Chapter 1
“That one looks like an elephant. I saw an elephant in the newspaper once,” Maeve said as she pointed upwards at the clouds above. “It has a big long sneezer.”
The little girl lay with her head resting upon the ribs of Red Russet, a young earth pony colt. Her shoulders ran parallel to his spine and her head was planted just behind his front shoulders. He lay on his side, his legs kicked out, and his head turned so that he might gaze upwards.
“I have never seen an elephant, so I will take your word for it.”
Red Russet peered through his glasses, straining to see the clouds overhead. He twisted his head around to look at his companion and felt a moment of worry. “Maeve, you’re turning as red as I am red. We’ll both be lectured if you get sunburned again.”
Groaning, Maeve sat up. “I don’t get sunburn. All of my freckles just connect. Painfully.” The young girl stretched and then yawned. “I wonder what time it is?”
“I dunno, we’ve been out here for over an hour,” Red said he struggled to get to his hooves. The colt winced in pain and then cried out as he got up.
Maeve was at his side at an instant, her hands steadying the colt as he wobbled about on unsteady legs. “You didn’t break anything again, did you?” Maeve ran her hand down the colt’s neck, smoothing out his mane, and she adjusted his glasses with her other hand.
“I’m fine. Just hurt to put weight on my fetlocks,” Red Russet replied.
Her lower lip protruding in a sulky pout, Maeve said, “Stupid brittle bones disease.”
Frustrated, Maeve bent down, snatched up her broad brimmed hat, and smooshed it down upon her head to protect herself from the sun. She brushed the grass off of her long dress and smoothed away the wrinkles. She reached into her pocket and pulled out two long gloves. Saying nothing, she slipped them on over her hands and then pulled them up to her elbows. One of the fine white gloves was stained with grass; it matched the grass stain upon her elbow. Now protected against the sun, Maeve sighed and hated how much clothing she was wearing.
The sun was very different here than where she came from, the biggest difference being that the sun rose and fell because there was a magical pony princess controlling it. Her pale, bone white freckled skin was vulnerable to the sun, and the sun here was far, far sunnier, the sunniest sunny sunshine that Maeve had ever seen.
Turning to her rusty red companion, Maeve patted him on the withers as she said, “We should go inside. Do you care for tea?”
Princess Celestia moved through the indoor gardens, looking for somepony, and knowing that she would find them here if she kept looking. The glassed in arboretum was a riot of colour and an oasis of tranquility. After moving past the collection of orchids, Princess Celestia found the pony she was looking for. She saw her sister, Princess Luna, gazing into the reflection pool that was nestled in a bed of crocuses.
“Having trouble sleeping?” Princess Celestia asked of her sister in a gentle voice.
Her head low, her eyes focused upon the water, Princess Luna did not reply.
“Luna, dearest sister, do you feel any regret?” Princess Celestia asked in a soft voice flooded with sisterly concern. “I know I keep asking, but I feel it is my duty as your—”
“No… I still feel no regret for what I have done and I would follow the same course of action once again. I feel no guilt whatsoever,” Luna snapped in irritation as she looked up from the reflecting pool. Her teal eyes were bloodshot. “And do not bring up the fact that I would sleep better if I would just clear my conscious! That is not what troubles my sleep!”
Taking a step backwards, Princess Celestia looked her sister in the eye. “You potentially killed her father and you abducted her from her rightful place. You stole her away and now there is no means of putting her back, even with Twilight Sparkle’s best efforts.” The regal white alicorn shook her head. “You have broken so many rules… violated so many ethical stances—”
“I have ceased to care!” Luna bellowed, her lips and her ears quivering. “Do you not understand that? I no longer care! I did what needed to be done! I feel no guilt for what happened. The troubles in my mind come from what I saw… you were not there… he had her by her hair and he was pushing her down to drown in her own vomit puddle just so he could keep her silenced as he satisfied himself! I will NEVER feel a shred of remorse for what I have done, but I will be haunted for the rest of my impossibly long life by what I saw!”
Taken aback, Princess Celestia’s ears pinned back against her skull and she studied her sister’s eyes. Luna had changed. Whatever Luna once was, she was no longer. “I suppose that some good has come out of this, at least Sorceress Maeve is learning to control her powers,” Celestia said, feeling the need to change the subject before Luna became even more upset. Luna’s moods had always been mercurial, but now, with her troubled sleep, Luna spent far more time being irritable. “How goes the healing of her mind? Do you think the girl will know happiness in time? Will her burdens ever ease?”
Princess Luna deflated, drooping down, going from angry to miserable. Her eyelids drooped, now hanging half open, her ears went limp against her face, and her wings were limp against her sides. “Her mind is alien to me still. She can jump into our minds so readily, but I am still having trouble with hers. I have dulled the pain, softened it, I have muted the memories of what happened, blurred the details, but I have not been able to heal her and take the memories away completely. I would give anything to be able to heal her, to take the hurt away, so that she might live a happy, untroubled life.”
“Luna, she is happy… I mean, she is still a very troubled girl, but have you seen her with Red Russet, the colt of the royal gardener?” Celestia gave Luna a sad smile. “She has friends—”
“Her only friend… a sickly colt with brittle bones disease and bad eyesight. She is too afraid of everypony else and everypony else is too afraid of her, being the weird little alien that she is.” Luna heaved a sigh and shook her head.
“Luna, I think you are forgetting somepony,” Celestia said in a soft, demure, reassuring voice. “You… you two became quite close when battling your way out of the courts of the fey.”
A faint glimmer of happiness appeared in Luna’s teal eyes and they moistened with tears.
Maeve hustled along the path, her long dress swishing around her legs, and the brim of her broad, floppy hat bounced up and down with each step. Behind her, Red Russet followed. Maeve’s slippered feet made only faint sounds as she traipsed over the stone tile walkway. She had been out in the sun too long, and was now starting to feel it. Red Russet’s hooves clopped against the stone path in a well timed rhythm.
With a cry, Red stumbled over the raised edge of one of the stone tiles and stumbled forwards. Maeve, reacting with alacrity, moved in a swift but gawky manner. She turned and tried to keep Red from stumbling, knowing even a minor fall could break many of his bones. Red pitched forward and his bulk brought Maeve down.
They both tumbled to the path, with Maeve cushioning Red’s fall. They both lay there for a moment, and then with a terrible, soul rending screech, Maeve curled up into a fetal position, her knees pulled up to her chest and her arms folded over her knees.
Red disentangled himself, now almost crying himself, knowing that Maeve had some issues. “I’m sorry… I’m sorry… I didn’t mean to!” He backed away a few steps, limping on his left front leg, unable to put weight down upon his hoof. “HELP!”
Within moments, the guards converged, seeming to come out of nowhere, both unicorns and pegasi in golden armor. Only a few moved near Maeve, but they kept a bit of distance. Only one unicorn drew closer, and he moved with his head down low.
“Sorceress Maeve, can you hear me? Are you alright?” the unicorn asked.
The girl gibbered and squeezed her knees to her chest even tighter. She trembled and the sounds of faint muffled sobbing filled the royal gardens. She reached up with one gloved hand and wiped her nose.
Feeling awful, Red Russet crept forward, limping on three legs, his glasses now askew upon his face. Almost crying, he nosed away the brim of Maeve’s hat and then pressed his muzzle into her cheek in an affectionate gesture. “I’m so sorry… I know how you are… it was an accident…”
Crying, Maeve reached out her other hand, the one that did not have a snotty glove over it, and patted Red’s cheek. “I couldn’t save you… you’re limping… I’m sorry too…”
“Take both Sorceress Maeve and Red Russet to the infirmary. See that Maeve gets a cup of her calming tea. Carry them both,” the unicorn commanded.
Clutching her teacup in her trembling hands, Maeve made her best effort not to slosh tea everywhere. Princess Celestia insisted that sloshing tea was behaviour not befitting a sorceress. She watched as the doctor pony bent and flexed Red’s fetlock, feeling very nervous as well as out of sorts.
“Just a bit of a bruise and some tenderness,” Doctor Greycrest said in a reassuring voice. “Lots of swelling though. Try to stay off of it Red… what have I told you about watching where you put your hooves?”
“I messed up,” Red admitted, his ears drooping from guilt.
“Why weren’t you paying attention?” Doctor Greycrest asked.
“Well, I, uh, I was watching Maeve’s dress swish around her weird little legs and feet. The movement was hypnotic… so much flowing fabric,” Red replied.
“Uh huh.” The doctor nodded. “I see.” He turned to look at Maeve. “Ponies are silly creatures. I don’t see how you manage to live around us.”
Even though she felt awful, Maeve began to giggle, causing her to slosh her tea, and adding yet another stain to her dress. She covered her mouth with one hand and tried to hold her giggles in. Giggles were another behaviour ill-befitting a sorceress.
“You had one of your spells, Sorceress Maeve. Are you feeling better?” the doctor asked.
“I just… I just don’t like feeling any weight on top of my body. I’m fine. I did it to myself trying to catch Red. He’s not very big, but he sure is heavy,” Maeve replied, pulling her hand away from her mouth.
“Well, Sorceress Maeve, I hate to do this, but once again, I am assigning you as Red’s nurse. Please, make certain that he stays off of his bad leg as much as possible. The more rest he gets, the faster he will heal, but Red doesn’t seem to understand that.” The doctor turned his head and his stern gaze fell upon the rusty red-brown colt.
“I wish you’d stop calling me ‘Sorceress’ all the time,” Maeve said, her mood turning a bit sulky. She lifted up her teacup and took a sip of the strong medicinal blend.
“Here in Equestria, we recognise those with powerful gifts that have done extraordinary things. Like Princess Cadance, or Princess Twilight Sparkle. You have exceptional magic and you battled alongside Princess Luna against the fey. You are the rightful holder of the Sidhe Crown. You were given the title ‘Sorceress’ to reflect your position. You should feel honoured and proud.” Doctor Greycrest smiled, revealing perfect teeth.
“I’m just a girl. I don’t know how I should feel.” Maeve made a dismissive gesture with her free hand. “I have a magic crown and a magic sword that slices through anything. So what. I live in a land full of magical talking ponies. I am the least special thing that exists here.”
“I’ll get you some burn ointment… your face looks like it has been scorched yet again,” Doctor Greycrest said as he wandered off. “Sorceress Maeve, you returned our beloved Princess Luna to us. For this, we are forever in your debt.”
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Unless we don't care.
6024435
Meh. It will make some things harder to understand in this story.
Favorited and following. Seems interesting to me. And it seems like quite a bit had happened since the last one.
Feeling a bit sorry for our three main characters so far. I'm hoping things will get better for them. But I'm at your mercy for however it ends up.
Rain or shine, rain AND shine, I'm gonna be here a while. I'm hooked
Snicker snack, the vorpal story was updated and came back!
I read the prequel but what's all this about fay courts and awesome swords and junk?
6024488
What did Maeve say just before she and Luna went through the door lined in chalk?
*gardener
Big G
I'm still not convinced if the story needed the sequel. I'm not saying this to discourage you about continuing it, or saying its bad, because so far the story is good, and have potencial. I just feel the ending of the first part was a pretty good one and made the conclusion and possible future guessing fun and personal.
Thinking ´bout to use the old flashback trick to explain what happened, or you gonna just lay some hints here and there ?
I´m asking this ´cause I know near to NOTHING of the fey stories. So "a swrod that cut´s anything" and other hints you laid in this chapter are pretty misterious to me. Any story, book or internet site you could recommend, so I can understand this background better ?
Edit: still connecting (slooooowly) the dots...so, from what I got re-reading the original story, Maeve have the ability to generate portals to other dimensions/realities ? I´m having a Magik (the mutant hero, that can create portals to almost anywhere, but need to pass through hell in order to do that...also have a demonic powered sword and his souls is tainted with hellish powers) vibe from Maeve...
6024510
In time, more of the story will be revealed.
6024520 Yeah....in time the anxiety will kill the old poor me...but who cares right ?
I´ll be right there, in the corner, eating my nails...don´t care my suffering, I´ll survive, probably...who knows...
Huh. She really did reroute the portal. And she got a vorpal sword out of it. There's quite the story there.
Still, Celestia really should let her be a child for a bit before cramming the etiquette down her throat. Bad form, Sunbutt.
As for Luna, one who has presumably fought and slain many in her time, I suppose that one was more personal on a number of levels. Time will heal her wounds, but it may not restore whatever was lost on Earth and Tír na hÓige.
I do hope you expand on this. IT seems like there's still a lot to explore.
Seems interesting indeed.
:)
Yay! Reading!
YES i cant wait to read it
If stories made a person salivate like good food did, I'd be a hungry St Bernard staring at his loaded food bowl right now. Feed me!
Wow... I was absolutely enthralled by The Night Mare's Nightmare, and really was hoping Maeve got her poor innocent abused little behind saved! I really hope the father:
A: Lived, but has permanent pains for the remainder of his days from luna's tree buckers.
B: Was called out on his disgusting crimes in whatever efforts he made to survive, when his daughter's bed was discovered covered in her blood, vomit, and... stuff...
C: Ends up in an asylum or prison for the remainder of his sick, miserable days for his evils, and for claiming a blue talking horse is the reason his little girl's body can't be found... Cause that's certainly believable!
D: His fellow inmates learn what he's in for... Cause that will end well for him!
E: he eventually learns what it's like to suffocate on his own vomit as he bleeds out his ass.
If we never hear from his worthless ass again, That's what I'll tell myself happened to him!
I actually had a bout of work + actually making progress on my latest mods to my computer, so I hadn't checked for any new horse words for a little bit. I'm glad I caught this when it did, while it was in the feed, or I might have missed it for a while!
Just to make sure, there is no major time skipping between the two, right?
I'm interested. I wasn't expecting to hear about the dad and what happened to him, just about her healing process and how her life is from the time she was saved. Hope to see more.
6025087
Lacunae. An unfilled space or interval; a gap.
There has been time. I just haven't said how long it is yet. They were in the courts of the fey for a time.
6025107
I actually looked it up. Figured the name might be explained through the story. I guess I'm asking if the skip will be covered or not.
6025242
In time, details and events will be told.
6025252
k cool. Thanks.
Amazing, I like Red Russet already.
That, and I'd like to see Mauve's magic sword.
Does it work in tandem with her crown?
Hm... honestly... while the prequel helped some... I am still somewhat lost.
Apparently tons of stuff happened in the middle that are now gone.
... Yes. I am aware of the meaning of the term lacuna. Yes, I am aware how the missing timeskip is thematically appropriate. Still a touch bewildering.
So her words changed portal, and shit went down... Naturally we didn't see that *butthurt by time jumps once more*
And that tiltle really hurts to read. Oh, why Sorceress? Witch rolls off the toung so much better.
I would like to read about the courts of fey, and Maeve's acquisition of the magic crown and Excalibur.
6025005
I'm hoping for option D.... pedaphiles do not last long in prison... they tend to have.. rather violent "accidents"..