The Pony War Diaries Prologue

Prologue


Inside a familiar plant covered cottage far from Ponyville, a town that prospered in the land of Equestria, the loving pair Yorkshire and Fluttershy peacefully slept together in their bed as a wedded couple. Fluttershy had her arms wrapped around her husband as Yorkshire had his arms around his wife. His muzzle was buried in her mane, breathing in her sweet aroma as he slept. The morning sun shined through the window, onto the floor. The light then touched Fluttershy's bare back, giving her a warm feeling of the day. The sense of heat from the sun's rays caused her to wake up from her gentle and peaceful slumber. She opened her eyes, seeing Yorkshire as the first thing she saw for the day. She formed a sweet and small smile as she gently kissed her husband's soft lips as his wake up call.

"Good morning, Yorkshire…" Fluttershy softly whispered to her awakening stallion.

Yorkshire opened his eyes to see his wife's sweet smile. He gave her a smile and a soft kiss back. "Good morning, Fluttershy..." he whispered back. "I hope you're excited for today."

She let out a little giggle in agreement. "I sure am." she replied. "It's going to be so much fun." she nuzzled his muzzle affectionately, causing to make herself and Yorkshire blush.

He slowly rose from the bed, sitting upwards. He stretched out his arms and let out a quiet yawn and then dropped them as if they were limp. "Shall I wake up Lantana?"

She nodded slowly while sitting up as well. "Yes. While you wake her up, I'll go make us some breakfast downstairs." she and Yorkshire climbed out of bed. She started making the bed as her husband began to walk out of the room until…

Crash! A loud distant shatter was heard coming from downstairs. The sound startled Yorkshire and Fluttershy with their hearts beating fast. Without hesitation, they ran downstairs to see what caused the crash. The stairs led them down to the living room for them to discover their daughter with her father's Blade of Harmony in a frightened mood next to a broken flower pot. The parents sighed with relief, but Yorkshire's frustration rose up thirty percent.

"Lantana!" he said in a harsh tone. "I told you not to touch my sword!"

Lantana dropped the sword from her mouth and backed away slowly with her eyes showing worry and fear. "I'm sorry daddy…" she said with her voice shaken up. "I really wanted to hold it…"

"How many times do I have to tell you, sweetheart?" he said with his tone calming down a bit. "You're too young to be touching that sword. You can really hurt yourself. It's not a toy. You just can't play with it. You even broke something in the process." he pointed to the broken flower pot.

She lowered her head as she began to sniffle with a few tears splattering onto the floor.

He sighed quietly and walked over to her. He gently wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close to him. "It's okay now sweetie…" he softly said. "I'm not angry with you. I'm just a bit upset that you keep touching my sword when I told you not to."

She looked up at him with her green, tear covered eyes. "But daddy… you promised me that you would teach me how to use a sword. I just know I'm ready to."

Her father picked up the sword with his mouth and slipped it back into its scabbard. "That I did promise," he said, placing it back in a long chest next to the fireplace. "but I would teach you when you're much older than you are now."

Fluttershy walked over to Lantana and gave her a hug and kiss on her cheek. "In the meantime, please obey your father. He and I are just worried about your safety."

Lantana sniffled and then gave her mother a smile. "Okay..." she hugged her back tightly.

She looked down at her daughter and smiled back. "Now now, sweetie, let's not make this little incident ruin our exciting day today. We're going to the Canterlot Palace today."

Lantana's eyes suddenly glittered with excitement hearing the fun news. "We're going to the castle?!" she asked happily. "My friends at school told me that two princesses live there!"

Her mother nodded. "That's right. Actually, the two princesses are your aunties."

She gasped loudly with a bigger smile and a bigger pair of glittering eyes. "REALLY?!" she asked in a high, squeaky voice.

Yorkshire laughed. "Yes, Lantana." he replied. "You see, my brother Knighton, who is your uncle, married Princess Luna, so that makes her and her older sister, Princess Celestia, your aunties. You'll also be meeting them and your cousin, who is about a year older than you."

Fluttershy giggled. "Well, this isn't the first time you've met them. They've seen you when you were just an itty bitty filly. You just don't remember it since you were so young."

"I can't wait to meet them!" Lantana said, hopping up and down excitedly.

"It's been a long time since we last saw them, so your father and I too can't wait. Just be on your best behavior, okay?"

She stopped hopping and gave her mother a fast nod. "Okay, mommy! I will!"

"Before we do anything else, will you please help me clean up a bit after your little swordplay?"

Lantana's ears folded back a bit with shame, but then nodded with a little smile.

She gave her little filly a kiss on the forehead. "Good. Let's get started."

After about ten minutes of cleaning up and having breakfast, the little family was ready to go to the palace. Yorkshire opened the door and let Lantana and Fluttershy out through first. He was the last to leave the cottage and locked the door from behind. He followed is wife and daughter through the beautiful and peaceful surroundings of their home, seeing the birds and critters out of their nests and dens, playing underneath the bright, warm sun. Together, they began their long walk to Canterlot.

During the trip, Lantana's legs slowly began to feel some pain. "Mommy, my legs are starting to hurt…" she complained quietly.

Fluttershy nuzzled her daughter's cheek to comfort her. "I'm sorry to hear that, sweetie. We're almost there. Try walking for a little longer."

She whined quietly, but then had an idea. "Can I fly, mommy?" she asked, flapping her wings a bit.

Her mother thought about flying as well, but she didn't want Yorkshire to walk alone if she and Lantana decided to fly through the sky. She looked to him with an unsure expression on her face. "Would it be alright if she and I flew for a while?" she asked.

"I don't see why not." Yorkshire replied, giving Fluttershy a kiss.

She nodded and began to flap her wings. "Just stay close to me, okay?" she asked Lantana.

"Okay!" Lantana began to flap her wings as well, slowly beginning to levitate herself from the ground. She followed Fluttershy until they were above the trees. She took a deep breath and exhaled with a big excited smile on her face. "The wind feels so nice against my coat!" she said to her.

Fluttershy smiled seeing her little filly happy during her flight. To be sure that she didn't do anything dangerous, she stayed close to Lantana.

Yorkshire continued to walk, looking up at Fluttershy and Lantana. He watched them fly around, laughing and giggling. He could see that they were having a wonderful time since both were Pegasus ponies. He smiled and let out a quiet, satisfied sigh. "I love you two so much." he said to himself.

A little while later, they arrived at Canterlot. Fluttershy and Lantana had landed back to the ground before reaching the opened gates. Before entering, they were stopped by the two guards who were watching the gates.

"State your name and business." the first guard said.

"My name is Sir Yorkshire." Yorkshire replied. "Princess Luna and my brother, Sir Knighton, had invited us to come here and spend the day with them."

The first guard looked to the second one. Being informed that somepony by the name of Yorkshire was going to come, they gave each other a nod and looked to the family.

"Welcome to the Canterlot palace." the second guard said smiling. "The princesses have been waiting for your arrival."

Yorkshire nodded. "Thank you." he and his family walked into the castle.

Lantana's eyes were locked onto the giant castle that she had dreamed of going to. Excitement filled her heart. She couldn't help but let out a squeal of glee. "I can't believe it! I'm actually here!"

Her father laughed. "I felt the same way when your mother and I went to the Grand Galloping Gala together, but I was more excited to have my first date with her there."

Fluttershy blushed, smiling sweetly towards Yorkshire. "That was the best time of my life, thanks to you."

From a high tower on a large balcony, a young dark purple Pegasus unicorn with a blue mane and tail watched the family enter the castle. Realizing who they possibly were, he formed a happy expression on his face. He quickly ran back into the chambers where the large doors on the balcony led to. He ran over to his mother, Princess Luna who was brushing her mane with her horn's magic in front of a large mirror, to tell her what he saw.

"Mommy! Mommy! I think they're here!" he informed his mother in a loud excited tone.

Luna looked down to her son and gave him a sweet, loving smile. She put the brush away and kissed his cheek. "Your father will be very happy to see them. It's been a long time since he and I last saw his brother and his wife."

He gently leaned against her side and nuzzled her neck. "Mommy, please tell me what they are like again."

She giggled. "Your Uncle Yorkshire is brave and strong like your father, Auntie Fluttershy is very kind, sweet and beautiful, and your cousin Lantana is very cute and loving. You'll have a great time with them."

The door of the chambers opened and Knighton entered the room. He looked to his wife and son and gave them a loving smile. "Are you two ready?" he asked.

"I am dad!" the son replied in excitement running to and standing by him.

"That's my boy." he said, rubbing his head and chuckling. He looked to Luna who was still sitting in front of her mirror. "How about you, darling?"

She stood up and walked to Knighton. She then gave him a little kiss. "I am too." she replied. "Is Celestia waiting downstairs for us?"

"She is."

"Alright then, this is going to be great." she looked down to their son. "Remember Rigel, be on your best behavior."

Rigel nodded. "I will mommy."

Knighton walked out first with Luna and Rigel following him from behind.

.  .  .

Meanwhile, Yorkshire led Fluttershy and Lantana through the great hall to the throne room.

As they walked, Lantana could see great pillars supporting the ceiling high above them, different colored banners were hanging down from the ceiling completely still without any wind to blow them. "Wow! So this is what the inside of the castle looks like?!" she exclaimed with a large smile. "It's so big and colorful!"

"That's right, sweetheart." Fluttershy agreed. "Everything here is beautiful in the castle of Canterlot."

"Where are we going first?"

"We're going to the throne room to meet your Auntie Celestia first."

"Yay!!!" Lantana cried in glee.

The large doors to the throne room opened, letting the little family in. In the room, Princess Celestia sat on the throne with two royal Pegasus guards standing below the stairs to protect her. Celestia looked down to the approaching ponies and gave them a very sweet smile. She stood from her throne, walked down the little stairs and approached them.

"Yorkshire, Fluttershy, it's wonderful to see you again." Celestia said, nuzzling them both sweetly and affectionately.

"It's great to see you too, Celestia." Yorkshire said as he and Fluttershy nuzzled her back. He looked down to Lantana. "Go on sweetie, say hello to your Auntie Celestia."

Lantana looked to her father and then to Celestia. She stayed silent as she slowly walked forward to her. She spoke no words and made no sounds.

Celestia giggled quietly. "Hello, my dear." she softly spoke showing a sweet smile. "Let me take a closer look at you." she knelt down on all fours so that her head was closer to her niece's height. "Oh my, what a pretty little filly you are." she gently touched Lantana's cheek with her hoof. "I can see that you have your father's eyes and your mother's coat." she noticed that Lantana had not said a word when she first came into the throne rom. She giggled once again. "It's okay, Lantana, there's no need to be nervous."

The filly continued to be silent, gazing upon the gracious beauty of her Auntie Celestia. Without warning, she hugged her neck and rubbed it with her head affectionately. "Hello, Auntie Celestia…!" she said with a breaking and crying voice.

Celestia nuzzled Lantana's mane gently. "You're very happy to see me, aren't you?" she asked. She felt her niece's face rub her neck up and down, taking the answer as a yes.

Yorkshire and Fluttershy admired the special moment between their daughter and her Aunt. Their hearts were filled with joy to see Lantana happily meeting Celestia for the first time.

"I can't believe you're really my Auntie!" Lantana said wiping her eyes and smiling sweetly. "I never thought I would have a princess as a relative!"

"Believe it, my dear Lantana. You will also be meeting my sister and her husband as well."

"Yeah! Auntie Luna and Uncle Knighton! Where are they?" she asked, looking around.

"They'll be coming down very soon. I'm sure you'll have so much fun with your cousin, Rigel." one of Celestia's ears suddenly perked up, hearing a distant clatter of hooves coming down the stairs. "That must be them right now." she and Lantana stood by Yorkshire and Fluttershy, ready to greet the other family.

From a small hall from the left side of the throne room, Knighton, Princess Luna, and Rigel appeared. Knighton looked to the middle of the room and recognized the gray and blonde pony immediately. "Yorkshire!" he cried happily, galloping to him. The two brothers galloped to each other and collided in a huge brotherly hug. Both laughed and patted each other's backs. "How have you been? It's been so long!" he asked.

"Everything's been going great!" Yorkshire replied, rubbing Knighton's head affectionately. He looked to his brother's side, seeing Luna approach. "Luna! How are you?!" he asked, nuzzling her cheek.

Luna giggled, nuzzling him back. "I'm wonderful. You've become more handsome than before, I must say."

He chuckled shyly with a blush. "Thanks. You too, except I would use the word 'beautiful' and not 'handsome'."

Luna giggled from the delightful compliment from her brother-in-law. She then looked to her sister-in-law. "Fluttershy! How are things with your fine husband and child?"

"Oh, it's been very good." Fluttershy replied. "We've become a wonderful family in Ponyville. Speaking of children, shall we introduce ours to each other?"

"That is just what I had in mind." Luna looked to her side seeing Rigel next to her. "Take a step forward, sweetheart so that they can have a look at you."

Obeying his mother, Rigel stepped forward to Yorkshire and Fluttershy. "Hello." he said, giving his aunt and uncle a bow.

Fluttershy giggled and then looked to Lantana who was standing next to Celestia. "Come on, dear. Go on." she encouraged her.

Lantana took a step forward as well with her parents behind her and in front of the young Pegasus unicorn. She took a little gulp and smiled nervously. "H-hi… I'm Lantana…" she said in a soft and quiet tone.

Rigel examined his cousin's physical features and smiled. "I'm Rigel." he gave her a warm, loving hug for the first time. "It's great to finally meet you, cousin."

Lantana smiled happily and wrapped her arms around him. "It's great to finally meet you too."

The parents and aunts awed the moment of their children meeting each other for the first time, seeing that they already have a liking for each other.

After the reunion, Rigel took Lantana to his parents' chambers to play. They began to run around the big room playing. Rigel was it first, so he chased Lantana around the room to tag her. He managed to touch her flank, claiming that she was it. He quickly turned back, knowing that she was starting to chase him. "You won't get me, Lantana!" he cried, laughing.

"Yes I will!" she replied. She leaped towards Rigel and touched his leg. "You're it!"

He stopped and turned around, seeing her run away from him. He showed a smirk and went after her. He chased her around the room, hoping to get her again. Almost close to tagging her, he suddenly slipped on the smooth floor and crashed into the bookshelf. Dozens of books fell and piled on top of him.

Lantana gasped in shock and quickly aided her cousin. She threw the books aside to dig him up. "Rigel! Are you okay?!" she cried.

He lifted his head out of the pile and sneezed from the dust from the books.

She sighed with relief and smiled. "Thank goodness you're okay."

He giggled. "I'm fine, though those books did hurt a bit…" he groaned quietly. He removed himself out of the piled and shook his body, swishing the dust off from his coat. What he didn't realize was that the cover of a small book was impaled through his horn.

Lantana giggled, noticing the book stuck to his horn. "Hey, you got a book stuck to your horn." she informed him.

He looked up, seeing that his cousin was right. He jumped on his parents' bed and pulled the book off of his horn. He looked at the book, seeing the hole on the cover that his horn poked. He took a nervous gulp. "I hope Mommy or dad doesn't get mad about this…" he opened the cover to the first page, noticing that his father's name was in the book. "Hey Lantana, come here!"

She jumped on the bed and sat next to Rigel. "What is it?" she asked.

"I think this book was written by my dad. It has his name in it. I think it's a journal." he turned to the next page and read the first sentence that was written in the page. "Memory of war is like a scar, it never goes away…"

"You know how to read big words?" Lantana asked with a surprised look in her eyes.

"Auntie Celestia taught me how to read at an early age." he replied. Rigel then tilted his head in confusion from the text in the book. "But the thing that's bothering me is the fact Dad might've been in a war."

Hearing the word and reading the word 'war' gave Lantana a thought about her dad. "Rigel, my daddy once told me that he was in a war too. He never really explained to me about what happened."

"Do you think dad was in the same war with your dad?" he asked.

She shrugged. "I don't know, but I think this journal could give us an idea on what happened. Keep reading."

"Okay." Rigel turned to the next page and began to read his father's journal about his time in war.