Twilight Sparkle wandered through the Canterlot Archives, Princess Celestia by her side. They moved between stacks of musty books and scrolls. Deep in the archives, dust collected on the shelves. Ponies only rarely descended into the most ancient records of the vast library.
“Twilight, what exactly are you looking for down here?” Celestia asked her student.
“Some closer to date account of the founding of Equestria,” The purple alicorn relied eagerly. “I want to learn more about the legends of what happened.”
“If there is anything, you’ll find it here.” Celestia told her. She pointed to a shelf filled with ancient and well-worn books and scrolls. “This is the section from that era.”
Twilight dove into the section, carefully picking up each text and looking at the title. She placed them back into their place as she leafed through ancient tomes and records. Each book was invaluable, precious and rare. There was anything from a student's math homework to scientific reports to the single surviving map of the old pony kingdoms, far away. Picking up one particularly shabby book, Twilight read the title.
“Oh my gosh!” she screamed, staring at the battered book.
“What is it?” Celestia asked, curious.
“It's a journal. One written by Clover the Clever himself. This is exactly what I’ve been looking for. What could be better than a firsthand account?”
Celestia smiled, “If that’s what you came here for, I shall escort you back to the upper levels, then take my leave.” The most ancient works were in a portion of the Canterlot Archives that needed Celestia’s accompaniment for any pony to enter. Twilight carefully hugged the journal as they headed back through the mountains upon mountains of books, working their way towards the open part of the library.
Twilight settled into the chair, journal in hoof. She laid it on the table in front of her and opened it with care. The pages cracked as she opened them, as the paper was dry and brittle. Twilight did not dare touch the pages themselves with her hooves, as it my damage them, and gently use magic to flip. She opened to the first page.
It began: Within this journal I shall record the finding and founding of a new land. I hope to record all that occurs, so that I may not forget the importance of these days.
Entry one: Fifth day of the Flower Moon 2505
Her Highness Princess Platinum of Magica has decreed that the unicorns must find a new home for ourselves. The windigos have entombed the three kingdoms in snow, so we must leave to survive. She herself is leading the party searching for a new land, and I have been requested to accompany her.
Even now, I am preparing to leave though we depart in a week. The search party does contain the princess, so it must be made at least in part suitable for her. A full entourage of ten guards must be assigned to her, and a handmaiden. I fear that such accompaniments may hinder us, but royal dignity andpropriety demand it. She would be lessened in the eyes of the nobles if she took fewer.
Twilight studied the last lines carefully. She wondered what Clover the Clever had meant about propriety and Princess Platinum appearing less in the unicorn nobility’s eyes.
Entry two: Tenth day of the Flower Moon 2505
Today we departed from the palace, heading south. The royal cartographer and geographer that joined us guesses that the sway of the foul windigos will decrease as we move towards warmer lands. I only pray that they will as I freeze, sitting in my tent. Her Highness’ tent is grand and large, as befits the princess of the kingdom. The rest of us sit in smaller shelters. The night is rather dark and stormy, making it rather impossible to light a fire. But I digress. We have traveled only ten miles on the entire first day.
At dawn we set out, following the Royal road. Twice the guards had to dig us out of great snow drifts. Now I am thankful for the magically and physically strong stallions who travel with us. The wind was piling the snow so high that at points it reached above our heads, but they dug us out of it anyway. I helped where I could, though my talents lie in more refined magic. If you asked me to recreate a vision of the past, I could do it, but I am not one for digging. I did save us time at a point where the snow turned icy, using a magic beam to destroy the frozen patch.
I knew the travel would be slow, but I did not count on the amount of times the princess would insist on us stopping. At this rate it will take us two weeks even to cross the border, much less reach anywhere unsettled. Beyond the border is Griffon Territory, and that will take much time to cross. There is rumor of a land across the sea from the Griffon Territory. Perhaps we shall journey there.
Entry 3: Fifteenth day of the Flower Moon 2505
Today our company was attacked by a pack of wolves, which the guards warded off. However, one of the young stallions was injured during the battle. Princess Platinum, who it is said is a fine healer, tended him herself. As we put more distance between ourselves and the palace, she has relaxed. She had the stallion brought into her own tent, asking me to assist her. Rarely have I seen such magic as her healing power, closing up the bites as if they had never been.
The stallion was returned to his tent, and we traveled no more. I look for any sign of a let up in the snow, but there is none. A light fall is sprinkling upon us as I speak, but at least the fires were lit.
Entry 4: Twenty second day of the Flower Moon
This is the day of days. All around us is grass, green as it should be in the spring. There are birds and flowers. Ever since we passed into the Griffon Territory, it has been growing warmer. When we first saw this meadow, we knew we had to pitch camp here. All of us were acting like foals, prancing around in the grass and sniffing the flowers. Princess Platinum was rolling in the grass and wove everyponyflower crowns. I admit we were rather foolish, but we have not seen such wonders in two long years.
Finally, it is warm. I can sleep in my tent without curling under every blanket I brought. We felt no need to light fires, but simply watched the fireflies. I’m writing by moonlight, another wonder. It has been so long since we have seen an unveiled moon or sun, and the twinkling of the stars I had near forgotten. It seems that the windigos did not chase after us.
I am going to stargaze, as I so often did as a colt. It will be a joy to see those familiar constellations again.
“Without stars?” Twilight whispered, “How did they manage, living like this? No wonder they went all giddy at the sight of green.”
Entry 5: First day of the Green Moon 2505
We have rested five days in the castle of Gesten, King of the Northern Griffon Clans. We have undergone round after round of feasting and revelry. Every night they have provided fine meals, testament to their capable farmers. We have feasted on fruits and oats. I fear that some of the guards have had more wine and food than they should have, and some of it may have been bad, so we have been kept here with their illness.
King Gensten has been as fine a host as could be asked. When the Princess sent him a letter asking permission for her royal company to enter his lands on the journey, he replied most cordially. He invited us to come to his fine castle and has put us up well here. As Her Highness’s personal mage, I have been given a lovely set of rooms in the guest wing, not far from the princess.
My rooms consist of a bedroom, recreation room, and bathing chamber. Everything here is gilded in gold. There is so much gold in the castle. The halls practically glitter. I always heard of the wealth and greed of the griffons, but this castle is a glittering display of those riches. It near shames our own palace in Magica, though ours is larger.
Princess Platinum has been acting her most imperious. This is what everyone expects of unicorns, so she had made sure to deliver, wearing her most outrageously lavish clothing, and being rather haughty. I know not why other creatures see us as such aloof and obnoxious beings, but she plays it well, feeding off our host’s expectations.
She seems to be in the process of deciding how we proceed. I advised her that we continue to head south.
I am soon going to prepare for tonight's revelry. There shall be Griffon style dancing after the feast. I admit I do not know the steps to the popular dances here as well as I might. I should have paid more attention to the lessons in the palace, but I never was one for dancing. I must find a way to avoid the dancing while not insulting the prideful griffons. I believe that sufficient amounts of alcohol shall do the trick.
Latur: I think I had too much to drink. I shood go to sleepe.
Twilight giggled as she read the entry. Clover the Clever. Drunk. She could barely imagine what would happen to an extremely powerful drunk unicorn.
Entry 6: Seventh day of the Green Moon 2505
Finally, we departed from the griffons. I’ve been eager to leave ever since I burned down that woodshed two days ago. I really should know better than to get that drunk, especially multiple times. Luckily it was only a woodshed.
The departure was a grand affair, with the kind of farewell given to the princess of a foreign kingdom. The stirrup cup was passed around, speeches were made, and gifts exchanged. The princess gave the youngest of King Gesten’s daughters, Princess Gilia, a beautiful amethyst necklace. They gifted her noble handmaiden a brooch studded with emeralds. It was rather fine.
The ceremonies, of course, meant it took until near mid-day to simply begin our journey. And once again, we had to travel formally rather than in a relaxed manner. We left on the Eastern Road, as it seems we are indeed going across the sea, as the rumors claimed. I am interested in what is in the fabled lands there. There are legends of gems planted into the hillsides, and strange creatures of all kinds.
I can’t wait to go.
Entry 7: Sixteenth day of the Green Moon 2505
I hate this festering windigo dammed, rocking, sickening boats. Who thought of such a horrible form of transport. We’ve been in this wooden box for nearly six days, and only now can I begin to write.This ship is a nightmare, my sea sickness is horrible. The captain says this isn’t bad at all, and that winter storms sailing up the coast are much worse. He chose to do this because of the money, and the idea of sailing to an unknown land.
I would swear an oath to never go on another one of these ships, but for the possible journey home. I hope things work out for the pegasi and earth ponies. Maybe they’ll go looking for a new home. The peace summit was disastrous, so I can only pray they find a way out of our frozen homeland.
Meanwhile, I bask in the sunlight. The moon and sun, raised by we unicorns who could not see them, shine brightly. I took my turn at moon raising, one night. Every powerful unicorn has, even Princess Platinum herself, even her father King Bullion. It is a duty we all share, even if we could not see our work for nearly a year.
The griffon in the crow's-nest spotted a seagull, so we must be nearing land. I cannot wait to put my hooves on solid ground again.
Twilight closed the journal. She placed it into her saddlebags with utmost care before heading out of the library. So far, the journal was nothing like the Hearthswarming plays she had seen every year, nothing like the legends she had heard from fillyhood. Some of the things he mentioned, like stirrup cups, were things she had never even heard of. She decided she needed to go back to her room, to ponder what she had learned
Entry 8: Eighteenth Day of the Green Moon 2505
The new land is all we hoped it would be. We spotted the shore yesterday. in the evening. It took us all night to reach it. We dropped anchor in a bay and were ferried ashore by the crew. They will remain there for our return.
We wandered inland. This place is so much greener than even the spring fields of home. Not that I’ve seen the spring fields of home in many years. Maybe there weren’t gems implanted in the hillsides like the legends claimed, but the entire land is rather picturesque.
Princess Platinum was so radiant in the sunlight, the way the beams of light glinted off her jewelry and hair. We had several long discussions of the ship. We also spoke as we walked. There are many reasons why the unicorn princess is spoken of as the most beautiful in the pony lands. She is also very smart.
As we journeyed, we saw many familiar animals, but also a few new ones. I think we also saw some cloven creatures that might be the natives to this new land, nearly a league away. I wonder what they’re like, and how they differ from us. The guards closed in tighter after the sighting though, because they might be dangerous. I just wish I’d gotten a closer view.
Entry 9: Twenty first day of the Green Moon 2505
This land is rife with dangers, it seems. This morning we fended off a strange creature with the head of a chicken and the body of a serpent. But when one of the guards accidentally stared into the creature's eyes, he was petrified immediately. We had to dunk him into a river after killing the beast.
I have taken time to study the corpse of the monster. I believe I shall call it a Cockatrice. I don’t know why, but it feels right. The creature's eyeballs are normal. It is only due to its magic that they glow red. The two halves are fused together with some ancient magic, but the way the magic is ingrained into the creature's makeup says that it is not made itself but born of two creatures that should never mix. I get the impression that it is the offspring of a cockerel and a toad, mixed with dark magic, from feeling it out with my magic. It took me several hours to prepare such a revealing spell, but with the statue guard melting, as is the best way to put such a gruesome event of dripping stone and slow depetrification, as it is called, we had much time on our hands.
Instructions for a revealing of nature spell:
Mix 1 pinch of memory powder and one drop of flash bee truth serum in a pot over a brazier.
Add a newt eye, stir for a minute then let sit for twenty minutes
Add in a single dragon tear and let sit for one hour.
Add in two pinches of revealdust and let sit until ready.
Note to self: Don’t put dragons tears and revealdust near each other or in supplies bags three and four.
Entry 10: Twenty Second Day of the Green Moon 2505
What a day. We were wandering through the countryside, looking for a good place to rest. The princess decided that if we should decide it safe to remain here, we shall build our home on the great island in the bay. Now we are just looking for dangers so great that they may pose a threat.
We were walking through a patch of woods when a monster leapt out in front of us. It was a great bear, but all blue with stars in its furs. We tried to fight it, but there was no way to drive it off. Three of the guards were down, blood spilling everywhere from the claw scratches the thing made. It was blood and brutal, destruction everywhere. Suddenly, something came in and rammed the monster, followed by more. It was eventually driven away from our party by our ferocious saviors.
These creatures seem to call the monster an Ursa Minor. The natives themselves, though near impossible to understand, speak a language with some similarities to ours. Using a translation spell, I came into communication with them. They called themselves Bulls. They have lived here since before their oldest recollections. They are nomadic, live under the stars, and appear very savage. I still wish to learn more about them, though most of our company shows no interest.
Twilight rushed into the private room where Celestia was sitting. She looked at her mentor. In her levitation she held Clover’s diary.
Celestia looked at her. “I’m guessing you have more questions?”
Twilight wordless flipped to the journal entry, showing it to the princess.
After reading the page, Celestia sighed. “Yes Twilight, there were other creatures here before us. In fact, all the cloven-hoofed creatures: buffalo, cows, yaks, even kirin, are native to Equestria.”
Entry 11: Twenty fifth day of the Green Moon 2505
So much has happened. It is near impossible to take it all in. In the course of a few days, we have made peace with the earth ponies and pegasi, and have begun to work together. I do not think it a bad thing, but it was all so sudden.
We were traveling on a hillside, when we spotted a camp below us. It was filled with ponies. Earth Ponies. The banner of Chancellor Puddinghead was hanging over the camp. We marched down into the camp and demanded what she was doing there. As we fought. Commander Hurricane and a small band of his soldiers arrived. Before we knew it, it was a massive fight.
As the sides argued, I realized it had begun to snow. I screamed at them to get into the cave, and to my surprise, they listened. Of course, once we were inside, the quarrel began again, until the cavern mouth was frozen over. The windigos were determined to feed off all our hate. Then the leaders themselves began to have ice climbing up them.
We all shivered as we watched them freeze. We all gathered together, the other assistants, the earth pony Smart Cookie, thepegasusPansy, and me, and attempted to warm ourselves up. None of it worked. The ice began to climb up us three, the last ones left. Together, we decided to try to warm ourselves up. Despite everything, we gathered into a group. I remember a moment where I was cold, cold beyond belief. I believe that was when we were truly frozen. But then It stopped, and we watched this giant glowing heart. We looked at each other. The pegasus mare and earth pony stallion were unfrozen, but nobody else had yet thawed.
We agreed we needed to keep that fire alive. The first thing I thought of was music. Feeding the fire with my horn, I sang a unicorn song, about spring and the sunrise. Each of us added our songs, and we fed the fire through the night. As the dawn crested the horizon, the princess, general, and chancellor awoke, as did the rest of the entourages.
Princess Platinum saw me, sitting there. She ran up to me and hugged me. Oh, she was so beautiful with the last sparkle of the icicles in her fur. We all gathered around each other as the entrance opened, and the land outside nearly shimmered in the morning sunlight. That may have been the ice still crusting it, though.
All the leaders seem changed by their experience. Having seen the value of gathering together, they have agreed to work to create this home for our peoples, all our peoples.
I only hope that what has begun here today shall last, that we shall get over our hatred and prejudices, and that we shall create a new better home for all.
Twighlight Sparkle closed the diary. I wish Clover the Clever could see us now, she thought. We may not be perfect, but we have certainly begun to achieve what he hoped for. And that is quite a feat indeed.
Author's Note
This is a work of theory, nothing more. There is possibility of more to come. Not sure yet.
