A lone stallion walks along a beaten path, his hoofsteps padding softly on the many inches thick layer of dirt. His mottled gray coat does little to cool him down in the harsh sunlight, but he trudges onwards, intent on finally reaching the rugged peak of the mountain.

Journal #1
Prologue

I wonder who’s reading this right now. That’s what’s going through my mind as I write this. I don't know who you are, and I don't know what you are. All I know is, someone got my journal, and is reading it. I would have liked to have had the choice in who, but then again, we don't always get the best choices in life. Not to say that you aren't a good choice, that is. I may not know you, but that isn't enough to say that you wouldn't be a good choice as the holder of my journals.

You know, I decided to start writing these journals because I realized that it was time to be honest with myself. I figured if I could get it down on paper, all of it, then maybe, just maybe, I’ll realize something. I’ll realize a different solution, one that could end any way other than the one I’ve figured out. But to be entirely truthful, I’ve already accepted my fate. I know how this story ends, the same way everyone’s story ends… eventually.

I’ve been here for so long, long enough that I’ve completely lost track of the actual amount of time I’ve been here. I mean, sure, with how everything started, I guess even an hour would feel like an eternity to me, but that’s beyond the point. What matters isn't how long I’ve been here, but rather, what’s happened since I’ve been here.

I guess this is supposed to be the part where I begin to tell you some sort of adventure of grandeur, and how I rose to the occasion to become more than who I was, to become something greater than myself, in order to fight a great evil that only I could defeat. I’m supposed to start to tell you how I learned to perform impossible feats, and gained superhero abilities to take on the darkest, most evil forces across the universe.

Except… that’s not how it happened. That’s not how it happened at all. Sure, if you ever did hear anything about what happened, it might have been from a myth, or a legend, or even a story told for children through a multi-billion dollar television network. And while it is most likely wrong almost completely, it still will probably have some merit of truth to it.

That’s how it works, right? Every story, no matter how far-fetched, how outlandish, how impossible, will always have a grain of truth to it? I think that’s how it works, I don't really know. All I know is what I know, and not a single thing more.

Maybe one day, everyone will get to know the truth. The full truth, as best as I can describe it in my journals. It may be something that people won't want to believe, and will vehemently deny as fact, but at least I’ll have given it my best to let people know what really happened. What I’ve really done. What I haven't done.

What should I tell you next? What I look like? Well, I guess I could give you an idea. I’ve been told I’m something called a Unicorn, and everyone who’s mentioned it has usually said I have a dark green coat, whatever that means. I think one of my friends even told me once that I was a muddy green color, and I honestly think he’s right. I wouldn’t know, but he’s been around me the most, so I’d have to say that he probably has the best chance of being right.

Maybe I should tell you about where I am now. I’m currently living up north, somewhere along the coastline of a giant, well, not really island, but rather, a sort of small continent. The locals have said that it’s not a continent, but I’ve felt the maps, and I know this is far larger than any other islands in the area. I also know that there’s a lot of dragons around here. I know this area the best, and I’ve decided that this is where I’ll stay. I don't know anywhere else very well, and I don't trust anyone else as much as those who live here, so this is where I’ll probably end up staying for a while.

There’s also a large empire off to the far left, across the ocean, with griffons taking up the majority of the population. They’re the main reason I’m here now, and I honestly don't know how I feel about the majority of them. Below them, there’s a place called Equestria. It’s filled mostly with ponies, all of whom are usually one of three main races: pegasi, unicorn, and earth pony. Sure, there’s other species here and there, but not in numbers anywhere near as abundant as the ponies.

The first time I was in Equestrian, I didn't do much. Actually, that’s not right. I couldn't do much. I couldn't walk, couldn't see, couldn't remember- yeah, I couldn't do a lot of things.

I think that’s why I was picked up the way I was. I mean, it’s not like anyone would miss me, right? No one knew me, or even knew of me, so therefore if I just disappeared, no one would notice, right? The thing is, I noticed. I noticed when I was taken, but I didn't know why. I couldn't make sense of anything, and my mind was too far gone at the time to process everything. Really, it’s all mostly a foggy blur, but I still remember enough to tell you what happened.

You know, I think I’ve got it figured out. I wasn't too sure where I should start it, and considered just a brief run-down, but honestly, what would be the point of that? I wouldn't be able to be very honest with you if I did that, would I? The beginning is the best place for everyone, you, me, and whoever else you decide should read this.

So that’s where I’ll start it, then. Right at the beginning, the beginning of me. The me now, the me I know. Not the me I may have once been. That version of me is off, gone somewhere I can't think of, somewhere I can't find. Even if I could, I don't think I’d be willing to. Could I give up who I am now, if it meant I could have a chance at understanding more about what’s happening? I don't know the answer to that, and I hope I never come across the chance to have to answer that question.

That leaves me in a bit of a predicament, but it’s no matter. I’m here to tell a story. I’ll start from the beginning, the beginning that I know. The beginning that I know to be the truth. The beginning that will reveal who I am, both on the inside, and the outside. You may not fully like what you read about me, and about everyone around me, but honestly? That’s alright. Because this is the way it was meant to be.

Celestia

Canterlot

I gasped as I woke. A sheen of sweat glistened on my fur, and my breath came in short, quick bursts. Moonlight streamed in through the satin curtains, providing me with just enough light to see the confines of my chambers.

An alarm spell had gone off. An old one, at that. So old, in fact, that it hadn’t even woken me properly, simply just going off in my dreams until my subconscious had panicked enough that it forced me awake. But the spells weren’t supposed to do that. Every alarm spell in use was checked every half a decade, to ensure they wouldn’t fail. And the older spells that weren’t in use anymore were always deactivated, so as to not provide false positives. So what had gone off?

It must have been old, but not too old. If Luna hadn’t woken me up, then that must mean that it had to have been something from within the last thousand years. Not much was added in since then, really, other than spells to check for the return of Nightmare Moon, but all of those had been long since deactivated, mostly due to their uselessness in determining her return. Beyond those, nothing was added. Perhaps a faulty current alarm spell? If so, then that meant something had happened. Something that needed to be looked into right away.

I rushed out of bed, magically grooming my mane, and moving it into place as I left my magically sealed room, teleporting almost instantly down into the throne room, startling both Luna, and the guards.

“Luna,” I began. “What has happened? I felt an alarm spell ring, but it was different. Did the griffons finally make a move against us? Or has something else happened?”

A small frown fell on her face. “Celestia, sister, whatever are you talking about? No alarm spells have gone off this night.”

I pondered on her words for a moment, and glanced around the room, taking in the Royal Guards. Only eight. That was normal, a bit less than what was expected, actually, as during the day, there were usually about ten or so. Luna was unaware of an alarm spell going off, and the guards were in small numbers. That meant it was a relatively peaceful night.

Racking my brain, I thought about what it was that I had heard. Perhaps I had only dreamt the alarm. In fact, I most likely had. The griffons were in no position to attack Equestria, despite what they’d like to believe. Nightmare Moon was long since vanquished. Discord was transformed, bettered into someone friendly- er, friendlier. Tartarus had been sealed off, preventing the likes of it to seep into Equestria again, lest an Alicorn decided to break the seal. Yes, everything was… fine.

I smiled at my sister, relaxing. “My apologies, Luna. I hadn’t meant to barge in like that. It must have been a dream gone awry.”

A soft smile graced her lips. “It is alright, Celestia. You know, if you’d like, I could add your dreams to the list of ponies to check on. I know you prefer to keep them more private than that, but I would understand if you wanted me to check on them every once in awhile.”

I opened my mouth, about to respond, when it happened. An alarm spell went off, this time, plaguing the entire castle with its sounds. However, this alarm was… different. It didn’t sound proper, like the other alarms did. It had a sort of musical tone to it, one that nagged at the back of her mind, like something she could almost remember, but couldn’t quite seem to fully grasp.

Luna, along with the Royal Guards, were immediately put into high alert, albeit confused on the actual threat. None of them recognized the actual alarm. “Celestia, is… is this the alarm that you heard in your dreams?”

“Yes,” I responded, straining to recall what it meant. Perhaps, when the runner came to deliver the message that normal came with alarm spells, she’d remember. But why didn’t Luna, or the guards, for that matter, know what it meant?

And then, the world shattered around her as she suddenly remembered where she had heard the alarm from. A long time ago, a pony who was close to her had spoken of something that he would mark, something that rang with these same musical notes. He had even offered to show it to her, which she had accepted, curious as to what he had been referring to. And what he had shown her both terrified her, and intrigued her. He had even asked her to be something for him, his acolyte, he had called it. But once he had passed, she had never thought she would hear the alarm spell go off, the very same one he had personally created for her, so that in case it ever went off, she would know what was happening, and she would be prepared.

“Starswirl,” she whispered, her eyes widening in a mixture of both fear and wonder. “What have you done?”

(Continued)
Griffon Empire/Equestrian Eastern Coast

A world of sound. A world of beauty. A world of music. That’s the earliest memory I have. It was like something out of an old storybook. The sounds that had started off faint, were slowly raising in volume, and were a mixture of sweet, jumbled musical notes, not really playing any discernible tune, instead just simply being pleasant, calming. It was like being in a trance, one that was perfect in every way.

It’s kind of hard to remember what exactly was happening. I know I was surrounded by thousands of small, bright white specks, their light diminishing by the second. I also know that I wasn't standing, but rather, floating along, pushed by a force beyond my comprehension.

I saw a growing light approaching from the front of me, one that seemed to have a sort of blue tinge to it that danced all along the edges, just barely noticeable in my vision. There was also a sort of groaning sound, one that sounded similar to rock grinding against rock, that built up slowly, until it became a full on rumbling.

This sound, for whatever reason, instilled a feeling of fear within me. I instinctively knew it was bad, but I didn't know why. The light growing ever closer, I soon gave in and shut my eyes, preventing myself from seeing what came next.

That didn't stop me from feeling myself burst through the light, feeling as if I was breaking through a large, thin sheet of wet paper, making a loud squelching sound as I went through. At the same time, the rumbling came to its peak, and I felt a shower of rocks come crumbling down around me, falling from both the ceiling, and the walls.

To make matters worse, all of a sudden it felt as if I was falling. The force that had been holding me aloft, and allowing me to travel forward had suddenly ended, causing me to be affected by gravity once more.

I started screaming, flailing every which way, but to what purpose, I’m not sure. I didn't fall far, probably just a few feet, as I wasn't badly hurt afterwards. But as I fell, even with my eyes closed, I knew a few things. Firstly, that there were still rocks tumbling down around me, a lot of which were landing on me. And second, I knew that something else was happening.

Even with my eyes closed, I could still see a bright blue light bleeding through my eyelids, filling my vision completely as my body tenses up involuntarily, locking me in place. And from there, I felt myself pelted continuously with more and more rocks, until finally, I felt one land on my head, and the light cut out completely as everything went dark.

How long I was there for, I’m not sure, but I do know that when I finally woke up, my entire body was stiff, frozen as if it hadn't been moved in a long time. I struggled to open my eyes, to see where I had ended up, but I couldn't. I could feel them moving, but I was so weak, and so stiff, that I couldn't control them properly. I then decided to change tactics, and opened my mouth to call out for help.

A dry, high-pitched mess, my voice rang out, barely audible to my own ears. “H-hello?” My voice echoed, resounding off of what sounded like walls in a cave.

I coughed a bit, both to clear my throat, and because I couldn't stop myself, feeling a weird, coppery taste in my mouth as it felt like something was pushing out. I felt the thick liquid start to fill my mouth, and I quickly spat out as much as I could.

Feeling that same liquid dribbling lazily out of my mouth, I called out one more time, my voice finally ringing out clearly, and loudly. “Hello?” It reverberated around the cavern, bouncing from wall to wall. It was still painful, and it continued to come out high pitched as if I was weak, and hadn't spoken in a long time, but it was something.

I paused then, hoping to hear something, anything to indicate another presence nearby, one that could help me. My own shallow, ragged breaths filled my senses, and a thin rattle came from deep within me on every intake and outtake. Slowly, I became aware of the beating of my heart, thumping along steadily, barely audible to my ears.

I held on for as long as possible, which honestly probably wasn't all that long, before finally succumbing to the call of unconsciousness, drifting away from reality. Slowly, steadily, my touch on reality faded, leaving me with only an emptiness that refused to be filled.

I'm not sure how long I was like that for. It could have been a few minutes, a few hours, or even a few days. All I know is that when I came to, I felt something unusual underneath me. It was different from the hard, rocky ground I had previously been on, and was instead stiff, almost like it could give way to form to a shape, but only if something much heavier than I were to lay on it.

There was pain, mostly about my head, but it wasn’t anything intense. It was more of a dull throb, like one you’d get after having a headache for a few hours that just won’t go away. It surrounded my eyes more than anything else, almost as if there were a deep warmth spreading from them.

A slight pressure enveloped my head, as if something was wrapped around it. I tried to open my aching eyes, as I had previously tried in the cave, but again, to no avail. I then decided to try and remove whatever was covering my face, and reached up to try and grab it in the hopes of pulling it off. However, all I got for my troubles was something firm bumping against my face, something that gained virtually no traction as it rubbed against it.

From my right side came a gruff voice, one that seemed lathered with a blasé shell. "I wouldn't remove that, if I were you. You'll just end up making things worse."

My head twitched as I heard that, and I froze, temporarily stuck processing those words. Recovering from my mental paralysis, I responded, "What do you mean? What happened?" Still sounding both coarse and high pitched, my voice was painful to both hear and use, something that I didn't expect. I knew it wasn't supposed to sound like that, but what it should have sounded like, I couldn't remember.

The voice sighed, and replied, "Look, all I know is, I was out on the edge of the Griffon Empire, running my usual scouting routine, when I found you during one of my breaks. Honestly, I couldn't care less who you are, other than the fact that you're probably worth something to someone." The voice continued to speak in its indifferent tone, sounding for all intents and purposes as if it truly didn't care at all about my well being.

I, however, neglected to pick up on that, and instead said, "Oh. So then you don't know what happened to me?"

There was no response this time, other than another sigh, and what sounded like the voice standing up, and beginning to walk away from me. The sound of walking halted after a few steps, though, and suddenly, I heard something glass being placed next to me on the floor. "If you get thirsty, drink this. Or don't." I heard the footsteps start up again, and a few seconds later, I heard a door close, and I was alone again.

I wasn't quite sure what to do. I still felt tired beyond reasoning, but I forced myself to stay awake. I wasn't able to move very much, due to an overall stiffness that encompassed my body, but I could still move minimally, so that's what I did.

I tried to turn myself off of my back, and onto my side, only to quickly realize that I wasn't near strong enough to manage that. I settled instead with accepting my current position, and thinking about my current situation. I knew I was hurt, but how badly, I didn't know. I also knew that I had to... what? What was I supposed to do?

For the life of me, I couldn't remember what it was that I was trying to do. I tried to think back, to before I had gotten hurt, and came up blank. In fact, I couldn't remember much of anything from before all those shining, tiny lights inside that cave. I vaguely remembered being hit on the head by something, but I didn't know what. I guess my head should still have hurt, too, but instead, I only felt a sort of dull throbbing. Uncomfortable for sure, but nothing that really hurt.

I quickly realized that I was finding it hard to keep awake. I still couldn't see, so there was nothing really interesting to look at, and there was no point in trying to move, so I was effectively immobile. I started to think of whoever it was that had found me. Who were they? Why did they bring me here? And why did he say that he couldn't care less about who I was? Did he have an idea of who I was? Maybe I should ask him...

I don't know when I slipped away from reality again. I just know that the next time I was aware of what was happening, there was more than one voice this time. Most of the pain was gone, but the stiffness remained, as well as the burning ache in my eyes.

"You're sure no one's claimed a lost foal? You're absolutely sure?" The original voice. They sounded nervous. For what, I didn't know.

A new voice this time. This one spoke with a higher pitch, although it was still relatively deep compared to mine. "Yes, yes, I'm sure. I already told you, I've checked all over the nearest parts of Equestria, and even some parts of the Empire where the ponies still feel brave enough to live. If any pony was looking for him, word would have been out by know." This one sounded irritated with the other. Was it because they were being questioned? Or did it have something to do with me?

A sigh this time, coming from the original voice again. "Look, Gwen, I'm sorry, alright? I just don't want us to do anything we might regret later."

The other, Gwen I assume, responded with a curt, "Yeah, well, you never wanna do much of anything anymore, what with joining the Empire's army. Now it's always groveling at their talons, and doing everything that you're told without so much as a blink. What about me, huh, Glenn? What about everyone else, your family? Or are we just second to that precious army of yours?"

I heard what sounded like Gwen taking a few steps forward, a clacking noise echoing with every step, presumably causing who I assumed to be Glenn to take several back in response. I realized that I might have woken up just in time to bear witness to an argument that was going to quickly become physical, and I felt my already slow breath catch in my throat.

Stumbling over their words, Glenn spoke quickly to try and diffuse the situation. "Gwen, please, I know that I care a lot about the army, and the Griffon Empire, but I promise that everything I've done so far has been for you. If you weren't around still, I wouldn't have joined the army to try and help make sure we had enough to go around. Please, if you could just understand..."

Upon hearing Gwen take a few more steps forward, and hearing the guttural growl begin to emanate from within Gwen's throat, I finally decided that it was now, or never.

I braced myself, and turned my body onto its side. I was still stiff, but it didn't bother me near as much as it would if they started fighting right next to me. I opened my mouth, and called out, "W-wait, don't fight." Okay, so I didn't call out so much as rasp out, but it got my point across. "P-Please, I don't want you to hurt each other."

I heard Gwen snicker after I spoke, replying to me right after. "So, the sleeping colt finally decided to wake up. I wasn't even sure you would make it to your delivery date. Looks like we'll be able to charge a bit more to those Dragons who decided to buy you. I wonder what we'll be able to get out of them now that we know for sure that you're not going to die as soon as we hand you off. Hopefully at least a few extra bits."

I wasn't entirely sure what to make of what Gwen was saying, so I decided to say, "Look, Gwen, wh-whatever you want to do is fine, just please, please don't hurt each other." I tried to will myself to be able to see through the darkness that the cloth on my face created, but I only succeeded in doing a grand total of nothing in that regard.

Another snicker, this time sounding a bit closer to me. “Whatever I want to do? Well, ruffle my feathers! I didn't know I needed your permission. Ya hear that, Glenn? I need this little colt’s okay before I can go and trade him. Who woulda thought?”

Nervous chuckles rang out from Glenn, and he replied, “Yeah, I-I didn't know we needed him to… to allow us to trade him off with the Dragons.”

I suddenly felt something close to me, and in a slanted, whispering voice, I heard, “You know what I think? I think maybe we should just take care of him, here and now. There’s not much more we can get for him alive, and I honestly don't think he’ll be worth the food.”

My heart beating ever faster with every word, I could feel my breath catch in my throat at her words. Was she thinking of killing me? At the time, I honestly thought so, and looking back on it, I still think so.

“I don't… I don't think that’s a good idea, Gwen.” Glenn, coming to my aid. I couldn't understand the words fully, but from what I knew, Glenn was trying to defend me. Mostly. “Ponies are, um, are at a bit of a premium now, you know, with, uh, the growing hostilities and all. It’s been getting harder and harder to get them to the Dragons for selling, and… and I think the better the condition, the better prices you can get. Don't you want to try and maximize what you can ask for?”

Glenn paused for a moment then, before backing up quickly from me, a clacking sound echoing with each step. “You know what? You’re right. But you’ll be the one in charge of keeping him under until he’s ready for trade. If Equestria gets even a whiff of us, I’ll know that I have you to thank.”

You know, you have to give it up for Glenn. Thinking back on it, his heart may not have been in the best of places, but at least he tried. That’s more than I can say for others. But at least with him, his moral compass was at least somewhat in the right direction.

“Alright, fine. I was already planning on putting him under again, anyways, at least until we could get him to the fence.” Glenn’s voice took on a relieved tone, sounding calmer now that Gwen had agreed to the idea. And honestly? I think I was glad, too. I could still feel the slight, burning pain in my eyes, and I knew that with the way Gwen was acting, I would have been liable to witness a fight at some point. I didn’t really like either of those things, and it was better that I didn’t have to deal with them much longer.

A few more clacks rang along along the ground, and I heard Glenn’s voice once more, this time right next to me. Glenn sounded to jangle around in a nightstand or the likes for a few seconds, before the sound of a drawer being closed hit my ears. I heard a cap unscrewing, and what sounded like Glenn shaking a filled bottle a bit in the air.

Firmly pressing against my forehead, a talon kept my head down, and prevented me from moving. Something else, presumably another talon, moved towards my mouth, carrying the bottle I had just heard being opened. “Don’t worry,” Glenn said. “You won’t feel a thing in a bit.”

I tried to respond. I really did. Problem is, I don’t think either of them heard me. I don’t even think I said anything. I don’t think I was really doing much after that.

Author's Note

Thank you for taking a chance on reading my story! I’m hoping that I can get at least a chapter a week out, and I will guarantee that they will all be at minimum 4k words! I’ve already begun to prepare the next chapter, so be sure to keep an eye on this story. Also, any and all reviews would be amazing, and the same goes for any sort of ratings!

~Press