Spike’s Destiny

Prologue

“Dear Princess Celestia,

How are you doing lately? Good, I hope. After all, an invasion and the return of the Crystal Empire are pretty important and kind of a big deal. Anyways, I wrote you this letter to inform you that I have found it—FINALLY!

After almost twenty years of searching, I've finally found the ruins you told me about. It was kind of funny how I stumbled upon it, actually.

There I was, having a nice dinner with King Gazle of the Cervadis Empire. One thing led to another; we talked, we laughed, I told him some of my stories while he told me some old legend of his kingdom. It was a good time, all in all.

But then, right after I was going to excuse myself for the night, he told me of an old myth about how Cervadis was created. I'm sure you know that one, but not his version; I assure you, princess! The popular legend says Cervadis was built by the early residents of Saddle Arabia. King Gazle told me that was a lie, and that the kingdom was founded by dragons! DRAGONS, can you believe it? I almost squealed with excitement. Come to think of it, I think I actually did. That would explain that odd look he gave me. Mmmm... anyway!

He told me that right in the borders between Camelu and the lost world, there was a long forgotten valley, and within, rested the last remains of those dragons who built the Cervadis Empire! He said it was just a myth, and that neither the valleys nor the ruins had been found so far. But you know me, so I decided to investigate. After all, that was my best chance in years to actually find it.

The next day, I gathered everything I needed to begin my journey. It took me two weeks, three brushes of death, four minor injuries, one tooth, and all of my wits to find the entrance to the valley. The entrance was on a little island in the middle of the lake, in the deepest part of a cave that was at the very core of the mountain UNDER the desert! Oddly, there were no riddles, traps, enigmas, or anything of that sort. Seems like those dragons didn't like the classics.

Moving on, I noticed old statues of dragons—of many kinds, if I was right (and, of course, I was, mind you)—all forgotten and torn by time. It seemed like these ruins are over six thousand years old. After a long walk, I finally reached the valley, which was illuminated by some strange rocks on the ceiling. Taking one for analysis, it became dust as soon as I so much as touched it. All I can say is that they absorb the solar energy from the desert above the mountain. Somehow, it managed to give this valley the strength it needs to exist. But enough of the science stuff.

I walked and hovered all over the place. It was big enough to mistake it for the Everfree Forest. Right in the dead center of the place, I found the ruins of an old castle. Right at the entrance was the face of a dragon like no other. I felt like it was looking at my very soul, even though it was just a door. I opened the surprisingly well-conditioned door and began to wander around the insides of the ruins.

Again, no traps or anything like that, not even a snake (I hate those things; always a favorite for old ruins, somehow). I roamed the castle for what felt like days, searching room after room, until I reached the library. It was completely empty, except for one book, resting on a marble pedestal. Curious, excited, and silently praying, I approached the book. It was large for a normal pony—but only slightly so for an Alicorn, I suppose. Once observing the book, it was then that I cried. For the first time in many years, I cried out in happiness. This was it. I had found it! I finally found--

“The book of the Dovah,” Celestia whispered, reading the letter for the umpteenth time. She sat in the emptiness of her royal chambers. After nineteen years of pain for both her and her explorer, she had finally found it.

Nearly two decades ago, the unexpected had occurred, an event that not even she could have predicted. Her faithful adventurer could finally come back home, after promising to not stop searching until she either found it, or death claimed her.

It took nineteen long, hard, painful years, but she had, at last, discovered the book that could answer her questions; questions that had been eating her for nearly four hundred years.

Ever since the day she encountered the cryptic egg, deep inside that cave near the old castle of the Everfree Forest, it had been her duty and responsibility to watch out for that egg. She kept an eye for it, waiting until it hatched, or the rightful owners came to claim it. Neither was fulfilled for three hundred and ninety seven years.

Celestia's initial shock gradually passed, memories left to the back of her mind, and her happiness was raising. It formed a hassle-free smile on her face. Elated due to the best news she had gotten in a long time, she decided to finish her letter.

“—The Book of Dovah!

This is a victory for both of us, Princess! We must celebrate once I return to Canterlot. I'll be arriving to Equestria with “the precious cargo” in about a week after you receive this letter, hopefully.

Going off topic now; how's my little sister? Doing well at the castle, and not destroying anything, I hope. From what you told me last time, it seems like Ditzy befriended Princess Luna. I'm happy for both of them. Well, I must go now. The mail-camel is almost here, and this cannot wait any longer. Happy week, and wish me luck, Princess.
Equestria's Number One Archaeologist,

Daring Derpina Doo

P.S. Tell my sis I'll bring her the muffins she asked me for last time.”

Author's Notes:

Special thanks to The Grimm Reaper for proofreading this, thank you!.

And now a very BIG SPECIAL thank you to Miss Dark Angel for editing it, THANK YOU!.