//------------------------------//
// 17 - Forging a new path 
// Story: A New Equestria book the second 
// by ZeirMakavar 
//------------------------------//


Chapter 17
Forging a new path


"I know..." Rainbow sighed, looking away. "Things just seem to be confusing me as of late."

"Power... I need power... More power... Bring them to me..."

"They confuse all of us." Luna nodded, a soft smile on her face as Twilight and Applejack left, heading towards the food table. "When did the voice start?"
"Huh?" Rainbow said, blinking in confusion. "I... I don't know what your talking about."
"Do not take me for a fool Rainbow Dash." Luna said, shaking her head. "I once was host to the same markings in my youth, in case you forget."
"So... I'm not going crazy?"
Luna chuckled, shaking her head. "No, no you are not." She said, patting Rainbow on the shoulder. "I was told that the voice3 was caused by the fact that the markings connected the wielder to the world in a higher level then even Discord could claim. Maybe even on the level of a god."
"So I'm essentially a god then?"
"Well yes and no." Luna sighed, shaking her head a bit, looking over at Twilight trying to separate Celestia and Discord so they would stop fighting over the cake. "Yes, you essentially are, but only as long as the markings appear on your body."
"So if I loose them, then there goes the voice, right?"
"Yes," Luna nodded, a soft smile on her face. "But then so does the immortality."
"What if I don't want to be immortal?" Rainbow asked, looking over at her friends. "Yeah, I get that Twilight is a Alicorn now and will be around for awhile... But I don't want to live past any of my friends. It would... I don't know, I can't imagine something that sad."
"You would miss them?"
"Well duh!" Rainbow said, waving a hoof exasperatedly. "Of course I'd miss them, why wouldn't I? They're my friends."
"That is an honorable thing to say Rainbow Dash." Luna said, chuckling softly. "It however, does not change that as long as you have those marks, you will live longer then all of your friends, no matter the era they hail from."
"That's right..." Rainbow sighed, shaking her head. "I almost forgot you spent a thousand years on the moon... All your friends from before would be dead wouldn't they?"
"That they are." Luna said, bowing her head slightly. "It saddened me most to finally return, and then discover that not only had all my friends gone and passed, but one thousand years had come and gone while I was away. So much had changed, where I did not."
"You changed enough." Rainbow said, patting Luna's shoulder. "Come on, we should probably join the others. Looks like Twilight and Applejack are having trouble keeping Discord and Celestia from fighting over the cake."





Deacon sighed, as he once again sat on his cloud watching over the ponies at play. He ideally watched as Rainbow Dash and her group left the town in a boat, chuckling when Shinze left to do what ever it is that Rainbow Dash told him to do. "Deacon..." A voice said, which caused him to turn and look. "You know well what they are heading off to."
"I do." He said, nodding, a soft chuckle escaping him. "And how strange to see you up here Starseeker." He chuckled, turning to look down at the boat again. "And yes, despite what you think my plan is working perfectly."
"It was you that gave Rainbow Dash the markings? Not the Teacher?" Rourke asked, looking down at the boat as well. "And you know I don't go by that name any more."
"I know this." Deacon chuckled, patting Rourke on the back. "Tell me, when is it that Ner will approach the group?"
"Soon," Rourke sighed, shaking his head. "How is it that you can send both of your daughters to their death, and not bat an eye?"
"Because the events that will take place here, will lead to a happier future." Deacon said, nodding. "Trust me, I'm playing the long game with this one Starseeker. The Teacher won't be around for much longer."