Stories in Stone, Luna's Royal Guard.

by TDR

Let the Shards Fall Where They May. [23][E]

Stories in Stone
Luna's Royal Guard 7120
By TDR

Let the Shards Fall Where They May.

[Current day]

“OK, now watch this one!”

A sonic boom echos over the canyon as Twilight and Tank looked up watching Rainbow Dash whip around the clouds.

“Wasn’t that the same trick?”Twilight asked out loud.

The tortoise shrugged a bit at the question, looking up as Rainbow drifts down towards them panting lightly from the exertion. Twilight enjoyed watching her friends new tricks, but she did not like that she was some what forced into this viewing. Spike was busy helping Rarity with something so she had asked Rainbow Dash to watch her while she studied today. Rainbow had not seemed thrilled about it, but was willing to if Twilight watched some of her new tricks to impress the Wonderbolts. While Twilight was impressed as always, some of them were starting to look the same as other tricks Dash had done . That and they had been out here for three hours and Twilight was getting a bit bored. She briefly wondered if this is what Rainbow felt like watching her and sighed thinking it likely that it was.

“So what did you think?” Rainbow dash asked

“Impressive as always, though you seem to be starting to repeat yourself.” Twilight admitted,

“What? No.. well maybe it seems that way to the untrained eye, but everything I did was new.” Dash bragged.

“Hmmm.” Twilight responded.

“What ? Don't believe me?!?!”

“Its not that Rainbow. I just had an idea though. Lately in my studies I have seen a couple of tricks done by Starfall I have never seen you or the Wonderbolts do.” Twilight stated hating to have to resort to leading her friend like this, but it was true, Starfall did things in the air she had never seen any other Pegasus do.

“Really?” Dash asked, buying into it fully.

“I can try to study them a bit more for you, but I would need to go back to my research. There are already a few in the book I have been writing.“ Twilight stated. “I tried to put in what I saw as best as I could.”

“I don't remember any of that.” Rainbow grumbled.

“Did you do more than skim it?”Twilight asked.

“Ummm.. Oh yeah those tricks......” Rainbow chuckled.

“Never mind. I do remember one where Starfall moved fast enough to seem to be in two places at once, usually she did something new every time she sparred with Jer'rahd. So if that’s all you want to look at just look to read those parts when we get back to the library.” Twilight stated.

“Sounds like a plan. It'll give me something to do while waiting for you to be done. Hah, this is turning out better than I thought. I'll be flaunting moves that have not been seen in a thousand years. That’s sure to impress the Wonderbolts.” Dash grinned.

Twilight sighed rather hating that she had to manipulate her friend like this , but at the same time there was so much still to learn.

====================================

Twilight took one last look back at Rainbow dash Who seemed to be absorbed in the copy of the research book she had mad. Occasionally the Pegasus franticly jotted down notes on a bit of parchment before returning to reading.

Smiling, Twilight cast the spell, feeling her self be pulled into the blade. The area around her filled with stars and the six windows once again. She paused feeling something a little off. Glancing around, the multicolored flicker of the star she though of as Rainbow Dash caught her eye causing her to smile again despite herself.

At this point she had figured out where this place was. It was as slightly more filled version of a Trifecta Coven. Unicorns could join their powers and have their minds come to this place in order to cast more powerful spells as a group. It had never really been studied and the stars, while not new, were rarely seen so brightly. Twilight assumed that was an effect of the spell that allowed her to see the history of objects, just like the mirrors were.

She let her gaze swing over the field of stars recognizing a few others here and there, though her eyes stopped on a small group of stars that she almost overlooked.

They sat further out than even the Princess's stars, but they stood out still from the blackness that surrounded them.

A bright golden star that barely flickered, a almost invisible black star that is only noticeable by the outline of white it had ,as if a candle was flickering behind it. A crimson star, and a bright silver star that seems to be trying to outshine the others. She tilted her head regarding them curiously, not entirely certain why they were way over in that area of this place, nor why she was rather leery of them. This place still confused her despite all she had learned.

Never mind, she really needed to focus. She slipped into the largest window planing to start with Jer'rahd.

================================================
[?]

“Very Good Kaisur it is nice to see you can follow some direction after all.”

The disembodied voice called down from the shadows high in the arena's seating.
The coliseum was otherwise empty of life save the voice and the gray unicorn standing in the center of the sand floored arena.

The spoke words danced over the sand echoing in the massive place making Jer'rahd shudder.

The bloodied blade of the Waning Moon was gripped in his mouth, the crimson coating it falling slowly to drip on to the sand. Rhede Pelt, Bleu Scale, Starfall Silvertail, and Velkorn's bodies lay scattered around his as he lifted his head looking up from the blood soaked soil spitting out the weapon and letting it crash to the ground as she stares upward tears filling his eyes.

“I did what you wanted. They are all dead. Now let her go, Equestria needs her more than it needs us.”
Jer'rahd snarled.

=====================================================

Twilight yanked her head back out of the mirror, whipping her head trying to clear out the image. She had gotten much better at the blood shed. She could ignore it most times no matter how graphic it got. The original had a filter on it that deadened most of the bloodshed, though the new version that she put together after the incident removed that filter.

She had found out the hard way when she went back to review something that happened when Starfall first did the Rainboom. The fight with the Bonehounds had caused Rarity to yank her out of the spell as she revisited her lunch. It took her a few weeks to recover from that though she did it again and again simply to try and deaden herself to the visuals. She was glad smell was not added to the spell. Learning the past was no good if she couldn't manage to stomach it. She was finally able to simply push it aside as happening to some one else, but seeing Jer'rahd evidently having killed his friends bothered her again. It was like she was reading a story and a main character she liked was killed. It was the easiest way to describe it.

This was odd, was it another illusion or dream like what Pelt had gone though?

She moved to Rhede's shard slipping in to see what was going on.

=====================================================
[ Canterlot Castle meeting room]

Jer'rahd smirked looking down at the bloodied Earth Pony on the floor and shook his head offering a hoof to help him up.

“Well Bleu took it better than I thought she would.” Jer'rahd chuckled.

“Says you! I feel like I went three rounds with that Tank thing.” Rhede growled as he rubbed his nose where the little dragon had punched him, tilting his head up to ease the nose bleed. She had also clawed his cheek a little when she slapped him, then when she felt that wasn't enough she had decked him too..

“Well she apologized and hugged you after the fact.” Jer'rahd added.

“Took the time to grab my flank too.” Rhede cursed.

“Yep she's fine. Likely forgives you for your part in Dullahan too.“ Jer'rahd shrugged.” Maybe.”

“Am I going to have a single friend who has not kicked the crap out of me at some point?” Rhede cursed.

“What about Velkorn?” Jer'rahd asked making a mental note to get a house keeper in here before the bloodstained the floor.

“First time she caught me with another mare after she thought to claim me, then again when I got out of that cell.” Rhede muttered.

Jer'rahd glanced back as the Zebra they spoke of returned. She walked up lifting a hoof to push away Rhede's limb from his nose as she looked it over and gave him a rag before going to mix something to lessen the bleeding.

“Luna maybe?” Jer'rahd suggested.

“She found me in her closet with a maid once when I was in ambassador training. Was not pretty.” Rhede sighed.

“The maid or what happened?” Jer'rahd grinned.

“You have to ask that?” Rhede chuckled.

“Sometimes. I've known you to give the less pretty ones a go occasionally. So he going to recover from his grievous experience there Velkorn?” Jer'rahd asked.

“In my opinion Bleu went to far, but I have a mixture so the wounds will not scar.” Velkorn stated.

“Maybe, you should let them scar a bit, mares seem to like scars.”Rhede offered.

“Yes, mares like scars, look at all the ones chasing after me all the time.” Jer'rahd made a wild gesture with a hoof.

“Good point Jer, Alright lets have that stuff Velkorn. Where did Bleu go after beating the snot out of me any way?” Rhede grumbled.

“She and Starfall went off to start their parts of the mission. I am not comfortable with this. I know Celestia said we are pressed for time with the Dragon forces gathering strength, but I do not like splitting up.” Jer'rahd grumbled.

“Well each of us is going to have a small force from the 42nd with us. Not to mention Luna enchanted these shards of yours to allow us to talk to each other. Focal points for a communications scroll, rather clever really. Any way everything should be fine. It's not like we are leaving Equestria.”

“If you say so.” Jer'rahd sighed.

========================================
[?]

Bodies filled the landscape as far as she could see. Friends, chance acquaintances, ponies she had only glanced at before, even animals she had seen, their corpses littered the ground. Some had been killed, others wasted away by sickness, still others looked as if they had died peacefully in their sleep. But there were so many, Bleu was not even sure what the landscape looked like under the corpses. The blue dragonling looked sky ward at the dark shapes falling from the air, more bodies, more corpses to add to the count.

===============================================================================
[?]

“help me....”

Velkorn tore across the field, her bags jingling, hooves kicking up dirt as she ran. Explosions tore into the ground around her flinging rock and sand into the air along with body parts. She slid to the ground at the side of the pony calling for help. She jerked back in horror as she looked at the damage the stallion had received, half his head was gone in almost a perfect cut with only a little seared skin along the unwounded part of his face. Even his skull had seemed to have been melted as he groaned thrashing lightly and begging for help. He was too far gone for anything she could do to help him. She winced striking a spot on his neck to at least ease his pain as he died. Her ears perked at another groan that sent her darting across the field. Cresting the rise on a craters edge she looked out at the endless expanse of desert, Twitching forms lay scattered every where, all of them crying for help or screaming in pain. Velkorn whimpered at the sight her ears and tail drooping. She had not been able to help any she had encountered yet, she could only ease the suffering or end it quickly. There had to be some thing she could do here. She lay her ears back charging down the rise towards the next screaming victim.

==========================================================
Twilight pulled back from the mirror panting softly her ears flat to her head as she floated in place. This was far worse than anything else she had seen. Even in the battles Jer'rahd had been in the focus had been him and the occasional glimpse or sight of something gruesome. Not fields of them like this.

She waited a moment or two trying to calm herself a little more. The fact she hadn't been pulled out of the spell meant she had managed not to vomit, though she still needed a moment or two to recover herself.

Something was very wrong here. Jer'rahd had killed his friends? Yet he was talking to Rhede the next moment as if it was nothing. And where was this battlefield Bleu and Velkorn were on?

She looked at the floating mirror shards with a sigh. Guess there was only one way to find out.

======================================================
[ Canterlot]

“Good luck Rhede. “Jer'rahd offered.

“You too Jer. I hope she was right though.” Rhede sighed.

“Still don't believe Celestia made the right choice with you?” Jer'rahd smirked.

“No. though with luck, perhaps I can at least recover the element for the proper wielder. Speaking of wielding, I thought you got a new sword from Luna, why are you still hauling around a normal Guard blade?” Rhede asked.

“I don't feel like I should be carrying it.” Jer'rahd admitted. ”I don't think I deserve something like that, I haven’t done anything really. As for the Element, well this is the only way you will find out isn't it? We'll grab a drink after this is all over. Shouldn’t take more than a week or two any way.”

“I suppose so, not sure how you can be unworthy for a sword, but what ever Jer. Alright troops lets head out.” Rhede calls back to the gathered Guard that had been waiting for the two to finish conversing.

“Squad MOVE OUT.” Jer'rahd bellows to the other half.

A small force led by Jer'rahd marched down the road to the south headed for the temple Luna claimed held Loyalty. Rhede and his force trotted down the road to the north headed for the temple that supposedly held Generosity. Jer'rahd was headed towards the badlands, and Rhede towards the mountains of the far north

================================================================
[?]

“Just tell them I was not here, then. No one gets hurt, no body suffers. A simple thing. Your integrity should be able to handle a white lie like that mare.”the Griffon pleaded.

The pegasus looked up at the griffon and then back down at the body. The former owner of the corpse was little better than a rapist. His death would not be something that any pony would feel sorry for. In particular Starfall, she was not sure how the earth pony had gotten the jump on her, but he had. She was almost the latest victim in fact.

However the Griffon who had just killed the pony was not supposed to be here. The bird had been hunting this pony for a attack on her daughter, and had found him just as he found Starfall. The griffon had not even hesitated to kill the pony and Starfall had doubts that the birds claim was as honest as she said. However if the Griffon was turned in she would be charged with murder, and with how some laws went, likely a war crime or at the very least a international incident, for breaking Canterlot law. But if she was not turned in, the exploit in the patrol she took advantage of would not be closed and next time a Griffon slipped in it might not be for something of benefit.

Let the 'innocent' Griffon who saved her die, or let someone else perhaps die at a later time. Why did this feel like a contrived question.

================================================================
[?]

“Here take mine. I’m not that hungry any way.”

Rhede tossed the small loaf of bread to the four Guards left with him, before looking out of the cave mouth again. His stomach growled as he gave up the last of his food, but he ignored it. This storm had blown up from no where making the march into the mountains all the more hazardous. He had lost several of the ponies with him already and felt one of his ear tips was still numb and likely developing frostbite.

They had been trapped in this cave for nearly a week now. It was warm enough to survive, but that was all. Some where along the way the metal shard about his neck had become lost, so calling for help was out. It likely happened when he tried to save one of the guards from falling into a chasm that opened under him. Their only Pegasus had been blown away in the sudden storm and Rhede was the only pony to try and rescue the falling Guard. He failed to save him, the scream of the stallion as he slipped from Rhede's grip still echoing in his ears.

================================================================
[?]

The pile steadily grew, visions of their deaths started flashing across the skies. Ponies dieing in fires set upon by other ponies, families torn apart by murder, The entire disaster of Dullahan replaying across her field of vision from various angles as if a theater show in the sky had been designed to simply drive her mad.

She closed her eyes shuddering wings fluttering her across the landscape in a vain attempted to get away from the visions and the death. There.... it was there, the body she had been dreading to see, hoping she would not. Jer'rahd's.

He stood in a clearing with no other corpses around him, held up in a standing position by easily a dozen plus spears, all impaling his form from all angles. The cruel barbs of the weapons having torn chunks of flesh and his insides from him as they pierced his hide.

Bleu whimpered again dashing towards her friend, stopping suddenly as his blood soaked head lifted, one eye looking at her as she approached, the red orb glowing softly .

=======================================================================
[?]

“And what makes you think I would do something as silly as that Kaisur?”The voice mocked.

“You swore to free the Princess if I killed them.” Jer'rahd snapped back.

“Oh, is that all. I simply wanted to see if you would do it. After all …”

The voice suddenly got louder as a dark form materializes on the sand before Jer'rahd. Reptilian eyes gaze at his hoof work, a miasma of stars floated around the mare forming a wispy tail and mane over her armored form. The black coated female approached him slowly, fangs clearly visible as she smiled at Jer'rahd ,her cutie mark clearly visible to him. His eyes widen at the sighed, ears flattening to his head as his tail lashed..

“P...princess Luna?” Jer'rahd stammered.

“Of course. Like the new look General? Rather interesting what you can learn from those books.”Luna chuckled, looking more like a nightmare now.

“But … why? Why have me kill them? Why .. why kill your friends....?” Jer'rahd stammered.

“To test your loyalty of course …. it is a little lacking still, so there was a bit of need for the deception. Honestly did you think I would be caught so easily? You must not think much of my abilities. Besides, none of them were really my friends. They were all your friends.” Luna scoffed. “ And you killed them just as I told you too, like a good little foal. How delightful, that your loyalty to Equestria and myself was stronger than that bonds of your close friends.”

=============================================================================
[?]

Hundreds, thousands..... the screaming had yet to stop. The pain the blood, the crying. Velkorn had tried to save and failed to save hundreds. The scavengers were here now, carrion birds, wild dogs, and bears. She tried to run the lot of them off to see if she could save the ones they had started to feast upon. She panted hard feeling a light weight land on her back, she turned her head looking at the raven as it devoured some ponies eyeball and turned its beady black eyes to meet her gaze of shock.

“You would try to save those who are already dead. You would deny us a meal that we need to live and our young need to survive, there is nothing in this place to eat other than the dead. Would you have everything here die just to save those already gone?“ The bird asked.

Velkorn's eyes widened further as the bird took off to land on another corpse before starting to feed again.

=========================================================================

[?]

“So we are down to this then?”Rhede muttered.

“Its been three weeks sir, the storm has yet to abate even a little, and all of us are starving. “One of the Guards stated.

“There has got to be another way.”Rhede cursed.

“We can't go out there sir you can't see an apples length in front of your face. With all the pitfalls we can't go back out with out being able to see it would be suicide.”Another Guard stated.” And it's not like any of us are in the shape to do anything now.”

“But we can sit here and calmly talk about killing one of us for food? Damn it, we're ponies not dragons we don't even eat meat.” Rhede swore.

“We can handle a little, and that might be enough to get us to survive, this storm cannot last forever.” The third Guard stated.

Rhede looks back at the others, his own ribs showing under his robes, but the Guards ponies were in much worse shape. They tended to keep lean for their duty while Rhede had plenty of food when he wanted it. He exhaled deeply.

“Forget the drawing straws nonsense, we ate all those already any way. I'll do it. More of me than any of you, should keep you alive longer.” Rhede sighed.

==============================================================
[?]

The Griffon was dead, the hole in the defenses closed and Starfall felt like hell. The bird had a record and was a known combatant from the War of the North. The Griffon had asked Starfall to take care of her daughter since she no longer would be able to, even this little lie might have been of some comfort to dieing bird and Starfall could not do it. Starfall would have no idea where to look and it would be just as hostile for her in the Griffon lands as it was for a Griffon here.

She flew off not able to listen to the last words of the executed bird. She soared into the air just wanting to get back to her home before anything else happens. Of course in saying that something did, a earth pony appeared in front of her in the middle of the sky, calmly standing in thin air staring at her.

“GAH!!!” Starfall yelped.

“I wouldn't head back home. Turns out its some stupidly grisly scene to teach you this, that, and the other, and shit. Complete bull crap, but The Order always sucked with Honesty. Bucking politicians, of course they don't know honesty. Never could figure anything proper to do with it, so this nonsense was set up.” the stallion stated.

“Who the buck are you?!?” Starfall stammered.

“Hmm, I suppose I should have started with that. My name is Nightshade, and I am or was the last bearer of the Element of Honesty.” Nightshade shrugged.

=========================================================================

[“RHEDE!!!”]

Velkorn tore down the incline towards the first pony she had seen upright since coming to this battlefield. The earth pony was in bad shape one of the explosions had charred his side fairly well and he was bleeding from multiple shrapnel wounds. She pulled open a bag starting to try and patch him up as he staggered a bit barely staying on his hooves.

“Velkorn forget me, the others, they need help more than I do. “

He nods his head to a group of shapes lying on the ground not far from their location. Velkorn ignored him trying to finish patching him up.

“Velkorn Please. They are dieing over there.” Rhede pleads swaying on his hooves.

[“You first then the others. I can actually save you.”] Velkorn commented

“You can save them too just....go...” Rhede ordered.

“You do not tell me what to do, I will go to them when I am through with you.” Velkorn snapped back.

“Oh no..” Rhede muttered.

Velkorn casts a glance over to where his gaze was focused on the other wounded near him, the birds had come to feed.

================================================================

“Pelt come back you coward!!” A Guard swore.

The snow whipped around him as he stumbled out into it. Rhede's gear was back in the cave, he had given one of the weaker guard his robe to try and keep warm as he attempted to steel himself for the blow that would end his life and likely save the others until the storm abated.

He could not do it.

He dodged instinctively as the sword came at him and turned to run darting out into the snow blindly, terrified of the possibility of his death. Yet as he ran through the snow he knew he had failed them, there was no way he was going to survive out here and likely now the other four would have to choose some one else to die. He was still going to die, but now he would not even have a purpose to his death.

He ran until he could not any more and crashed face down into the snow sliding a bit on the incline. He struggled a bit lifting his head to look around, not able to see anything but the white expanse of snow around him.

He no longer felt cold however, at least there was that.

He was just tired, so very tired.

=====================================================================

Once again blood dripped from the blade, the red light of his eye reflecting crimson along the weapon as he stared down at the corpse of the Princess laying next to the bodies of his friends. Both his eyes were wild, his teeth cracking as he clenched them tighter on the swords grip. He tasted their blood from the crimson soaked grip, the coppery tang on his tongue making him shudder.

He trembled violently as his strength left him, falling hard back on his rump, the blade again falling to the ground.

The sound of hooves landing heavily in the sand behind him barely registered at first until a familiar voice speaks, condescending, angry, and also saddened.

“You killed them all General, every pony who cared even the slightest for you lies dead at your hooves. Even my sister, killed by the very blade she forged for you, all she wanted was your loyalty and you repaid her by letting your rage overwhelm you. The plan was to bring them all back after you proved yourself. Now, they can stay dead. You however will never be meeting them again. Nor will you be forgiven for this.”

Jer'rahd turns his head feeling a cold magic start forming around his tail traveling quickly up his form, flesh turning to stone as he looks up into the stern face of Celestia tears pouring from her eyes as the rock over took his head.

=============================================================

“Nightshade!??! what the buck is going on here?”Starfall demanded.

“Hmm, seems they set it so you don't remember, potent spell there, fueled by ten unicorns if I remember correctly. It set some false memories, just for this test. But I hate this test, its always the same thing for Honesty. The white lie nonsense. Only the stupid will refuse to tell such a simple lie that would save lives and help others.””Nightshade sighed." Granted all of them are stupid disjointed messes, the Element's can tell without a stupid test."

“Wait, did you just call me stupid?” Starfall growled.

“Yes. Because you are. You could have done more good with that little lie than all the honesty in the world. But that's how The Order wanted it. Hell you were on your way to passing this test. So I had to step in. This shit right here? This is not honesty. Sure it might seem like honesty, but if it were really honest why would you feel like crap right now? Being truthful is supposed to make you feel better, knowing you did something right, knowing that you are following what you believe is right. This test my take care of the visible aspect of the Element of Honesty, but it does not take into account being honest with yourself.“

“I am not sure I follow.” Starfall stammered.

“ And that is why I say you fail. You continue to follow your friends and stay in the Guard because you enjoy it, because you like saving lives, you like fighting evil by moonlight and all that. What you tell yourself and tell others is that you do it because you refuse a hand out, you do it to avenge your husband. That bits pride, ego, nothing to do with being honest if you deny what you really feel.”

Nightshade sighed as the world around them faded to gray.

“ Even that debt you tell yourself you owe to Jer'rahd and Rhede for saving your life is just so you can justify to yourself staying with them instead of going home to your daughter. It's a way to make yourself seem important to them in your own eyes. They already accept you, you have nothing to prove to them at all. What you are trying to do is live up to the expectations you believe the dead have for you. That is impossible by the way. The dead expect nothing, unless you're a spirit tied to a potent spell that tries to check on a ponies honesty. Of course that is rather a rare thing. There's only five of them really”

“How do you even know all that?”Starfall asked.

“Hello!? What part of spirit merged with a spell to test for honesty do you misunderstand? Your souls practically laid bare here mare. Look dammit I'll be blunt cause you're missing the point. You fail, you are not worthy to be the bearer of Honesty right now. Get your crap together, learn to be honest with yourself and follow your gut rather than the strange notions you feed yourself and you might be some day. But that is not today, and tomorrow is not looking good for you either. And finally answer your metal shard, Princess Luna has been screaming for you on it for over an hour now. Its enough to give a ghost a headache.”

============================================================================

“War, death, violence. That is all that is, and suffering through it. Those are all a pony has to look forward to, tragedy and in the end darkness. Everyone you know will die, everyone you love will die, everything will die, and we can do nothing but wait for the eventual release into nothing that death brings. Look around you Bleu. These bodies, this blood , this hate, and rage. This is all that there is. This is all that is true in life. Death and suffering.”

The little blue dragonling had fallen to her knees watching the blood drip from Jer'rahds impaled form, the rasp of his voice grew louder with each word, as if his lungs were threatening to collapse or fill with blood ending the speech. She whimpers, the trickle of warm blood trailing against her leg as it flows from the pony before her. She closes her eyes not wanting to see any of this any more.

“An old mare by the sea shore, at the end of day,
Gazes the horizon with the sea winds in her face,
tempest tossed island, seasons all the same
anchorage unpainted, and a ship without a name.”

Bleu blinked, wiping her eyes, she slowly lifted her head as the faint strains of the song reach her ears.

“Sea without a shore for the banished one unheard,
she lightens the beacon,light at the end of the world,
showing the way lighting hope in their hearts,
the ones on their travels homeward from afar.”

She knew this song, she knew who sang this song, she knew that they knew she hated this song.

“This is the long forgotten,
light at the end of the world,
horizon crying,
the tears she left behind long ago.”

This was Platinum! The little dragon lept to her feet taking wing her eyes sweeping over the field of corpses searching as the body of Jer'rahd wheezed softly below her.

“The albatross is flying, making her daydream,
the time before she became, one of the worlds unseen,
princess in the tower, young ones in the fields,
life gave her it all: an island of the universe.”

She was frantic now the voice was getting louder, but she could not find the source, she dropped back down lifting the dieing ponies head trying to get him to help her look . She mutters softly to herself singing low along with the song.

“Now her loves a memory, a ghost in the fog,
she sets the sail one last time, saying farewell to the world,
anchor to the water, seabed far below,
Grass still at her hooves, and a smile beneath her brow.”

Tears pool in the little dragons eyes as the song starts coming to an end. She was not able to keep herself from singing along with the chorus, no matter how depressing the song was and how much she hated it.

“This is the long forgotten,
light at the end of the world,
horizon crying,
the tears she left behind long ago.”

Bleu turns her head feeling a hoof rest lightly on her shoulder. She lifts her head looking up into the spectral form of Platinum her whole body quivering as the unicorn mare smiles softly.

“I take it you missed me Bleu?”Platinum asked.

Her arms wrap quickly around the mare weeping loudly as she hugs the Platinum, her tail whipping hard behind her.

“OhgoddessPlatinumimissedyouwhydidyouhavetodietheresomuchthatcouldhaveheppendotherwiseyou
andbosscouldhave,oh no boss!”

“Relax Bleu, Jer'rahd is fine. This thing is in no way Jer'rahd. This is just part of the test. “

“What …. test.... for the elements..... so your not here either?”

“Well I sort of am here.... the former bearer of Laughter hates this test, its far to depressing for her. The Order set it up so that who ever was to be considered worthy would have to laugh at all of this. Not something that anyone sane could do. He found the spark of me you carry and woke it, however so I could try and comfort you after you found out you failed.”

“But this is all terrible though, I miss you Platinum I do... I can't handle all this, I need you still Platinum.... don't leave me again....please.” Bleu babbled.

“Shhh. you might think you still need me, but you don't. Your friends however still do need you.”Platinum cooed.

“I am not even useful to them sister, I am to much a wreck... nothings even funny.....”Bleu whimpered.

“I've seen what a laugh can do. It can transform almost unbearable tears into something bearable, even hopeful. “ Platinum quoted.

“......... no fair throwing my own line back in my face ….”Bleu sniffled.

The little dragon smiles softly even at that making Platinum smile a bit more.

“How can I not when they are true words. You seem to have just forgotten them lately. There will be difficult times ahead Bleu, it is how you live through them and help others live through them that should be the real test. You stopped enjoying life and simply started trying to cling to what you still had, like a drowning mare grabbing at a bit of wood on the sea.” Platinum stated.

“Enough with the aquatic references. You know I hate that song.” Bleu grumbled.

“I also know you always sang along with me at the end of it. It is a sad song, but it is also hopeful.”

The black coated mare sighs closing her eyes a moment looking down to the dragonling clinging to her.

“I cannot stay any longer, and your friends are calling for you. You might have failed this test, but there will be others. Do not lose hope sister. Do not let others lose hope either. Goodbye Bleu. Go live again like you did when I knew you. Do not let any one give in to despair.” Platinum ordered.

“Goodbye Platinum.”

The mare fades from view along with the rest of the world leaving the blue dragonling standing there staring at the spot she had been, a small bit of metal on a chain laying on the floor in her place. The cold stone room feeling slightly less chilling now. She reaches down picking up the necklace, lifting her head tears streaming from her eyes.

“This is the long forgotten,
light at the end of the world,
horizon crying,
the tears she left behind long ago.”

“So long ago....”

========================================

Rhede jerked awake screaming out as he staggered, tripping over his own robe and crashing to the stone floor. The sound of voices echo from above calling out to him, the Guards he came here with. He winces opening his eyes slowly his gaze falling to a pile of his daggers and a small shard of metal laying atop of them.

The old temple tower he was in only had one part left intact, which fortunately was where the Element of Harmony was supposed to be, or at least this was where the test was.

“Ugh..... another failure....... I knew Celestia should have chosen some one else.”

==============================================

Velkorn screamed out, sitting bolt up right, the images of the birds feeding on her friends vividly pictured in her mind. Rhede had screamed at her for helping him in stead of them still claiming they could have been saved and he would have been fine. He … he had hit her, hard, and he had not stopped until she had died, tears pouring from his eyes at the loss of the others even as he took her life.

It was not Rhede, she could tell that now, but had her love turned into little more than obsession? She had let her friends die to save him, she should have tried to save them all, not just Rhede. She had tried to save every other pony she came across, but she could not move on past Rhede. She swallowed hard shivering a bit.

Her whole life since coming to Equestria needed to be rethought at this point. She curled up on the stone floor ignoring the pendent calling for her from her bags.

==================================================
Starfall winced holding her head with a hoof. She had woken and sat up suddenly smacking it on a low hanging root. What was up with all that?

It seemed real, but she clearly remembered making it to the temple and heading inside leaving the Guards to watch the entrance. But everything else. Was Nightshade right, was she only doing this for herself? How did one be honest with themselves? She perked her ears hearing Luna's voice calling for her. She slowly turns her head spotting her necklace with the steel shard hanging from the root she smacked into.

She hesitated in answering it.

This was going to take a bit of thought.

=========================================================

Jer'rahd opened one eye, a soft voice calling for him from what seems far away. His gaze shifted over the room, a simple stone room covered in cuts and slashes. The sword he brought with him lay shattered, parts of its blade sunk into the walls. The Tank armor was off of his form, the bone plate laying scattered around the room from when he evidently had started thrashing and fighting in the vision. He slowly rose to his hooves wincing, simply wishing to lay there longer, if not forever.

The voice called to him again, a small shard of metal lay several paces from him a faint blue light pulsating from it. As he approached Luna's voice called out for him again. He hesitated listening to her voice, a shudder running along his spine as he touched it.”

“General Kaisur report?! Jer'rahd!?” Luna called.

“I am here princess.”

“Thank the goddess........ Oh, right that did not sound self serving at all. Report in please General.”

“The mission was a failure Princess. I was not judged worthy enough to be a Element Bearer. I am sorry.”Jer'rahd claimed.

“I see. At least it was only a failure, you are still alive, and it seems unharmed return home please Jer'rahd.” Luna sighed.

“As you wish Princess.” Jer'rahd grumbled.

==================================================================

All of them had failed. The depression around the group at Canterlot was enough to drive away nearly every pony save Princess Luna. She simply seemed happy to have them back and in one piece, evidently those seeking to be judged by the Elements did not always return.

Food had been prepared and brought, but none of them bothered to eat any of it, let alone look at it. All of them remained silent, lost in their own thoughts. Jer'rahd and Velkorn were not even able to bring themselves to look at the others. Starfall seemed more confused than anything else, and Rhede and Bleu remained silent as well, which under normal situations should have scared every pony.

Eventually Luna found she couldn't continue the small talk by her self and left to tell Celestia the bad news. The group barely noticed her departure.

Bleu lifted her head, gaze shifting over the others in the group and the dark cloud that was over them all. She exhaled softly considering a few things before looking up again her eyes narrowed. She leapt onto the table with a violent scream of frustration and rage, flinging a few lightning bolts around for good measure. The rest of the group dove for covered fully expecting she had gone mad as most of the food on the table was splattered by the lightning arcing from her maw.

“What the buck Bleu?” Jer'rahd yelped.
“Jer control your dragon!” Rhede cried.
“Gahh!” Starfall shouted.
“Enough with this rage, Bleu try and act your age!” Velkorn demanded.

“SHUT UP!!” Bleu bellowed.

They all freeze in place, blinking curiously at the little dragon as she panted, still standing in the middle of the meal. Her coloration slowly starting to change hues, moving away from blue to green and pink,then changing further her scales alternating coloration’s as she lifts her head looking to each of them , her eyes reflecting the kaleidoscope effects her scales were going through as she steeled herself her colors locking down on a solid blue hew that could almost match the purest sapphire.

“I was reminded, by some one very close to me about this. About what I had forgotten in grief. I don't know what any of you saw, or experienced. But I know if it was similar to what I saw it messed you up like it did me.” Bleu growled. “ We have been shown our weaknesses, we have been shown what we have to do to be better. We failed this stupid mission, but so what! We are still alive and if we are not happy with who we are, we have time to change that! Moping about what we should be, or what we should have been, means nothing! Even if we are not worthy of the Elements, we can still manage to be worthy of each other. And if you idiots think I am gonna let you be all mopey over this, over some stupid test designed by ponies who didn't want any one to pass it that they didn't control, you have another thing coming!!”

They all stare at the dragonling for a moment before Jer'rahd smirked.

“Dragon's got layers.” He snarked.

“What the hell does that mean Jer?” Rhede demanded.

“Damn right I do!” Bleu shouted.

“Just run with it Rhede.” Jer'rahd chuckled.

The dragon grabs a hunk of bread from the table, taking a massive bite out of it in some sort of mock anger and nearly chokes. Jer'rahd's eyes widen at the sight and he starts chuckling, while Bleu flailed about, his chuckling turned into laughter as Velkorn rushed back to the table to help the poor dragonling only to get showered in bread crumbs and Bleu manages to clear her throat.

The laughing slowly spread to Rhede, then Starfall, and eventually Velkorn and Bleu after she could breath again.

===============================================================

Luna perked an ear glancing back down the hall. She had not expected that outburst from the little Dragon, but it seemed to have had the desired effect. She wished she could head back and join them in the laughter , but this had to come first. Entering Celestia's study, she noted her sister resting where she had been before. The Sun Princess sat on a pillow, staring out into the garden from her window.

“Did you tell them?” Celestia asked.

“No Tia, not yet, they are already depressed by their failure. To lump something else on them at this point would make matters worse. Although they might be able to handle it, I wanted to give them at least a few hours of peace first.” Luna sighed.

“They will need to know sometime. Better from you then some pony on the street. It is sad that they were not deemed worthy, but we had taken that possibility into account. Do you still want them as your Personal Guards?”Celestia asked.

“I will tell them when I return, and yes Tia, I still do.”

“There is no need to be gentile with this Luna. None of them would like that approach now any way. Just tell them the truth.” Celestia ruffled her wings looking far older than she should at this point. “Dullahan Keep has fallen and The Great Wall destroyed, Dragons have invaded Equestria from the Darklands. We are are at war again.....”

=========================================================================

Twilight pulls back, her eyes wide. She shivered at the scenes she witnessed, coughing a little as her stomach still felt like it wanted her to visually review her last meal. She sat down hard on her rump, working to catch her breath.

A loud snore broke her sudden bout of inner turmoil. She turned looking back at Rainbow Dash spread out on the couch, a good dozen scrolls littered with chicken scratch writing, and pictures of maneuvers were scattered over the place.

Another snore echos from the other side of the room, she knew that one however. It seemed Spike had returned saw what was happening and passed out himself. Twilight floats the book off her friends face placing it on the table before drifting a blanket out of her room and draping it over the sleeping pegasus. She tidied up the room a bit before deciding to head to bed herself after jotting down what she had learned.

This was not the way she envisioned the Elements being kept. Every failing of the five was laid bare to them. And now the Second Dragon War was starting. The events of the past were finally coming to a head, the reign of Nightmare Moon supposedly happened at the end of the second Dragon war. She was not thrilled that she was witness to the depths of their failings. She was half joking with her comments regarding their personality problems when she last talked to Apple Jack, but this showed them in a very unflattering light. A murderer, a coward, misplaced devotion, depression... and whatever the heck was wrong with Starfall.

But how would any of her friends have dealt with that test. Would Rainbow Dash have killed everyone else to save her? Would Fluttershy even managed to advance any where in that desert. Would there have been some pony to help Pinkie Pie? If they failed, how did they use the Elements to seal away Nightmare Moon? Did Celestia remember something wrong again? Why did she and her friends not have any sort of test like that?

Bah, if she was not so tired she would try and see more, Rainbow had the right idea falling asleep. She hoped none of her friends would ever have to go through tests like that, there had not seemed any way to win in those tests, and the ghosts bound to the spells? Where they still there waiting? How had the Elements gotten into Nightmare Moon's castle of Whinnyshire? So many questions she still wanted answers for. It was maddening, she knew she was going to go back even with the was her stomach felt after the more gruesome scenes. She had to know.

Twilight sighed settling herself into bed, planning to send the update to the Princesses in the morning.
She needed Spike awake any way to do that so there was no point in doing anything more tonight.

Comments

[ChasingResonance]

Man, even reading the lyrics for The Islander is enough to get to me. Not the reference I was expecting to see today.

[TheCommunistDog]

Well that was some of the worst tests i have ever seen. You should never laugh at death. laughter Is needed anywhere but there! Laughter tends to bring happiness and no one should be happy if they just killed someone or seen someone die!