Author's Note

Those of you who have been keeping up with my account will know this is not my first story. but alas much like life, a lot can change when enough time passes.

This is my attempt to try and pick up my writing once again, but I will try my best to keep you all interested!

Chapter Zero: Pilot

Air.

That was the first thing that had hit my lungs that day, after being submerged for so long. The fresh air of freedom, hooves reaching towards me, some faint yelling could barely be heard.

The moment the cold breeze reached my muzzle was the moment that my eyes opened once again, what awaited me was not that of my mother awakening me for sleeping too long in the bath once again but that of a tan mare, her hooves wrapped around my own as she was pulling me out of my watery prison of so many years.

“I am not getting any younger, Daring either you bring him along with us quickly before the roof caves in!” There was an odd voice from the entrance, that of a stallion? Perhaps my eyes were still trying to adjust to the accursed daylight.

“And leave the one with all of the answers about this place?-” It would appear that my hearing began to fail me as my eyes began to close once again, my exhaustion finally hitting me as I was taken far away from my prison.

Alas this would only be the beginning of my extraordinary journey, and the start of my rather odd life once again.

Allow me to properly introduce myself, I am Austere, A nocturnal unicorn. Yeah I know how far-fetched it sounds but considering you are reading my memoires, either you have earned my trust enough to know my own personal secrets or you are a recent friend of mine trying to pry my secrets by force.

Especially you miss Loyalty, but I think you will find that before you finish this very page, you will realise that I’m already standing behind you. By now you have dropped this very journal and scattered faster than you thought possible.

Now as I was writing before that thought came to mind, back before the ‘unification’ as it is called, we were spread into our various tribes, we nocturnal ponies or ‘thestrals’ as the world has gotten used to calling us were once divided into our own clans before Princess Celestia and her sister Princess Luna had convinced our elders of their plans to unite the ponies in an unknown land, to banish the winter spirits for eternity.

I was an orphan before I was taken in by the younger of the two sisters as a ward along with her stallion, whose name I can barely remember to this day, Malachite Anvil. My caretaker of many years.

Of course as a young stallion would be expected, this great undertaking provided a much boost to one's confidence, to go beyond their comfort zone and into the great beyond as an adventurer.

It was on one of these adventures for a legend that I would be trapped within its grasp, the legend of the Lake, of which those who bathe in it would be blessed with an eternity of life.

I suppose I should not call it a legend anymore, but now I shall continue my retelling of my awakening so that I can rest from the events of this long night.

When I came to, I was in a bed not my own. No it was not the warmth I felt that gave it away, instead it was the comfort I felt while in it, much more different from the hay piles of the sister’s encampment.

It felt like bliss on my side, the neverending feeling of warmth as I shifted to a sitting position before I even opened my eyes, only to be met with those of the strange mare who had freed me, her expression showing not a sense of aggression as I would have expected but instead that of worry but with a tinge of curiosity.

“Thank Celestia you are awake. How are you feeling? I do not know how long you were submerged in the water but it doesn't matter.” her voice was soft on my ears, which were still waterlogged mind you but as I was saying. She offered a glass close to my lips, allowing me to parch my throat which had all but given up on consuming anything from the moment I fell in.

But it was at that moment that I had first heard the name who would lead me down this never-ending dream with those of the Elements of Harmony.

Pain was what met my lips when I tried talking but I forged on nonetheless. “You know Lady Celestia?” her reaction was that of shock, of course it did not leave my lips such as that since words cannot express the pain i felt that day, the agony that shook my core as I tried desperately to speak.

The mare nodded as she presented a map, none of the names seemed familiar to me, all but two. The Great Unknown, and The Everfree Forest. “Can you tell me where you are from, just tap do not worry about exerting yourself.”

Tap.

Her eyes followed my fuzzy hoof as I reached out and gently tapped against the paper. Now I do not know much about how the world had changed that day. but the name of my former home rang true in my heart.

Austere Muse
Current Location: Canterlot Palace

I climbed the steps of the palace towards that of the throne room with that of my benefactor, One Daring Doo. A cloak clinging to my body as she was in a disguise it would seem, that of a writer.

She would look at me in understanding of my confusion, my eyes darting around the palace like a young foal, captivated by how much the world has changed. If only thine eyes would not betray the sights of only a radiant sun around the palace. Bright gold sickening to my already sore eyes, I was nocturnal damn it! There is a reason I do not awaken during the day.

The guards let us pass merely staring into what one would describe as a sea of white tiles and floral designs. Proud to stand guard for their regent unaware of who was beside them. Or was it that they were preparing to strike when we were left alone in the halls.

“The princess will see you and your guest now, Miss Yearling.” a voice announced from the door as a dejected noble passed us. Allowing our hooves to make contact with the pure flooring of the throne room. Neither was my mind allowing me to calm down as the light pierced all but the shade of my cloak.

Step, Step, Thud.

It would appear that fate had decided itself this day when it shut my only chance of escape behind thick wood elegantly designed, no doubt the wood ponies of years ago had toiled away hard at this place.

“Princess.” I was brought to bow by Daring’s hoof as she joined with me bowing her head in respect, if not for my confusion I would have hissed at her there and then.

“Miss Yearling, what a surprise for you to attend my courts today.” There it was, the voice like honey that used to bless my ears long before my adventures, Lady Celestia, Patron of the demanding sun.

“As much as I would like to visit for the sake of myself and my works, Princess Celestia. I recently met somepony on my latest adventures in the far off lands, cut away from prying eyes-” A nice way of saying ‘I was delving through ancient tombs where I didn’t belong.’ I rolled my eyes along with this phrasing. “A Pony once lost to the annals of time and circumstance.”

A reassuring hoof rested on my back as it was my time to step forward, my head raising until my eyes were met with those eyes that had captured the hearts of the masses long ago. “And Who might you be, My little Pony?”

Her features were as if she had not aged a day from when we had departed, now if only Lady Luna were around here then we could have quite the reunion I will tell you. Her curiosity is ever apparent as she looks at me, my hooves resting on the ground shaking as I take the leap of faith, metaphorically of course.

My hooves raise as I adjust my body to better suit my position, grasping the hems of the hood pulling them back revealing a lilac and grey mane and an ever present curved horn. Presenting my true self to the monarch.

A resounding gasp escaped her lips as I found my voice. “Austere Muse of Clan Stardust.” My words were clear and precise as I saw her leap to action, the next thing I knew, I was in a crushing embrace by the old monarch, her warmth, her heartbeat, the gentle tone that she would address me mixed with the confusion of a truth she had not expected.

“I…I thought you were dead, my dear Nephew…”