Story Update + Chapter Preview · 5:24pm Nov 22nd, 2019
Hello everypony!
For those of you reading my story, I would like to give you an update. Normally, I try to get the chapters out in a monthly basis, or sooner if time permits. However, I'm afraid that this chapter may take a bit longer to be complete. Due to other responsibilities with college and another project I was apart of, I have had little time to work on the next chapter. Not that I've gotten no progress on it, but it's only about a quarter of the way done. Luckily, Thanksgiving break is coming up, which will definitely leave me opportunity to work. I would say that I could potentially finish it early December or even late November, but that's not a solid promise. I would say maybe mid-December at the absolute latest.
Until then though, I thought I would leave you all with a little sneak preview of what I got done so far. It's the introduction to a new character that I've admittedly been excited to get to for a while now! 
Thank you all for reading and until next time, here is a small preview to the next chapter: The Rite of the Heartful Pyres!
“Sooo, how do we know when this Rite thingy starts?” Pinkie asked the group, who had still yet to experience the ritual. “Is there going to be a super loud air horn or something else exciting?”
“Well, usually the stars start to light up and then some weird constellation forms in the sky.” Rukey explained to the party pony. “Although, the other adversaries that we’re suppose the face normally show up before us. Wait, did we actually beat them this time?”
The Cur’s question was immediately answered when the group heard some splashing in the water. Not a second later, three creatures emerged from the waves and landed on the shore before the Nightwings. The creatures were small in size, just a hint smaller than Rukey was. Their bodies were serpentine, lacking any sort of limbs or appendages saved for their tails. What was most unique, however, was that they were all donned in raiments of their own. Their color scheme was somewhat similar to the Nightwings’, only instead it was an aquamarine blue accented with bright orange. The masks that they wore were more akin to helmets that were over their heads instead. Given how the creatures arrived from the water and seemingly possessed amphibious qualities, Twilight assumed that these must have been the Wyrms that she and Tariq had saw earlier.
Before anybody could say anything about their arrival, one of the Wyrms slithered up in front of the other two before the group. They then used their tail to remove the mask covering their face. Once the mask was removed, the Wyrm’s yellow, scaled skin was revealed in the moonlight. The creature had one large eye that took up most of his face and a wide mouth below it. When Twilight looked closely, she could seem multiple small scars decorating the Wyrm’s face, as well as one large one going diagonally across his eye. Finally, the Wyrm was wearing yet another helmet on his head that was quite similar to a helmet Twilight would see on a suit of knight armor that would grace some of the hallways at Canterlot castle. The helmet the Wyrm wore was composed of a worn, navy-blue metal with the grated visor moved upward to reveal his face, along with a red plume on top.
“Good sirs and good ladies,” he began speaking in a very excited, chivalrous tone. “so it is you that heed the summons to glorious competition against this knight and his brigade!” The Wyrm then straightened his posture to give himself a more confident display of himself.
“Umm, is he wearing a helmet under his helmet?” Rainbow Dash asked out loud. That was when the Wyrm took notice of the ponies.
“By the great Underking! Such strange and fascinating creatures the Nightwings have recruited.” He then began to address Twilight directly. “Pray tell, where might your kind dwell in this great world beyond the Sea-Dominion? This knight is quite curious as to your origins!”
While Twilight didn’t want to be rude to the rather polite adversary, she also still wasn’t comfortable with outright saying that she and her friends were from a different world to complete strangers. Therefore, she decided to compromise by partial answering the question and then try to change the subject. “Well, me and my friends are ponies and we’re…not really from around here or the Commonwealth. A very faraway land, to be more exact. I hope that answers your question, Mr….? I’m sorry, what is your name?”
“Oh, great apologies!” the Wyrm quickly corrected himself. “Lest this knight forget his introductions. He is called Sir Gilman! He salutes to you all on behalf of the great Pyrehearts!” Sir Gilman then placed his mask back on his head. “Well then, your origins seem to matter little at the moment. Be you walk either on two legs or four, this knight will still greatly accept your invitation to battle. Let us commence without delay! More than our freedom is at stake here, but our very honor. And this knight fully intends on reclaiming his! Until the contest!” The Wyrm and his two companions then jumped back into the water and disappeared from view.
The group was still at a loss at what they had just saw, until Applejack found the words. “Well, he was certainly…eccentric. Kinda reminds me of that old fancy speak Princess Luna used to talk in. But at least he was courteous and all that.”
Twilight nodded in agreement with the orange mare and looked to the waters again. Though she had to admit, there was something that he said that stuck her as a little odd. She understood what Sir Gilman meant when he said that their freedom was on the line, but she was confused as to what he meant when he referenced honor as well. Twilight decided to put that thought aside and looked to the night sky. The stars began to shine, and the star constellation formed above. A mystical light shown down on the rotting deck of the shipwreck on the shore, indicating where the Rite would be held. With no reason to hesitate, the Nightwings and ponies made they’re onto the deck for the next Rite.
Loved the preview, especially how you handled Sir Gilman's dialogue and introduction. Can't wait to read the whole chapter.
Ah, Gilman.