Foreword

To her royal Highness, Queen Celestia Solaris, the monarch of the Green Lands and defender of the people. Long may she reign.

As you will no doubt be aware, it will soon be the dawn of your thirtieth anniversary as Queen, and for this momentous occasion, I have pondered long and hard on a suitable gift to grant you for the day. And that is when it struck me. An idea. For, you see, I have, for many years now, been working on something that is, in all honesty, very dear to my heart.

For as long as I could remember, I have served with joy in my position, safeguarding the ancient and respected archives of Canterlot. In all the world, no centre of knowledge has been as great, or as renowned. And yet, while it brought me no end of smiles to see so many people come here to learn and look back on the wealth of knowledge stored here, one thought, above all else, gave me cause to lament; I myself have never actually added to that knowledge myself.

Such thoughts began to plague me for many a year, until, at last, I decided to actually do something about it. So, I decided to set my affairs in order, found a suitable replacement for my duties, and sallied forth, into the world to complete my grand work. And what, you may ask, is that work? A chronicle, detailing not only the great houses of our lands, but also of the land itself, it's many wonders, and the peoples that make it up.

True, there are many such tomes within the great archives, but such things are ancient, and many have been truly lost to the ages. Not since the early reign of your late Father has such a chronicle been attempted. So, I journeyed, I discovered, and I learned. Through the better course of a decade, I gathered notes, met many interesting and colourful characters, and expanded by view on the world far more so than I ever could have done guarding old books.

And here, at last, I have compiled them together, into this first edition, which I happily grant to you, my Queen, to celebrate your latest anniversary. It would truly be an honour for you to have this work of mine in your possession. And if, by some small chance, reading these pages can bring you some measure of satisfaction, then that alone is justification enough for the effort I have put into making it.

I can only hope that many others will look upon the knowledge within these pages with interest.

Regards,

Subtle-Writ, the former Arch-Curator of the Royal Archives of Canterlot

House Solaris

"Brightly, we Shine"

The words of House Solaris. And of all the family mottos spoken in our nation, few have ever been so apt. The royal family of the Green Lands, House Solaris has ruled fairly and well for many centuries, guiding their people through many ages, both prosperous and tumultuous. The Kings and Queens of this family have each earned their rightful place in the annals of our histories, and doubtless, will continue to do so for many generations to come.

But the origins of this ancient family are, like many, shrouded in mystery. Many tales and legends are abound as to how the House first began, and while this chronicle will often do it's part to separate fact from myth, it is nevertheless worth noting those myths where facts elude us.

In this case, the legends of House Solaris stretch all the way back to the earliest times of our people, to the era known as the "Dawn Age". This time of great deeds and powerful heroes has long been immortalised in story and song, and has excited children of all the subsequent generations of our world. Those tales speak first and foremost of a "dark time", a period when, for reasons unknown, a great darkness spread over the world, threatening every man woman and child who lived. If the stories are to be believed, there were those who were born, grew old, and even died without ever knowing what it was like to look upon light.

Into this dark era came the one known only as the "sun-maker". This man, or perhaps woman, as the storytellers often dispute such points, rose up to challenge the darkness and the forces behind it, claiming that they could push them back and save their people. How was this accomplished? Well, as the name would suggest, this figure created the sun. Using their great magical power, they created a ball of flame, so vast and unprecedented, that it's light shone all across the word, driving the darkness back forever. Thus, the sun was born into the heavens, and this legendary figure, from that time forward, took the sun as their emblem, passed down throughout the generations.

A fine story, to be sure, but, like so many of that time, we can never be sure of what is true and what was merely embellishment. What we do know, however, is that house Solaris was born in those early times, gaining fame and renown for themselves for their exceptional magical prowess. During the times of the many kingdoms, they had established a mighty seat for themselves, Brightblaze, which had been carved out of the enormous mountain ranges that span the central regions of our lands. This ancient keep, named as such for the flaming beacon atop it's highest tower, served as the home of House Solaris for many generations, where they lived and ruled their modest domains in peace.

However, as in many cases, that peace did not last, and the House came to true prominence at what, undoubtedly will go down in history as the birth of our nation; the first Gryff war. The Gryffs, having finally unified as a single nation for the first time, set upon the Green Lands of the south, attacking and pillaging at will. In this chaos, the disparate kingdoms of the south unified, and banded their forces together to push the invaders back. House Solaris, along with many others, assembled their armies to meet the enemy in open battle. And here is when the real history of the House truly begins.

The then-head of House Solaris at the time, King Solaris the Fifth, had a small force compared to his fellow monarchs, but, amongst his army were some of the finest mages in the land. When the struggle known as the "Battle of the Border" commenced, those mages unleashed furious powers the likes of which had not been seen since the Dawn Age. Solaris himself, ever brave, was right in the thick of it, and though defeat loomed perilously close at times, he led his people to victory, smashing the Gryff army and sending their people fleeing back to their cold and mountainous homeland.

But the victory, while decisive, was far from bloodless. Many had died in that conflict, and among them were many of the Kings that had joined Solaris in the fight. The sun King soon found himself as the only true monarch remaining, as many of the other Kings had been without heirs at the time. Those heirs who did exist, soon found themselves in difficult positions, as the loss of so many of their forces, coupled with their inexperience at ruling, left their respective realms at serious risk of revolt. Solaris was approached by many, and he, in turn, aided them in keeping order.

And his reward was what most would expect. Those surviving young Kings, impressed with his abilities, and recognising their own shortcomings in this post-war era, gave up their own crowns, submitting to Solaris' rule as the one and only King of the Green Lands. This new era brought about a peace like the realm had never known, and it was not long after when new changes came along with it. Roads, new laws, new systems of administration. All of these things and more were introduced to tie the nation together after centuries of former fragmentation. But, most importantly of all, was the birth of the city of Canterlot. This bustling metropolis, springing forth form the lands immediately surrounding Brightblaze, survives to this day, a testament to the prosperous rule of the Solaris family.

King Solaris has gone down as a near-legendary figure because of his achievements, being heralded as "Solaris the Great", or simply "Solaris the First", though this latter title is an often-false one, given that he was the fifth of his family to bear the name. But, as with all things, we must sometimes bow to common usage of names like this, however irksome it may be. His character has frequently remained a mystery to us, despite many chronicles of the time. Kind, wise, unrivalled in battle. He appeared to be all things to all people. But, given the time he reigned, some thousand years ago, we will never know for sure if such remarks were true, or simply propaganda of the time.

The heirs of Solaris have since ruled for many generations, with most being fair and even-handed in their dealings. However, this is not to say that their thousand-year rule has been entirely without incident. There have, as with all families, been a few bad apples to spoil the bunch. When the grandson of Solaris the Great, Brazen, came to the throne, his first edict was to "finish what his Grandfather had started", with the intention of marching north once more, with the intent of wiping out the Gryffs entirely, down to the last child. Many lords of the realm furiously disagreed with such a decision, leaving only him and his own personal followers to accomplish this task.

As one would expect, the campaign was a disaster. Outnumbered, surrounded, exhausted from the march, and far from home, all these things and more conspired to bring the new King down into a defeat that, expectedly, even claimed his own life. His younger sister, Shiner, took the crown next, and immediately set about declaring an end to the war, something that, for once, both the Greenlanders and the Gryffs could agree was a good idea. The late king Blazer would, sadly, leave a stain on House Solaris' reputation that would take nearly a whole generation to wipe away, and even today, he is remembered as the darkest chapter in that family's history; Blazer the Hateful.

Thankfully, no Solaris King or Queen since those dark days have ever been as despised or as ill-suited to the throne as he was, and in the centuries that followed, most Greenlanders would, with the exception of a few sporadic resurgences of the Gryffs, know nothing but peace in their time. And for this, House Solaris continues to experience nothing more than love and devotion from it's followers, high-born and commoner alike.

And, to this day, the House remains strong, with Queen Celestia now heading the family. The latest monarch, described by the people as being "as beautiful as she is benevolent", came to power after the unfortunate death of her Father, Solaris the Tenth, who died peacefully in his sleep at the age of eighty-nine. Ruling beside her is her sister, Luna, a more forceful hand, but nevertheless Celestia's staunchest ally. Not long after her coronation, some five years hence, Celestia bore a daughter, Princess Mi'Amore, which was a day that brought rejoicing across the realm, with the line of succession secure for the future.

"Brightly, we Shine". True words indeed, for House Solaris was, is, and forever shall be the shining light to which all the peoples of the Green Lands look to, for guidance, and for inspiration.

The Green Lands

For as long as our people have lived and died, our home has been the Green Lands. Peaceful, fertile, bountiful. These lands have sheltered and provided for us for countless ages and, if fate is kind, will continue to do so for many ages to come. To the south lay vast and scorching deserts. To the west, the untamed wilderness of the Everfree Forest. To the north, the mountainous lands that serve as home to the Gryffs. And to the east, there is the endless ocean. Here, in the centre of it all, the Green Lands alone know peace and plenty.

And yet, it was not always so. While nobody today could ever remember a time when things were different, the dawn of our nation was filled with infighting and strife. Where today we have but one nation, in days gone by, there were many. The "age of a hundred kingdoms", as the common folk like to call it. And they are not entirely wrong. Before the unification of our people by Solaris the Great, there was hardly a time when one or two of our realm's separate states were not in conflict with one another. Some, like the lands of Solaris himself, managed to stay out of the constant infighting, but for others, their lives were a frequent battle. Gold, glory, land, or simply to pay back for some ancient offense. All these reasons and more kept our world at each other's throats for many generations.

But, then the unification began, and by the time it was done, we were but one people, and one nation, living peacefully for the first time in recorded history. And yet, even then, strife was known to us. The Gryffs of the north continued to plague our people, even after their failed first invasion, though their strikes would often be divided by many years, if not whole generations. And again too there were other conflicts, such as those of the Buffs and Zebes of the south. Thankfully, these latter conflicts were nowhere near as damaging, and often resulted in peaceful co-existence with those races.

But the question must, of course, be asked; exactly when did our people first come here? It is a question that is, more often than not, impossible to answer. Some more fanciful stories would claim that we were always here, and that our earliest ancestors simply sprang forth from the ground one day. Naturally, such claims can be easily dismissed. Others have theorised that we may have come from some distant land beyond the eastern ocean, but again, this theory has never had much weight to it. After all, even the most experienced of sailors will tell you that, even if you were to travel out into those blue waters for months on end, you would simply end up seeing more water.

But, while the exact truth of our origins may never be known, for most, it is not much of a concern. The lands we call home have always been everything we needed of them. All we could want is provided for by these good lands, whether through toil or otherwise. From the low lands all the way to the great Crescent Range of mountains at it's centre, where Canterlot now lies, the Green Lands are, for all intents and purposes, a paradise, rarely, if ever, interrupted.

However, no discussion of our homeland could be complete with out it's crown jewel; Canterlot. As discussed previously, this great city sprang forth from what was, at first, simply the ancestral home of House Solaris, the keep of Brightblaze. When many of the other kings of the realm perished at the Battle of the Border, King Solaris gracefully accepted many of his now-leaderless followers into his own home. However, Brightblaze was a modest holding, and nowhere near large enough to accommodate so many newcomers. So, construction began. Homes and venues were provided, and high walls erected to protect them. But, over time, this would serve only as the beginning.

As the one and only king of the newly-unified realm, Solaris found himself attracting a great many to his domain. Farmers, traders, artisans. All these and more flocked to the new abode of Canterlot, swelling the young city yet further. In later generations, even Brightblaze itself was felled, to make way for a new, and grander royal palace, where Solaris' descendants remain today. And so it was that, in the fullness of time, Canterlot as we now know it today, came into being.

Will the peace and plenty we have known last forever, as some hopefuls might claim? It is impossible to say. After all, there was once a time when it was thought impossible that there would be only one king in this land. Who knows what the next generation might experience in our good home.

House Sparkle

Many are the tales of great and noble Houses, who rise to have influence over the rest of the Green Lands. Some arise through acts of heroism. Others, through wealth. But, for House Sparkle, their story began through sheer fealty.

Theirs, like many Houses, began during the height of the first war against the Gryffs. Solaris the Great, having agreed to fight alongside many of the other kings of the Green Lands, rode north from his home, bringing with him many of his personal mage followers. Along the way, he called for volunteers in the lands he journeyed through, hoping to bolster his ranks before meeting the Gryffs in the field. One such volunteer was a young farm-hand, named Twilight Sparkle.

Many a day passed before Solaris' force managed to reach the lands between the Gryff's home and our own, and the famed conflict known as the Battle of the Border began. As written elsewhere, this battle ended the lives of many of the other kings who fought alongside Solaris, and the sun-king himself might have well been among the dead, had it not been for the intervention of that unassuming farm-hand. During the height of the battle, Solaris found himself surrounded by nearly a dozen Gryff warriors, and though his skill in magic was unequalled at that time, even he was unlikely to survive such overwhelming numbers.

Into this fray came Twilight, who, in that moment of near-defeat, revealed herself to be a mage, like Solaris himself. Using her power, she managed to do away with several of the Gryffs surrounding the king, enabling him to fight back more effectively against the rest. This was the turning point, and within hours, the battle was won. For her loyalty to him, and for her bravery in coming to his aid, Solaris ennobled Twilight then and there, and thus, House Sparkle was born. Such was the start of many of the noble houses of today, as their forebears were also present at that battle. The Apples. The Lulamoons. The Belles. These and more rose high because of their involvement in that conflict, and, in time, we will indeed discuss them at length.

This start for the Sparkle family also cemented what, in hindsight, is perhaps the most noteworthy aspect of their bloodline; their close friendship with House Solaris. From the moment she was ennobled, Twilight was brought into Solaris' personal service, becoming one of his court mages. It was a highly coveted position, and one that ensured that young Twilight was there to advise her king on many matters afterwards. When Canterlot expanded in the succeeding years, the Sparkles were granted a new home, Sparkle Manor, which to this day remains fairly close to the abode of the royal family.

As the centuries rolled on, the Sparkles remained close and steadfast allies of House Solaris, and served them in many capacities. They were not only court mages, but also scholars, retainers, and, when not those, then even just simply friends with many members of the Solaris family. In the absence of the ruling monarch, some Sparkles have even been asked to sit upon the council of regents, to govern Canterlot in their stead. In fact, so close are the two families that, on occasion, there have even been marriages between them. Though, it must be noted that such unions have largely been between second or third sons and daughters, rather than through direct heirs.

But, while all this may make House Sparkle out to be far more fortunate than most, it must be admitted that not everything has been good for the family. In fact, as of the time this chapter is being written, their family has suffered great tragedy. Velvet Sparkle, a teacher of the royal school of magic, recently passed away during childbirth, bringing forth her second child, a daughter. Her husband, Night Sparkle, another scholar, was so overwhelmed with grief that, during an expedition beyond Canterlot's walls, he and his party were set upon by bandits, and so distracted was he that his life came to an end at their blades.

Thus, House Sparkle has, quite recently, been brought to it's most vulnerable position in years. Today, only two members of their blood remain. The current head of the family is Shining Armour, Night and Velvet's eldest child, who, in the spirit of his ancestor's service to the crown, has recently entered into training to become a member of the royal guard. While this would be the first time a member of their family has entered into military service since the founding of their house, it is still good to know that the spirit of fealty to the realm remains.

As for the second member? It is the aforementioned and newly-born daughter, Twilight Sparkle. While still young, Shining Armour is, by leave of the crown, old enough to assume the position of Twilight's guardian and, as his first act in this position, named her after the founder of their House, the very figure who once ensured that even House Solaris would continue on through the centuries. Though Shining and Twilight have some undoubtedly difficult years ahead of them, it is my hope that they will overcome such hardships.

Such is the history of House Sparkle, and a pristine example they are to the rest of the realm. So often serving both crown and country, they have remained, throughout their lifetimes, a family that can be looked up to. Their desires are for the betterment of their fellow people, just as it always has been. And if one still has doubts as to their devotion to helping others, one need only look to their family words;

"Magic we were gifted. Magic, we shall gift."

The Everfree Forest

The realm of haunted trees. The abode of cursed bark. The forbidden groves. The demon woodland. All these things and more have been used over the centuries to describe the vast expanse of forest that borders the western side of the Green Lands. But, more officially, it is simply known as the Everfree Forest. Sadly, unlike many of the other places within and near our domain, the Everfree has, rather frustratingly, always been just beyond our understanding. A place of ancient trees, knotted together tighter than any other in the known world. So thick is the canopy that, even in the brightest daytime, those beneath could be forgiven for assuming it is the middle of the night.

For as long as people have been living in the Green Lands, we have known of that forest. Many have been the tales that have sprung up about it, from those that speak of it as a home to monsters and unknown creatures, to simply childhood tales, warning youngsters that, if they didn't behave themselves, the Everfree beasts would get them. Fanciful things, to be sure, but, like many myths, it is not without some kernel of truth. There are indeed many fearsome creatures within the borders of that forest, from packs of massive wolves to even bears and the like. Other explorers have even reported the existence of other, stranger beasts, but, as of this writing, nothing has been confirmed.

Its name, Everfree, has come to have twofold meaning. One is simple; that it is wild, and free of everybody's control, and may well continue to be so into the future. As for its second, and most often-used meaning, it is that the Everfree is ever-lasting. And again, there is truth to it. The common saying of one walking through the forest for a year, never to find the end, has been spoken many times, and given that most never dare to venture more than a week within it, it will, for now, be an apt term to use.

And yet, despite the legends that surround this place, there have nevertheless been many who would seek to enter and, in their terms, "conquer" it. There have been several accounts in our histories of peoples going to the borders of the Everfree, with the intention of levelling vast swathes of those woods for the purposes of making space for new homes, villages, and roads. Such attempts have always led to disaster however, as those involved in the efforts have often met their ends, not only at the jaws of the native Everfree beasts, but also to some strange affliction, known to many as "the Everfree plague". The exact nature of this is, as yet, unknown, though many symptoms include difficulty of breathing, and high fevers.

Some have theorised that the trees themselves contain some mysterious poison, which is inhaled after being released into the air by the felling of those trees. Other, more superstitious individuals, would have us believe that some ancient and incomprehensible magic lies upon the forest, that will rise up and cause death in those who threaten it. Such latter theories are nonsense, obviously, and yet, this has not stopped many from viewing the Everfree as something to be feared. Hence, for many generations now, people have given those woods a wide berth, even in spite of occasional rumours that some people have taken to actually living within it.

However, as the records of explorers have told us, there is evidence that some form of civilisation, albeit an unknown one, may have existed within the forest at one point. Sketches and reports of crumbling castles and other such ruins are frequently viewed in the chronicles of those who venture deep within, though their origin remains a mystery to us. Was there indeed some lost civilization, perhaps pre-dating the forest itself, that once lived there? Was it perhaps a people who were bale to successfully build those great structures in spite of the supposed power of the forest around them? Or was there some other, darker purpose to the nature of those structures?

It is likely we will never know the answers to these questions, or indeed any others. All we do know is that the Everfree remains as it always has done. From long before the great unification, and even to present day, that vast forest has been untouched, and probably always will be. It is a place of mystery, of danger and, to those unwary explorers, a place of death.

And while the most curious among us will always be drawn to such a domain, it must be warned, here in these pages, that for one's own safety, the Everfree is best left alone.

The Rangers

By the grace of all that is good in this world, we live in a time of peace. For many generations now, no man, woman or child has ever had to know the horrors of war that our ancestors had to endure. And yet, in spite of this, troubles do rise up throughout the Green Lands from time to time. The professional armies of the realm, from the esteemed royal guard to the local garrisons of other cities, are always on-hand to protect and serve whenever necessary. But, per royal decrees from many years ago, such forces are to be kept within the boundaries of major population areas, for defence.

As such, many of the areas of the countryside, as well as the less civilized places of our domains, are left virtually unguarded. Or, at least, they would be, if it was not for the courageous efforts of an elite order of warriors, known as the Rangers. Having existed for many centuries, the group was founded by Solaris the sixth, who recognised that there were some areas of protection that simply could not be accomplished with regular armoured troops. As such, he established a separate training regimen, hoping to craft a new type of soldier.

And so he did. But these fighters of our realm do not engage in pitched battles, nor stand guard atop battlements. Rather, they set out, lightly armoured, if at all, and journey forth. Their strengths are in speed and stealth, and their task is to live, often for months on end, in the wild places of our world. In the forests, in the mountains, and other places where few would seek to tread. And their goal is clear, to ensure the wellbeing of the civilians of the Green Lands by engaging darker forces before they become a true threat.

Bandits and brigands, even dangerous beasts that seek to venture into our realm. All of these things and more serve as the enemies of the Rangers. The favoured weapons of these fighters? Usually, it is the bow, allowing them to deal with their adversaries at a great distance, which, in many ways, is very symbolic of their role, thwarting trouble before it gets too close.

The organisation of this group is also quite unlike that of a regular army. For one thing, they are far less numerous. Records are difficult to come by for those not involved in the military, but most reckonings place their number at usually no greater than a hundred men and women at any one time. They also swear featly to no captain or general, but to their grand master. The current master, a veteran Ranger by the name of Spitfire, resides in Canterlot, like all her predecessors, receiving and sending out messages to and from her Rangers in the field, often by way of carrier birds. Sometimes, the grand master will go out into the field themselves for more dangerous threats, but, as said before, these times of peace have often meant that there has been little need to do so.

But the Rangers are, and indeed always have been, scattered throughout our lands. Often working alone, they may work for a full year before ever encountering another of their kind. For so great is the territory that a single Ranger is intended to patrol, that only the most devoted are even considered worthy of the position.

Theirs is not a life of glory or heroism, for few will ever make contact with regular civilians, lest they consider them the suspicious sort. Theirs is simply a life of devotion to the realm. A life ensuring that, by their arrows, those who dwell in Canterlot and elsewhere will, now and forever more, continue to know the joys of peace.

May the Light always guide them in this noble task.

House Apple

When people imagine the great and noble Houses of the Green Lands, their minds immediately conjure up many images. Finery. A magnificent crest of arms. Castles. Knights in shining armour, awaiting glorious battle. Which is why, so often, those people will be struck silent when they encounter the Apples. Though indeed a noble family like the great House Solaris, they have, more often than not, rejected the trappings of aristocracy, instead electing to maintain the more humble appearances of their origins. So unlike the other Houses are they that, in all honesty, they never even bothered to come up with family words for themselves.

Much like House Sparkle, the Apples' rise to nobility began during the Gryff war, at the Battle of the Border. Theirs were among many of the conscripts and volunteers drawn up to help combat the warring Gryffs of the north, and many in their family went willingly alongside King Solaris to do battle with the fearsome foes. And fight they did, for of all the peoples of the Green Lands, the Apples, perhaps more than any other, are blessed with a natural strength that rivalled even those northern barbarians, causing them no end of trouble once the fighting began in earnest.

But, their greatest accomplishment in that fight was the one event that, like Solaris' life being saved by the young Twilight Sparkle, helped tip the balance of the combat back in the favour of the Greenlanders. And that event was, of course, the slaying of Grover, the King of the Gryffs. Grover was a towering figure, a full head taller than any other warrior at his command, and he had cut a bloody swathe through many a Greenlander during the battle. Into this mix came Smith Apples, patriarch of the Apple family at the time, who, armed with sword and shield, met the Gryff-King and engaged him in single combat.

But, as with many of his family, Smith was a farmer, not a warrior, and though strong, he was vastly outmatched by the gigantic King. In each hand, the towering Gryff bore a greatsword, both stained red from the many Greenlanders he had already slain that day. With one swipe, he had disarmed Smith of his shield, before promptly kicking the man to the ground. It might have been the end for the Apple then and there, had it not been for the Gryff-King's overconfidence. For he stood above the fallen and presumably-beaten man, laughing loudly for all to hear, and this, in the end, would prove his undoing.

For while he revelled in his supposed "victory", Smith leapt up from the ground and, with a speed that Grover was too cumbersome to match, swung his sword so hard that he severed the King's right hand. A great cry of agony rang out across the battlefield, causing many a Gryff to look to their now-injured monarch. Many lost heart, knowing that Grover was the greatest fighter among them, and so, began to flee. This was the turning point, and the Greenlanders, under King Solaris, who himself had just had a recent brush with death, rallied together for a final push. But for Grover, his fight was far from done.

Though injured, he was nevertheless enraged from this humiliation, and in a delirious fit, he raised his remaining sword, ready to end the life of the Apple who had humiliated him. But, as before, Smith was too quick, and discarded his own sword in favour of the very greatsword Grover himself had unwilling dropped with the loss of his hand. With the Gryff's remaining sword raised above his head, his chest was unguarded, and with an almighty thrust, Smith plunged the King's own discarded sword through his heart. The effect was immediate, and in that moment, both their king and the battle was lost to the Gryffs.

Again, like the Sparkles, this act of bravery earned Smith and his family a position of nobility, granted to them by Solaris himself, as no other King had survived the battle. And while Smith accepted the honours gladly, he curiously turned down any offers of wealth or land Solaris offered him.

"We're apple farmers, yer Majesty. Always have been, and always will be."

Such was what the sun-King was told by the brave Apple, and so, Smith and his other family members simply returned to their ancestral home, a large apple orchard by the name of Sweet Apple Acres. And there, they have remained ever since. Granted, the main home of the place has expanded slowly over the years, and in times of crisis, such as the occasional resurgences of the Gryffs, they have left their homestead for battle once more, but even so, the Apples always go home in the end, going right back to the farming life that has so come to characterise each and every one of them.

And to their credit, they are indeed fine apple farmers. During my travels across our domains, I happened upon many a market stall that bore their fruit, and I can safely say that, if all of their apples were as high a quality as the few I was fortunate enough to eat, then their tender loving care of their lands and trees has certainly paid off for them.

But, lest we forget, they are indeed a noble family, and as such have often been requested to aid their land in times of need. As mentioned, they have always answered the call, placing a value on their fellow Greenlanders just as much as they do on their own family. And for this, the realm is truly indebted, for their aid has helped in many a battle and struggle throughout our country's history, be it from Gryffs, or any other threat that has reared its ugly head.

And, as ever, they bring with them the one spoil of war from that first war against our northern enemies; the fallen greatsword of the Gryff-King. Smith took it back home with him, and it has served as a kind of heirloom for their family ever since, reminding them of their greatest moment, and of their continued duty to the realm. The family have named it "Bloomberg", but among the Gryffs, it has taken a somewhat less-flattering name; Grover's Bane.

Perhaps the most notable feature of the Apple family, without question, is its size. They are, undoubtedly, the most numerous of any noble House within the realm. So much so that, by common phrasing, "if you put two Apples in a room together, there'll be a dozen by the end of the year". A rather raunchy and inaccurate phrase, I know, but it does go to show just how large a family they are if such things can be said about them by the common folk.

Whatever their origins, and whatever their habits, the Apples, like the Sparkles, have remained steadfast in their duty to the realm. They have always sought to be brave and loyal, both to their own, and to others. And though they may never quite live up to the mental image many have of what a noble family should be like, they are, even so, one to admire.

The Dawn Age

I will be the first to admit that I consider myself to be a man of facts. When I started writing this chronicle, it was with the clear intent of providing my readers with the true history of our world and those who live within it. As such, I wrestled with myself many a time over whether or not to include what I'm about to write about. But, while the following tales are highly unlikely, they are, nevertheless, vital to our culture and heritage. As such, though my logical mind may hate me for it, I will now take some time to discuss the dawn age.

From the time we are old enough to listen, our Mothers, Fathers and elders will have told all of us of this mythic time. Supposedly, it was the first era, a time of legendary figures, great powers and extraordinary events that not only created the world, but also shaped it into what would become the world we inherit today. Nobody truly knows when the dawn age began, though most learned individuals, and I use that term loosely, tend to agree that it was approximately ten thousand years ago.

To their credit, our people were supposedly not a literate group during that period, and as such, it is unlikely we will ever know what truly transpired in those far-off days. The dawn age is often heralded as being the birth-time of many of the great heroes and figures of our history. The sun-maker, the mythic progenitor of House Solaris, was from this time, creating the sun from his or her magic and bringing light to the world. But, we have already spoken of this figure elsewhere, so we need not repeat it here.

But, the sun-bringer was far from being the only revered individual of this time. Tales are about of those with magic that dwarf what todays mages are capable of. Stories of those who could fly through the air, like birds. There are even stories of those who could perform feats so extraordinary that, to my eternal frustration, they could not even describe them. These are fanciful tales, and have been a delight to children for countless generations. And while my adult years will always afford me a raised eyebrow to them when I hear tell of them, I cannot deny that, in my youth, I often took a great delight in hearing my own elders regale me with such stories.

But, not all stories have been of a pleasant nature in this mythic dawn age. For our tales also speak of darker figures. Individuals or groups that were neither pleasant, nor heroic, but of a more malicious and destructive bent. There are stories of the mad god of chaos, who sought to turn the world just as insane as he was, turning up into down and making day into night. The world, supposedly, was twisted into a mockery of itself by this individual before his eventual fall, and this undoubtedly serves as a parable on the importance of harmony and order over base anarchy.

There are tales also of the "Queen of many faces", who, as her name would suggest, could alter her appearance at will, to the point where even the most astute could not tell the difference between her and their own loved ones. Supposedly, this figure was a temptress, a seductress, who used her powers to lure in individuals, man and woman alike. What she did with them, nobody could say, only that, sadly, they never returned once she set her sights on them. If such a power truly existed, it has never before been observed in the years since, and thank the Light for that.

Also, there is the tale of the "devourer of magic", a figure who scorned all mortal peoples and wanted nothing more than their obliteration. A far cry from the subtlety of the aforementioned Queen, this great destroyer was exactly that, one who sought to tear down all around him. His title, as one can probably already guess, suggested an ability to steal the magic and energies of those he encountered, making him an almost-impossible foe to vanquish. And yet, vanquished he was, driven down into the depths of that terrible realm of Tartarus, which shall be discussed in greater detail in other chapters.

But the oldest stories hear tell of a yet worse figure. No name is given, no description and no title, such as Lord, was ever conjured, yet this figure appears in several of our most ancient tales. To the people of those past eras, it was simply known as "the darkness". According to legend, it was a force beyond imagining, covering the world in shadow, threatening to consume all life within it. But, in the end, it was vanquished, by mythic artefacts known as the Elements of Harmony.

These Elements, crafted by the great smiths of the time, were said to be the most powerful objects ever created. Magical on a scale we cannot even comprehend today. Using their power, the darkness was driven off, and a new era of peace and prosperity was ushered in. A simple story, it must be said, and yet, not without merit. Some have speculated that the darkness in the story is the very one banished by the sun-maker. Others have disagreed, saying it may be unrelated. Others have said that the sun-maker's true creation was not the sun of their name, but the Elements.

As for the darkness referred to in the story? It might have been some ancient mage, corrupted by their own power. Or perhaps it was a vast army, bent on world domination. We cannot know for certain, and we probably never will. So, for now, such tales, like all others, must remain the realm of conjecture only.

But then, such is the nature of the dawn age and all of the stories related to it. They are incredible, fanciful and, to many a child, a wonder to behold. But, as I'm sure many of you will agree, they are not to be taken seriously. They have played their part in shaping our culture, and for that, we are indebted and grateful. But to take them any more seriously than that is, surely, folly.

House Belle

"Glisten well"

The words of House Belle. Simple they may be, but they nevertheless underline a key point about this noble family. For they have always strived for great things in every generation. Much like the Sparkles and Apples, their lineage stretched back to the days of the first war against the Gryffs. However unlike those aforementioned families, the Belles never took part in the famed Battle of the Border. Their deeds never became immortalised in stories and song, and yet, their actions undoubtedly helped the realm to survive and prosper after those dark times.

It was the height of the war, and Solaris, along with many a King of the Green Lands, were marching north to meet with their foes. While the good King sought to recruit volunteers to their cause, he had sent one of his most trusted aides, a young man by the name of Elusive Belle, with an important task. He, along with whatever companions he sought to bring, were to slip behind enemy lines, gather intelligence and, if possible, to disrupt the enemy army before the battle began. Elusive took this instruction and obeyed it to the letter, for he already had a plan to do serious damage to the Gryffs.

Making his way behind the outposts and scouts of their enemies, the man and his comrades managed to find their way to the main camp of the Gryff army. There, in the dead of night, they set fire to food-stores, as well as numerous other supplies that the army desperately needed. In the chaos, Elusive and the others managed to find their way back to friendly territory, all while the Gryffs were still collecting themselves after this surprise raid. In addition, Elusive managed to inform Solaris of their location, allowing the king to finally gather his forces and head straight for the border between the Gryffs and the Greenlanders.

As mentioned before, Elusive never took part in the battle itself, and yet, his actions days before had unquestionably crippled the Gryff invasion force. Much of the army was now starving during their march away from their homeland, thus resulting in them having to fight the Greenlanders in a weaker state than before. Given that the Gryffs outnumbered the Greenlanders two-to-one, this was surely a plus in our people's favour. As recounted elsewhere, the battle was won for our side, and the Gryffs driven off. And, much like the forebears of the Sparkles and Apples, Elusive Belle was then ennobled.

Along with Solaris, the man returned to the keep of Brightblaze, ready to continue his work as the King's aide. But, given his effectiveness in the days leading up to the battle, Solaris suddenly had more intricate work for him to accomplish. For the remainder of his days, Elusive served as an unofficial spymaster for the King, reporting on the various goings on in the fledgling city of Canterlot and beyond. Barely a thing occurred within that city that Elusive did not know about, leading to Solaris relying heavily on his information when making his new decrees as King of the united Green Lands.

Such has been the case with many of Elusive's descendants, as most, if not all of them, have, like the Sparkles, been closely tied with House Solaris. However, while the Sparkles' connection was more one of friendship, the Belle's were a link born of a sense of duty. They have put the realm first and foremost, but, through it all, have always had the ear of the throne. Spies, agents and, if rumours are to be believed, assassins, the Belles have ever been a shadowy force in the realm of Greenlander politics. So much so that few would ever dare to plot against the throne, lest they find themselves silently watched from the darkness.

But, for all this cloak and dagger talk, the Belles have remained staunch allies of House Solaris and the realm as a whole. Never once have their talents been turned to anything less than reputable actions, and while many can be seen as aloof or uncaring, this has, more often than not, proved to be a mere mask they show for the sake of appearances. However, it should be noted that the Belles do not merely live for the sake of politics, as there have been numerous other endeavours for which they devote themselves. Over the centuries, they have expanded their reach in Canterlot, supporting many a small business to stand tall, to the point where many members of their family now sit on the boards of some of the more prestigious organisations of the city.

Many Houses are respected for many reasons. The Apples for their strength, the Sparkles for their duty and so on. For House Belle, they have always been admired, and will continue to be admired, because of their skills, both subtle and overt. And while some may enjoy the occasional bit of gossip surrounding their supposed "disreputable" actions, it is doubtful that such things will ever be more than simple hearsay, and nothing to be concerned about.

The Faith of the Light

"Praise be the Light!"

From before the days when our peoples could read and write, before we were one nation, we have always been united under the Faith of the Light. Thousands of years have come and gone, kingdoms have risen and fallen, and yet, our people remain steadfast followers of this great belief, and the virtues it has espoused.

Where our religion came from, nobody can say, and yet it has remained a vital part of our culture. The importance of it, and the good it has done for us, can never be overstated, although, beyond our borders, a number of misconceptions exist regarding how outsiders view it. For their sake, if nothing else, I shall now attempt to dispel such notions, assuming, of course, that they have taken the wise decision of reading this chronicle.

First, let it be known that we do not follow a deity per se. The Light referred to in our Faith is not some all-powerful figure, ruling from on-high. Instead, the Light is an ideal. All who follow it know this to be true, that within every man, woman and child, there exists the potential for good. The Light shows itself when this goodness is acted upon in our daily lives. Friendship, compassion, honesty, a devotion to one's family, a desire to help others over oneself. All these and more are known as the "aspects of the Light", and it is through such acts that one can become better than they are. But adhering to such virtues, and encouraging them in others, we allow that Light to shine in us all.

Likewise, there is also the matter of the Darkness. Let it be known, here and now, that I do not speak of that unknown mythic force from the legends of the dawn sage, although it is easy to understand the confusion between them. The Darkness in our Faith, much like the Light, is not some powerful inhuman figure, but instead the darker aspects of human nature. Greed, selfishness, cowardice, murderous intent. These are the traits that allow the growth of the Darkness in one's heart and soul. To act upon these traits, these impulses, is to debase yourself and lessen our people as a whole. The Light is harmony, peace and to weigh the value of the whole against the one. The Darkness, likewise, is anarchy, violence and putting yourself above others.

But, like other faiths of other peoples, there is indeed a belief in places beyond our mortal existence. For those who follow the path of Light, there is the realm known as the Ethereal Plane. This domain is a place of peace and tranquillity, where one's worries and cares are left behind. To go to such a place is to enter into a state of everlasting comfort, rewarded for the selflessness one has performed during their days as flesh and blood. On the other side of the coin, however, we have the cursed realm of Tartarus. Mentioned before in our talk on the myths of the dawn age, Tartarus is a terrible place, where those who allow themselves to follow the dark path are condemned for eternity. Here, their misdeeds and guilt are repeated before them, over and over, as punishment for their crimes.

It is a grim thought, and yet, we cannot forget that those who eventually fall to such depths are there by their own hands, not by any others. They are wretched souls, whose names need not be given a second thought. And those who go to the Ethereal? Those, we praise and remember in story and song, as examples for the rest of us to follow in our daily lives. And follow them we do, for we live in an age of peace, as mentioned before in earlier chapters. Those who follow their darker impulses have dwindled greatly in recent years, and for the most part, our realm is one where it is the aspects of Light which prevail. And in this, we must forever be thankful.

There are no prayers for our Faith, it must be said. No temples are built in its name, no sacred parchments are written, and no idols are erected. Our Faith is one taught from birth, intended to spread ideals of harmony amongst our peoples. And harmony we have aplenty, for the Faith has done its work well. It may be good fortune, or it may be the tireless efforts of those who continue to teach of it, but whatever the reason, the Light is within the heart of our peoples. Should fortune bless us, it will continue to be with us till the day when our civilization, like all others, passes into the annals of history.

Gryffs

Well, I've spoken of them enough in other chapters, so I suppose now is as good a time as any to discuss the Gryffs in further detail. From the day we first encountered these people of the north, we have been enemies to them. Even in times of peace, our forces and theirs have glared angrily at each other across the border separating our respective homelands. From the first war all the way to modern times, peace has usually only ever meant one thing; time to gather strength until the next conflict.

Our knowledge of their people is limited prior to our first meeting, but their land, Gryffstone, is a different story. A land of harsh cold and soaring peaks, it is little good for tending crops or growing lumber. As such, the Gryffs of the past were a people who knew little in the way of comfort or plenty, and often warred amongst their fellow tribes for basic essentials. This infighting kept them far from the eyes of our own peoples for many centuries, and while we did indeed know of them, we rarely, if ever, desired to know anything about them.

This all ended with the coming of a man named Grover. When it started, none can say, but there came a day when this young Gryff looked southward, to our own lands, and there, he saw riches, fertile lands and, most of all, opportunity. He realised that his people were nothing when fighting amongst themselves as they had been. But, if they were to unite, that would be a different matter. And so, unify them he did. Many promises were made, stories of the unimaginable riches that would flow through their lands if the southern kingdoms were taken. Some of his people listened, others did not. And these latter tribes were brought to heel by those Grover had already made alliances with.

In time, he'd forged his people into a single unified force, and so, for the first time in history, the Gryffs had become a legitimate threat to the realm. And it was a threat definitively proved when, in the days after their unification, they smash the first kingdom they came across, on what, today, is known as the barren plain. But, back then, it was the northernmost of the petty kingdoms of the Green Lands. The then King of the time laughed at the supposed threat of the Gryffs, and led his host to meet them on open battle. This proved a poor choice, and by the time the day was done, his forces had been surrounded and routed. The king and all his heirs died that day, and his land was left defenceless.

Pillage and plunder followed, as the Gryffs made their way from village to village, taking whatever treasures they found and burning the rest. If reports of the day are to believe, the raiders, men and women both, also took captive many a young boy or maiden, a prize often sought over mere gold or silver. As for why, well, I don't think I need explain the reason for such kidnappings. This was the moment that forced the rest of the Greenlander peoples to realise just how dire a situation they were in. Here, things progressed much as I have described in earlier chapters. Many of the kings of the day, including Solaris the Great, banded together to drive the invaders back. The Battle of the Border was fought soon afterwards, ending with not only the defeat of the Gryffs, but the death of Grover himself at the hands of Jack Apples.

With their forces crippled, they retreated back to Gryffstone, and were then set terms by the newly-empowered King Solaris. They were to remain within their own lands, never to set foot into Greenlander territory again, lest they invite war once more. For the most part, the Gryffs complied with this, although, as one would expect, it didn't last for very long. Every generation or two, some new Gryff leader would emerge, banding his folk together yet again with promises of glorious battle. And time and again, they are felled, driven back, and left to stew in their bitterness.

Many attempts have been made by Greenlander Kings and Queens over the centuries to bring them into the fold, to make a lasting peace. But, sadly, the Gryffs have usually rejected such attempts, preferring their own way. And their way, it must be said, is about as far from our own as one can get. Unlike our way, which emphasises unity and harmony, theirs has always been a reliance on the self. In battle, every Gryff warrior fights for their own glory, rather than to benefit their people as a whole. And even in times of peace, they will seek to out-do one another in whatever way they see fit. It is a brutal way of life, and one that has served them ill, both in the past and in the present.

However, for all their faults, one praise in particular can be said about them; their strength. They tower over even the tallest of Greenlanders, and are strong to a degree most of us cannot fathom. Such was how many of their early victories were achieved against us. I can scarcely imagine the fear a soldier of old must have felt staring down such a foe. A mighty Gryff, wielding two battle-axes at once, as was their custom, screaming angrily as they charged. It was a frightening thought to be sure, and yet, one thing has always given us an advantage against such strength; their people's lack of magic. None can say for certain why this is, but the Gryff peoples have never been blessed with mages amongst their number. Though, in hindsight, it is probably for the best that it stays that way.

On the rare instances in which a Gryff will stray to the south, it is usually to try and satisfy the battle lust that is so often lacking in their own homeland. Today, one will often encounter their people among mercenary companies, or hired on as personal bodyguards of lords or wealthy merchants. And in this, it must be said, they serve their roles well, for few have ever died under their protection. Yet, unfortunately, that is almost the only interaction between our peoples that we have going for us. On occasion, it is rumoured that some Gryffs and Greenlanders have even become lovers. But, according to those who observe them, such unions are often barren, giving rise to the belief that a mixing of our two races is fundamentally impossible. Though again, such talk is strictly hearsay at this point.

Whatever the case, it must be said that the Gryffs remain stubbornly clung to their older ways and lifestyles. They are a people angrily holding onto the bitterness of past defeats, while hoping in their hearts to one day achieve what their ancestors could not. The Gryffs forever look to the perceived glories of their past, while steadfastly ignoring or raging against the poverty of their present. It is a sad tale, to be sure, and yet, one must always remember one important fact; whatever hardships the Gryffs endure, it has always been their own doing that led them to it.

Drakes and Dragons

While our people can claim to have lived in these green and good lands for many a generation, several millennia in fact, it must be said that we are not, contrary to belief, the first peoples to live here. No, that honour goes to the mysterious race known as the Drakes.

I am sorry to report, however, that we know very little of these ancient peoples, although I can say with certainty that their imprint has been left upon our world many times over. Several ancient structures, pre-dating the arrival of modern Greenlanders, have been discovered throughout our realms. Structures like the fortress nestled amongst the North Peak, or the great sea castle on the eastern coast. Some have even suggested that some of the old structures found within the Everfree Forest are of Drake construction, given that they share similar appearances, such as black stone and unusual design flourishes. Nothing can be said with certainty, however, as their people and their ways have been lost to us.

What we do know, though, is that during their time in this world, they ruled an empire that spanned over all of what we now call the Green Lands. Some have even gone on to theorise that they went much further, colonising the vast lands to the west, prior to the days when the Everfree Forest existed. It is a fascinating thought, to be sure, and one that causes a chill down one's spine when we consider it, for if such an empire truly existed, then these Drakes were mighty indeed. And their might was not merely in the span of their lands or in their mysterious nature, but in the one thing we absolutely know about them for sure; their connection to dragons.

Now, while these impressive beasts have long been the source of many an exciting tale, told to generation after generation of boys and girls, we must never forget that they actually did exist in our world. Colossal creatures that took flight and breathed fire, our proof of their existence lies within the many bones found strewn about our lands, and, in particular, the structures built by the Drakes. As for their connection? We know from what little we've gleamed of their ruins that the dragons served the Drakes in some way, acting as a great force to use against whatever enemy they saw fit. Armies, cities, it mattered little, for the fire and flight of dragons gave all foes pause.

However, some amongst my colleagues have gone on to suggest other connections between that ancient people and the dragons. For while we knew there was a link between them, the murals and images we know of have never once depicted the Drakes as actually riding the beasts, as a man might ride a horse. Instead, the dragons were simply depicted fighting the enemies of the Drakes, with their masters nowhere to be seen. This has led some to speculate that the Drakes actually were the dragons, and that, by way of some dark magic, they could transform into the creatures themselves. A bold claim, certainly, and yet, given how little we know, it may well be within the realm of possibility.

Yet, for all our theories and speculation, it is all for naught, really. For the Drakes are no longer of our world. What happened to them, none can say, for there seems to be no indication from records or their ruins that some war or plague took their people's lives. And yet, some cataclysm did occur, one that wiped all Drakes from the face of the earth in a single day, leaving only crumbling castles and dragon bones behind. Some have claimed that it was divine punishment, and that they were destroyed because of debauched practises such as the aforementioned use of darker magics. Others say that they simply chose to migrate to pastures new, perhaps to lands far across from the great eastern ocean.

Whatever the reason, it is likely that such thoughts will, like everything else, be kept to the fields of mere speculation. Nothing of the Drakes is certain. We know they existed, we know they were powerful and we know they had a connection to the similarly now-extinct dragons. They have left a permanent mark upon our world, and our lands in particular, and while the young boy in me would like nothing more than to meet one of their kind and speak with them of all these mysteries, the adult I have become must content himself with the knowledge that such a thing will never come to pass.

Author's Notes:

Well, this is it for now. I'll be sure to think up some additional chapters for this side-story when I get back to writing the main Journey story proper.