Hello prospective reader. Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Talshain, loyal servant and soldier to the illustrious Arudon, the forever undying. I have been tasked by my master to ensure that this journal finds its way into good hands, which, I hope, are yours. Within its pages you will find a detailed account of the the years that he describes as the greatest of his life. Which, considering his life-span, is quite the bit of praise.

If you do decide to delve within the contents of this journal, I believe a warning should be given. The contents are not, in the strictest sense, a story. At least, not from a narrative sperpective. It has been compiled to appear as one, but initially it was merely a haphazard conglomeration of vague impressions, descriptive details of very specific topics, and long winded rants about... mostly nothing really.

Working with several of the master's... "friends" (I shudder when I consider the fact that he referred to them as such) I have managed to make some sense of the thing. A certain Ms. Twilight Sparkle was of enormous usefulness in that capacity, and that shall be the only words of praise you shall hear me apply to that smelly equestrian.

My master's mind is a... curious thing to behold, and as such his language will reflect what mood he is in. Thus, his grammar ranges from relatively sophisticated, to the crudest and most base forms of speech I have yet to encounter. Needless to say I have stricken those passages from the record.

So what is the Journal about? Well, it tells the tale of a remarkable creature crashing into an unremarkable world, and discovering something that is truly incomparable. At least, it is to him.

He will undoubtedly have more to say regarding the matter in the preamble of this journal, so I shall leave it to him to explain more. With that, i bid you adieu, and I hope you decide to give my master's words at least a few minutes of your time.

Have you ever wondered as to why exactly the Everfree Forest is so, well, wild? Why the weather seems to run itself, completely separate from the rest of the Equestrian Weather Pattern? And what's up with all the crazy animals, or, shall we say monsters? Why do they seem to be crawling out of the pores of the ancient forest, when no other place in Equestria seems to have the same problem.

You want to know a secret? It's not random.

Oh, and how about the Elements of Harmony! A set of mystical artifacts that have the power to freeze the aspect of chaos into stone, or send an evil alicorn to the moon. Sure, sure they came from the Tree of Harmony, but where did the tree come from?! What, you think the mystical forces of Equestria just decided to manifest themselves one day, on a whim? Please. Nature is never so forthcoming.

No. They were built. Or, in the case of the Tree of Harmony, grown. And there are many more examples of these mindbogglingly powerful feats scattered throughout Equestrian history: the generators that keep Cloudsdale afloat, the security system of Canterlot (which no thief has ever penetrated), and even the creation of the monstrously powerful Discord.

So that just leaves the question: who built them?

This is the single greatest mystery that has plagued academics for decades, even centuries. The answer to which has attracted ponies from all walks of life; from adventurers seeking fame and glory, to scholars seeking enlightenment and knowledge, and even to princesses seeking closure and solace.

To many, they are adventures waiting to be had.

To some, they are problems needing to be solved.

To a few, they are ciphers, demanding payment.

But to one very, very special filly, it is a destiny.

This is her story. This is the story of those mysteries, the answers that they hold, and the myriad of even more questions that they bring along with them. This is a story about acceptance, about adventure, and about perseverance. And, utlimately, it's about me getting to finally tell the bucking story.

Enjoy it for what it is. Now, let's begin.