Author's Notes:

Straight from the Mane6 Development Team's website, in their Book of Lore Volume 1 - Prologue.

Spike and Arizona were walking down a path, as Spike relays the whole story of his experience to the cow. Needless to say, Arizona has never before been enchanted to hear such a fascinating story.

"That's crazier than a bovine stuck in a tree," Arizona commented. "Ya mean to tell me that ya came from another world, full of talking ponies? And that yer friends with them? And through some strange powerful magic, ya arrived here in Fœnum?"

"Yes, yes, and yes," Spike answered every questions, before asking, "Uh, Fœnum? What exactly is Fœnum?"

"Yer standing in it, of course," Arizona answered. "Fœnum is the world you're in right now. It's kinda similar to this Equestria land you came from. We do have ponies here, though not like the ones you described in yer story."

"You mean, there are other creatures living in this world, besides cows like you?" Spike asked.

Arizona nodded her head, "Yup," She answered. "Believe it or not, there are a whole lot of us sentient, four-legged, hoofed mammals," With that, Arizona began to dig the ground with her hoof for every species she can count, "There are the bisons, camels, goats, deers, antelopes....the list goes on."

"Wow," Spike gasped. "Um, by chance, are there any other dragons besides me, here in Fœnum?"

Scratching her head, Arizona answered, "There used to be," She replied. "Though, we haven't seen any in about a thousand years, or so. Give or take."

"Gosh, what happened to them?" Spike asked.

"You mean, you don't know?" Arizona asked.

"Do I sound like I know?"

"Then I guess it's true," Arizona looked serious. "You're not from around here."

"You mean, that whole time, you didn't believe me about Equestria?" Spike frowned. "You thought I made all of that up?"

"I'm sorry! I'm sorry!" Arizona quickly apologized. "It's just that, these days, we just can't take chances trusting with strangers. Especially when that stranger comes from another world, and somehow manages to weasel their way into ours. This is bad."

"I'll say it's bad," Spike answered. "If I don't get home quick, then who knows what kind of problems the dragons and ponies would get into without my help. That and Twilight’s going to throw a fit when she comes home and finds me missing," The young dragon said at the thought Twilight tearing up Ponyville, searching endlessly and blindly for Spike.

"Yes," Arizona replied. "That, and the signs of their return. This is bad."

Spike soon looked trouble, matching Arizona's expression, "Um, who are we talking about?"

"The predators," Arizona answered.

"The predators?" Spike repeated. "Who are they?"

Looking up, seeing the sun was setting over the horizon, Arizona nudged Spike along, "Let's keep moving," She ushered. "It's not safe to be out and about when it's dark. And pa will be worried sick if I don't get home for dinner."

"Okay," Spike replied. "But soon, I think I need to get caught up on what's going on. Because to me, it sounds like I'm in the middle of something big."

"More bigger than ya can imagine, little fella," Arizona frowned.

Long ago, Fœnum was a different place. The ungulates had shared their home world with a race of savage, furry, four-footed creatures with sharp teeth. They are called the Predators.

There was nothing but dark days back then. No ungulates could roam Fœnum freely to even nibble a single blade of grass, without the thought of a predator lying in wait to pounce and run them down in a heartbeat.

All of Fœnum lived in constant terror of the Predators. Until one fateful day, they were all banished by a great elder, long of leg, long of horn, and long of beard, had made it possible. A desert creature, this Bearded Prophet hailed from a time of pharaohs, pyramids, and most of all, magic.

Legend has it, she was guided by the spirits of her ancestors, when she discovered a portal her people once used as a passageway to what they believed to be the afterlife — the Limbo. And through this portal, the Prophet discovered even more portals to other worlds. Which possibly includes the portal to the world of Equestria.

As legends would have it, the Bearded Prophet traveled the Limbo, until she discovered an empty realm, which she called the THE HOLD. This was the place, she knew where the Predators belong.

Under her wise leadership, all the nations of Fœnum banded together against the Predators, driving them all into the Hold in a long and costly war. There, the Prophet locked them away, using a MAGIC KEY she made from one of her own magnificent horns. For good measure, she also double-locked the door to Fœnum so that no one should enter our world uninvited and ensuring peace for Fœnum forever.

But not everything lasts forever. The Predators all swore to return and wreak their horrible vengeance. And now, they are coming back. All of them. Lions, tigers, and bears. Even wolves, snakes, jaguars, even more.

Recently, there were reports of ghostlike figures, dark and misty, appearing in different parts of Fœnum, just outside the limits of cities or towns. But it's the glowing, angry eyes that gave them away, and the sharp, shining teeth that told all."

“Do not fear us, grass eater,” One of these ghosts said. “We are merely scouts here to warn you. The Bearded Prophet’s magic is finally wearing thin. We have broken her lock, and soon enough we will break your lock so our kind may return to Fœnum, led by the most horrible of us all, THE DEVOURER. The Predators are returning, and they are hungry.”"

Once again, Fœnum was in the cold grip of fear. It was terror time again. For the first time in so many years, the Elders all came together to consult for a solution. They knew that with the Prophet’s Key, they could renew the magic and strengthen the locks. But they all knew that it would take only the the bravest, the strongest, the most skilled among them to get past The Devourer to even reach the door to The Hold. They had to find a champion: THE KEY KEEPER!"

"But without the Prophet’s guidance, every nations of Fœnum could not find it in themselves to come together to choose one Key Keeper. So instead, every nation of Fœnum have decided to select theirownchampion to face The Devourer and save the world. And only one with the Key will be able to reach the Limbo through Fœnum’s portal, fight the Predators and banish them back to the Hold.

All the champions — the Key Seekers — must hunt for the key. However, in order to properly fulfill their duties for all of Fœnum, every Key Seekers must take the key from whichever “imposter” happens to have it – one on one, horn against hoof against antler, until the greatest emerges. The Champion of all Champions, the Protector of Fœnum! Once they have the key, after so many champions have failed, only then do they have the privilege to face the Devourer and the Predators, and defeat them.

But if they fail.....all of Fœnum will die.

"Whoa," Spike marveled, after hearing the story. "That's heavy!" He was currently sharing a room, with Arizona, at her family's house. Though her overprotective father, Texas, spoke disapprovingly against it, her mother, Minnesota, appeared to take a slight fondness for the young dragon.

"It is," Arizona replied. "So you can see what's got ma and pa riled up, a bit, when they first met you, and how your presence here is a sign of danger for us all. The Prophet's magic is failing. And if you can get through the Prophet's spell that kept Foœnum safe and sound, then we obviously don't have much time before the Predators are here for dinner, with us as the main course."

"Again, sorry for dropping in," Spike frowned. Deciding to steer the topic, Spike asked, "So, about this whole 'key' thing. This champion of yours. Remind me again, how do you even know who they really are, just by fighting each others?"

"Like the story says. The Protector of Fœnum is the greatest of them all. They are the champions of champions. The only way for that champion to reveal themselves, is to go through a tournament, to display their skills and strength in combat. And if that champion happens to be me, then I'll do whatever it takes to save Fœnum. If not, then I only hope the real one can succeed."

"I sure hope so as well," Spike replied, while thinking gravely at his chances of going home. Then, it hit him, "Wait a minute! You're a champion?!"

"That's right, little fella," Arizona answered. "Why else would I be out in the plains, sparring myself with those dummies?"

Spike blushed, having forgotten the obvious, "Hehe, I guess that answers that," With his blush subsiding, Spike asked, "So how did you became a champion?"

Arizona smiled, before she kicked back, "Well Spike, that's a story I’m proud to live to tell."