The Castle

(Warning: Descriptions of Blood and Gore.) Day: Wednesday, Five hours till Midnight. Location: Forest, South Route towards Griffon Village Year: ???? "Fools." I told myself as I observed the deceased bodies before more. This was my current fate having been traveling the forest trails in the late hours of the night. Suppose it is helpful that my fortune sticks with me. The Bandits that decided to ambush me and possibly take liberties with me have now met a pitiful end. The smell starting to fill this area was concerning however. I couldn't tell if it was due to the decapitation done to the leader or the showing intestines of the his goons. "Such a mess. The gorgeous forest is now tainted with the guts and foul of these worthless creatures. Yuck." It was rather sad to see such beauty as nature be tainted by the recent dead. But of course their fates were sealed when they set upon me. Removing the head of the leader was as easy as pulling a grab from a vine. And as far as the remove of stomachs? Well that was just out of curiosity. Still, I found it rather fascinating to observe an Arcane spell of one of the goons being devoured from the inside by rats. Very curious indeed. Arcane had it's dark uses. "I can tell you want to speak to me of something. What is it?" I had asked my Lantern, placing him on a nearby stump of a tree.  "Why?" Good question. Why did I do that. They were just bandits. Thieves and possible killers. Yet, why have such a fate of their end? Why did I do it? "I was just...curious I suppose. Never seen what it looked like to see one get devoured inside out. Never watched somepony rip open their stomach. I just wanted to....observe I guess." "Not sure. Maybe my Father was just a violent person. Nightmare Moon was known for raiding villages and slaughtering innocence in his attempted conquest of Equestria's eternal darkness. Wouldn't be being the daughter of a Tyrant suggest I inherit such a violent nature?" "Arcane nature? What does Arcane have to do with my choices of violence? Justified or not?" "You make it sound like every Arcane User to exist in this world develops a need for Violence. I find that a bit of an overreaction."   "King Astral? Who's that?"

Day: Friday, Middle Evening. Location: Vanhoover, The Golden Mare. Year: ???? I groaned to myself as I entered my private quarters. Work had been exhausting. Mainly due to the constant talking and fake smiles I had to perform for rather intoxicated patrons. I didn't give much room to put anything up or even change out of my work clothes. I decided to just lay myself down on my bed, taking a moment to myself. "I'm really starting to hate this job. Why does my luck abandon me while I'm on duty? I don't even get paired with interesting patrons. Every stallion and occasional mare that walks through the doors seems to only want to delve into drinking of strong cider and express their views of being worthless. Whereas, I'm only left to fake smile and tell the things will be fine." I looked at my Lantern, listening to him speak to me in a understanding voice. The Lantern of Fortune, or Tunie as I call him, seemed to always have a response for everything. Sometimes I liked it. Sometimes I didn't. But we were stuck together. Or at least, I saw to it as such. We've been a good pair for a bit after all. Shouldn't fix what isn't broken. With that said? Sleep sounded real good. "Tunie, I need to catch some sleep now. Care to drift me off with some more stories and lessons?"  "Arcane Spirit? I've never heard of such a concept. Not even from my own Mother. I doubt my Mother would leave such a detail out about Father." "And as my presence in the world started, it would happen two days after Nightmare Moon was banished. Yeah....I'm aware of that. Something that Mother seemed to never let go off. Almost forcing herself to never forget. Her hatred toward Prince Solaris and her desire to kill him." ".........................." "No. It's fine. Continue. I feel you were trying to reach a point." "Right. I suspected as such. My Mother loved my mane and eyes." "And that would be what?"

Day: Thursday, Three Moments Till Midnight Location: South East Equestria. Outside of Deep Hollow Year: ???? I just couldn't take my eyes off of it. My own coat should feel cautious. Possibly nervous or afraid. And yet, all I could feel was at peace. Calm and collected. Almost as if what was sitting on the table before me was meant for me. However, such things can not be so possible. What a silly notion. "So.....do you have a name? Do you go by a name? A title of sorts?" I asked the object before me. Said object was a Lantern. Of course, to just call it a Lantern would do it an injustice. The Craftsmanship of it. The style of it. The mere aura of it. It wasn't anything of a normal construction. No, this Lantern was of ancient magic. Possibly magic far beyond my own understanding. Nothing about it was regular feeling. And even if I was a bat pony? A species not known for keen magic ability? I was a special case. Yet with that, I was usure of what magic surrounded this Lantern before me. Nothing of it was Arcane. Not of my own. Not even related to my Mother's late research before her passing. And as far as my Father's Arcane research? Well....that wasn't important. "I know you can talk. I heard you speak to me. Heard you call to me as I was down in those ruins. You'll have to speak sometime." I explained, seeming stubborn in my pursuit to figure out this object. There it was. The Lantern was speaking to me. It's flame seeming rise and fall delicately with each word. It was an odd voice. Male, but soft. Gentle. Like calm water or a nice breeze.  "Edmund, Lantern of Fortune. That's quite a title. A bit narcissistic. Calling yourself some Fortune giver, but whatever floats your boat." It was silly. Some object claiming itself such a title. It's silly. Truly. "So  what? You grant Fortune? As in good things happening to others? That's your whole deal Mr. Fortune?" So silly. Who does this object think it is? Those were its words. No hesitation. No room for deceiving. Some ancient object is claiming to be able to grant Fortune, and yet it wants to call me its owner? That can't simply be it. "I'm your new Owner? Why because I took you away from the ruin? Because I'm able to talk with you? Listen, it's cute and all that you're willing to be a servant to a gorgeous mare such as me. But Diana Moon doesn't need a servant. Least of all a Lantern of Fortune as you seem to call yourself." Ridiculous. The more I though about it? Why am I even talking with a Lantern? It's an object. Sure the magic that surrounds it seems ancient as well as mysterious. But is it worth even conversing with it as to appear crazy? So far this thing has only shown it can talk. What Fortune can it even bring. It was probably lying. "Alright then, Lantern of Fortune? Or maybe Tunie for short. Why the hell are you choosing me to be your owner? Do you find me so easy to just accept your words? You may be some old as dirt artifact, but it doesn't mean you have convincing words. You're talking about Fortune. Pure chance of good luck. You talk of being able to control that? No magic can do that. Not any I've read. And I've been around for a decent bit. If such magic existed? My Mother would've discovered it. But yet, no clues as to Fortune magic. So with that said? I think we're done talking." My blood ran cold, as did my face. My eyes turned to the Lantern, shocked and now on the edge of my curiosity. And yet, all I could ask was "....How do you know who I am?"