//------------------------------// // The Third Part // Story: The Outcast // by Shane //------------------------------//         Princess Celestia opened her eyes as she took in a long, slow breath. The morning air was crisp and clean, giving her a much-needed feeling of awareness after her previous night's ordeal. Her horn ceased its golden glow as her eyes adjusted to the cresting of the sun on the horizon. The light had already appeared before its rise, but now with a percentage of its form in the visible sky the daylight began to intensify. The alicorn's pupils contracted briefly as she stared at the sun, dilating again when she turned her attention below.         The morning light provided an orange glow as elongated shadows dotted the landscape. The glow began to brighten to a more healthy yellow, the strict contrast of colorations beginning to coalesce into a more normal tone that the eye was comfortable with. Her gaze briefly landed on several establishments in the lands below then quickly retreating to locations closer to her position. Residing outside on her towers balcony, nothing should be so far to be outside the gaze of her immortal eyes. It was a position she was most comfortable in.         Her large wings flapped slowly, she feeling the ambient temperature around her warm as her fore and aft legs began to move idly. At her whim she could dictate the amount of solar radiation necessary to impact her world, not only ensuring a continued progression of life but also keeping in line with the standards of seasonal change. To this end she allowed her sun to start to warm the planet to an above-average temperature. The summer season had arrived and with it was the necessary endurance to the heat and its much-needed light.         The gaze of the solar diarch turned upward as she took note of the barrier between the stars and the sky slo wly moving. The blue distortion from the light particles of her sun had quickly begun to overwhelm the light from the distant stars, causing a brief depiction of a battle between night and day as the night retreated towards the other end of the horizon. She felt a brief tinge of guilt at seeing this, shaking the feeling off afterward as she recalled more present and happier memories. The brief display above was a constant reminder to her about the differences between the diarchs, yet reminded her every morning just how critical they were for the survival of their planet.         The distant beating of wings against the morning air reminded Celestia that she would not be the only pony to see the display. As the wing-beats grew nearer and more pronounced, Celestia turned half-way around from her perch so as to better look at the new arrival. She watched as Princess Luna gracefully flew towards her. Her star-filled ethereal mane waving intensely in the breeze before subsiding in its rage as Luna landed with a silent clackity-clack of her hooves on the polished stone flooring of the balcony. Wings retracting to her sides, the Lunar diarch made a move to near her counterpart and provide an affectionate sisterly nuzzle that was quickly returned.         “Your day is as beautiful as always, sister.”         Celestia smiled at the beautiful compliment, “Thank you Luna. I noticed how exceptional your night was. I felt nearly ashamed to see it pass for the day.”         “Many thanks,” Luna replied with a slight flush to her cheeks and a very pronounced smile. Her night was very dear to her. “I know very well the importance of your suns warmth to our little ponies, so nothing is of any loss.”         The polite greeting concluded, the two immortal sisters stood side-by-side as they examined the day in progress. Luna, normally asleep by this hour, took the time to gaze over the landscape as the morning light progressed in its intensity. It was not an alien sight to her, simply something she rarely managed to witnessed due to her schedule. After a time of quiet contemplation, Luna gazed upward towards her sister. “I visited him again last night,” she said as the silence was broken with the words.         Celestia turned slightly to look at her sister, “Hmm?” For a moment the statement was lost to her, her eyes growing distant before they widened briefly with realization. “Oh! Him! Yes, of course, how is he doing?”         “Well if I am to presume correctly,” Luna replied with a smile. “He has moved on from the major upset the talisman brought unto him, something I still regret to this day, yet otherwise appears to be doing well for himself.”         “That is very good,” Celestia replied, then added, “You know there was no way you could have known that would happen.”         Luna looked away, then downward. She sighed. “I know sister.” After a moment her magic activated, a cobalt blue field encompassing her horn. From the other side of her form she produced a talisman. Its shape was in the form of a disk with its surface appearing gold-like in quality. In the center of the talisman resided an orange topaz crystal which glowed dimly. “That is also why I have come to see you on this morning.”         Celestia's head turned fully towards the talisman, her eyebrow briefly raising as she examined the form of the talisman before her eyes widened in a gasp. “The Midnights Heart,” she spoke in realization softly, eyes once again growing distant. Her head then darted upward toward the sky. “Is it possible? After all this time?”         “I believe it is,” Luna affirmed. “The magical glow confirms it.”         Luna returned the talisman to her side, following her sisters gaze upward. For a time nothing was spoken between the two as both sets of eyes trained on a distant point yet unseen in the daytime sky. Celestia gaze indicated that her mind was far from her corporeal form, possibly traversing the distance in search of hidden answers. As the daylight waned into full, Luna turned her attention to her sister with a worried expression. Sensing the gaze, Celestia blinked a few times briefly, smiling then as she looked down towards her sibling.         “I think he should be ready,” she said.         Luna smiled and nodded. “I was hoping you would say that. Thank you sister.”         Celestia gently chuckled, leaning down to nuzzle once again. After a brief exchange of temporary farewells, the Lunar diarch parted with the Solar. Celestia once again was perched alone atop her balcony. Her gaze returned upward briefly, the smile never leaving her lips. Her ethereal mane flowed with the wind as it changed directions in a gentle fashion, prompting the alicorn to movement as she extended her wings slightly. Almost as if having second thoughts, her wings retracted, she turning around and returning to the interior of her royal abode.         “Where...*cough*...how..?”         The room was dark. The lone occupant tried to survey his surroundings, to feel it. When he instinctively searched for the will that was his lifeblood, his magic failed him. A feeling of seclusion and defenselessness overwhelmed him. He didn’t know where he was or why he was here. His mind began to hurt as he tried to remember. Pain became his existence temporarily, he groaning as it wracked his fragile form. Then the memories began to slowly trickle forward.         *CLINK*                  He had tried to move, only to be met with a metal resistance. His hooves were shackled to, what he assumed, was a wall. The cold and damp feeling of a stone floor and wall became known to him as his senses slowly returned. He knew this type of environment very well. He was in a prison cell, shackled for....for...for what? He had just had it on the tip of his tongue. He groaned again, his head hurting briefly. The chain shackles prevented him from bringing a hoof to his head. His world spinned as he tried to understand what was going on.         “W-water....”         It was necessity that brought forth the words. He felt parched, dried up. His body was weak and exhausted from some previous ordeal he couldn’t presently remember. A soft tap against  something solid by his rear hoof caused him to seize up suddenly. He chanced a tap again, listening to the sound it emitted. He heard the soft ripple of water as it sloshed softly from the disturbance. He again tried to use his hooves to reach, but again was prevented by his restraints. With no other alternative he reached again for his lifeblood. There was a slight sound of a static charge. Then...         ...something.         He used all his remaining strength to concentrate on this task. The feeling of the world around him returned, albeit briefly, before sliding away again. He cursed his luck, once again attempting to overcome his present obstacle with mental concentration. He again felt the static charge, but unlike last time where it fizzled, this time it stayed in the form of a constant hum in his brain. The humming intensified, moving upward into the smooth horn that adorned his head. Eyes shut tight, he could literally feel his body's natural electrical field coalesce on a central point at the tip of his horn. He pushed himself to the limit, feeling the strain as sweat-beads began forming along his coat. Then....then....         *FZZZZZBAA*         His bodies natural magical field activated to his utter delight. He sighed in relief, feeling the electrical hum begin to emanate from all points across his equine form. He thanked whatever gods watched over him that he was able to overcome such an impossible task, despite however weak his magical ability may have been presently. He used his new sense like a third eye, glimpsing the room through it as electromagnetic fields pulsed in his vicinity to expose the surroundings to his mental vision as a bluish landscape. He saw the expected bars to the fore, the continuation of stone-work around him, a grate that lead undoubtedly to a drain off to the corner wall, then finally the bowl nearest to him. With his target sighted, he concentrated further.                  He watched, decades upon decades of magical discipline coming to the fore granting him extreme patience as his artificial magnetic field intensified. He could feel the particles that made up the air begin to writhe at the invasion of his focus, solidifying slowly as his magical field drew them together to grant him telekinesis. Within a few more moments, his mind clicked as the breaking point was reached. A soft thwack emanated from his mind as his mental vision saw the reverberations of his will manifesting into reality, forcing the particles around him into draw around the bowl and act as another hoof. Feeling the surface of the wooden bowl, he willed it to lift, watching as the world obeyed and drew upward the object. In a short few seconds it was to his lips, lifting gently as the water trickled into his parched maw.        He drank, eagerly, mind lost as the refreshing, life-granting liquid coursed down his throat. Silent blubbers of satisfaction emitted from him as he drank, his previously strained expression relaxing as he enjoyed the present refreshment. Before he could drink it further, he forced himself to withdraw from the bowl. His magic obeyed, gently setting the bowl down beside him according to his will. He took in a few long, drawn out breaths as he relaxed his body. In the next few moments he released his magical hold on the world, the gentle hum slowly retreating back into his mind before disappearing altogether. Letting out a sigh, he drifted into sleep, his body completely exhausted.         The morning sun woke me from my sleep. Instead of feeling the cold earth beneath me, I felt the warmth of my makeshift mattress. I blinked several times, trying to wash away the slowness of my thoughts. I remembered being outside under the light of the two moons. I remember being with Luna.         “Luna,” I called softly. “Luna?” I called again, slightly less groggily. I shifted in my bed, gazing behind me towards the wall of my cabin, then sitting up to glance around my one-room abode. The was no sign of the Princess. I felt saddened that she would depart so readily after our exchange prior. Although it shouldn’t surprise me, I chided myself. She was a diarch in her realm and did have responsibilities. I felt a tinge of worry that perhaps this separation would extend to another several years, then restrained my emotions for later deliberation. She wouldn’t have appeared to make up with me if she intended to stay away, I concluded to my satisfaction. With a groan I slid my legs out from under the warmth of my covers, my body twisting to accommodate the new positions as I sat upright. I rubbed my hand across my face and hair, groaning again as I felt stubble across my cheeks and chin. I resolved that I would deal with that hygienic issue later, concentrating presently on the task of awakening myself for the new day. I then stood from my bed as my bare feet touched the wooden floor, heading straight away for my cupboard and retrieving what I needed for the morning breakfast. *        *        *         I presently sat in a wooden chair of my own making. I was outside, just to the side of the entrance to my wooden abode, enjoying the sight of the morning day. I had enjoyed the toast and eggs I had prepared for myself priorly, presently sipping a cup of warm tea to finish off the meal. My mind was starting to wonder into places I had not dwelled on in years. I began to recall little things, like coffee makers and replicators, from my previous life. Things that made life seem so simple yet appeared to be a necessity if left unused. It was a stark contrast to my present life, here out in the middle of nowhere on some planet far from home.         I shouldn’t be so negative, I reminded myself. To the east resided the natives of this world whom I had met on several of my quests. They were scrawny little things; lizardfolk with a lifestyle similar to mine, living in huts and hunting in the wilderness and standing half as tall as me. I had met further indication of sapient life on this world, but they were brief glimpses at some other odd species or another. Every now and then that glimpse would visit me, either in the form of the lizardfolk or some other creature. It would usually be a peaceful interaction; tea always seemed to be the bringer of peace for such meetings.         It was definitely a contrast to the world that Luna had described to me. On her world, as she had told, there were far more equines and other more mythical species-slash-creatures to go around. They ranged from the normally friendly ponies of her land in Equestria, to the griffons she described later in their Kingdom, and to the dragons that seemed to be a rare sight according to her admission. She would speak about certain favorable individuals she had met along her journey, and even recounted unto me her own banishment and how it felt, but generally everything spoken was in good spirits to her world. I felt slightly abashed that I should remain here on this primal world; nature having its way where on hers magic seemed to bring order.         I secretly yearned to see that world. I had expressed this interest on the last night. I was slightly admonished by her statement concluding in the entirety to “Maybe”. Surely I had proven myself a capable and trustworthy individual by that present point. Then again, reminding myself of the events leading to her firstly disappearing, I concluded that perhaps she had yet to regain her trust in myself. I chided myself for my prior actions so long ago. Had I simply refused to cast false accusations and dealt with the emotional trauma myself, I would have not forced her away for so long. I sat for a while thinking on this, sipping my tea as I did.         The day continued onward.         As my mind relaxed to a certain degree, I recalled the quests that Luna gave unto me. In the beginning, I had followed her directions simply out of necessity. She promised to provide food and shelter and in return all I must do was follow her instructions. It was simple, direct, and quite elegant in its approach. They numbered five in total, each one having a unique objective that I later pinpointed to some standard of judging moral standards. In each one, however, I always obtained a similar artifact of significant importance. It would always be some sort of sphere of metal, lightweight and easily carried. Luna would never explain further its purpose, she simply dictating to me her decision on whether I accomplished the quest or not.         I sipped more of my tea, gazing upward towards the sky as the sun continued on its course. It was still somewhat cool out so I was not uncomfortable as of yet. My tea had yet to chill and I determined that continuing to sit would further my goal of relaxing more.                  I had recovered five metal spheres in total. Luna had taken each one into her possession without further explanation. In the beginning, I began to determine that the spheres were a simple objective for my quests and served no relevant purpose other than thus. After recovering the third spherical artifact, however, I discovered they had energies imbued within them that I could not explain rationally. When I questioned Luna about this, she simply gave the excuse that they were of a valued and personal importance to her. Each time I tried to gain a further understanding, she would simply deflect my questions with more questions of her own. The most specific of which was why I hadn’t begun or finished whatever quest I had been assigned next. In the end, when I had no more quests, she downright refused any further explanation and simply thanked me for my services.         I was, quite frankly, left at a standstill.         It was around this point that Luna had miraculously signaled the otherworldly scout ship. All thoughts to the spherical artifacts were quickly forgotten and after the transpired events I was left to my own devices. I had all the time to conclude my own reasons for me gathering these spheres, these metal mysteries. I wanted to firstly blame her for using me, but I knew that in the end my services were rewarded in a correct fashion. I was given a home, somewhere to live and the capability to make my way. In her absence, I thrived, even going so far as to venture on my own personal quests with a few friends I had made along the way. Through their assistance, I had found my present residence and my own parcel of land. Without their help and without the uniquely specific knowledge and teachings I had learned during my questing under the Princess I doubted I would have survived as long as I did, even with my prior training.         Then there was how she reacted the night before. She was immensely apologetic and under a sorry state of mind. She had seemed to blame herself for what transpired when I was to be rescued by own people, leaving out entirely my own violations of civility and honor that I undertook against her. It had thrusted upon me a new understanding of how exactly she felt about the events, causing me to open up to her turmoil. I was surprised by just how deeply I had harbored feelings for the Princess of the Night. It scared me, these new, hidden feelings. I didn’t want to recognize them and even presently I tried to excuse them away as a simple affection for how much she had assisted me.         I sighed, taking the last drink of my tea. I wished secretly that I had the nerve to tell her about my affectionate feelings towards her. I’d imagine her to recoil at the thought of such, but then again I knew her to be well over a thousand years old; with age comes wisdom. She may hold similar feelings as well. Professional, affectionate feelings. Then again, the more I thought about it         more, I come to a slow realization. She probably just considers me a close friend and, more logically, is sympathetic to my plight. I probably having an unrealistic, close affection for her due to her proximity and helpfulness in my time of need. It was all some sort of puppy love fiasco.         I hoped I tricked myself into believing that. *        *        * The day had progressed without a visitation from the Lunar Princess and much to my surprise, I was content with that. I had been given enough time to enjoy a beautiful morning and consider the events that had befallen me carefully. As I became busy with going about my morning routine of washing and clothing myself, I came to accept the finding that I had feelings for Luna. I then moved on, my day progressing as I finished chopping wood on the stump just north of my cabin, then fetching water from the well west of it. I then took on the task of tending to my garden near the well with the assistance of tools stored in the nearby shed. Once an adequate amount of food was harvested from it, I returned to my abode to store my gathered foodstuffs.         It was during this process of properly preparing and storing the necessary vegetables that heard the tell-tale sign of the Princess arrival; a woosh of air followed by a heavy flap of her wings as they were folded. I ceased my movements temporarily, considering the possibility of greeting her, then deciding against it. I continued my task at hand, finishing it by storing away the tomatoes in a jar of preservative (supplied by my lizardfolk friends). I then knew I had food to last for a few more days, my meat I had gathered on a previous hunt still in adequate supply within its own preservative. The soft click of hooves on my wooden floor causing me to turn my attention to behind me.         “Good afternoon,” Luna greeted from the doorway. “May I come in?”         I smiled. “Of course,” I replied. “I’ve been meaning to talk t-”         Luna raised her hoof, causing me to stop talking mid-sentence. After an odd expression and a momentary silence, my mouth closed and I stood looking at the lunar princess. Satisfied with my present state, she spoke as she returned her hoof to the floor.         “I apologize for that, but what I have to say may very well be more important than what you have to share.”         I blinked, taken aback by the statement. I gave a slow nod encouraging her to continue. She looked away from me momentarily, gazing towards the cast iron stove. After a pause she returned her gaze to mine, staring at me as she seemed to examine me. She then looked towards the table, motioning with a hoof. “Shall we sit?”         “Alright,” I replied, obliging her by walking towards the seat nearest to the wall. She sat herself in the seat nearest to the door. I listened as she cleared her throat, watching as her ethereal mane slowly began to cease its magical flow against the invisible wind. I saw her eyes dart down at the table, glimpsing my black tome briefly before closing fully. Her neck quivered for a moment, she taking in a deep breath before letting out a long sigh. When her eyes opened they stared into mine, forcing me to look back as I sat motionless in my chair. “Edward,” she began, “I have lied to you about how you came to this world.”