Journal Entry #401

It’s been a week since my last entry, and I have to say it’s good to be home. I have been involved in a perilous journey in Iva Samar. It definitely put my last trip to New Santaroga to shame though it will be hard to beat outrunning a crime boss while dressed as a show mare which, by the way, is going to stay under wraps. I want to leave that incident far, FAR, behind me.

Anyways before I get sidetracked, I had quite the journey and felt compelled to write this before I forgot. It started on a very rainy evening…

~*~

I was sitting at my desk with my typewriter trying to come up with some new ideas for my next book. Since I started writing I try to do better with each entry, and as you would expect it comes with its own set of challenges. I typed away with an idea that I felt could hold water, but upon getting a couple paragraphs in I realized that it was a waste. I tore the sheet of paper out of my typewriter and crumpled it between my hooves and tossed it into the waste bin on the right side of my desk, which was already overflowing with my earlier attempts at getting a story started. I sighed and held my head in my hooves for a minute racking my brain for new material. My head felt like it was about to explode, until there was a knock at my door. I wondered who it was as I made my way towards it. My neighbors aren’t the talkative type, so much so that I forget they live in the other apartments. I looked through the peephole to see who it was.

It was a unicorn mare that I didn’t recognize. She was soaking wet from head to hoof from the rain. Her coat was a bright sunny yellow with an earthy brown mane and tail, the former being tied off into a short ponytail with a blue band. On her back were two tan saddle bags from which she pulled out a small piece of paper. I opened the door and she flinched.

“Can I help you?” I said. She blinked and regained her composure.

“Um, yes my name is Sprinky Dink. I was wondering if a Plot McGuffin lives here.” I winced. I wasn’t too fond of my full name.

“That’s me, but you can call me Witt.” She sighed with relief and put the paper back in her bag.

“Oh thank goodness, you do not know how long I have been running around this busy city in the pouring rain trying to find you,” she said relieved.

“Would you like to come inside and dry off? You must be freezing.” She gave a polite nod and walked inside and I closed the door. I wanted to sit her down and ask her why I was so important that a citywide sweep was necessary to find me, but I’m a gentlepony first and this mare needed to warm up.

“The bathroom is the door on the right. You can find a towel in there, and I can take your saddlebags if you want.” I said, trying to be helpful.

“Thank you, but I can take care of it.” She bucked her hips and the bags jumped from her back. They hit the floor with a thud that I’m sure shook the entire building. I was surprised they didn’t go through the floor and into the room below us. What does she have in those things? I thought. She walked toward the bathroom.

“I’m going to make some hot cocoa. Would you like some?” I said as I walked past her to the kitchen.

“I’d love some, Thank you!” She went into the bathroom and closed the door, not before I caught a glimpse of her flank. Upon it was what looked like a brass sprinkler head that farmers used in orchards. That’s odd I thought I don’t know any farmers. I racked my brain trying to think of any possible connections between me and a farmer as I filled my kettle with water and set it on the stove. A minute and a half went by and I was putting my kettle away as my guest appeared in the kitchen with a towel wrapped around her head like a turban.

“That was exactly what the doctor ordered. Thanks again,” she said. I waved a hoof.

“No problem, it was my pleasure.” I bowed my head and held out a hoof to the table where the mugs of cocoa were sitting emitting steam in curly patterns in the air. “Your cocoa is ready.” She blushed at the gesture.

“Thank you,” she said with a smile. We took our places at the table across from each other.

“I wasn’t sure if you wanted marshmallows or whipped cream,” I said. “So I brought both.”

“I’ll take both please,” she said with a smile.

“Ah, a mare after my own heart,” I said. I handed her the bag of marshmallows as I scooped large spoonful of whipped cream into my mug. After she got her large dollop of cream she took the mug in her hooves and took a gentle sip. She smiled.

“Mmm wonderful, you do know how to make good hot chocolate.”

“Thank you,” I said “I’ve had many years of experience.” She giggled and took another sip.

“Alright, now if you don’t mind me asking. Why exactly are you here?” Her ears perked up and she set her mug on the table and trotted into the other room. She came back with a manila envelope bound by a string and set it on the table.

“I was sent here by my sister, Mystic Code. She said that you knew her.” Mystic Code, now there’s a name I haven’t heard in a long time. Mystic Code was a mare I knew from university that pursued archeology with a passion unseen by pony-kind.

“I never knew she had a sister,” I said as I slid the folder in front of me and undid the string.

“Really?” she said. Dink tilted her head and frowned. “You mean she never mentioned me, not even once?” I shook my head.

“She was pretty busy trying to get good grades. It probably just slipped her mind.” Dink sighed and looked down at her hot chocolate. I focused my attention down to the folder hoping to find something that I could use to change the subject. The folder contained a bunch of written notes along with photos of some familiar runes. Among them was a letter in a pure white envelope with a wax seal on it. I opened the envelope and unfolded the letter. The writing was written neatly and entirely in cursive.

Dear Witt,

It has been a long time since we last spoke. I hope that this letter finds you in good health. I have some very important news.

I’m not sure if you remember this, but back when we were at university I mentioned the lost city of Poratoam. It was thought to be somewhere in Iva Samar, in the jungle near the southern border.

I couldn’t help but let out a snort. Back in university Mystic would never stop talking about Poratoam. It was a city that was said to be in the jungles of Iva Samar, a country that is a popular vacation destination due to its tropical climate and its large supply of resort towns along its east coast. While this may draw in a lot of ponies, only the bravest of ponies dare trek into the jungle. Like one would suspect, the jungles are untamed and near impossible to traverse as well as being filled to the brim with dangerous creatures. At least that’s what everyone believes, since nopony has ever successfully cataloged all that dwells out there.

The city has been told to hold a great power in its center, one that could enable a pony to perform powerful feats of magic, even if they weren’t a unicorn. Many have sought out that power but to no avail. However that is all about to change, because I have found it.

I had figured that Mystic had discovered something important the instant she mentioned Poratoam, but to have actually found it? I’ll admit I was pretty excited.

As I write this letter I am sitting outside the doors to the temple in the heart of the city. But as exciting it is to have made what may be the greatest discovery in history, we hit a snag. The door to the temple is shut tight and is locked with some sort of enchantment. From what I gathered the solution has something to do with an arrangement of runes in a four by four square in the door’s center. I haven’t had any luck in deciphering them with my key. This is where you come in.

I know that you took linguistics back at university and I could use your help in solving this puzzle. This discovery could change the very course of history and it needs to be found, for the benefit of all of ponykind.

Sincerely,

Mystic Code

I set the letter down on the table and sat back. Mystic wanted me to be a part of what may be the greatest discovery of ponykind. The feeling was overwhelming to say the least. I picked up the photo of the grid of runes set on the door of the temple. I knew they looked familiar. I had studied these very same runes in school.

“So what do you think?” Dink asked.

“Gotta admit this is pretty interesting,” I said nonchalantly. I tried to mask my anxiousness so as to not look like an idiot in front of my guest. This would be great inspiration for my next book. “Why didn’t she just send this to me through the mail? It would’ve been a lot less trouble.”

“She told me that she didn’t want anything to happen to it,” Dink said. She leaned forward in her seat. “Plus she said that I could go with you to Iva Samar and join her! This’ll be the first time I’ve seen my sister in forever, and not only that but uncover a lost civilization at the same time! It’s a twofer!” She clapped her hooves together excitedly. I couldn’t help but smile at her eagerness.

“When do we leave?” I asked.

“We’ll be taking the next train out of town first thing tomorrow,” she said.

“Alright I’ll start packing. You can stay in the room across from mine. It’s down the hall on the left.” Dink smiled and nodded.

“Thank you. I’ll see you in the morning Witt,” she said. She exited the kitchen and levitated her bags onto her back as she entered the hallway to her room. Dink entered her room and I let out a sigh. A lot had happened that evening and I just wanted to go bed. But I couldn’t get any sleep without packing for tomorrow. I washed our mugs and put away the marshmallows and whipped cream, afterward I headed to the closet across from the bathroom to get a duffel bag. I passed my office and noticed my typewriter sitting on my desk where I left it. After a moment of thought I decided to write a journal entry before I forgot to do it. I sat down and fed a blank paper through the mechanism and readied it for use. As I recalled the day’s events I sighed.

“This is going to be a very interesting trip.”

Author's Note

Well here we are, my first submission to FiMFiction.
I've had a lot of doubts as to whether I should post stuff here or not, due to my insecurities of being a decent writer.
Hopefully I can change that and start posting stuff regularly.
Anyways I'd really appreciate any feedback that you guys can provide, since I'm in sore need of some fresh opinions.
Thank you, and have a pleasant day!