PROLOGUE
Stirring Tides
Lyra
It was a dark and stormy night as my dear friend Vinyl Scratch and I reached the outskirts of Trottingham. A pair of now sopping wet cloaked figures hurrying through the darkness, what a sight we must have made on the passersby, assuming of course anypony else was crazy enough to be out in this weather. We came upon an old decrepit building, a sign hung over the door unreadable from age and weather damage. Light poured out from under the door and between the shutters.
As I opened the door to enter, the smells and sounds of a tavern assailed their senses. Wonderful smells of baked apples, and delicious steamed carrots, mixing with cheap cider and wine. A quartet on stage was playing some blues, with just a hint of earth pony rock thrown in.
We trotted over to an empty table where we sat down and shed our cloaks, revealing us as a pair of unicorn mares. A serving mare walked over to take our orders. My companion, white with a spiky blue mane, her red eyes twinkling in the fire light ordered a tall absinthe and cider mix. I stare down, contemplating my bangs, when Vinyl suddenly kicked me under the table. I promptly ordered a straight a shot of Wild Pegasus.
As the song slowed to an end, the grey earth pony leading the group set down her cello and announced "You have been a great audience, we will be around if you have any questions..." Her Purple eyes locking onto my gold orbs "Or want to buy me a drink." With that she began packing up and started toward my table.
"Hello Vinyl, hello Lyra." the grey earth pony said as she sat down.
"Well Luna bless my soul, Octy how have you been?" Vinyl replied with a smirk.
"Its truly great to see you here, too, Tavi." I stammered.
"What brings you girls to the Brooding Dragon?” Octavia questioned.
"We are on a mission for Luna, and Heartstrings decided to stop here forv the night." Vinyl stated flatly.
"And if the tavern keeper will allow it I can make some bits withva our old stvaor." I added hopefully
Octavia looked over toward the bar with a grin, she began to rise, heading to speak with the innkeeper.
After a few words with the innkeeper she walked up to the stage and announced loudly, "Gather round little ponies, for I have a special announcement to make. Tonight you will have the honor of getting to hear Luna's favored bard, Lyra Heartstrings!"
A crowd began to gather at these words, recognizing the bard as one of Luna's chosen. One of." the very Elements of Chaos.
"A longish time ago, In the magical land of Equestria Princess Celestia had a problem. A powerful darkness had overtaken the land, and even the Elements of Harmony were unable to help. Twilight and her friends vanished from this plane of existence, and the all the common ponyfolk were frightened. Vinyl Scratch, the famous Dj Pon3; yours truely, master bard of Ponyville; Soarin, master distance flyer of the Wonderbolts; Daring Doo, adventurer whom F.S. Braveheart has chronologed the exploits of; Braeburn, proud member of the Apple clan; and Golden Harvest, the carrot farmer, who everypony and their neighbor knows as Carrot Top. Together we stood strong against the forces of darkness. Together we beat a dæmon that threatened even on of the Eternal Alicorn Goddesses. Together we saved Equestria. Let me start at the beginning, when my ex-marefriend Octavia and I went out to the Mild West. When we went out to the frontier town of Appleoosa."
