" she asked in demand. Navin tried to come up with a way to explain, but just wanted to wait til supper. "Nothing. Wait until dinner, okay?" He trotted past her slowly, and she followed behind. Here they were now eating, but none wanted to share what happened today with Rose Bud. Lilium quietly and gloomily fed Granite spoon-fulls of collared greens, and Quake can be heard breathing in and out repeatedly as he ate. Rose Bud, almost giving in to her thoughts, still pondered as to what caused her family this dismay. Navin was at his worst, anger built up inside him. Why can't he decline the mission? Why can't he stay with us? His mind was filled with these thoughts. He twitched with anxiety and the desire to slap his dad in the face and call him an idiot. Without feeling for his actions, he snapped and stomped his hoof on the table, almost tipping over the bowl of greens. "This won't happen! I won't let it!" he shouted. "It's too damn late, then," Quake thundered. "Why are you so mad with me?" "You know damn well why! You don't ever talk back to the mayor! Don't you know he has the power to execute you on the spot?" Granite started crying and Lilium tried to soothe the foal by holding him in her hooves, constantly shushing him. Rose Bud began to fear the outcome of the argument. Her face was almost completely buried in her forearms. "But why?" Navin asked quietly. "Why did you so foolishly come forward to this operation?" "Why is it a big deal?" Quake shouted, silencing the room. He came closer to Navin, as he too stood up from his seat. "You don't know what's out there. You are too stupid to-" Quake whacked Navin in his face and he fell to the floor due to the forceful blow. "Quake!!!" Lilium shouted at him. He traced towards Lilium, Granite, and poor Rose Bud, who was now sobbing as well. He lost all anger in his body. He realized the action that he took towards his son. Navin pulled himself up, but remained on the cold floor. He felt a warm, wet sensation coming from his muzzle. He caressed it and felt warm blood drip onto his hoof. He gasped. His father laid a strong blow unto him. Rose Bud sniffled, "Daddy, why'd you hit him? Does he have to bleed?" Bud galloped to her room before Quake could answer her questions. Navin gazed up to the stallion that used to be his role model, his hero. Even though he was taught right from wrong in some ways related to this, the blow was triggered by anger. Quake stared at him as well, but fear flooded his eyes like an overflowing lake. Quake stumbled back shakily. "Navin, I-I'm sorry," he started as Navin stood to his hooves. They once again locked eyes with each other. Navin's eyes started to water, too, but didn't want his parents to see his tears. "Navin, please-" Navin galloped to his bedroom as well before his father could continue. Quake, wide-eyed in disbelief, looked down at his hoof that he struck Navin with. His limbs shivered, a chill crept up his spine, and he stumbled towards the chair in which he sat in. He gazed in Lilium's direction. She was holding a silenced foal in her hooves. "Why did you do that, Quake?" she asked quietly. "Why?!" she was louder that time. Quake was ashamed of himself. The feeling made his back legs unable to move, but he didn't bother to get up. "I wasn't myself, Lilium," he answered to his wife, "I don't know who I am anymore!" He wept softly on the floor. It was too much for Lilium. She couldn't blame him for that, or for the sights he'd seen in war. She carefully laid Granite down in his chair to trot over to aid the fallen warrior. "Lilium," Quake called, "don't come anywhere near me!" She stopped in her tracks and decided to speak to him in that distance. "He's gonna let this all go, one day," Lilium said to him, "he will never hate his 'number one father in the whole world.'" Navin used to call him that until he shut his family out long ago. Those memories hit Quake like a steel pike across his temple and he shuddered as the feeling of regret sickened him. He had committed a criminal act. The Earth pony religion is, or was, based on peace and friendship. You'd be cursed by Solarus of the Sun and punished by Maria of the Moon if their teachings were wronged. If their were to be any conflict or war, all the soldiers are blessed, or given "permission" to carry on their duties. Quake's act of aggression could get him arrested for assault onto another living being. His tears finally busted through his internal dam and began bursting out of his eyes. "Oh, Solarus," he began, "forgive me!" Navin was standing at his door, glaring at his room with frustration. He was thinking about how his dad had swung a hoof on him when all he was trying to do was prove his point about his dad's foolishness. He didn't want him to throw himself into combat as soon as he just recovered from the scars of his past. The gears in his mind spun so quickly, that they started to spark. He rushed towards his desk where he'd press paper on to write his entries. Without thought of his actions, he turned and bucked the desk, sending it flying in the air almost. Chips of wood scattered across his face and he rushed over to his bed. He tore off all the sheets and chopped the bed in two. He took three heaving breaths and practically had steam blowing from his ears. Navin, finished with his short breather, turned to his final target: the bookshelf. In just one jump, he was there. He slid his hoof in a small space between the bookshelf and the wall behind it and departed the two. Now, using both hooves, he pulled the shelf and it fell over with a loud bang. He flinched and grunted as the shelf, along with all the books on it, collided with the hardwood floor. Outside of Navin's wrecked room, his dad was listening to the racket. He thought he should enter the room to interfere, but he felt that Navin was fussed at too much. Quake knew he shouldn't do more harm to Navin, nor did Lilium, who was gazing over her shoulder as she was just about to enter her room. "You've done enough, Quake," she said to him. "You too make up by morning before you leave." Quake sighed, his ears dropped to the sides of his head, and he trotted slowly towards Lilium. "He's quiet already," he said after he noticed that the noise had pended to silence. "I hope for the better tomorrow, Lilium." Meanwhile, Navin was nearly passed out on the floor. He doesn't remember falling, because all the turmoil went away with the leaking steam. Am I dead?he thought to himself. Am I dying? "I hope so," he said out loud. He rolled over and faced the ceiling. "Where are you, light? Take me far away from here." The door to his bedroom quietly creaked open and a little rose-colored head peeked through. "Navin, what happened in here?" she asked through sniffles. Navin recollected himself and locked eyes with his sister's. "I'm sorry to have disturbed you from something, Rose," he said to her. His throat was sore, so he spoke quietly. "I was close to sleeping, but I heard loud noises." "I'm so sorry," he apologized. "Come her." He gestured for his sister to sit next to him, to which she instantly proceeded to do. She galloped to her older brother and greeted him with a warm embrace. "What is to become of us?" Rose Bud asked. She was now sobbing silently and it broke Navin's now injured heart. "I don't know, little sis," he answered as best as he could. "All I can say is that I wish Dad some good luck tomorrow." "He's gonna need all the luck he can get," Rose Bud responded. "Is it true, Navin?" "What?" "The dangers. You said that nopony knew about the obstacles that waited for him." Navin looked up to the sky and hoped that he was wrong about what he stated. What larger-than-life being could be lurking out in the unknown? Oh how Navin wished there wasn't one! "Don't worry, Rose," he encouraged his little sis hope for the best, "we'll give him the best farewell, tomorrow!" "You really think so? After what happened tonight?" she asked. Navin stuttered, but gathered the guts to speak proudly. He lifted his sisters head and gazed into her beautiful eyes. "I promise you!"
Prologue: An Adventure Starts In A Good BookSpike sighed as he compared the address on the library's front door with the one on his card. Twilight Sparkle had given Spike an assignment to read a novel a grade above his level of reading. He accepted the task for his friend and "legal guardian", but he thought otherwise about long novels and much rather stick with comics. Besides, she states that all great adventures start in a good book. The library was a big, bricked building with a glass dome in the center, the Manehattan Carnegie Hall. Of all her favorite libraries, Twilight dropped Spike off at this one at the center of Manehattan. The doors that allowed entrance to the structure were made of smooth mahogany with golden decorative knockers. The windows on all sides marked the building's two stories. Spike gazed upon the building with awe, but snapped out of it to get back on track with his task. "Okay," Spike muttered to himself, "let's do this for Twilight." There were a lot of ponies in Manehattan, and without Twilight at his side, he was reluctant to show himself to the civilians. The fear that ponies would shriek "LOOSE DRAGON!" in his presence filled him with dread, so he sought shelter inside the library. As the mahogany doors shut behind him, he paused to gawk at what awaited him inside. And he thought the outside was big! The inside was larger than the outside of the library. On either side of him, columns stood to hold a balcony above him. Ahead was a path to the check-out area. Spike knew that's where he should head, so without hesitance, and a heart full of courage, he strutted down the aisle. In the dark room he'd entered from, he couldn't have noticed the rows of bookshelves to his sides. Each row sectioned with numbers and letters. Beyond the bookshelves were staircases, which lead to balconies with even more books. Spike had no idea that his feet were still moving when he crashed into the front desk, his library card dropping from his claws. He had been freed from his trance and faced the librarian before him. She was a grayish-blue coated mare with a styled, black mane. Her snout was raised, but she still looked down to Spike to represent her superiority. She cleared her throat and adjusted her glasses to perfection. "Uh, hello Miss-" Spike squinted at the label on her desk that stated her name, "-Blurb?" The librarian nodded slowly, "Precisely." Spiked picked up his library card. "I'm here to check out a book." He handed her the card that he held from Ponyville to Manehattan. "Sparkle?" Miss Blurb examined the card which had Twilight's name on it all along. "I'm here to run an errand for Twilight Sparkle," Spike corrected, "or do an assignment, I don't know." Spike shrugged his shoulders as he spoke. The librarian squinted her eyes at Spike, which made him even more nervous. "Very well, then," Miss Blurb finally responded. She then explained the sections of the library to Spike, to which he nodded in understanding. And with that, Spike roamed about the first floor for anything he could find interesting enough to read. There were many to choose from, but Spike tried to stall himself from reading them. Heck, some of them were even ones Twilight read to him as bedtime stories. After browsing through the first floor, he advanced for the second. He gained access to the second floor by climbing up the stairs adjacent to the last row of bookshelves he checked. The books on this level were much thicker than the ones on the first. He knew that these are the books he was looking for. Minutes turned to hours of searching for the right book, but that's still because he stalled his way through the entire library. That's when he realized that there was no hope. After flipping through the pages of a random book, he closed it and buried his face in his claws. Spike groaned, "How am I supposed to explain to Twilight that reading books are hard!" He raised his face and stared through the glass dome that showed the outside. Tall skyscrapers blocked the sun, but a small space showed that the celestial orb was just settling beyond the horizon. "Wow! What time is it? Have I been in here all day?!" Spike shouted out loud. "Yes," the librarian must have heard him, "I forgot you were here. Having a bit of trouble? Come here." Without a question, he obeyed Miss Blurb's order. He zoomed down the stairs only to be stopped by a bark from Miss Blurb,"Hey! Is this your first time in a library? No running!" She certainly had great ears, for she could hear the soft pitter patter of Spikes feet in the vast library. Spike finally reached the main desk and waited for something Miss Blurb had to say. But instead of talking to him right away, she looked around and observed her surroundings. After supposedly checking for anyone surveying them both, she bent over under her desk to get something. Spike heard her rummaging through objects and the sound of muttering. She let out a distinct "ah-ha" before Spike could say another word. Miss Blurb came out from under her desk with a strange looking book. The front of the book was brown and rough, not like regular books. Spike traced the golden lettering, which was written in some sort of foreign language. Spike's finger traced off the front and touched the exposed paper within the book. The papers were thick, which made the book thicker, and the whole thing was dusty. "I haven't taken this out in ages," the old librarian stated, "and I think that you should read it." Spike ran a claw through the front print that shone golden in the light. "What does that say? That doesn't look Equestrian to me." "I studied it for a long time, but i found some sort of ancient language that existed long ago called Erithian. It says Guide to the Equinaquai Wars" Spike knew what war was, but that wasn't a common term in Equestria. "Wars? But there wasn't any war in the last 4,000 years! At least Twilight told me that," the skeptical dragon exclaimed. The librarian simply chuckled at his remarks. "I suggest you read it." Spike looked at Miss Blurb puzzled. "What's it about?" "Well...are you looking for adventure, excitement, romance, and tragedy? Well, believe me, it's not only a work of fiction! This here novel is based entirely on real events!" Miss Blurb was advertising this book to Spike. It was in her name, anyway. "Real events? That's nonfiction, right?" Spike asked. "Heck yes!" she shouted aloud. "But how long ago? Isn't the whole thing written in Eritha- something? How can I read it?" the dragon interrogated the librarian, expecting her to answer all his questions in one sentence. "My my, what so many questions you have! Listen here, the book has Equestrian in it. So you can understand it," the mare handed the book to Spike, "and, believe it or not, this is one of the first pieces of the Equestrian language!" "Woah! Where'd you get-" Spike was interrupted. "Just read it! You'll see what I mean by exciting!" Spike smiled at Miss Blurb and turned to walk to the nearest table. He stopped when he found that he forgot something. "Do I need to check it out?" The librarian held up the card. "Done!" "Okay, then," Spike continued on towards a spot to read. Spike turned another corner of bookshelves and found a table and a few chairs, which were spotlighted by a lamp from above. Spiked looked around for anypony, but soon found that the whole library was mysteriously vacant. Well, it was almost closing time, so Spike had limited time in the library. He couldn't bear to be outside in Manehattan after dark. Spike slowly approached the table and placed the book on top of it, followed by a soft thunk. The room suddenly turned deathly quiet. "Okay, let's get started," Spike tried to sound quiet, but the silence made him sound like he was yelling. Then, Spike opened the book. For no reason at all, a chill went through his scales and up his spine. He shivered in his seat and tried to find the starting point in the book. Spike noticed that the first signature and page were written by mouth. It wasn't as neat as Twilight's writing, as she wrote with her magic, but it'll have to do. "Okay, let's start," Spike rubbed his claws together rather rapidly. " Forever will my mind be tortured by the screams of terror and sounds of the long battles I have fought in. Numerous times was I able to live through each one and watch as other innocent ponies died behind my survival. The Fourth Equinaquai War started in times where my kind was caught up in everlasting peace and a chance to rebuild our great society in Eriath. But besides the pain I've endured, you, the reader, must know what happened, what events that should lead to this time of hell and damnation. Let me start all the way back to the simple life of me, Navin Ink Pot, before it all started..."
