//------------------------------//
// The History of Equestria 
// Story: The Seven Riders of Equestria 
// by Failsafe99 
//------------------------------//

It was the day before the Everfree forest field trip. Everyone at Canterlot High school was nervous about going on the trip to the forest. They had heard many strange and mysterious stories about the Everfree. The most prominent being the existence of the Fae folk.

Sunset Shimmer sat in the back of her history class looking bored out of her mind, looking at her phone, hoping someone would post something funny to YouTube, waiting for the teacher to come to class. As she looked around the room, she saw that her friends Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, and Rarity were also in the class with her. It was the first period of the day, so no one wanted to be there.

Suddenly the door to the classroom opened and someone walked in. Everyone got to their seats quickly, as Mr. Crankydoodle didn't like students lounging around, but instead were surprised that it wasn't him. Everyone stared at the front of the class as an older looking man came in. 

Now, when kids say older, they usually mean late 40's to early 50's. No, this man, at least to Sunset, looked to be well in his 70's. However, he didn't stand and walk around like most would of that high age, which is rare enough nowadays as to be considered ancient, due to Tireks rule over Equis, and the fact that most people were killed by the soldiers of Tireks magic army, or the plagues he had cast upon his arrival into this world.

Principal Celestia stood next to the man. He had brown hair that was cut haphazardly, giving him a slightly younger look to his face. He had blue eyes that were a deep royal color, and they had a hint of mischievous intent in them, as if something about our hellish world was funny. He looked to be about 6'1", and had a very slim, but highly muscular build to him, as if he was an athlete or soldier. He looked kindly at everyone and smiled.

Principal Celestia then spoke up, "Hello class, today we have a new teacher, who will be taking over history for Mr. Crankydoodle. Please be kind to him, and show him our Wondercolt spirit. I know ask you to please introduce yourself to your new students."

The man stepped forward and cleared his throat, before speaking in a voice that was fairly young in tone, but sounded so much older than it really was, "Hello, I am your new History teacher. My name is Ajihad Frikai, and yes I know, it sounds like a bad word. Also, I know not all of you will be able to say Mr. Frikai, so you can all call me Mr. Had, like my first name. I would like to introduce my self more today, but we should at least get some class work done today. With that being said, Principal Celestia, I bid you adieu." He finishes with a light twirl of his hand.

At this Principal Celestia gives a slight giggle and bids the class a good day, before exiting the room, the door closing behind her.

After she left, Mr. Had turns around and writes on the board a word that none of the the students had heard before. Alagaesia. After he writes this he looks for the pointer on the bottom rail of the chalkboard, and, finding it, picks it up and taps the board on each of the syllables, enunciating each of them to sound it out for the class. "Al-uh-gay-see-uh. Know, do any of you recognize this word." he turns around, addressing the class. Nobody raises their hand and he sighs, "Well that is not unexpected, due to the new power in control over this land. Well, you might want to take note of this, as what i am going to tell you will not be in any history book you find in the library. This is because, long ago, this very realm, was named this. Alagaesia, a beautiful place to live, and it was so for a long time. Know, what I am about to tell you may sound silly, but trust me, it all really happened. In the beginning, Alagaesia was ruled, not by man, but by DRAGON.

"The dragons were not like you here about, the ones from Tireks realm, Equestria, which I hear are ferocious themselves, but are selfish, greedy and work for whoever has the scepter that makes them king. No, these dragons were strong, noble creatures that could grow to be the size of mountains, huge and powerful, they could do anything they wanted. They were intelligent, and they were unopposed by anything in Alagaesia. Then, after a time, the elves came to settle in Alagaesia. They settled in to a forest they called, Du Weldenvarden. It was a forest that grew much like the Everfree, large untamed trees, they made it their home. One day, an elven hunter, young and foolish, went out and hunted a dragon, as if it were a deer or elk, and slayed it.

"The dragons, in their anger over one of their kind being killed, hunted and killed the elf who did it. The elves retaliated, and so began a war that changed Alagaesia. It is said that the elves created weapons specifically to kill dragons, who's magical energy was erratic and worked many wonders when channeled right. The only magic they could channel at will, is the magic of their fire. The elves and dragons slaughtered many of each other, nest and homes alike. Finally, after two centuries of fighting, a young elf, by the name of Eragon, found an egg. It was an egg unlike any he had seen before, so he assumed it had to be a dragons. He didn't know why it had been left where it had, in a large open space littered with shells. But he saw the egg, and knew that he could help the dragon inside. He also thought about the benefits of raising a dragon hatchling himself, and that maybe they could finally start to make peace with the dragons. So he took the egg home with him, and hatched and raised the dragon to adulthood. At that time they decided to stop the war, and after much debate and time, they succeeded. The pact was done with a seal, a song and dance of utter power. The spells woven into the pact seal would tie the dragons and elves together. Thus the first of the dragon riders was born.