A Kirin Stallion named Jacko had been taken away from his home and now tries to find a way to get back!
far beyond equestria was a island that told of unseen riches as far the eye can see, Treasure hunters and adventurers try to find this island but always come up empty hooves. however there were residents on that island and a colt named Jacko was one of them, but one day his life would change in one fell swoop.
You have enter the Tavern from a town in equestria, It was Raining hard and you needed a place to stay, so you head up to the stallion bartender for a room and he told you to stop.
"Apparently this place is already full." He said, he was wiping a stain off of a glass cup as he spoke. "You have to wait a moment before you can get a room."
You sigh and walk to an empty table at a corner of the tavern, when you sat down two small glass cups of cider levitated in front of you. When you look around you see a Pony with a dark cloak looking at you, you couldn't see his face because his hoof was up and covering it.
"You look like a pony who have a lot of time on his hooves, why don't you take a drink and we could chat?" The stranger said in a deep voice.
Not waiting for you permission The Stranger sat down in his seat facing in front of you, then he magically levitated the cider and drank it, at least you knew he was a unicorn.
"Did your parents ever tell you it's rude to stare?" The stranger coughs and took another swig of cider. "But anyhow, you look like a traveler, but Judging on how you look not a good one."
The Stranger took one last gulp and sigh. "I knew many Travelers, adventures, even Famous treasure hunters. They all went to distant lands to find great pieces of history and vast riches. But its all the same story, they find some map, go to a Jungle, desert, or whatever. and find and get the treasure."
Then the hooded figure lean towards you. "What if I told you that I knew somepony who had vast riches within his grasp, and he didn't even know it existed?..."
You look at the stranger with confusion yet curiosity, you look around the tavern and still saw the bartender tending to customers.
"So, you want to hear the story?" The cloak figure asked as he took your cup.
You look at him for a moment, then you slowly nod your head.
"Good, now sit back, This is a long one and I'm only gonna tell it once." The stranger took another drink and straighten himself
"Now we heard of stories of adventurers and Treasure hunters going to far away lands to find great riches and history, those stories are fun and but have you ever heard of a story of great riches in your own backyard? Now let me tell you that there is such a story, but one that might end the way you might not expect. In the great seas beyond equestria there is an island of untold riches and fortune, many adventurers and treasure seekers tried to find this treasure but failed many, many times. Soon The island became a legend, then legend became myth, and myth became to a simple story, a story of a island full of gold. But hear my words for they are all true, for there is one part of the story that had not been told."
As he said all of this his hooves made swaying motion like he telling a story to fillies and colts.
"It's a Story about a small colt who will become the greatest adventurer that ever lived!...well the greatest adventurer to me that is, this story is not widely told. Anyways this small colt was named Jacko, yes I know not a common pony name but he was no ordinary pony! He is a mysterious race called a Kirin which was the residents of the island, Yes The island was not 'undiscovered' it already had ponies living in it. But besides that I think it would be best for the story to be from the eyes of our protagonist."
You look at him with utter confusion but he kept going.
"But before we can get into that a little history lesson is in order, you see the Island is full of kirin but also other races you find in equestria. so you can expect that there may be some....differences between them all, and they got in a scuffle of who should rule the island which in my opinion is a horrible way to live together, but they all had a war. The unicorns use there magic to cause great damage and change the whole interior of the island. Earth ponies lead great charges and use there might to push their enemy's back. Pegasuses patrol the sky and cause rainstorms to slow down the competition. But the kirin, they were clever, Instead of fighting they waited, they use their magic to hide themselves and let the chaos loose around them. But when it died down they rounded up all the ponies and force them to surrender and to stop the war."
then he took another gulp of his cider before continuing.
"30 or so years have past since the war and the island was ruled by the Kirin who gave martial law and order. They wanted took keep the island safe from outsiders so they created a powerful fog from magic of unknown origin, covering the whole island. It is said that if you try to enter the fog, you just come back out to the open sea like you just pass through it. the same goes for the islanders, if they try to pass the fog, they just come back to the island."
The stranger stopped and looked down for a moment, almost as if in sadness.
"But then when the years went by, all the islanders forgot that the magical fog even existed, they lived their lives as if it was any normal day for them. But fate as ways to show great wonders to the ones who are deemed worthy."
And with that the stranger leap out and touch your forehead, your mind started to become fuzzy and the whole building started spinning, then in a few moments, you blackout.
The sky was clear today and the sun was giving it's sweet warmth all around the place, the waves were crashing against the shore creating soothing music for all to hear. It was peaceful on this beautiful Island but you could hear the sound of metal clashing against one another. In the mountains, high in the sky was a village, and at the highest point of the mountain was a palace. In the palace was the kirins, they were sparring against one another with swords, spears, and other weaponry.
One kirin was sparring against a much larger kirin, both were wearing clad armor and helmets, The larger kirin thew the little one far but it landed on all fours and rush back to the large Kirin.
"Steady now, watch your stance and keep your head up!' Instructed the large Kirin who was deflecting all the blows from the smaller kirin.
The smaller kirin kept pounding away but was not able to get through, eventually the bigger kirin grab the kirin again and threw him flat on its back, making its helm off to reveal a set of horns and a dirty brown main. The kirin got up slowly rubbing the back of his head in pain.
"Your being reckless, if you keep attacking sooner or later the enemy will learn your movement and use it against you." The larger kirin took his helmet off and show a dark black main with one horn on his head, he also had a grey coat, he look at the pony on the ground and chuckle. "C'mon son get up, let's do one more and you can go home to your mother."
"Man dad can we Just get it over with?" The pony look at his father and wince in pain. "I think you broke something..."
"Jacko you know better than to call me that." His father said in a hard tone, looking at him with a stern gaze.
"S-sorry, Sir Trite can we please take a break sir!" The pony said as he got up to attention.
"Yes we may, get our gear back to their proper place Jacko then meet me at the gate." Trite said with a smile, giving his gear to Jacko as he patted his head and trotted off to the other kirin recruits.
A few Hours later Jacko finish putting away his and his dad training gear and met him at the grand gates of the palace. the whole palace was made out of a reddish rock that grow blacks when it's hot during the day and shines when it's cool at night. Or so that how he has been told.
Trite look at Jacko and nodded his head in approval. "You got everything put away?"
"Mhm, even the heavy training armor got easier to lift!" Jacko smiled with triumph.
"Good now let's get you home, your mother does not like it when your late for dinner." Trite started walking down the steps of the palace, Jacko following close behind him.
From the great palace on the mountain there was a smaller village near the shore, In this village there is little to no kirin in sight, the village is full of earth ponies, Pegasus and unicorns going on there day happily and in harmony. When Jacko and his father went into the village they were greeted with friendly faces.
"Do you remember why we Train Jacko?" His father asked as he waved at a pony passing by.
"To protect them from anything bad?" Jacko look at his father with a raised eyebrow. "Why else would we get our butts kicked all the time during training, Just to give them a show?"
His father hit him on the head. "Yes and no, we do train to protect these ponies but also we train so that there is always peace, we need to stay strong and firm to keep them in place, if one pony pony does something bad, surely more will follow." Trite said in a very serious tone.
Jacko look around him and look at the ponies, all he could see was happy faces and friendly gestures. How can anypony do anything bad?
In a few moments they approach a small building that looks like a school, but this school had large backyard full of ponies doing activities and magic. As they approach the main door it swung open and a short, angry looking mare The same Black main as his father but had a Light green coat, Just like Jacko.
"Where have you been? Your 10 minutes late for dinner!" The mare growled deeply at them.
"N-now hun, we can't be that late! The sun hasn't se-" Trite was cut off by the mares
"I'm Just teasing you two! It's great to you again Trite, I see you didn't go easy on our baby boy again hmm?" She smirked at Jacko who was blushing.
"Mom....I told you I'm not a baby anymore, I'm 15!" He said with a pout on his face.
"Oh I know, but you will always be my baby boy~" She pulled Jacko into a big hug and nuzzled his face, making him blush deeper.
"Well I be going Rose, Goodnight Jacko, keep practicing your stance!" And with that Trite walk away while Jacko and his mother wave goodbye.
"My you look filthy, C’mon I got a hot bath ready for you upstairs." She studied his face and shook her head.
"Mom....."
"Oh I know I know, your not a baby, Just get yourself cleaned up and get ready for dinner, c'mon now go, go!" She sighed and made a motion with her hoof to go, He did what he was told.
After dinner Jacko went to his room for bed, he was exhausted from the workout he had with his dad but stayed up to watch the sun set and the moon to rise, his roof had a skylight and he could see all the stars in the sky. Jacko loved his home and all the ponies who lived here, he always thought that when he grows up he will be a great soldier like his father, protecting the innocent and helping those who can't help themselves. But little did he know that that night, everything in his life would change forever.
Jacko woke up in shock, hearing a ear-piercing scream in the night. He bolted up from his bed and headed to his door. When he opens it he stared in shock, fire was going through the school and the students were running around screaming.
“Mom? Mom!? What's going on!?” He tried to call out but there was no answer. All that welcome him was fire and chaos.
As he started to search for an exit there was another piercing scream, but it was closer. Jacko look towards the direction of the scream and saw a stallion dragging away a small filly.
What the heck is he doing!? He thought, quite surprise. I have to stop him!
So he ran towards them, the closer he got there the more of his confusion grows. The stallion was wearing ragged clothes and had a weird looking sword sheathed at his side. When Jacko got close enough the stallion finally notice him, dropping the foal to face him.
“Ay! What ye think your doing eh? Ye be better to walk away or ye be getting hurt!” The stallion threaten Jacko, or so Jacko thought he did.
Ye? What kind of word is that? But Jacko didn't had time to think that, he got down low and let out a growl at the stallion, who was taken aback of Jacko’s courage.
“Oh so ye think you can take me? Well I oughta teach ye a lesson!” The stallion head glow, showing Jacko that he was a unicorn and unsheathe his sword. Jacko look at it but didn’t move an inch, he kept low and growl at the unicorn.
The stallion spat and charge Jacko, swinging the sword to his head, but he was slow to Jacko. Jacko easily side-step away from the blade and bash his horns on the stallions expose side, sending him crashing to the ground and groaning.
“C’mon lets get out of here!” Jacko hurry to the foal’s side and lead her to safely to the nearest exit. When they were outside the filly hurry away to a mare which Jacko thought must of been her mother.
Outside, it was nothing but chaos. The whole village was burning and ponies everywhere was in a mass panic.
But in all of the fire and rubble Jacko could see ponies and luggage being carried away by groups of stallions with the same ragged clothes and swords. They were all going to the beaches were Jacko could see a huge sailboat in the waters.
“Jacko! Over here!” The voice yelled over the roaring flames, Jacko look towards the sound and found his father locked in combat with the raiders. Three on one doesn't seem fair but for Jacko’s dad it’s like training to him. Trite easily parry one blow from the stallion on his right with his broadsword, making the stallion topple over his comrade, then spun to the third stallion on his left and sweep his hooves, tripping him to the ground.
“Were your mother!?” He yelled at Jacko, galloping towards him. As he got closer Jacko could see he receive battle wounds, showing he fought more than Just three raiders.
“I don’t know! She must have fled when the school was burning like the rest of the students!” Jacko told him, or he hope that what happen.
“Damn...we can find her later, I know you must be worried sick about her and I’m worried about, but as your job as a soldier you must defend the villagers with your life!” As he said these words he levitated a spare sword from his back and put it in front of Jacko.
This sword wasn't like any regular broadsword Jacko has seen before, the scabbard was decorated with scales and the hilt was thick with black leather.
“Take it and go!” Trite commanded as he shoved the sword on Jacko and started galloping away.
Jacko did as he was told and started running down the streets looking for villagers, but all seem empty all around him until he turned around the corner. He saw about seven raiders forming a circle around a family of four, who was cowering on the ground. Jacko didn't hesitate to run for their aid, he charge in head first, unsheathing the sword his dad gave him and to his surprise shun a bright light as he drew it.
One of the raiders look at Jacko but quickly cover his eyes from the bright light from the sword. Jacko took the chance to barrel through him and got in front of the helpless family.
“Well I be a monkey's uncle! This lil’ landlubber think he can take us all at once huh?” a big stallion said as he unsheath his curved sword.
More like distraticing your sorry flank so I can find an opening to get these ponies to safety… Jacko thought bitterly, getting low on the ground and taking a stance.
Two of the seven stallions charge to Jacko, one using magic to raise his sword while the other uses his mouth. Jacko parry the first strike from the unicorn, then grab and throw him to the earth pony raider. But as Jacko was turning his attention to the attackers the huge stallion grab him behind.
“Well ya done it now! I’m gonna teach ye a lesson you never forget!” the raider snarled and body slammed Jacko flat on his back, knocking the breath out of him. “You shouldn't play hero when you know you can’t win!”
As the other stallions gather around Jacko they notice something strange, Jacko was chuckling to himself, leaving them flabbergasted.
“Wha so funny?!” One of them yelled out angrily. Grabbing him and lifting him up
“Oh nothing...Just laughing on how big of an idiot to forget your targets…” Jacko said weakly but grinning.
To the raider surprise the pony family was galloping away from them. The biggest of the stallion grind his teeth in a fit of rage.
“Get this lil punk to the boss! He’ll knock some sens- AH!!!” As he was ordering around the stallions Jacko suddenly broke free of the raider grip and pounce on him, biting his shoulder fiercely.
But Jacko didn’t get very far, in a few seconds he felt a great force hit his head like a hammer, knocking him to the ground hard. His vision began to blacken, but he saw a stallion in a weird get up.
“You idiots...get him on the boat, now.” The voice was deep but young. “He may know where we can find it…”
And with that Jacko whole vision went black, leaving him in utter confusion on what the stallion mean by ‘it’.
The world was fuzzy when Jacko came to his senses, but he was still too tired to move. He felt hardwood under him so he know he was laying on the floor. Just then he heard voices around him, two to be exact.
“Ya know, I think this whole legend is nothing more than just a fairytale,” A gruff voice said unhappily. “When we raided the island I didn't seen no gold, just armed soldiers!”
“Hush your mouth! Ye wouldn't want the boss to hear eh?” another voice whisper, it was more high pitch. “I heard that he can send you to a place far worse than the abyss.”
“Ugh...I don’t think the boss is even natural, have you seen him fight?” The Gruff voice whisper back.
Slowly, Jacko tried to get up from the hard floor, grunting as he did alerted the 2 stallions.
“Hey! That pipsqueak is awake!” The stallion with the high pitch voice was much smaller than the other stallion, but he looked in such a mess that it looked like he was caught in an explosion..
“You must have woken him up, hey kid put your head back down and go to sleep, if you don’t we have to beat you up for info, bosses orders.” The taller stallion grumble, he was way bigger than Jacko or the smaller stallion, and his body look really tough.
“Hey! Why you go tell him that?! It would've been fun watching him squirm for answers!” The small stallion whine at his partner. “And Like you said he’s now awake now we have to beat him for information!”
Then the stallion started unlocking the cage, but before he could open the door, something intervene.
“I thought I told you two that if he wakes up is to call me first before you can interrogate him.” A young voice said behind the small stallion.
At this point Jacko was regaining his senses and look at his surroundings. He was in a steel cage with rusty bars at all sides, The room was dimly lit so he couldn't see the young stallion, his face hidden in the shadow.
“Welcome little one, do you know where you are?” asked the stallion in the shadow. Before Jacko could say anything he already answer. “Your on my ship, already heading out to see and away from the island, Which is also...your home.”
At hearing those words Jacko immediately went to the bars of the cages, even though he was tired he still had fire in him. “What you me away!? Take me back home you jerks!” He yelled in rage at the raiders, angry at what they have done to his home, and grief that he will never know if his mother was okay.
“Now now, don’t work yourself up over nothing, what we did is more a slap of the wrist than a full blown raid. We just didn't expect to be anypony at all on the island and thought that maybe they found it first so...we planned on taking it from you.” The stallion in the shadow explain in a calm but cold tone which left Jacko confuse.
“Found what? What the heck are you talking about?!” When Jacko tried to figure out what there saying the little stallion butted in and hit the cage with a big stick. “What else!? He’s talking about your Treasure! Your gold!” The small stallion then started chuckling like a hyena of some sorts.
Jacko didn't knew what they were talking about, the island never had such treasure before. The Islanders only trade to get what they need, never he heard of gold before. Finally he asked. “Gold? What is gold?”
There was a small silence in the room when he said that, then the stallions, except for the one in the shadows started laughing hard like they heard a great joke. The big gruffy stallion was giving a hearty laugh while the tiny one was laughing like a hyena again.
“Oh boy now that's a good one, we got ourselves here a comedian boss! ‘Gold? Whats is gold?’ Bahahaha! Now that's fun-” Before he said anything else something got caught in his throat, he started gagging and coughing, the bigger one took a couple of steps back in fright as he watches his friend choking. Jacko didn't notice but what was causing the stallion to choke was magic...magic from the stallion in the shadows.
The strange stallion walk up to the cage slowly, his head glowing with magic that showed he had a horn but his face was covered with a hood of a cloak. Once he was at the cage door he release his magic grip on he choking stallion and stared at Jacko with a calm yet cold gaze that made Jacko stop breathing.
“My name is Solar Flare...I’m the captain of this ship and these raiders, I only seek one thing and one thing only...and you gonna help me find it….” Solare said slowly, his every word was cold yet calming, which made Jacko very afraid.
Then in a fast motion, Solar open the cage door with his magic and bark. “Get him out, clean him up and bring him to my quarters when your done.” With a loud pop he vanish with a small flash of light.
The two stallions immediately went in and pick Jacko up from the ground, which he was now heaving heavily for air, the fear inside him vanish as quick it went in him. The larger of the two put Jacko on his back as the little stallion lead the way to the top of the ship.
The bath was cold, really cold. The two stallions Just pour buckets of water every time as Jacko tried his best to clean himself, as the sixth bucket pour on him Jacko heard the big stallion speak.
“My name is Stone, Stone anchor, and this Bobby Fisher.” Stone said with his deep voice as he motioned to his companion. Bobby bark a laugh as he did. “What? You trying to make friends with him now?”
“Well I feel like we should get to know each other...From what I heard the captain is changing course, away from the island.” Stone look at Jacko and sigh. “Sorry kid I think your stuck with us for a while.”
Jacko was saddened and shocked to hear that, he didn't know how to react, should he be mad, cry, or yell? He never left the island before, and he with the ponies that attack them, raided and burned the village, but one of them was showing pity to him? All he could do was look down in shame.
After he was all cleaned up they lead him to a part of the ship that was way more organized than on the deck, while the Raiders have things scattered around everywhere this part of the ship was tidy, many books were on shelves, the floor was clean and spotless and it was decorated with lots of art Jacko found fascinating. In the middle of the room was a long table with what jacko thought were maps or drawings of some sort, he couldt tell just by looking at them. Solar, who was examining the maps, look up at Jacko, even with his hood up Jacko could see a small smile on the strange stallions face, which made Jacko surprisingly relax that it scared him.
“Jacko come sit down, make yourself comfortable.” The hooded stallion said smoothly and motion to a seat near the opposite end of the table. Jacko did as he was told, the two stallions stood at the entrance of the room so he couldt make a run for it, even if he tried he had nowhere to go anyway, he was out in the middle of the sea.
“I have some good news and some bad news for you child…” Solar stared at Jacko as he said those words, each one giving a sense of seriousness. “Good news is I am willing to let you live if your willing to help me find what I'm looking for, and don’t worry I plan on you negotiating the people on the island that we mean no harm.”
Jacko sigh of relief at the thought of that, there won’t be anymore attacks as long as the islanders agreed to get what this stallion wants...whatever it is he wants.
“Bad news is that we have no way of getting back to the island…” Jacko eye’s snap as Solar said that, believing this is a Joke.
“What you mean there is no way back! You literally was just there! How cou-” Jacko yelled but stopped when Solar levited a small, worn out book to him.
“Your island was protected by a spell that made it so it was impossible to get to, but I only found a way by means of dumb luck...but it was only temporary, this book I found in your home, which a mare has wrote some intresting notes about that island…might have a way to get back to the island.” Solar explain, getting up from his seat and started pacing back and forth near the table as he did. “Find out what it means and you might return home ...fail and you will work for me for the rest of your life.”
Jacko stared at the book in silence, when did he gets this and how? Jacko was inside his home when the chaos was happening, so how did this Stallion was able to take this and get out? Also Jacko never seen this book before, his mother never mention keeping it with her. As he flipped through the pages, he seem some familiar drawings that she show him, like a serpent dragon and a blossoming flower, she was an artist when she was younger but some are new, some drawings looks like monsters while others looks like puzzles to him.
“I take your silent as you agree to our term, tomorrow I want you to study and figure out what the meaning of this book.” Solar stop pacing and sat back down, studying over scrolls and books laying on the table, but Jacko stared at him with daggers.
“Why can’t you read it? Anyone can read this, and by looking at you I bet you can solve this better than me!” Jacko said in annoyance, but solar responded with a stare of his own which made Jacko silent again.
“That book has writing that I can’t read or decipher, I thought you could do it for me.” He simply said, returning to his studies.
Jacko sat there silently than got up from his seat and left the room.
Back at the cage, were they gave a small bed and a storage box for his things like his sword and the book, Jacko was reading said book under a lit candle, all the writings were weird and mysterious. He could read it but can’t make heads or tails of it so he quit for the night and try to go to sleep. The rocking of the boat made it easy for i'm to dream but it was nightmares that welcome him in the cold darkness of this ship...