//------------------------------// // Prologue // Story: Rogue Diamond Revamped // by Zephyr Spark //------------------------------// Equestria was a peaceful kingdom ruled by Princess Celestia from her throne in Canterlot for centuries. Every year, she sent a student to the nearby towns to learn the magic of friendship. One year, she sent a student with particular promise to the town of Ponyville: Twilight Sparkle, a unicorn who hatched a dragon’s egg with magic alone. Princess Celestia had high hopes for Twilight. In her, she saw the future of Equestria. She saw hope. But then, a neighboring kingdom ruled by Chrysalis, Queen of the Changelings, raided Canterlot for its resources. Using arcane, dark arts, Queen Chrysalis unleashed a flood, drowning half of the neighboring cities, including Ponyville and Appleloosa. Mercenaries and radical factions from the Frozen North and Saddle Arabia, envious of the Princess’s power, joined Chrysalis in her raids, kidnapping many citizens and selling them into slavery. Emboldened, many raiders began taking dragons, griffons, and minotaurs across the land into slavery. The Dragon Lord Torch and the Kingdom of Griffonstone sent soldiers to assist Princess Celestia. Within a week, Princess Celestia’s forces won the war with the changelings. She immediately flooded Chrysalis’s kingdom, wiping out every trace. Soon, she turned her attention to the Frozen North and Saddle Arabia. After another month of fighting, both nations were drowned beneath the sea. Princess Celestia lost her best student and her trust in anyone else. She retreated into her castle, leaving the rest of the world to repair itself. Across the land, small kingdoms rose, ruled by those with power and wealth. With half the world underwater, the kingdom began fighting amongst themselves for resources. It became apparent to Princess Celestia that this was the natural state of all creatures: violent, selfish, and cruel. Natural disasters struck across the globe. Soon, even her kingdom in Canterlot sank beneath the waves. On that day, Princess Celestia, once a noble, kind ruler, changed into a being known as Daybreaker, and erected a new stronghold in the Crystal Empire. In her first act as ruler, Daybreaker offered the rest of the world a choice: join her kingdom or die beneath the sea. Amid this war-ravaged world, bands of mercenaries have sprung up. And none perhaps, is more famous than the mercenaries of the Rogue Diamond. Composed of the survivors of the Ponyville flood, this band of pirates and misfits stands above all other bounty hunters and treasure hunters. And today, they have their sights set on a very special target. “The target goes by the name Fang,” said Rarity. “Probably not his real name, but that’s the only one he ever gives. One duke’s offering a five thousand bit reward for him alive.” Applejack whistled. “What he do to piss off a duke that much?” “He’s fond of robbing anyone who makes too much money and doesn’t spend it on anyone else.” “I like him already,” Pinkie Pie snickered. Rarity rolled her eyes. “Yes, well, like him or not, he’s worth a decent amount.” “Whatever,” Rainbow Dash snorted as she fiddled with her pistol, taking aim at an imaginary foe. “Small time thief can’t be too hard to deal with.” “See that’s where it gets interesting,” said Rarity, as she pressed a few buttons on her keyboard, changing the display on the monitor. The monitor showed blurred black and white images of the back of a tall, broad-shouldered dragon rushing through a castle, carving his way through at least two-dozen soldiers. “He isn’t a sneak-sneak kind of thief. He robs them in broad daylight. Storms straight into their headquarters, beats anyone in his way, and makes off with the loot.” “So he’s got balls,” said Dash. “Big deal. We’ve done plenty of raids on our own.” “He does them with nothing but a sword.” “A sword?” They all turned to look at Twilight. This was the first time she had spoken since they started their briefing. “Sorry, that just brings back memories. Please go on.” Rarity cleared her throat. “Yes, well. He uses a sword to fight soldiers armed with guns and explosives. That indicates he’s had some sort of formal training from an expert. Apparently, he gave most of what he took to orphanages, refugees, or poor folk.” “Seriously?” Pinkie Pie exclaimed. “He takes all that money for someone else?” “Yes, seriously. He barely keeps any for himself. Some call him the Noble Thief. He’s a bit of a celebrity among the downtrodden.” “Do we really want to bring this guy in?” asked Applejack. “I mean, he sounds like a Robin Hood.” “Yeah,” Pinkie Pie said. “There aren’t enough good people in the world as it is.” “He’s worth five thousand bits to the duke. Not to mention two other nobles offering to pay for his capture.” “But that’s not why you’re interested in finding him, is it, Rarity?” said Twilight. “Right as always. There’s something else. Something that could make him more valuable than what anyone’s offering. Rumor is he’s got a treasure of sorts. Something taken from the kingdom of Canterlot before it fell.” “Well now I’m interested,” Rainbow Dash said, rising up out of her seat as she flipped her pistol into her holster. “Let’s go catch our Robin Hood.” “We’ll split into teams and search the city,” said Rarity. “Rainbow Dash, you’re with Applejack. Bulk, you’ll be with Pinkie. Starlight, you’re with Trixie. Twilight?” The purple unicorn shook her head and looked down. Her clasped hands trembled. “I heard there’s a public library in the port town. I’d like you to update our sea charts.” Twilight managed a weak smile. Rarity turned to address the other ponies. “When you find him, tell me your location. Do not engage until everyone is there.” She gave a pointed glare at Rainbow Dash. “Yeah, yeah.” The pegasus waved a hand dismissively. “I got it.”