The Chronicles of Equui Lumen Noxxus

Equui-Nox stood at the entrance to Sweet Apple Acres, looking on to the farmhouse atop the hill, and remembering all of his memories of being here. As a newborn, the Apple family adopted him after finding him on their doorstep one Summer morning. There was no note, just a card with three words on it: Equui Lumen Noxxus. His name. It was quickly shortened to Equui-Nox, though sometimes, his full name was used, followed by a long talking-to for getting in trouble. It rarely happened, but usually it was for leaving his forge lit overnight, or making ruckus early in the morning when everyone was asleep. Or the time he attempted to harness the power of lightning to craft a pair of steel boots that made pegasi fly faster, and consequently lit the roof of the forge on fire. Or the time he almost caught the entirety of the forge on fire attempting to quench an extremely hot breastplate in oil, which practically exploded. Or...well...a few other instances.

He began walking up the hill, looking around for anypony who might still be here. These were dangerous grounds to be on, and he had to be sure to tread lightly. If he was discovered by Applejack, Granny Smith, Apple Bloom, or Big Mac, it would be game over. Not from the talking-to he would receive, but that the fact he was still alive would spread like wildfire through the town, and across Equestria. He was fairly well-known, being that he used to be the sole pony responsible for the maintainence of the train that traveled all across Equestria: The Friendship Train. He was offered a job once to become the Engineer of it as well, but he declined, feeling that he should stay in Ponyville. So, they compromised and named him the Chief Mechanic of the Royal Equestrian Railway. It was a part-time job, as he was only needed when it needed major repairs, or if the Princess was going to ride (it was customary that a Chief Mechanic was on board during such times, in case of a breakdown or mishap, they would have someone immediately available to fix the problem). For the most part, however, he stayed in Ponyville, and ran his blacksmith shop; helping ponies fix their wagons, or crafting new plow blades, or other useful tools for the town. Occasionally he would get the stray traveler from Canterlot or Manehattan that requested he fix or make something for them. But that was all in the past, and he intended to keep it that way, for the safety of not only his family, but for the ponies of Equestria.

He rounded the back of the barn, and parked his wagon. He needed to slip quietly inside to get a few items from his room, before he made his way to the forge. Just after his faked death, Applejack had put his unfinished armor set, his blacksmith apron, and his most prized possession, his hammer, all in a chest at the foot of his bed, and locked it away.

This was before Apple Bloom could even remember, as she was just starting to walk at that age. His room was locked, but he knew Applejack kept a key above the frame of the door, atop the trim. But while finding the key was easy, sneaking into the house would not be. He unhitched from the wagon, an made his way over to the living room window, peering in, he saw Granny Smith in her rocking chair, snoring and fast asleep. Presumably, Apple Bloom would be in bed, fast asleep, as he was doubtful that Applejack would let her stay out late. He pulled his hood close, and quietly made his way to the back door that led into the kitchen. He slowly opened the door, taking a step in; he was greeted warmly with the smells of apples and of the home he so missed and desired to be back in. He carefully stepped inside, and made himself visible, feeling safe, since Granny slept harder than a rock. He would only have to tiptoe past Apple Bloom's room, at best, to avoid detection. He made his way past Granny Smith, and went up the stairs slowly, cursing at the creakiness of the floorboards. He made his way upstairs and stopped at Apple Bloom's door, 'Perhaps just a quick peek to see how much she's grown...' he thought to himself. He quietly slipped open the door, and peered inside. Her room hadn't changed much, save for the fact that the guard rails on her bed were gone. He saw her laying there, sure enough fast asleep, and as cute as ever. He recounted the many times he had played with her, when she was younger. Racing with her on his back around the orchard, playing in the water with her at the swimming hole, and tucking her into bed at night, reading bedtime stories until she fell asleep. He chuckled in his head, and then closed the door halfway. He continued quietly walking down the hallway, making his way to the final door on the right. His room.

It's been two years since he last entered this very room. Levitating the key off the top of the trim, he slowly lowered it down and slid it into the lock. *Click* With a turn, it unlocked, and the door swung in. Peering in, there was only darkness. The curtains were drawn in the window, covering up the only source of light in the room. But he knew his room well, despite being gone for 2 years. He walked forward, past his bed in the dark, and then towards the window. His horn glowed for a moment, and the curtains flung open, pouring moonlight into the dark room, and illuminating the furniture in the room.

His bed stood against the wall to the left of the door; it was crafted out of Applewood, and stained a dark brown color. It had four posts, which supported a curtain around the bed, which helped to block out light when he slept during the daytime occasionally.

At the foot of the bed sat a cushioned chest, large enough for a filly to lay in comfortably, and made of Oak and Wrought Iron fittings. It was locked by not one, but two locks, that had two different keys. Both, of which, he had hanging around his neck.

To the right of the window, which was centered on the wall opposite to the door, sat a large armoire, that housed some of his old clothes, as well as his dress clothes for official business. To the right of his bed sat a small nightstand, with a lone lamp that lit the room at night, and a drawer on the stand that contained, or used to contain, his personal journal.

To the left of his bed, on the same wall as the door, sat his desk. It was quite large, and still littered with blueprints, designs, and letters, just as he left it. Everything, save for his desk and his bed, in his room were covered in white sheets that kept the dust off the furniture.

Dropping his cloak, He walked over to the chest, and yanked the dust cloth off, revealing the intricately carved panels. Emblazoned on it, were the symbols for the sun and the moon, surrounded by apple trees. On the left panel, there was an image of an anvil, and on the right panel, a pair of hammer and tongs. The cushion on the top of the lid was a brilliant blue color, that seemed to shimmer almost. As he approached the chest, the outline of the sun and the moon began to glow, as did his keys. He levitated them off his neck, and placed them in position in the center of the sun and the moon, where the locks were hidden. He pushed in, and the key slipped into the lock with a click. Turning the left key to the right 90 degrees, and the right key to the right 180 degrees; the light stopped glowing, and the lid clicked open. He pulled his keys out, and put them back around his neck; slowly lifting the lid open, his horn glows, and four heavy silver and gold-looking boots are lifted out, as well as a heavy silver and gold body armor piece.

These pieces were intricately detailed, and seemed to almost glow slightly. Each boot was silver-looking, with gold-like accents, and little gold-engraved french curves and patterns around the hoof. They appeared to have no straps or laces to keep them on, but were split in half, save for the sole, which was padded. Equui-Nox set them upright, and one by one stepped into them. Instantly each half snapped together securing the boot in place for a comfortable, but snug fit.

His body armor was similar to his boots, but was engraved with unknown symbols around the neck, in addition to a singular blue crystal that adorned the front of the collar of the armor. He levitated the piece over him, and placed it on him. It's two halves clicked into place, and the crystal began to glow.

He muttered a few words quietly, and instantly, the runes around his neck began to glow, as a small whirlwind around him began to stir. He felt his magic amplifying, growing stronger. The light began to trace around the outlines of his armor, and the spiral of his horn as well. The wind subsided, as did the light, finally, and he closed his eyes. Magic levitated his cloak back on him, and pulled his blacksmith hammer from his chest. The lid was closed and the cover put back on, as the key to his room went outside and back on the trim, the door shut and locked, and the drapes closed.

In a flash of bright light, he disappeared without a trace, teleporting outside to his wagon.