//------------------------------//
// Prologue 
// Story: Prisoner 
// by Hearts n Hooves 
//------------------------------//

	“It’s time I head off,” said the pegasus Archaic Smile. “I w-wouldn’t want to be late for the train.”
He and his mother, Kind Smile, were sitting together in their luxurious living room in their home in Canterlot. The estate had belonged to their family for generations and was well furnished, decorated with various relics and antiques from all lands that Kind Smile and her husband, Big Grin, had acquired on their expeditions. Verily, Archaic Smile was the first in decades who wanted a new home.
“Then you’d best be prepared, my boy,” said Archaic Smile’s father as he entered the room.
“I am,” Archaic Smile replied. “My things are already b-by the door.”
He noticed the despair seeping from his mother’s eyes; it was the despair of a mother who feared to let her child go.
“Mom,” he murmured, mustering a feeble smile. “I’ll be fine. You needn’t worry.”
“I know,” she said. “But what am I going to do without my little knight?”
“You’ll send letters,” Archaic Smile answered. “And I’ll be able to tell you all about m-my adventures in Ponyville.”
“Not at this rate, you won’t,” Big Grin said. “Off you go!”
“I love you, too, dad.”
“Your father never liked goodbyes,” said Kind Smile.
“They get in the way of the adventure and excitement of travelling,” Big Grin remarked. “Come on, son. We’ll see you off.”
Archaic Smile lifted his saddlebag onto his back and stepped outside onto the estate’s porch, stopping at the top of the flight of stairs that led to the cobblestone streets of Canterlot. His parents followed, and for a while they stood in silence together, communicating through each others’ eyes.
“I d-don’t want to be late,” Archaic Smile finally said.
“Good luck, Arc,” said his father. “Send word once you’ve established yourself.”
“You can count on it,” he replied, turning to his mother. “Mom.”
“My baby, Ser Arc, is an adult now,” she said, thinking aloud. “Oh, dear, I’m getting old...”
The three anxiously laughed together for a few seconds.
“I’ll make you proud,” said Archaic Smile.
“You’ve already done that,” Kind Smile replied, and Big Grin nodded in agreement.
“Well... okay,” Archaic Smile murmured. He hugged each of them quickly and took a deep breath. “G-goodbye, for now.”
The pegasus descended the stairs and started down the cobblestone path, donned in a scarf and carrying only what could fit in his saddlebag; before long he was out of sight, hidden by the grand, ancient buildings of Canterlot.
“That’s it,” Kind Smile said. “He’s gone. Do you think he’ll be okay?”
“Of course he will,” Big Grin answered. “He’s like us. Adventurous. He’ll find his way.”