Quill Inkheart - The Gem of the West

If you have ever looked at the current map of Equestria you may think that there is all to the land, been taught as a filly at a young age that this what makes up the land. You've seen the borders, the towns, the villages. You may have visited Canterlot, Manehatten, Fillydelphia, you may have gotten the chance to visit The Crystal Empire, but did you know there is more land then the map shows? I'm talking further west, another empire that was never marked, never talked about and for good reason. This is the tale, the rumors & more importantly, my history.

The Empire I speak of is the place in which I was born, The Gem Empire is what it is hailed as. Ruled by my mother and father, Willow & Maximus. The Empire was built into the side of a mountain that formed somewhat of a crescent shape deep in the mountain gems were embedded, my mother and father would mine them and would learn later on that these gems reacted well with unicorn magic. My mother, Willow. Was in charge of teaching unicorns how to use the gems with there magic, these gems would either amplify or just increase the magical stamina of the wearer. My father, Maximus was in charge of training the Pegasus and Earth ponies of the Empire. Our Empire was a mix of academics, scholars, and militants. When my parents discovered the gems, the people along with my parents agreed to keep the Empire a secret, during the day the unicorns that were trained would cast a magical barrier that made it invisible to those that saw it from the outside. During the calm nights the barrier was taken down and the Pegasus and Earth pony guards would keep watch at night. This method was effective at keeping the Empire a secret, until a special visitor arrived during the night.

An Earth pony guard was patrolling the streets of the Gem Empire when he noticed figure flying high in the night sky, he squinted his eyes trying to get a clear view on the distance object. As soon as he looked at it's direction, it started getting close to the empire. The guard gasped, reaching for his horn and inhaled deeply and locked his lips on the mouthpiece and blew hard sounding the alarm. Yelling loudly "We have been discovered!" He ran his hooves clopping loudly on the ground as he runs to the castle as the figure dive bombs trailing slowly behind the guard as he runs to the castle. Maximus quickly hearing the alarm from the castle runs to the nearest megaphone and shouts into it yelling a clear message to all the guards in the city "All guards to the castle! All guards to the castle! We have an intruder!" The sounds of rattling armor and echo's of hooves pounding on the ground fill the city as the guards put up a defensive line around the castle gate. The lone guard still being chase by the figure gets into formation with the others and turns to engage the figure that has been following him. The figure flaps it wings and lands on the ground, and just stands there before a loud and authoritative voice booms from it's direction. "What is this place, and where is thy ruler! I wish to make haste in speaking with whom ever is in charge!" The guards flinch turning there heads as they try to shield there ears from the loud noise. Behind the guards the gates open as Willow and Maximus step out passing the guards and confronting the figure which seems to be wearing a cloak. Maximus grunts and stomps his hoof on the ground "Whom are you to be asking such a demand!" Willow puts her hoof on his chest and smiles "Come now, don't be rude to our guest." Maximus huffs and looks at Willow. "G-guest!? This pony invaded our kingdom with out so much as a word of warning!" Willow smiles and kisses Maximus cheek "Dear you know this pony." She walks forward to the figure and bows "After all, she is royalty!" The hooded figure pulls back it's hood and smiles "Tis good to see you again Willow, I assume thou has been well?" Maximus panics and quickly runs forward and throws his two front hooves out "Forgive my rudeness Princess Luna!"

Luna puts wing up to her mouth and laughs "Haha! Oh Maximus, thou hasn't change has thy?" Maximus lifts his head and lowers his ears and huffs. Willow laughs with Luna "Please Princess, I wish to discuss a few important matters with you." Luna bows and smiles "Certainly!"

Maximus stands up and waves his hoofs at the guards "Nothing to see! Back to your posts!" The guards trot off resuming there nightly duties as the Luna, Willow, & Maximus walk into the castle. After entering the castle they walk to a near by door that leads down under the castle to an open room filled with gems, scrolls, and parchments. The three take a seat at a table in the middle of the room. Willows smiles and brings some drinks for all three before turning to Luna "Luna, how have you and your sister been?" Luna turns her head away "Tis not the best time to speak about it." Willow glances over at Maximus with a concerned looked "Very well, we need to discuss two issues with you Princess." Willow walks over to a small box on a shelve and places it in front of Luna "You know we mine gems that are deep in the mountain, right? We have come across a gem that doesn't either want to react to our scholars magics, or might just be a normal gem. We can't determine if it's magical or not, we want you to tell us if it is." Luna turns her had back to Willow then looks back at the box and opens it the box contained a smooth cut gem with an ocean blue color. Luna inspects it with her magic looking at it from every angle, she shakes her head "I see nothing special about it. Tis a normal gem to me." Willow nods "Thank you Princess, I guess we will just have this gem crafted into something else then." Luna hands back the gem "I'm sorry if I wasn't of much use." Luna lowers her head "I feel I'm not as important, or loved lately." Willow smiles and gives Luna a hug "You are always important and loved Princess." Luna smiles and hugs back "Thank you Willow, I must be going now, I still have to return to my sister, I feel as if I have overstayed." Willow shakes her head "You fine, I hope things are well between you and your sister soon, but please keep this Empire a secret from your sister." Luna bows and nods "I shall keep my secret as I have before."

With the meeting over Luna heads back to Canterlot. Willow heads back down below the castle to examine the gem "I forgot to tell Luna that I am expecting filly soon..." Maxmius walks into the room and smiles "Perhaps when the Princess comes back for a visit, you can surprise her." Willow smiles "Well I'll have this gem taken to a craftsmen to be used for something else." Willow places the gem on the table before heading with Maximus back up the stairs as they close the door leading to the room, the gem glows for a brief second, and glimmers.