Prologue: The Guild of Heroes
"...Equestria has always needed heroes. The problem has always been, however, that there's never enough heroes to prevent every dangerous situation. Sure there have been solutions to the major problems. Invading armies, monster attacks, and even catastrophes of a more spiritual nature have been stopped by the ponies of Equestria on multiple occasions.
"Unfortunately, the aftermath of many of these events is largely ignored. Rebuilding, especially in isolated communities, can be slow. This can sometimes lead to strife. Some communities have even taken to banditry just to survive.
"The most recent (and worst) instance of ponies taking to criminal lifestyles was after the destruction caused by Tirek's return. Because of his sheer size and power, large swathes of Equestria were damaged. Entire villages were left in ruins in Tirek's wake. Consequently, this led to the rise of large bandit groups. Refugees grouping together and attacking other ponies for food and supplies, despite Princess Celestia and Princess Luna's best efforts to provide aid.
"Enter the Guild of Heroes. Established by Princess Luna two years after the Tirek crisis with the goal of training a new generation of heroes for Equestria, the Guild of Heroes (hereafter referred to as the Guild) has been training ponies to protect those in need for almost two decades. The Guild provides all the essential learning befitting anypony who aspires to the title of hero. Courses range from diplomacy and herbalism to swordplay and military tactics, with everything in between.
"In the near twenty years of it's existence, the Guild has become a staple of the community. Banditry, while still too common for the author's taste, has been in steady decline as bandit groups are eliminated and relief is provided to victims of said bandits. One thing is certain, the Guild has become almost as important to Equestria as the princesses themselves."
-Excerpt from Twilight Sparkle's "The Book of Heroes"
Fable: The Equestrian Chapters
"Be a good colt, Paladin."
These were the last words my father ever said to me. I will always remember these words. I dream about them every night. Every night I see the village I grew up in burning. The bandits that attacked it running rampant, taking prisoners and lives in equal measure. I dream of myself pressing my hooves against the gaping sword wound in his side, crimson flowing around my tiny hooves. I see the last vestiges of life flicker out of my father's eyes.
Every night I promise that I'll be a good pony. Every night I promise to protect ponies that need it. And every night, my father still dies.
The dream never ends there however. I turn to run, only to find one of the bandits attacking my village standing behind me. He's a unicorn, levitating a long sword with a curved blade. The smile he wears is a promise of a painful death. I back away, powerless to stand against him. He raises his weapon high, ready to bring it down upon me. The strike never comes.
"YEAH!" A battle cry, different from the ones from the bandits, echoes out. It is terrifying. Commanding. Awe inspiring. It belongs to the largest stallion I've ever seen. His coat is pure white, bulging with muscles larger than me. He doesn't carry a weapon. He doesn't need one. He is the weapon.
To prove this, he lifts the bandit high into the air and hurls him through a building. A cottage that, until that day, I had called my home. This stallion has saved me. Every night, I experience the same feeling of elation and terror as I look up at him. He turns to face me. I expect an expression that could send any bandit running, and in truth I am ready to run from him myself. Instead, I am given a warm smile.
"Let's get you out of here. My friends are saving the other survivors." I am drawn to the gentleness of his voice. He holds out a hoof. "I can take you somewhere safe." I hesitate, looking around at the carnage that was once my home. I take his hoof. A small circle pinned to the stallion's fur begins to glow and my vision is filled with a blueish light.
I awaken from my dream. I know where he's taking me.
