Archive Begins. The following passage is the results from the documentation of a mass warp hallucination suffered by the Psykers of Hassian 782nd Regiment, 1st Battalion. Year 989.M40 2300 Local Time. It is unknown why, at this time,
such a hallucination occurred, nor is it known why this hallucination caused more than one fully-trained Psyker to suffer extreme psychic stress as a result of the hallucination. They are in critical condition but will be expected to make full recoveries.

Despite the details of this hallucination being disseminated amongst the scuttlebutt of the troops and even a few civilian circles, the following is to be considered apocryphal. The two subjects of this hallucination have not been contacted to validate or discredit this story. Even if they remember the events that takes place in the mass hallucination, their recollection might paint a different story than this one.

It is... in the opinion of this assessor, after having witnessed a recollection of this hallucination by proxy, that the events of this tale are... disturbing. Not in the usual manner in which a psychic hallucination may be disturbing. The actual vision itself is... remarkably peaceful. It is, instead, in the context in which the vision becomes... unsettling. Especially considering recent events, which take place thousands of years after the events of the vision.

The Emperor Protects.

~ Senior Agent Reginald 7th of Hassia, codename "The Inquisitor"

Long ago, in the ancient land of Equestria...

A unicorn mare and a human man sat together at a predestined place, that they might a nice lunch. The unicorn called herself Twilight Sparkle, and the man called himself Edo Hassia. Neither had royal titles, honors, or scars that testify of hard wars won. They sat on a green hill near the tiny village of Ponyville, that sleepy settlement of antiquity. They were, at that time, new acquaintances, perhaps even... friends.

They had set out a simple wicker basket, taking from it a red-white checkerboard picnic blanket, as well as sandwiches and drinks. Twilight had packed a round sandwich, which had hay bacon, lettuce, and tomatoes. Edo had packed a pair of small, triangular 3-cheese sandwiches. They set down the blanket, and sat down on it, with the basket between them. Before they began eating, however, they took their water bottles and had a good drink. Getting to this hill had been quite the walk.

The young Twilight had noticed the young Edo had more of his water than she did of hers. She smirked with knowing.

"Thirsty work, big guy?" The Pony-who-will-be-Princess teased. The green trees of Equestria's as-yet-unscarred forests swayed gently in the unpolluted breeze.

"Well," the Man-who-will-be-Prince responded. "I was the one carrying the basket..." Lamely, he added, "I also have two legs to your four for these hills."

Edo bit down on a cheek, suddenly. He shuddered. Twilight noticed and stopped herself from taking a bite from her food.

"Something... wrong?" The kindly, future Princess asked.

Edo, the future Merchant Prince of Hassia, breathed in through his nose and out of his mouth. He unclenched his jaw, and said, "It's this place. It still doesn't feel real. I pinch myself, but I'm still here."

Edo turned to Twilight. "You said this world is full of magic."

The unicorn nodded. A brown bird flew by, chirping in trilling tones as it went.

"As I said yesterday when you explained things to me... my world... doesn't."

Edo looked at his hands. They did not yet carry weapons to eternal war. For now, they flexed. A good wind blew over both young sovereigns-to-be. Twilight softly smiled as the cool mountain air passed over. Edo, instead, shivered and twitched his feet on the blanket. His face also twitched, even momentarily, to a terrified grin. He shook off that expression, a motion that Twilight noticed. Edo then took some more of the water, and then bit into his sandwich. Twilight did the same, opting to pause this conversation until Edo said something else.

Edo swallowed and rolled his neck. His blue eyes scanned the distant mountains, including one where Canterlot, the primordial capital of Equus stood. It was not yet a castle that pierced the very heavens, even if its splendor was still remarkable.

"I can very definitely tell there's magic in the air," Edo mused aloud. The admission caused Twilight's eyes to wonder, potential sparkling within the very inky depths of her gorgeous, purple eyes.

"It's very... potent. I ran a mile this morning."

Such a statement caused Twilight's smile to creep up her face. "Exercise is fun, isn't it? And good for us!" She offered.

Edo nodded and took out a golden pocket watch. He offered it to Twilight.

"I timed myself."

Twilight took the watch into her telekinetic grasp and looked at the white and black facing of the watch. Her smile dropped. No, this can't be right.

Twilight remarked, "Edo, this says forty... eight seconds."

Edo nodded. "It's way too good. I felt the need to run, to test myself. It wasn't like... anything I've ever felt before. It's... definitely magic."

The future champions of order sat on the blanket, enjoying their picnic. Twilight sat, looking at the blades of grass at the bottom of the hill while she scanned her thoughts. Her brows were weighed down not by war plans, but by the mortal worries of life.

"Well," she decided. "That sounds... good! The harmonious ambiance of Equestria... really seems to agree with you." Surely, this was good news.

At last, a smile graced Edo's features. "Yes," he affirmed. "At least there is that."

They continued to eat and drink on that hilltop. The eternal peace of Equestria held. The sun shone on all of them on a day unmarred by dark smoke clouds, just occasionally interrupted by ordinary white, fluffy clouds. Soon enough, the pair only had their water.

"Twilight?" Edo asked... voice almost whisper-quiet. She looked back into his eyes. "Do you... believe in... free will?"

The question caused the mare to blink. What was this question?

"Well," she thought aloud. "Yes... why?"

Edo's eyes scanned their surroundings, as if some unseen foe was hiding somewhere, just out of sight. But he would not be fighting fate. Not yet.

"This magic..." he said, "This... energy... it comes to me with... thoughts."

Twilight swallowed. Her eyes searched for meaning in Edo's face.

"I... can't resist, at times. Like running a full mile in less than a minute." He rubbed his shivering hands. They did not yet hold Twilight's hooves in fondness. He looked back "If I start... acting weird... you'll let me know, right?"

Twilight placed a hoof on Edo's knee. "I will, Edo. Whatever magic has in store for you, we'll find a way. I promise."

Edo surprised Twilight by drawing her in for a hug. "Thank you, Twilight," he breathed.

After the surprise wore off, Twilight hugged back. After they separated, Twilight asked, "Why don't you pack things up? I'll go ahead and get us some ice cream! What kind do you like?"

That bit of news, to Twilight's delight, actually perked up Edo's features. "Y-Yeah! I'd love some mint!" He confessed. They both got up, and Twilight cantered down the hill, leaving Edo to pack up the picnic basket. Edo watched Twilight depart as he folded the blanket. He stood up, basket in hand. He shivered, and raised a hand to his head. Breathing a ragged sigh, Edo finally asked himself the question he should've asked Twilight, a moaning, quiet question that would be a preview of all that was to be.

"Why are my dreams full of blood?"

Author's Note

Already writing a sequel. Might include codex chapters to go alongside it. I don't know if I want to advertise my Ko-fi. I set it up... but I don't even know if it works. I'd really appreciate support.