//------------------------------// // *Chapter 14: Back in My Day // Story: Drake's Empire // by Pentel123 //------------------------------// Chapter 14: Back in My Day When an old man dies a library burns to the ground. An African Proverb Drake hadn’t understood a word of what Epistaties said while he prepared the ‘patch’ for the golems. Spike, however, seemed to follow along fairly well, nodding and letting out an “uh huh” from time to time, which was good enough for Drake to let Epistaties continue working. Once the ‘patch’ was prepared, they went outside to find the rain slackening and debated how they would apply the patch. Epistaties had insisted he be the one to apply the patch, but found himself stopped at the edge of the plaza, unable to move any farther from the library. Epistaties howled in frustration and pushed against the invisible barrier until Drake carried him away from it, despite Epistaties’ protests. Instead, Drake and Spike went just beyond the edge of the plaza. When the first golem attacked, Drake held it down while Spike affixed the ‘patch’ to it. The effects were immediately apparent, as the golems rushing towards them slowed to a stop before going back to their normal patrol routes. Drake told Spike to wait with Epistaties as he ran to get the McFarweathers and the Cider Twins. Drake’s return took the McFarweathers by surprise. As he quickly explained what had happened and what he’d found that surprise turned to excitement. Before they knew it, everyone found themselves packing up and following him into the ruin, some flying, while others carried gear or pulled carts along the ground. By the time everyone was moved onto the plaza, the rain had stopped completely and the sky was beginning to clear. The final griffins were entering the plaza when the golems again went wild and began attacking. Drake rushed out to distract them while Spike and others grabbed the Griffins under attack and brought them onto the plaza. “Well I guess the patch was only temporary,” Drake said to Epistaties after he too returned to the plaza. “es. A most troubling thing that it was, but for now everyone is safe. We need to get them inside. The sun is setting and I’m sure they would rather sleep somewhere warm and dry. But first, I would like to speak to their leaders and know who I’m housing,” Epistaties said, looking over the group as griffins flew about, organizing everything on the plaza. “I suppose you deserve that much. Is there enough room to fit everyone in the Library without putting the knowledge you’re so fanatical to defend at risk?” Drake asked, recalling Epistaties’ outburst from earlier. “Oh yes. The Library is much bigger than you think. Beneath the ground floor are several large auditoriums capable of holding over five-hundred occupants. We should be able to put the Griffins up in one while you, Spike, and your unicorn friends can have another one,” Epistaties replied, having had plenty of time to consider such issues as he waited for Drake to return. That time had also seen him come to terms with his city’s destruction, and allowed him to ask Spike many more questions. Unfortunately for him, Spike had been unable to answer many of them, but perhaps the leader of the Griffins could sate his curiosity. “Ight, I’ll go get them.” As Drake turned to go find Eagle-Eye and Swiftwing, they found him. “Drake, you told us there was someone here that may know of our history. Now that everyone is here, we would very much like to see him,” Eagle-Eye said politely but firmly, leaving no doubts he would not be turned away. “Excellent, I was just about to come get you two,” Drake said as he stepped out of the way, allowing them an unobstructed view of Epistaties. “Here is the minotaur I wanted ya’ll to meet.” “Greetings, I am Eagle-Eye and this is my mate Swiftwing. We are the heads of the McFarweather Family of the Driving Wind Clan, part of House Pioneer, subjects of the Red Talon of the Great House Vanguard, the King of the High Wind Erie. We thank you for your hospitality. Drake told us you may know our history, which has become lost to time and chaos.” Eagle-Eye said he finishing his formal introduction and leaving Drake stunned. He hadn’t been expecting anything so formal from the griffins that seemed so rugged and harsh. “But first we would ask your name, and perhaps instruction on where our family might make their camp within the walls of this ruin,” Swiftwing said, following her mate’s introduction. “Our journey here has been long and not without its trials.” Epistaties was silent for a moment. After clearing his throat he said, “McFarweather. That is a name I know well. Some of the greatest explorers of the Empire came from your family. At one time, I called your leader my friend. That his descendants should live and be the first I meet after awakening to a new world is very interesting indeed. Come, I will show you where your people may stay. Once we have you settled in, I’ll tell you all I can of our shared history. Perhaps you can help end the ignorance I suffer of the time between my battle with Discord and your arrival.” Epistaties walked back into the Library with Eagle-eye and Swiftwing in tow. Once Drake recovered from the twin shocks of the griffin leader’s introductions and Epistaties connection to the McFarweathers, he fell in behind the trio, interested to see what new developments would follow. * * * * * * * * * * * Several hours passed and everyone settled into the auditorium. The group’s attention centered on Epistaties, who was sitting on the edge of the stage before them, preparing to tell his tale. “Where to begin?” Epistaties asked, drawing a deep breath and collecting his thoughts. “With my birth? The Empire’s? Perhaps I should start in the very beginning.” Epistaties looked over the assembly one last time, looking everyone in the eye before beginning his story. “When the world was born, its creators made many races. To the Firstborn of each race was given immortality and power to guide their brothers and sisters. The Firstborn were given time to grow and know the world. During this time, something went wrong. What happened was never known to us, for the Firstborn never spoke of it. We do know that many of them died, and Tartarus was created to hold the horrors of the conflict. “The survivors were Tauros, Firstborn of the minotaurs, guide to us, the buffalo, and all other bovines. Then there was Hades, who was Firstborn of the dragons, and guide to them, sea serpents, and all scaled predators. Cerberus, Firstborn of her own kind, the Canyon Wolves, and all other canines. Last of those we knew was Zephyr, Firstborn of the griffins, guide to them and all other feathered creatures in the skies.” Epistaties paused, letting the assembly processes what he had said. Flim, Flam, and Spike were about to speak out when Epistaties beat them to the punch. “I do not know where your Princesses came from, unicorns, nor did anyone know who your or the zebra’s Firstborn was; both races came to the Empire long after it had been founded. “Now then, following the arrival of the second wave, as our mortal forbearers are called, the cerberi and the Canyon Wolves took it upon themselves to guard the entrance to Tartarus, which sits in a massive rift far to the west of here, alongside their guide Cerberus. They also watched for any attempt by its denizens to escape. “Cerberus visited Ponyville recently. Does that mean she still lives? How can that be when it was a he and you said Cerberus was a she?” Spike asked, recalling the unexpected visit Ponyville had recently received.” “It was likely one of the cerberi who share her name. From time to time they, along with the Canyon Wolves, would move to seal where the Tarturians tried to escape. Afterwards they would leave detachments behind to ensure the new entrances remained sealed,” Epistaties answered before continuing his recounting of forgotten history. “Hades taught a single generation of dragons, sea serpents and the others how to live before he went to sleep. By that time, he was so large that people would find his resting place and mistake him for rolling hills. So long he slept that trees began to grow out of him. He would not awaken until Discord began his attacks. “Zephyr and her flock set about exploring as much of the world as they could, and came to learn about the winds and weather. Even after joining the Empire, griffins remained among the greatest explorers, constantly learning more of the world as new technologies and spells allowed them to travel to places that were previously out of reach.” Epistaties paused and smiled. “It may interest you to know that during my tenure as the Curator of this library, the Empire’s exploration efforts were led by one Comet McFarweather. The chances that you are related to him is one of the reasons I was willing to invite you here, but his is another tale. “Then there was Tauros. He worked to found the first cities in which all the bovines lived. Early on, however, the buffalo felt a call of wanderlust and began wandering the world, never staying in one place too long. Over time, the cities became city-states, and not long after they began to feud. War came to the world for the first time, but not the last.” Epistaties paused again, perhaps lamenting that conflict seemed an inevitable aspect of life or just trying to recall the next part of the story. “As the minotaurs feuded, the griffins built settlements upon the mountain peaks, and the Canyon Wolves, who far outnumbered the cerberi, constructed cities carved into the walls of the great rift in which they lived and made a great fortress near Tartarus’s gates to house their warriors. The dragons nested in the desert to the south, but many also roamed the world. Some would fly with griffins, some would fight alongside the minotaurs and wolves, and still others spent their time gathering rare and unique things, learning all they could. “It was during this time period that the minotaur Pyoiopxoc discovered rune magic when working with the dragon Firescale. How they discovered this is unknown, but it was widely believed they received the help of one of the Firstborn, or perhaps a creator. Regardless, following Pyoiopxoc’s discovery his home, Labyrinthine, used rune magic to improve their city and gain an edge in their conflicts. They would come to subjugate all the other minotaur city states. It was thus that the Empire was created. Epistaties stopped and looked up at the crowd which was enraptured by his tale. Everyone was coming to terms with what they’d heard; the most uplifting and terrifying of these was the existence of the Firstborn. They once had a guide, but where was she now? Drake considered the implication of this as well; had the Firstborn died? What of the Canyon Wolves? Did they still live or had they perished under Discord? Flim and Flam wrestled privately with the knowledge the Celestia was not as timeless as they had thought, but perhaps she just wasn’t known to the others because she had been elsewhere in the world. For Spike, however, this was at once something amazing and terrifying. He was learning so much that he knew Twilight would love to know; so much that would horrify her at the same time. Most of all, he was struck by just how much had been lost, and would have been forever lost had Epistaties not been cursed. Seeing that everyone needed some time to rest and come to terms with what he’d said, Epistaties decided to end his tale for the night. “I think that is enough excitement for one day. Make yourselves at home, but please don’t take anything off the library shelves. If you feel the need to leave the building do not leave the plaza around the library. The golems, as you saw, are acting of their own accord. While they might not look like it, they are more than capable of knocking you out of the sky.” Drake, Spike and the Cider Twins walked out first, going to their own auditorium. Epistaties followed them out, going to his chambers elsewhere in the library to reunite with his bed after millennia of separation. The griffins, however, remained awake long after the others left, discussing what they had learned and speculating on what would come next. The next morning, Drake awoke, went onto the plaza to take in the new day, and to find a place to empty his bladder. When he exited the library he saw Epistaties standing in the plaza, unmoving, with his staff resting on the ground. Before Drake could ask if there was anything resembling a restroom anywhere nearby, Epistaties launched into a series of motions that looked not unlike martial arts. His arms and legs moved with a surprising amount to speed and control, the kind Drake had not thought the old minotaur capable of. Drake waited, forgetting about his bladder as he watched, gaining respect for the old geezer as he flowed through his movements. When Epistaties finished, he took a deep breath before picking up his staff and heading back to the door. “Well hello dragon. Do you commonly spy on people in the morning?” “What? No, I was looking for someplace to empty my bladder. Thought you’d prefer I didn’t use the books,” Drake replied, remembering why he had been outside in the first place. “Why don’t you just use the restroom inside the library?” Epistaties asked as if it should have been obvious to Drake. “Wait, the Empire had indoor plumbing that could handle dragons?” Drake asked, astonished. He never would’ve thought it possible. Epistaties sighed, being faced once again with the reality that much of what once was is no more. “Yes. Come with me and I will show you.” Epistaties paused and scratched at his freshly trimmed beard. “I suppose that I should put a sign up since everyone else will have a similar need once they wake.” Several hours and one procession to the bathroom later, the visitors were again assembled in the auditorium housing the griffins. Everyone was busy eating food they’d brought in with them while waiting for Epistaties to come in and continue telling his tale. The griffins primary chewed on a variety of jerky made from their various preys. Flim and Flam ate what fruit they had left. The dragons ate raw meat from kills made during the trek to Forum. Even while eating, many of those there were multitasking as they waited. Spike and Drake were off to one side attempting to further Drake’s literacy. Flim and Flam talked animatedly, food spraying out their mouths, about possible new inventions they should try to build. Swiftwing, having already finished her food, talked with her warriors as they ate about establishing lookouts and patrols around the building, expecting to be remaining in the library for some time. Eagle-Eye was whispering to Muninn between bites, discussing what they had learned the previous day. Ensuring it was all added to the record so it could be shared with the rest of the griffins when the opportunity arose. Epistaties entered the room, a hush following him as he walk down to the stage where a chair sat waiting for him. His staff tapped the ground as he walked, but today he had an energy about him. An aura of strength he lacked before. As he mounted the stage, all eyes followed him. His audience moved to fill in the rows closest to him, the dragons taking up the aisle. Epistaties took a deep breath before finally beginning. “Yesterday I told you of the Firstborn and how the Empire was founded. Today I will tell you how it became unified, and how the fall began. I will tell you everything I know.” “After the minotaur were unified under the rule of the Makrýkératos of Labyrinthine. Tauros took up residence in the city, offering guidance and advice to any who proved worthy. During this time, much work was done to develop runes for use to improve daily life. Minotaur cities began to have flowing water, sewage systems, stoves that did not require wood, and lights that burned without fire. Contact was made between the griffins and the fledgling Empire. Early on the two entities traded resources and knowledge peacefully. “But this peace was not to last. Kókkino̱n-matió̱n Makrýkérato, the third Emperor, decided that rather than trade with the griffins and interact with their queens and kings as an equal, they should all bow before him. Kókkino̱n-matió̱n’s war for conquest lasted one hundred years. It ended with a victory by his forces at the lonely mountain which would later become the sight of High Wind Eerie. A great fortress and gateway to the Empire’s north.” Epistiaties held up his hand to calm down the riled griffins. The thought that they had been beaten by minotaurs, who from their experience were never much of an opponent, hurt their pride. “Now, this war was not short and Kókkino̱n-matió̱n convinced several of the smaller griffin kingdoms to join him willingly which, when combined with the rune magic they possessed but the other races did not, allowed for their eventual victory. “If it is any consolation Kókkino̱n-matió̱n died just a year after his victory. Rather than break free, the griffins used his death as an opportunity to gain power within the Empire, and established themselves in some of the most important positions with the crowning of Sídero-oplí̱ Makrýkérato. Shortly after the end of the war, but before Kókkino̱n-matió̱n’s death, a griffin party formed by Zephyr, who had remained impartial during the war, stumbled upon the rift in which the Canyon Wolves dwelt. With his ascension, Sídero-oplí̱ personally lead an expedition at the behest of Tauros to meet with the Canyon Wolves. It was at this meeting that the existence of Tartarus was made known to all in the Empire. Sídero-oplí̱, fearing what dwelt within, offered the Canyon Wolves a place in the Empire. The wolves would receive troops and food; in return the Empire would receive stone, gems, and metals from the mines of the wolves. It was thus 5000 years after the first minotaur cities were founded, the nucleus of the Empire was formed. Minotaur and bovines, griffins and bird, and Canyon Wolves and canines formed the Empire, with the dragons coming and going as they pleased, some helping, some having to be killed, and others being completely disinterested. For the next 1000 years the Empire, which adopted the name The Grand Empire of Order, expanded and explored the world. Twice during this time period the Empire found and sealed Tartarus incursions. Oddly enough, these were also the only times the dragons came together as a unified force. They fought with the soldiers of the Empire. It was at the end of this time period the zebras first appeared. Where they came from we do not know. The first zebra came from the far south, beyond the desert that the dragons kept as their own. At first, they were not trusted, especially when they displayed that they had their own form of magic. In time, they forged a friendship with the roaming buffalo and would eventually become just as large a part of the Empire as the other races.” As he told his story, the light around Epistaties started to bend and weave until it displayed the images of his story. Epistaties now paused, taking a break and drinking some water that had been placed on the stage for him. “I propose we take a short intermission before the next part. I recommend everyone stretch out and come back ready to continue the story.” At his suggestion everyone left the auditorium and began exploring, some to the restrooms, the warriors and Swiftwing to check potential lookout spots, and Drake, like many others, followed Epistaties, intent on asking some questions, only to find himself a part of a guided tour. Spike went back to the auditorium he was sharing with Drake and the Cider Twins to write all he could into his journal He knew he wouldn’t remember it all by the time he once again saw his pony friends. A short while later, everyone was once again in the griffin’s auditorium, feeling much better and ready for the story to continue. Their excitement was palpable in the air. Epistaties was on the stage, looking over the whole crowd, and doing his best to make eye contact with everyone before beginning. “Five-hundred years after the arrival of the zebra, two very important events happened. The first was the discovery of a Tartarus incursion that dwarfed all others in what would become the Equestrian Province. The second was the arrival of the three pony tribes. The incursion saw the whole of the Empire mobilized for war, and even then it was not enough. The dragons joined in as always, but the tide was seemingly endless. After two-hundred years without victory, Tauros and Zephyr joined the fray with all the cerberi, aside from the Cerberus herself. Even Hades stirred, though he did not wake. The Empire fought them to a standstill, and was becoming desperate for a way to break in when it discovered the ponies. “They had come from someplace far away; each by a different means. Upon arriving, they had begun to fight one another until what they fled found them again. After their leaders found themselves incapacitated, their second in commands took over and defeated their enemy. In doing so, they worked a powerful magic that was not fully understood, but was felt by all. After that event, teams were sent out to find them and bring them into the Empire. At first, the pony tribes baulked. Once we showed them what we faced and offered to help them build their cities, they committed themselves to us. “With their help, we turned the tide and sealed the breach between our world and Tartarus once again. For a time the Empire prospered as never before. It was in this time of prosperity, I was born in this city of Forum, the greatest center of research and learning in all the Empire. It was founded when the dragon Sterling Tongue told the Empire’s scientists and mages about a place where magic leaked into the air. At first, there was fear that it was a sight of an impending Tartarus incursion, but that was quickly laid to rest. Instead Forum was built on this site to study that confluence of magic energies. This library served as the center of the city, and is built many stories both above and below the ground. Around this library were four universities. The University of the Arcane, the University of the Mundane, the University of the Society, and the University of the Individual, I hope the names of the university are enough to tell you what they studied. Regardless, that is not important right now. “I grew up, and through great dedication and study became the Lord High Enchanter of the Imperial Library, in which I am now telling you this story. “While the Empire prospered, a threat was growing. The Empire was dedicated to order, this you must understand. In this dedication we had developed a method and way for all things. It reached the point nothing was unexpected, and life was completely ordered across the Empire. At some point in this time, Discord came into being. If he was the child of someone practicing dark magic or the world seeking balance, no one knows. What is known is there were signs of his rise to power that were ignored: the disturbance of magic in the Everlasting Wood, the sightings of strange monsters, and many others, but we were blind. They did not sound as though spawned by Tartarus so we ignored the threat. Then there was the swarm. Strange creatures that could reproduce asexually and had an insatiable appetite. It was then that every leader of the Empire was called to Labyrinthine to seek advice from Tauros. I was on my way, late due to a broken axle, when Discord struck. He sunk the entire city and all its people into the ground. The ground itself was transmuted to melted chocolate. Everyone in the city died, including Tauros. I was there as the first of the fallen emerged from the city, lead by their own Firstborn. Grendel the Pale Orge, Hera the Raging Harpy, Sirius the Grasping Diamond Dog, and the Black Queen, Stealer of Hearts. These five would lead the armies of chaos and served as Discord’s lieutenants. “I fled the scene and began to rally those I could to me. Fortunately, I was not alone. In response to the death of Tauros, Zephyr was waiting for me here when I returned, the griffins answering her call. Cerberus had sent her own and the wolves to this place as well. Most surprising of all, Hades was in the field outside the city, along with all the dragons of the world. Ponies and zebra streamed in steadily and it was with this force, led by a righteous and vengeful Hades, that we struck back. “Every time Discord corrupted a city we struck back. But slowly the races were being poisoned. Minotuars who became lethargic turned into ogres. Griffins that became angry morphed to harpies. Any Canyon Wolf that sought to keep goods for him or herself became a Diamond Dog. Any pony or zebra that lusted found themselves a changeling. The dragons alone seemed unaffected. They fought alongside Hades at every turn, reveling in his actions. To combat this slow attrition, I worked with many others to develop and distribute a cure or vaccine to Discord’s corrupting influence. The day we succeeded he struck us here. For a week he battered the city, for a week I maintained a shield powered by the confluence that gave rise to Forum. In the space outside the city, his armies clashed with the Empire’s as both sides took horrendous losses. On the seventh day we managed to smuggle the vaccine out, and Hades tore off one of Discords wings. “That moment of triumph was short lived. Discord retaliated by taking one of Hades’ wings for his own. In that moment, he cursed me through the barrier, and quit the field. My memories end with the lowering of the shield that night and the retreat of our forces. I can only assume, by your presence here, the vaccine worked and through some means Discord was eventually defeated.” Epistaties finished his story and the room was silent; no one moved or said a word. Spike knew firsthand what Discord was like, and Drake knew from having watched it. The rest were faced with the knowledge that for all they had learned, many questions still remained. Eagle-Eye went up and thanked Epistaties before going off to talk with him. The rest of the assemblage went about the rest of their day, all the while coming to terms with what they had heard. Drake went for some fresh air. Spike followed. * * * * * * * * * *