//-------------------------------------------------------// Prologue: The Messenger -by Cpt Creampuff- //-------------------------------------------------------// //-------------------------------------------------------// The Summoning //-------------------------------------------------------// The Summoning I drop from the skies and look around. I adjust my robes that cover my entire body and leave no skin viewable. I seem to be on a grassy plain that stretches as far as my eyes can see. I must be on Earth, on the continent Adamina it seems. If I had been summoned then that means there is a great calamity that I must stop. How I hate war. It seems I have to start now. My journey begins in Griffonstone. I stand before the palace and take a look around the city seems to be in better shape than before Queen Gilda was appointed for uniting the country. I make my way up the stair case and push open the palace doors instantly knocking out the two guards posted at the door. Only to be met with even more guards once inside. “State your business” says their queen, her voice reverberating with power. I raise a hand and spoke. “I am merely a messenger, you are at war with Equestria at the moment am I right?” I look up at her from under my hooded robe. “Yes, why do you ask?” she raises an eyebrow at me as she looks from her throne high up. “I must warn you that someone even stronger than Equestria will soon come up to face you, so I suggest ending your war now and find peace with your enemy. “You want me to end my war? Just like that? You must be a fool” her eyes give me the look as if I were a mad man as she roars in laughter. “I may be the fool now but you shall see how foolish you will be once the danger has come, you have been warned” I turn and make my way out the palace and down the steps I turn right and hear from behind me the screams of a woman. Turning around I see an overweight male Griffon next to a chariot and whipping a young Thestral teenage girl who has midnight blue skin and black hair reaching her lower back as tears slide out of her yellow eyes. “That’s the third time you’ve rested in the past hour you’ll regret making me late for my dinner party!” He continues to snap his whip at her. The leather rope cracking on her back as it makes contact, while she cowers on the floor. I step closer to her and walk up to the man and grab his arm, preventing him from snapping his whip at her again. “What do you want?” He turns to me and shouts in my face his own red with rage. “What are you doing?” I question him and release his arm. “I am disciplining my slave” “Well she is no longer your slave” “Listen here creep, I don’t know who you are or where you’re from but in this country slavery is allowed” he wraps his whip back up and puts it on his waist “Well then” I pull a sack of platinum coins from my robes and toss them on the floor “She will be in my services now” The griffon scurries to the floor and quickly picks up the sack and the few coins that spilled to the floor, as if they were going to disappear. I turn my attention to the young girl and offer a hand out to her. She stares at it for a moment then looks at me and accepts my hand. Pulling her up I turn around and speak “We’re leaving” I begin walking towards the edge of the city turning back only to make sure the girl follows me. We make our trek down to the forests surrounding the base of the mountain the sun slowly leaving its place in the sky to be replaced by the moon. We come across a small clearing still covered by the thick canopy of the trees. “What’s your name?” I stop and ask. This should be a good area to stay the night “My names Raquel. What shall I call you sir?” Turning to her I notice the dirt in her hair and smudges on her face. I materialize an outfit into her hands. Consisting of knee high boots, some black running tights, and a grey long sleeve shirt. “Where I come from I’m known as the god of war and peace but, call me whatever you want.” I point off into the trees “There’s a river past those trees go and wash up and change out of your tattered rags.” “Thank you….. Master” she gets up and head into the direction where I pointed to. I create a map in front of me and look it over. I cross out Griffonstone and look over the map the remaining countries are Equestria, The Crystal Empire, The Friendship Kingdom, and The Changeling Nation. The closest one is The Crystal Empire so that will be our next destination. I look up and prepare a campsite to start I create a fire in the center of the clearing, flowing I spawn a tent with a sleeping bag inside. I hear twigs breaking behind me and I turn to see Raquel returning wearing her new clothes. Her black hair and midnight blue skin now clean from the bath. “Master why did you save me?” she asks “I wanted to do one good thing before I do what must be done. As after that no matter what I do I won’t be able to redeem myself.” I sit on a log and place my hands on my knees. “What are you going to do?” “The countries are at war with each other, I was sent here to bring peace at all costs.” “Can you explain?” “I will be going to every country to talk with the leaders and try to convince them to stop their fight and find peace with each other but, if that fails then I will have to go through drastic measures to end it myself. So I shall give you a choice follow me in this journey or I can leave you in any city you want with enough money to support yourself and any children you have.” I look up to her to see her reaction. After a brief moment of silence she responds. “I shall follow you.” “Then we must make haste” I point to the sleeping bag “You should get some sleep, I’d like for you to be well rested.” She opens the flaps and looks inside. “There’s only one sleeping bag where will you be sleeping?” “I do not need sleep I shall keep watch”