> What I Once Was
>  by Blue Sparks
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> Chapter One
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What I Once Was

Day 1; Year 1,
It has been a long, harsh journey ever since I left the Galloping Gorge Forest, and I am afraid that my journey is still far from over. Once I had made my way around the cliff I decided it would be best to head East. I reached a small village a few miles from the gorge where I stopped for the night. The sun was beginning to set and I found a small abandoned barn to rest in. Half of the barn was torn to pieces and the harsh winter winds blew fiercely and I was sure I was to freeze to death, should I stay out any longer. I’m not sure how much longer I could keep any of this up, I had nowhere to go. But I was better off than how I was at home. I pulled out my small lantern I had brought with me, lighting it as to give a small sense of warmth in the cold dark night. After what I believed was an hour, I found myself numb and sure that the end was close. Then I heard a soft thud in the snow, the sound of a hoof sliding the broken door open and out came the rusty voice of a stallion. It was quiet but strong and wise, as the voice of a true leader. I cracked an eye open, tearing eyelashes as the frost had kept them shut. I saw a grey older stallion with wise golden eyes staring down at me. He lifted a hoof and I hastily took it. He took me back to a small house where I was able to escape the ferocious winds and warm myself back to health. He told me he was a traveler known as Starswirl and told me that he was headed to the Crystal Empire to enhance his knowledge on the lore of the Crystal Heart. He told me of it’s power and the power of the happiness in the Crystal Ponies which reflected onto all of Equestria. It was a fascinating tale, one I soon found myself dying to learn more about. Starswirl explained that this was all he knew of the place and I pleaded to the stallion to let me join him to the Crystal Empire. Of course he rejected me, that I was too young and naïve to even consider joining him. I had a lot to learn, and I wanted him to teach me. He noted my dedication and finally agreed. We are to set out tomorrow at dawn where we will head to Neighagra falls to meet with the traveling merchants and restock our supplies.

Day 2; Year 1
I had vivid nightmares last night. I pictured a dark figure upon a shining throne. There was a single light beaming down on what I presumed to be a stallion, though I could not make out any details, aside from the dark red horn and the green glowing eyes. His very being depicted violence and corruption; pure terror. The sky outside had been a pale yellow, black clouds hanging above that looked ready to fall from the sky and crush anyone and everyone beneath them. The whole scene was…depressing and overall terrifying. Nothing happened throughout the dream. Just the figure on the throne, staring right at me, as if staring right into my soul. I heard the soft mumbling of a voice, sure that it was trying to speak to me but I could not make it out. This seemed to last forever. Occasionally it would blink but nothing changed throughout the dream. Was this a sign? A sign that I will inevitably fail in my journey? I am not certain.
We set out after a small breakfast of apples and ground oats. ‘Good for endurance of hunger when you are rationing food’ says Starswirl. I do not mind at all, for it has been days since my last meal. After walking for a few miles we were confronted by a hulking stallion that seemed to be blocking our path. His coat was a pale orange, ruffled up with patches sticking out in all directions. His eye was blackened and he had a scar down the left side of his muzzle. With his magic he held up a sharp dagger and told Starswirl to hand over everything. In a fantastic display, Starswirl whipped the dagger out of the stallion’s magical grip with his own. The dagger began to shimmer, the metal melting into a liquid that yet seemed to be held solid. The metal stretched out and became more defined. Once it had stretched and settled in, it solidified into a gleaming blade. I was astonished, nopony, not even my own father could perform spells like this! Starswirl whipped the blade in front of the pale orange stallion, startling him and causing him to flee like a wee filly. I had never been so amazed in my life. Starswirl then explained to me that he had been studying magic ever since he had been able to walk, learning to cast spells like these by the time he had turned my age. I must say he is quite impressive. I plan to ask him to teach me as we continue our adventure. I want to learn more from him. Magic is my entire life; there is no greater gift in life than the ability to cast spells. He simply must teach me.

Day 3; Year 1
We were traveling all day and still it seemed we were not even close to our destination. We settled in for the night and made a fireplace. Huddled around the fire, we stared up at the sky and Starswirl began naming all of the constellations and their history. It was all so interesting how stars can hold so many tales. I decided that it was my chance to ask him to become my mentor. After a long silence he agreed, but on the condition that I do not disobey or complain about the lessons. I agreed, for I would rather die than have any other unicorn be my mentor.

Day 5; Year 1
We had traveled for days but at last we finally made it to Neighagra Falls. At the top of the giant waterfall was where the merchants were camped. It seemed they have trekked all the way from the badlands to here in less than a week. It was an impressive feat, due to the fact that they lug those giant tents on wheels around everywhere they go. Starswirl made his purchases, foods and rare magic artifacts. I did not expect anything from the stallion until he hoofed me a dusty white book known as the Tale of the Elements of Harmony.  It spoke of six spirits who formed this world and the power of friendship that they used to disperse of all evil inside of it. The whole concept was interesting enough, though I doubt such strength can come from a friendship. It seemed childish. Starswirl agreed but the stallion does not doubt the possibility. On the other hoof it seems that with the book he had also bought a few spell scrolls. I asked him what spells they were and asked him if he would teach them to me. He only scoffed when I asked.
We established camp a few yards from the merchants as they did not trust us. They slept in shifts, always having someone watching us from afar. I do not blame them; in a world like this it’s hard to trust anyone.

Day 6-7; Year 1
I had another nightmare last night, the same dream except this time the voice was clearer. He asked me a question; that I am certain of. I can’t remember what he asked though. The only thing I remember next was the flash of gleaming white teeth with fangs and a long bellowing laughter that seem to shake the entire dream, giving me a huge headache. I do not know what these mean or why I keep having them, but I am certain that bad things would surely come soon.
The merchants left at dawn, still glaring at us as they walked by, expecting a surprise attack of some sorts no doubt. Once they were out of sight, Starswirl began my lessons. Teaching me to control my magic to a constant stream to where I would not get tired so easily when I would normally force the magic when needed. We began learning levitation spells in which I was tasked to lift a small tulip from the earth without removing the roots. It was a ridiculous question to ask of me. It is the winter and all flowers die with it’s arrival. Starswirl only chuckled at my statement and then proclaimed that nature never dies; it only rests. And with that he cleared a small field of magic and with it the snow’s removal small white delicate tulips sprouted all around us. I should not have been surprised but he never seizes to amaze me. The task was tedious and took hours but after several attempts I found myself twirling a fully grown non-damaged tulip in front of me. I was expecting a compliment but I was only given my next task, to plant the tulip back where it was. If I failed, it only meant repeating my levitation process. There was also a punishment if I failed; Starswirl would leave me behind and journey on his own. The sun was beginning to set and I had gone through sixteen dandelions by then, still with no luck. It was all so complicated, like stabbing a parasprite with a needle a mile away. I was exhausted and fatigued by midnight and I found myself swaying, it was hard to keep even one eye open and I felt as if my joints were frozen. I must have passed out and that’s when I had a vivid dream. It was flashing pictures, moving so fast, yet if I were to focus on one of them, time seemed to slow down. It was a young stallion traveling through the bitter snow, shivering in the night air, finding it hard to walk. He looked starved like a deserted animal and soon collapsed into the snow. I looked closer and realized that this stallion was I. I was going to die if I failed and I was not going to let that happen. I awoke with a start, certain that dawn was only a few hours away. I quickly got back to work. Every attempt was a failure, yet I still tried. I was not going to die like a rat in an abandoned house. No I was going to live and see myself become one of the greatest ponies this land has ever seen. The sun soon peaked over the hills and still not one replaced was replanted perfectly. After no less than half an hour, Starswirl awakened. I was certain this was goodbye, and yet he seemed proud. He told me that I had failed the task but my determination was what he was really looking out for. He has allowed me to stay with him and for that I am truly thankful.