The Griffon War: A Soldier’s Memoirs
By: Dusk Quill
Flickering candles lit the large library annex of Canterlot Castle, throwing dark shadows across the walls and floor in every direction. The dim orange glow barely lit the room. The night engulfed the structure like a thick blanket. Not even the moon shone through. A thick layer of clouds blanketed the nighttime sky, blotting out the heavens above as it dropped a steady rainfall across the sleeping city.
Towering oak bookcases filled with ancient texts and lore reached the high vaulted ceilings, looming over the sole occupant of the room. The lone pony stood at one of the many large tables in the library with a collection of books and scrolls strewn about the wooden surface. Pale magenta eyes weighted down with great burden scanned across every item, a mournful look glinting in those eyes.
The rhythmic sound of rain against stone and glass was broken only momentarily as the library doors opened, followed by the soft clop of hooves on the floor. A yellow unicorn pony walked up beside the statue-like alicorn standing sentinel at the desk, the way she had been when the unicorn had left her last. Her horn glowed a bright purple as she levitated a cup and saucer over to rest on the table beside a stack of books.
“Your tea, your highness Celestia,” she spoke, dismissing herself at the princess' acknowledging nod.
Princess Celestia waited until she heard the doors open and close again before she let her mind focus on her work before her again. She looked tired in the low light, weary with the weight of a thousand decisions and a calm yet sad frown touching her lips. She knew what each of these scrolls and books contained. They would all be the same with the same ending. But try as she might to deny it, she knew the outcome wouldn’t change, no matter how much she hoped differently.
A golden glow of magic surrounded the cup filled with piping hot tea as Celestia lifted it to her lips, taking a long swallow of the soothing liquid. It comforted her, but only for a moment. A flash of lightning illuminated the archives while she placed her hoof upon the nearest book, a nondescript basic brown leather journal, and dragged it closer. No title was inscribed across the cover, nor was there any trace of it being anything more than a commonplace diary.
But she knew better than to judge a book by its cover—especially this book.
Swallowing hard to keep herself collected and together, Princess Celestia flipped open the cover. The first page inside had no publication information but a short segment of text scrawled across the center of it. Her eyes danced across the words slowly, memorizing each and every one as if they meant the world.
Personal Journal Belonging to:
Private Fleethoof
3rd Company, Royal Canterlot Reserve
If found, please return.
A deep breath, another sip of tea, and Celestia steeled herself to continue. Turning the page, she came across a larger mass of text: the first entry of who knew how many. She carried on, her regal face still solemn and unmoving as an effigy. Her eyes and the flames of the candles wavering back and forth in perfect time.
Hello, Journal!
I’m writing in you for the first time ever! Well, mostly because this is the first day I’ve ever had you, but still, it’s the excitement that counts, right? My good friend Steel Shield gave you to me as a present for graduating boot camp. Oh yeah, I’m in the Royal Guard! Well, okay... Royal Guard Reserve, technically. It’s pretty much the same thing. It just means I won’t be going around protecting Princess Celestia or standing like a statue around Canterlot or in any foreign legions or anything. I’ll be patrolling around Equestria instead wherever they decide to garrison me, and you’ll be coming along on all my adventures. I finally get my chance to live my dream and serve my country. Brace yourself, Journal. Here we go!