April 2nd, 15 ATD
It's been one day since I left the forest. I know I am not anywhere near Stormwing territory, this place is more like a desert. Maybe I took a wrong turn in the forest, but who cares, at least I can fly safely here.
I saw Earthborn ponies returning from the forest, luckily they didn't see me getting out. I asked them where the closest city was, and they said they were going to Appleloosa and offered me to come with them. I'm not entirely comfortable with going into Earthborn territory, since they were involved in the battle my father died in. But it wasn't their fault, so I suppose I can let that pass. I accepted and we're now on our way to the Earthborn capital.
Guardian doesn't trust these ponies, then again, they have been constantly attacking the forest. I don't entirely trust them myself, but they haven't acted suspiciously so far.
We are close to Appleloosa, but they decided we should rest for the night. One of them asked how come I ended up here and in such a state, likely referring to my scars. I just told her it was House M&S's fault and didn't want to reveal anything else. She seems really interested in me, and I'm sure she's looking at me as I write. Luckily Guardian is keeping an eye on her.
***
April 3rd, 15 ATD
Appleloosa, the capital of House Earthborn. I separated from the group that brought me here a couple moments after getting here. This place sure seems like a busy town. Most of the ponies here are always training or working. Who knows how many ponies are here, it's truly shocking.
Guardian seems really wary of this place, and has pointed out many guards looking at me. I tried to stay calm, and thought that maybe they are just as distrustful of strangers as other Houses. I was surprised however, I have not seen a single unicorn around here. Though I would find out the reason later...I wish I never did.
After a couple hours of exploring, I came across a very frightening show. A group of elite Earthborn soldiers surrounded a unicorn. I suspect it was a M&S battlemage, judging from her clothes. They...cut off her horn. I had heard rumors about this but never saw it myself. And I still think I shouldn't have. After they cut off her horn, she cursed them in the name of Celestia and Luna, and then they executed her. I stood there, not moving a muscle. The soldiers looked at me, and then left.
It was then when the same pony from last night came up to me. She explained that every unicorn caught in this territory would be "dehorned" and then they would either die or be allowed to live. I couldn't believe what I heard, and asked who thought of such a thing. She then said "Supreme Commander Applejack". I think I would have fainted that second were it not for the fact I had heard worst things. I said I needed somewhere to just rest for a while, trying to get some time to myself. She instead offered me to spend the night at her place. I wasn't going to agree to the idea, but after what I just saw anything would have done just well. She then realized she forgot to tell me her name in the first place. Leaf Heart.
Right now I am in her house, in a guest room she reluctantly offered. Her original idea was that I slept in the same room as her, and that not only made me feel uncomfortable but also made her attraction to me painfully obvious. She's cute, I give her that, but right now a relationship is not in my best interest. I'm not sure I even plan on staying here.
***
April 6th, 15 ATD
I met Applejack, the element of Honesty, today, after something that made me doubt my sanity.
Leaf Heart was walking with me, possibly thinking of this as a date, when we heard something about a new prisoner. She rushed to the center of the town. I could have stayed where I was, but my curiosity got the best of me.
I saw Applejack and her family surrounding a unicorn, who was inside a circle of buffalo totems that apparently silenced his magic. I didn't get a clear view of the unicorn, but i could see Applejack just fine. She looked mostly the same as I remembered, except she had only one eye and was serious. I heard her saying that she had seen through the unicorn's lies, and that he had very important information. I then realized they couldn't interrogate him, and that for some reason they couldn't dehorn him. When I tried to understand why, I heard his voice. That...voice...THAT UNICORN!
Black Night, the unicorn that caused the death of my parents, with his black mustache and moon tattoo on his left cheek. Just remembering him made my blood boil with rage. They couldn't dehorn him because he had cast a spell on his own horn that made it hard as steel, precisely to be prepared in case he was ever captured by Earthborn forces. But there was one flaw that I discovered when my mother died: he hated fire.
I wasn't thinking, I felt my mind being filled with nothing but thoughts of revenge. And he was right there, I didn't miss the chance. I grabbed a piece of wood and looked for a way to light it on fire. When I did I rushed to where Black Night was, luckily he was too important to be killed by Earthborn, and that gave me my chance to do it myself. I charged into the scene and stood in front of Black Night. The soldiers tried to stop me but something stopped them. I wasn't really paying attention to anything besides my revenge. Black Night didn't recognize me, and I tried to make him remember. I asked if he remembered the time he used a pegasus slave to shield himself from a Juggernaut's charge, if he remembered how he drowned the unicorn who was married to that slave after she tried to avenge her husband, if he remembered how he left a poor pegasus kid orphaned and enslaved that night. That is when he asked why it mattered to me, and I said I was the kid whose parents he killed 8 years ago. As I said that, I lowered the burning wood near his horn, and he started saying some things, with so much fear in his tone. I didn't care about what he said, but judging from what happened later I think it was the information Applejack wanted. I simply watched and enjoyed how his horn was being burned, Black Night screaming in pain, and shouted "WHERE ARE YOUR PRINCESSES NOW?!"
After it was done, I realized what I had done, and I could feel everypony looking at me, likely frightened. Applejack walked up to me and demanded my name. Afraid of what would happen, I said my name and waited for her reply. Applejack simply said "Well done, Sky Dreamer" and left. Everypony else left afterwards, except for Leaf Heart, who tried to comfort me as best as she could, surprisingly not trying anything.
I'm afraid of myself. I'm considering staying in House Earthborn, they could really use help, after all they are fighting Changelings from the south and every other House in the war. It's difficult not to be inspired by them, and after what I did today I find myself agreeing with Earthborn's hatred of unicorns. Am I really...going insane?
Maybe, I keep hearing the laugh in my head. Not again, it seems like everywhere I go somepony is laughing at me! WHO THE BUCK IS IT?!