~~Revertere~~
Mr Septonic
Chapter 8
A Request
Celestia stared down at the smoking body of Ordinis with a blank look upon her face. It was done, the Elements of Harmony obviously saw Ordinis as a threat...right? Even though she was staring at the results, she still had an ominous feeling in her stomach. She then started to run down the passage to the landing where Luna fought with him. Twilight stayed behind with her friends to "clean up". When she got outside there was no sign of her sister. The one thing that caught her eye was the crater on her left, with a little blood spattered in it. Rushing to the edge of the castle, Celestia looking around trying to find a sign that Luna was okay. Directly below her, they was a small balcony some thirty-feet down. Luna had landed right on it and was fine, but unconscious. There were two ponies with her, trying to regain her consciousness. Celestia sighed with relief knowing her sister was fine. Heading back inside to thank the girls, and explain everything, she arrived at the scene of all them unconscious, with Ordinis nowhere to be seen. Rushing over to Twilight, she used a quick healing spell to wake her up.
"Wha...Celestia! I'm so sorry, Ordinis was faking and attacked as soon as you left." Twilight hung her head in shame, but she knew that it was not her fault.
"That's alright Twilight, help your friends out, when everypony is up and fine I will explain this mess." Celestia then went over to Applejack and Pinkie Pie, and woke them up too. While Twilight got Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash. Celestia turned towards Twilight after making sure everypony was alright, but stopped herself when she saw that Twilight was freaking out. "Twilight, what's the matter? I know that Ordinis can seem quite horrible but you shouldn't get this worked up over it."
"It's not that princess. Where's Rarity?!"
Ordinis settled down after the voices faded away overhead. When he was sure the coast was clear, he continued on towards his goal. A cliff that he saw from a mile back. As he came out from underneath the bridge he was hiding under, he sighed with regret. He didn't plan to bring the unicorn with him, but if he wanted to continue his search for the pony he was looking for, he needed help. He planned on getting to the cliff an hour before sunset, and get some rest. As he walked, he looked down at the pony in his arms, and was thinking about bringing her back. "What a stupid idea, even if I brought her back they wouldn't let me go."
Within a half-hour, he reached the edge of the cliff. Setting down the unicorn near a tree, he looked over the edge. Satisfied that there were no ledges, he levitated himself down fifty feet. Placing his hand against the stone, he sent a wave of energy out, carving out a very large piece. He removed the piece, and placed it at the bottom of the cliff. Ordinis did not want to throw it, in fear of attracting unwanted attention. Going back up to the hole, he smiled at himself. He had carved out a nice little room into the side of the cliff, invisible from above. Going back up to the top, he picked the unicorn back up (she still being unconscious) and placed her inside the room. "Well we can't simply sleep on the ground. Well I can, but if I am to make her trust me I need to be considerate." Ordinis decided to go get some things as fast as possible, even though he risked being found. Using his magic, he located a nearby town, and started to quick-phase towards it.
When Ordinis was just outside the edge of town, he transformed himself into a pony to help conceal himself. When the spell completed, he looked at himself in a puddle. Frowning with sadness, he walked slowly towards the town. It had been a very long time since he had seen himself in this form. A light blue coat, and a short white mane. Just as he remembered it. He rushed to find a store that sold blankets and sleeping bags, then purchased some food. Normally he would be against the idea of manifesting money (as it was against his code), but this was a dire time.
"Twenty bits please."
"This enough?"
"Yes, enjoy your day!"
"Thank you." Ordinis turned towards the door, but was stopped by the pony behind the counter.
"Hey sorry if I sound rude, but that's a strange cutie mark you got there."
"My cutie mark?" Ordinis freaked, he had completely forgot about that. Taking a quick stare at his flank, he was surprised to find the same mark as the last time he used this spell. Usually it changed every now and then accordingly to how he changed as a being. Nevertheless, it was still an O that was aflame with white fire. "It means I like to keep the peace, or order as it were."
"Well that's a nice talent." The pony shot him a smile, which Ordinis returned. As he started back to the cave, he wondered what would happen if she woke up before he got back. Probably just freak out a little, but he hurried just in case.
At the cave he got the unicorn into a sleeping bag (with magic). Then got himself into the other one. The moon was already up, and he was tired. As Ordinis drifted off into sleep he couldn't help but wonder how much the world has really changed.
Rarity woke up to a rock ceiling above her. For several seconds she simply did nothing but stare, then go wide-eye'd, then start to freak out. She crawled out of the sleeping bag she was apparently in and took in her surroundings. The most noticeable thing was that she was in a hole in the side of a cliff. Also that she was with some random pony, who was sleeping across from her. As Rarity stared at the sleeping pony she started to have some conflicting thoughts. She was a proper and polite lady, but did not want to wait for him to wake up to get some answers. So, very softly, she went over to him and started to poke him with her hoof in an attempt to wake him up. After more than a couple pokes, he raised his head (still seemingly tired).
"I'm terribly sorry for having to wake you," the pony still staring at her, "but I wanted to know where I am now. You do know, right?"
At that moment Ordinis's brain started to go into overdrive. He had forgotten about the transformation spell, and fell asleep without cancelling it. And now he had to make a decision in only a couple seconds. Should he tell her, or be secretive like before. Last time he held back the truth trouble came rushing in, and the results were...well you know.
"Well for starters," he began while rising, "you're in the side of a cliff. And I am in need of your help." Ordinis stretched a bit, then headed over to one of the bags he loaded with food. As he began breakfast, Rarity hesitated, then joined him.
"Where did all of these supplies come from?"
"I bought them from a nearby town." Ordinis was prepared to start shoveling his food, but quickly remembered something. "Well, before I do anything else I suppose I should ask you your name shouldn't I?"
"It's Rarity since you're asking. And yours?"
"I believe you already know the answer to that. Want some breakfast?" Rarity nodded while she thought about his comment. It took a little longer than expected, but she was able to connect the dots. The moment Ordinis caught the look of shock upon her face he backed up to give her room. "Now I can explain."
"Explain what?! What do you want from me? Think you can get me to not use my element on you? Well that won't work I assure you. Speaking of which, how did you resist the Elements?!" Rarity spat out in quick succession.
"One question at a time. But before that, I am hungry." Ordinis went back to his breakfast without another word. Rarity simply waited for him to finish, not wanting to be distracted by anything else. "Are you really going to wait for me? You should eat something yourself, either way you have a long hike ahead of you." Rarity said and did nothing in response. Ordinis shrugged and went back to his eating.
When he finished, he zapped the plate clean, and looked at Rarity ready for questions. "Well, ask away." Rarity gave a slight pause before her answer.
"How are you still standing?"
"Well let me explain how your elements truly work. When somepony or something gets hit by them, the elements judge whether or not the thing in question is good or bad. If it's good, the elements will help it. Normally by healing from near-death or something like that. However, if they don't like you and judge you bad...you are either made into stone, or striped of any or all powers. In my case, the elements are still working on me. From what I can tell, they cannot decide whether or not I'm a truly good, or bad, being. So I'm just going through some pain right now." Rarity took some time to analyze what he had just told her, and it made sense in a way. But if the elements couldn't decide if Ordinis was a good or bad thing...was it right of them to attack him?
"OK, well you said previously that you needed my help with something. What is that exactly?"
"Ah yes, well, I simply need your help locating a very special pony. After we find, that is if you help me, this pony you can go at your leisure."
"So what would happen if I refuse?" Rarity said with a questioning look. She thought that he was some kind of brute when she first saw him. But now...he was, in a way, just another sad case.
"I would be disappointed. But I would not stop you from leaving, however if you do choose to leave I cannot bring you back. For reasons you know well."
"Fair enough, and how are you able to use magic? You have no horn, and you just seem to...do it."
"Yes well, since this is simply a transformation spell I made myself have no horn so it would seem I cannot use magic. It helps to conceal myself a little more. Now I would appreciate it if you took some time to think over my request." With that, Ordinis made his way over to edge of the room, staring out over the trees below. He hoped Rarity would take some time to answer, so he knew she was sincere. Looking over his shoulder, he saw her lying down, obviously trying to decide on what to do. Turning away, he stared out into the clouds. Things seemed so peaceful here, but he knew better. Peace was never fully there. Sure there are some periods of time where peace has lasted days, even years at a time. But something always happens to disrupt it. And he knew that the thing disrupting the peace now, was himself. "As soon as I am done with this little mission, I'm going to need an actual vacation."
Turning around to go back inside, he winced from an intense pain in his chest. It only lasted for several seconds, and he knew exactly what had caused it. Ordinis hoped that it would not be long before the Elements made their final decision soon. But not before he found her.