Prologue
It was 3 years after the time Nightmare Moon awoke from her thousand years on the moon. After her defeat, all is peaceful throughout Equestria as the royal sisters, Princess Celestia and Princess Luna, rule the kingdom together. Twilight Sparkle and her friends had met a dragon before, but this was a different type of dragon...No pony knew they were coming. The Princesses, however, knew what this meant. Dragons were returning.
Alduin the world-eater, an ancient evil dragon, has come to destroy Equestria by bringing his fallen dragon brethren back from their dead. The Equestria Scrolls are ancient scriptures of knowledge. They were mostly kept safely in Canterlot's castle itself, and they have fortold this return of dragons. These are the tales of how the ancient evil was vanquished.
Chapter 1 - Dawn Meets Dusk
It was a cloudy, gloomy day over Canterlot. At the entrance of Canterlot Castle stood Princess Celestia, looking up at the sky. Through the hazy clouds came a black chariot as trumpets were wailing her royal coming. The chariot soon landed on the foot of the castle, as Princess Luna steps out of. The two sisters' eyes met, and they looked like they had already spoken a thousand words to one another.
Luna greeted her, "Hello sister."
"No time for talk now. We have much work to sort out." replied Celestia.
The two began entered the castle and walked down the long, wide hallways. Many of the servants inside had worried looks on their faces.
"It's been a long time since the last dragon came to Equestria." Luna added.
"Not long enough, it's been foretold that they would return, I was just hoping it wouldn't be this soon." They made their way to a large door, old and dusty. On it was a symbol of a silver dragon, with it's wings formed around it's body like a diamond. On the sides were two round keyholes, which were used so only the two princesses could unlock the door together. Celestia and Luna place their horns into the keyholes, and a loud mechanism was heard on the other side. The heavy door creaked open into a dark room. Almost instantly, candles around the room were lit, and in it were hundreds of ancient scrolls, kept untouched for over a thousand years.
"The Equestria Scrolls," Celestia explained, "The most valuable knowledge in all of Equestria. All of our ancestors, our past, and our future is written here."
Luna questioned, "The future too... how is that possible?"
"The Scrolls themselves are magic, and they serve as seas of information. They tell us when disaster will strike upon Equestria. If only I had looked here before Discord had returned, things would've been much easier."
"So we can see what the dragons will do and how to stop them?"
She answered, "Yes, and we should have time before it begins if we hurry." The wax of the candles dripped around the dark room. Celestia was searching through the shelves looking for the Equestria Scroll she needed. Her face began to look worried, so Luna did too.
"Oh no," Celestia stated, "It's not here..the Equestria scroll is missing.."
"Where could it have gone, sister!?" Luna asked worriedly.
"There is only one other place that is known to have the Scroll." said Celestia. Luna thought for a moment, and remembered the ancient temple that housed the ponies who last fought against the dragons.
"Skyrim Temple, they must have it there." Stated Princess Luna. "But the Ponykiin were thought to be destroyed for hundreds of years now."
"It's our last hope. If the Scroll isn't there, then Equestria will be destroyed by Alduin the world-eater. The legend has been foretold, and he has been stopped before." said Celestia. "Guards!"
A guard came to the door, "Yes, your highness!"
"Send a letter to my student, Twilight Sparkle in Ponyville. Summon her and her friends at once."
"Right away!" the guard replied, and galloped away.
To be continued in "Chapter 2- Seeker of the Scrolls"
Chapter 2 - Seeker of the Scrolls
Down in Ponyville... the sun shined brightly in the clear skies.
"Spike!" Twilight shouted. "Spike!" Spike ran into the room.
"What?" He asked. Twilight was in hurry to Rainbow Dash's surprise birthday party.
"Do you have the present I wrapped?" She asked, then turned to look at the purple dragon. Spike was holding a box wrapped in colorful ribbons. "Perfect," she said. "Let's go. I don't want to be late to Rainbow's party." Twilight crouched down and Spike,holding the present, hopped on her back as they left the library. Applejack, Pinkie Pie, and Fluttershy, and Rarity were all waiting outside the library.
"Hey Twilight," said Pinkie Pie, "We're all ready to go! Oh this is going to be such a surprise!"
"Rainbow Dash should be done with work in about 20 minutes. Is that enough time to get there?" asked Fluttershy.
Applejack answered, "We'll be there lickity split, 'long as Twilight has her magic down."
Twilight smiled and said, "The hot air balloon is right out back. Let me just cast the cloud-walking spell on us, and then get going." She focused her horn on Rarity, Applejack, Pinkie Pie, Spike, and herself, then in a few seconds her magic spell was cast on everyone. They quickly fired up the hot air balloon and headed to Rainbow Dash's house.
When the five got there, Fluttershy hid the balloon with some nearby clouds, and the other four made their way inside to prepare. Pinkie Pie, of course, had brought her party cannon. She pulled the string from the behind it, and in a split-second, Rainbow Dash's house exploded with party decorations everywhere. It was perfect.
Fluttershy flew inside, closing the door quickly behind her. "She's coming! Everypony hide!" They all found their hiding spots and waited for the door to open. Soon after, the door blasted open as the rainbow pegasus flew into her home.
"Another speedy day for Rainbow Dash, clearing the sky in seconds!" She exclaimed in an announcer-like voice then she looked around her for a moment, "Hey.. who turned off the lights?" Then suddenly, they turned on as colorful confetti and streamers came down from the ceiling.
"SUPRISE!!!" everypony yelled. Rainbow Dash had nearly gotten a heart attack.
"You- you wha-..how ... did you guys get here!?" the astonished rainbow pony asked, everyone still laughing and cheering as the music started.
Fluttershy flew up to her and smiled, "Happy birthday, Rainbow Dash. I hope we didn't scare you too bad." Rainbow Dash was still catching up with her thoughts.
"I..ugh.. thanks girls." She said and smiled, finally calming down. "Let's get this party started!"
The seven partied for hours, opening presents, eating cake and dancing, but as night was coming, things started to settle down. Pretty soon, it was time for them to call it a day and head home.
"Thanks for the awesome party everypony!" Rainbow Dash yelled as they all got back on their hot air balloon. Then, out of nowhere, a strange, beastly screeching noise was heard echoing in the distance. They all had a confused look on their faces.
Rarity asked, "What kind of beast would make such a sound?"
Spike suddenly gave a belch of green fire, a letter from Princess Celestia. Twilight opened it and read it with a curious look.
She gasped, "The Princess wants to see us at once. She says Equestria is in grave danger!"
Rainbow Dash immediately flew into the air, making a heroic face, "The Elements of Harmony save Equestria once more!"
"Don't get your tail in' a bunch." said Applejack. "This is serious business."
Twilight looked in the distance, where she could see Canterlot Castle from Rainbow Dash's house. "Then let's not keep the princess waiting! Come on, everypony!"
To be continued in "Chapter 3- Alduin Has Awaken"
Chapter 3 - Alduin Has Awaken
Twilight and her friends made their way to Canterlot castle. The skies had grown darker, and a dense fog was in the air. The hot air balloon they traveled in landed at the foot of the castle. From there, they could see the two princesses on the balcony. Twilight and Celestia's eyes met, both with worried looks.
"We came as fast as we could." said Twilight, running up to her and bowing - her friends soon following.
Celestia looked at everyone and said, "Follow me. There isn't much time to waste." They made their way to the room of the Equestria Scrolls. The sun has gone down, and it had began raining outside.
Pinkie Pie asked, "What is this place?"
"This is the greatest library in Equestria. It holds knowledge we can't even understand." answered Princess Luna.
Celestia asked Twilight, "Do you remember the dragon problem we had? The one who's snoring made smoke engulf the skies."
"Is there another dragon in Equestria?" she asked.
"We believe so," said Luna, "but this is not just any dragon." The room stirred with confusion.
Rarity asked, "Is that what was making that awful noise?"
Suddenly, the roar echoed outside the castle. Everyone looked out the windows in the room. It was too dark and rainy to see anything.
Applejack added "I reckon that's what we heard."
"A..dr-..dra-..drag..on?" Fluttershy asked, she was shaking in fear.
The candles in the room started fading darker. Another roar was heard. Whatever was making it was right outside. Celestia looked out the window again. A lightning bolt blasted down from the sky. In the split-second of light outside, she saw the beast. It gave a large roar, and the entire castle shook. Every pony stood in shock of what they were seeing. Another lightning bolt, only this time, every pony in Canterlot saw it in the sky.
"HERE ME, DAUGHTERS OF EQUESTRIA. ALDUIN HAS RETURNED."
Like the lightning, the dragon disappeared into the night.
To be continued in: "Chapter Four- The Quest Ahead"
