The darkened, grey clouds scattered across the sky, keeping the sun’s presence locked away behind a shroud of cotton. The forests were especially beautiful during this season; specifically the woods surrounding the magnificent kingdom of Autumnfall. The snow carpeting the floors of the woods was so abstract to the rest of the colours of the trees. The amber and maple, red and orange colours of the trees were so breath-taking to pony eyes. It added flavour to the dark and dreary times of the country.
The sound of trotting and galloping could be heard from afar, but there was a particular trot that was nearing the edge of the Autumnfall Woods. An dark-yellow coated mare wearing silver-plated armour. Her mane was a bright red colour, resembling that of a glowing and juicy apple, and her eyes were a blazing amber.
“Ah, there are the walls of safety I know and love.” The orange earth pony stated with much relief as the towering aged and teal walls of the kingdom touched the sky and peaked over even the tallest trees in Autumnfall Woods.
The kingdom of Autumnfall was the largest and most notorious kingdom in all of Harmonium. Its quick expansion and flawless economics were the reasons for its popularity. The only problem was that it was mostly only a kingdom of Unicorns and for Unicorns – of course anypony but a Pegasus was allowed to visit or live there, given they had the wealth and status.
The orange pony trotted along the path through the woods, nearing the walls of Autumnfall.
The teal stone that constructed the walls she was approaching was a special kind of material. Ironically, it resisted magic and was strong enough to withstand a beating. It was rather astonishing to see an entire kingdom surrounded by such a rare stone, but it was the benefit of having a princess of the Belle dynasty.
The princess of Autumnfall was known as Princess Belle, and her name echoed across the entire country. All the ponies – and even the dragons and griffons – knew the name Belle. Only a select few ponies, however, knew her real name was Sugar Belle, and that she was close with her military commander and leader of their secret organisation. They’ve been best friends since fillyhood.
The mysterious pony trotting nonchalantly toward the walls of Autumnfall was none other than Knight-Commander Applesmith, commander of the Autumnfallian military. She was also one of the best friends of Sugar Belle, and was on her way to see her fillyhood friend.
~~~~~
Applesmith approached the gate, guarded by two grey stallions; both were Unicorns. They were equipped with shining bronze and amber armour, the breastplate bejewelled with an amber gemstone resembling an embossed triangle, almost like a slightly raised pyramid. Their manes pushed through the top of the helm and their tails did the same through the back of the body armour, which also veiled their cutie marks. They wore bronze, metal shoes on their hooves with a simple design.
“Hail guardscolts!” Applesmith greeted them as she approached.
“Hail, Knight-Commander. Here to visit thine princess, I assume?” The guard to her right inquired.
“Aye, sir. 'Tis been too long since I’ve seen my friend. I bet she's in a sea of papers, nonetheless!” Applesmith rolled her eyes and laughed. She always hated this charade of formality she had to put on for guards.
The guards elicited a laugh as well as the same guard spoke, “And not just important paperwork either. That mare hath a passion for the written arts!”
“Always has she.” Applesmith smiled.
The guards opened the gates for Applesmith, “Have a fine afternoon, Knight-Commander.”
“You too, guardscolts!” Applesmith spoke as she trotted through to the other side of the walls. The gates closed behind her as she emerged into a vast kingdom. The voices of many crowds of ponies could be heard all about the city, and the crunching of snow under their hooves came from all directions. The hustle and bustle of the great kingdom felt welcoming for the Knight-Commander.
"Ugh. Thank the stars that's over with." Applesmith drooped her head in frustration, then raised her head to look around.
There were buildings everywhere, some breaching the skies and others just big enough for a small family of ponies. While the sky was gloomy and colours lacking, the kingdom was rather bright and beautiful. The ponies were all laughing and smiling, and no poverty in sight.
The Chapel, the largest building in Autumnfall, is where the princess would be. And conveniently, it could be spotted from anywhere in the kingdom, due to its towering size. Although the Chapel was simple to find, Applesmith could find it blindfolded; she knew the kingdom like the back of her hoof.
Before Applesmith had much of a chance to start what she had hoped to be a simple trip, a Unicorn mare strolled up to her with a posh demeanour and unimpressed look on her face. She had a chestnut mane and a bronze coat colour.
“Well, well, it seems a soldier has come to visit this fair kingdom.” The pony flicked her mane to the side as she spoke.
Applesmith hesitate a moment,“Euh, yeah. I am here to visit the princess,” she replied with brevity.
“The princess, you say? My, what an important pony you are,” the Unicorn replied with yet another brash comment, but with slightly more severity. "And just why are you so special?"
Applesmith couldn’t help but recoil slightly at the comment this time. “Well, firstly, I am Knight-Commander Applesmith, and secondly, Princess Belle happens to be a dear friend of mine.”
The Unicorn simply scoffed. “Hah! Knight-Commander Applesmith you say? Shouldn’t you be on the front, then?”
Applesmith raised a brow and returned the unimpressed looks. “Normally, I should be, but we are on the verge of victory and I am on a break while my second in command takes over in my absence.”
“Yes, but the war isn’t over yet. Haven’t you heard?” The Unicorn questioned with confidence. “A new threat is on the horizon. She threatens to take all of Harmonium.”
Applesmith only laughed. “Just another vigilante with a head full of air, my friend. I’m sure she will easily be brought to justice once we clear things up.”
“Oh no, it’s much more than that, Commander. She’s already made assaults on small villages, and she has an army behind her.” The Unicorn mare informed boldly. “You’d best make this visit brief and get back to the front before she is on our doorstep.”
“I assure you that it’s nothing, but it sounds urgent enough for my attention.” Applesmith said calmly. “Now if you’ll excuse me, kind mare, I have a friend to visit.”
Applesmith smiled and turned away, trotting off toward the Chapel tower. Applesmith tried not to think about what she had just heard too much. It was likely just some crazy pony thinking they can take on the world. Still, it annoyed her that she seemed to never be able to get a break. It didn’t matter though, she was behind the safety of the walls of Autumnfall and that’s what did matter.
~~~~~
Upon approaching the Chapel, Applesmith began to feel a bit uneasy. She wasn’t sure why, but the scenario seemed off. She tried to shake it, but it seemed that what the Unicorn said earlier was tearing away at her.
“I have to stop letting that get to me,” Applesmith mumbled to herself. “Everything is going to be fine.”
She strolled carefully into the Chapel, where she spotted the throne at the far end of the room; however it was missing a princess.
“Pfft. Figures,” The Knight-Commander said as she rolled her eyes.
On either side of the throne was a room. The doorways into the rooms lacked a door, and were more like carved openings. From the door to the left of the throne emerged a white face; a Unicorn with a white coat and violet hair.
“Applesmith!” The white mare yelled gleefully as she pranced out of the room. “Oh my goodness it’s so good to know you’re okay!”
Applesmith smiled and trotted over to her friend, where they met with a hug. “It’s good to see you too, Sugar.”
“Why are you here? Shouldn’t you be on the front defending against the new anonymous threat?” Sugar asked with a concerned look.
“The front has been clear for days. What is this new threat I keep hearing about?” Applesmith asked, as an uneasy feeling formed in the pit of her stomach.
“I thought for sure you'd have seen her by now. She was bound for Autumnfall, and that front line you control is the only way here.” The princess informed.
“That citizen wasn't lying...” Applesmith said in a hushed tone. “There really is a new threat on the horizon isn’t there?”
Sugar Belle opened her mouth to speak but was interrupted as a crash and rumble made her lose her balance. Sugar fell to her side, scrambling to get back to her hooves.
Pieces of the ceiling of the Chapel fell and the whole place quaked.
“What’s going on?!” Sugar finally managed to yell, looking at her friend.
“I don’t know!” Applesmith tried to stand up, but the constant rumbling and quaking caused her to fall over again.
“Applesmith! Look out!” The princess quickly shouted to Applesmith.
Before she had a chance to turn around, Applesmith felt a sharp pain strike the back of her head; everything went black.