//------------------------------// // Chapter 7 // Story: The Maretrix OC // by Violet Runner //------------------------------// Violet sat down at a table in the ships mess hall for breakfast. “Here you go, buddy. Breakfast of champions.” Mixer said putting a bowl of disgusting looking goop down in front of Violet, who just stared at it. “You know, if you close your eyes, it almost feels like you're eating runny eggs.” Divergent Breeze said eating some of it. “Yeah, or a bowl of snot.” Deep Darkness said pulling the spoon out of the bowl and putting it back in. “You know what it really reminds me of?” He asked looking around. “Tasty Wheat. Did you ever eat Tasty Wheat?” “No, but technically, neither did you.” Solo Gamer said looking up from her food. “That's exactly my point. Exactly. Because you have to wonder now, because the changelings feed off love, how did they really know what Tasty Wheat tasted like, huh? Maybe they got it wrong. Maybe what I think what Tasty Wheat actually tasted like oatmeal, or tuna fish.” The pale yellow Pegasus said flaring his wings out a bit. “That makes you wonder about a lot of things. You take chicken for example, because most of Equestria was herbivorous, maybe they couldn't figure out what to make chicken taste like, which is why chicken tastes like everything. Maybe they couldn't...” He began to rant but was interrupted. “Shut it Divergent!” Deep said annoyed. “It's a single celled protein combined with synthetic aminos, vitamins, and minerals. Everything the Equine body needs.” Crisp explained, ending the desiccation. “It doesn't have everything the body needs.” Divergent said wiggling his eyebrows a little. Violet looked back down at his breakfast, levitating his spoon to his mouth and eating some of it. A few minutes later Crescent walked in. “Crisp, when you're done, bring the ship up to broadcast depth, we're going in. I'm taking Violet to see her.” Crescent said from the door. “See who?” Violet asked looking up at him. “The Oracle....” Mixer said almost dropping his spoon. Everyone got into their chairs, and plugged in, as Mixer set everything up for them. “Everypony please observe, the fasten seat belt and no smoking signs have been turned on. Sit back...and enjoy your ride...” Mixer said initiating the transfer. They appeared in a room in an abandoned Hotel, next to a ringing phone. Crescent picked it up. “We're in... we'll be back in an hour.” The white haired man said before hanging up. They all walked out of the building, leaving Solo, Deep and Divergent to guard the place. As they headed towards a black car, Bad Apple dropped a cell phone into a trash bin as it began to ring. They got into the car and Crescent began to drive them to their destination. At a red light, he turned around to look at Violet, who was sitting in the back seat with Hawkeye. “Unbelievable....isn't it?” He said noticing Violet was looking out the window. “God...” Violet said as they were passing by a small plaza. "What?” Hawkeye asked turning to look at him. “I used to eat there....really good noodles.” He said pointing to a restaurant. “I have these memories from my life…none of them happened. What does that mean?” He asked after thinking about it. “That the Maretrix can’t tell you who you are.” She said looking where he was pointing. “But an Oracle can?” Violet asked raising an eyebrow. “That's different.” The green haired woman said leaning back. “Did you go to her?” He asked. “Yes.” She said looking away from him. “What did she tell you?” “She told me...” She began, smiling a little. “What?” He asked confused. Just before Hawkeye could answer, Crescent stopped the car. “We're here. Violet, come with me.” Crescent said as they got out of the car. They walked into a sketchy apartment building, and into an elevator. Violet couldn’t help but notice that the elevator music sounded like Discord by Euro Beat. “So is this the same Oracle that made the prophecy?” Violet asked as they sat in the elevator. “Yes. She's been with us since the beginning.” Crescent confirmed. “The beginning?” The Brown haired man asked. “Of the Resistance.” He explained. “And she knows, what, everything?” “She would say she knows enough.” The White Haired man said with a laugh. “And she's never wrong?” Violet asked astonished. “Try not to think of it in terms of right and wrong...” Crescent said as they got out the elevator, and started to walk down the hall. “She is a guide, Violet. She can help you to find the path.” “She helped you?” He asked, as they turned a corner. “Yes.” “What did she tell you?” Violet asked. “That I would find The One.” Crescent said grinning. They finally arrive at the door to the Oracle's apartment and Violet waited for Crescent to open the door. “I told you, I can only show you the door. You're the one who has to walk through it.” Crescent said, referring back to when they were sparing. Violet put his hand on the door handle and was just about to open it, when a dark skinned woman opened the door, and smiled at him. “Hello, Violet. You're right on time...” She said, leading him and Crescent inside. “Make yourself at home, Crescent Sliver.” Crescent stayed by the door as the dark skinned woman led Violet into a living room. “These are the other potentials...you can wait here.” She said before leaving. Violet looked around the room, and saw he was the only adult there. Most of the children's heads were shaved. Some were playing, well others were meditating, or practicing their gift. Violet watched in amazement, as a little girl with blue eyes, and brown hair levitated a couple of wooden alphabet blocks. He turned around, and saw a small boy sitting on the floor, holding a spoon, which swayed and twist as he bends it with his mind. Violet crossed over to him, and sat in front of him, interested. The boy looked at Violet as he picked up a spoon and tried to imitate his actions. Despite his best efforts, Violet couldn't make it bend. “Do not try to bend the spoon...that's impossible.” The boy said. “Instead only try to realize the truth...” “What truth?” Violet asked confused. “There is no spoon.” He said mater-of-factly. “There is no spoon?” He said looking at it. “Then you will see, it is not the spoon that bends, it is only yourself.” Violet looked at the spoon once more and this time he is able to bend it with his mind. It bent, curled round, and bent again. He laughed fascinated. Just then, the dark skinned woman walked up behind him. “The Oracle will see you now.” The dark skinned woman said startling him. Violet lost his concentration and the spoon stayed bent. He smiled at the small boy and got up. He walked into the kitchen and a woman with red hair was huddled beside the oven, peering inside through the cracked door. “I know, you're Violet. Be right with you...” The woman said as Violet looked around the room. “Lauren Faust! You're the Oracle?!” He asked amassed. “Bingo...” Lauren said turning round to face him. “Not quite what you were expecting, right? All most done! Smell good, don't they?” She said, turning back to the oven. “Yeah.” Violet said smiling politely and nodding. “I'd ask you to sit down...but you're not going to anyway. And don't worry about the lamp.” The Oracle said sitting down. “What Lamp? *crash*” Violet asked before knocking over a lamp sitting on the counter. “That Lamp.” She said stifling a laugh. “I'm sorry.” He said looking at the broken pieces. “I said don't worry about it.” The red haired woman said dismissively. “I'll get one of the kids to fix it.” “How...how did you know?” He said looking between the broken lamp and Lauren. “Ohhh.” She said smiling. “What’s really going to bake your noodle later on is, would you still have broken it if I hadn't said anything...” The Oracle said getting up walking up to him. “You're cuter than I thought...I can see why she likes you...” “Who?” The Brown haired man asked confused. “Not too bright though. So what do you think, do you think you're the One?” She grinned at him. “I don't know, I honestly don't know.” He said with a sigh. The Oracle pointed to the top of her door, where something is written in Latin. “Nosce te ipsum. You know what that means? It's Latin. Means 'Know Thyself'... I'm going to let you in on a little secret...Being the One is just like being in love. No one can tell you you're in love, you just know it. Through and through. Balls to bones. Well, I'd better have a look at you.” She said holding onto the side of his face with her hands. “Open your mouth, say 'Ahhh!'” “Ahhh.” Violet said as Lauren Faust inspected him. “Okay. Now I'm supposed to say…'Hmm, that's interesting', but then you say...” Lauren said letting go of his face. “But...what?” Violet asked. “But you already know what I'm going to tell you.” She said backing up a bit. “I'm not The One.....” He said, sort of disappointed. “Sorry, kid. You got the gift, but it looks like you're waiting for something...” The Oracle said sitting down. “What?” “Your next life maybe, who knows? That's the way these things go.” Lauren said getting up and pulling the cookies out of the oven to cool. “Crescent...he, he almost had me convinced...” Violet said, laughing in an ironic manner. “Poor Crescent...without him...we're lost.” She said, putting a plate of cookies on the table and sitting back down. “What do you mean, without him?” He asked confused. “Are you sure you want to hear this?” The Oracle asked, to which Violet nodded. “Crescent believes in you, Violet. And no one, not even you, not even me, can convince him otherwise. He believes it so blindly, that he's going to sacrifice his life, to save yours.” “What??!” Violet said astounded. “You're going to have to make a choice. In one hand, you'll have Crescent's life… and in the other hand, you'll have your own. One of you is going to die… which one...will be up to you...” Lauren said sighing a bit. Violet just stood there speechless with shock. “I'm sorry, kiddo, I really am. You have a good soul...and I hate giving good people bad news… Oh, don't worry about it...” She said trying to cheer him up. “As soon as you step outside that door, you'll start feeling better. You'll remember you don't believe in any of this fate crap...you're in control of your own life...remember?” The red haired woman said holding out the plate of cookies to Violet. “Here, take a cookie… I promise, by the time you're done eating it, you'll feel right as rain…” Violet slowly reached out and took a cookie, then walked out the door and met Crescent back in the hall. He was about to tell him what Lauren told him when he was interrupted. “What she said was for you, and you alone.” Crescent said putting his hand on Violet's shoulder and smiling at him. They then went back to the car, and drove off.