Dawn of the Vanguard

by Mystic Song


Idle Gossip

“Ok is everypony ready?” Twilight said to the gathered ponies around her, on a wagon next to her were the thousands of notes that they had carefully copied from the originals. They had decided to not take the well preserved notes away from their resting places, in fear of accidently destroying the irreplaceable records. They had finally finished retaking the ancient notes, and were ready to go back to Canterlot. Then it was off to the Griffin Lands and from there to the Forsaken Islands.

“Yep we’re all good here." Applejack said testing the ropes that held everything in place, "Let’s get this show on the road.”

“Are you sure that we have everything?" Twilight said looking at her list again. "Maybe we should re-stock everything to make sure…”

“Twi! We have already re-stocked the stock three times already!” Rainbow Dash said, “I sure that we have everything.”

“Rainbow Dash is right dear, I don’t see how we can possible be anymore ready.” Rarity said.

“But can I just…”

“Twilight!” Rainbow Dash shouted.

“Ok fine," Twilight said getting into position, "Everypony get as close to the cart as you can! This is going to be a bumpy ride.”

“What do you mean bumpy?” Rainbow Dash asked.

“Well this is the first time I have ever teleport so many ponies and things such a far distance," Twilight said as her horn started to glow, "It should be fine if not a little bit bumpy.”

“Oh my, are you sure about this?” Fluttershy asked.

“Don’t worry Fluttershy, I am the element of magic." Twilight said with a smug grin, "You won’t feel anything.”

Twilight’s horn glowed brighter and brighter encompassing her friends and the cart in a bright purple glow, then with a loud pop they where gone.

They appeared again in the middle of the flight deck of Canterlot Castle… four feet off the ground.

“What was that about you being the element of magic?” Rainbow Dash said sprawled out on the ground.

“I may have miscalculated a bit," Twilight said while rubbing her horn, "but, what did I say about it being a little bumpy? Everypony is fine so no harm done right?”

Rainbow Dash grumbled darkly.

“That’s the spirit! Now we just have to get this information to Canterlot Castle's vault so that it will be safe. Then we can start filling out the paperwork and packing for our trip to the Griffin lands." Twilight looked over her shoulder to she that her friends where glaring at her, "Of course we can do the paperwork after we get some rest.”

“Twilight, shouldn't we tell our families about all of this?” Applejack said festering to the wagon. “We know how dangerous these humans are, but our families don't, shouldn't we at least warn them about this.”

"Applejack I don't think that's a good idea. If we start telling ponies about what we've found it could cause panic." Twilight replied.

"You know what else is going to start a panic? When swarms of humans start attacking innocent ponies!" Applejack shouted.

"Applejack listen!," Twilight snapped, "If this information gets out it's only going to get in the way of our search! If we have to work around hordes of panicking ponies nothing is going to get done. Promise me that you will tell nopony about what we found."

Applejack glared at Twilight before sighing harshly, "Fine, I will not go off telling random ponies about the humans."

Twilight held her glare before nodding and looking at the rest of her friends, "That goes for the rest of you as well. Nopony outside of our group will know."

Seeing that she had all of her friends promises, Twilight began walking out of the hanger, cart with information in tow and said, "Good. Now let us all get some much needed rest."

The six of them walked away from the dock and deeper into the castle.

Five days later Twilight stood in front of prince Blue Blood. Trying desperately not to start banging her head against a wall.

'How did it go so wrong so fast?

Four days ago they had put all the research they found in the maximum security vault. Nothing was supposed to get in or out. Then she made all of them Pinkie promise not to tell anypony about what they found out about the humans. They all agreed and things were once again going smoothly. Only she, the other element bearers, and the princesses themselves were supposed to know about what exactly humans are and how exactly the humans got their strength.

So how come it seems like everypony in the Canterlot Court now knows about the humans?

Sure they didn’t all know about how the humans got magic, but enough did. Thank the Sun that Luna stopped the ones that did know from telling anypony else. With what she had heard someponies talk about as fact, Twilight was worried about the commotion that the newspapers would cause if they got wind of this.

Now she was going around doing damage control, trying to sort everypony out while making sure that more misinformation wouldn’t be spread.

“…I also want to know how it can be that these creatures that you call humans be able to live among us hidden as ponies for thousands of years. I want to know how you as the princess of magic could have not known that some of the elements of harmony are brainwashed by the humans. Also I want to know the list names of ponies who actually humans...” Blueblood continued to ramble.

…Such as the information that the esteemed Prince Blueblood was currently spreading.

“Blueblood, there are no humans in equestrian pretending to be ponies." Twilight said as she felt another headache come on, "Also, no, the humans don’t have the ability to spread deadly diseases on crops or ponies, or the ability to faze through walls like ghosts and kidnap sleeping foals.”

These fears were ridiculous and no sane pony would have believed them if it wasn’t for one thing.

“But how can you possibly know that?” Blueblood snorted indignantly.

There, that was the problem no matter how hard Twilight tried to calm the ponies around her; she couldn’t exactly prove to them that the humans were not exactly how they imaged them.

Hay, for all she truly knew some of the rumours could be true. At least she got some more ideas how to disarm the humans from the rumours that could be possible. No matter how few those were.

“Blueblood, I know that you have some very important concerns that many of ponies of your court share, but you can’t just keep spreading rumours. Even if I can’t prove all of them to be false that doesn’t mean that all of them are true either.” Twilight tried to reason.

Blueblood snorted loudly, “Well then if you are unable to give me answers I will just have to look elsewhere for them.” He trotted away from her head and tail held high.

He paused to look back at her, "Twilight I will have you know that if I hear that you are withholding information from me, a member of royalty, I will make sure that you will never be able to show your face in Canterlot again. I have many powerful friends. Good day Twilight Sparkle."

Twilight sighed roughly when Blueblood disappeared from her line of sight, she then quickly teleported back into the large room the her and her friends were sharing.

Rarity looked up from her magazine when she saw Twilight enter, “So, how did it go dear?" Rarity winched as Twilight flop on her bed then let out a muffled scream, "I take it not well then?”

Twilight raised her head and looked Rarity in the eyes, “Do you know what one of the things they’re saying now?”

“Whatever it is dear it can’t possible be that bad.” Rarity reasoned.

“Humans tie down ponies and lay their parasitic eggs in their stomachs. Then when the eggs are mature they hatch and the human larva then eats their way out of their host’s stomachs.” Twilight said before planting her head firmly back down into her bed.

“Oh. Well that’s just morbid. Well think about it like this it couldn’t possibly get much worse.” Rarity reassured.

“Ah, Twilight?" Rarity and Twilight looked up to see Applejack walk into the room and take out a newspaper, "ah think ya’ need to see this.”

Twilight teleported over to Apple Jack and took the paper from her, and the stared in shock as she read the title on the front page.

‘DEMONS AMOUNG US? THE PRINCESS’S HIDE THAT THE GATES OF TARTURUS HAD OPENED UP AND RELEASED THE PONY EATTING DEMONS CALLED HUMANS INTO EQUESTRIA’

“Well ya’ have ta’ give it ta’ those reports, they are creative.” Applejack said as she watched Twilight read the page over the page, her jaw slightly slacked.

Twilight ripped her eyes away from the paper, and asked into open air, “How long has this been out?”

“Since early this morning, it’s just a little past noon now.” Applejack said.

Twilight forcefully gave the paper back to Applejack before running to desk and writing a quick letter. After sending the letter away in a blast of purple light she turned back to her friends.

“We need to find Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, and Pinkie Pie. With all the things going on I believe that its best that leave again and start searching for the humans again." Twilight said while making her way over to her bags, "I already informed Luna about our departure.”

“Does that mean…”

“Yes," Twilight said looking up briefly, "First to the Griffin Lands, and then to the Forsaken Islands then to the humans.”

“We got clearance to go?” Rarity asked

“Yep, the monarchies there finally allowed us full clearance to travel as we please. Nothing can stop us now.” Twilight said as she continued to pack.

"Shouldn't we tell Celestia that we're going now?" Rarity asked wondering why Twilight sent a note to Luna.

"Well, normally I would but, I think Celestia is sick or at least is feeling under thd weather so to speak. I tried to get an audience with her but, Luna kept blocking me. If she is really that sick I don't want to bother her too much. It would be better for us to go now and let her get as much rest as possible," Twilight then smiled widely, "Once we get back I can tell Celestia all about the plan that I used and I will have a real live human specimen to show her."

"You didn't tell Celestia about the plan? Isn't that kinda irresponsible like?" Applejack asked.

"Well it would be more irresponsible for me to put all of the plan down," Twilight said with a wave of her hoof, "What if somepony else had read it?"

"Ah, Twilight? Who's going to read the plan, better yet, who do you think is going to get past Celestia like that?" Applejack asked flatly.

"Well it could happen, but that's not the point right now. Right now we should be getting ready to leave, before newspony decides to follow us and find out where we're going. Come on the longer we wait the less time we have to search." Twilight said dragging her suitcase out of their room.

Miles away in the Griffin Lands, close to the shore of the Uncrossed Ocean which was the ocean that was between the Griffin Lands and the Forsaken Islands. A young Griffin was busily mapping out trade roots between different Griffin outposts.

He used his claw to brush his brownish grey feathers away from his face as he tried to get a better look at his map.

It was still early summer which meant that farther he went out on the ocean the more dangerous the waves would get. This meant that he had to sail closer to shore and in turn make him easier prey for pirates.

He sighed, sometimes being a merchant was a real pain in the beak.

“Hey Ashen, are you in there?” A female voice called to him from outside his work shed.

“Yeah, I’m here Ingot.” Ashen said as he went back to re-mapping his trade root.

The door to his shed opened to reveal a golden brown and white griffin. Her dark grey eyes narrowed as she looked over his shoulder.

“So you’re still working on this huh?” Ingot said.

“Well I kind of don’t want to be robed then killed by pirates, so yeah I’m still working on it.” Ashen said as he erased another route.

“You know, it would do you some good to get out of this shed. You know away from all this.” She said making a sweeping gesture over all the maps in the small room.

“Aw sister, you do care.” Ashen said while giving his sister a overly cute puppy dog look.

Ingot stared at his overly cute face in disgust then snorted, “Don’t give me a reason hit you. I got enough already.”

“What makes you think that?” Ashen said while looking over the map.

Ingot paused then side softly, “You still have grandfather’s map.”

Ashen stopped drawing and bore his bright yellow eyes into his sister’s dark grey ones. They held each others gaze neither of them moving or saying a word. Around them birds continued to chirp and the wind blew softly into shed, and they continued to stare.

Then Ashen looked back to his trade root map, and said indifferently, “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Ashen! You can’t keep on believing everything that grandfather said. I agree he told some great stories, but that’s what they were stories. You can’t keep on living your life waiting for some sort of unknown call.” Ingot argued.

“You don’t understand Ingot," Ashen said tearing his eyes away from his map and staring angrily at his sister, "Grandfather asked me to keep the family duty going, and that’s what I’m going to do.”

“Do you even hear yourself Ashen? Family duty. To do what exactly? Wait for what? The call to warn some hidden city that, I may add, no feather other then our family has heard about, that some peaceful as new hatch egg race is going to violently attack them.” Ingot said her own anger rising.

“You know as much as I do that the ponies weren’t always this peaceful.” Ashen snarled.

“Where exactly did you sources that prove that?" Ingot huffed, "Something that a crazy old feather heard from another crazy old feather. And so what if it’s true? If grandfather’s stories are true then if happened way before Celeastia was born. Why the hell would anyone care?”

“Because," Ashen shouted, "history repeats always it’s self! Everyfeather knows that, who’s to say that it can’t happen again?”

Ingot stared her brother down, and held his glare with her own. They had this conversation many times after their grandfather had died, and Ashen decided that he wanted to ‘take up the torch’ of some stupid mission. Who the hell prepares for thousands of years for a fight that probably will never come anyways?

She sighed, “Fine you can continue believing in old griffin tales for all I care," she then turned sincere golden eyes to him, "but can you a least promise me that you will leave this shed for once in a while?”

Ashen glared at her before giving in, “Fine, I leave just let me write some things down.”

“That’s my little bro," Ingot said while rustling the soft feathers of his head, "if you need me I will be in my room.”

Ashen watched as his sister left. He turned back to his map of the coast line, at the corner of his eyes he could see his grandfather’s map hanging on the far wall. He lost focus as he stared at the yellowish map that depicted many a large archipelago surrounded on all sides by raging whirlpools.

‘The Forsaken Islands,' Ashen contemplated to himself, 'or Standing Refuge, depending on who you talk to.’

It had been almost two years since his grandfather had died and three years since his grandfather had asked him to take up the family mission.

Ashen looked up from his musing at the old map his grandfather had given him.

Sighing roughly he turned to leave his small work shed.

Maybe his sister was right, he had been working in here for a number of days now.

‘A little walk never did hurt anyfeather.’ He thought before leaving the shed and heading into the busy town.

Emma tightened the straps on her suitcase once again.

She couldn't believe it tomorrow her class would be going on a three night camp out in the Dividing Woods.

She tighten the same strap again, her pale hands burned slightly at their treatment.

It was a routine trip. Zachary went on it with his friends. Even her mom went on the trip with her dad when she was her age. So there was nothing to worry about.

So why did she feel so nervous?

Emma opened her suitcase again and mentally went over all the things she needed to pack. Satisfied she close the large suitcase and tightened the straps again.

So what if it would be the first time she left the city? Zachary left the city hundreds of times before and he was fine. So what if she still couldn't fly on feathered wings? Neither could Zachary at her age and he figured out how to do it on his own. So what if it would be the longest she had ever been away from home? Zachary left for months at a time and he aways came back fine.

Like how her mom said her dad had did doing his job studying the Dividing Woods. Her father always had came back with something new to show them.

Then one day he and Zachary went out and only Zachary came back.

Everyone said the her father would have been strong enough, quick enough, smart enough to save himself.

But he wasn't by himself that day.

Through heavy mud and grime surrounded by useless black feather wings, flawed crystal blue eyes cried.

Emma shook head and tighten the straps again.

She couldn't think about that. She was going to camp out with her friends. She was going to rub her prize in Michelle's face after they won the scary story contest. And she was going to have fun.

She got up and looked at her clock, it was getting late. Her mother would be calling her down for dinner soon.

Emma dragged her suitcase to her bedroom door. Before smacking her face a couple times.

She had nothing to worry about.

Who gets in trouble during camp out anyways?

"Don't worry Emmy." A frighteningly deep, but always gentle voice had once said, "Who gets in trouble on a routine trip aways?"

Emma ripped open her bags and checked them again.

Just in case.

“So did you hear?” A light grey griffin in amour asked a dark brown griffin sitting beside him at a bar counter.

“About what?”

“Apparently Princess Celestia’s apprentice and a number of other ponies are going to be coming through town soon. They even asked every monarch for the ability to pass through their lands freely. It’s got every soldier on edge.”

“Damn why the hell would they want to come here for.”

“Grapevine says that they want to cross the sea and go to the forsaken Islands.” The grey griffin said while taking a sip of his drink.

“I ask again, why the hell do they want to go out there?” The brown griffin said taking another drink.

“I’m not sure but, it has something to do with categorizing animals. Who knows what weird ass creatures are living in that fucked up place.”

Their conversation was disturbed by the sudden sound of tables flipping over and glass shattering on the ground mixed with loud shrieks from the over griffins in the tavern.

The dark brown griffin looked behind him at the mess in the tavern and asked, “What was that about?”

“I don’t know," the other griffin shrugged, "I think it was that guy, Ashen was it? He just freaked and ran out.”

The armoured grey griffin snorted, “Knowing that family it’s probably nothing.” He then tossed back the rest of his drink.

Ashen ran back to his shed, he crashed through the old wooden door shattering it in the process. He then proceeded to pull his late-grandfather's map off its mantle place and dropped it on his work bench.

He had to hurry.

He knew that going at a steady pace with magic the princess’s apprentice could be at his seaside town in less then two weeks. That gave him a week and a couple of days to cross the sea, enter the Forsaken Islands without dying, find the humans and tell them about the upcoming danger, and get back without the anyfeather knowing.

He knew that doing this would be hard and that his sister would kill him if she found out.

But he couldn’t let his grandfather down; especially now that he knew that his grandfather wasn’t some crazy oldfeather like everyone said.

Ashen finished packing his bags and ran to his merchant ship to set sail. If all went well he would be on the Forsaken Islands this time tomorrow. With his boat ready and ancestral map held grimly in a shaking claw he departed into the night on dark waters.

Four days earlier in Ponyville, Big Mac was hard at work apple bucking. Since Apple Jack had left to go on some adventure with the other element bearers he had to do all the heavy work on the farm as Apple Bloom was still too young to do any heavy work.

He was about to buck another tree when he heard the tell-tale flapping of a pegasus’s wings. He looked up in time to see a grey pegasus mare slam into him at full force.

“Ooh, I so sorry Big Mac, I just don’t know what went wrong.” She said as she got to her hooves.

“It’s nothing Derpy," Big Mac said while dusting him self off, "but yah should be more careful.”

“Aw shucks you don’t need to worry about me," Derpy said while trying to uncross her eyes and failing, "Anyways here’s a letter from Apple Jack, straight from Canterlot, it’s labelled as a speed delivery so it must be important.”

“Thanks Derpy.” Big Mac said taking the letter from her, "Now you have a good day yah hear?”

“Thanks I will.” Derpy said while she flew away.

Big Mac waited until she was gone before opening the letter. Truth be told he was worried about Apple Jack this was the longest she had been away from the farm without him hearing about her, and true be told he was getting worried. So a large smile was on his face as he read the letter from his baby sister.

Slowly the smile on his face started to fade as he read on. At the end of the letter there wasn’t a trace of his earlier happiness on his face. He stared at the letter in shock before holding it with his mouth and running to the farmhouse.

Applejack would never lie to him.

Which made what she wrote all the more terrifying.

If she thought that these humans were this dangerous...then he needed to restock their panic shelter. He also needed to warn the other Apple family members about this.

No creature no matter how strong would be taking a bite out of his family as long as he was alive.

After all, an Apple has to protect his family.