Chapter 5: Magnum Expositio
The first thing that she noticed as she floated back to awareness was that she had been placed on something very soft and covered with something very warm; the second thing she noticed was that she couldn’t sense her children. She have children? No, that was part of her failure, Rose Hearth had no children. Who was Rose Hearth? Confusion and panic gripped her heart as memories came flooding back at the edges of perception; Celestia, Luna, an Earth Pony in armor, a village on the coast, her body warping, loss, children, a change, younglings…changing younglings, Changelings. Her eyes bolted open wide unseeing as she shot up throwing away at least three layers of blankets; welcoming a biting chill that served to guide her back to reality from the chaos of her own mind.
She was lying in a bed, it was one size too large for her, nest like in shape and while comfortable it was clearly not made for equines. Then the pain in her head came; a searing fire of disjointed and coherent events from the past several days all at once. The invasion of the temporary hive, the violation, the pain, the individual; Sombra. She forced herself on rubber legs to stand, struggling over to the edge of the nest like bed only to have her apparently less than stable legs give out half way over the edge— depositing her unceremoniously in a pile on the stone floor below.
“Your awake.” She had a nauseating sense of deja vue at the rich bass that vocalized the obvious; she felt her bindings glow. She was bound? Was she a prisoner? Yes, yes she was, she knew this. Her head swam as the painfully clear memories she had held moments before threatened to vanish beneath a rising tide of images; a Unicorn in a dress uniform, holding his head in pain, a purple unicorn…waving her hind quarters at Chrysalis? No, a small purple dragon, holding wedding rings, was she married? Celestia’s image returned followed by that earth pony before she was able to beat the memories down clawing at the present.
“There is food and drink on the table next to you, eat. Now.” The command came from the corner of the room near a window that showed a blizzard raging against a ruined dragopolis beyond. They must be in one of the buildings, she surveyed her surroundings; sure enough there a table at eye level on it was a one size to big silver tray. The tray complete with a trio one size too big plates holding a collection of lichens, tomatoes and carrots along with the vegetable fair, a small gilded bowl with caramel drenched apples next to a clear glass filled with some form of cold tea. Next to the table was a wooden door, taller than would be expected for a pony. Opposite of which was a bookshelf, filled to the brim with volumes, several clearly missing, whose exterior titles had been lost to times unending, well; mostly unending advance.
“If you will not eat the food I conjured for you willingly, I will force it down your throat.” The threat came without anger or malice; stated as a fact from the armored pony in the corner, he was seated at a desk one size to large and had before him a note book and several of what was clearly the missing books from the shelf. The sight would have been comical if not for who he was. She shuddered, pausing before the food as her body was wracked with tremors, she was back in the hive, her children dying; no a castle? Not the castle of the Royal Pony Sisters, not enough stone. Their where other ponies here, some kind of insects had them prisoner! She knew the purple one, Twlight Dash? Her friends, Appleshy? Rainbow Pie? Where those even names? She shook her head no, no that wasn’t right. She plucked one of the tomatoes off the plate and began to eat while she set to work on her memories; lest she earn the wrath of Sombra once again. She froze, seeing if he reacted to her forgetting his title even within her own mind. No change, he continued to flip pages and make notes.
She paced herself as she ate; something was different about her. She wasn’t healing from the violations inflicted upon her, but she also wasn’t as terrified of the Unicorn King as she once had been. The thought of what he was capable of however, while lacking terror did make her stomach threaten to rebel despite the food she was eating…food she was eating. I don’t eat food, do I? No I’m a changeling, I feed off…She shook her head before grabbing a carrot off the tray. Clearly not anymore, the food she was eating was sating her hunger; perhaps this along with the changes wracked by King Sombra. She pushed the revelation from her mind; after all she always did enjoy meal time, since when? No, Focus Rose. Who’s Rose? Chrysalis, you are Chrysalis. She slaked her a growing thirst with the tea, it was bittersweet; a flavor she apparently liked because she greedily from the glass once she discovered the taste.
The Unicorn in uniform was Shining Armor, yes that sounded correct. He was the captain of Celestia’s guard? That rank didn’t sit well with her; but she felt it was close. Bulwark Tower would have died centuries ago, so this Shining Armor could be the captain; who was Bulwark Tower? Why did she feel so sad when the name came to mind? She chewed the lichen, it was tasteless but its texture provided an opportune distraction from her tumultuous emotions. She had tried to take over Equestria, she was about to question herself why; when her vision momentarily swam with the sight of her children laying on the ground, desiccated and dying. Clearly, she had failed. She finished off the last of the vegetables and eyed the caramel coated apples. That failure had in some way, landed her in her current predicament; the details where lost to her; what was found, however was that she apparently had a sweet tooth as she practically attacked the Caramel Apples finishing the entire bowl in moments.
“I will be sending three of your children back to the Crystal Empire. Pick the three most expendable, I do not expect all three to return.” Her blood froze, the sweet treat in her mouth lost its allure at King Sombra’s declaration.
“My King?” her voice cracked, and sounded softer; was she still changing? He didn’t bother turning to her, if any reaction to her question was made, it was lost in the scratching of a quill on the open notebook.
“I know full well your hearing has been unaffected by my spells, Do as I say or I will kill a handful of the changelings to inspire volunteers.” The neutral tone he took as he nonchalantly told her of his intent to murder her children flushed her cheeks in anger.
“Do you take perverse pleasure in torturing me? Is my suffering not enough? Now you must torment my children who are dependent on you for sustenance?” The scratching of his quill stopped, his shoulders previously relaxed went strait. “My King.” She added quickly; seemingly defusing his anger as he gently closed the books and turned to face her.
“Pleasure in tormenting you? None.” He stated; for the first time since she had been conscripted she found herself looking at an expression other than his previous go too three of wrath, arrogant laughter, and his default scowl. Exhaustion, King Sombra was tired. “Do I take pleasure in succeeding? What pony doesn’t?” he continued.
“I have lived a very long time; I have died twice, and lived again. I take pleasure in very little Chrysallis. Your suffering, the suffering of your children, means nothing to me as it is a tool to reach my goals.” He levitated the quill between them. “Every time I laugh, every expression I make, every breath I allow you to take; serves my purposes. Do not mistake my candor for camaraderie; like you, like fear, like this quill, like suffering, it is a tool. A means to my end.” He returned the quill to the desk and approached her. She did her best to put on a brave front, her legs shook and ears laid flat in defiance of her wishes. He wasn’t yelling, condemning or threatening her; but somehow this calm, neutral King Sombra was worse than the sadist who had enslaved her.
He stopped before her. “If my goal requires me to kill a filly, the youth will die quickly. If my goal requires the child to die painfully, oh, will they suffer? Oh yes. You see Chyrsallis, One Life, one thousand lives are meaningless to me.” He leaned in close, she could smell his breath; a black mix of mint and brimstone. “Do my means justify my ends? Most certainly not, even to a heart as black as mine. But they are necessary, they are needed; and that is why I am King.” The mention of his titled caused a flare of black magic to play between his eyes and horn.
“Now go. Choose three changelings.” He turned to take his place back at the desk. “You will instruct them to preform two tasks.” He opened the books he had been so engrossed in. “The first; I will need them to create the illusion of an imminent threat. Second I need them to make the threat ambiguous as possible, they must convince the populace that everything from a gryphon invasion to even my return is possibly occurring; while giving the military just enough evidence to deploy to that region.”
Chrysalis nodded slowly turning to the massive door which interestingly enough swung open easily with her magic; but paused before leaving. “One question if I may, My King.” She looked back over her shoulders at the scholarly tyrant.
“Yes?” he didn’t even bother looking at her.
“My Lord, Why warm bed? Why the lavish meal?” Her voice cracked again, she resigned herself to the fact that her voice as a particular facet of her dignity maybe lost forever.
“I am no fool Chrysalis. You are tool, a slave for me to do with as I please; but it is a poor craftsmen who does not maintain his tools.” He stated it as if was obvious with only the slightest hint of annoyance creeping into his neutral voice.
“I…I understand my King.” She really didn’t, but she needed to get away from him even for only a little while; and though it pained her to do so, the task of choosing three of her brood to die far from their brothers and sisters was the only thing that would achieve said distance.
Now if only she knew if they'd listen.
***
Spike didn’t have many complaints; if he had to think of three at any time they normally came to be the same three. One; there was never enough coffee in the morning. Two; Rarity was somehow, amazingly to resist his charms. And three; Twilight’s penchant for record keeping was clearly giving him a case of carpel claw. Right now, he was strongly considering adding a fourth; boredom. He sighed and shifted the scroll to a blank portion, half listening to the discussion of the three ponies before him yet capturing everything they said in written Equish with a flawless attention gained only from years of being Twilight Sparkle’s faithful, number one assistant. He’d rather be outside with Rainbow Dash who while a permanent resident of the castle excused herself from all duties unless needed, hence being outside; Applejack who had stayed the night after the incident the night before, and Scootaloo his pegasus sister. They were apparently trying to help the filly learn to fly.
Key word, Spike thought; apparently.
“Now Listen hear you…you…churlish buzzard! My reorganization of Ponyville’s remaining streets is nothing short of fabulous! To think you would dare insinuate that it is anything but; is…is. Hrmph!” Rarity was clearly upset, Spike didn’t blame her even as he raised a scaled brow and faithfully recorded the entire tirade.
“Fabulous, that’s a word, not one I would use here, but a word, your street design doesn’t leave enough space for street lamps, you those dreadful things that give every pony light at night?” Spike gritted his teeth, partly for how their “guest” was talking to Rarity and second the just awful sound that passed for the grey Pegasus’s voice; it was like two uncut gemstones grinding together.
“Why I never, the nerve! Next I suppose you’ll want to tear up the streets we just finished paving! For some, some thing!.” The white unicorn let out the smallest huff before turning her nose skyward. Spike made note of that too, then looked out the window again while Rarity made her various noises of displeasure. Rainbow Dash had Applejack running below her as she help Scootaloo airborne; they had a secured a rope around her and if Spike had to guess it looked like they were getting ready to pull the filly along like a kite.
“Well yes, from what I can tell you didn’t replace any of the fresh water pipes; half of the ponies need to make trips to the water well in the park. I suppose that is a small price to pay for your lovely plan?” S.B. Worth tapped his hoof down on the city diagram and mess of blueprints that lay before them. “And don’t get me started, you pulled down half of what few power lines Ponyville had; without those lines we can’t resume reconstruction south of the main square because the buildings are simply too far apart to string Arcanelectrical lines across for power.”
Spike’s claw had resumed writing before he pulled his head way from what was going on outside; whatever it was he wasn’t sure he wanted to know…Where they using his adopted Sister as a kite? If that’s how you learned to fly he was glad he didn’t have his wings yet. “Those ugly things? Surely there is a better way to provide power to the citizens of Ponyville. After all they are such a por shade of black that clashes with the new tiles on the roof.” Rarity was looking at S.B, Worth as if he was some kind of monster then shifting to Twilight who had and still was been sitting silently looking over the plans brought by S.B. and the sketches drawn by one of her best friends over the course of the morning.
“Twilight you can’t be serious about letting this, this ruffian spider web our fair home with those garish cables!” her voice wavered as if she was about to collapse at the concept.
“Well Rarity, Mr. Worth has a point.” Twilight levitated a diagram off the table. Spike made note mentally, that S.B. had smug written all over his face when his adoptive mother first spoke, one that he was glad to say went away with what she said next. “But, Rarity was put in charge of the reconstruction for a reason.” The princess turned to the pegasus her voice taking on a the I’m the princess this is how it will be tone she had manifested time and again since the Everfree Forest had invaded a year ago.
“Princess your not suggesting that we forgo civil utilities?” S.B.’s eyes grew wide, possibly in regards to both Twilight’s apparent siding with Rarity or the fact that he had so incredulously. The latter Spike may have added to the record for his own amusement; not to mention a jab at S.B. for how he had been talking to Rarity since the discussion went south midmorning.
“Not at all Mr. Worth, what I am saying is find a way to reconcile Ponyville’s civic needs with Rariy’s aesthetic design. I wouldn’t have agreed to have you in town if it wasn’t for your known reputation to the other princesses and your track record. Now…” Spike’s higher attention wandered again, he resumed looking out the window. Applejack and Rainbow Dash had seemingly abandoned their Scootaloo a Kite plan and had taken to resting on the grass with the bright orange filly who had the largest smile on her face that he had seen in sometime, His face contorted to into a grin of his own; she had every reason to be happy given the drastic changes between her life before and what it was now. Scootaloo had spent her formative years with abusive parents, followed by them attempting to pawn her off as labor for strong drink, he shuddered at the thought of parents so callous. Luckily she had escaped, and in time made her way to Ponyville where she had lived as a squatter in various empty homes while attending school. He remembered that cold winter night, when thanks to Bulk Biceps, temporarily skipping town to compete in the Equestria’s Strongest Pony Competition, Ponyville had been hit by a particularly intense blizzard. Now, normally that wouldn’t have been much cause for concern. Truthfully for the town itself it wasn’t; but what Bulk could not have known, what anyone couldn’t have known is that this was one night when Scootaloo couldn’t find a vacant home to break into.
She had been found, half frozen, half dead; by all rights by Rainbow Dash shortly after she and Twilight had figured out that they wanted to be more than friends, something he had picked up on much earlier thank you very much, he almost laughed again at that very factual realization and made yet another mental note to tease Twilight about it at earliest presented opportunity. Turning to gaze at Twilight, the closest thing to a mother he had ever known; he couldn’t resist his smile changing from innocent nostalgia to something more mischievous. Maybe next time those two got lovey dovey; oh yeah, he could see it now, Twilight would get flustered at his jab and Rainbow Dash would start to stammer into incoherency until he eventually lost control and broke into an open chuckle.
“Something funny Spike?” Twilight’s voice broke him abruptly out of his fantasy sending the quill streaking to the side of the parchment he was writing on.
“Gah.” A quick response and an equally quick lick of the thumb by his leathery tongue followed by a vigorously abrasive rub on the sheet corrected the blunder. “N-Nothing Twilight! Just day dreaming!” The Alicorn eyed him for a few agonizingly long seconds, had she developed mind reading powers? Could Alicorn’s do that? Scratch that, could Twilight do that? Spike stared blankly back at his mother, then his eyes darted around the room desperate for something else to think about in the off chance she could read his mind. Door? No. AJ and Rainbow? Gone inside with Scootaloo. Chandelier? Hungry now, great. Rarity’s hindquarters? Now that had possibilities…
“Spike!” his head snapped back to face Twilight as she called his name, cheeks burning at the possibility of being caught for either distraction, well maybe one more than the other. “Please pay attention, good record keeping is important, ok?” he nodded giving a relived smile. Thank Celestia, she can’t read minds. “And we’re going to have a talk later about these day dreams.” She tilted her head towards Rarity who was busy shuffling through her saddlebags unaware of the gesture. She can read minds!
“Now, back to the issues at hand; Rarity what are you looking for in there?” Twilight’s voice was starting to get a frayed edge; something that either meant a panic attack or that she was getting annoyed. Most likely annoyed given how Rarity and the new comer had been bickering; Spike still reeling from what he believed was a major discovery resumed is notation of the discussion.
“Hmm? Oh just a compact Darling.” The glamorous mare glared daggers at the grey pegasus seated across from her. “Some ponies can bring the worst expressions out in others.” Or what parts of it could be considered a discussion still the dragon sighed.
If S.B. had been insulted by the barb, he didn’t show it. “Now; as you can both see my design for the city square allows plenty of space for gatherings and moves town hall to the north side of the square! The open space will make a marvelous park!” Rarity began to gush over a sketch of the park to be that was held aloft by the tell-tale glow of light blue magic.
“Except for the giant hole in the center where the town archives are currently stored; but what park doesn’t have an exposed basement these days.” S.B. was rubbing his temples with both hooves. “Not to mention the only lot available that is big enough to accommodate Town Hall is this burnt out inn.” He tapped at a table bound diagram. “And that inn; for Celestia knows why was built over the town’s water distribution center. So putting Town Hall their, which will have to be a much larger structure would require filling in the recess.” S.B. reached down with one of his wings, displaying remarkable dexterity, plucked a smaller roll of paper from a saddlebag at the foot of his chair before rolling it out on the table. “Unless you want to magic the water into everyponies home that just won’t work. I think we should move city hall adjacent to Princess Twilight’s place, specifically over the site of the old library.”
Twilight’s ears twitched, Spike froze, the library was still a touchy subject. Partly due to the loss of her long time home and a few treasured belongings; but mostly because Owliscious had yet to return. “Now you listen hear! You can’t just go moving building across town! It will throw off the entire appearance from the sky!” Thank you Rarity, Spike relaxed; while angry her voice had a tendency to become shrill. A perfect distraction from whatever Twilight was thinking.
“Isn’t that exactly what you are suggesting with Town Hall? And from the air really? Rarity; I’m sure your design is fantastic, lovely, fashionable and half a dozen other pretentious adjectives. But at the end of the day, it’s not practical. I’ve been doing this for years; this isn’t like fashion, Rule number 22: Form cannot exist in a vaccum independent of function.” Both mares cocked their heads at the end of his statement.
“Rule 22? Rule 22 of what?” Twilight’s voice had lost its annoyance and entered into what could be a far more dangerous territory for her mood. One that involved Spike fetching books, then spending hours picking them for reshelving. Curiosity. “I’ve read up on civil engineering and infrastructure, I don’t remember a list of rules.”
The Engineer let out a long sigh, seeming to deflate; then turned to Twilight Sparkle. “You won’t find them in any book short of my personal notebook.” He flipped a small leather bound journal from beneath his wing. “I have 331 of them, governing every part of life, my labor, and hobbies as well three plans to help implement them. Now back to the issue of infrastructure…”
“Three Plans?” Twilight cut him off; Spike felt a mix of pleasure at seeing the stallion put on the spot for how he had talked to Rarity and a twinge of sympathy knowing that he was now surely trapped in what was sure to be an endless waterfall of questions. The grey pegasus stared at her for a moment, clearly unsure if she was serious. Then deciding that she was continued.
“Plan A, be honest and work hard. Plan B, find a distraction and fix it fast. Plan C: Panic.” S.B. replaced the journal under his wing before flashing a weak grin. “Rule 71, If you want to know more, let’s get back to business; Rule 145, I’ll tell you more later.” Oh this pony was good, Spike couldn’t help his admiration. If there was one thing Twilight Sparkle couldn’t resist was following rules or instructions laid out in a book, especially if that book was being kept tantalizingly out of her reach.
“I…but…the rules! They sound just like statements! What happens if you break them?” Twilight was leaning over the table as if she could will, well she could if she really wanted, The book back into the open.
“Nope, Rule 71 and 145” S.B. wouldn’t relent apparently; brave pony, or stupid. Spike wasn’t sure. The princess stared for a long moment, then snorted softly.
“Alright, Mr. Worth; you win.” She fell back into her chair crossing her forelimbs. “Since we are returning to the task at hand. I want to point out that I agree with Rarity’s vision for the town.”
S.B.’s mouth dropped open.
“Hah!” Everypony turned to look at Rarity who had unleashed the most unladylike of sounds. “Um, I mean…Excellent choice Twilight, thank you.” The redness in her cheeks was poorly hidden by her pale coat or the wide grin across her immaculate features.
“Princess, as I said earli...” S.B.’s complaint was cut off by Twilight raising a hoof.
“But; you are right, the new Ponyville needs to function. That is why I am tasking not with improving or changing Rarity’s design nor am I tasking Rarity to bend her vision to utilitarian needs of infrastructure; rather I should say I am not tasking either you with anything.” It was Twilight’s turn to smile as both Rarity and S.B. stared at her in confusion. “I am challenging you Mr. Worth to make Rarity’s vision functional. Just as I am challenging Rarity to realize when her vision needs expanding upon to allow it to become real.” The Princess stood up from the table and nodded towards Spike; he was speechless.
He looked at his mother as she approached the door to the meeting room leaving the table behind her; he knew Twilight had it in her to be a great leader, a great princess; but there where still times when she amazed him. In response to the nod he dated the transcription of the entire meeting, well organized bickering, then rolled it for filing. Rarity was beaming, she relished challenges such as this when presented properly; maybe since she’s in such good spirits I can take her to lunch; Spike was grinning again, and thinking about her hindquarters; completely forgetting about his belief in Twilight’s mind reading abilities.
“Princess?” S.B.’s voice sounded drained, to match his appearance. Where Rarity had been energized by the challenge S.B. seemed resigned to it.
“Yes Mr. Worth?” Twilight turned back to face him, noting his demeanor she kept her tone and body language warm. He didn’t respond instantly, eyes staring into space.
“I can do this for you, but I need to ask a favor. If I’m going to make function follow form; I need to look at Ponyville with fresh eyes every day. I can’t stay in the guest suites; I need fresh perspective.”
Twilight and Rarity looked at each other, then to Spike. “I’m sorry Mr.Worth I don’t know where you could stay; the vacant houses are almost all accounted for and I don’t feel comfortable asking one of the townsponies to board you. Not that would help the situation given your request.
” The Princess shifted uncomfortably, just as oblivious as the others in the room to the door opening behind her and a certain farmpony stepping in; seeing the dejected look on the grey pony’s face.
“Ah might be able to do a thing or too ‘bout that.”
***
“Such strange little things wouldn’t you say Silrandoramubandostrom?” Kalistastradikalament in defiance of her great size moved silently amongst the ruins of Toalbroazandodaon; the throne city. Silrandoramubandostrom didn’t bother turning his head to acknowledge his sister; it wasn’t a slight nor would she take it as one. It was merely unnecessary after ten eons of familiar and another six of animosity prior.
“Little as in size or as in importance Kalistastradikalament? We both know intimately how six times, several such fragile creatures changed the world.” Unlike his sister Silrandoramubandostrom didn’t feign much emotion theses millennia; his rumbling voice carried nothing but passing disinterest.
“True; the caged one who controls the insects has some weight to her; as does this King Sombra, though not as much.” Moved next to him on his perch high above the broken towers of their once great home; the smear in her voice when she spoke the magic using ponies name grated on his ears. How fascinating, he was annoyed, when was the last time that happened? Two three aeons ago? Silrandoramubandostrom stretched his awareness back as far as he could without disconnecting his mind from the present, Ah yes; an upstart Drake had dared to attempt to claim his horde and had amassed an army of lesser to help. At the time Silrandoramubandostrom was trying to take a nap; the who distraction had taken only the briefest of centuries but had served to only foul his mood for the next three millennium their after.
“Kalistastradikalament, I thought we decided to ignore each other this epoch?” he deadpanned watching the caged one approach a mass of her children shivering in the cold.
“Was that a joke Silrandoramubandostrom?” She smiled or the close a creature with a beak that could bite the top off a mountain could smile; he indulged her and returned the smile. “I for one welcome this diversion, brief as it maybe it is far superior to waiting for the great hunter to finally catch up to us.”
Kalistastradikalament folded her forelimbs and laid down next to him, resting her head over the edge of the perch watching the caged one move from group of insect to group of insect; they seemed to fear her, at least Silrandoramubandostrom assumed it was fear. If he was honest with himself he didn’t remember fear nor care too. He had known it once of course; not fear of death or destruction, but a far worse fear. That of watching his proud race dwindle…a fear that had been realized. “Time will catch us someday; it caught Talkucarandorika, Azureablecoronas in the heat of battle.”
Kalistastradikalament rolled her eyes as she shook her mighty head; how was it that she still found the energy to express such emotion. “Yes, yes and Solarinvitctianica and Lunarsakcaredthar died to ensure the survival of the world itself by divesting their power at the creators request.” She gave him a coy look. “Do you give time credit for that successful hunt as well?”
“I give time credit for every hunt, even when the prey is as mighty as our children.” Silrandoramubandostrom cocked his head as the caged one managed to get at least one group of the insects to listen to her; he wasn’t an expert on ponies by the scope of his species, but when your attention span was measured in millennium being a novice likely entailed greater knowledge then the sum of entire civilizations. This one was afraid and sad, far from the memories that had been shared by unicorn against her will. Interesting; what was it like to feel two emotions? He found his curiosity generally piqued, a fact that in itself he found stimulating. Was she afraid for her life? Was she sad because she was caged? Oh to feel again.
“Oh brother you used to be so more poetic about everything.” Kalistastradikalament shifted her entire body causing a few rocks to fall from the perch into the city below.
“And you used to be insane.” He mumbled watching the caged one move to yet another group with a single insect in tow.
“Oh come now, it was only for seventy millennia. You should try it, madness is quite liberating.” She nudged his ribs with her wing flanges.
“It was seventy five millennia give or take; and I’ll keep my mind thank you. I don’t mind watching the hunter stalk me.” He commented spreading his wings to release bent up energy and prevent a cramp.
“Oh ouch, ouch brother for a moment I thought you were Azureabelecoronas with a barb like that.” She curved her back unleashing small pops that would have blown the ear drums from lesser creatures; then she cocked her head as well, the caged one had singled out three insects and was talking to them. “What do you think of the unicorns offer?” she asked bluntly.
Silrandoramubandostrom released the smallest flickers of frozen flame from between his teeth in what passed for a sigh. “what I think of all the offers lessers have brought us over the millennia. Pointless in the long run, fruitless in reward and bloody in the interim.”
“But?” Kalistastradikalament’s playful tone prodded him, he fixed a mirthless eye upon her.
“But; one thing stood out in the memories of the caged one.” He reached into his own memory once more, this was so recent, such a small facet it would have been easy to overlook next to so many others; when he found it, a small purple dragon dressed in some garments of little importance holding equally worthless baubles while ponies around him seemed caught in something equally worthless. Holding onto the image, he pulled it gently at first from his mind; then rapidly until within himself he held an echo of the image. Effortlessly, he passed it to his sister who inhaled sharply as she gazed upon it with her minds eye.
“A babe? A babe who has not yet devolved to a drake?” Kalistastradikalament was on her feet now facing Silrandoramubandostrom, her wings twitching in excitement. “How is this possible?”
Silrandoramubandostrom shrugged, then cracking his neck he witnessed the three isolated insects fly off into the blizzard leaving the caged one alone. “What do you thin of the unicorn’s offer?” he mimed.
His sister stopped her pacing, then scratched her head with the tips of her wing flanges; as If she was considering her answer. By the oldest stone that was annoying, which made this all the more amazing, they both had made up their minds when they first sensed the interlopers in their territory. “I will help the Unicorn; I think it will be entertaining.” The glee in her voice was genuine, interesting. “After all he’s not asking for much; just the lost army of the Necromanus and the skill of the Deepwalkers.”
“Then I think I will oppose you; keep things interesting at least for a spell. It will also provide me an opportunity to seek out this child and see if I can save him from becoming a drake.” Silrandoramubandostrom took to the air with a mighty beat of his wings, not bothering to wait for a response or farewell. It wasn’t meant as an insult; once again it was out of familiarity that only multiple eternities could grow. He rose higher and higher, each beat of his wings caused mighty storms to kick up in the valley below battering the ancient throne city until he breached the upper layer of clouds exposing himself to the midday sun that was all but hidden by the grey weather below.
Silrandoramubandostrom for the first time, in a long time felt…things. He identified the first one as gas, he hadn’t moved this much for at least the past five millennium; the next one, was hunger; he could most likely find a herd of something to eat on the way to his destination. The final one was the most interesting of all, the most stimulating: Hope.
A small purple scaled source of hope.