//------------------------------//
// Chapter Two: There Is Always A Reason 
// Story: Corrupting Knowledge 
// by Greentea68 
//------------------------------//

	Sunlit Tides woke up in a red queen bed, a green crystal chandelier hung above him as wax candles flickered giving a homely glow to the room. Feeling dizzy, Sunlit Tides took a moment to collect his thoughts as he took a deep breath. During his moment of thought he remembered he recently obtained a hole in his gut.

Throwing off the red silk sheets Sunlit Tides closed his eyes and braced for the worst. Sunlit Tides slowly opened his eyes, a long cloth extended over where the crystal once was. Startled, Sunlit Tides gasped paralyzed by shock. A few moments of silence later, Sunlit Tides started extending a hoof towards the bandage, curious about how mager his wound was.

 “I would not be trying that,” a gentle voice enacted from the far end of the room.
Sunlit tides sat up and searched the room for the voice. he eventually noticed a small crystal pony, a filly, peeking out from behind the bedroom door, though it was far too dim to make out any features. 
“For what is a mere filly doing in such a vile place?” Sunlit Tides asked with a concerned attitude. The young filly winced and turned her head away, as if she herself did not know way she was there.

“Thou must forgive I for disturbing thee, but I have been instructed to tend to thine wound,” said the small filly shyly.
“Mine wound… tis thou not but a foal?” questioned Sunlit Tides.
The small filly opened her jaw to reply, her lips trembled as the filly turned her head and several tears fell to the floor.
“Be still young one, for thou shalt come hither, then thou shalt tell I about thy woes.” Said Sunlit Tides, although he had a feeling he knew what this young filly’s story was.
“V-very well,” the young crystal pony replayed with a sniff, she then walked over to the edge of the bed, seating herself beside Sunlit Tides.

Exposing her self the brighter light, Sunlit Tides was able to see this filly’s facial features. The small filly had a long braided amethyst mane, with a ruby-red coat, her eyes glew a hot red in the candlelight. Innocence, Sunlit Tides thought to himself.   
After the small filly recollected her emotions and wiped the final tear from her eye, she took a deep breath, paused, then began to speak.

“Mine name tis Mitis Minutar, mine father worked day and night for weeks in the mines, often returning home stalked by fine powders and a plaguing cough.”
“Thine father... twas ill?” asked Sunlit Tides.
“Indeed. Mine mother twas a doctor of sorts, she helped heal the unfortunate,” replied Mitis Minutar. 
“The homeless.” Sunlit Tides confirmed, slowly becoming more invested in Mitis Minutar’s tale. 

        “True, the poor, the sick, Me and mine mother helped whomever limped through the door.” Mitis Minutar answered, her grim expression told that the worst was yet to come.
“Thy mother taught thee how to heal?” Sunlit tides asked, now practically leaning off of the bed.
“Correct, as of which...” Mitis Minutar then jumped onto the bed then extended a hoof to unravel the bandage. Sunlit Tides lay down flat and allowed this miniature doctor to operate on him. 

About five minutes of enduring grunts later, Mitis Minutar started wrapping-up her work.
“Mine duties art completed,” as Mitis Minutar almost emotionless, started on her way.
Sunlit Tides quickly sat up, then raised a hoof to stop Mitis Minutar eager and curious as of what happened to her parents. However his jaw froze before any words came out, after all, it was no secret that many ponies were killed and executed during the uprising of King Sombra.

        Sunlit Tides sunk back into the plush bedding, then placed a hoof on his forehead.
For if Faust tis mine witness. allow I heal hastily, for mine sister may not endure this plague many more nights, Sunlit Tides thought to himself worryingly.
This plague, had mysteriously arrived around the year 435 AC (After Celestia), and has since then taken countless lives. Many ponies have slaved away their lives, unsuccessful at creating a cure, Sunlit Tides being among them.

Sunlit Tides always wanted to help with the progress of forming an aid. Though his gender prohibited this, as stallions are considered to be more machine than equine. Mares are allowed to do magicmatics, mathematics, cook, go to school, and most anything else that does not require physical labor (with the exception of farm ponies). Stallions on the other hoof, are considered to be nothing less than a living steel bar with legs. Thus stallions where only able to be skillful in blacksmithing, lifting heavy objects, fighting, building, and farming.

Sunlit Tides put his hoof to his side, then drifted to sleep, as he remembered his first day volunteering at the Ponyville clinic. Ponyville, at this time was barely a village, though its acres of farmland promised a bright future for the small settlement.Though it would be centuries before it could grow to the status of a town. Now, Ponyville needed doctors as it was hit hardest by the disease. 

Ponyville was founded by the earth ponies, who had no wings or horn. Most earth ponies are farmers as they seem to have a natural talent for agriculture.  For one reason or another, unicorns and alicorns were not affected by this plague. Numerous philosophers of the age made many theories as of why this was, though the most popular one was “Unicorn’s and alicorn’s magical ara protects them”.

Because of this immunity, only unicorns are allowed to work at the medical centers. 
Sunlit Tides walked up to the door of the clinic, its mud walls were cracked, its rough wooden door was made quick, imperfections were harder to miss then the ground of which Sunlit Tides stood. Sunlit Tides Slowly pushed the door open with his hoof as he peered inside. Several earth ponies and a few pagasi laid on cloths spread on the ground.

        Before Sunlit Tides could finish opening the door at his own pace, Something extended the entryway open rapidly causing Sunlit Tides to stumble and fall straight into the hardened clay floor. Sunlit Tides opened his eyes and looked up, a green mare with a cobalt-blue mane and lime eyes stood unamused staring down at Sunlit Tides.

“Oh joy, yet another mule without any other purpose but to transport supplies. Cheery…” the green mare said as if she just received a wagon load of fertilizer.
Sunlit Tides scrambled to his hoofs “F-forgive I for such an informal introduction, Me am-”
“Me cares not for what thine title is, art thou hither to aid? Yea or nay?” the green mare interrupted.
“Yea. Me am hither to aid the sick anyway Me must!” replied Sunlit Tides holding a hoof to his muzzle.

        “Me hopes thou tis not planning to loiter around as most of the stallions who volunteer do.” the green mare said with her eyebrows lowered and an expression that practically said: If it were not for the plague your hyde would be out in the mud. 
“Nay. Me am not.” Sunlit Tides answered putting his hoof back on the floor, revealing a swollen snoz.
“Me hopes thou art not thinking thou shalt receive free aid for thine muzzle, the clinic tis stretched thin as it tis.” the green mare said with a sigh. Sunlit Tides simply shook his head no. “Splendid, now follow I," the green mare walked out of the clinic as Sunlit tides followed.

        The green mare led Sunit Tides to a large wagon with a mount. 
“Thou shalt travel to port 11 south of the town of Baltimare, from there thou shalt return back with barrels worth of medicine,” the green mare said blankly. 
Sunlit tides jaw was dropped and he seemed as if he just saw Faust, then found out she was a male. “Whats wrong? Tis the journey to distant?” the green mare asked showing slightly more emotion. “Nay. Nay! Tis simply, well... Me hast family whom resides here in Ponyville... mine sister.  The green mare raised an eyebrow “Thou hast a sister? elaborate,” questioned the green mare.

“Certainly! though if thou would care to make her acquaintance, ours home tis not distant.” Sunlit Tides replied.
“Tis it not a bit early to be invited to thy family estate stud?” the green mare asked with a smug and slight punch to Sunlit Tides's sholder.
 Sunlit Tides replied with a chuckle. “Possibly, what dost thou say?”
The green mare thought about the offer for a moment “The cure tis not being made any faster, thus there ist no reason why Me should say nay,” she said with a shrug.
“Splendid! Trail I,” Sunlit Tides said as he started to lead whilst the green mare followed.

“Hey! Pull thy flank out of bed! Deny King Sombra thine presence and thou shalt be denied care!” a deep voice shouted at Sunlit Tides as he spring out of his slumber like the popping of a balloon.
“What in Tartarus!?” Sunlit Tides screamed as he scrambled out of bed.
“Good. now that thou tis awoken, thou shalt be guided to the dining hall dinner tis served.” a brown, light purple maned Pegasus stallion with red eyes stood leaning over the bed and his face was practically merged with Sunlit Tides’s face.

Sunlit Tides did not reply, as he appered as if he was having a mini heart attack.
“Why must Me do all things by mine self.” the stallion boomed as the earth practically shook under his hoofs as he made his way over to Sunlit Tides. “It appears what thou hast a difficult time simply walking, thus Me shalt take it upon mine self to transport thee.”  the brown stallion said with a sigh. Sunlit Tides had little time to object before the brown stallion picked him up and placed him on his back.

        “Onwards.” the brown stallion said as he started on his way with Sunlit Tides riding on his back, speechless and pupils constricted. The brown stallion walked through the crystal halls a red carpet sprawled throughout the corridors pillars of cyan diamond held the quartz ceiling at a grand height. Sunlit Tides was in awe as sights such as these were never presented to commoners.
A loud sigh emanated from the brown stallion’s mouth “Tis it not breath taking?” the stallion said as if this has happened before.

        “Indeed!” replied Sunlit Tides replies then paused. “Stop, did thou not sayeth something regarding Sombra?” asked Sunlit Tides snapping out of the bedazzling beauty of the palace.
“Yea, Me did speeketh about that, for he twas the one whom saved thine life.” answered the brown stallion.
Puzzled, Sunlit Tides pressed further. “Why would a tyrant do such?”
“Me knows not, all Me knows tis he wished to explain personally.”
Sunlit Tides felt he would not get anymore answers until he was acquainted with Sombra, thus he simply noded.

        As the brown stallion continued to lead Sunlit Tides down the crystal halls, a voice yelling from behind one of the crystal doors. Curious, Sunlit Tides cast a simple listening spell his horn flashed as his ears glow, this caught the attention of the brown stallion.
“Be mindful with thy magic!” the brown stallion said as he shot Sunlit Tides a glare.
“Apologies, unicorn magic goes bazzerk time-to-time when our race tis injured.” Sunlit Tides struck a nervous smile as he himself knew this was not true but hoped the stallion did not.

        The brown stallion simply walked it off with a huff.
Good he knows not of mine fib, now what tis taking place behind these crystal doors.
Sunlit Tides thought as he focused his magic on the voices that echoed through his magic.
“Clean faster-er-er! Thou maggit milking midget-et-et!” -a crack of a whip could be heard, trailed by a high pitched- “Yelp-elp-elp-elp!” 
“Mitis?!” Sunlit Tides pushed himself away from the brown stallion, the stallion had little time to react as Sunlit Tides slipped from his grasp like a greased-up banana peel enrobed in soap, on a buttery floor. 

        “Halt!” the brown stallion called out, but Sunlit Tides was already halfway across the hall. Sunlit Tides shoved open the door. The room was green with several candles scattered across the room, there was a lit fireplace on the front wall. about 4 book shelves lined up on the  right, about 4 meters tall. there stood at the base of the shelfs, was a blood-red crystal stallion with a short spiked obsidian-black mane and red cat eyes. The red stallion had a belt with two holsters one cradling a knife, the other empty.

Mitus Minutar was opposite the red stallion. It took several seconds for Sunlit Tides to recognise her, as crystal ponies do not cut or bruise. No, they shatter and fog.
Small chunks of crystal lay scattered throughout the room, trailing to Mitus.
Mitus’s face and body had holes in it, her left eye was missing, as it was in several chunks by the fire the pupil dilated with terror. Her mane was cracked and she was missing bits of her  lower front hoofs. To allow this young filly to continue to slave away was inequine.

        Fueled by anger Sunlit Tides forgot about his still healing wound and spread his hoofs for balance. “Thou shalt toss thy whip into the inferno, and refrain from Mitus’s area.” Sunlit Tides said in a voice that was written in stone. 
The red stallion turned and faced Sunlit Tides “If Me dost not?” he asked as he took several steps towards Sunlit Tides. 
“Then thou shalt leave I no other option but to beat thou into submission, or to the doorstep of Tartarus.” Sunlit Tides said as his horn started to glow.
“Strong words for one whom hast a hole in thy gut!” the red stallion said as he too spread his legs and drew the dagger from his belt. with a stern look on his face.
hoofsteps could be heard rapidly approaching, as the brown stallion flew past the door with his hoofs dug into the floor to stop, but he had a bit too much momentum. Thus he slid past the door. A loud smash could be heard in the halls, then the hoofsteps slowly continued back in Sunlit Tides direction; Expensive Sunlit Tides thought.

        “Me told thou-” the brown stallion stopped and pried the a bit of crystal from his hoof then spat it onto the floor “-halt!” the brown stallion said as he chased his breath.
“Ahh, Aeraque Ala! Splendid thou art hither. Me am soon to demonstrate the consequences for interfering with royal business.” the red stallion said as he played with his knife, tossing it into the air then catching it in his hoof then repeated the process.


        “Fool! For tis he who hast been summoned by the King!” Aeraque Ala said as he stomped a hoof.
“Thee commoner...? Thou art quite humorous!” the red stallion said as he laughed, and laughed, and laughed.
Taking this time to his advantage Sunlit Tides ran over to Mitus, leaning down and placeed a hoof under her chin eyes closed.
“Mitus, hear mine words. I shalt heal thou, as gratitude for aiding I and the hope for continuing aid in mine time hither.” Sunlit Tides said as Mitus opened her good eye as it grew in the firelight.

“Sunlit… Crystal ponies take years to recover from wounds such as these.” Mitus Minutar said with a grim look on her face.
“Fear not, for Me dost know more then one thing about magic.” Sunlit Tides said as he backed away from Mitus.
“Hold… Thou said something regarding magic?” catching the attention of Aeraque Ala.
“Yea Me did, dost thou have any objections?” Sunlit Tides replied cross, as he lit up his horn either warning Aeraque to back off, or he was preparing a healing spell.

Aeraque thought about the situation for a moment. “Get on with it then. I shalt restrain the maniac.” Aeraque replied as he pounced on the still laughing red stallion.
“Hey! release I!” the red stallion demanded as Aeraque plucked a feather from his right wing.
“Thou dost enjoy laughter?” Aeraque said he started to tickle the red stallion.
“Nay! Nay! Hehehe ohahah!”  the red stallion attempted to object though he was interrupted by tears of joy.

        Now, for if Me must recall, the physical world tis little more than varieties of stained clay. That clay tis formed by energy, magic itself tis energy. Thus by converting the energy in Steel Wing’s cart and goods. Me may be able to repair Mitus’s eye by the transfer of energy to clay, Sunlit Tides thought planning out the spell as this was his first attempt at this.

        Sunlit Tides focused his horn glew as Mitus’s eye levitated off the ground as the smaller chunked followed. Sunlit Tides gritted his teeth as a solid beam of magic left his horn, sparks flew in every direction as his magic enrobed the eye. Shards of the eye orbited the large chunk of Mitus’s eye spinning faster as the experimental spell continued.
“Me hopes thou knows what thou art casting!” shouted Aeraque Ala only pinning the red stallion now as he had long since passed out from oxygen deprivation. 

        Sunlit Tides gave no reply, as he was in a world void of anypony but himself.
Mitus’s eye spun as the shattered chunks of her coat gravitated toward the eye stopping exactly where chunks of her crystal skin had cracked and snapped forming what could be mistaken as a ghost. The eye stopped spinning as it locked its gaze forward. Mitus was watching this event take place in awe as crystal ponies do not see a lot of magic. Their gene pool had very little in the terms of unicorn crossbreeds; being an enslaved species did not help much either.

        Mitus felt her hoofs leave the ground, as she was enrobed in Sunlit Tides’s magic. Startled she tried to flee but a wave of pain prevented her escape. Mitus floated toward her exoskin as it expanded to allow her inside. Mitus gazed down at Sunlit Tides in slight panic, his eyes were whiter than a piece of quartz in a field of snow. Mitus closed her eyes trusting that Sunlit Tides know what he was doing. 

        Mitus Minutar felt an object hit her face, a bit of her skin it flew into her then fused into place in a white glow. “seamless…” Mitus said to herself then was hit on the back of her head, then her leg, then before one could say “________ is best pony” Mitus was bombarded with chunks of her skin and mane from all angles at bullet speed. Mitus closed her eyes to shield them from the bombardment of flashing light. 

        The red stallion woke from his slumber dazed. “For what hast-” the red stallion saw the flashing ball on light floating above him “-Oh. oh, by Faust.” the red stallion managed to say as his pupils dilated then constricted rapidly as he foamed at his maw. Aeraque Ala was intelligent enough to cover his eyes.

After what seemed like a decade, the flashing stopped. Mitus hovered in the air, her skin was flawless, everything was in its place except for her eye; which was hurtling toward her. Aeraque Ala opened his uncovered his eyes only the cover them again when he saw the eye flying toward Mitus. Mitus braced for impact, as an explosion of blinding light coated the room. The light sustained its life for minutes, after the light faded Mitus lay motionless on the floor as Sunlit Tides held his temples. Aeraque Ala uncovered his eyes as magical sparks faded from the room like embers. 

“Art thou alright?” Aeraque Ala asked as he let Sunlit Tides stand up straight.
“Yea. Mine mind shalt stop hurting in a few minutes, magic such as that tis very taxing.”
Sunlit Tides replied. 
“The filly, erm, Mitus. Tis she well?” Aeraque Ala asked.
“Mitus? Mitus!” Sunlit Tides scrambled over to the sleeping angel despite his headache. 
Mitus! Mitus! Art thou well!?” Sunlit Tides asked as he shook her shoulder gently, her coat was as clear as tropical waters.
The young mare opened her eyes slowly. “Sunlit… Thou hast mine gratitude.” Mitus said trying to get on her hooves.

        “Gently now, I would not care to heal thee again.” Sunlit Tides joked.
“Me shalt be fine, Tis thou whom Me am concerned about.” Mitus said looking up at Sunlit tides.
“Thou shalt not worry for Me. For Me shalt free thou from this prison of a palace.” 
Sunlit Tides said as he shot a glare at the door. 
“For what art thou speaking about?!” Mitus questioned sitting up. 
“Me am going to arrange thy freedom.” Sunlit Tides said as he levitated Mitus Minutar with his magic.

        “Thou can not be speaking truly! Me am trapped here just as the rest of mine kind!”
Mitus Minotaur tried to inform Sunlit Tides.
“Nay Mitus, for if the tyrant wished mine death, Me would not be here.” Sunlit Tides said as he started out the door, “Art thou following Aeraque Ala?” Sunlit Tides asked.

“For I see no reason why Me must, Thou appers to have the world in thine hoof.” Aeraque Ala declined.
“Very well. Faust be with thee.” Sunlit Tides said as he grinned at Aeraque Ala knowing he still had some equineity left in him.
“Faust be with thee.” Aeraque Ala said as he tended the the crazed stallion whom appeared to resemble a zombie, as Sunlit Tides started on his way the the dining room.