//------------------------------//
// Introduction: The tree and history 
// Story: Dragon's sorrow: Tales of Dragon's rest 
// by Megaskullmon 
//------------------------------//

I stood at a podium, an old wooden podium created many years ago by one of the founders of Dragons rest so long ago. I stand there on my four hooves looking over the crowd of ponies and zebras and other creatures. It’s been so long since we have opened ourselves up again. I look behind me to see the large tree.

“Welcome everyone to the 50th anniversary of our great tree and the anniversary of Dragon’s Rest. Even though most of our history has been lost for so long we still don’t know the year of this great community.”

Many young eyes don’t know the power of this tree or why this tree is even here. It wasn’t here so long ago. A hoof is raised and I look at the young orange mare.

“Can you please explain why our history is so sparse and other communities outside Dragon’s rest have all their history intact?”

I sigh deeply. It's not easy to explain this at all. I try to answer so many words dancing in my head. I can’t even think about it. Just have to wing it.

“Long ago there was a sickness. I don’t know much about it. But one of the founders took it upon herself and burned the entire area down and chased off everyone else. It’s what caused most of our history to vanish.”

There are whispers and worried words of this creature still around.

“Excuse me, elder.”

I look around at the voice leaning over the podium to see a very young filly. She looks so young just her giant eyes make a smile form over my face.

“Yes, little one?”

It took a while for the filly to speak. A mare who I am sure is her mother nods to her to speak to me. I just keep a calm gentle smile on my face. I don’t want to scare this poor little creature. She is so beautiful. I am happy to see little ones so cute.

“Why do we have this anniversary for this tree? I have been told by others older than you. That the tree showed up out of the blue one day and some random cloaked pony got you to be our next elder.”

I had a feeling this question was coming. I look at the tree. It's been so long that I wonder if the one I spoke to would be upset about me bringing them up. I look back to the many eyes waiting for me to answer.

“I made a promise years ago I would only speak of this if the souls of this community are ready. Are you sure you’re all ready to learn the truth about this tree?”

The young souls and old souls just stare at me like they’re willing to listen. I promised though, of course, I remember the cloaked pony telling me someday I will have to tell the truth about the name Dragon’s rest and the tree.

“Allow me then. What if I told you this tree is an old friend and one of the founders of this community?”

Ponies and others look at each other whispering.

“Would you be surprised if I told you it’s true?”

I put my hoof on the tree, closing my eyes and sighing ‘Please help me, my friend.’ I say to myself looking back at the crowd.

“Years ago many of you know I wasn’t an elder back then. But most of you don’t know that I wasn’t even welcomed in this community. I was a rebel and I wanted to learn things that were forbidden. Because the old elders had a strange amount of rules that kept us from learning.”

The others look at each other.

"May I ask then what changed?"

I turned my head looking at the stallion who asked the very question. I don't fully remember what changed, maybe it's just me wanting to become older. maybe it was the uprising that caused the change? I don't fully remember and most don't even know about the uprising.

"Let's get the book I wrote all this down so I can remember."

I click my hooves together with a large bat mare in heavy armor land beside me with a loud thud.

"You called Milady?"

A weak smile forms on my face glancing at the mare.

"Could you please go to my home Peach and get that large book you have seen me write in please?"

The mare stares at me for a second. She lifts her helm to stare into my eyes for a moment.

"Milady, I told you before to call me if your life is in danger I am not going to go find a book for you and then come back because you asked."

I chuckle, leaning to whisper into the ear of the mare.

"How about I treat you to a feast of fruit during your vacation? Would that work?"

The mare snorts.

"Offering fruit will get you everywhere. I will be back."

I watch while the guard flies off. Turning back to the crowd I lean on the podium.

"Are there any other questions while we wait for her to get back?"

A zebra comes out from the crowd sitting down in front of the others.

"Is it true this world used to belong to a race known as humans? I have been told this by other communities outside of ours."

I nod.

"Indeed, many of them who changed into creatures like us are still around but most of us who are born this way could be the dominant now. As for me, I ain't too sure because I don't leave this community I am not allowed to leave Dragons rest as most of you do."

The zebra lifts his hoof again and I nod to him to ask his next question.

"How do you tell? How do you tell if the ponies or whatever used to be human? Is there any way to tell at all?"

It takes me again a while to answer that question. while I am thinking about how to answer it Peach returns with the large put placing it on the old podium.

"I don't fully know sorry. Now let me tell you a story about a legend and a dragon."

I go to the book, opening it to the first words I ever wrote in it.

"I was asleep not paying much mind to what the elders were teaching me. To me, it wasn't important to learn history that we know nothing about since the history of the past has been burnt to nothing."

To be continued.