I hear a knock at the door. I quickly hide the book.

"Permission to enter, my lord?" A Royal Guard asks.

"E-e-enter." I reply with my nerves on end. I'm too shaken up to correct the "my lord" thing.

"Are you well, my lord? You seem pale, if I may."

"I'm fine."

"Sire, her highness, Princess Celestia, wishes to inform you that your training begins early, at 7 o'clock in the morning."

"Tell her 'Thank you' and that I'll be there."

"I will, my lord." The pony starts to walk outside the door.

"Wait." I instruct.

"Yes, my lord?"

"Can you show me where the Castle Gardens are? If there are any?"

"Yes, my lord, we have the finest gardens in all of Equestria."

"Lead me there, please."

"Right this way, sire."

He leads me through the hallway, and we go through a large doorway.

"I need some time alone."

"Not a problem, sire."

He walks away, and I find a bench to sit on amidst the lush greenery. It's situated in front of a very strange statue. Its head is horse-like, with a deer antler on the right, a goat horn on the left, one long fang and a beard. It has the right arm of a lion, the left claw of an eagle, the right leg of a lizard, and the left leg of a goat. Very odd, indeed.

I'm... going... to die?

The thoughts flood my head again. I can't comprehend how this is even remotely possible, I came here to die? I thought this was going to be like a happily ever after kind of deal. Guess I was wrong. Horribly wrong.

But... I was chosen? By royalty? That means that either Princess Luna or Princess Celesta chose me... I...

My thought process is interrupted by a pink pony staring at me from a distance. Its head is twisted in a way as to say "What are you doing?".

It walks up to me.

"Watcha doin'?" The pony says.

"Just... thinking... why?" I reply with caution.

"I dunno. You seen kinda upset."

"Yeah, it's just I got a lot on my mind."

"Huh. You're new here, aren't you? "

"Yeah, you could say that..."

The pink pony gasps loudly.

"You're that pony who was part of a ceremony or something at the castle the other day, weren't you?" The pony inquires.

"Yes, I am. Why?" I respond.

"You're Eclipse! That pony who says is going to save us all!"

"That's what they tell me, anyway..."

"I'm Pinkie Pie. I'm here helping the Princess for a few days." She extends her hoof towards me.

I extend my hoof and reply, "I'm Eclipse, but you already knew that."

We shake hooves, even though in my mind that seemed physically impossible.

"It's great to meet you, Eclipse!" Pinkie Pie says with a smile on her face.

I start to smile as well and reply, "The pleasure is all mine, Pinkie Pie."

"Well, I've got to go make some cupcakes for Princess Luna's special banquet."

"Banquet?"

"OH! I wasn't supposed to tell you," She remembers with a shocked look on her face, "pretend you didn't hear that, OK?"

"Sure?"

"Thanks!"

The sun starts to set, and I decide to walk back to my quarters. The moon shines brightly in the hallway, putting the stained glass windows in a different light. I notice the stained glass depicting the strange creature I saw earlier in the garden.

Then, it seems as if the stained glass creature is moving. It's looking straight at me. I squint my eyes. It is looking at me. I hear a deep, dark laughter echoing through the halls.

"Who's there?" I demand with a shaky voice.

"Good evening, Eclipse." The voice invites.

"Who are you? How do you know my name?"

"Oh, come on, Eclipse, It's part of the prophecies. Your name will be Eclipse, and, if everypony around here isn't completely wrong, YOU are the chosen one."

"Who are you?"

He laughs darkly.

"You silly pony. I'm Discord. Didn't you read about me in that book of yours?"

"What book?"

He laughs even more.

"You REALLY don't know who I am? I mean, the book says it. Well, I should say Scrolls, but you have the book. Same thing."

"What are you, who are you, and what are you even talking about? You're not in the scrolls..."

"Well, you probably saw a chapter dedicated to Discidium. Discidium? Yeah. Discidium."

I think back to the chapters in the book.

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"Caput Unum (Chapter One): Perpetuas Leges (The Everlasting Laws).

"Caput Duo (Chapter Two): Historia Equestriana (Equestrian History).

"Caput Tribus (Chapter Three): Discidium.

"Caput Quattuor (Chapter Four): Electus (The Chosen One).

"Caput Quinque (Chapter Five): Viasque Regium (Guidelines for Royalty).

"Caput Sex (Chapter Six): Exitus Principio (The End of The Beginning).

"Caput Septem (Chapter Seven): Dux Monstra (Guide to the Monsters)."

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Oh. That chapter.

Like he read my mind, he says,

"Oh, yes, that chapter indeed, Eclipse. Did you read it?"

I gulp loudly. I've more than read it.

He's my favorite character in the series.