Chronicles of Hope: Book 1: A Guardian’s Rising
Ch. 1: The Breakout

*Few Hours Earlier…*
Current POV: ???
Location: ??? , Canterlot Castle
Who knew that eternal imprisonment could be so damn boring?

I mean, it’s an obvious answer when you think about it, but not really (sort of) during that first 500 years-what with all the “mind games” I’ve played on patrolling guards-after that it’s just purebred boring after Celestia stop ponies from patrolling my room (now I know how Discord feels, but at least he still has visitors). I mean I know I’ll break out eventually, but the main problem being I dunno when, and Celly hasn’t gone back down here to gloat at me in a long time. Hate to say it, but I kinda miss-

Wait…

…The HELL are you all doing here?!

Hold on... the story’s up NOW?!

(Dude. What do you THINK is happening?)

Does this actually mean…

(Yup, but wait for a little while. You’ll understand.)

…riiiight, like I’m gonna wait for a little while when you left me-

*BA-BUMP*

(A heartbeat resonates...)

Ngh! Wha-what was that? That felt like a-

Oh.

I get it now.

I think I can put this to good use.

*Present Time*
[POV SWAP: Celestia]
Location: Celestia’s Room, Canterlot Castle

Honestly, just when I thought the day was full enough, it just gets worse. Sure, Twilight had reported that mare- Starlight Glimmer, if I remember right- having nearly wiped out the Elements from time, and yet decided to give her a second chance at the friendship she was denied. Quite sweet, really, but when news of this deed had reached out, there were some angry groups of ponies coming to me, some demanding that the mare be put to trial, while some demand custody of her, possibly to make her work for them, seeing as she was able to use a high-tier time spell, especially one from Starswirl.

And to top it all off, there are still the everyday “issues” to deal with, meaning endless requests & complaints from the nobles- requests being increasing taxes on lower-class ponies or getting funds for a bigger pool, and complaints like a maid messing up a small order, and requesting she be imprisoned, or somewhere around the lines.

“If only there would be something exciting happening today”, I hear myself thinking aloud, “it’d no doubt be much better than sifting through all this pointless work.”

Wish granted, Milady.

I bolt up from my seat, hearing that disembodied voice from out of the blue. It sounded oddly familiar, but I just can’t put my finger on it. But hearing that tone, it almost reminds me of someone from long ago… but it can’t be. It just can’t be him. He couldn’t have gotten out.

“Hello?” I say, my tone filled with worry and caution. “Is somepony out there? Guards? Luna?”

You really don’t remember, do you? I can’t blame ya, after all, you swore to yourself to never talk about me ever again, right?

…

…

…

“So it is you, Brother.”

Yeesh, Celly, why so serious?

“Where are you? Show yourself!”

Not just yet, to be honest. If I did, you’d charge at me like the idiot you are- AGAIN.

“Enough of these games! I’ve defeated you before, and I’ll do it again.”

The only reason you “defeated” me was only cause you had a little help from those Elements, that- need I remind you- could’ve KILLED you from overuse!

“Well, at least I was able to stop you after what YOU did, you bucking bastard!”

First off, Language, and second, I did what I did for the greater good- you’re just too damn blindsided by the crown pulled over your head to see the truth, what with all those douchebags at the Council pulling the wool over your eyes as well, for Faust’s sake!

“Where was the good in what you did then?!”

Can’t say yet, but I’ll leave you to figure it out until I feel like actually saying it.

And by the way, don’t forget: you’re still at fault for what you did back at Sanctuary!

“DON’T. YOU DARE. BRING UP. THAT DAY.”

What’s wrong? Feel the sins crawling up your back after so long?

“Stop.”

Hearing the voices of your many betrayed friends in your head?

“Shut up.”

You NOW finally hear the cries of the MANY children PLEADING FOR HELP AS THEY AND THEIR PARENTS BURNED IN THEIR OWN HOMES?!?!

“SILENCE!”

[POV SWAP: 3rd Person]
After Celestia’s little freakout, the room had suddenly gotten dead quiet, so much so that you could hear a pin drop. The RCV (Royal Canterlot Voice) itself was able to kick up a few small dust clouds. However, just as the dust settled, and she thought that it was all a delusion-

*WHOOOOSH*

A sudden tornado laced in vivid shades of black and blue had whipped up within the throne room , right in front of Celestia, which had spun up for a while, even rattling the windows , until it finally dispersed, revealing the individual amongst the storm.

He stood at height of 5 foot 3, much shorter than Celestia, who practically towers over other ponies, but his appearance was still menacing enough to give even her the shivers. He wore a deep-black hooded coat that went below his thighs, complete with a demon skull on the left shoulder (unconfirmed whether it’s real or not), but he didn’t bother in fully wearing it, so it hangs on his shoulders by a clip around his neck.

Underneath, one would see that he was completely battle ready - decked out in light, otherworldly armor from head to toe streaked in the intense colors of red, black, and blue, complete with his kingdom’s symbol – a coat of arms, with a blue staff on the left and a red sword on the right crossed over each other over the shield, with one angel & demon wing respectively accompanying each weapon on their sides - resting on the left of his chest plate. Although, what was possibly more eye-catching was the jet-black katana propping himself up as he would with a cane, and his hands, which were covered in black gloves that had tough-looking knuckles which could break bone.

But, in all terms of perspectives, Celestia wasn’t really all focused on what he’s wearing, or what weaponry he’s packing, but was more focused on what was above his body - the face – the face of the one she had sealed away long ago.

He had a very strange hairstyle, as though he’d been through a storm (*cough* minutes back *cough*), short, black, but with a white streak on his bangs, held together by a strange headband, and the majority of his face was covered up in a bandana that looked like the bottom part of a jaw. But here’s what’s more interesting: his eyes. Although only his left was opened, anyone- or should we say- anypony can practically feel the massive power radiating from his very gaze, and they’re truly seeing that very power manifest as a deep blue flame from his iris.

This was the power of The First Human.

“So, missed me, Sis?”

As she gazed into the flame, she suddenly could feel many memories resurface after such a long time- those of when he used to 'foalsit' them thousands of years back, of the rigorous yet non-strict training she had been put through with Luna, and of the horrifying realization of what had been done by his very hands – his betrayal.

With that memory bubbled up to the surface, she felt her anger spike and it showed well, seeing as the room suddenly got hotter than usual. She began summoning her weapon, but-

*SHIIIIING*

Within the blink of an eye, she suddenly felt the cold metal of a sword rest on her cheek, then rise to meet with the bridge of her muzzle.

“Tsk, tsk, tsk. You have really gotten slow since the last time we fought. I kept telling you to lay off the damn cake, but noooo~,” he said, scolding Celestia like he would a child in trouble, “you ended up stuffing yourself silly! It’s no wonder the guards stare at you when you ain’t looking.” It was no lie that Celestia’s face was slightly pink from blushing, which could come from turning red of anger, or possibly from embarrassment.

“Normally, I’d beat the living crap out of you for imprisoning me,” he said, adjusting his katana just at level to Celestia’s eye, “but, you know I’m not one to hold a grudge.”, finally lowering his blade & returning it back to its scabbard. With that, Celestia had slumped down onto her seat, still in a slight state of shock.

“’Cause for now, I’ll have to be on my merry way. Tell Lulu I said hi, though!”

And with that, the figure had faded away from view, as though he were nothing but smoke.

It had taken a full 30 seconds for Celestia to realize this, and at the moment, she did the only thing she could currently do.

“GUARDS!!!”

[POV SWAP: ???]
Location: Everfree Forest
“GUARDS!!!”

*snicker*

I swear to Faust, my 30 seconds of celebratory silence really went down the drain-I literally could hear that filly scream her head off just from where I’m standing! Ha!

What? I read the passage from the last POV swap, so what if the time is too damn accurate?

Whatever.
I probably bet that from the description Yin gave, you thought I’m really the bad guy, huh?
Well… yes, and no. I can explain everything after a few chapters, but until then, I’m currently in the middle of something here, so YIN, do that thing you do when telling readers what I’m doing right now, will ya?

(Erm… Oh, Right.)

As he roamed around Everfree, he made sure to try and turn every stone, look under every stump, and so on, but it looked as though he was looking for something.

‘Let’s see, if I remember correctly, the thing I’m looking for is “guarded by the twins amongst the crowd”, or something like that, but then again a thousand years in a dank vault can make you tend to forget plenty of things, but only the minor stuff when I’ve got the memory. Most of the time.’

And after a couple minutes of speed-searching, he had finally found what he was looking for- “the twins amongst the crowd”, meaning two similarly formed trees amongst a grove of other trees. He then started feeling around on a stump that was right behind the two trees.
“Now, it’s gotta be…somewhere…around… HERE!”

*CLICK*

A switch was felt from somewhere on the stump, and a secret door had opened up, with stairs leading into the depths below the Everfree.

'Hopefully, the place is still in one piece from when I last left it.'

He then proceeded to open a large gate at the bottom of the staircase, opening up to a hidden room he had set up for occasions like this.

You see, he has amazing foresight (or paranoia, can’t tell which is more dangerous), which allows him to anticipate events which could or couldn’t happen, depending on the situation. He had anticipated from the millennia back that he would end up imprisoned for being found out, and prepared an impromptu plan , along with supplementary provisions & equipment for after he finally got out, all within a small underground bunker in the Everfree.

‘Cause no one will suspect the forest to be a hiding place for a secret bunker for a guy whose power can exceed that of gods. Obviously.

“Goes to show how daft ponies can be sometimes – mostly those not “brave” enough.” he said.

After a while, the human had finally gotten what he needed for everything to work according to plan – which, to be honest, has the majority all made up as he went along. With his Katana in hand, his tools in a pack, and a fresh change in clothes, he was fully stocked with what he would need in order for the day to go smoothly.

However, just as he got out, he was suddenly jumped by a pack of Timberwolves from the bushes! Normally, this is where somepony would start running like hella crazy yelling their head off, but then again, he wasn’t exactly a pony.

But, the wolves just circled him for a while, until they blinked, and ended up lowering their heads, as though they were bowing down to him after they realized who he was. The stranger motioned for them to rise from their current stance and then proceeding to give them the universal language of keeping quiet: a finger held up to the lips.

Finally, the Timberwolves then decided to disband, leaving the human in solitude in the forest. And as they left, he started on applying his disguise, then deciding to walk towards the edge of the forest, finally reaching the clear plains away from the woods, which eventually made way to show the beautiful village at the end of the path- Ponyville.

As he made towards the direct road to Ponyville, he looked up to the sky, making a silent statement as he moved along, officially marking his new day fresh out of the stone.

“Watch out, Equestria, ‘cause Samuel Newman is finally back in the game.”

TO BE CONTINUED...

Author's Note

So here you go. My first story.
Hope you (probably) enjoyed reading it. I might need some constructive criticism on any issues spotted on the story, and what i can do about it. And if it's good enough after a few other chapters, I might decide to keep going!

Thanks. Here, have a 'stache.

Although, expect it to take a long time between chapters.

P.S.: small time proof reader wanted for upcoming chapters. pls.