As you finish the document, you place it inside the drawer. It has been a very hectic week due to all this paperwork. This was a good chance to get some reading done. Sitting down on the chair placed in the corner, you look around.

Books line the shelves in an array of colors and sizes. The noon sun illuminates the room, leaving no corner dark. Reaching over to one of the shelves, you grab the book labeled The Princess in You. Even if it has been thousands of years, this book has always been there for you.

This was not, of course, the original book, but a reprint of it. The original was deep inside the archives, where it was to be preserved for years to come. As you begin to get sucked into its writings, a hard knock interrupts you.

"Come in."

The door slowly opens, revealing a very stern pony in plate armor. He bows down in front of you, concern plastered across his face.

"Your highness, it seems that the soothsayer requests your presence."

You can feel your ears perk up. It has been... what, a couple hundred years since you last heard anything from her?

"Fetch a chariot at once. We must see her immediately."

With a quick nod, the stallion bows once again and takes off. You quickly leave your seat and place the book back onto the shelf. Leaving the study, you make your way towards the castle grounds where your chariot awaits. The guards quickly assist you onto your ride and make the precautions to ensure a safe ride. After latching themselves to the cart, they lift off and head north.

The wind takes no hesitation to press itself against your face, not that it bothered you much. Getting out of the castle was a nice change of pace, but not for something like this. The last time she called for you, it was to warn you of a basilisk that was being awakened by an evil unicorn.

Looking around, the scenery changes from buildings and houses to grass and trees almost instantly. Trees begin to take over the land as you head over the Everfree Forest, leaving no sight of the actual ground. For what feels like an eternity, you continue flying over the forest, only to stop over a pristine lake. A small hut stands on the edge, puffing out smoke like an old pony with a pipe.

It seems you have reached your destination.

The pegasi slowly lower the cart, careful not to rock it around. As it lands in the fertile soil, the wheels slowly sink in. The two pegasi quickly jump from their reigns and assist you off the chariot.

"Thank you," you tell them, gracefully making your way to the small hut on the edge of the lake. You lift your hoof as you attempt to knock on the door, only to have it open before you can.

"Come in, Princess. I have been expecting you," ushers a raspy, weak voice. A guard attempts to enter the building alongside you, but you stop him short.

"This is a private matter. I know you mean well, but nopony can hear the words spoken inside this home but me," you tell him sternly. The guard hesitates, trying to think of a reason to go with you, but only nods in agreement instead. It was best he didn't fight it anyway. It was your word over his.

As you make your way into small abode, a heavy scent fills your nose. It smells of incense and herbs, making a lovely but obnoxious fragrance. It had been some time since you had been here last, but it hasn't changed at all. The cauldron still sat in the middle of the room under a fire pit, which was the only thing lighting up this windowless structure.A small hole in the ceiling lets the smoke escape so that there wouldn't be a suffocating cloud inside the room. The walls are covered in strange drawings and incantations, giving the hut an eerie feel to it.

"How have you been?” You jump as the shadow next to you moves into the light, revealing a very old zebra. Her hair was weathered, white, and old. The wrinkles on her face show that her age was that of an old one.

She slowly walks up to the cauldron and looks inside. Grabbing a large wooden spoon, she stirs something that seems like herbs into the strange liquid inside and directs her gaze at you.

"It looks as if you haven’t aged a day, my dear."

You weren't sure if she was being sarcastic or serious, but that didn't matter at this point. What mattered was the fact that she summoned you. For her to call upon you meant that something was wrong.

"Thank you for the compliment, but I digress. I know I wasn't called here for you to just comment on my appearance."

The zebra chuckles and turns her head back to the cauldron.

"Straight to the point, my dear? Well it seems that something interesting has arrived into this world… two things, to be accurate." She stops stirring the liquid and leans back, motioning you to move forward and look inside.

You lean forward to see what this cauldron had in store for you. A field covered in bodies is displayed. Stains of blood are spread all across the grass. Bodies of unknown creatures lay across the floors, screaming in agony and dismay. They were bipedal creatures, much like Minotaurs, but they did not have hooves and horns.

It seemed they were in a battle, but with what was not clear. Two of these creatures stood out, however.

One laid against the floor holding a sword and shield, sporting a silver-colored plate armor covered in trails of blood. Another one of the creatures, clothed in a dark robe, stood over the other, laughing. Ripples come across the liquid, changing the scene completely. It was now inside of your throne room, with this creature bowing before you before parting.

The image is interrupted with a new one. A hospital room is displayed where a mare lies on the bed with a stallion to her side. She holds a purple unicorn foal in her hooves, shedding tears of joy. The liquid ripples, changing the scene once again. It was an all familiar scene. It was the main lecture hall of your school, where the same purple unicorn standing before the council. Her test was... “different” than the normal ones. She was to hatch a dragon egg, a purple one covered in green polka dots. One last ripple travels across the cauldron, leaving an image of the same pony, only she wasn't an unicorn now, but an alicorn instead.

The soothsayer removes the spoon before allowing the vision to go any further. Lifting your head, you look at her.

“What does this all mean?”

The soothsayer places the spoon down and shrugs.

"It could mean anything. But one thing's for certain: Their destinies will tie together, whether it be directly or indirectly.”

“How can you be certain?”

"If two visions happen in one sitting, they will intertwine with one another.” She turns around and sits, facing the wall, looking at one of the writings on the wall. It was completely illegible to you, but she seemed to be entranced by it.

"For years I’ve watched everything around me. I have foreseen wars, cautioned threats, and predicted problems, but there is one thing I cannot see.” She looks down to the ground. ”I have not seen how each of my predictions end. It is the one thing I cannot see.” She waves her hoof, signalling for you to exit. So many questions filled your head, but there was no point in imposing them on her. The soothsayer was a stubborn zebra and would not give you the answers to something she didn’t know in the first place.

“Thank you for your help, as always.”

You make your way for the door before she stops you with one final statement. ”You might not know everything that is going to happen, but there will be time for all of that later, my dear.”

Mortal men were nothing but lamb to the slaughter. Your sword has cut down countless men and creatures, leaving nothing but death in its wake. It was not that you took joy in killing, it was more the fact you had no choice. This land was yours and you had to defend it. Anything that crossed into your land unwelcome, human or not, was to be slain.

But you had not counted on this.

Today was supposed to be a battle that would be remembered for ages. The rivaling country to the North had declared war against your people. Being the lord’s right hand man, it was mandatory that you would be out on the battlefield. However, that did not mean you were doing this for him. The lord wasn’t exactly “righteous”. In layman’s terms, he was a very corrupt man.

The only reason you served him was because you swore an oath to do so. As a child, you had been left behind after your village had been slaughtered in a bandit raid. The lord came to you and said he would care for you, but you had to swear your allegiance to him. Being that you were left with nothing, you agreed to the terms.

His elder brother, the ruler of the land, was the one who ended up taking care of and raising you. The lord seemed like a good man, until you got to know him. After watching him stab his only brother in the back for the throne, it became clear what he really was.

But still, you continued to fight for him, though in reality, you were fighting for nothing other than your country. The land you hailed from was what drove you to draw blood across your sword each day. The people in it were a fine bunch and would always be willing to help to care for a man who would return the favor.

Today, many have died with that belief in mind. The bodies lay across the plain around you, bringing nothing but grief to your eyes. But there was no time for mourning. There was only time for fighting.

An enemy quickly sprints towards you, waving his sword above his head like a madman. Releasing an annoyed sigh, you raise your shield and brace for impact. They must have thought their war cries would give them strength to defeat their enemies or something. As his sword slices through the air, you lift your shield up, swatting it away with brute strength. Left completely dazed and confused, the man’s chest is open and exposed. With a swift thrust, you quickly stab through his flimsy armor into his chest as if it was made of butter. The man’s eyes roll behind his head as you place your foot upon his stomach and retract your sword.

Looking out across the field, you notice a tent being protected by a few enemy soldiers. It most likely held the leader of their land; taking him down would bring this battle to a screeching halt. Whoever he was, he was more of a man than your ruler if he was out on the battlefield with his men, even if he wasn't fighting. You turn around to your comrades who have just finished off their opponents, raising your sword into the air.

“Men! Let us finish this battle swiftly! Our enemy’s leader is right before us!” You point your sword towards the tent, giving them the hint. “Let us end this once and for all! If not for our wives and children, then for our fallen brethren!”

They yell out their battle cries, lifting their swords in unison. Sprinting alongside your men, you all raise your shields to block any incoming arrows as you make way for the tent. A couple of your men break off from your group every time a batch of enemies attempts to slow you down. The housing grows closer with every step as more and more of your men break off to defend you. You are left with Herald, your best friend and brother in arms.

As you reach the tent, three enemy soldiers block your path. One swings his sword, aiming for your head over your shield. In a fluid motion, you duck, dodging his attack. The fool was leaning into his swing, a novice mistake. Taking your sword, you slash him across his exposed neck, splitting it open with ease. He falls back from the force of the swing as the blood splatters across your face and armor, clenching his neck before quickly bleeding out. Turning to the other two, you ready your sword.

Herald quickly runs in from their side and throws one down by surprise. He quickly parries the other’s attack before turning to you.

"Anon, make haste! I will hold them off!” You nod before smiling at him.

"Don’t you die just yet!”

He grins before turning his attention back to the two men. You enter the tent and look around. It’s pitch black, but you can make out a faint outline in the far end. In the blink of an eye, an unrelenting force sends you flying out of the tent. You’re laid flat across the ground, unable to move. Before you is a man dressed in a black robe, chanting uninterpretable phrases.

“You are a coward to stand behind magic. Why not face me like a true man with a sword and shield in hand?” you taunt. The evil enchanter chuckles, shaking his head.

”I may be a coward, but I am no fool, Anon.” You feel your heart sink upon hearing your name.

“How do you know my name? Who are you?!” He brings his wretched face close to yours, revealing a sinister smile.

"This whole 'war'? It was solely planned for this moment right here. Your lord felt that you were getting too smart for your own good, being chivalrous and all. The last thing he needed was you turning his people against him. However, you have been good to him, so he doesn’t wish to kill you. That is why I will banish you to a world far away, unknown to us.” His hands begin to glow with a black mist before covering you. A slow burning sensation begins to cover your body as it slowly fades away. Letting out a blood-curdling scream, you slowly disappear from existence, leaving behind not a single trace.