KiNZON, KOD, ViiNG
YOL NUiLE
KOS DOVAH ROT.

When King Bullion first tasked me with this journey, my first thought was to decline. I was the High Mage of Equinox, not some prancing explorer. But my mind shortly changed that one faithful day.

I remember waking up, it was dawn. The previous day, the King's advisor Faint Memory informed me that the King requested an audience with, it was such an honor. I frantically paced around my chambers mentally searching my brain for what the King could possibly want from me, had I made a mistake or was it a social call? Suddenly there was a loud knock at the door. It felt like my heart stopped, I quickly looked at my reflection in my dressing mirror. I wouldn't call myself the most handsome stallion by far, like most Unicorns, my face was clean shaven and my coat of fur was a boring grey color that matched my very plain icy white mane and tail. My mark was a dead give-away of my name, it was a swirling pattern of stars and in the center was a large five-point star.

"Star Swirl? Are you ready to see the King?" I knew the voice straight away, it was Faint Memory.

I exhaled at my reflection one last time, "Yes head advisor, I am ready." I trotted over to the wooden door and opened it using the magic of my horn, a simple spell really.

"Excellent, his Highness is ready to see you, I will take you to him." he walked and I followed, he was taking me to the grand hall, where King Bullion spent most of his time sat on his throne. The palace was built by some of the best masonries from one of the larger Earth pony cities to the far south, a gift to the Unicorn Kingdom for providing the four seasons of the year. I'm sure in the future, a more grand palace will be built.

We soon arrived, the grand hall, there were ten guardsponies on each side of the long luxurious red carpet, lined up with spears. King Bullion sat on his immaculately wood carved throne, we approached, Faith Memory stood by the King's side as I kneeled.

"Rise Star Swirl," I did as I was told and rose. "I have a great task for you. If you accept this quest, stories of your heroism will be told for centuries to come."

"What is it you ask my King?" I asked him.

"I want you to find dragons." I couldn't believe it at the time, my mind instantly filled with questions and I needed answers.

"I'm sorry my King, did you say dragons?"

"Yes, Faint Memory has given me evidence to believe that dragons are dying out or maybe even being hunted to extinction. I know we have settled our quarrels with the dragon kin. However that does not explain their disappearance, I fear if the Pegasus and Earth Tribes discover this, they will likely blame each other or us." he stood and walked up to me. "That is why I want you to journey to the known breeding grounds, once you are there I want you to study the dragons and their behavior. It might explain just what is going on." he walked back to his throne, his horn glowed as he lifted a large wooden box to me.

It was carved out of the finest oak I had ever seen, the embossed jewels shined brightly. "I want you to take this," What was inside was even more valuable, a large book, it smelled of fresh parchment. "record all your findings in this book. I am asking you to do this because I fear by the time you return from your journey, my strength will have faded and my daughter, young as she is, will take my place on the throne."

"Don't wish yourself ill my King." I spoke.

"No, I don't. But I want my daughter to know of your findings regardless." he walked back to his throne and sat down. "When are you able to leave Star Swirl?" It was so sudden, I had to decide. Did I really want to go on this journey?

"I can leave tomorrow if you can organize the supplies I might need, equipment, rations and such." I said nervously. "I'll do a bit of research in the library during my downtime."

"Excellent! Faint Memory, please provide Star Swirl with anything he requests." he stood again and looked right at me. "Tonight we shall have a feast to celebrate your heroism, send out invitations to the royal guests." he barked to a nearby guard.

"Yes my King." The guardspony nodded his head and galloped away.

"And you! Find my daughter, I must talk with her." he yelled to another guard, then he turned back to me. "Star Swirl, do as you please until then, I will send my advisor to find you when it is time."

"Thank you my King." I bowed my head once more and took my leave.

That evening, I stood in front of my mirror just like I did that morning. I wasn't fussy about my appearance, but to dine with royalty was a rare privilege. I picked out a scarlet red bow-tie and slipped it on, that particular bow-tie was a gift given to me by Princess Platinum in celebration of me reaching the age of twenty. It is one of my favorites.

During the spare time I had left I decided to make and attempt to complete some spells I was working on, the spell in question was my own creation, I had started scripting it only five years prior to taking my journey and it is still far from completion. Suddenly there was I knock at my door, that could only Faint Memory I thought. Oh how wrong I was.

There she was, a mare with beautiful green eyes standing at my door. She wore a lovely purple velvet cloak. No guards in sight, which was an odd thing. "Princess Platinum?" I asked.

"Good evening Star Swirl." she said with a smile.

"Are the guests ready to arrive?" I asked her. She shifted in place, she looked uncomfortable, which was strange since we spent many hours together training magic most of her nineteen years of her life.

"Um... Actually no, I was wonderin- I mean, I wanted to know if you-" She wasn't just uncomfortable, she was shy, one of her many attractive traits.

"Is there something wrong Princess?" I asked.

"Star Swirl?" she paused again, "Would you do me the honor of escorting me to dinner!?" she shouted more than spoke. Naturally I was shocked, she wanted me to be her dinner date? A great honor I would never deny, of course I would accept her invitation.

"I would like that," I said as I stepped out of my chambers and closed the door behind myself. "shall we?"

She was strangely affectionate, still filled with a nervous mixture of fear and shyness I suspected. She pressed up against my side, her soft silky white fur was warm against mine.

A short time later we arrived at the grand dining hall, some unicorns had already arrived. The long table carved out of the finest wood held many plates of food as well as several dozen crystal glasses already filled with wine. The King had a great interest in anything to do with crystals and jewels given how rare they were.

When the Princess and myself arrived side by side, the room full of unicorn fell silent as they stared at us. I wasn't sure if I did something wrong or not. "Star Swirl, please come. Sit." the King spoke up from the very end of the table, "You too, my daughter." We walked up to him and I took my seat next to his left and the Princess sat to my left. "Would you like some wine friend?" he asked.

"Thank you my King." I replied politely. He clopped his hooves together and a servant was there instantly.

"King? Pssh... Bother not with the formalities. Just call me- uh- Hmmm, Okay King is appropriate I guess." he chuckled deeply. The servant unicorn poured wine into my crystal glass, I thanked him as he moved to pour the Princess her glass of wine. "I'm really proud of you Star Swirl, our country really needs this." he was quick to change the topic.

"Well, I'm not one for exploring. But I would do anything to help find what you seek my King."

"I hope so. To be the one to investigate this strange happening is an honor," he flared his horn and lifted his glass, "and our alliance with the dragons will surely strengthen. I'd be content to not have to resort to another war amongst ponies. " he chuckled lightly and took a deep drink of his wine.

It's fair to say that the dinner went successfully, we had many drinks and plenty of food too. A Unicorn played a harp low in the background as every pony socialized with each other, the king and I talked about my journey, while the princess only worried about my safety.

By that evening, I had returned to my sleeping quarters, belly full of food and feeling slightly intoxicated. I collapsed onto my bed, curled up and wrapped my quilt around myself to gather warmth. With what energy I had left I flared my horn and zapped the music box that was positioned on the night stand by my bed, the music box was not my creation, but my spell was. I designed the spell specifically to wake myself up when I needed. In the morning the music box would come to life and wake me up.

The next morning as the music box zapped into life and began playing it's melodic tune, warm rays of light peered into my room through the curtains. Right on time. I stretched and yawned as I shifted out of my bed. Today was the day, the day I leave the palace and start my journey. Who knows what I will encounter out there, I could meet powerful dragons! Or they could eat me in one quick gulp, but I'm willing to take on the risks this journey might hold for me.

And as if on cue, there was a knock at my door. "Just a moment!" I announced. After quickly searching my brain for anything I might have forgotten, I turned to the door and took one last look at what was my home for the last twenty-odd years. I dearly missed that room while I was on my journey, I still do to this day.

"Yes advisor?" I asked as I answered my door.

"High Mage, are you ready?" he said.

"As I will ever be," I looked back at my living quarters one last time. "lead the way." I said as I closed the door for the last time ever.

"Excellent, the King is waiting for you in his throne room."

We made haste and soon enough found ourselves inside the King's throne room, there he was, sitting as he did most of the time, his ever-beautiful daughter was by his side.

"Welcome Star Swirl, I expect you are ready?" he said.

"Yes King Bullion. Once I collect my supplies I can leave within the hour." It was starting to sink in now.

"Excellent my boy! Ponykind across all of Lumoria will thank you for your noble decision." he got up from where he sat and walked over to me. "Stay safe, my friend." he wrapped his hooves around me and hugged tightly.

"Thank you King Bullion." he stepped away and returned to his throne.

The princess approached me and brought forth a shimmering crystal amulet, she and her father always did have a strange fascination with crystals and jewels. "Star Swirl, I know your magic is of the highest level, but I want you to take this with you on your journey." she placed the amulet around my neck.

"It is enchanted with a dream spell, if you ever get homesick or just want to check if everything is safe here in the palace. All you have to do is drink from water that has been touched by the crystal, whatever or whoever you picture in your mind, you will visit in spirit when you next sleep."

"Remarkable." I replied, this was truly magic I had never seen before. The King was right when he said crystals had amazing magical properties. "How did you come across this?" I asked.

"Some secrets are best left a secret." The princess smiled and kissed me on the cheek, I couldn't help but blush slightly.

And so, there I was, standing on the outskirts of Equinox that evening with only my saddlebags full of supplies, this was it. No turning back now. I struggled to take that first step, I wished I could turn around and run back to the palace. But something inside me argued otherwise, before I knew it all my hooves started to move on their own and took a step forward and wouldn't stop.

To be continued.

Author's Note

August 2, 2024 - Revised