//------------------------------// // Chapter Seventeen // Story: Mare In The Everfree Forest // by MoonLily //------------------------------// I found myself walking in a blizzard hearing voices shout and scream before silence. Turning my head I found myself sitting outside of a small hut made from crystal and rock. A grey mare with a silver mane hanging down her side stared at me with a smile. Her eyes were wrapped in a cloth keeping them hidden. I knew this mare, it was my mother. Glancing down I noticed my hooves were small again. Looking to my right I noticed the village was back to normal. The hills and fields were covered in a soft green crystal moving in the wind.          “Silver you need to get up my dear” I rubbed my eyes as I looked up at my mother.          “Sorry mother did I fall asleep?” I noticed my voice was softer than normal “Is there something wrong?” I hopped up noticing the pegasus were moving the clouds around while chatting away.          “You told me to wake you. You wanted to practice for tonight and for grandfather. I think he said he would be around tonight” I felt my eyes widen as I saw the large brown book with silver edges and trim. It was the spell book that I had made and practiced from. I took this book in my hooves hugging it before placing it on my back. Once I felt it was on my back I ran down the dirt path. I came to a stop at a rugged stoned wall that separated more huts like my own. Taking a left I could see vendors and stalls being placed up while others were going about their day. Earth ponies were working on homes and fences while the Pegasus were moving clouds about. I stopped at the trunk of a large crystal cherry tree that shaded half ot the village.          “Runt!” I jumped at the loud shout. My heart was racing causing me to turn around. I saw a white Pegasus with a blue mane laughing his flank off.          “Arial!” I wined as I looked at him. He ruffled my mane with his wing causing me to push it back.          “Sorry I had to do that” I could hear the laughter in his voice “So what are you doing here? I thought you were going to your spot to study and practice?” I watched as he stayed in the air his tail moving behind him.          “I am. I wanted to see what vendors were up”          “Well, Father sent me to tell you do not spoil your dinner. Grandfather will be joining us for dinner” I felt his hoof rubbing against my head causing me to huff.          “Fine”          “Arial we you to push the rain clouds over the fields!”          “Half to go sis” I watched him fly off leaving me with a messy mane. After that, I wanted a moon pie. I moved through the village to the outskirts. On my walk, I noticed many unicorns with tomes on their back. They were all walking with their soon-to-be teachers at their side. Depends on them passing the test. I didn’t have a teacher as I was hoping the moon would come and teach me personally. Wanting to get to my book I rushed to my spot till my nose made me come to a stop. Looking at the stall to my right I noticed the moon pies were being put out. I walked towards the stall watching as the pies were made.          “Here you go little one. For good luck on the test tonight” the vendor smiled at me as he handed me a moon pie. My face lit up as I stared at him.          “Thank you” I walked off taking a bit into the marshmallow treat. I could feel the marshmallow stick to the top of my mouth as I forced the treat down without water. I walked along the dirt road till it was nothing but grass. I made my way up to a little hill which allowed me to rest my book up against it. I opened the book to the tagged page I was working on. The pages were stained and torn with use. I glanced down at the book looking at a picture of a flower with words written around it. This spell is what I have been working on for days and hope to use it to impress others. I closed my eyes and flared up my horn. I felt my magic wrap around the flower causing me to open my eye. I grew excited as the dead flower was starting to be vibrant and filled with life. However, I ran into the same problem. The magic and the life left in the dead flower started to interact with my magic. It didn’t backfire till a wave of magic hit me from behind causing me to release the spell early. I ended up being tossed onto my back.          I grumbled as I rolled to my stomach. I pushed the mane from my face in time to see my brother flying towards me. The sky in the background was covered in smoke and flames causing me to worry. Screams and laughter filled my ears as I felt my brother tackling me. I found myself being wrapped up in his hooves before getting dragged into the open snow.          “Brother what about mom and dad!” I shouted through the snow storm.          “Father sent me to get you out of there” I heard his voice tired as he was panting hard. I glanced towards him as I felt snow hit my back. I found myself trapped under him causing me unable to breathe. I tried to push him up and off of me.          “Brother!” I shouted but I got no response. I looked over at him and his eyes were open slightly. Unsure of what to do I used my magic to create a barrier around us till the snowstorm calmed down. I had fallen asleep waking up by a warm liquid hitting my back. Opening my eyes I noticed my fur was being covered in a redish-black liquid coming from my brother’s body. I started to panic allowing me to dig at the snow. After digging for a bit I was able to crawl out from under him dropping the barrier. My heart was panting as I noticed the snowstorm calm down. Doing the only thing I knew I used my magic to pull my brother towards the village. I am used to this as my brother would get drunk with his father most nights.          As I got to the village I noticed my book was still in its same position allowing me to pick it up. I placed it on my back leaving my brother near the hill. I slowly walked back into the village hoping to find some pony left alive. Many of the huts were broken while many were on fire creating the black smoke that filled the air. I moved closer to the center of town where I noticed most of the ponies. I walked towards each one moving them hoping for them to wake up. The same liquid that stained my coat, stained the ground where each one was laying. I had tears in my eyes as I started to grow scared.          “Silver?” I turned scared out of my mind. I noticed my grandfather was gliding down to the ground. I started to cry as my book slid down my back.          “They won’t wake up. I think they drank too much” I ran towards him as I buried my face into his leg.          “Silver where were you?”          “I was on my hill practicing my magic. Then brother flew me out of town. But he won’t wake up either” I cried as I stared at my grandfather. I felt myself being pulled closer to him.          “It’s alright Silver. I will be here for you” I felt him nuzzle me as he placed me on his back. I let out a yawn and fell into a deep sleep.          I had my eyes open noticing I was in a room with many ponies standing over me. I was panting hard as I could tell something was wrong with the two of them. They were smaller forms of the silver Alicorn and the golden alicorn. They were moving their hooves weaving black lines with Discord floating above.          “What did we just see?” I heard Twilight speaking.          “That was mother’s past. Grandfather told us the story many years ago when mother started to break down crying.”          “At least she's alive” I heard Luna groaning.          “Princess, didn’t you say we would be in her dreams till we reached her?” I heard Fluttershy speak up.          “Sister?”          “Shit she's awake,” I noticed as many of them gathered around me. I blinked my eye once as I felt an ich coming on.          “Shit” I heard the silver one speak up before waving her hoof over my face. I tried to say something but I fell into the darkness again.          “Are you ready? The Empress is waiting Princess Luna” I spoke up as I felt my silver bracers move on my legs. I had stopped in front of a flat-face crystal fixing my armor. I had on a white button-up under a black vest. Once I had the vest on I pulled on a dark heavy blue dress coat on. The coat had stars at the bottom matching the metal bracers I had on. I placed a metal breastplate with a crescent moon sitting in the middle. I looked over at Luna who was fixing her crown.          “How bad can she be?”          “Think of Celestia but add ten” I huffed as I noticed the guard bowing towards us both. I took a breath in and out slowly before opening the doors to the throne room. I allowed Luna to enter first as I followed her keeping out of sight.          “Ah! The Lunar Sister of the Celestial two comes to answer my request?” The empress had a smile that could kill.          “Yes, I heard many stories of this place. My words cannot do its justice” Luna knew how to kiss flank.          “Yes and you come alone? Why did the other sister not come?”          “Celestia is busy with the yaks”          “Aw yes the Yaks. They are a hoof full, can take months with them to get a simple week’s worth of deals out of them” I heard her growl as I stayed hidden.          “Yes, But I did not come alone empress. I do hope you mind I brought my knight commander with me” my eyes widen as I noticed Luna taking a step to the side. I followed her as I did not want to be seen.          “What Knight Commander?” I noticed the empress climbing off her throne. My ears went up as I moved around Luna as the Empress did the same.          “Knight Commander Skull-Crystal stay still for the empress” I heard Luna scolding me as I was behind her and the empress was in front of her.          “No” I changed the tone in my voice hoping nothing would come of it.          “No!” they both shouted. I watched as they both turned towards me. I meekly waved towards the empress knowing where this is going.          “Cleric! I told you to go out and relax! I did not mean to join the Celestial Sister’s army!” I watched as she whipped her head towards Luna “If you get my Cleric killed I will start a war with Equestria. She is on a loan of good faith!” I watched as she turned her head towards me “And Skull-Crystal? Do you think changing your name would keep you out of my sights”          “I got married” I watched as her face went from scolding to soft and joyful. I felt myself being pulled into a hug.          “You must bring your husband! I want to meet him and any children you have. You did marry a stallion?”          “Yes! He takes care of the dead and the ones who will pass in the Everfree City” I groaned as I felt the ground hit my side.          “Sounds like you. Still, you need to bring him. I will set up a home for you so if the sisters don’t work out you can come back Cleric” I was sitting rubbing my head.          “She has a way with ponies” I heard Luna speaking as I nodded.          “Hey! You will always be my cleric no matter what. So Lunch? I am starving Cleric!” I heard her shout. I groaned as I got up and followed her silently with Luna at my side. Once we were out of the throne room I found myself in darkness again.