The Soulstorm Chronicles

I am Soulstorm, Supreme Wizard to the Court of Arcturus, Sovereign Ruler of the Four Kingdoms of Equestria.

It has been a month since the King's messenger came to my chambers late that night to deliver the letter that now rests beside me - a heartfelt plea from the stallion I have come to regard as Lord, Master, and true friend. On learning of the King's failing health, I rushed immediately to his side, taking with me a few herbal preparations to ease his pain.

I arrived early the following morning, my saddlebags packed with more herbal recipes. Once I had entered the chamber, he instructed me to sit next to him, and so I did. He summoned what little was left of his once considerable strength to rest his hoof on top of my own.

"You must do this for me," was all he said, and as I looked deep into his tired eyes, he repeated this one sentence many times over, growing more delirious as the hours passed and the terrible illness slowly claimed his mind.

My heart was heavy as I gave Arcturus the assurance he sought, not because I was reluctant to grant his dying wish or because I feared for my own life, but because the mission his letter had described was almost certainly doomed to failure. The enormity of the task was beyond his comprehension, and yet it had to be attempted for the sake of our little ponies.

"My Dear Soulstorm,

Many are the tribulations I have endured throughout my long reign over the Four Kingdoms, yet your unfailing guidance and friendship have sustained me, just as they sustained my father during his rule and his father before him. Your powers are indeed formidable and your knowledge unsurpassed.

My friend, were you able to restore my health now that it's fading, I know that you would do so. I know also that a Wizard's magic, however great, may not disturb the natural order of life and death, so as it is that I must accept my fate, you must as well. It pains me to tell you that I am growing weaker by the hour, and that I fear the end of my mortal days will not be long in coming.

My greatest regret is that there is one more thing I must ask of you, Soulstorm, before I depart this world. This task is so daunting that I can scarcely bring myself to set down the words upon this page, and the very idea that I should have to ask it of one who has served me so well brings me close to tears. Please try to find it in your heart to forgive me, for I know of nopony else who could attempt such a mission.
You will have heard, I am sure, about a fearsome malevolence which is rising in our world. Many a long year has passed without threat from the dragons which reside in the Kingdoms, save for their occasional attacks on our livestock. However, something has changed. Our villages are under siege and many of our subjects have been taken by these terrible beasts. I am not given to understand why the dragons have turned against us, but my dying wish is that I should rid my little ponies of this appalling curse. There have been rumors that the exiled unicorn, Pollux, has set himself against us and is commanding the dragons with evil intent. History records a similar event one thousand years ago when the wrath of the dragons was visited upon the world, but few survived to speak of that cataclysm and how it came to pass. All I can tell you is that it came to be known as 'The Dragon Storm'.

And so, Soulstorm, what I must ask of you is this; I will put at your disposal one hundred of my fiercest Earth ponies, all of whom are hardened veterans of combat, four ships and all the necessary provisions for the journey. That is, if you will accept my task to seek these dragons and destroy them. The Sankaara Amulet, which has been held securely within the castle vaults since the reign of my Great-Grandfather, will of course be made available to you should you accept the commission. It cannot protect you from serious harm but the Eye of Sankaara, preserved in the center of the Amulet, has many properties which are well known to you.

It is my wish that my son, Sandorius, accompany you on the journey despite the dangers you will undoubtedly face, for he has much to learn before he is worthy of my title. He is headstrong, and such is the spirit of youth, but he has always shown great interest in your teachings and I believe your guidance will help him win the respect of our ponies. Had my health not failed me, I would have waited longer before initiating Sandorius, but my hoof has been forced. I hope you agree that he is ready and trust that you will protect him as best you can during your travels together. In time, he will make a great King. Of this, I am certain.

Lastly, I must ask you to document your expedition and gather such artifacts as you deem relevant for it is possible that, should your mission fail, there will be others who are brave enough to meet the challenge and follow in your hoofsteps. Their chances of success may indeed be poor, but the knowledge you have acquired on your travels will serve them well, echoing through the centuries as a testament to your efforts and those of the courageous individuals who aided you.

Three of the finest artists from my Court will accompany your endeavors, recording the encounters in sketches and paintings whilst addicting in the collection and preservation of samples. As I write this, a master craftspony is working through the night to create a book of great strength and rare beauty according to my design. You must keep it with you at all times since it contains a small compartment which provides for the safekeeping of the Amulet. An abundance of parchment leaves on which the artists can make their entries forms the main body of this tome, which will henceforth be known as 'The Soulstorm Chronicles'.

I wish you good fortune, and need not remind you of the urgency of the task which awaits you.

Your very great friend,
Arcturus
Sovereign Ruler of the Four Kingdoms"

It was late afternoon when I eventually left the King's chamber, bidding my friend farewell in the almost certain knowledge that I would never see him alive again.

As I walked back along a dark corridor towards the main section of the castle - a gargantuan atrium with workers and officials bustling about - my head hung low in sorrow. I could recollect many times where the sick pony resting in those chambers had saved my life, and I his. Arcturus was an extremely strong fighter and an even better strategist.

He has lost very few battles for the Kingdom of Villiandra.

Out of a side passage barely concealed by decorative shrubbery, a Pegasus courtier trotted out in bright red robes with a gold trim. He ushered me into a small, dimly-lit antechamber. In the antechamber was a big desk made from what appeared to be mahogany, and resting on the desk was a casket finely embossed with gold. The courtier slowly removed the lid and, with the utmost reverence, eased a mighty tome out of the deep red cushioned lining of the casket. He held it out with his front hooves, using his wings to stay upright as the crimson glow of my magic wrapped around the tome, levitating it over to me. The book in which I was to record my journey, and upon which I make this entry, was indeed beautiful and very strong. My friend had made sure that whatever misfortunes befell us in the months ahead, this great book would be equal to the rigors of the quest.

Gently, I released the gold clasp that sealed the book and began to turn the pages, each of which was fashioned from the finest parchment. As I neared the back cover, I motioned to the courtier to avert his eyes, for if the King had indeed made the legendary Sankaara Amulet available to me, then it would surely be secreted here.

I myself had not seen the Amulet since the battle of Carnverion which took place some one hundred years ago, but as my hoof fell on the final page of the book, I recognized the unmistakable turquoise glow of the stone beneath. I turned the leaf and once again found myself entranced by the Amulet's beauty. A small velvet-lined recess had been created within the hard cover of the book and it was here that the Amulet emanated from the center of the stone, briefly illuminating the darkened room.

For a few moments I allowed my mind to travel back through the distant past, recalling the various myths and legends in which the Amulet was alleged to have played its part. Though many of the stories were apocryphal, I knew from my own experiences that the Amulet's power was beyond doubt. I knew too that it had been the servant of ponies both good and evil, and that the responsibility associated with being its temporary guardian was therefore considerable. As I closed the book and replaced it in the casket, the courtier once again turned to face me, bidding me good fortune as he gave to me a specially crafted leather bag in which to carry the book. I thanked him before quietly taking my leave and making my way back through the shadowy corridors to the main gate.

Day One...

The day of our departure dawned bright and clear. A thin mist hung over the vast natural harbour which rings the port of Villiandra, way below my home, located high up in the cliffs. From a small window in the corner of the room, I could see the last of the provisions being loaded onto the four ships King Arcturus had provided. The dock workers, the majority of which were unicorns, coordinated the cargo efficiently as the warriors readied themselves for the long journey, saying their farewells to their families. There was no doubt in my mind that for most of them, it would be their final goodbye.

It was high tide and the strong easterly breeze that sweeps down the valley from the Jorgas mountains at this time of year was set to carry us on our way. I read the King's letter one more time before placing it carefully in the opening pages of the book, and it was then I resolved that it would never leave my side.

When the knock on my door finally came, I was standing on a terrace, looking out at the ocean and trying to imagine the battles that lay ahead. The arrival of the porters shook my reverie. I trotted to my door and opened it, greeting the unicorns before leading them through to an area where a large wooden crate had been assembled. Its contents included almost all the knowledge, materials and equipment I had gathered during the past three hundred years. As I watched the unsteady progress of the porters down the steep track towards the harbor, I prayed that the crate would be safely delivered to the scenes of these dreadful encounters, for there cannot be the faintest hope of victory without it. When the time came for me to leave, I placed the book in the specially made leather pouch, which was then placed in my saddlebags. I threw on my cloak and started down the path towards the ships. Mindful of missing the turning tide, we departed almost immediately.