Set sail for lands unknown
The date is August 17 1013, the day I was to begin the journey appointed to me by master Starswirl the Bearded himself. I am to take a ship to unknown lands. A place scholars like myself believed may be the land of the Griffons. Those days many thought Griffons where just a myth but my colleagues and I had reason to believe otherwise.
I was on my way to the docks, or at least I thought I was heading for the docks. I never spent much time outside arcane academy libraries and had a little trouble navigating the streets of Clopblin.
On full disclosure I was completely lost, I couldn’t tell one street from the other, in my panicked state I bumped into, more like knocked over, a blond maned gray pegasi with the strangest looking eyes I have ever seen she appeared to be looking in two different directions at once.
She turned to me and asked “Are you ok, I’m sorry I got in your way”
“I’m ok” I told her as I got up and wiped the dust off my cloak “but I think I’m the one who should Be apologizing, I wasn’t exactly looking where I was going”
“That’s ok I was just in the middle of this song, now where was I? ah yes!” she started a brisk dance as she song “there’s got to be something better. Something better! There’s got to be something better than this for me.”I can’t tell you why exactly I would trust this pony to lead me to the docks, but I was running late and I feared they might even leave without me.
“I you wouldn’t happen to know a quick way to the docks would you?” I asked politely.
“Well of course I do!” she turned her back to me and spread her wings “hop on Ill fly you there!”
“Are you sure? It might be a bit too cumbersome lifting another pony midair.” I never understood the dynamics of pegasus flight, then again I hardly spent time around pegasi. She assured me it was safe so I proceeded to climb on her back.
“By the way my name is Donaldina Jolene Hooves. Everyone calls me Dona. What’s yours?” she asked as I was getting myself situated.
“My name is Fiona Alyssa Spar-” before I could finish that sentence she shot up to the sky, it was almost as if she was
unencumbered by my Weight. I was completely awe struck by how high we where, just below the clouds. I could even see canterlot far into the distance it was nothing short of amazing.
“There it is! Hold on!” she said suddenly, snapping me out of my amazement .
“Wait a second! Dona!” she completely ignored me as she dove towards the dock and I could do nothing but try to brace myself for impact
Thankfully she crashed into a big wagon full of hay. Unfortunately the wagon’s owner was not too happy we broke his
wagon. He called a nearby constable over to arrest us but before they got there a grayish white unicorn with a purple mane trotted over.
“Mis. Sparkle!? Is that you?” she asked me. I assumed this was the mare who was to accompany me on my journey, as noted in my letter from Starswirl the Bearded.
“Yes, it’s me” I said with a tone of embarrassment from her having found me in the situation I came to land in.
She convinced the constable there was no need for him to arrest me or the pegasus that brought me here; paid for the damages done to the wagon and we made our way to the ship
“Since you know my name I assume you are the emissary who will be accompanying me to the unknown lands” I asked the purple maned unicorn
“Indeed. Catherine Esmeralda MacTabatha” she held her hoof out for a hoofshake.
“Fiona Alyssa Sparkle, it’s a pleasure to meet you” I said with a smile as I shook her hoof.
“If you don’t mind me asking, who might this odd looking pegasus accompanying you be?” she looked at Dona inquisitively
“Donaldina Jolene Hooves, at your service” Dona said with a big smile as she shook Catherine’s hoof
“Yes I'm... charmed” Catherine said with an curious expression “Shall we proceed onward then Mis. Sparkle?”
We approached the ship that would take us to the unknown lands. The first detail about it that caught my attention was the beautifully carved figure of an alicorn on the front of the ship. I noticed the curvature of the hull was unlike anything I have ever seen or read about. I had to ask the captain about its construction.
“It sure is a beauty isn’t it?” the old stallion
said proudly “It has been in my family for generations, and surely it makes my ancestors proud knowing it will be reaching new lands perhaps even new ponies and cultures” he paused for a moment then introduced himself “ by the way, I’m Leif Mareicson. I assume you may be Fiona sparkle, am I right?”
“yes I a-“
without warning Dona pushed herself in front of me so she could ask him ” please take me with you Mr. Leaf I haven’t ever been on an adventure like in ever, It’s the opportunity of a lifetime and I really don’t want to miss out. I’ve been stuck here washing dishes in some crummy old pub for what seems like ages, PLZ MR. LEAF I BEG OF YOU TAKE ME WITH YOU!!!!”
“Its Leif” he corrected “and we seem to currently have a fair number of Pegasi to act as weather ponies on our voyage”
“I understand” Dona said as she walked off slowly with her head down glancing back slightly
“I suppose that one more pegasus wouldn’t be too detrimental” he said rubbing the back of his head
Dona dashed back “OH THANK YOU THANK YOU MR LEAF YOULL NEVER REGRET IT I PROMISE. THANK YOU!!!” as she gave him a big hug before she walked on the deck
Shortly before we departed Catherine showed up with a ton of luggage and a big crate, which made Leif absolutely furious “foolish mare! That much weight is sure to be the death of us all on the open sea.” he went to argue with her but she somehow convinced him it would be in his best interest if he let her carry her entire luggage on his ship “diplomatic relations my rump!!” I heard him say as he passed by me.
I hoped he was mistaken about the danger that would put us in.
My name is Fiona Alyssa Sparkle, the tale I tell you is a first hoof account of historic events taking place in a land you have probably never heard of until now.
Marengarde is A land that did not know harmony as we do today. lands that lay somewhere between the Griffon empire and the land of Dragons. The ponies that inhabit this land have thus known no peace from ether griffon or dragon kind for hundreds of years, and yet somehow have been able to survive sometimes even thrive before seemingly insurmountable odds. once widely believed by equestrian scholars to be impossible for any population, mainly consisting of earth ponies, with little if any assistance from unicorns or pegasi to ever overcome.
The ponies of this land have fought dragons, griffins, and even each other in many bloody conflicts.
Warriors who fight side by side form bonds of friendship stronger than anything of the physical world, As blood brothers and blood sisters pegasi, earth ponies, and unicorns find themselves equal within the harsh realities of cold mud, sweat, and bloodstained earth.
The tale I am about to tell is of my journey, a canterlot pony finding herself in foreign land And ending with a greater understanding of these ponies each with different and unique backgrounds,
despite their difference in faith and social standing work together to accomplish the single goal of liberating their homeland from griffon usurpers.
By Performing both great and terrible deeds.
And along the way she forms unbreakable bonds that will stay with her till the end of her days.
And now without further a due, I present my Marengarde saga.
