Chapters Flameon Heart's Adventure
Author's Note
To clear something up:
The Story Begins
Our story begins in Canterlot. Flameon Heart, the 33 year old pegasus captain of the Royal Guard, was laying on the grass outside the castle grounds. He was enjoying some much needed vacation time at the moment, so he decided to catch up on some reading. As he laid down in the grass, he read The Elements of Harmony: The Main 6 and Friends , a story from long ago in Equestria's past. He's so into the story however, that he does not notice the figure heading straight toward him at an incredible speed.
Flameon was suddenly pounced upon by the figure. In his daze, he tried to focus his vision to see who had just tackled him. After a few seconds, his vision cleared, and he saw a familiar face. The figure that stood in front of him was the future heir of the Crystal Empire. That figure was the alicorn princess Flurry Heart, Flameon's sister. "Hey Flame!" said the energetic Flurry Heart. Flameon stared at his sister, wondering how he put up with her for so long.
"Hey Flurry, I didn't know you were back in Canterlot! What's up?" he asked.
"Just checking in on my favorite brother of course!" Flurry stated.
"I'm your only brother though." Flameon said bluntly.
"I know, I know, it's just fun to say it that way." she said, smiling ear to ear.
Flameon smiled at his sister. He often enjoyed her antics, and today was no different. As the older of the two, with him being 5 years older than Flurry, he always took the older brother role very seriously growing up. He would play, dance, or sing with his sister if she asked, and would always be there for her. "Anyways," said Flurry, "How's Dad? Still over-swamped with paperwork?"
"No, not really. He's had me help him on long nights before, but he's actually doing quite fine with the work. How's Mom in the Crystal Empire?"
"Same old, same old. She's planning new banquets and festivals to throw for the crystal ponies."
The siblings walked around the castle grounds, each telling of their experiences since the last time they saw each other. Flameon was so invested in his sister's wild tales, that he didn't see his assistant, Sunbeam, galloping towards them. Sunbeam was the personal assistant of Prince Flameon, and his most trusted advisor. As a powerful unicorn wizard, he studied under King Theodore, while also taking some occasional lessons from the Queen. "Your Highnesses!" he yelled. Flameon and Flurry stopped their conversation and looked up.
Sunbeam came to a stop in front of the two and bowed. "Your Highnesses, your father wishes to speak to the both of you. He says there is something troubling him, and would wish to confide in you both." Flameon and Flurry looked at each other, then back at Sunbeam and nodded.
"Alright, we'll go right away." Flameon said.
Sunbeam answered, "I shall inform him that you will arrive shortly." He bowed again and galloped back to the palace.
"You ready?" asked Flameon.
"Sure am. I've missed Dad these past few months, and it'll be great to see him again." replied Flurry.
So, the two galloped toward the palace to meet their father, all the while wondering: What has troubled him?...
Flameon Heart's Adventure
The siblings make it to their father's private study, where two guards stood watch. Upon seeing the two royals, the guards immediately bowed, and after a second, stood up straight and opened the giant double doors. Their father's study was a spectacle to say the least. Shelves full of books were along one wall, while maps and scrolls hung from the other, and finally a giant, open semi-circle desk lies in the dead center of the room. King Theodore was slowly pacing in front of the windows, and looked up to see his children enter. He smiled and said, "Ah, there's my pride and joy!" He trotted over and gave both of them a big hug, which they reciprocated. As he set them down, his face seemed to slightly darken, but quickly changed back to a cheery demeanor.
"Come in, come in. Sit down. I have something I wish to speak to you two about." he stated, before sitting behind his desk.
Flameon was the first to speak, saying "What would you like to talk to us about?"
Theodore looked at Flameon, then at Flurry, and finally at a map on the wall. "Ah, yes. There is something that has come up recently, and it concerns me deeply." He paused, before continuing, "Have either of you heard of a creature called the mechanoid?" he asked.
Flurry looked at her brother, but it was Flameon who continued. "No, I can't say I have father. Why do you ask?"
Theodore answered, "The mechanoids are an ancient race of beings made almost entirely of metal. It seems when they are born they are extremely vulnerable, so the adults collect metal scrap and even raw ores to build their outer shells. These vicious creatures are very similar to the Timberwolves in appearance, but much smarter, more advanced, and extremely hostile. The mechanoids are ruled by King Draxian, and they live in the far outskirts of this world; a land forgotten to time." This peaked the siblings' interests, but they stayed silent so Theodore continued, "It has come to my attention that King Draxian, although he has not been spotted anywhere near Equestria for many, many years, may be planning a full scale attack on Equestria and then the Crystal Empire." Flameon stood stoic, drinking in the information his father was saying. Flurry looked a bit dazed, as if she had been hit by a buckball.
"Father, is this true? Is King Draxian preparing an invasion?" Flameon asked.
The king replied, "As of right now I cannot say. What I've heard is only rumors. But I wanted to talk to you both about this matter, because I want your help."
"Of course father, anything." Flameon said.
Theodore walked over to the map on the wall. It was a standard one, showing many of the well know areas of Equestria: Canterlot, Cloudsdale, New Ponyville, and the Everfree Forest to name a few. "I know you two are busy with your own duties, but right now they'll have to be put on pause. I want you and Flurry to stay here and help train the guards and come up with a defensive spell for the capital."
"Of course father. But what about King Draxian?" Flameon asked.
"I will send scouts out within the coming days. They will head in the direction the rumors state Draxian was spotted in." said Theodore.
Flameon nodded, but Flurry looked perplexed. "Flurry? Is something wrong?" he said.
"cough Oh! Uh, sorry to interrupt Dad, but after my train ride I was getting really hungry, so can me and Flameon get going to grab something to eat?" asked Flurry with an innocent smile.
'Of course she would be thinking of food at a time like this.' Flameon thought.
Theodore chuckled. "Of course, I won't keep you any longer. Go enjoy the rest of your vacation, before we get to work on defenses. I know it's been a stressful few months, so I want my children to be relaxed and refreshed for the fight against King Draxian."
Both siblings smiled at their father and with a slight bow from them both, they left their father's quarters and headed down the hall.
"So, where do you want to eat? Oh, I heard Sugarcube Corner found some old recipes from the founders!" Flurry exclaimed.
Flameon responded "I was thinking we could go to-" Flameon was cut off when a loud BANG sounded through the halls. The two siblings were nearly knocked off their hooves. As they gathered themselves, they could hear screaming outside. Flurry teleported away, while Flameon flew through the corridors. Guards were rushing by and maids were picking up broken pottery. What had just happened!??....
Flameon Heart's Adventure
Flameon arrived outside to see smoke billowing up from the castle gardens. He flew over to investigate and saw his sister standing there as well. He landed beside her and asked, "Did you see what caused this?"
"No, but it doesn't seem like anypony was hurt." she replied.
Suddenly, Sunbeam arrived with a guard close behind him. "Your Majesties, come quick! There's something you must see!" So the siblings followed Sunbeam and the guard further into the gardens. Flameon could see more smoke, and heard what sounded like screaming in the direction they were heading. They arrived at the inner part of the gardens, and with one look around they could tell things were bad.
Broken tables lay on the ground, chairs were in the bushes, and there was smashed pottery all over the place. But that isn't what caught the group's attention. No, it was what was in the dead center of the garden that had them worried. As the smoke cleared, a figure stepped forward. This figure, this creature, had two metal horns jutting from it's head, a hide made of what looked like solid brass, and four sets of razor sharp claws made from what looked like gold. The creature was no bigger than the average pony, maybe a little smaller, and it had sickly green eyes. Flameon only had one thought on his mind: 'It's a mechanoid, like father warned us about!'
The creature looked at Flameon, then at Flurry, and finally at the guard and Sunbeam, before starting to growl at them. Flameon narrowed his stance, ready to act if the creature attacked. The creature's growl got louder, and then it lunged at Sunbeam. Before the guard could react, Sunbeam had caught the creature in his magic. The creature thrashed in Sunbeam's magical hold, but could not get free. Flameon walked over to the the creature and asked, "Why are you here, and why have you disrupted our kingdom?"
The creature stared at Flameon before responding, "I don't need to tell you anything...but, my Lord brings a message." "A message from your Lord? Would that be King Draxian, by any chance?" asked Flameon.
"The very same. He has this message for you..." The mechanoid then pulled a small scroll like object from under it's hide, and handed it to the guard. Although nervous it could be a trap, the guard did his duty and opened the scroll. The scroll rolled out to reveal some sort of holographic projection. It showed a still image of a tall, wolf-like figure. The figure had the same features as their mechanoid prisoner, but it also had a bronze crown atop it's head.
The hologram played the message, "Greetings, you little ponies of Equestria! I am King Draxian. You probably already know of my kind, the mechanoids. My kind has been mocked for our entire existence! You insignificant ponies think you're soo clever and strong, with your flight, magic, and strength capabilities. It sickens me. For too long my kind has been oppressed, and now we want out! I will personally see to it that your precious Equestria and Crystal Empire will bow before my might! I am coming for your kingdoms with my full army, and I look forward to seeing your futile attempts to stop me! Hahahaha! Prepare for a fight of the ages! See you soon..." The holographic message rolled back up and fell to the ground.
The group stood in shock. "That...was King Draxian?" asked Flurry.
Flameon replied "Yes, yes it was. It also appears our father's hunch was correct. King Draxian is planning to invade Equestria and the Crystal Empire!" He walked over to the prisoner and lowered his muzzle. Snorting furiously, he asked the mechanoid, "When? When is your king planning to invade? Tell us now."
The mechanoid scoffed, "He's not my problem anymore. Back in our kingdom I was treated as a runt. I was only sent here so they could get rid of me! I'll tell you all you need to know about his plan. As far as I was aware, the king was planning to attack in three weeks time." Flameon stared at the creature, looking for signs of a lie, but found no hint of a lie anywhere on it's face.
Flameon stood up and said to the guard, "Take our little friend here to the jail cells, and then inform my father of what happened. Take the scroll with you. I will stay here and assess the damages to the garden." The guard bowed and, using his magic, lifted the mechanoid out of Sunbeam's grasp and into his. He then picked up the scroll as well, and walked off toward the cells with the prisoner in tow.
"Flurry, can you write a letter to Mom and warn her about the Mechanoids?" asked Flameon.
"On it." she replied. Flurry took to the skies and flew back toward the castle.
Flameon surveyed the surroundings. Aside from smoldering bushes and upturned tables, there seemed to be minimal damage to the gardens. Flameon flew up to get an aerial view of the area. From above, Flameon could see that ponies were starting to form a crowd outside the gardens entrance. He flew over and landed in front of them. The crowd bowed in unison. One of them stepped forward and asked, "Your Highness, what has happened? What was that explosion!?"
Flameon replied, "As a sworn protector of this nation, I must inform you all, that Equestria is under siege. A powerful foe known as King Draxian, has sent one of his kind to attack this city. Draxian is the leader of the mechanoids, a creature made almost entirely of metal. While his current plans are unknown, we have ruled out the possibility of future minor incidents like this one. We are looking into the situation, but know that we will protect this kingdom at all costs. This may be a lot to take in right now, but please do not panic. My father will make an official announcement about the situation in the coming week, so please remain calm. Thank you."
The ponies looked uneasy, but then a few of them nodded. Flameon bowed and then flew off toward the castle. He wished to speak with his father on what to do next. A plan had to be made to stop Draxian soon, before his plan could be put into action...
Flameon Heart's Adventure
Flameon landed outside his father's study. The two guards from earlier were nowhere to be seen, so after a knock, he let himself in. Theodore's room had gotten messier in the 20 minutes his children were in the garden. He was reading through some papers when Flameon arrived. He said, "Flameon! Thank the stars you are here. I heard what happened. Are the citizens alright?"
Flameon replied, "Yes, father. No one was injured in the blast. The most damage caused was to the petunias."
Theodore looked at his son and smiled. "Well, that's a relief. Those petunias were your mother's favorites though..."
"We can always plant more. But anyways, back to the matter at hand. Father, what do we do about King Draxian?" Flameon asked.
"Right. Well, there isn't much we can do except prepare. I heard you apprehended a mechanoid. What did you get from him?" said Theodore.
"If he is to be believed, Draxian is suppose to launch an attack in a few weeks. That is all we know right now." Flameon said.
Theodore pondered for a moment, before speaking, "If that is the case, then we will not have enough time to train our guards for this fight. Our only option..." he trailed off.
"What is it father?"
Theodore looked at his son. "Our only option is for somepony to go to the land of the mechanoids and confront Draxian before his army is complete. Flameon. I believe you, Flurry, and Sunbeam should be the ones to go on that mission."
"What?! Us!?"
"Yes. I do believe with your sister's magical ability, as well as Sunbeam's, and your leadership and agility, you'll make a perfect group to put a stop to Draxian. Of course, we must stay vigilant if you do indeed go. We will continue to train our guards, and will send them to aid you once they are ready. So my son, I must ask you. Will you take up this quest and help defeat King Draxian?"
Flameon looked to the ground in thought. 'This is a big deal father is proposing. If I say no, I can stay here and help train the guards. But the kingdom could fall if Draxian's army is completed.. If I say yes, there is no guarantee I will succeed. What am I thinking?! I know what my answer is.' "Okay, I'll do it father. For the safety of this kingdom, I will venture out to the mechanoid kingdom, and put an end to King Draxian's plan."
"There's the captain of the guard that I know! I've already sent a message to your sister and assistant, to tell them of the plan." Suddenly, two scrolls appeared in the air, one after the other. Theodore picked them up and opened them. "Good news! They both agreed to the plan. Then it's settled. We'll prepare supplies for you three within the coming week. As for right now, go enjoy the rest of your vacation. I will handle the preparations personally."
"Thank you, father. I will not let you down." Flameon raised his wing to his head, as a form of salute, which Theodore reciprocated. He then quietly left his father's study. Out in the hall, everything seemed to have gone back to normal. Guards posted at the study's doors, maids dusting here and there, and secretaries rapidly sprinting to their next destination. Flameon sighed. "This is not going to be easy, but I have to do this for Equestria. Now, what to do until our departure..." Suddenly, his stomach rumbled. He thought to himself 'I'm still hungry. Maybe Flurry still wants to get a bite to eat.' He flew off down the hall, intending to make the rest of his vacation count...
*A few days later...*
It had been a few days since the attack. Flameon, Flurry, and Sunbeam each made preparations for the journey ahead. They packed supplies, maps, and all the necessary gear for the outskirts unpredictable landscape. They read up on the flora and fauna they would possibly encounter, and how to deal with the more dangerous ones, like the scorpion-tailed Manticore or the fire breathing Chimera. All three of them knew the importance of this mission, and they wanted to be prepared for anything. Flameon went through his morning routines, sharpening his skills after his short but sweet vacation. Sunbeam gathered some books and scrolls that housed the knowledge of many different complex spells, and he got a few extra lessons with King Theodore. Flurry, as bubbly as she was, practiced with different spells and flight patterns, honing her agility and magic. All three of them worked tirelessly to make sure they were ready.
When the day of departure came, King Theodore gathered his subjects and messengers together. Far away in the Crystal Empire, Queen Solaris did the same. They both spoke of the mechanoid threat and King Draxian's plan. They told their subjects not to panic, as that would get them nowhere. The king and queen explained the trio's quest to the citizens of their respectful kingdoms, and told them that Equestria is in safe hoofs. "We will continue to train our guards for the coming battle. Rest assured, we will be ready for another attack." said Theodore.
"We will not let them desecrate our lands. We will fight to save our homes!" announced Solaris.
"Equestria and the Crystal Empire will stand firm against this threat! So, I ask for you all to wish our heroes luck in their endeavor. Put your faith in these three today. Thank you all." stated Theodore. The ponies gathered in both nations exploded into cheers. From every direction you could hear the ponies chant the heroes' names.
Flameon, Flurry, and Sunbeam looked out at the crowd. They felt a rush of confidence and adrenaline wash over their bodies. Theodore walked over to his son and daughter. "One more thing, before you set out. Take these." He then handed each of them a bracelet of some kind.
"Uhh, what are these for, may I ask father?" asked Flameon.
Theodore chuckled. "Ahh, these are the newest invention of our greatest mind, Doctor Hooves! There is a little button on each of the bracelets. When pressed, you will be able to communicate with me from anywhere. Just press once to talk, and once again to turn it off."
"Wow! That's incredible!" said Sunbeam.
"Awesome!" said Flurry.
Theodore replied, "Indeed it is. Now that you have those, you will be able to report back to us on anything worth noting along your journey. With that, I think you three are ready." Flameon looked out at the crowd once more. All eyes were on them; they were counting on them. They each gave their farewells to the citizens one final time, and Flameon and Flurry hugged their father one more time. "Please be careful out there. You never know what you'll encounter. Flameon, look out for your sister. Flurry, be there for your brother. Sunbeam, watch over them both, and remember your training. That is all I have to say. May you have a safe journey." And with that, the three ponies started off toward the Farlands, with the cheers of ponies behind them. The time had come for their adventure to begin...
