25th July, 112 BNM

Salaman Empire, Main island, Mountain slopes

Abandoned Tigaoist shrine

The mountaintop was known as the 'fume hills', namely for the volcanic vents that gave it the vague odour of rotting eggs the whole time. After a while, one got used to it, not overpowering as it was, unless you were dumb enough to wander right up to one of the vents in the hill slopes.

But this place of geologic heat held other useful features, such as a hot spring, rumoured for its healing properties for a while.

Over centuries though, when easier to access hot springs were found with similar features, the shrine that had been constructed here was abandoned. But during Chack's days as a Samurai warrior under the previous Daimyo, before Hisao, he'd heard of many of these abandoned shrines like these, in hard to reach locations. They made perfect hiding spots until the heat from his honour fuelled vengeance sprees had died down, and he could go forth again.

Begrudgingly, Starswirl decided it would be best he remain here as a home base, getting to know Chack.

In the grand scheme of things, seeing how Chack could be the exemplar of kindness was actually not his first priority.

His teleporting had allowed him rapid access in and out of any nearby towns, under disguise as a Salamander, to find out more about the state of the world right now.

So far his findings had been less than pleasing.

In the 109 years he'd been gone, the New Gryphon and Equestrian instability Siral had urged Starswirl to go on while he checked it out had grown, and now they were 8 years into a full blown war over resource rich territory between their borders within the north western continents mountain ranges.

Worse yet, while the Gryphons were largely united under their single ruler, they were slightly at the disadvantage. The Equestrians had more of an advantage, but were more prone to infighting, even amidst victory, as the Alicorns who led the nobility families each had their own subtle desires for greater power, to satiate their need for security, honour or just plain ego.

That rogue Alicorn in the Malabutu Valley so long ago, Geldrath, who waited to pounce when war weakened Equestria before they met him, had been right, twisted as he was. A power struggle between the Alicorns, and their ruled groups, nobility or bloodline royal family in one case, seemed inevitable.

But what was unusual was the partnerships struck, as there were two Equestrian groups who had ambassadors dispatched to Salaman, and they were initiating trade deals with 2 separate provinces, and 2 separate Daimyos, Hisao the local one.

Supplying and exchanging knowledge, magical and technology trades, and in some cases producing examples here in Salaman.

But it was the Equestrian interventions, indirectly, and why, that also had revealed Chack's life story when Starswirl asked about it.

/

20 years ago

132 BNM

The 2 ruling brothers had been rivals, the elder, patient one having leadership in the province as Daimyo, while his younger, ambitious brother, Hisao, settled the economic affairs.

Chack and others served loyally to their Daimyo, maintaining order in the province, watching for any competitive pushes from other provinces, as the Daimyos were often competing to outdo each other, despite them all being subservient to the Shogun, and Emperor.

Daimyo Jaien, older and more patient, was less willing to risk his province's borders with anything beyond basic, strong defence.

But Hisao's ties to abroad attracted a tempting offer, as he was the first to trade with one of the Alicorn families in Equestria, who if rumour had it, were gearing up for a big war against the New Gryphons.

And they needed a place to test tactics, weapons, where conflict would be easy to do, witness, and wouldn't impede on their territory.

And the desire to fight for honour, and to better their own prowess, made the Salamans in this province, and later the neighbouring Ru'saik province, trade with Alicorn 'factions'.

The neighboring Ru'saik province's Daimyo struck first, with new weapons, and captured a farming town on the province's border with ease, and was only with great cost that the local armies, led by Samurai that included Chack, reclaimed the town.

But at that point, Chack and his Daimyo had their falling out:

"We cannot let those weapons go! They spit fire like rain from the skies, turning villages and forest ablaze like a dozen dragons. If we sneak attack their stronghold where they keep those foreign made weapons we could prevent-."

"No, I will not risk more of our people, warriors or otherwise, on attacks beyond our borders. We must shore up defences."

"But if we don't strike now, press our advantage, they could return stronger than-."

"My decision is final Chack, you will do what is right for your master, and this province!"

Daimyo Jaien commanded Chack sternly, but offered leeway given how loyal a servant Chack had proven, and how capable a warrior too.

As Chack had bowed and left, he'd sought out those of like minds to his own.

They were weakened right not, and he had to ensure the enemies in Ru'saik were weakened too.

It was a sneak attack, a week long journey and they had crossed unseen into the Ru'saik province, reaching the fortress.

Equestrian made weapons of war had aided the samurai, great catapults that fired clusters of magical flaming arrows, and potion stocks that let an army march twice as far in one day for less effort than a normal march.

Sneaking up, Chack and a few of the best Samurai from Jaien's ranks who shared similar mind of attacking before retaliation, infiltrated the fortress.

The weapons were sabotaged, and potions smashed, but the costs, were severe, as the fortress went up in flames as one weapon was fired in a last bid to destroy the fortress by Chack himself.

He returned alone to his province, proud of his brethren for their deaths in the battle, almost lost, and the deaths of those equipped with those foreign weapons of such power and aide. He ensured the security of his province in the near future from the Ru'saik province's unusual attacks.

Daimyo Jaien however, saw differently. Chack disobeyed his master, and had cost him some of his finest warriors on this suicide mission.

"I did what I thought was right by this province, by you! They won't be a dange-."

"SILENCE! You disobeyed my command, and in that you have broken that most important oath of the Bushido code. The others kept their honour by death in battle, something you failed to do."

Handing the sword he'd snatched from Chack's trembling hands back, Daimjo Jaien fell quiet as his face fell, almost regretting what had to be done:

"If you wish to keep your honour, you know what must be done."

Seppuku, suicide in face of broken honour. Chack took the sword, staring at the blade he'd wielded in defence of his province.

He'd sworn to defend this province, its people, in service of his master. And now when he ensures their security, he must die despite proving he could endure battle?

It wasn't fair. He'd given his life in service already, and now it was to end in all other ways?

Looking at Daimyo Jaien, Chack strapped the sword to his belt, shaking his head as he said with some venom he didn't know was in his voice:

"I cannot serve you if I am dead. I will serve you, do honour by your name, even if it means I must disobey your command."

He was exiled within the day, labelled a Ronin, without a master. Yet before he departed, Daimyo Jaien bid him good fortune.

And so Chack departed, heading out on his own, a Samurai in all but name.

But times would very quickly change.

Daimyo Jaien's brother, Hisao struck rich so to speak, as the faction he aligned with was the strongest, with the most number of Unicorns with magic related tradable knowledge and techniques.

Such techniques, and the tools they created for 'test runs', would seal his overthrow of his brother.

The economic leader of the Mutsae province would become the new Daimyo when he authorised his own private militia to 'test' weapons the Equestrian royalty were developing under their own military branch in preparation for the future Gryphon War.

2 weeks after Chack left, exiled by way of Bushido against one who refused honourable suicide for disobedience, fire arrows like rain fell from the skies upon Daimyo Jaien's temple. Great catapult launched air bombs spread a dense fog, a Pegasus magic weapon to lay down a 'fog of war' to hide an incoming army.

The battle lasted from dawn until midday, by which time Daimyo Jaien lay dead on the steps of the burnt temple.

Hisao offered praise of the battle of the half number of Samurai who remained at the temple, and to those across the province, that their honour would remain intact if they served him, who would ensure Jaien's vision of an even better defended Mutsae region came true in ways his 'lack of vision abroad' had failed to comprehend, by not being as open to foreign trade and warfare means.

Only a handful chose Seppuku over serving their old Master's brother, and in the span of a week Daimyo Hisao had the basic provincial army, and 100 full-fledged samurai under his command.

Save for one.

A few days after the battle had taken place, Chack had come to the temple, finding Jaien and many other Samurai at the temple, dead in battle or post battle Seppuku, remaining where they laid.

He saw the new Daimyo had taken up the foreign warfare that held no honour by its means of combat or by its makers, using their conflict to test their 'toys' before they used them.

Chack would never serve Daimyo Hisao, nor would he forgive the utter dishonour the Samurai who betrayed the memory, and self-sufficient ideals of Jaien by siding with one who used the very weapons a neighboring province used to terrible effect, ones Chack and a dozen other brave Samurai had stormed the province to sabotage in that province that allowed Hisao the advantage he had at this point.

Chack would now fully embrace his label of Ronin. His master was dead, and he rejected his alternative, and the Samurai who served him, and the people who believed this Daimyo was better than their previous one, as harsh at times but much more fair and less taxing financially than Hisao.

Chack refused to conform, and chose exile, while selectively embarking on sprees of death and destruction to disrupt Hisao, now his mission in life.

He'd lost faith in the Mutsae province, his own HOME province. In his mind, it was now no different from the Ru'saik province that had attacked them first, which he'd sacrificed his honour and status in a near suicide mission to take out the foreign weapons of theirs that Hisao had used to help overthrow his brother.

Chack served himself now, served his master's legacy by undermining Hisao's rule, nobody else. He didn't see why he should serve anything else anymore.

Early Afternoon

25th July, 112 BNM

Abandoned Tigaoist shrine, Mountain Hot springs

The month in the mountains was, as always, peaceful for Chack. And he knew the 'heat' from his spree would have died down by the time he came down from the mountains by this stage, even if he departed tomorrow morning.

Nearby though, in the same hot spring pool, there was a sight he'd come to appreciate when he came here, locals who liked to indulge in the hot springs up here in the cold mountains.

A family group of Macaque Monkeys sat basking in the hot waters, some scrubbing their fur, others lightly shuffling about in the shallow parts, and one or two sitting out of the water on rocks nearby, cooling off before they went back in the hot water again.

Being a Salamander, Chack valued moisture, and here he could get clean water to drink, once cooled, and clean water to bathe in by it being heated. But right now, he merely was sitting on the edge with his lower legs and tail dipped in, his amphibious skin soaking the warm to hot moisture up, balanced by the cool mountain air.

He had his peace here, and he liked things simple, like the Macaque monkeys right now.

A sound of hoofsteps behind him made Chack turn his head to see Starswirl coming over, the small monkeys on the other side of the hot spring pool staring blankly before turning back to their own business.

Sat down beside Chack, Starswirl offered a small remark: "They never tire of that, do they?"

"No, and it is easy to see why from where I sit right now."

He nodded slightly in agreement, as Starswirl had bathed in the springs himself to try them within the month he'd used this place as a 'home base' to keep tabs on Chack. All the while though, Starswirl couldn't help but give a slight sigh as he admitted:

"Sitting up here, it still boggles the mind how much has changed since I left Equestria."

Thinking for a moment, Chack thought aloud as he said while lying down, legs and tail dipped in the spring waters:

"You admitted you are a time traveller, why I'm not sure, but it makes sense given how much you know. And yet, you seem floored by how much changes between when you are not moving through time."

At this, Starswirl had a thought, as he counted how much 'time' had actually passed for him, and Siral, before he jumped to this time.

"Actually, if I only counted the time when myself and Siral were actually wandering, exploring, meeting those we did, over 5 different time periods, we were only on that journey for about 11 months."

Shaking his head, Starswirl gave a mixed laugh of lament, and also amazement: "What an year this has been, including the month spent with you."

"Not too eventful for the most part, I have spent it mostly up here while you sometimes quickly venture by your magic to find answers on history." Chack rebutted, to which Starswirl jabbed a hoof in his direction suddenly, his tone incredulous:

"Not eventful? What was that chaos you sowed in Dahia village, not to mention initially hunting me as you admitted? And I need not mention your minor ruckus you caused in Mutsae town itself with the dock fires."

Chack offered no change in expression, as he dismissed without concern: "The past is the past, we met under bad circumstances and we've had time to understand each other enough to move past that. There is no need to hold onto grudges."

At this, Starswirl resisted the urge to scoff, as he remarked: "Rather hypocritical of you isn't it?"

Turning a slight glare at Starswirl, Chack's beady Salamander eyes narrowed as he gave a slight hiss: "My duty to my master's legacy, even if he disowned my service by disobeying him to serve him better, is not a grudge."

"You seem to have one against Hisao's local rule though."

"It is my duty to my master's memory that comes first, the grudge is secondary."

"Very well, as you say it." Starswirl gave a sigh, knowing Chack was stuck in this mindset for now. Besides, he had other concerns, that he had to think about.

Nearby, the Macaque monkeys groomed and bathed as usual, while the Wizard and Salamander simply watched the distant mountains across the vast valley below, the faintly smoking slopes a hundred metres away contrasting the hot springs, and abandoned temple they used as sleeping shelter, against the blue and semi clouded, sun lit sky.

1 hour later

Out of curiosity, Chack had once again probed about some of the stories Starswirl had to share. And truth be told, Starswirl found himself liking Chack in this state. Calm, and curious to learn about anything other than things within Salaman.

And it was nice to have someone to speak to who had a curious mind ever since Siral had left out of duty to Equestria, and feeling Starswirl didn't trust him completely enough to say the prophecy had warned of friends that were always beside him on the quest.

He told the tales of everything from his journey, where he went with Siral, what he saw, who he met especially and the examples they set.

-The Saddle Arabian Mare, Mashri, who's loyalty between discovered family she helped on a whim, and the Empire she ultimately chose to remain loyal to as she had in life, at her brother's disgust.

-The Eastern Dragoness, Hinai, who's reluctance to wield her great power, until the Sorceror Dragon Ghung Chian came to claim her power and life as he did her parents and eldest brother, and she unleashed her self-restrained powers at long last.

-The Faroench Stallion, Frello, who both braved his self-shame at his punishment ridden muteness for his early gypsy life and embraced his old talents to bring joy to the festival as an example to his normally more jubilant adoptive, lame legged son.

-The Bengal Tigress, Nahia, who when crippled by a hunter when defending her previous cubs later lost them to demon predators, and vowed to build a false reputation to make up for her lack of ability. She however confronted her fear and hidden grief, admitting the harsh self-truth she had tried to mask, while assisting Starswirl in rescuing Siral from a demon wielding Alicorn rogue.

-The Shetland Fox, Irvin, who upon seeing the loss greed had caused the crew by tearing them apart, Irvin chose to sacrifice himself and the treasure he sought, risking life and poverty to save Blythe, the one who hadn't succumbed to greed. The creatures spared him because they preyed on greedy souls, his greedless soul blinding them to him.

But it was at this point that Starswirl decided, that after losing Siral to omitting one part of the prophecy that concerned him, he was to be completely honest.

The ONLY part Starswirl would not tell Chack just yet would be that HE was supposed to be the exemplar of Kindness, the one starting as a cruel one.

"I think you will find it difficult to locate a truly kind one among this province, that much I can tell you. Anyone cruel, you are spoilt for choice." Chack remarked, still marvelling at the prophecy, the tales, and the rather disappointing tale of Siral leaving due to Starswirl not completely, but understandably, trusting him with part of the prophecy he seemed to be the mentioned risk of, one close to the heart who would become a great enemy.

"Yes, I noticed. But if anything how much has changed in history is more disturbing. I would wager if I met with Siral again he'd be very bitter with how things turned out, despite what I expect was his best efforts."

"If he returned to try and prevent warfare building in your home nation, he is one Equestrian I would be happy to meet. Needless to say I wish your war hadn't come, nor had it been my nation that became a place to test their weapons before they used them themselves. We may be proud of our warrior heritage, but not if its tainted by conflicts we have no stake in, or by what will be used in them."

Chack's remark made Starswirl think.

When this was over, if Chack proved himself as the others had, doubtful or not, what was his best course of action?

Given the situation, Starswirl wished to head back to Equestria as soon as possible. That much was certain, especially with a full-fledged war having gone on for 8 years now, on and off in conflict it may be.

"I guess we have something in common. The territory we once served has devolved into something uglier in our imposed absence by our duties. You by prophecy, me by serving a legacy in a better time, my own in turn triggered by what happened in your nation on an added note."

"I just hope what I learn from the eventual example of 'Kindness' is what ideal is needed to shake Equestria from this stupor of damaging warfare. Siral had the other 5 to share, as I'm sure he did, and it didn't seem to work."

"Ideals cannot stop a war once it starts." Chack replied, pulling his legs from the hot springs, drying them off nearby on a part of his robe leggings he pulled over to himself nearby. Looking down, Starswirl gave a small hope:

"No, but maybe they can stop another one happening once this one ends."

"That is more likely. All wars end at some point." Chack nodded, as he walked away, back towards the shrine structure, wanting to sharpen his sword.

Starswirl grumbled, as he exhibited the noticeable pessisism he'd been getting plagued with more and more since Siral had left the journey:

"Clearly periods of Peace end too."

How right he would be proven, in less time than he thought, and in a place closer than either he or Chack realized.

2 days later

Night/before Dawn

27th July, 112 BNM

Salaman Islands, Mutsae Province

Mutsae Town, harbour bay.

The silent sailing junk ships quietly passed by the sleeping town, the buildings visible by the candle lights and lanterns lighting its docks.

On the ships, the Ru'saik Province ship crews readied the weapons mounted on the ship bows, readying the release triggers.

On the silent commands from the ships' captains, the catapults fired their ball shaped projectiles towards the town, and as they burst mid trajectory, a series of faint red streaks flew through the sky, as if someone was dragging thin lines of red thread through the sky.

The guards on the docks saw the red lights descending quickly, and the first of the flaming arrows, enhanced by Equestrian recipe brewed flame spell potions, pierced the guard's helmet with ease any other arrow couldn't.

Others fell on the wooden docks, houses, others simmered on the pavement with a clatter while the rest hit the water channels and harmlessly sank.

Within a few minutes the city was in flames, the bombardment would continue for many minutes.

Rushing to his small palace's windows, Daimyo Hisao saw the faint silhouettes of the sailing junks out in the dark harbour, itself lit up by the fires spreading in Mutsae town. Seething, he recognized the insignia of the Ru'saik armies.

Daimyo Yamahai had made deals with an Equestrian, Alicorn led nobility 'clan', a non-royalty one, but one that while not as flat out wealthy as the royals he himself was allied with, excelled in weapons over other means of trade.

These were improved compared to the ones the previous Daimyo of the Ru'saik province had used to raid a small border town fortress 20 years ago, shortly after which marked Hisao's rise to power over his brother.

Seething, Daimyo Hisao resisted the urge to bellow out into the night at the sight of the ships beginning to turn, the town ablaze by their assault.

In a nearby room, the 2 Equestrian Unicorn visitors, ambassador stallion Ash Clincher and royal court magician mare Teal Quirt, stared out at this assaulting ship squadron turning to fall back after a successful mass, surprise attack.

Teal Quirt in particular regarded the Ru'saik ships with disdain, as she knew those weapons were of the design of the Trumane Alicorn led Nationalist clan in Equestria, testing their new weapons with those who would happily wield them.

It only reminded her of the tenuous alliance between the 3 Alliances, of Royalist, Nationalist and Seperatist, all Alicorn led to varying degrees, that there was back in Equestria.

Every day she saw more and more evidence to show her Savant Guild's founder, Siral the Savant, had been right in his warnings of Alicorn pride and competition breeding conflict and disregard for life lesser than their own. Despite disappearing 49 years ago, his ideas about Alicorns seemed all too accurate at an increasing rate.

All the while, the fires raged across Mutsae city, lighting the city before dawn had even broken.

News of this attack would reach many, included 2 in the mountains, dragging them back into the fray, and leading to a series of events that would change more than just a certain Salamander forever.

Author's Notes:

A more informative chapter about Salaman, Chack's history, and the state of the world with Equestria and new Gryphon. If you want a real life example, see the Spanish Civil War.

The Nazis lent support to a specific faction, and equipment, which gave an opportunity for 'field tests' before they used it themselves.

In Equestria's case, even while the New gryphon war is being waged, weapons are still sent overseas due to Salamans wanting them, or being willing to test new weapons. Tests serve the current war, and the civil war that will come later on.

In Equestria too, there are 3 factions that will form the 3 sided Civil War, all with Alicorns as their leadership, and a total of a few dozen, nearly a hundred at its peak, Alicorns in Equestria, of varying political standing, though all above anyone else in Equestria.

The Royalists [Led by the Royal bloodline, the House of Radiante, whom 2 certain sisters are yet to be born into], the Nationalists [Led by the Trumanes and other lesser Alicorn families, who want an Alicorn Council, not a royal family, leading Equestria], and the Seperatists [Led by the Thareins and other lesser Alicorn families, who want to divide Equestria into Alicorn led smaller states independent of one another].

All the while, this entire arc is a foretaste of what infighting will do to Equestria, the onset of Starswirl's more bitter mindset and pessimism at times.

The Unicorn student, Teal Quirt, a Royal Court Magician Unicorn mare, will have a big role to play in the Equestrian Civil War, and be 'affected' by the events in this KINDNESS arc. Both she, and Chack as well, will have bigger roles than expected, Chack in ways nobody in the story could anticipate.