Now alone within a pitch black and musty room, armed with only a small lantern to light up whatever’s half a metre in front of her, Twilight finds herself adventuring into the basement area of the abandoned shack on this seemingly deserted island. As the purple alicorn blindly wanders throughout the unknown, her mind races as to contemplate what she saw from the picture she revealed.

“It was a map of the known world,” Twilight mutters to herself with the handle of her light tightly wrapped around by her lips and teeth, “one that extended out towards the west and beyond the Outer Kingdoms. It even accurately depicted the fabled Old World, somewhere that has only been mentioned in legends. Barely any pony has ever even dared ventured out there, let alone charted it due to its dangerous weather and tales of horrific monsters. So how did this stallion do it? And what was with the red writing, ‘Where is it?’ scribbled all over it?” Twilight’s verbal recap is interrupted however by a sharp smacking on her forehead. The pony shrieks in pain and backs up, dropping the lamp onto the floor. Rubbing her now pulsing headache, Twilight looks at what hit her and sees it’s another lantern, hanging from some ceiling boards. She grabs a nearby stick and sticks it into her fallen lamp, lighting the end of it on fire. The disabled alicorn then holds the burning up and into this new lantern and lights it up as well. To her surprise, it has a lot of oil inside of it and the light immediately illuminates a large portion of the room. There, Twilight can see she’s in the center of a massive chamber with a massive underground dock running along one side of the room. The floor, walls, and ceiling around the fair is made of chiseled stone and covered in vines and tiny brown mushrooms. Seeing eight more unlit lamps surrounding her in the dark, Twilight quickly lights them up as well before flinging her burning stick into the artificial river. After doing so, the curious mare looks over to a large, sleek, ship sitting in the middle of the dock, anchored to a wooden post on the basement floor. It has three massive dark grey sails attached to three stubby masts that almost cover the entire top of the grey and blue painted vessel. The ship is no higher than ten metres tall and twenty metres wide, but has an odd length of just over fifty metres in length. Sporting only five cannons on each side and barely enough room for storage, a galley, and a single cabin, Twilight is intrigued by the odd water vehicle. “This thing looks like a racing boat.” Squinting her eyes towards the bow, Twilight reads the inscribed title of the ship, “Lightning Rod,” The exploring pony then looks behind her at the rest of the basement area and sees a long table aligned to the opposite wall, covered in dusty papers and books strewn all over. Interested at this new sight, Twilight walks across the blank middle of the room and her dropped lamp, which has already died out, and reaches the long wood table. Upon closer inspection, several maps and charts can be seen covering every inch of the behind wall, all coated in a layer of black ink stains and red letters and symbols.

Jumping up and down, the enthusiastic pirate Korsan bolts into his bedroom with the Diamond Eyes in his claws and darts across to a large golden organ next to a giant king-sized bed. He sees that the organ’s keys are moving on their own and hears its bellowing music being played. With a mightly swing of his hind leg, the automatic organ stops and a small switch on the side next to the bed flips upwards.

“I need silence!” The captain barks before hurrying into the library behind the bedroom. Shoving away all previous items on the main table onto the floor, Captain Korsan sets the halves down together at the far end of the table and grabs a lit lamp at the side of his chair. He holds it up to the ceiling with on hoof, grabs his crossbow with the other, and fires a bolt into the handle, lodging it into the wooden ceiling. The brown stallion then swipes several books from nearby bookshelves and creates four towers with them, stacking them up to two thirds from the table to the roof. Korsan immediately darts back to the Diamond Eyes and gently sets them on top of the book towers on top of each other, casting the white glowing symbols onto the golden tabletop. “Where’s the Ancient Trihearth language reference book?!”

Twilight looks over the open books at the center of the table directly below one of the lit lanterns and reads what appears to be a journal entry.

Day 186 of Exploration Exhibition #4 of Madenison Island

Over the past weeks, I have been searching the seas for signs of the ancient island kingdoms of Trihearth across all exterior tier waters of the Old World. Although I have not found the legendary island, I have found something even better. On my travels, I have uncovered a Rosetta Stone at the bottom of a trench, one that translates the writings of the ancient citizens of Trihearth to its most recent incarnation that has been passed down by the Cystic Family, a family to have claimed roots in the elusive island multi-nation, for generations…

“There it is!” Korsan calls out in joy as he grabs a red woven book near the top of a shelf. With the tip of his claw holding the top of it, the pirate flings it down and grabs it with his hind claws. He then hobbles over to his chair and tosses it up to his upper claws as he sits down. Rarity pears through the door to the library left open and watches her captor wriggle like a foal as he pries the old writings open from their years of abandonment on a shelf. “Let’s see, let’s see, where to start…”

Why I bring this up is not only a matter of history, or anthropology, but of another legend that has been rumoured across land, sea, and air. Alicorn Island, one of the most well-known, but incredibly unknown locations on our world, if it even exists on our world. It is said that anypony to come in mere contact with its treasured water at the center of it will gain the angelic flight of a pegasus, the arcane magic of a unicorn, and the earthly power of an Earth Pony. However, this is purely rumour and speculation, and we don’t know the true effects of the mystic waters or its application methods. The only ponies said to know of the true details of the island were the ancients of Trihearth that were slowly forgotten as later generations of the Trihearth ponies came around and eventually wiped out completely by the fabled sinking of the island. However, with this discovery, we may be able to find the truth about the island. And perhaps, even gain from its unknown magic properties linked to it…

“Finally, finally! After so many years of searching and searching, I finally have the means of which to find that island, give me what I deserve, and fix everything. I will finally make my family proud of me! I know it, they’ll be so proud once I show them my magic. They’ll forgive me, they’re glorify me, they’ll respect me, they’ll accept me. And with my ship, my crew, and my complete self, we shall do great things for the world, I know it. Mother, father, brother, sister, cousins, uncles, aunts, grandmothers, grandfathers, all of my ancestors, this is the day of Korsan Arasinda Maden’s true birth!”

Perhaps even my own family can benefit from it. My nephew, pity his soul, has been born of a dire deformation. And although my kin have come to terms with it, the poor lad will never truly be accepted as one of us. And although my efforts of trying to lift the colt’s spirits are worthy, even my own son and wife have come to despise him for his ill fate. If the powers of Alicorn Island hold true however, I may be able to save my nephew, and rewrite his fate. Only time and fate will tell.

-Alexander Tas Maden

“Maden?!” Twilight stampers upon reading the authour’s last name. Frantic to find some more insight about this relative of Korsan, Twilight flips through the pages of the journal, only seeing several crossed out notes, equations, and absolutely destroyed pages before finally coming across another written entry.

“Almost there,” Korsan cheers as he rapidly flips through the pages of the shedding book, “just have to find the right pages.”

Day 911 of Exploration Exhibition #4 of Madenison Island

It’s no use, despite countless attempts and workarounds for over two years, I can’t uncover the secrets of Alicorn Island. And it’s too late as well. From what I’ve heard via letter, my nephew, he, ran away a few weeks ago and never came back. I’ve consider returning, but to what? My wife and son probably won’t recognize me since I’ve been gone for so long, I’ve lost all of my assets in Equestria, and my brother, my only brother, disappeared as well just a week ago. I may not be able to live with myself after this has all happened. I may abandon this shack and live amongst nature as a mindless animal to escape this insanity I can’t bear. Whoever finds this, if you find me alive, leave me be. If you find me dead, tell no pony. Tell no pony that I even existed actually. What are you even doing here anyways? Leave! The more you gain interest in the Alicorn Island, the more you destroy your own life! LEAVE!!!

-Alexander Tas Maden

Listen, if you’re still reading this. If you still want to pursue the Alicorn Island. There’s nothing I can do to stop you. Instead, let me make it easier on you, perhaps give you less time to realize that you’re just wasting yourself doing this. In the event in which the original book is not here, I have made several copies of the Rosetta Stone in book format and donated them to some of the most backwoods black markets in the world. There you’ll find the translator. However, what you need to find, and what I didn’t find, is an artifact, a map, that’ll lead you to Alicorn Island. I don’t know where it would be, but knowing the ancient rituals and cultures of Trihearth, it will be difficult to find. No matter how much reverse engineering you do, no matter how hard you try to find some loophole, another clue, or just empty searching you do, you’ll never find that wretched island. May good luck fall upon you, whether you do find it, or just realize that it’s a waste of time.

-I Don’t Exist

“Oh my gosh…” Twilight gasps, “I’m so sorry for you sir, wherever you are.”  Next to the journal is an old red book, opened up to a random set of pages. Looking at the symbols, Twilight immediately recognizes them as the symbols that come from the Diamond Eyes. “Don’t worry Alexander, you’re work’s not going in vain.” Using her memory to recall the symbols and her studies of the language of Trihearth passed down by the Cystic Family, Twilight begins to decode the map.

“In the blackest of night,

And the empty of gone,

Stands one splendid island,

Known Alicorn Island,”

“Beyond distorts of space,

Beyond sand grains of time,

Past creature of great length,

And thinnest of all paths,”

“All inside a grand trench,

Of no magic nor flight,

To be called as a leak,

To be known as the Breach,”

“And inside the dark heart,

And through a second pulse,

Thou will find the treasure,

Of Alicorn Island,”

“Blessed be you many things,

The wings of gentle flight,

The power of the earth,

The divine magic horn,”

“Applied to thou as said,

Taketh one single touch,

By hair or meat and flesh,

And do within post haste,”

“Which all be given you,

As the moon strikes the sun,

And the sun strikes the moon,

In unified balance,”

“But take heed this warning,

Thy Equivalence Law,

Reigns above all no stock,

What form or fate you hold,”

“If thou passes the creed,

And takes to his new form,

Then fate shall then ensue,

No matter of thy past,”

“As all is said and done,

Then thou art free to go,

To pursue the riches,

Known Alicorn Island.”

“So it’s there.” Korsan slumps back into his chair upon finishing the translation to process what he has read, still oblivious to Rarity’s presence. “The Breach, I would’ve never figured it be there. From our current position, that would at least require two weeks. Will my crew even be willing to go there? It’s a forsaken death trap.”

“The Breach?” Rarity’s voice whispers out loud. The captain leaps from his chair in surprise and quickly notices his partner peeping from the doorway.

“Oh, it’s only just you.”

“Sorry.”

“Apologies are on my part, I should’ve been paying attention. What was your question?”

“The Breach, what is that?”

As the caped stallion replies, he reaches over to a shelf behind his chair and pulls out a thick, black book, “The Breach is… well… No pony really knows what it is. Some claim it’s a portal to Tartarus, others say it’s a sacred gateway to a place beyond and worse Tartarus, certain tales call it the mouth of a great beast, obscure folk lore points to it as the edge of the world. The best science can come up with is that it’s some form of chaotic rip in the fabric of reality. Either way you look at it, the Breach is a giant, bottomless canyon that spells out trouble for anypony or anything even close to it.” The educated pirate gently opens the book and holds it up to Rarity, showing a wall of text on one page and a sketch of what appears to be a large, black crack in the middle of some ocean on the other open page. The white mare loudly gulps on sight of the large abyss presented. “See, impossible for fear to not strike your heart.”

“So does that mean you’re going to give up?” In instinctive response, the stallion slams the book close with his claws.

“No, I’ve gone too far.”

Twilight stumbles backwards from the table as the chants of the verbal map and the shrills of headaches echo in her head.

“The Breach?” The purple mare mutters to herself, “So that’s where Korsan’s going to go as soon as he figures it out, if he hasn’t figured it out already.” Recalling from her first entry of the shack, an idea comes to Twilight’s head and she immediately heads towards the ladder. Returning to the front room, the excited pony returns to the map she saw and locates a large black crack in the Old World section of the map. In small text, it reads, ‘The Breach’. Twilight then bolts back down into the basement area and runs towards the docked boat. She grabs the rope around the pole and pulls it, releasing the ship, and quickly hops behind the stone wheel. Lightning Rod lightly bashes into the sides of the underground port a few times before quickly accelerating into the cave tunnels ahead by its own accord.

With the sun now dipping into the sea at the horizon, and the moon now rising for the night, The Perfection’s kitchen gains a moody glow as the red light from the torches, furnaces, and other heat-operated artifacts clash against the silky white and blue radiance of the moon. At one of the several preparation tables, Sweetie Belle and Ivan Voorhees are cooking a large stew while Butch Taylor is sifting through the inventory against the inner wall with his back turned away from the windows and his fellow cook’s backside.

“So now the pepper?” Sweetie Belle asks the hulking massive black stallion chopping onions next to her.

“Aye.” He replies.

“Wait, Burgundy or Ayleen?”

“Ay-”

“Oh wait, I remember, the Ayleen.”

“Aye.”

“This is actually a lot more fun than I thought it was going to be.”

“Aye.”

“Do you do this every day?”

“Aye.”

“Is it difficult?”

“…Aye.”

“But I guess it’s worth it from what I’ve heard. Yin and Yu told me about all sorts of adventures you guys have, not just pillaging, but those as well do sound fairly impressive.”

“Aye.”

“Also that ‘joyride’ that happened a while ago. It was like being on a massive roller coaster. It was awesome.”

“Aye.”

“I wish my friends were with me to experience it though.”

“Aye.”

“Well, tough luck,” Butch replies back in a solemn voice, “The captain isn’t all that accepting of non-unicorns hopping on his boat. Unless they’re prisoners,”

“Aye.”

“Wait,” Sweetie Belle asks in confusion, “Aren’t you, I don’t know, supposed to be strong followers to whatever your leader’s intentions are?”

“Listen,” the large blue pirate retorts, “most of us aren’t as, determined, as Korsan is with his plans. We pretty much see this as a better lifestyle than being in a rut. But that doesn’t mean we’re barbarians or something like that. Hey, Ivan, I’m going to check on the potatoes. Got that?”

“Aye.” Ivan stoically answers as he continues to cut onions.

“Thanks.” The grey and white haired stallion then walks around Sweetie and Ivan and heads down the nearby stairway into the cellar below.

“Aye.” The small filly looks back at Ivan and notices his stiff face.

She asks, “Are you seriously not crying from this?”

“Aye.”

“Huh, cool.” Shortly later, whilst Sweetie is finishing her pit of stew, several distinct voices faintly echo from the cellar and catches her ear. The foal immediately recalls those exact voices from several hours ago when she, Rarity, and Slasher, were in the gardens. Curious of what they’re saying now, the filly creeps towards the large stairs and listens in.

“Has anypony seen the captain recently,” a familiar mare calls out from an unseen sector of the chamber, “he seems to be a lot more chipper than recent. Could it be because of that mare, Rarity? I mean, he even showed her around his private stash.”

“I know,” a second older mare replies, “even when Korsan was hitting on November, he never showed her his treasure gallery.”

“Please don’t remind me of that wench.”

“That’s not important to the matter we’re here for,” the voice from the second stallion from before speaks, “so, did you clean up our last attempt?”

“I did,” the third stallion crankily replies, “How was I supposed to know that Korsan would be pulling another joyride at this point?”

“None of us did. At least none of the other crew members are in the know of what we tried to pull off.”

“May I suggest for the option of another means of dealing with our target?” Butch’s aging voice booms in response. In an instant, Sweetie Belle realizes that he’s the first stallion she heard from their previous meeting.

“That may be the case. Korsan’s already discovered the secrets of the Diamond Eye. We’ll being heading out to locate Alicorn Island any second now and we may never be able to strike as soon as the captain becomes an alicorn.”

“Perhaps we can use Rarity to our advantage.” The first mare suggests.

“That’s ridiculous. Even with Rarity on our side, he’ll be able to notice any direct advances onto him just like anyone of the lot of us.”

“Have any better ideas?” The second mare rudely asks.

“A storm,”

“A storm?”

“Whilst everypony is busy during a heavy storm, we make our move and give that quill-pusher a taste of his own medicine, by pushing him.”

“Huzzah!” Butch proclaims.

“Wait,” the first stallion asks, “What about Slasher?”

“That pipsqueak? Don’t worry, she won’t be stepping out of line now that she’s with us.” A quiet series of roars and cheers erupt from the unseen sectors of the cellar. Having heard quite enough, Sweetie Belle stampers up towards Ivan, but stops half way as a chilling thought comes to her head.

Wait, she thinks, what if he’s in on this too? What if whoever this crewmember is deserves this? If I tell him, what’s going to happen to me? I should probably stay quiet for now.

“What if I join his crew, and gain the ability to truly protect my family?”