Ninety-seven.

Ninety-eight.

Ninety-nine.

One hundred !

The young pony dropped the last potato which he has just peeled off and looked to his mother :

“Here mum ! I’ve just finished the work you gave me for today, can I go play outside now ?"

"If you’ve done everything right, I don’t see why not. Just don’t go too far, you must be here before the night falls."

"Thanks !” said the foal, just before running to the door. He left the room so quickly that he barely heard his mother telling him to get his brother at time for dinner.

Outside, it was snowing lightly, only adding even more snow on the heavy white coat surrounding everything around the isolated little cottage that the small pony just has left, now running into the nearest forest. There, he founded a tiny glade where there was the beginning of a hoofmade igloo. Without hesitating, he began to create snow bricks to achieve the construction.

Very focused on his work, he continued like this for few hours as the sun was setting. Suddenly, the environment silence was broken by a step on a branch. He looked around, searching for where the sound came from. As he couldn’t find it, he began to slowly shake in fear.

“I’ve got you !”

The foal leaped in screaming, as a stallion was coming from the woods behind him. After few seconds, he recognized the pony. He ran to the pony and hugged him.

“Ember ! You scared me ! How can you manage to be so sneaky with all that wood you are carrying ?"

"Ah ah ! That’s a secret I’ll may teach you later little brother. But it’s beginning to be late, what are you still doing outside ?"

"Hum… Maybe I was building an igloo while waiting for taking you for dinner as mom asked ?"

"Yeah, we’ll say that… But now Fizzy, let’s go home before it gets too dark.”

And so, the two brothers took the path back to the small cottage. As the night sat on when they arrived, the oldest stallion began to light the fire in centre of the room, while the youngest helped their mother to finish to prepare the dinner. Once they went at the table, she asked new from the village. Ember answered while eating some mouthfuls of mashed potatoes :

“Nothing special for now. No griffons were seen these days, but we still don’t have any information about our scouts sent after the looters of the last time. I hope they’re safe and will return, because I don’t think we have enough guards to protect the village from another raid…”

With these words, the earth pony family looked at the empty fourth chair. The mare faded with fatigue and the foal had tears welling up in his eyes. The stallion noticed it, and changed of topic :

“But anyway, how could I forget that ! Somepony arrived in town late this afternoon ! The rumours says he come from a very far away country, but I haven’t got the time to get more intelligence on him, as I was searching wood to supply the fire for this night. I’ll go to the springs tomorrow to see what it’s all about.”

* * *

“Let me introduce myself : I am Meanderly Pool, an explorer coming in the name of the princess Celestia, ruler of Equestria, the homeland of all ponies. My travelling was long and perilous as I come from another continent. I had to travel across the seas and all the griffon territories and I’m finally here, to establish new communications between you, ponies of the east, and us, ponies of the west."

"I am Wisy Dust, dean of this village and chief of the council of Watertowns. In the name of all watertowner, I welcome you in the little land of our community. May I propose you to continue this talks in one of our warm springs ?”

The stranger courtesy agreed to the invitation and so they joined another group of dozen ponies who were already peacefully enjoying the benefits of the springs. After a short presentation of everypony, the explorer started to tell them everything they’ve missed since their ancestors leaved the lands of what will become Equestria.

“I can’t believe what you’re saying ! How can a single pony move the sun and the moon as it pleases ? For me, it’s lies. Our gods can, not her !"

"However this Celestia seems to be pretty powerful, so why didn’t she comes to fight once and for all the Undead Menace ?"

"Yeah, she can be the one to lead the charge to Magehold and guide the swords of our knights guard for the victory in the Holy Crusade !”

As he was carefully listening to the villager’s reactions, Meanderly Pool chuckled a little when they come to their conclusion. As all eyes turned on him, he explained himself :

“No disrespect intended but your swords and other melee weapons are outdated compared to our western modern weapons. Today, the gunpowder is the new queen of the battlefield and it’s more powerful that you can think. Imagine each soldier equipped with a single weapon capable of launching a small metal cap which kill instantly your enemy when he’s touched by it. It’s like a magical spell casted by a unicorn, but for an earth pony or a pegasus. This weapon, my friends, is called a rifle."

"If what you are saying is true, then it’s maybe the solution to secure peace over the Dread Peninsula…”

As soon as Wisy Dust had finished his sentence, one of the ponies in the spring, who was actually part of the town’s guard, stood up and valiantly said :

“Or we can use them against the griffons ! They are the real threat to the watertowners ! I think we’ve already seen one of the raiders with this strange type of weapon, and this encounter have left a terrible memory to me and my companions. Once we’ll be on equal terms, security and peace will be brought to our lands !"

"I agree with you my friend.” resumed the chief. “By this way, peace may be achieved between us, peaceful hill ponies, and the fierce griffons of the west. But still, on point must be resolved to lead to this ideals : we must get this weapon. Dear guest, may can you help us to find a solution to this main problem ?"

"From my point of view, I don’t see why Equestria will not be able to ship some rifles to help you to defend your lands from the griffin aggressions. This can be a great renew for the relations of our two countries ! But unfortunately, as they are far away from each other, it will take a very long time to arrive here. However there is another solution. Previously during my travel, I went to Jezeragrad, the capital of Lake City, and here I’ve seen some rifles in their army. They must have got the technology from the numerous battles they had with the griffons. They can surely answer your request."

"That could be a possibility, except for one detail. Indeed, we have poor relations with the pretentious Riverlands kingdoms of the south, as they don’t understand our philosophy and only see us as lower primitive ponies. This situation could put an early end to negotiations.”

Once again, the dean turned towards his host, searching for a welcomed help.

“Well, the lakeish received me as an honour guest with all the respect that come with it. I think I can do this request for you, and they will surely accept my proposal as their leader, the Grand Prince Bright Blossom, wants to have great relations with Equestria. Obviously, for diplomatic reasons, one representative of Watertowns will need to be present at the negotiations table. However, in order to do this, I will only have one condition for myself. Indeed, previously in my journey I went to the Firtree Villages before coming here, but not without a lot of difficulty as these are remote areas where the few inhabitants I encountered are often distrusting towards me when I asked for help to find my way. And so I request that your ambassador will also be my guide on my way to Farbrook. I recently heard about this place during my travel, and I’m an explorer on mission, I want to go there and discover more about it. Of course after this I will go back to Jezeragrad with the partner who will come with me to express your needs to their government.”

After a break for thoughts, Ember moved forward and said with firmness :

“I stand voluntary for this mission Dust. I already went several times to Farbrook, so I know by heart the road leading there. In addition, I’m very interested by this strange weapon our guest described because, as you, I convinced it can be the key to defend us against the griffons if we manage to put our hoof on it. I’ll do this to protect our community and to restore the honour of my deceased father."

"If what you’re saying is true, if you’re not motivated by the vengeance desire, then you’re maybe our pony. Except if anypony else is also voluntary ?”

The dean looked at the ponies sitting in the springs around him and announced :

“No ? Nopony ? So in this case, me, Wisy Dust, in the name of the council of Watertowns, I name Ember Hope to accompany our new friend Meanderly Pool to Farbrook, and then to go with him to Jezeragrad for meeting the Lake City’s government and request their help to acquire the technology of this rifles in order to protect our towns against the griffons’ raids. May peace be with you during this long travel, and I hope you’ll achieve with success your mission. For the watertowners, your friends, your family and your father’s legacy.”

* * *

BANG !

Standing up on one side of the tiny glade, Ember looked to one of the two targets falling to the ground on the other side of the terrain. It has worked ! After many trials and failures, he finally succeeds to build up a functional rifle. It has been one entire month since he came back from his journey with the equestrian explorer to Jezeragrad. There, the lakeish only agreed to supply few gunpowder barrels and a blueprint of their homemade rifle to help them, as they need all of their own production to equip the Lake City’s army against the griffon incursions. At least they understood our needs as they shared the same problem ! Then, when he was home, he worked hard every day on this single weapon with all he gets from his travel. And today he finally achieved it. He will soon be able to show to all the watertowners the new key of their security against the griffon threat, and then restore the honour of his father.

Ember began to rearm the weapon, as he wanted to renew the first success on the second target. Once this task finished, he aimed at the second target and carefully focused on it. But just before pulling the trigger, he felt something strange. He wasn’t alone. He could hear discreet movements near him. He gently lowered his weapon and began to scan the surrounding area.

“I’ve got you my little pony !”

Caught by surprise, he immediately turned around to face the speaker. It was a griffon darting from the woods. The stallion couldn't escape this assailant who was charging towards him with his sword. By an instinct for survival, he pointed his gun at him. This was the moment of truth, and his life depended on it. When he was only a few steps away, he opened fire.

BANG !

The bullet soared through the air and lodged itself moments later right in the griffon’s torso. Then, his inanimate body fell on the ground in front of the pony’s hooves. Ember was still shocked of what just had happened, and as began to delight that he now had a proof that his weapon worked as expected, but then he realised an important thing. Looters like the griffon he shot down were never alone during their raids, so where were the other ones ?

“Aaaargh !”

The cry of terror echoed through the glade. Ember paled. It was clearly the voice of his little brother. In no time, he ran to go back to their home. When he arrived in front of the small cottage, he founded the wooden broken. There was definitely an aggressive creature threatening his family. As it was the only weapon at its disposal, he hastily recharged his rifle and then entered into the house. Aiming at the centre of the room he discovered both his mother and brother backs to the wall, as two griffons were slowly approaching and terrifying them. One of the aggressors noticed Ember, turned to face him, and said ironically :

“Look what we have here. Dad is here to save you my little ponies, what can we do to stop him ? Hahaha !"

"Don't soil my father's memory, he already fulfilled his duty against raiders like you ! But this time, it’s you who will pay the price of your intrusion !"

"Oh, so it’s the son who wants to revenge its father’s weakness ? Well, here I am ! Come, I’m waiting for you !”

With these words, he mounted his guard and prepared himself to receive the pony. Ember didn't have much time, as the other griffon was still slowly advancing towards his family. He moved his aim on the griffon who was still waiting him with a daring patience. But as he seen that the pony wasn’t coming, he began to realize with horror the type of weapon he was facing. However, by this time, it was already too late.

BANG !

The moment Ember pulled the trigger, an explosion sounded. But to his surprise, he was thrown backwards himself out of the house. Landing on its flank, he observed that his gun barrel has exploded too, launching the bullet far from where he was aiming.

“Hahaha ! And that's how you intended to defend your family ? Your pitiful father must be turning over in his grave at the sight of this ! But what the…”

But then the griffons noticed that the stray bullet lodged itself in a fire lamp, lighting a fire which was growing rapidly in the wooden cottage. As they understood the danger, the two raiders rushed towards the exit. Unfortunately for them, the fire expended faster to the gunpowder barrels stored in the house, and in just few moments, it resulted in an impressive explosion. The cottage wasn’t anymore but only a mass of glowing ashes and flames. The two griffons had vanished, his family too. Ember watched powerlessly the blaze raising before him. He could barely hear the villagers, alerted by the explosions, who were trying desperately to stop the inevitable spread of the fire, as it was already reaching the surrounding woods. And in no word, Ember stood up and ran way without looking backward on all the misfortune he had just caused.

* * *

“And during one hundred days, the watertowners fought day and night to extinguish this fire which was devastating everything on its way. This year, the harvests have been terrible, and a famine set in the country. That’s why since then, my child, this type of dangerous foreign technology has been banned to prevent another disaster from occurring."

"But mum, what does the Ember’s rifle look like ? How can it work ? It seems to be very powerful !"

"And why do you need to know ? You want to do like him ? Loose the ones you love and destroy many fields, woods and villages ? Do you want to spend the rest of your life alone and dishonoured ? Nopony never seen again Ember after these events. But tell me my child, how many years of peace have we had since the ban of this dangerous technology ?”

The little foal thought some time, and then began to count.

One.

Two.

Three.

Four…

Author's Note

This is my first long essay in english as a french speaker, so please be forgiving the language mistakes.