> The Collective History of Asgard as Salvaged from All-Father Erik the Mad’s Burning of Archives by Luna Odinmaden > by Phoenix Avalon > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- > Made of Most Beautiful Things > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- The young dark blue filly with a streaming cobalt mane carefully picked her way through the blackened and smoking ruins of the Royal Archive. “Lulu?” A slightly older white filly with flowing light pink hair stood in the doorway, warily glancing up and down the hallways. “Luna. Daddy said we were not to come here before they—” “I’m merely inspecting to see what has been spared, Tia,” her sister said, pausing before a scorched bookcase. She ran her hoof over the seared spines of the books. She sniffed, the sound echoing through the vaulted room. I ought to be sorrowful for Grandfather not a few old tomes… But she could not summon up any emotion for Daddy’s remote, fearsome and wild-eyed father who roared when he did not get his way and looked on nothing with fondness except his late wife and son. But these books... To a princess who had neither the dynamism nor beauty of her elder sisters and often hid behind curtains at royal functions, these books represented the only contribution she could ever offer the kingdom: wisdom through knowledge. I see now how I shall be remembered: Luna Odinmaden, third spare heir, the keeper of dusty tomes. …Or burnt. She didn’t mind that notion so much, or at least she was sure in time she would not. Time heals all wounds, she often heard people say. They must not have read many history books. “Lulu?” Celestia called from the doorway again. She was hopping from hoof to hoof anxiously. “We must leave now. The servants will surely find us.” “They are all afield looking for Grandfather,” Luna muttered. She reached and carefully removed the least burned of the tomes. She ran her hoof over the embossed title, the gold lettering had drained down the leather binding but the title was still readable: The Collective History of Equinsgard. “Luna?” The princess spun around, clutching the book to her chest, to see her mother standing beside her cowering sister. “She wanted to come, I told her—” Celestia sputtered but Frigga held up a hoof. “Luna, you shouldn’t be here it is unsafe,” she said gently. “I only wanted to assure the books were not all lost,” Luna said, realizing how selfish that appeared given the circumstances. But her mother smiled at her. “I understand my best beloved. But let us wait until the sun rises and then we will together salvage what we can.” Luna sensed her mother meant more than the archives but she simply nodded. She hesitated looking down at her book. “May I bring this with me?” “Of course.” Luna smiled and walked back to her mother and sister, tenderly cradling her treasure. Later that night, while Father and all the able-bodied stallions were still searching the rain swept moor for All-Father Erik, Princess Luna sat up with a dripping candle, carefully examining the singed pages of the tome. I will salvage you. I will heal what has been hurt. *** The Collective History of Equinsgard as Salvaged from All-Father Erik the Mad’s Burning of Archives by Luna Odinmaden: There was once a Flutter Pony Queen elected, as is the way of ruler ship with their people, who was held even amongst her own as the loveliest and most beauteous of all the Flutter Pony. Her hair was as soft as a newborn lamb’s and the color of a raven’s wings when it sits in the sun, her eyes were the color of the leaves when they are about to fall from the branches and her lips were shaped and colored like the sweetest apple, and her coat was clear like a diamond when it is polished. On account of her beauty she had always many suitors and therefore she took many husbands, for the stallions and mares of the Flutter Pony marry many lovers in their lifetimes and may divorce them as quickly as they wed them. In the old days it grew so troublesome for many to share the contents of each other’s bed that there was made a rule that no Flutter Pony may have more than seven husbands or wives at a time and not marry more than two stallions or mares from the same family. Now this Flutter Pony Queen traveled to the land of Equinsgard (this was many a generation before the Great Rift and the War of Black Blood and the Flutter Pony’s retreat into the realm Fellheim) for she was invited to the banquet of the All-Father of Borrson, Gandalf the Docile, and he desired to display the might of his name by having the greatest of all the creatures see the richness of his table and the wealth of his land. And the banquet lasted forty days and forty nights and on the twenty-fifth day the Flutter Pony Queen laid her eyes upon a young duke of Equinsgard by the name of Edvard. Now Edvard’s family was not great amongst the Borrsons but he was known by all for his beauty which many said was more on account of his tender spirit and kind manners, for there were many stallions of handsomer countenance than he, but above them all he was loved best and so was invited by the great All-Father to feast with him. Upon seeing Edvard the Flutter Pony Queen was seized by the fiercest desire for him and went to All-Father Gandalf so he might introduce them. When Edvard was brought to her and stood before her, addressing her with all politeness and worthy speech she was so taken by passion for him that she begged him not to leave her side for all the evening nor any evening after for the rest of the feast. And Edvard knew this was not a righteous thing for stallion as himself yet unmarried to keep such constant company with a married mare but since he was only a lowly duke of his herd and she a great queen of hers he thought it more of a dishonor to disregard her requests. But finally on the last day All-Father Gandalf went to the Flutter Pony Queen and said, “See here, you do my son a great shame to keep him at lap like one of your husbands, for he is unwed and you make of him like a common wanton.” And the Flutter Pony Queen was much offended and answered the All-Father sharply saying, “I only do your son a service for he has these past fifteen days the attentions of a great queen who only seeks to hear his good and worthy words. I urge you, ask him yourself if I have done any wrong by him or tempted him to transgress your laws, for upon the souls of my children I have done no harm to his body or soul.” And this was so in the letter of their dealings but not so in spirit for the Flutter Ponies prize shrewdness above all things, as one of their sayings goes: “If one can eat an apple from a tree without picking it theirs is the world.” But now she saw All-Father Gandalf was truly angered (though it must be stated that this was out of no real concern for the honor of his subject but rather to spare himself from the whispers that had gone round the banquet since the Queen took Edvard to her lap and how he had sat by and done nothing while a Borrson was put to shame) and so she spoke to him more graciously and said, “Here, I see you are aggrieved by my way with your son so I will recompense you for this misuse, I shall marry this colt and lift the shame from his head.” And at this there was a great uproar for then it was strictly forbidden a Borrson to marry any of the other people’s sons or daughters for they sought to keep themselves righteous in the sight of the Maker by the virtue of the purity of their blood. The shouting went on for half an hour until All-Father Gandalf finally lifted up his voice and said, “I cannot refuse or accept your proposal in place of the colt’s parents and seeing as they are not here there is nothing that can be done at present. So let us all retire and let the morning grant us the wisdom night deprives.” But upon the morning the Flutter Pony Queen was more set in her desire than the night before, going to the All-Father before he had even broke fast and demanding he send for the prince’s parents so she might declare her intentions to them. All-Father Gandalf feared to affront the Flutter Ponies who in these days were mighty on the field of battle, so he bowed to her command and sent for the colt’s parents. The colt’s parents were ones Aahnyas and Saffyra, the lowliest of the royal family in the kingdom on account of their meanness and deceit in all their dealings, it was said they had their daughters accuse stallions of their choosing of violating them to insure a marriage and set their sons upon unwitting fillies to lie with them and so acquire wives. Edvard’s good character was therefore hailed as miraculous considering his parentage for he took no part in his parents ways and spent the larger part of his time in the temple learning from the priests, for he had a great devotion to the ways of the Maker and was often said to have grieved that he was not born into the priesthood. It is also said that when he was yet a child and his parents came to fetch him home from the temple he used to weep and beg the priests to save him from them, but they being his lord and lady in the eyes of the law they could do nothing. For this reason when they were summoned by the All-Father they came in great terror and trembling for they feared one of their connivings had touched too close to his heart and he was calling them to him so he might kill them. But when All-Father Gandalf called them into his throne room and the Flutter Pony Queen spoke to them, conveying with great ardor her vehement thirst for their son (she often did compare her need for him as a “unquenchable thirst”) their wicked minds began to turn as to how they might exploit this mare’s passion. So they spoke in humble and fearful tones, saying they had no wish to offend the great lady but that they must consult a priest before speaking of their decision though they assured her it was most certainly in favor of her suit. So blind was the Flutter Pony Queen in her fervor that she did not perceive their deception, though this could also be accounted by the fact that the other peoples consider Borrson incapable of deception of any kind. So she waited in All-Father Gandalf’s house while the parents went to the priests to inquire as to the law on this matter and the priest took no time in reminding them that it was forbidden for a child of Stallion to marry the children of the unclean peoples. They returned to the Flutter Pony Queen and told her though it pained them the priest was set against the match and they did not want to bring curses upon their son by transgressing the holy words of a stallion of The Maker, but that the law did allow for an unclean person to be consecrated and therefore free to marry into Borrson. They Flutter Pony Queen therefore went to the temple and begged of the priest to consecrate her, and upon seeing the acuteness of her request he agreed to do so. This affair took two months for of all the peoples the Flutter Pony are considered the most filthy of the unclean on the account that they were born from violence and also as it had never been done to a ruler of the Flutter Ponies since the beginnings of their people. When she was finally made clean, the Flutter Pony Queen called the parents to her and said to them, “See I am now as you are, unblemished and sanctified, your son will garner no curses from lying with me. Now give him to me as a husband for my heart burns for him.” The parents answered her saying, “Great Lady, we are delighted at your uprightness towards us and our son and if it were only our hearts ruling the proceedings we would give him to you now but our law also compels us to defer until you have delivered unto us dowry to soothe our grief for the loss of our beloved child.” When the Flutter Pony Queen inquired as to the amount they solicited of her an exorbitant sum, nearly half of what was stored in All-Father Gandalf’s treasury. And the Flutter Pony Queen agreed to their demand without a thought and wrote to her kingdom, ordering the amount to be sent her immediately from her personal treasury (for even before her queenship she was wealthy among the Flutter Ponies). So her servants saddled a caravan of 500 donkeys each with a chest containing gold, silver, bronze, all manner of precious jewels, goblets, candlesticks, carpets, tapestries and clothes, and yet this was still considered to be only a fraction of her riches. And when those of All-Father Gandalf’s court spoke in amazement at the amount she was willing to part with for the sake of a lowly prince, she said passionately, “I would sell my whole land and people into bondage if it would grant me a single day with him as my lover.” For this talk went out among the Borrson that she had gone mad but this profane manner of speech is wonted of the Flutter Pony. When her caravan had reached the door of Aahnyas and Saffyra she sent for them once more and entreated them in the most desperate tone for their son. “You have received the acceptable remittance, now deliver unto me your son for I have known no peace in my soul since I set my eyes upon him.” And they spoke to her saying, “Generous Sovereign, our hearts are truly comforted by your bountiful recompense for we have kept our son to ourselves all these years so great is our affection for him. But we are compelled by the law to disclose to you that our son may not wed a mare who already has a husband, for this is a great sin to our people.” The Flutter Pony Queen then set about writing to each of her five husbands who remained at home with the Flutter Pony people a certificate of divorce. This caused much anger amongst her people for they thought it a low manner to conduct her business, also her continual absence from their land and matters of state had provoked much ill-will towards her. Many of her own family had written to her of this and pleading with her to return to her own people, but she refused to leave the land of Borrson without Edvard as her husband. When the divorce requirement were concluded she went herself to the home of Aahnyas and Saffyra, though Saffyra alone was at home for her husband was out in the fields for it was now the time of harvest and all her unmarried children were aiding him. Before Saffyra could welcome her, the Flutter Pony Queen spoke in a hard voice: “Where is my promised redress for the abuse you have heaped upon me, who has done you no harm but instead sought to elevate you throughout your own land by bestowing a lofty status on your son through his marriage to me. You have withheld my proper request these three times and I have humbled myself before your laws, cleansed my soul to the demands of The Maker, delivered up the most precious parts of my fortune, and put aside my faithful husbands all to ease your hearts. But no more, I require your son this very day or I shall go to your All-Father have him impose his forces on you until you deliver him to me, for my soul shall be sick until the colt is mine.” At these furious words Saffyra drew herself up haughtily and said with insolent and vulgar manner: “My son is a child of the Firstborns and is beloved to the hearts of all our people, he shall surely marry an eminent mare of Borrson born clean from the filth of this Second Age. You are not worthy enough to lick the dust that falls from his boots though you are considered lofty amongst your own people, even dogs appoint themselves princes. Return to your own, mare, and trouble us with your bestial lust no more.” And the Flutter Pony Queen’s heart went black with wrath and she lifted up her queen’s scepter in her hoof, striking it across the head of Saffyra so blood spurted from her temple and she fell to the floor dead. Upon seeing the blood and the body of her lover’s mother, she was greatly terrified and fled back to her apartments in All-Father Gandalf’s court where she barred the doors and set her guards at them, fearing some great vengeance for her rashness. But Aahnyas did not find the body until the Mother Star had set and he returned to his house with his sons, and they lifted up their voices in sorrow so all the servants in the house and workers in the field knew of the matter and soon the news was made known in the whole of the land, and there was little doubt as to the reason or the culprit. Now All-Father Gandalf was loathe to be compelled into conflict with the Flutter Ponies so he went to the Flutter Pony Queen and asked that she leave under the cover of darkness so he might tell his people she had escaped back to her own land and he would not be urged to lay hooves upon her. Hearing his words, the Flutter Pony Queen wept immoderately and could not be comforted by any of her attendings so that her handmaid had to strike her across the face thrice before she regained her senses enough to agree to the All-Father’s plan. So a year and four months after setting sight on Edvard and the second night after the death of his mother, the Flutter Pony Queen fled the land with her attendings, and that very unwillingly for despite all this her soul revolted at being separated from the object of its longing. It is said she did not cease to weep for Edvard all the way to her own land. Saffyra was buried in the tombs of her family and none mourned for her but her husband and a few of the children of her body, for even some of her sons and daughters despised her for her base nature and cruel ways. But Edvard is said to have wept much, but it was his nature to do right in all things and it would be an unrighteousness not to give little honor to the mare who bore him. Now up to time of his mother’s death Edvard had not spoken either for or against the Flutter Pony Queen’s courtship for it was his belief whatever was The Maker’s heart in the matter would come to pass. After the death of his mother and the Flutter Pony Queen’s departure, he fell into a deep misery for he was seized with the belief that it was for his sake this unhappiness had visited his family, rather than the wickedness of his parents. All the laughter was taken out of his mouth and his countenance grew very somber so he no longer ventured out of his house nor received any visitors. Now a year passed in this manner when a stallion named Jarl, a stallion of Borrson, journeyed to the Flutter Pony land and begged an audience with the Queen, saying he had news of Edvard, whereupon he was immediately ushered into her presence for she consumed any word of the prince like honey. When Jarl was brought before her throne he fell upon his face and implored forgiveness for his deception, for he had no news of the prince but had come to the Flutter Pony Queen with a proposal that might deliver him to her. The Flutter Pony Queen bid him speak and he spoke saying, “Great Queen, the good prince’s parents, Aahnyas and Saffyra, afflicted me greatly. These people put my daughter, the most virtuous and obedient child, to shame for their son sought her when she was alone in the field and seeing there was none to deliver her from him, took her and lay with her, so she was required by the law to become his wife. And he drove her to such despair that she committed an outrage to herself and while heavy with child cast herself from the roof of his house, so she could not be buried in the tombs of our family and brought grief and ignominy to our name. I sought justice from the All-Father but none was given and now what is there to be done for my other children for no stallion or mare will give their sons or daughters to wed mine for the act of misery of my sad daughter. “Now I know these people made of you a mockery to our people and your own and I know your heart still yearns for their worthy son, who according to all you have done should be your proper husband, so I ask of you give me the means to bring to pass righteous judgment for their sins. My brothers and son will take their city to seize their riches and distribute them amongst those they have wronged and we shall bring the gentle prince Edvard to you to be a husband as you were promised.” And the Flutter Pony Queen was pleased with his words and said all of hers that could be of assistance was theirs, even up to half her kingdom. So Jarl took four hundred of the Flutter Pony Queen’s soldiers with him to the land of Borrson and gathered two hundred of his male relatives and lay in wait in the mountains around the city. Now their movements went unnoticed for the people were preparing for the celebration of Edvard’s wedding, for a queen of Borrson had asked him for a husband and Aahnyas, wary since the last failed suit of his son, consented immediately to her. So the stallions and mares were called from the fields into the walls of the city to slaughter the goats and crush the grapes for the feast. Then the night came when queen and prince were blessed by the priest to go forth as stallion and wife and sat down to their wedding feast to make merry with their friends before retiring to their bed. It was then that Jarl and his army attacked, they broke through the door of the city for there was none to guard it and ran through the city careful not to harm any stallion, mare or child they came to unless they were of Aahnyas’s blood and then only the stallions were seized and not those who were the husbands of his daughters. They went into the hall where the feast was held and took Aahnyas and all his sons captive but they removed Edvard and locked him in his chamber with armed stallions to guard him, for they desired no harm come to him as to not offend the Flutter Pony Queen and on account of his righteousness. They also sent his bride and her family away, saying, “What have we to do with you? Why do you seek to share the portion of liars and robbers? Return to your home and bless The Maker for your deliverance from evil.” And she and her family fled and took nothing with them, so great was their fear. But Jarl brought Aahnyas and all his sons he and his army had captured in the city and killed them with the edge of the sword, showing no mercy and paying no heed to the pleas of their wives or the cries of their children. And they slew 60 stallions of Aahnyas’s blood and all perished by the sword and none with a weapon in their hoof for they had all been taken drunk and unarmed. They also opened Aahnyas’s treasure room and took out the sum of the dowries given for each of his children’s marriages and returned them to the husbands and wives of his children. Then they sent his daughters and their husband and the widows of his sons all with their children out to return to their homes in peace. They then took Edvard with the four hundred warriors of the Flutter Ponies back to the Flutter Pony Queen and the prince did nothing to resist for he had been given no time to mourn and had seen the bodies of his father and brothers cast into the ravines outside the city for the birds and beasts to feast upon. And he spoke not a word all the journey to the land of the Flutter Pony though it took many a month and would have eaten and drank nothing unless the Flutter Pony soldiers had not coaxed each mouthful. So when he was brought to the Flutter Pony Queen she was distressed at his state for he was wasted from sorrow, hunger and fatigue and immediately sent for all her physicians to set upon him to make him well again, and this took a full two months. When she was told of the slaughter of her prince’s father and brothers the Flutter Pony Queen was greatly dismayed at the shedding of so much blood as it was her belief that Borrson never harmed one another except within the execution of their laws. “Never did I comprehend Borrson’s enmity for the Flutter Pony until they behaved in our fashion,” she said to her attendings and her words went down as a saying among the Flutter Ponies and Borrson. After Edvard had been tended to and rested for two months the Flutter Pony Queen called him to dine with her in her chambers. When he came she had him sit at her right hoof, offered him wine from her own cup and all the food she ordered served to him first before her. And she spoke gently to him and inquired as to his health and if he found her land pleasing, and he answered all her questions with lowered eyes and humble tones. Seeing his apprehension the Flutter Pony Queen took his hooves in her own and said to him, “My prince, do not fear me, I swear on the salvation of my soul that no harm will come to you under my roof.” And Edvard answered, “I do not fear you, Great Queen, my silence is from my sorrow for my father and my brothers lying unburied without the walls of my ancestors.” The Flutter Pony Queen grew angry at the remembrance of Jarl’s treachery and spoke hotly, “I shall have your All-Father execute the murders of your blood and their bodies shall be delivered unto me for my people to wreak their dishonors upon them!” But Edvard was frightened by her words and falling on his knees begged her with tears not to do such a harm to her soul by harming those who had done her no wrong. The Flutter Pony Queen said, “Indeed they did me a terrible wrong for they deceived me as to their plans and had me believe they only sought your father’s money as recompense for his offenses against them and told me not that they sought his death nor those of your brothers. But even if they had not come to me to exploit my indulgence for bloodied trespass, any who bring unhappiness to your heart are enemies of my soul for you are my spirit is bound to yours like the vine to the tree.” And now Edvard knew all of the design of the death of his father and brothers for until now he knew nothing but what he had seen and he began to moan, tear at his coat and beat his breast, crying to The Maker that he might die and be with his own. And when the Flutter Pony Queen attempted to comfort him he refused to hear her words but wept all the louder, saying: “Truly The Maker has cursed me for He has used me as the tool of destruction for my family to remove us from the face of the earth.” Nothing the Flutter Pony Queen said would console him and he did not cease his lamentation until he fell senseless from the labor of his grief so her servants were required to carry him to his bed. From that day forth there was no peace in his heart but daily he grieved for his family and prayed for The Maker to strike him. The Flutter Pony Queen attended him without ceasing, pleading and reasoning with him by turns to not let his sorrow so overcome him that he did not see the mercy of his The Maker to spare him when the proper time for his father and brothers came, for did he not once tell her that it was The Maker’s authority only to give life and take it away? But his grief was too great to perceive the wisdom of her words and so still he grieved. And yet so attached was the Flutter Pony Queen’s heart to his that even if she was drawn away from his side if he began shed tears she knew without being told and rushed to his side as a nursing mother does to an unweaned child. And they both as one, prince and Queen, began to wane in health so that her family spoke to her severely, “Cease this unmerited mourning for those unworthy stallions and tell the colt of the evil they wrought to bring this end upon their heads, that for this very reason none in his own land mourn their demise nor seek to reprise the violence against them.” But the Flutter Pony Queen answered them “Shall I bring more sorrow to his heart by uncovering the shame of his parents and brothers and sisters? Would I love a stallion who did not grieve for his blood when they were taken from him in such barbarous manner?” At this her family grew vexed and declared, “We will have none of your possession with this Stallion-child anymore, he has made of you like a bitch weeping for the moon. We shall only return to your side when you have put him away as all sickly fillyish fancies should upon the saneness of marehood.” So her family did as well as their word and went no more to her house as their family but if she wished to speak with them had to order their presence as Queen. The Flutter Pony Queen did not call them for it was as if all her family were embodied in the prince and she was often heard calling him her father, her mother, and all her brothers and sisters to her heart. But Edvard did not receive any of her love but grew to despise the very sight of her, unable to suffer her to touch him and barely endure her speaking to him. His tongue became harsh like the lash of a whip and his countenance very dark so that her attendings said he grew very ugly in appearance and spirit, even to the measure that on one occasion when the Flutter Pony Queen said she would give anything if only he would smile upon her he demanded she give his mother back unto him. Yet nothing he did or spoke could turn the Flutter Pony Queen’s heart away from him and she soon grew ill of body for want of his affection, sleeping little and unable to stomach much food. Now all her kingdom grew concerned for she had not come to any royal council or assembling, wholly neglecting her affairs of state so it all fell upon the Flutter Pony King who had been elected beside her and who she had married, for Flutter Ponies who are elected to rulership besides each other often marry though it is still undetermined whether this is a determinant or advantage. She having divorced him to please Edvard’s parents when they said, “Our son cannot marry you for you are already wed,” had not spoken with him since and he had often spoken bitterly of his treatment by her, saying that as King she should have shown more respect for their union than that of her other husbands, though she had been wed to them all longer than he. So when the Flutter Pony people began to complain at the slowness of proceedings in all things of state he set in his heart to take vengeance upon his former mistress and to remove the inflictor of his distress who he believed was Edvard for stealing the affections of his lady. He accordingly sat at his desk and wrote to the sisters of Edvard, saying thus: “The Queen of my people has bought your last living brother as restitution for the soldiers she gave to the murderers of your kin so they might deliver him unto her to fulfill her profane lusts, all against his will for she holds him in her house under guard to make use of him like a harlot. Now I pray you implore their husbands to speak with your All-Father to compel her to return him and I and my people will support his petition in your name for we abhor her wretched and cruel dealings with you.” And he signed it with his royal seal and sent it on the swiftest ponies in the land. And Edvard’s sisters did just as the Flutter Pony King wrote and through their perversity of their harassment convinced their husbands to petition All-Father Gandalf without ceasing so that he gave in rather than have his people believe the Flutter Ponies were free to steal from his fold without repercussion. So he sent a messenger to the Flutter Pony Queen who demanded: “Deliver my son unto me who you have taken through depraved means from his family after ensuring their unjust demise.” But the Flutter Pony Queen sent the messenger back saying thusly: “Tell me who has lied to you and slandered my name as to say I had any foreknowledge of the cruelty visited upon Aahnyas and his sons or took anything that was not my due in the eyes of your own law for in the sight of The Maker and all your children I did all it did require to make this son my rightful husband and only through the treachery of his father and mother did I not obtain him. Is your authority so little that you must suffer your people to exploit your guests before your eyes and then endure them spreading calumny on their names?" And the All-Father was deeply ashamed for he knew had done nothing when Aahnyas and Saffyra abused the Flutter Pony Queen who was a stranger under his roof. But the Borrson became angered with All-Father Gandalf and began to grow riotous, crying day and nights before the palace gates for him to rise up and break the yoke the Flutter Ponies had put about his neck. So set upon day after day on all sides All-Father Gandalf sent word to the Flutter Pony King, saying: "My people are greatly enraged at the actions of your partner the Queen and press me daily to go forth in force to take my son, but I am loathe to offend you and so humbly ask upon the goodwill between us to remember the generosity and the hospitality I have exchanged with you and speak with your Queen on my behalf for the swift return of my son." And when the Flutter Pony King received this word he went out into the middle of the city and cried out with a loud voice, "People, gather to me and hear the words of the All-Father of the Borrson and how his hoof is set against us for the grasping of one Flutter Pony!" And the Flutter Pony people gathered about him and he read the words of All-Father Gandalf to them upon which they became wroth with fear and fury, so they called for the death of the Flutter Pony Queen as the only thing that would sate them. So the Flutter Pony King lead the people to her home where she sat at Edvard's side where it was she heard their shouting as they approached And she rose, put on her royal sash and crown and stood on the balcony of her house to speak to them. When they came within sight of her house the people began to fling insults at her, calling her a harlot and a traitor and threatening all manner of savage violence upon her person, which is the common practice to all who offend the Flutter Pony. She waited and spoke not a word until they had reached her door and then she held up her hooves which silenced the people more out of curiosity as to how she would defend herself rather than obedience. "My brothers and sisters, why do come to me like wolves on a doe, gnashing your teeth at me when I have no means of defense?" So the Flutter Pony Queen inquired the mob. The Flutter Pony King, who stood at the front leading the people, now answered her: "We come as the wronged party for you have provoked the Borrson to threaten us with war for the sake of that princeling who is hidden in your halls." At this the people once again became furious and resumed their shouting. The Flutter Pony Queen waited until they had cried out for an hour before once again lifting her hooves to silence then. She spoke to them thusly: "By our laws that which you offer up restitution for is yours and all assembled know well the measure I did give to the parents of this colt and how I was ignobly refused in transgression of every ruling of theirs and ours. Since when have the Flutter Ponies despised the means to acquire their rightful end? This colt belongs to me by all our rights given to us by our ancestors of sweet memory and accordingly there is not a Flutter Pony in the world who has the authority to take what is mine unless they have a better indemnify. Or do we now bow to the laws of Borrson, are Borrson now our lords and masters once again?" At these last words the people erupted into a frenzy for there is no memory more heinous to the Flutter Ponies than that of the days the Borrson ruled over them and many say they were driven to pagan ways out of spite for the abuse they suffered under their hooves. And they turned on the Flutter Pony King, crying, "You seek to put us under the heel of Borrson once again for the sake of your own vengeance towards the Queen." And there was nothing he could say to calm them and was only spared harm by the remembrance of their law that a Flutter Pony ruler is exempt from violence so he was able to escape to his own house. So the Flutter Pony King wrote to All-Father Gandalf: "The Queen has so seduced the people that they now think it a transgression of our laws to return your son unto. Therefore I tell you this: send one of his younger sisters to me and I will set her before the gate of the Queen's house above which in the walkways the prince often takes his air. And upon seeing his sister he will yearn for his home again and ask to be released to her and anything he asks the Queen will give him up to half her kingdom." And All-Father Gandalf was pleased with the word of the Flutter Pony King and did accordingly, taking Edvard's youngest sister, a mere filly of fifteen, and sent her to the Flutter Pony land. And the Flutter Pony King set her before the gates of the Queen's house at the hour before sunset when it is coolest and Edvard walked along the walkways to take in the cool of the evening. When upon hearing the voice of his sister, he at first spoke sorrowfully to his attending, "My heart fancies I hear the voice of my babe sister calling my name as she did when my parents lived." But seeing the expression in the servant's eyes he looked over the rail of the walkway and saw his sister standing beneath with her hooves outstretched to him and crying in a loud voice his name. Whereupon Edvard gave a cry of joy so loud that all in the house heard it and ran out to see what could have causes any happiness in him. And the Flutter Pony Queen looked out of her window and saw the child of those who had wronged her now come to rob her of her labored for prize, she ordered the gate bolted and all the windows to be shut. But Edvard ran out into the courtyard and threw himself against the gate, pawing at the doors like one gone mad and crying out for his sister so that when the Flutter Pony Queen came to the balcony overlooking the yard she commanded her servants to take hold of him for fear that he might do a harm to himself. When they seized him he fought like any wild beast and attempted to take hold of the gate to keep from being drawn away but his hooves were slick with blood from beating them upon the gates so he was dragged way. But he wrested himself from their hooves and cast himself on his knees, clasping his hooves and begging the Flutter Pony Queen with tears to let his sister attend him. And there was none present who was not moved in their heart by the grief in his voice and it is said the Flutter Pony Queen's tears matched his own in profusion. But still she refused to grant his sister entrance for she was afraid and rightly so that she was sent to draw Edvard away from her. So the gate remained shut and the sister returned to the Flutter Pony King's house for the night. All that night Edvard bowed at the feet of the Flutter Pony Queen and wept, pleading with her that if she truly had a heart for him to let him meet with his sister if only for an hour but the Flutter Pony Queen would not be moved though she cried to see his misery. The next day the sister came again and cried Edvard's name but all the windows were shut and no one went out of the house all day. All the day Edvard wept into the lap of the Flutter Pony Queen and she stroked his hair and shed tears but would not let the sister in. And this intransigence must be accounted for the natural state of the Flutter Pony, which is pure spite. This aspect of their nature is so pronounced that it is infamous among all the peoples, even the fanged Sirens who dwell in the sea have heard tales of their malice for their ill-will follows to the offspring of those who offended them even unto the tenth generation. But it must also be given to the Flutter Pony Queen that her love for Edvard overcame her baser nature for after three days of his continual sorrowing she relented and allowed his sister to enter her house but she offered her no water to wash herself and no wine or food to refresh herself. And when Edvard saw his sister he fell upon her neck and wept, unable to speak for the better part of an hour. The he and his sister sat together for five hours speaking of all manner of things and all while he shed tears unceasingly. The Flutter Pony Queen sat near them but did not speak but only watched and listened to their speech, for she was wary of his sister. But the sister said nothing to distress her all day and when night fell she went back to the Flutter Pony King's house. So for a fortnight it was thus, the sister spent her days conversing with her brother before returning to the house of her host and the Flutter Pony Queen sat with them unspeaking. Finally, on the fifteenth day the sister spoke to Edvard saying, "Tomorrow I must return home to attend the funerals of our father and brothers for we have acquired their bodies from Jarl to bury with our ancestors." And Edvard grieved to know that he would not be present for the burial honors of his family but the Flutter Pony Queen spoke shrewdly, asking the sister: "How is it that you acquired the bodies from Jarl who hates you so furiously and cast their bodies into the ravines outside the city walls where many a beast was swift to feast on them?" And the sister had no answer and the Flutter Pony Queen drew herself up in anger and said, "You see you are here to provoke the soul of your brother so you might draw him back to your land and detain him there with the memories of his wounds. Get yourself back to your own people and out of the reach of my hoof before my mercy is utterly exhausted and let me never see your face again." So the sister fled without a word to her brother back to the house of the Flutter Pony King and departed that very hour. And Edvard, hearing the threat of the Flutter Pony Queen and witnessing his sister's abandoning of him, fainted away into such a deep stupor that he could not be wakened from by neither the Flutter Pony Queen or her physicians, so they all believed he would now surely die. And many in the Flutter Pony land rejoiced for they said, "Surely now his thrall will fall from her and she will return to her senses." But the Flutter Pony Queen was sore sorry she had spoken harshly before him and for all she had done to grieve him so that her heart grew sick and her mind blighted. She wandered through her halls by day and night, tearing at her mane and flesh so her blood streamed down and pooled on the floor. And she cried out in a loud voice saying: "I have killed my heart, all that was precious to me is now ruin and rot, I have brought the worm and the fire to my forest and all that remains is ash in my mouth." She also would no longer enter the prince's room but sat before the door repenting with moaning and weeping without ceasing. And she swore to The Maker upon her soul and the souls of all her children that if Edvard would but live she would return him to his people and never trouble him again. On the seventh day Edvard awoke and he asked for wine which was given him and revived his countenance. Then he asked to see the Flutter Pony Queen, who stood without his chamber concealing herself from his sight and her attendings were compelled to coax her into his presence. And when she was brought in she was frightful of appearance for her flesh was torn and raw from her raking and she had neither slept nor touched food or drink for seven days. On the sight of her and the evidence of her sorrow Edvard's heart was touched and he called her to his side, took her hoof and spoke gently with her. And seeing his compassion the Flutter Pony Queen fell on him and kissed him and praised The Maker, saying: "The Maker has spared me the extinguishing of my soul for if this colt had died I would have surely perished along with him." Now she was reminded of her vow and though with much sorrow she told Edvard that he was free to return to his home and people and never to suffer her face again. And Edvard’s heart was much lifted at the thought of returning to his land and when he was well the Flutter Pony Queen set about preparing for his journey, she gave him 700 servants saddled with caskets of riches including fine clothing, cups and plates of precious material, casks of wine, and boxes full of precious stones. And she gave him the gold medallion off her neck which had come down her family for nineteen generations and when he tried to refuse such a gift as too great she said to him, "My only treasure leaves me, this band is nothing but weight on my shoulders and now I have enough weight in my breast to last me. Take this and remember me fondly." So with deep melancholy the Flutter Pony Queen sent the prince back unto his people though on the hour of his departing she kept drawing him to her breast and kissing him many times before she could allow herself to release him. Edvard showed regret at her distress but left in good spirits and is said to have sung all the way back to the land of Borrson. The Flutter Pony Queen stood in the road and watched until he and the caravan left her sight and then went into her house and sat in silence all the rest of the day. She had not shed a tear the whole of the day, not even in their farewells, and this was surely her greatest gift to the prince for she set aside her own grief for the sake of his happiness. And all this, her releasing him and sparing his heart her sorrow, was held as a wonder and a marvel by all in the land of all the peoples for that which a Flutter Pony possess they shall never relinquish without requitement and he had none to offer her yet still she surrendered him. Edvard came back to his land and was welcomed by All-Father Gandalf, who took him into his house as he had no place to return to since the capture of his family’s city by Jarl. And All-Father Gandalf told him to ask anything that the All-Father might do to serve him since the prince had suffered much in so short a time. So Edvard said to All-Father Gandalf, “My father and brothers were unrighteously slain and there has been none to avenge them of the dishonors heaped upon them. I ask Your Grace that those who by consent or design plotted the downfall of mine be brought before your court and that proper justice be dealt to them according to our laws.” All-Father Gandalf was very loathe to do this but he was compelled by the past sufferings of the prince to fulfill his vow and sent forth a commanded throughout the kingdom that those responsible by consent or design in the death of Aahnyas and his sons where to appear before him for judgment. When Jarl heard of the All-Father’s command he said, “Should I be afraid of speaking of my actions when they were brought upon by righteous indignation at the indifference to the evilness of these people?” So he and all his sons and all those who helped him scheme the undoing of Aahnyas, some 200 stallions and mares not of his own blood, and they all presented themselves to All-Father Gandalf and Edvard at court. According to the laws of Borrson the accused may speak in their defense first so Jarl, his sons and the 200 all came forward one after the other and told of the wickedness Aahnyas and Saffyra wreaked upon them, sending their sons to violate their daughters when there was none to deliver them and slandering their sons to capture them in marriage, also robbing money and land from widows and orphans, denying pay to their servants, and hiding their sons at the call of the war horn so they would not die in battle. And this went on for ten days. And upon hearing the crimes of his family spoken of at length and in particulars, inflicted on so many and so numerous that he had been ignorant of nearly the whole of them, Edvard’s heart was stricken with contrition. So on the eleventh day when All-Father Gandalf called him forth to voice his complaint Edvard instead said before the All-Father, the assembled court and all the slayers of his father and brothers, "My family was a blight upon our people and it is the curious justice of The Maker that they perished in the manner they did. I request no recompense but offer up myself to finish in full the payment for their sins." But all those who had spoken against his family answered him, "May it not be said that we punished the innocent with the guilty for you are good and worthy and have done us no harm. We have settled with those we sought, we will have no more bloodshed." The All-Father then declared the matter closed and sent each to his own house. And Edvard stayed in All-Father Gandalf’s house for five years and was like a son to him. Then the Flutter Ponies sought to make peace with Borrson so the King and Queen invited All-Father Gandalf to a banquet at their court to feast with them, to which he agreed to attend and bring many of his own court with him. But he was cautious to pose the invitation to Edvard but the prince accepted and when asked if he was fearful of the Queen he said, “She never gave me cause for fear.” They traveled to the Flutter Pony land and the Flutter Pony court where they were feasted and entertained for thirty days with the richest food and finest wine in the land for this is when the Flutter Ponies possessed the best land for harvest and game in the kingdoms. And on the twelfth day the Flutter Pony Queen met Edvard as she rounded the hall assuring the merriment of her guests and he spoke to her saying, “My Queen, the night is still long ahead and the wine is sweet, will you not sit with me awhile so we may speak as we did on our first encounter?” So the Flutter Pony Queen sat by him and it was clear to all that she still pined for the prince yet neither spoke of the matter but restricted their discourse to the topics they had talked of before all this had come to pass. And they remained that way all the rest of the days of the feast and none troubled them for their company, even the Flutter Pony King when asked of it by one of his guests merely said, “This feast was the bring peace between our peoples and from my place it seems to go smoothly. Leave them in peace.” On the thirtieth day Edvard returned with All-Father Gandalf their own land and spoke not of the Flutter Pony Queen. It was soon learned of throughout the kingdom that they had begun to correspond with one another and for this reason there was much gossip for there were messengers weekly sent to and fro from the land of Borrson and Flutter Ponies carrying their letters and though both were often approached by suitors they refused to consider any of them. And when Edvard was invited again to the Flutter Pony land by the Flutter Pony Queen many said she meant to ask for him as a husband again but he went and returned in forty days, so most soon forgot of their suspicions as nothing came of them. But after two years in this manner Edvard went to All-Father Gandalf and said, “I implore your blessing that I might marry the Queen of the Flutter Pony.” All-Father Gandalf was greatly astonished and questioned him gravely, “Do you truly wish to marry the mare who was the cause of so much misery to yourself?” But Edvard answered, “The judgment of my family was right and just recompense for their sins, this lady cannot be condemned for the strange ways of The Maker for which she could not account for. The mare loves me well, she is no longer the creature she was when she first courted me, and my soul hungers for her alone. Please give me your blessing so I may make her my wife.” Seeing his earnestness in this All-Father Gandalf gave his blessing and sent Edvard to the Flutter Pony Queen with a priest that they might be married in the manner of Borrson, and none of her family or people dared object to this seeing the lady’s joy at finally receiving him as her husband. So were made husband and wife immediately upon his arrival in the way of Borrson and went to live in her house together with her children from her previous husbands, and despite the madness of their former courtship they settled together in peace and accord so that even those opposed to the marriage could find no wickedness to speak of it. One messenger reported that the prince spoke of his wife as “The tender reward of all my sorrows” and called her Tzeruya, which in the speech of the Flutter Ponies means “balm of The Maker”. Also the Flutter Pony Queen took no more lovers and this was indeed a marvel as she was the first Flutter Pony ruler to do so since the formation of their kingdom. And they had many sons and daughters from their union and when the Flutter Pony Queen’s term of rule ended she went with her husband back to the land of Borrson where they built themselves a house in the mountains and they lived out the rest of their days together in perfect harmony. So went the first marriage between the children of Borrson and Flutter Pony. > Candles of Corpses, Mere of Dead Faces > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- The rain is what finally woke Luna. She had murky memories of being shaken and shoved out of bed and shuffled across the freezing floor. But having freezing water driven directly into her face was enough to shock her mind out of the clutches of sleep. She winced and tried to shrink back but she felt the firm nudge of a wing pressing into her back. “Come now Luna,” Mama’s voice came from over her shoulder. “Keep up.” Luna blinked and glanced back to see her mother with a still nodding Cadence on her back, balanced carefully between her wings. Mama’s horn flared and a gleaming shield appeared above their heads and about them, the rain instantly cut off and becoming nothing but a steady drumming against the walls of the shield. Luna shook the rainwater out of her eyes and now realized Celestia and Sunset were flanking either side of her. “How far do we go, Mama?” Celestia asked, her voice enhanced by the magical cocoon. “Just until I say stop,” Mama said. Her voice calm as usual but Luna heard a funny strain in it, like a lopsided singsong tone, the kind she used when Grandpapa was about to break into a fury and she was calling the girls to come out of the room. “What is this, Mama?” Sunset demanded. “It’s in the middle of the night and it’s storming like a fiend.” “A fire caught somewhere in the castle and we need to stay outside until it’s put out, just to be safe.” “Where in the castle?” Luna asked. The castle was an immense structure with countless rooms carved into five stories of stones maintained by a legion of servants, where could a fire catch where it wouldn’t be put out immediately before it posed any kind of threat? “Hurry along, Luna, we’ll speak more when we’re a safe distance,” Mama said. A safe distance was apparently outside of the palace gates, where they were met by a gaggle of servants and a few guards, who all looked bedraggled and bemused. They immediately surrounded Mama and the fillies, the guards setting themselves in a perimeter around the royals while the rest inquired as to their safety and the exact state of emergency. While Mama tried calming the servants the fillies stood to the side, warming themselves with their magic. "It must be some sort of magical flame to cause such a threat," Celestia said, her horn glimmering as she used it to dry out and re-curl her hair. “That the guards could not put out?” Luna said skeptically. "We have unicorn guards for the very purpose of such a possible assault." Celestia shrugged. “Maybe no one caught it until it was too great.” “That’s not possible." “Well do you have a better idea?” Sunset snapped from beside her, her magic spitting fiery flecks causing Luna to wince. “You’re always acting so dour and distant as if you were all-knowing. Just because you bury your nose in ancient tomes all day doesn’t make you a sage.” “Why are you savaging her so? She was only speaking her opinion," Celestia said. "I was speaking to Luna not you!" Luna quickly ducked out from between the two as they lunged at one another, their magic clashing in a hissing and snarling collision of red and gold. Luna tried to distract herself from her sisters' shameful display and the glances from the servants by turning towards the palace. She was astonished to see plumes of smoke pouring upwards into the sky, pillar upon pillar, creating a heavy cloud that fell like a curtain over the walls and spires of the palace. She couldn't see any flames from where she stood but it had to be massive to produce such an amount of smoke. For the first time since she woke Luna began to feel pangs of anxiety. Where is Papa? Why was Mama the one to lead us outside by herself without a single guard? Where is Grandpapa, as the All-Father should he have not been brought out first? His rooms are not far from ours, why isn't he with us? As if in response to her thoughts, Luna caught sight of a figure coming towards them from the palace. She squinted through the rain and saw the outline of a horn and a pair of wings. "Papa?" She called, but the rain and the wind drowned her voice out. But there were no other alicorns left besides Grandpapa and he would not be wandering about without a host of guards. After quickly casting a magical shield about her body, Luna started walking towards her father, having some trouble wading through the grass which was so tall it tickled her muzzle against the wind and rain. She was about halfway to the palace gate where Mama had lead them through, when she heard a faint voice behind her: "Highness!" Luna glanced over her shoulder and saw a young gray unicorn colt with a black mane coming towards her. He must have been with the group servants. "What is it?" She asked as he came up to her, his horn glowing dimly to light his way. His magic clearly wasn't skilled enough to offer any better protection from the elements. The colt dropped a quick bow. “Highness, if you will forgive me, but I do not believe it is prudent for you to be so far from the company given the circumstance.” “You are here,” she said distractedly. She turned back around and frowned. She was certain she had seen Papa heading directly this way but now she couldn't see him anymore. "Papa?" She shouted but the only response was the whine of the wind. "Is the Prince out here?" The colt asked. "I thought I saw him coming this way." "I saw nothing, my lady. Perhaps the smoke and rain is playing tricks." Luna shook her head. "No, I saw him. He was right this way..." Suddenly, there was a sound like a mountain being cleaved in half and blast of light that turned the whole world white. Luna felt a blow of heat drive into her like a giant fist, knocking her entire body to the ground. For a moment she lay there, stunned, blind and deaf. Her sight was the first thing to return, fuzzy and unclear, and Luna perceived a face leaning over hers. The ringing in her ears subsided next and she could hear the voice of the colt crying frantically: "Are you alright, my lady?" "Y-yes, I believe so," Luna said shakily. She heard an audible sigh of relief. "Let me help up, my lady. Take my hoof." Luna's body felt numb but she was able to lift her hoof and the colt took it, pulling her to her hooves. It took her a moment to regain her balance with her head swimming and her ears were still ringing from the explosion. She could smell burning and feel heat of flames but when she tried to look towards them the light was so fierce she had to turn her face away. "Can you walk my lady?" The colt asked. "I think." "Come, let us get back to your mother then." Luna took two steps and nearly fell over, only saved by the colt catching her just in time. "Lean against me, my lady," the colt said and Luna thankfully did so. This meant the going was now much slower and since the explosion the storm had only increased in ferocity, with thunder and lightning now striking overhead. "Did you see what happened?" She asked. "There was a great light and the palace was set afire," he said. "It looked like a magical discharge but I could not tell." Just then the colt stumbled and they both nearly tumbled over each other. "Apologies my lady," the colt said. Luna could hear his breathing coming in labored gasps. "Let's rest a moment," she said. "No I am well I just-" the colt insisted, despite even though the rainfall Luna could see the strain in his face. "I'm tired, I need a moment." To highlight her words she sat down in the grass and motioned for him to join her. He looked unwillingly but obeyed. Luna's head was throbbing now and she was worried she might not be able to stand up again when a strange movement caused her to turn around. Papa? The light from the burning palace cast a hellish glow from over Luna's shoulder and lit up the expanse of grassland that surrounded the palace. Against the inky backdrop of the grass below and the thunderheads above, she once again saw the outline of a alicorn. But now she could see the color of the coat and realized it was not Papa. "Grandpapa?" She gasped. The colt must have heard her because he stood up and took a step forward. "Is that--?" Luna stumbled to her hooves, her head whirling from the sudden change in altitude. Grandpapa was not looking at them, he was slinking through the grass as if he were stalking someone. "Grandpapa!" Luna cried and this time his head snapped around towards her. The words she had intended to call out to him were blasted away like sand before the tide and Luna felt as if her jaw locked, gaping speechlessly in the air. Grandpapa's eyes were suspended like fiery spheres over the thrashing grass and smoky mist, to her they seemed to cast a sulfuric glow on the raindrops drizzling before them. His gaze felt as if were scorching her, burning through her with it's raw and hematic expression. Luna told herself to look away but her every muscle seemed completely seized by it, as if they were all twisted and tangled in cramps. "Majesty!" The colt cried out and Grandpapa's eyes darted towards him. Released from his gaze, Luna's senses snapped back like a taut rope being cut. Grandpapa suddenly reared his head back, his eyes flashing like sulfur, and let out a sound like a laugh and a scream that tore through the wail of the wind and the roar of the rain like a blade. Then he spun around and galloped into the shadows of the grass and storm. There was silence for a long moment except for the snarling of the storm as Luna and the colt stared where the All-Father had stood. Suddenly the colt began walking after Grandpapa, causing Luna to jump and grab hold of him. “Where are you going?” She cried. “After the king!” he exclaimed, then remembered himself and added: “My lady.” Luna felt as if suddenly the moors about them were expanding like a serpent's maw about to swallow her. “No, you cannot leave me here alone!” she cried, forgetting how unlady-like it was to raise your voice. "He can care for himself, his guards cannot be so far behind him." The colt did not look convinced so Luna drew herself up and said with as much authority as she could muster, "I command you to remain with me." The colt looked very reticent but he did not move to leave. "Should we start back to your mother then, my lady?" "Yes." So they began walking again, this time with some space between them. The rain had finally relaxed from a deluge to a easy shower and the wind now was more of a brisk breeze than a violent lashing. Luna kept her eyes trained ahead, no for fear of misstep but rather trying to distract herself from the memory of Grandpapa's eyes. No matter how many times she pushed the image way she could feel his gaze burning at the edges of her mind, scorching and smoking. “They were like will-’o-the-wisps," she breathed. She hadn't meant to say it aloud but the colt caught her words and gave her a queer look. “Pardon, my lady?” He said. Luna felt warmth creeping into her face and quickly stuttered, “N-nothing, just a foolishness I read in a tome.” “May I inquire what it was?" He said politely. “As we have nothing better to occupy our time and it might be a pleasant distraction.” Luna didn’t think so but he was looking at her so affably and it felt pleasant to have a distraction, so she said it anyways: “They’re the lights that appear in the marshes at night between the earth and the heavens and dance about as if they are indicating for you to follow." "Oh you mean hobby lanterns!" The colt exclaimed, his voice losing it's formal tone and becoming bright and genial. "They say they mark where Flutter Pony treasure is buried! But you need a magic charm to unbury it." "That's not what I read," Luna said. "My tome said they are the souls of the unbaptized or stillborn foals leading travelers to the water so they might help them to be baptized. But of course the souls unwittingly lead them into the bogholes and quicksand so they perish.” The colt looked first shocked and then disquieted. Luna felt the heat in her face increase and she berated herself silently for spoiling his good mood with such a tale. “May I ask you a rather forward question, my lady?” The colt asked, and his voice sounded suddenly very pensive. “Certainly." “Why would a princess trouble herself with such horrid things?” “Royalty is closely associated with horrid things. It is our place to defend our subjects from them. So we must know it well, if we are to combat it.” The colt was silent for a moment, the rain pelting his face making his unblinking gaze into the inky field ahead even more fixating. “I must confess I never thought of it thusly.” Luna frowned. All she had been told since her memory serviced her was that she had been placed in this world to serve Asgard. Her whole life, the lessons she was taught, the duties she would perform, the stallion she would marry, would all be implemented for the best outcome for the kingdom. "How then did you think of us?” she asked. “What would our purpose be if not to service our subjects? We would only have to sit in gilded cages and preen.” “I was always told our purpose as your subjects was to serve you by keep you from the horrid things.” “Who told you that?” Luna asked dubiously. “Splinter Hoof," he said. "He is one of the other servants I work--" “Luna!” Luna and the colt's heads snapped up. "Papa!" Luna cried. The prince of the realm came striding towards them with his horn blazing and flanked by several guards. Luna threw herself at her father, her throat filling with tears. Papa pushed her away almost immediately though, demanding severely, "Your mother is worried sick. Why did you leave her side?" Luna felt herself shrinking under her father's harsh gaze. "I mistook Grandpapa for you." Father's eyes widened. "Where did the All-Father go?” he said sharply. “That way, Papa,” Luna said, pointing in the direction Grandpapa had vanished. Papa followed her hoof and Luna thought he suddenly did not look concerned or anxious but rather very weary. When he spoke, his voice was firm but resigned: “Take my daughter to her mother.” The colt bowed deeply but Papa had already started walking with his guards following behind. The two young ponies began their walk back towards the flaming house. Though he was technically leading her the colt walked close besides Luna. “Don’t worry, my lady, I’m certain his Highness will find the King,” he said. “Of course he will,” Luna said automatically. “He could not have gotten very far.” Luna thought of Grandpapa’s eyes again and she suppressed a shudder. To distract herself she said to the colt: "You never told me your name." "Apologies my lady. It's Sombra." *** Note from Luna Odinmaden: The author and name of this poem were unsalvageable but given it’s placement in the “Second Volume of Somber Verses” I assume it was written before the reign of All-Mother Aferdita. This poem is in reference to the old folktale of the souls of foals who either by being stillborn or perishing before their baptism day being condemned to wander between both earth and heaven, since being unsanctified they were not known by the Maker. Such miserable thought was the firm belief of the populace until the age of the Holy Seer Aliaksei who with his realm-wide circuit of lectures did much to lead the subjects away from such unhappy ignorance. I was brought forth cold and blue to my bone Even my heart lay in me still like a stone So they shut me up beneath the ground The earth’s pillars pressing me all around (See me, good stranger) Come to the water and put my head under Until the ripples close over my crown (See me, good stranger) Let my airy fetters at last be sundered So the host in heaven will know my name When the moon lifts and her misty veil unspins Then from my grave I am at once unpinned And may walk to and fro between the winds To the fathomless pool where black water brims (See me, good stranger) Come to the water and put my head under Until the ripples close over my crown (See me, good stranger) Let my airy fetters at last be sundered So the host in heaven will know my name Every night I see the heavenly stairs unfurl Up the gilded steps the blessed ones whirl I mayn’t touch the last where the clouds swirl For without water none enter the gates of pearl (See me, good stranger) Come to the water and put my head under Until the ripples close over my crown (See me, good stranger) Let my airy fetters at last be sundered So the host in heaven will know my name > Prepare Unto Death, And Follow Me > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Death of Faust Borrmaden: As Faust Bormaden lay in her bed, ill with wear of age and time, she called her sons and daughters about her to give them any words of wisdom left in her. --Note from Luna Odinmaden: These are compiled and written of in the tome simply called “The Wisdom of Faust” if the reader wishes to know them.-- When she had finished, she implored her children with all the feeling of a mother’s heart: “My children, when I declare which of you will ascend to bear my title of All upon my death, I pray for the comfort of my soul which will look upon you from behind the veil of the heavens, do not quarrel with one another or bear any resentment to the one chosen. You all must know the love I bear for each of you in my heart, for a mother must love all her children equally, and I count the value of each of you as beyond measure. So do not take my decision as a slight against the rest who were passed over for the task, but that as your mother and by the wisdom given to me by the Maker of all things, that I know the different gifts given to my children and that your purposes all lay in varied paths. So bless and pray for the brother or sister who has been chosen and remember your mother lovingly and forgive her weak soul for whatever mistakes or injuries I might have made in my rearing of you. For besides your wondrous father, there were no creatures on the earth I treasured more than you.” All her children assured her that they would and Faust smiled, saying she would take some sleep and then tell them which would be All when she awakened. So they left her side, each retiring to their own room. *** The funeral was bound to be a strange and uncomfortable fare. It was technically for Grandpapa and his wife, but there was only the body of the queen present. Two weeks of search had failed to recover a sign of Grandpapa but given his age and his state when he disappeared it was a sort of silent agreement throughout the kingdom that he had surely perished. It was decided that for the stability of the kingdom Papa would take the throne as All-Father Odin, the first of the name and fifteenth All since Mother Faust to rule over a united Asgard. Papa thought it best to first lay his parents to rest before claiming the throne and so had spent three days locked in the council chambers with all the priests, councilors, and lords of the land throwing together a properly splendid funeral for a fallen king and queen. It all felt strikingly familiar to the historical accounts in the tome Luna was salvaging. Sudden deaths of royalty, a hasty ascension, a rushed funeral...it was all rather primitive and intriguing. Or at least that was the least distressing way to perceive the happenings around her. It was an better balm to project the images of those long separated from her by time and death onto these events. Better, at least, than ingesting the bitter draught of a mad grandfather running loose, a grandmother perished from grief, and a child uncle's own quick illness and sudden passing as the precursor to all this. Luna was brought out of her thoughts by a playful nudge from Celestia. “You look lovely, Lulu,” Celestia said, nodding to Luna’s mourning dress. “Dark colors become you very nicely.” The two sisters were standing in one of the castle’s long hallways, leaning against the wall listlessly. Mama had sent the both of them and Sunset ahead to wait for Papa to come out from his dressing, which would take some time, since Cadence had been acting uncharacteristically difficult, refusing to allow Mama to put her mourning dress on. Sunset naturally was standing away from them, in the middle of the hall. Every few minutes she would pace a few steps back and forth, stamping her hooves so they rang down the hall and huffing impatiently. “You look better,” Luna told Celestia, nodding at her mourning dress. All the daughters were wearing matching black dresses with no trimmings, accessories or makeup. Luna thought her dark coat blended too much with the cloth so it looked like she was fading into her clothes. Celestia sighed dramatically and looked down at her skirt desolately. “Black does not flatter my coat as it does yours. It makes me look piebald.” Luna suppressed the urge to roll her eyes. Celestia could have worn a sack and still be the loveliest creature at the party, even now in their matching dresses Luna felt like she was cast in wilting shadows against her sister’s buoyant shimmering. It wasn’t that Luna was jealous of Celestia, not entirely at least. She didn’t envy Celestia’s flirty, flighty manners or her petulance, she thought they made her seem younger than Cadence sometimes and were unbecoming to a princess. Even Mama had complained to Papa that as long as he overlooked them Celestia would soon be an irredeemable hussy when she came of age. But Luna did wish she could make ponies folk around her as effortlessly Celestia did, have them wait on her every whim and hang on her most careless word. Fillies and colts, mares and stallions, servants and courtiers, all fell at her sister’s hooves, charmed out of their sense and self by her brilliance. “What are you thinking?” Celestia said, leaning her chin affectionately on Luna’s shoulder. “Me? Nothing.” “That’s wise. It’s better than thinking on...other things.” Grandpapa’s eyes flashed in Luna’s mind and she felt suddenly cold. “What do you think is the matter with Cadence?” she said, hoping to distract herself. Celestia shook her head. “It’s strange, she did the same thing at Little Uncle’s funeral.” “I don’t remember that.” That had been such a terrible day, the worst of her entire life. Papa’s little brother, who the princess's called Little Uncle Vasilios, had been born long after all the physicians said Grandmama could never bear another foal, especially after Papa's own birth which had been so long and arduous she had nearly died. But then miracle of miracles, Grandmama had born a healthy and strong colt who they named after Grandpapa's beloved mother, Vasilisa the Lovely. Since he was two years younger than Cadence, he was treated less like an heir to the throne and consequently was spoiled sweet, even Grandpapa's wild nature cooled around Vasilios. If Cadence radiated love, Vasilios had emitted pure joy, nopony ever left his presence without a smile. He had drowned in the river that ran through the castle’s main garden. He was only five years old. Grandmama, who had been the one to lift his body up from the riverbed, had been hysterical, running up and down the halls howling so loudly that every corner of the castle heard her. Grandpapa trailed behind her, trying in vain to reason or comfort her in any way, so Papa once again had been appointed to overseeing the funeral arrangements. The whole household had stumbled about in a stunned haze, no pony seemed to know where they should be or what they should be doing, Luna recalled Papa having to order every servant at least twice of their duties. Celestia’s voice brought Luna out of her thoughts once again: “I never thought I would have to wear this dress again. Not so soon at least." Luna nodded somberly. “My dress still feels warm from Little Uncle's funeral,” she said. “They should have made us new dresses,” Sunset’s voice, sudden and sharp, caused both Luna and Celestia to flinch. “I was only speaking figuratively. It was such a short time ago, is all I meant,” Luna said. “It doesn’t matter how short a time ago it was. The subjects shouldn’t see us in the same dress again. Papa should punish the tailors.” Luna thought of the grey colt Sombra and that he might work with the tailors, and she imagined him having to encounter her father’s displeasure. “That’s so unjust of you!" she said hotly. "It isn’t their fault the situation gave no time for preparation.” “It is their purpose to be prepared for any situation! What else do they have to do with their time?” “More than you!" Celestia snapped and Luna nodded furiously, adding: "You spend all your time commanding others to do the labor for you, what would you know of work?" “And I suppose you are the specimen of a drudge!" Sunset shoved her face into Luna's. "You don’t even take part in any of your own proper royal duties. If Papa knew how many times you’ve stolen out of royal dinners and festivals it is you who he would be punishing!" Sunset's lips suddenly shifted from a scowl to a smile. "And if he knew how poor your marks our with our tutors he'd probably disown you." "You are one to talk, if the tutors ever complained to Papa about any of us it would be how you abuse them like slaves!" Celestia exclaimed. "And you charm and wheedle your way out of all discipline so they don't reprimand you!" Sunset shouted. "You are the disrespectful one, not I! Father hates disrespect above all!" "He hates cruelty more, so you'll be the first in his line of fire!" "Tia, ignore her, she speaks nonsense," Luna said, realizing the situation was spiraling out of control. "No! You think you can get away with anything but not with me, Sunset!" "I am the heir to the kingdom now!" Sunset declared, drawing herself up stiffly. "I can do what I want to who I want because this kingdom will belong to me and therefore all who inhabit it owe me allegiance! You will be my servants one day and follow my commands!" Celestia's face turned red with outrage. "I am a daughter of Faust too, I am as worthy and equal as you in all things, and I shall never be in servitude to you!" "How will you be able to defy me, then, without Papa do defend you, preening prancing filly?" Sunset crooned mockingly. Luna shut her eyes and heard the magical shriek of her sister's clashing. She felt the hairs of her coat stand on end at the lightning like sizzling from their dueling magical forces. Mama will have a fit if she sees their hair torn up again. Luna opened her eyes--Celestia and Sunset were indeed trying to yank at each others hair--and said: "Stop this before you undo all of Mama's work! Tia, you'll tear your dress!" They either didn't hear or did not listen because their fight only increased in ferocity. "Stop this right now! We will have to go out any moment!" Luna raised her voice so it echoed through the hall. One of Sunset's flailing hooves caught right above Celestia eye. Celestia was sent stumbling back and squealing in pain. At the sound of her sister in pain, Luna felt her heart contract painfully as if the very sensation had channeled its way from Celestia to her own body. She instinctively leapt forward, placing herself directly in front of Sunset. "What is wrong with you?" She shouted, throwing her face into her sister's. "What do you think you're doing?" Luna felt like she was burning up from outrage, that unbearable sense of injustice, was like there was an inferno in the center of her chest and it made it hard to breath around and stung her eyes. But she felt even that must pale in comparison to Sunset, whose whole body was blazing like a solar flare, so ferociously Luna could barely look her in the face. Like the fire in the castle and Grandpapa's eyes... It thought made her afraid. But she still didn't move. "Celestia was right," she said, surprising herself at how firm her voice was. "You cannot treat us like this. We are your sisters, Sunset, we are your flesh and blood. How can you behave as if we are your slaves? How can you do these things to us?" "Get out of my way!" Sunset snarled and tried to reach around Luna to charge at Celestia again, who was leaning against the hall pressing her hoof to the scratch above her eye. Luna shoved her back, using a simple magical surge to add to her push. But Sunset must have been already off balance, because rather than stepping back she went reeling back into the opposite wall with a terrible thudding sound. "WHAT IS THIS?" All three fillies spun around, Luna feeling her leap heart in her mouth. Papa stood in the hall, resplendent in sheer silver cloth that offset his dark blue coat marked with white specks like constellations, his inky mane wreathing his head like a stormhead. His normally black eyepatch was replaced by one embroidered with a galaxy on it. And his single pale eye was searing. "Have you lost your tongue?" Papa's voice was like the blast of an organ and it rang in Luna's ears. Suddenly Luna realized he was speaking to her. "Are you deaf or do you simply have no respect, Luna Odinmaden?" Papa thundered and in two massive strides he was towering over Luna. Luna felt herself shrinking like an insect. "I-" "We are here to honor the memory of your grandparents and mourn their tragic departure. Have you no love for them in your heart to command your baser impulses? Is whatever conflict you have with your sister greater than the regard for your ancestors? Will we have to present your elder sister like this before the public, torn and smashed by your hoof?" "Papa--" Celestia squeaked from her corner but the glare Papa gave silenced her. He turned back on Luna. His eye was so blistering with fury it made Luna think of brimstones and that made her think of once again of Grandpapa’s eyes... Maker, let the ground open and swallow me. Let me disappear, make me invisible. "Odin, what is it?" Every pony turned to see Mama standing in the hallway with Cadence at her side. "I came from my dressing to find Luna casting Sunset aside,” Papa said, motioning tersely at Luna. “Now Sunset is unpresentable. You must speak with this child, because I cannot look upon her." Papa then strode past Luna, shaking his massive head in frustration. Mama’s eyes narrowed as she looked from Luna to Sunset and then Celestia. She looked suspicious, but said nothing and instead nodded for the three fillies to come over to her. She first magically healed Celestia’s little cut and then proceeded to magically close all the small rips in hers and Sunset’s dresses before finally correcting their coiffures. While Mama was adjusting Celestia’s mane, Celestia tried to whisper, “Mama, it was Sunset who--” “Hush, darling,” Mama shushed her. But when she turned to Luna, who did not require any repairs, she leaned over and spoke in her ear, “I will speak with Sunset later, best beloved.” Luna suddenly realized she had tears in her eyes and she quickly rubbed them away, nodding at her mother. “Come now Frigga, are they presentable or will I have to lead my heirs out looking like drafthorses?” Papa demanded, stamping his hoof down, which made a sound like stone cracking. Luna half expected fire to come spitting out from the force of it. “They’re ready,” Mama replied calmly. “Well, then line up!” Papa barked at the fillies, and all four instinctively took their practiced place: Sunset and Celestia stood shoulder directly behind Papa and Luna and Cadence did the the same behind them. Papa’s flinty eyes inspected each of them, snapping commands at each daughter: “Sunset, throw your shoulders back. Celestia keep your eyes straight ahead. Luna lift up your head. Cadence--” Here his voice softened, even Papa could not be severe to her, “--stop fidgeting, child.” “Aren’t they beautiful, my love?” Mama said. She had walked up to her place beside Papa and her voice had a pointed air. Papa exhaled deeply. “We needed at least another week," he said pensively. "I should have pushed for another week.” “You know you couldn’t wait any longer, it’s been too long as it is,” Mama said and now her voice had a comforting tone. Papa shook his head again and turned his back on them, still murmuring about how they had needed more time. Now there was nothing to do but wait for the servants to signal. Papa and Mama whispered between themselves and Sunset and Celestia were close enough to lean in to hear them, while pretending they were looking somewhere else. That left Luna with time and silence to stew over her humiliation. Why is it that Sunset and Celestia can do what they wish and never be caught or corrected but I cannot escape with even a little mistake? But this wasn’t even a mistake, I was doing nothing wrong! He never sees how Sunset lords herself over us and Mama cannot stop her anymore, am I suppose to let Tia take all the abuse? It’s not fair how he favors her, what has Sunset done except be the firstborn? Tia is as good in magic and studies as her and is as pretty as her, and she is loved better by all. Even Sunset knows this! But because he indulges her she believes she can do what she pleases and now that’s she’s the heir what will we do, she will be unbearable-- Luna suddenly caught the sound of a sniffle and glanced to her right. Cadence was rubbing her nose with her hoof and Luna could see her cheeks were damp. “Cadence, what is it?” she whispered, shooting a glance at her parents but they were too involved in their conversation to hear. Cadence shook her head, her purple, pink and vanilla curls swaying back and forth, but Luna catch sight of a large tear rolling down her nose. “You mustn’t cry, Papa won’t be pleased,” Luna said. At the mention of Papa’s displeasure, Cadence bit down on her lower lip but Luna could see it was still shivering and her eyes were now glazed with tears. Luna thought of telling Celestia who had a way of making anyone smile at any time but was too worried of drawing her parent’s attention, so she leaned down herself and put her wing over Cadence’s shoulder. “Shhh, don’t be sad. It’ll be over soon,” she said gently, using her wing to rub Cadence’s back the way she had seen Mama do whenever any of the fillies were upset. “Grandmama…” Cadence squeaked, her voice squeezed by tears into a whisper. “Don’t be sad for Grandmama, she is with the Maker now. Remember the High Seer spoke to you about it, now she will be in the sun’s light forever surrounded by green fields and diamond waters, and all our fathers and mothers are there to commune with her. She is happy, do you not wish her to be happy?” “Yes. B-but I--” “What?” Cadence’s eyes darted about as if she expected something to swoop in and bite her. She pressed herself close to Luna and breathed, “I saw it.” Luna did not understand what she meant but something in her sister’s voice made a shiver go down her spine. “Saw what?” she said, despite not truly wanting to know. At that very moment three servants entered the hall, one walking directly to Papa and conversing with him in a lower voice. The other two came and began dispensing garlands to each filly. This was Papa’s idea, in most funeral processions the heirs carried nothing but he had thought each should be individually noted for the public and the best way to do so would to give each a piece of the traditional funeral wreath. Sunset was given a garland of fennel, Celestia columbines, Luna rue, and Cadence daisies--Papa would get rosemary and Mama pansies. There was supposed to be violets as well, as Cadence had pointed out in a rehearsal two days ago. Papa, who had been overseeing the affair in his short manner, had told her in a strangely hoarse tone, “There are no violets to be found. They all withered when your Grandmama died.” Cadence, being young, accepted this. None of the other fillies knew what to make of it, except that when they had all gone to the garden to look there were indeed no violets to be found. I suppose it’s just as well, Luna thought. The garlands would be an uneven number if there were any. Papa finished speaking with the servant who he sent off with a nod. He then motioned the other servants forward and they bestowed him and Mama with their garlands and also with two extra traditional objects, an unlit torch and a string of prayer pearls blessed by the Holy Seer. Luna wiped Cadence’s eyes with the edges of her wing feathers and whispered as she straightened, “Hold your garland close to your face, then no pony will see your tears.” Cadence sniffed but levitated her garland as told and Luna straightened. Mama turned to look at the fillies and said gently, "Now don't be anxious, just keep your eyes on your father and I and follow us and all will be well." Just as she finished speaking the sound of metal grinding metal echoed down the hall, reminding Luna of the growl of a dragon. Immediately Papa and Mama began walking forward and the princesses followed, their hooves making a clatter that contrasted sharply with the cool demeanor the royals emulated. It was some ways down the hall to the massive double doors--eighteen feet tall and two feet thick cut from ironwood and coated with gold. On both doors on each side was carved a relief of All-Mother Faust, each in profile facing one another so the horns overlapped like an extra dose of symbolic barrier. It was called the Sentinel Entrance and it lead to the literal end of Asgardian ground, from there one could walk down the Rainbow Bridge (Luna preferred that name to it's other title, Bifrost) to it's Observatory, where the Sentinel in days of old used to stand and command the passage between the worlds. There had been no one to oversee it since the youth of great-grandfather Lief the Righteous. As the royals finally approached it the doors were magically parted. Luna could hear the noise of the crowd ahead, subjects waiting to catch a glimpse of the royal family passing by. She could see the royal guards standing in the doorway step back to allow them through. Luna braced herself, fixing her eyes on her parents ahead and trying to focus on the sound of her hooves hitting the floor. They passed under the arch of the doorway and Luna felt as if she were walking out of a protection spell. As the guards instantly arrayed themselves before, behind and to each side of them, a flood of sounds and strange smells struck Luna, the feel of eyes pressing and running over her. She felt like one of Mama's pin cushions, all the whispers she caught in her ears and the eyes she felt on her were like needles pricking through her, splitting her hair from her flesh and her flesh from the bone. It was like each layer of herself was being peeled back and laid out to be inspected and dissected by strangers. She felt her muscles tighten and she felt she had to force her pace and expression to remain even. Can they see how my steps are stiffer? Can they see how my brow is furrowed? Can they hear how my heart-- Luna bit her lip, forcing her mind to focus. She thought of what Papa would tell her: Stay strong for the family. For our honor and that of our ancestors. She chanced a glance at Cadence and could see her eyes darting around anxiously. At Vasilios's funeral Cadence had cried so much Mama had been required to cast a sedating spell and carry her on her back, so this was in her mind the first funeral procession she had ever walked. Luna levitated her garland closer to her face to hide her mouth and used her magic to funnel her voice directly in Cadence's ear. "Keep your eyes on Mama and Papa. Listen to the sound of your hoofsteps. Don't pay heed to anything else." Easier said than done. I'm barely managing myself. Cadence glanced at her and gave a timid nod. Luna kept her eye on her until she felt Cadence was at least looking a bit steadier and then returned to focusing on her own appearance. Because she didn't allow herself to look around or listen to anything, she wasn't sure how long the walk was to the start of the Rainbow Bridge. There, flanked by four white censer swinging servants of the Holy Seer, was Grandmama. She was laid out on a bed of silk pillowed with lily blossoms, her body from head to hoof wrapped in matching cloth. Luna could smell the spices that she had been wrapped in to preserve her body, and somehow the contrast of the pleasant smell with their unpleasant purpose made her feel suddenly sick. She realized there was far too much sweetness in the air, perfumes, blossoms and the incense from the censers, as if it was all designed to distract from the purpose of this day. Her grandmother was dead and so was her grandfather and their little son, why was everything arrayed like a wedding or a feast day, all beauty and life-filled, when it was nothing but the opposite? Why do we honor death this way? It has stolen from us and we answer with a declaration of his victory. Since the bridge was narrow, two guards went first casting magical walls on either side to act as barriers should anyone slip or trip over the edge into space. Then Papa and Mama went, Sunset and Celestia next, and finally Luna and Cadence followed by the rest of the guards. The Holy Seer's servants levitated Grandmama's flowered cradle and began guiding it down the Bridge, towards the Observatory. Now that they had left the crowd behind Luna felt her breath come easier. She looked at Cadence and saw her staring down at her hooves, which with each impact on the bridge caused bursts of color to shoot through it's surface. Luna felt a slight tug at the edges of her lips, she remembered she had the same reaction when she had first walked the Bridge. The Bridge was not very long so they were at the Observatory quicker than Luna would have liked. The Holy Seer was standing within next to the raised platform where the Observatory's ignition stood. The Sentinel's sword was inserted within--only the Sentinel or the All could power it. Grandmama was levitated before the Holy Seer, a tall light blue stallion clothed in purple and red, signifying the blending of holiness and passion. The royal family filed in a line before him, Papa at the far left and Cadence at the far right, and the guards stood behind. The Holy Seer's servants stood at the head and hooves of Grandmama. The Holy Seer lifted his hoof and spoke in a sonorous voice the funeral blessing Luna remembered him speaking over little uncle Vasilios: "Blessed be the Maker, the Speaker, the Voice and the Word that manifest and sustain our beings." In unison, all present responded: "Blessed be He evermore." The Holy Seer continued: "As it is His authority to bestow so it is His to deprive, all His works are perfect and good and loving." All present: "May He be blessed evermore." "May our eyes not be lifted up in arrogance, our hearts burned by wrath or our souls overcome by sorrow, let us fall into the all encompassing embrace of the Maker in this tribulation. If we fail this, may His mercy fall upon us like the rain upon the barren earth." All present: "May He be merciful." "Incline your ear to us and hear our prayer, and unfurl the steps and pull aside the veil for Hildr and Erik, those who You weaved in marriage and threaded together in death, and guide them into the Golden Hall to feast in Your presence. May they be found by those who loved them and their blessed ancestors to rejoice evermore past the falling of the firmament, the uprooting of the World Tree, the drossing of the unclean. We commend their souls into your healing wings." All present: "Into your wings we commend them." The Holy Seer took an aspergillum out of his voluminous robes and shook it over the length of Grandmama's body, sprinkling the blessed water, wine and oil over her. When this was done he lifted his face in unison with his servants and they began to sing in low tones in the Holy Speak, which Luna did not know since only the Holy Seer and his servants were allowed to learn it so it would not be abused or defiled by wicked tongues. Luna did like this part, she recalled it was the only pleasant moment in uncle Vasilios's funeral. It sounded rather like a lullabye but more...divine, like it's melody was a loom that set the fabric of reality from the blades of grass to the veins in her heart. She was certain the Maker could hear it over any other sound in the universe. Suddenly, Luna felt a warm dampness on her leg. She flinched and looked down to see Cadence nudging her. Cadence nodded towards their left, down the line. Luna stole a glance and did a double take. Celestia, Sunset and Mama were all looking in the same direction and at the same figure: Papa. Luna stared and couldn't look away but did not process what she was seeing until Cadence whispered in her ear: "Papa is crying." Luna watched the tears, one after the other, rolling down Papa's cheeks and the dampness spread like a stain over his coat. She could hear the sobs coming out strangled and choked from his throat. But she couldn't unite the concepts--tears and Papa--into a comprehensible thought in her mind. She couldn't even attach an emotion to it except that of confusion. Mama then leaned close to him, laying her wing over his back and pressing her lips to his ear. Luna saw her jaw moving but could not catch her words. "What is she saying?" Celestia said to Sunset in a loud whisper. Sunset shook her head, allowing Luna to catch the stunned expression in her eyes. "I cannot hear." Cadence began to sniffle again. Celestia glanced at her. "Don't be upset, precious," she said, using Mama's pet name for Cadence. "He'll be well in a moment, see how Mama is comforting him." Rather than calming her, Celestia's words set Cadence to weeping, dropping her garland and covering her face with her wings. Luna and Celestia both immediately rush to her, stroking her with their wings and sending waves of soothing magical energy. "Please Cadence please don't cry for my sake," Celestia said tenderly. "I can't stave off tears if you cannot." "You see even Papa is not crying so much even though it is his parents who are passed on. He is being brave and you must be too," Luna said softly. Sunset, who had stood watching Papa and Mama, now turned and stalked over to her sisters, shouldering Luna and Celestia aside. Her horn flared and a series of sandy golden band of magic fell over Cadence's head. Cadences eyes grew suddenly dim and her sobbing faded like it was being snuffed out. A sedation spell. "Now hurry to your places before Papa is himself again," she said in a low voice, glancing worriedly at their parents. "When the Holy Seer calls us forth for the offerings, Luna you must help her to the cradle and lay out the garland. Understood?" Luna nodded and Sunset tugged Celestia back into the line. It was just in a nick of time; Papa had recovered and was straightening himself, blinking the last of the tears from his eyes and the Holy Seer and his servants' voices had faded into silence. The Holy Seer motioned with his hoof and the royal family all stepped forward, Luna bringing Cadence along with her wing. With a nod to each respective member--Papa's rosemary, Mama's pansies and prayer pearls, Sunset's fennel, Celestia's columbines, Luna's rue, and Cadence daisies--all were placed over Grandmama's clothed body. Then Papa held out the unlit torch he held in his magical grip, and the Holy Seer spoke a blessing in the Holy Speak and then lit the torch with his horn. Mama and the princesses stepped back as Papa laid the torch upon Grandmama, the oil and wine soaked into her burial cloth igniting instantly. Then both he and the Holy Seer stepped upon the Observatory platform and the Holy Seer spoke more holy words over Papa, moving his hoof over Papa's head in the motion that indicated divine anointing. When he finished, Papa grasped the Sentinel sword with his magic and there was a heavy clank as the blade fell into place. The walls about them began to whirl, making a terrifying whining noise like the voice of ten thousand windigos that almost caused Luna's heart to burst out of her chest. She instinctively drew Cadence closer to her, though she knew the filly probably did not perceive anything. Recalling the last funeral, she looked up and saw the barrel of the Observatory cannon pointed directly into the heavens. It's magical funnel fell upon Grandmama and began to lift the smoke from the fire into the night sky. The process was slow, after the smoke would come the flames and the ashes of Grandmama and all the offerings. Luna made the innocent mistake of watching the body last time and knew she could not bear seeing Grandmama's body consumed and dissipated by the fire. The flames hid the graphicness but somehow it did not remove the disturbance of watching a creature being burnt out of existence. It made her think of the library she had walked into the night of the fire. How the words on so many pages had been blackened out of reach of memory or restoration. Silenced and unknown forever to the world... She did not want to think of that, so Luna focused her eyes and mind at the sky above. She could see the edge of a constellation--Faust's Heart she recalled it was named. She had seen it many times through her telescope during nighttime lessons with their tutor. The tutor had once told her when she was perhaps Cadence's age that if she kept staring so long in the scope the stars would burn themselves into her eyes. She hadn't seen how this was an evil thing and had then spent hours in private staring at the stars in hope that this would happen. She remembered she had spoken of it once in Grandmama and Grandpapa's presence. Grandmama had laughed, that had made Luna blush but in a pleasant way. But Grandpapa... At that memory the stars suddenly seemed to grow harsher and to flame like Grandpapa's eyes. Stop that, for the love of Faust. You shouldn't think ill of the dead, especially not at the funeral. She tried to think of a pleasant memory of Grandpapa but those were all tied to poor uncle Vasilios and that made her feel worse. She hugged Cadence closer to her, finding comfort in her sister's warmth. She could feel Cadence's faint heartbeat against her own ribs, and it seemed to match the pace of her own. That must have affected her somehow because she did not recall standing through the rest of the ceremony until Celestia nudged her and she realized Grandmama's remains, the bed and all the offerings were gone. Then lead by the Holy Seer they filed out of the Observatory and down the Bridge back to the palace, but she did not end up recalling much of that either for she spent it helping Cadence's dulled senses across it. > Near Death, Who See with Blinding Sight > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- On Faust’s children: When Faust’s children awoke and went to their mother’s bedside to hear which of them would be All, they found only her body for the Maker had taken her spirit behind the veil. One of her sons, Erasmus, known for being sensitive of spirit, was so overwhelmed at seeing his mother’s corpse that his heart gave out and he died on the very spot. Faust’s other children were equally grieved though not so overcome. For three days there were no words between them but only the sounds of weeping. But on the fourth day Faust’s eldest son, Haroun, stood up and spoke to his brothers and sisters: “The time of weeping has passed, now we must turn our thoughts towards the good of our mother’s kingdom, which she and our father toiled to prepare for our comfort and security. Mother has passed and did not speak the name of an heir, so now it must be decided: which of us will become the All and rule over the rest?” Now each of Faust’s children looked at the one next to them and there was none who could answer him. Finally one of Faust’s daughters, Monifa, spoke aloud saying: “We should draw lots and see which of us the Maker favors.” But her brother Jeshurun protested, saying: “The Olympians did so and it has been naught but a suffering for them and their own since. Lots are too unclear, let us pray until the Maker reveals the answer unto us.” “It might be too lengthy a time until the Maker speaks,” Haroun said. “The kingdom requires a ruler lest our enemies gather against us.” So there arose an exchange amongst the children of whose method was the wisest. Then one of Faust’s daughter’s by the name of Midian, a cunning mare, a maker of riddles and full of great silent ambition, spoke thusly: “The answer is a simple one at its root, who do we believe our honored mother trusted most? For no matter how lofty or fortunate or upright she believed one to be, if she did not trust in the contents of their character she would not have entrusted the might of the All to them.” At that moment it was as if a double-edged sword cut through Faust’s children and they were divided into those who were too fearful to image such responsibility and those arrogant enough to desire it. And as like calls unto like, those with the lust for the throne perceived the desire in each other’s eyes and soon the venom of mistrust spread as a plague. For those lacking the drive for the throne soon found themselves trampled beneath--- Note From Luna Odinmaden: Here the manuscript was irreparably damaged. But this story is one of the most well documented in our history and hardly requires retelling, especially in such sparse language. Also for the chronicler to give the impression that it was only Midian’s words that provoked Faust’s children to their conflict is to overlook the effects of Faust and her husband’s own rearing of them and the responsibility of the children themselves for their own sin. In short, it is never one soul that destroys, but the surrender of many to its will. *** Luna was brushing out her mane at her vanity. She was so weary that she kept pulling the brush too heavily and it would end up slipping out of her hair and slamming against the edge of her vanity. After the funeral there was a feast the royal family hosted for the guests who had come for the funeral and that had been a blur of much anxious commotion so she hadn't realized how exhausted she was until she sat down to brush her mane as was her nightly habit. She had thought of just going to bed but didn't want to have to struggle with tangles tomorrow, which even with magic was a very long and painful process. At least there'll be no more functions for a two months. So I'll get some rest before Papa's coronation. She grimaced thinking how much longer that event would be and how long the feasting would last for that. Grandpapa's coronation celebration had lasted an entire 40 days, though Papa had never been as fond of revelry as Grandpapa had been in his youth. Grandpapa reveling...now that's a strange thought. She tried to visualize the scowling, brooding alicorn smiling and laughing. The only time he had not been silent and sullen was in his fits of wrath. But he had smiled with uncle Vasilios but that was in a gentle, fatherly manner not a drunken, joyous one. And once Vasilios had gone so had his smile. But most everything had gone away with Vasilios. It was as if he had been the star of their solar system and all grew cold and spiraled out into emptiness without his warmth or gravitation. There was the sound of a lock clicking and Luna turned to the door that led to Sunset and Celestia's bedroom. The door opened and Celestia stepped in, carefully shutting the door behind her. "Where's Cadence?" Celestia said, looking around the room. "Still with Mama and Papa," Luna said. The brush slipped and slammed on the vanity for the hundredth time, causing Luna to hiss through her teeth. "Let me see that," Celestia said, walking up behind Luna and taking the brush with her magic. She pulled the brush gently through Luna's mane and Luna sighed with relief. "Why are you here?" Luna asked. In the mirror she saw Celestia make a face. "Sunset is being more hateful than usual. I was trying to talk about how pretty the ambassador's son was and all she could say was how he should have engaged her in talk more than me. Then I said if she wasn't so contrary colts might actually want to speak with her and of course then she went on about how scandalous my flirting is and how I'll bring the millennia of generations of our family to ruin with my behavior--" "I think I grasp the meat of your exchange," Luna said, waving her hoof dismissively. "You would think for one night she would be pleasant, at the very least grateful for her living relations." "Perhaps she also thought you would be more solemn on such a night." Celestia hit a tangle and with the brush gave it a vicious yank. "The Holy Seer himself prayed that we should not be weighed down with sadness. So if the Maker gives me joy even in sorrow wouldn't it be wasting the blessing to make myself unhappy?" Luna was sure there was a middle ground on the matter but was too tired to discuss it. Celestia finished the brushing and proceeded to braid Luna's mane. "Would you like one or many?" She asked. "One. Too many give me headaches. Remember what a bad one I had on Cadence's birthday?" Celestia nodded and wove Luna's dark hair into a long single braid. Luna stood up from the chair and stumbled over to her bed, practically falling into it. She regretted that quickly since her dolls were tucked into the covers and so she was lying on stiff lumps and bumps. She wriggled around, pulling doll after doll out from under her--there were at least ten--tossing them on the other side of the bed, even half asleep she hadn't the heart to throw them on the floor. "Are you staying or going back to bed?" Luna asked Celestia. "I don't want to apologize just yet." "Whose bed do you want then? I think Cadence might be staying with Mama tonight." "Can I lie down with you? I don't like to sleep alone." "I don't mind," Luna mumbled, finally crawling under the covers and pulling them up to her chin. Celestia dove in, tugging the covers nearly out of Luna's grip to wrap around her body. "Your bed is so much softer than mine," Celestia said. "Hmmppfff," Luna said, already feeling sleep gripping her. The sound of a lock turning again and the sound of stamping hooves caused her to sigh. "What are doing here?" Celestia snapped. "I could ask you the same," Sunset's harsh voice answered. "Running away from our argument, how like you." "Can't you let anything rest? You're not Mama, you haven't right to command my habits." "I am the heir to the kingdom, I will be the next All-Mother so you had best become accustomed to obeying my commands!" "Oh this again..." Luna groaned. "If you two are going to argue hierarchy semantics do so in your own bedroom." "I can argue wherever I so please--" "I'm not going back with her--" "Shhhhhhhhhhhh!" All three fillies turned to see Cadence now standing in the doorway, frowning at them. "You'll disturb Papa and Mama!" she chided, stepping into the room. "What are you doing here? I thought you were staying with Mama tonight," Sunset said. Cadence walked over to the bed and climbed on, wriggling to lie down between Luna and Celestia. "Papa came in and seemed like he wanted to talk to Mama, so I was sent out." Luna thought about Papa crying during the ceremony and wondered if Mama was comforting him right now as she had then. "What did Papa look like?" she asked. "Tired," Cadence said. "I can imagine," Sunset said. She pulled a chair up to the bedside and sat down. "Tomorrow he'll have even more work with preparing for the coronation. He said I have to sit in on all the meetings and the proceedings for it. Since I'm the heir I need to learn how to arrange such events." "Will you shut up about this heir business?" Celestia said sharply. "We know you're the heir. But it's only because our five year old uncle and his mama drowned and grandfather set our palace aflame and ran off in a mad hysteria. I wouldn't be so proud about such a miserably begotten title." Sunset stared at her, her face a mask of shock, but uncharacteristically did not respond. Cadence started sniffling, causing Luna to say, "Don't fight, you're upsetting her." "It's not them," Cadence said, her voice damp with tears. "It's..." She stopped and swallowed, looking suddenly afraid. Celestia turned to Cadence, her brow furrowed. "It's what Cadence?" Cadence burrowed herself under the covers so only her eyes were visible, wide and quivering. "Cadence? What's the matter?" Celestia insisted, looking concerned. Cadence said something but was muffled by the cover. "What?" her sisters said at once. "I'm afraid to say," Cadence said louder, her voice strained with anxiety. Celestia voice became firmer: "Cadence, you cannot hide something that's frightening you." Luna nodded and added worriedly, "You need to tell us." "I'll tell Papa if you do not tell us what this threat is," Sunset demanded. Cadence covered her eyes with her hooves. "I had a bad dream." "That's it?" Sunset exclaimed but Celestia and Luna both waved her away. "What was it?" Celestia said. "Of Uncle Vasilios, Grandmama and Grandpapa." "What about them?" "Of them dying." Celestia looked saddened and put her arm around Cadence. "Oh precious, I'm sorry about that. How about I ask the cook to create a sweet sleep soup--" "No it was before they died I saw it!" Cadence exclaimed. The three older fillies stared at her and then each other, trading expressions first of confusion then realization. Sunset was the first to speak, hesitantly: "Like...how Mama sees it, when she is at the loom?" Luna remembered this--it had been so long since it had been spoken of. She had been very little and watched Mama weaving vividly colored threads into massive tapestries, each utterly dissimilar from the last, filled with images of every creature known and some never seen. They were so life-like that sometimes when the servants or Papa would walk in they would have to look twice to assure themselves they weren’t alive. Mama stopped letting Luna or the rest of the princesses watch after Cadence ran out of the room screaming that one of the wolves in the tapestry Mama was creating had leapt out and gnashed its teeth. Cadence's eyes were shut tight as she nodded in answer to Sunset’s question. After a long pause, Luna asked in a low voice: "Did you tell Mama?" "I tried but I kept crying," Cadence said. "And she was busy because of the funeral." "We should go tell her," Luna said. "She's with Papa," Sunset pointed out. "What did you see?" Celestia asked quietly. Cadence’s eyes suddenly appeared cloudy and her face took on a bizarrely serene air. When she spoke her voice was slow and soft like she was trying to piece together the memory of a dream: “Three days before little Uncle Vasilios died, I dreamt I saw him in the part of the garden where the river ran through. He was wading into it and I said, ‘Little Uncle, where are you going?’ and he said to me, ‘I heard the Word of the Voice, I hear it Speaking to me across this way.’ And he walked over the river like it was solid ground and disappeared from my sight. “Seven days after his funeral, I dreamt I saw Grandmama sitting by the bank of the river where little Uncle Vasilios drowned that day when we all were turned away. And the train of her dress was all made of violet blossoms and she had them woven in her hair too, the way she did when she, little Uncle and I would sit in the garden and make crowns of them. “She was crying so that there was water all around her and it kept growing higher. I asked her, ‘Grandmama why are you weeping?’ She said to me, ‘My babe passed over the river and I cannot follow so I will make the river overflow so it will carry me over to be with him.’ And the water went over her head like the mouth of a great beast and she left my sight. “Then in the same dream, I would suddenly see Grandpapa standing in the throne room all wreathed in fire, in his hair and on his horn and his legs. I said, ‘Grandpapa, why are you full of fire?’ And he said, ‘The river took my wife and my son so I will burn it up.’ So I said, ‘But only the river can take you to them.’ He then told me, ‘Then I will bring the river back.’ And he took all the smoke from the fire and threw it to the ceiling and they turned into stormclouds and poured out rain that filled the room and swallowed him up, so he was hidden from my sight.” Cadence blinked and her expression abruptly regained it’s frightened look, her eyes darting between her sister’s with fearful anticipation. Sunset’s face was twisted in horror and she had pushed herself as far into her chair as possible, while Celestia’s face was soft with compassion but quivering with an edge of anxiety. Luna wasn’t certain what she felt, it reminded her of when the explosion from Grandpapa’s magic inferno had struck her and she had felt shivery and numbed. Somehow she found herself being the first to speak, “You dreamt all this?” “Yes,” Cadence said. “You haven’t told anypony?” Sunset demanded. “Only you three and the Maker know,” Cadence insisted. “You must tell Mama first thing in the morning,” Celestia said. “And then she will tell the Holy Seer what you saw.” Cadence suddenly sat up, her face ashen. “Oh no don’t tell the Holy Seer!” “Why not?” her sisters said all at once. “He will take me and chain me in a hidden room beneath the temple to burn foul incense to compel me to prophesy before him forever!” she cried. “What?” Celestia said and Sunset added, “Who told you such madness?” “Luna!” When Celestia and Sunset turned to her, Luna put her hooves up in defense. “That was a story from ages past, before Asgard was even united! It was under the False Seer, and he used to find true seers to serve him so he would appear to be--” “Oh shut up,” Sunset said in a tone of great exasperation. “Haven’t you done enough already, filling her head with such nonsense stories!” “They’re not nonsense, they’re our history and if you’re so set on being the All one day--” “Both of you be still!” Celestia snapped. She rubbed her eyes with her hooves furiously, as if trying to wipe them off her face. “We’ll tell Mama tomorrow and she will decide what’s to be done. That’s it. Now I just want to go to sleep.” As if to emphasize her point she flopped down on the bed and pulled the covers up to her chin. Cadence followed suit as did Luna, while Sunset remained firmly planted in her chair. “Go to bed, Sunset,” Celestia said. “I’ll sleep where I please,” Sunset snorted. Luna’s eyes rolled behind their closed lids. *** “Lulu are you still awake?” “Yes, Tia.” “So am I, if it matters.” “It doesn’t.” “Don’t you two start again, you’ll wake Cadence.” “Wake her, I’ll never sleep again because of her.” “Perhaps it’ll improve your personality, my lady heir.” “Oh, Bor and Faust help me.” Luna sighed deeply and sat up, shoving the covers off her body. “This night will never end.” “I could barely lift my hooves when they sent us away for bed and now I couldn’t sleep if you offered me a kingdom,” Celestia said, also sitting up and using her wing to fan her face. “Sunset, open the window. There isn’t a drop of air in this room.” “No, the wind will bring the soot in here from the throne room,” Sunset said. “When will that be fixed, before or after we die of asphyxiation?” “If you weren’t all piled in one bed you wouldn’t be so uncomfortable. Just exert yourself for once in your life, Celestia.” Luna threw her legs over the edge of the bed and dropped to the floor, walking around the bedframe and over to the window. “What are you doing, didn’t you just hear what I said?” Sunset cried. “I’m going to throw myself out the window to find some peace. Shut it when I’m gone if you’d like,” Luna said, unlatching the window and shoving it open. A deliciously cool breeze flowed directly into her face and Luna released a long sigh of relief. She threw her front hooves over the windowsill and stuck her head out into the night air, the half moon casting gentle milky veil over everything. “When Papa comes in here tomorrow and sees soot covering everything don’t think I won’t tell him who's repson--” “There’s no soot, the wind is coming from the opposite direction.” Luna added under her breath, “Why don’t you relax and enjoy something for once in your life.” Luna heard hoof steps approaching and braced herself for an angry tirade but Celestia instead of Sunset came up beside her, putting her own hooves over the sill and her head out the window. Her long pale pink mane hung over the window’s edge, dangling and wavering in the wind like a glimmering banner. “Ooooooh it’s lovely out tonight,” Celestia breathed. “It’s so clear. But they say the sky and air is clearer after a great storm.” “I’ve heard that too,” Luna said. After a pause she said, “I wonder if Grandpapa summoned that storm as well as the fire.” Celestia rubbed her forehead with her hoof as if she suddenly had a headache. “Don’t think about him.” “I can’t help it, I was the last to ever see him. Sometimes I wonder if I ought to have gone after him or said more to him.” “Don’t consider that. That’s what Grandmama kept saying to herself and see what became of her.” That was terribly chilling and very unlike Celestia to speak of, which provoked Luna to give her a shocked look. Celestia must have seen it, though she kept staring straight ahead, because she said defensively, “That’s why I’m determined never to speak or think on sorrowful things. The world itself is already so full of grievous matters that can never be helped, but my nature can and so I’m set to be merry in every circumstance.” “Sounds a lot like willful blindness to me,” Sunset said from her seat behind them. Celestia spun around and spat, “Well what do you call your outlook--despotism?” “No it’s called pragmatism.” Sunset turned around in her seat to face them, her expression suddenly very fierce. “Do you recall how Papa got his eyepatch? Of course you don’t, neither of you were there. Well I was and this was it: "Papa had me sit in on of the council meetings to learn my future duties and there arose some dispute on the subject of opening the Bridge again, to quash some quarrel in Hekkerhiem before it infected the other realms. And Grandpapa was against it for you know how he despised every grain of dust that was not Asgardian since it caused so much grief and distance in the relations between him and his father. "But Papa thought it wise course since if Hekkerheim ever got a hold on another realm they might gather enough strength to strike at us. So he and Grandpapa got into an almighty row so that all the council blanched and I thought the roof of the room would come crashing down upon us. "Then Papa said Grandpapa was acting out of willful blindness and in answer Grandpapa took hold of his scepter and struck it across Papa’s face. It split the flesh from his crown to his eyebrow open so blood went pouring all over his face and the force directly drove into his eyeball. “And while everypony was rushing about calling for the physician or attempting to assist Papa with the pain or holding Grandpapa back since he was still in a fury and trying to hit Papa again--I sat in my seat forgotten and watched. I saw in that moment my father, so noble and mighty and immovable, reduced to a bloody victim and my grandfather, the all-powerful All-Father of the most formidable realm, revealed as just a violent, cowardly lunatic. What is a child supposed to think of her station and her ancestors and her kingdom when the two pillars that supported it are knocked down? “Every since that moment I have turned it over and over in my mind, in all my waking and resting hours. And the conclusion I arrived to was that if anypony else had done thusly to Papa, he would have died. But because Grandpapa was the sole authority in that room, he lived on and instigated more such mad events, culminating in burning and blowing up our ancestral home which took the lifespan of two All-Fathers to build! "So in conclusion, I understood that the only thing that secures safety, stability and sense in the world is the strength of arm to enforce your will. In short, it is power. Only that. “So when the day comes and I am All-Mother, I will rule first and foremost by impressing upon my family, my servants and my subjects that I am the sole power in this land and none suprasses me unless they court destruction. Therefore I will be established until the end of my days.” There was a very long stretch of silence and Luna was glad Sunset’s burning gaze was aimed solely at Celestia. Those horrible sulphuric eyes... No, not again, not one more time! First Grandpapa then Papa and now Sunset, they cannot all have the exact same spirit in their eyes. Your mind is playing tricks on you again. “Do you intend that to be your All-Mother coronation speech? It’s long enough,” Celestia said disparagingly, striding up to Sunset in her brilliant, brazen way. “You call Grandpapa lunatic and Papa victim for the sake of one incident? You are more narrow minded than if you had blinders. Do you want to know how Grandpapa and Papa’s states truly were before Vasilios and Grandmama’s death? “You remember that time for merriment I made those puppets, Luna wrote a little play for them and you demanded to direct it? And we had Cadence and Vasilios do all the singing and effects, like banging a drum or tossing confetti at the puppets. We set ourselves up behind the settee in the nursery and it was one of the few times we were all together with no servants or politicians, just our family. “Grandpapa and Papa sat beside each other and for the whole of the play, and they couldn’t stop laughing because of how terrible and messy it was, while Mama and Grandmama tried to make them behave. And for days after that they would quote the worst lines to each other and burst into laughter. “That’s how they truly were. Yes Grandpapa was touched in the head, and yes Papa bore the brunt of it so nopony else had to, but they were still father and son. All parents love their children and Grandpapa was no different, it wasn’t his fault he couldn’t express it properly at all times, and Papa is wise and pragmatic enough to understand that. Papa loved Grandpapa and that’s why he cried at the funeral today. Are you going to call him a victim because of that too, that somehow Grandpapa can reach from beyond the grave and crush him under his authority still?” “He might,” Luna said, speaking aloud before she could stop herself. Both Sunset and Celestia turned on her with looks of scandalized incredulity. “What?” they demanded simultaneously, with Sunset adding on, “I knew those old books were addling her.” “I don’t mean that how it sounded,” Luna said quickly. “Then what did you mean?” Sunset said. “Don’t leave us in suspense now, storyteller. You love words so much, don’t tell me you’ll allow Celestia and I beat you in that regard.” Luna shrank against the window, the breeze now hitting her back and feeling chilling rather than soothing. “You have to tell us what you meant now, Lulu,” Celestia urged. “I’m not getting any sleep tonight anyway, it isn’t as if anything you say will change that.” “It’s just nonsense, my mind works such miserable fancies,” Luna said. “Everything you say is nonsense, I wish you were as reticent about it always.” “Shut up, Sunset. Luna, just tell us or it’ll eat you alive as these things always do.” At Celestia’s insistence, kinder than Sunset’s but still with an uncharacteristic edge, Luna gave in. “All I meant by it was that Grandpapa had a way of casting a shadow over you and that it clings even with him gone.” When her sisters still looked at her in expectation she blurted out as quickly as she could: “You remember when I used to stay up for hours staring out of the telescope, because I was hoping the stars would imprint themselves in my eyes? Well one day, when we were visiting their royal chambers, I told Grandmama and Grandpapa about it. Grandmama laughed and said I was very amusing as always. “But Grandpapa instead leaned down from his great height--remember I was smaller than Cadence then, so it was a long journey--to look me right in the eye. And you can imagine how impressive this was to me even at such a young age, I knew even then he hated to look anypony in the eye. But when he did look at me, it was like he was considering how to break open my skull, so he could pull out all the stuff within that was displeasing to him. “Then spoke to me--I don’t remember him ever speaking to me before this--and he said this: ‘When you were born, they told me you had the new moon in your eyes, they were so dark. But I look in them now, and I see no such promise of renewing light. I see supermassives in them, and if you continue in this way you’ll take the stars out of the sky. So keep them closed, darkling.’” “So?” Sunset said. “I was expecting a black curse or the summoning of Faust’s spirit, the way you were acting.” Sunset’s dismissiveness suddenly angered Luna and she stamped her hoof, exclaiming: “You dolt, can’t you comprehend insinuation or is your mane the only bright thing on you? The way he spoke, how he looked at me! It was like he was prophesying some great doom over my head, like he peered into my mind’s eye and saw all this darkness within it.” “You’re just assuming that’s what he meant,” Sunset said. “It sounds to me like the common ramblings he spouted in one of his dark moods. And what you’re spouting sounds like it came out of your grim tomes. That’s where any darkness in you comes from, you’re too simple to have any real wickedness.” “I am sadly compelled to agree with the dolt on this one,” Celestia said. “Grandpapa said many things in his moods that had no grounding in reality. You simply were the subject of this particular one.” Luna felt outrageous aggrieved, as if they had each spat in her eye. She had been kept up so many nights with the memory of that event, her nightmares had been exaggerations of it and it had tainted her view of herself all this time. And these two felt they could just sit there and dismiss it, because Lulu’s the dreamer and the storyteller just nice words for lazy and liar, empty-headed except for dusty old stories of dead folk and false tales of ghosts and monsters-- Luna shook her head, trying to loose it from the angry clutter the thoughts caused. But she couldn’t let this rest and so looked both her sister’s dead in the face and spoke in the bone-chilling tone she recalled her Papa using earlier that day when chastising her: “What I meant by that story was to illustrate that Grandpapa had a power to make you feel lowly and frightened. When he spoke to you, no matter how nonsensical it sounded, he could make it run through like a sword and permeate everything like a fever. So maybe Papa does feel like Sunset said, like Grandpapa still rules over him beyond the grave, because his words won’t die with him. “Words can’t die unless they’re forgotten, and Grandpapa’s won’t be, and the more they’re remembered the more power they have. Words shape all things that’s why the foundations of the most potent magic is in spells, that’s why all things are given names, and why we write down our histories. "So what I was attempting to say, is that I think it’s obvious Papa cried because his beloved parents and little brother are dead. But that you can love someone and feel oppressed by them all at once. And maybe Papa feels thusly.” Luna expected silence to follow this, after all it had been long and well-spoken, but instead Sunset rolled her eyes so dramatically her irises disappeared and said, “Wonderful. Another nervous, superstitious lunatic.” Celestia abruptly started walking across the room, towards the double doors that lead out into the hall. “Where are you going?” Luna asked. “For a walk,” Celestia said shortly. “Alone?” But the door slammed shut before the word even was out of Luna’s mouth. “Probably not for long,” Sunset grumbled and stood up, stalking over to the door that lead into her bedroom. “She always needs somepony to hold her hoof.” Luna winced as the door slammed behind her and looked at Cadence, but her sister was thankfully a heavy sleeper and didn’t even flinch at the sound. The room now felt unnervingly empty and the wind made hissing sounds like a serpent in Luna’s ears. The moonlight alone now seemed to intensify and stretch the shadows, even her own shadow loomed out before her and seemed to take a sinister form. Luna felt a violent shiver seize her body and rushed over to her bed, practically throwing herself in and diving under the covers. As she felt the warmth of the covers and her sister enveloping her, Luna suddenly felt exhaustion washing over her. So she shut her eyes and the darkness was profoundly comforting. > The magician longs to see, One chants out between two worlds > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- I call out to you from in the tide that washes in and out of the veils. If you hear my voice answer me these: All worlds have only two paths, one leads to the hill and one to the ashheap. Two bloody altar sit at each crossroad, one for the fathers and one for the fools. There are two pillars in every universe, one of gold and one of dross, and the little ones stand in between. Choose which fire you take to breast, one with purify and one will purge. If the victim becomes the inflictor, then where is the circle's end. If you can answer me these things then I will teach you to be the moon of the mind, the designer and diviner of dreams, the seeing eye of the shadows and guard against the stalking night mare. I call out to you darkling! Answer and walk the dream with me. *** “Luna wake up!” Luna opened her eyes to complete darkness. I suppose I’m still dreaming. “Luna!” Dreaming or not, Cadence sounds insistent. Luna struggled to sit up, her body felt as if it were moving through water and her senses dulled like her mind was stuffed with mist. She suddenly realized she was tangled in something, soft but thick almost...fuzzy? What is this--rope? But how is it everywhere over my head and in my face WHAT THE--! She felt things suddenly falling in on her, small and squirming…! Luna shrieked and with a mighty shove threw off whatever was covering her-- And saw her comforter fall over the edge of her mattress. Along with half of her dolls. Oh Faust, how am I such an idiot. “Are you awake now?” Cadence’s voice came from the other side of her bed. Luna turned and saw her sister sitting on the very edge of the mattress, her mane still mussed and her eyes still grainy from sleep. “I think so,” Luna said but even as she said it she ran the events of the last three days in her head. Mama announced Papa’s coming, I babysat Cadence, told her The Butterfly in the Tomb, Celestia was caught with that new page colt… ...Yeah, I’m definitely awake and what I was hearing was a dream. She felt her shoulders loosen and now relaxed a yawn escaped her lips. The deep inhale and exhale actually made her lungs ache. Maybe the position she slept in or being under the covers was affecting her lungs. “I’m still so exhausted…” she sighed. “You can sleep in today,” Cadence said, dropping off the bed to the floor. “I asked Mama and she said Tia can watch me today.” “She probably wants to keep her away from all the stallions--” Luna’s mouth snapped shut and she winced. “Don’t let either of them know I said that.” Cadence gave Luna a knowing look. “It’s fine. Really.” Luna rolled her eyes. “I didn’t even think of that sort of stuff when I was your age. Good Faust, if Tia could just have a dram of self-control--!” Luna shook her head. “Nevermind.” Emotion had a strange way of dissipating any leftover sleepiness. Unpleasant emotions also seemed to provoke restlessness her very muscles. So she flopped on her stomach and reached to pick up her fallen dolls, fancying they all were very put out at having been mistaken for crawling creatures and tossed out of bed. After she picked up these she turned her attention to those left in the bed, gathering them up and placing them on the shelf above her bed where they traditionally inhabited when she was not playing with them. After she lined them all side by side, Luna set to counting them Luna’s dolls had been given to her by Grandmama for her fifth birthday. They were a set of ten little fillies of varying solid colors that came each with three outfit changes, a crown, and a little wand. Luna recalled that when she had unwrapped her present and was squealing her thanks, Papa had intoned from a seat on the other side of the room, “Mama, why did you give her such a thing, so is too young to value them. She’ll have broken half of them and lost the rest by the end of the week.” Grandmama and Mama had both dismissed his words, but they impressed on Luna’s mind an incredible sensation of responsibility towards her dolls. Since then she had refused to allow her sisters to handle them and always counted them and their accessories after handling them herself. “..Nine, ten,” Luna said to herself, though in reality she barely processed the words. After eleven years, the habit had become so ingrained she lost awareness of it. "Are you excited?" Cadence said from her end of the room. She was sitting on her bed, brushing the fluff of her immense stuffed boar, Richard, as she insisted he was named. Richard had been her companion since early infancy, she loved and desired no other toy, and he still was carried everywhere that was not an official function. It took Luna a moment to remember what she meant. "I'm glad he'll be staying longer than last time." "This time I'll make him promise me to write every fortnight. His last letter came over a month ago." "Don't worry Papa with that. He's so busy with stabilizing the kingdom." "He won't mind. Mama even says he'll going to spend every evening with us like when we were little. No work allowed." For emphasis, Cadence tapped her brush smartly on her bedstead. Luna tried to imagine Mama giving a that command and Papa obeying one. Even when Mama ordered the servants it was always worded in the gentlest, soft-spoken manner. And Papa hadn't bowed to even some of Grandpapa's orders. Of course, those orders were often mere madness. "Mama also says Sunset won't be allowed to keep Papa to herself either since she's with him always now," Cadence continued. "Remember last time how she kept trying to get us to stop talking to him because they had matters of state to discuss?" Luna rolled her eyes in response. Since she was the heir to the throne, Papa insisted Sunset spend as much time as possible in preparation for her future role. That meant sitting in on council meetings, being present at every official court function, and accompanying the All on any tours of the realm. This all suited the princesses well; for Sunset it meant she was surrounded by servile deference and reminders of her future power, and for the rest it meant they were relieved of her presence in their daily lives. Luna went to her vanity to brush her mane. There were cosmetics scattered by the mirror, Celestia had moved them here after the time Sunset had put ink in her kohl which stained the outer rims of her eyes for five days. Of course, it just make Celestia’s eyes look even more doey and limpid, or so all the stallions and colts had claimed. Celestia could be struck by lightning and retain her attractiveness, Luna thought. She randomly picked up one of Celestia’s many rouge boxes, turned it over in her hoof and then set it down with a grimace. How could she possibly have a use for all of this? There’s at least five tubs and casks containing slight hue variations of the exact same product. She already is better looking than any mare in the palace and yet she still feels the need to smear this garish, sticky stuff on her face? And it takes her hours, you’d think she was performing some high magical work. Speaking of magic… “Cadence, if Mama comes asking for me I’m with Majere again,” Luna said, simultaneously yanking her braid loose and quickly dragging her brush through her hair before hurrying out of the door just as Cadence replied: “Sure.” Just as she shut the door behind her Luna almost ran into a pale green mare rushing down the hallway. With a bobbing curtsey and a quick "Pardon, Highness," the mare continued down the hall. Luna stared after her in confusion, trying to place the strange mare's face in her mind. She must be one of the new maids Mama hired. After his ascension to the throne, Papa had spent the first year going through the palace's books, which had been sorely neglected by Grandpapa. He found they were filled with incomplete and even doctored information, and upon personal inspection discovered most everything was overstaffed and overpaid or underpaid and understaffed. So he vetted the entire, firing over half of the staff, including some counselors, ambassadors and politicians. When Papa then left to address the needs of the realm as a whole, which shared many of the same issues as the palace, Mama was in charge of filling the empty stations with trustworthy and competent replacements. That had been a process of two years and Luna still felt unsettled and off balance by the waves of unrecognizable faces. Strangers are bad enough, but when they live in your home and there's no way to avoid them... With that thought in mind Luna hurried down the hall in the opposite direction towards Majere's chambers. Her destination was on the other side of the palace, so she took the shortcut. Throughout the palace were thin, almost imperceptible outline in the walls. If one push in the correct end, each opened up into a passage within the walls. Luna pressed her shoulder against one of these outlines and the door slid open, allowing her to slip into the darkened passage. As she shut the door behind her and the blackness wrapped around her, Luna felt a wave of serenity sweep through her body. This is more like it. Luna had grown fond of these passages of late. As Cadence grew older the bedroom felt more crowded and less private, and nearly every other room of the house was crawling with servants. She found herself retreating more often into these secret doors and simply wandering down them for hours until she circled back. Mostly she daydreamed, an old habit that as of late had become a full-blown hobby, occupying any moment of her mind that was not taken with lessons or familial interactions. She dreamt of the worlds and creatures and tales from her books; but sometimes she created stories of her own, though she wasn’t sure if it was the isolation or the darkness that caused nearly all these dreams to be submerged in melancholy and morbidity. Maybe it was because of her nightmares. Luna started down the passage at a leisurely place, stretching her wingtips out so they brushed against the walls, creating a soft whispering noise. The walls were enchanted to be soundproof to any outside them and there were notches peppered at advantageous angles to peer through and perfectly observe entire rooms, also magically enchanted to be invisible and funnel in even the quietest sounds from without. These passages had been purposely designed by the All-Mother Sha’ula to allow the royal family privacy from all prying eyes while allowing them to keep a constant watch upon their servants and friends. It was a rather paranoid and deceptive route to take, and her reign had been marked by those two aspects. Luna did feel a twinge of guilt now and then when she utilized these eyeholes, but she justified by telling herself she wasn’t spying on folk with the intent to punish or expose them. Her desire was mere amusement. She found observing others when they were unaware of you was absorbing and fascinating, they acted far more naturally and revealingly this way. As a princess, nopony ever behaved anything less than proper and polite in her presence, to see the same folk’s true manner was always informative. She’d had many opportunities these past two years with all the new staff members and for the past three days there had been even more entertainment value than usual since the whole household was in a frenzy preparing for Papa’s return. Witnessing all the chaos of it made her even more grateful for her hiding place, she always felt like an obstacle whenever urgent business had to be enacted. She didn’t understand that about herself, she wasn’t slothful or indifferent in most things, she felt the responsibility of her place as the daughter of the All-Father and her single aspiration was to be worthy to fulfill it. But she felt something like a solitary pillar directed to uphold a great ceiling, there was so much to support but so little she seemed capable of. Sunset had the vehemence and resolution to conquer whatever object she set her sights on, Celestia was magnetic and persuasive enough to be given all she desired, and Cadence overwhelmed all with such affection and devotion there was no pony who would refuse her anything. Luna perceived that compared to her sisters’ star-like warmth and luminance, she was their inverse, frigid and lightness. She could feel whenever she drew near to others--family, administration, servants--how they reacted like repelling magnetism and whenever she entered a place that was full of conversation and amusement it abruptly silenced as if smothered by an invisible hand. Her sisters emanated, she only consumed. Like a black hole. The darkness of the passage now morphed from comforting to strangling and Luna quickly turned to look out the eyehole closest to her. She found she was looking into the Central Hall which lead to every major room in the palace (the throne room, the dining hall, the ballroom, the counseling chamber and royal family’s rooms) and thusly it was always choked with traffic. Luna had noted servants often used this as a meeting point to exchange gossip, she actually heard about most of Celestia’s mischief through this channel. There was none of that today though, partly due to the haste in which every pony was in and also in part because Mama had positioned herself in the center of the hall so as to properly direct the flow of work. Mama levitated a scroll before her eyes and conducted each pony that scurried by her with a gentle word or motion of her wing or hoof. How can she manage to keep track of all of them and their each individual tasks? I can hardly tell them apart, much less recall their faces or station. Mama was discussing something about the ballroom chandelier with a dark bay stallion when Cadence trotted up to her, dragging Richard behind her, and tugged on her mother’s tail. Mama looked down and upon seeing Cadence, smiled tenderly and dismissed the servant. “Good morning, precious. You’ve risen early,” Mama said, stroking Cadence’s mane. “I couldn’t fall back asleep,” Cadence said, rubbing her right eye with her hoof. Luna only then noticed the shadows under her sister’s eyes. “Have you seen Tia, Mama? I want her to watch me today.” “She isn’t in her room?” “No. I don’t think she came to bed all night.” Luna could perceive the sour look ghost across her mother’s face before she caught herself. “Why don’t you just ask Luna again, she doesn’t seem to mind.” And she won’t drag you up and down the halls so she can flirt with all the new page colts. Cadence must have made a strange face because Mama frowned and bent down to be on level with her. “What is it, precious?” Cadence looked down at the floor and said in a small voice, “It’s...Luna scared me yesterday.” “Scared you? How?” Mama said, voicing Luna’s exact thoughts. “She told this story.” Cadence levitating Richard close to her face as if for reassurance. “I’m afraid to say it’s name but it was so terrible. I had nightmares all night and when I woke up I was scared to fall back asleep.” "Why didn't you tell her she was scaring you?" Cadence shrugged, squeezing Richard even closer to herself. "I don't know, I just couldn't say anything." Mama gave her a compassionate look and embraced Cadence closely with her wings. "It's alright precious,” she said softly. “I'll tell Luna no more scary stories from now. Now wait right here and let me find Celestia." She kissed Cadence on the forehead before releasing her and starting down the hall in the direction of the ballroom. Luna knew there was an impending scene clash and so hastened to follow. Also, she now found she couldn’t continue watching Cadence, who did indeed look quite weary and seemed to be having trouble keeping her eyes open, leaning herself against the hallway wall and holding Richard under her chin like a pillow. Even as Luna trotted through the passages that lead to the ballroom she couldn’t shake off the queasy sensation of guilt. How did I not even notice how tired she looked this morning? And how did I not perceive how much my tale yesterday was effecting her? Luna reached the ballroom before her mother did, since the passages where designed to be swifter than the regular route, and when Mama finally arrived she went straight to the door that lead to the kitchen. As Luna hurried down the parallel passage the delicious and intoxicating scent of warm food seeped in through the notches. She usually avoided these particular passages because the smell of unattainable food was often too much to endure and since the inner walls were not created with proper ventilation the heat from the ovens and stoves made the narrow passages sweltering. Already she felt perspiration developing on her forehead and by the time she reached the end that provided the best view her breath was becoming difficult to draw. Oh Borr, it’s like a furnace in here! Are they cooking for Papa or an entire pantheon? She couldn’t even put her eye directly against the eyehole because the walls were so hot, but she could still see and hear everything clearly. From this angle she could see from the two doorways--one from the dining hall and the other from the ballroom--into the kitchen, to the back door that lead into the courtyard that contained the kitchen garden and ashheap. Leads to the ashheap... Luna felt her eyes suddenly start to cloud and her head felt murky, like she had inhaled a thick fog, and it was only her mother’s sudden entrance through the kitchen doorway that seemed to wrench her back into clarity. All the servants froze in the middle of their tasks, silence abruptly reigning where noise usually lorded, and Mama’s voice echoed through the kitchen with uncharacteristic sharpness: “Where is Princess Celestia?” Every single servant’s hoof shot towards the back door and Mama marched over with an expression of growing intolerance. Luna nearly tripped rushing to the passage’s dead end, the eyeholes which directly overlooked the kitchen garden. Here the smell was also pleasant, herbs and fruits and vegetables mixed with fresh air though there was always a bit of stench from the ashheap laced through it. It was also much cooler and so this time Luna was able to press her head against the wall to peer out the eyehole. The first sight that greeted her was Celestia, ironically looking like she had been struck by lightning. Her hair was frazzled, her eyes were bloodshot and had black shadows beneath them, and she stumbled about as if her center of gravity were shifting. She was gathering some herbs with her magic in the corner of the garden; Luna couldn’t see what kind they were but she assumed they were the ones she often observed her boiling in water to help with the aftereffects of drunkenness. Mama entered the courtyard and strode up to Celestia, the latter of whom flinched every time the former’s hooves struck the cobblestone ground. “Where were you last night?” Mama demanded. Even Luna was struck by own harsh her tone was, she had seen Celestia and Mama argue before but rarely did the confrontations begin this aggressively. Celestia made a pained face and touched her forehead as if to steady it. “I suppose in my bed isn’t a viable excuse today?” she rasped, even her voice sounded as if it hurt. With her hoof Mama knocked the herbs out of Celestia’s magical hold, causing them to lazily drift to the ground. “If Cadence hadn’t told me were you truly going to stand there and lie to my face?” “I wouldn’t need to lie so much if you didn’t take everything so hysterically all the time!” Celestia exclaimed, her anger seeming to override any pain she was in. “Oh pardon me, Lady and Mistress, how is a mother supposed to react to hearing her daughter spent the night unsupervised and unguarded?” “It’s not serious Mama, it’s not like I ever left the palace!” “This time. And if you didn’t leave, that means you let that creature you’ve been hustling with in.” Celestia's whole face became aflame with fury and she thrust her face right into their mother's. “Don’t talk about him like that, just because he isn’t a pony doesn’t make him a lower lifeform!” “No, it’s his actions that prove that!" Mama snapped back, her voice was so uncharacteristically harsh Luna almost winced to hear it. "His whole manner is maligning, grotesque and depraved, and he has been nothing but a seditious and corrupting influence on you since the day you met!” “He never corrupted me, this is how I've always been and you have never wanted to admit it! He enjoys me for who I am, while you spend all your time trying to twist me into what you think I should be!” “No you are not this, so shallow and vulgar and spiteful. You are brilliant and clever and kind, and you are in a place in the world where you have the luxury of time and impunity to improve those virtues and weed out your vices, and eventually share your warm heart to the whole realm.” “Can’t I do that without being dull and dour? If you want a daughter in the vein you already have Luna!” Mama's whole countenance darkened like a thunderstorm and her tone dropped to what could almost be called a growl. “Watch your tongue, Celestia or I will see that you lose use of it for a few days. You will not use your sister as a distraction from your own faults." "What, is she void of them?" Celestia demanded, her voice taking on a maliciously mocking lilt. "You never harass her as you do me but she has faults enough for you to quarrel with! Ask her how many guests and servants she has given sour impressions by her sullenness and shunning of all polite and expected attention. Ask our tutors how many times she sees fit to usurp their place to correct me or my sisters when we are mistaken in class. " Mama opened her mouth to interrupt her but Celestia only lifted her voice to a uproarious shout: "See watch how she lords her intellect and knowledge over all, thinking those give her the place to judge everything, family, servants and strangers alike in their manners and actions! She treats the whole world as an enemy to hide from, yet censures all and partakes in none! Is that what you want me to be: a morosely sanctimonious, diffident and joyless doll?" The slap Mama delivered across Celestia's face was so sudden and so violent that hidden behind the wall Luna herself jumped back in shock. When Celestia had recovered her balance she gaped at Mama with an expression of such astonishment that in any other situation would have been hilarious, but only served to make the scene more leaden. Mama leaned into Celestia's face, her own burning with the most chilling visage of coiled wrath Luna had ever beheld. "I told you Celestia Faustia Odinmaden Borrson, I won't hear you exploit your family's weakness as a shield to yours. When you stand before judgment, no being will accept the sins of others as justification for your wicked deeds. Unless you intend to live the life of an anathema to your father's house, you must develop some concept of self-control and responsibility or so help me I will see that it is impose upon you in the most effective and pitiless fashion. Now I want to you go find your little sister in the Central Hall and take her out to the garden so as to be away from the house's bustle. Is that understood?" "Yes." "Yes, what?" "Yes Mama." Mama straightened and said with a voice like flint: "Humiliation does not become you. See that you find something more flattering to wear by your father's arrival." With that Mama walked away, her hoofsteps sounding like the strike of a judge’s gavel. Celestia stood motionless, her chest heaving and tears clearly standing out in her eyes. Then she gave each eye a rough rub with the back of her hoof and marched across the courtyard and through the back door, her face seething with fierce anger. Luna briefly considered following her to make sure she didn't act out in front of Cadence, but decided against it. Celestia would put on her grinning mask by the time she reached her sister, as she did during any unpleasant circumstances, and would only laugh the louder all day. She used humor and happiness like some used swords and spells, to rend and pierce through her enemies, boredom and unhappiness. See how well that's served her, Luna thought bitterly, then mentally added, Serves her well enough, by my eye. Luna felt her previous guilt over terrifying Cadence fade, after all nothing she did truly could compare to Celestia's exhibitions. She backed down the passage until she was able to turn around (the ones by the kitchen were so narrow there was no way to do this) and finally began the twisting path towards her original destination. *** Majere's chambers were nested in one of the many spires that spiraled from the main body of the palace. There were no hidden passages into these, the regular stairs that lead to the chambers were already so cramped Luna could not spread her wings in them, consequently there wasn't enough room within the walls for an added path. When Luna was small these stairs had been a momentous labor, she used to have to sit down and catch her breath constantly. Sunset used to throw fits and scream at her when she did, Luna never understood why the lunatic couldn't just keep going if it provoked her so much. Celestia certainly did, she would continue climbing, simply calling back that she would see them both at the top. Then usually Sunset would run after her, the drive to surpass Celestia overriding her despising of Luna. As she grew, the stairs themselves ceased to be an issue but Luna still hung back and allowed the others to rush ahead, it allowed her a few precious moments to quiet her mind before entering their master's chambers. Certainly there would be no quietness in Majere's presence. And ironically, Luna wasn't troubled by that fact. Majere was the official court mage and had been so since Grandpapa had been a young stallion. He had taught Papa in the magical arts and Mama and her siblings as well. He had exemplary qualifications, he came from a long, unbroken line of high mages, seven generations on his father's side and five on his mother's, and one of his forebears was taught by Ambrosius himself. Grandpapa, whose nature ensured he held faith in few things, had trusted in Majere's magical knowledge and prowess implicitly. Papa, whose own nature held few things in esteem, had the uttermost deference for Majere's character and insight. As far as Luna personally knew from tales both historical and fictional, great mages came in two flavors: sinisterly ambitious or benevolently eccentric. Majere settled very firmly into the latter. Mama had once commented to Papa in Luna's hearing that she had worried when they sent her to be tutored by him that it would be disastrous and how astonished was at how magnificently they got along. It made all the sense in the world to Luna; the moment she had first stepped into the chamber as a filly, shrinking between Sunset and Celestia, and set eyes on her master every sense of anxiety and trepidation that had been building with every step up the stairs had extinguished. If his stained and patched, bizarrely multi-colored robes didn't dismantle any sense of formability, his dulled and drooping wizard's hat whose pinnacle was always falling between his eyes like a jester's cap only gave a dose of absurdity to his already ridiculous appearance. Add to that his mane, thinned and bleached by age, was held back by dozens of haphazardly placed pins and clips and his piebald coat whose natural markings could often not be distinguished from the blemishes and marks left by backfiring brews and spells. Altogether, it made for an image that no creature could take seriously or threateningly, even Luna. When Majere had first looked up from his apocalyptically shambolic desk, an immense magnifying lens strapped against his left eyeball, Luna remembered it as the first time she initiated a conversation to a stranger of her own volition. "Why do you have hourglasses in your eyes?" she had said. Without the lens it was usually unnoticeable at first that Majere's irises were hourglass shaped. It had reminded her of the constellations burning into her eyes. Majere had taken one very slow, dramatic blink and then answered her in a reedy, earnest voice: "To impress sharp-eyes ladies such as yourself." "You were not cursed?" Luna recalled saying. Celestia had given Luna a little kick and Sunset snapped at her, "No, simpleton, he--" But Majere had then bounded around his table and across the room like a spring fawn, striking a dainty pose before the sisters before declaring: "The only curse I've ever borne is that of my devastating good-looks and biting wit." To this day Luna wasn't sure if the next incident was intentional or not, either possibility was in character for him. The moment he finished his speech the strap that held the lens to Majere's forehead snapped, the lens slipping off his face and shattering on the floor. The timing and the situation was just too perfect, Luna had burst into peals of laughter. Both Celestia and Sunset gaped at her in matching expressions of mortification, which had only made Luna laugh harder. She only stopped when she heard Majere's laughter, surprisingly deep in comparison to his voice, joining hers. He had laughed so heartily he wept and when he finally recovered after much gasping for air, he had put his hoof on Luna's head and said, his voice still quaking from laughter: "You'll be a delightful companion, I can see." That was the first time and only time any pony had told Luna she was good company. Their relationship had remained unchanged for ten years, their lessons always accompanied with laughter. Though all of the princesses were accomplished in magic Luna knew she was Majere's favored student, given that his lighthearted attitude did not compliment Sunset's own mean-spirited one, and Celestia's disregarding manner didn't sit well when his teaching status. Cadence had only started lessons two years ago, so though Majere adored her as every creature who ever came in contact with her sweet spirit did, it did not usurp Luna's place given the vast differences in their age and maturity. Majere still conversed with Luna the most, both during lessons and after them, on matters both magical, historical and fantastical. Well-taught mages were always educated in history, literature and the arts, since these were considered to cultivate wisdom and imagination in the mind. "Those are the two greatest requirements for a mage," he told her. "One to make his magic safe, the other to make it great." Luna came upon the final step and knocked on the chamber door. It wasn't for the sake of formality, it was simply to warn Majere to shut down any experiment or spell he was attempting that might tend towards explosion. She had learned that lesson the hard way. The heavy wooden door swung open magically and Majere’s voice called out, “It’s safe!” Luna stepped inside the mage’s chambers. It was a circular stone room with a vaulted ceiling and eight tall narrow windows, four for each point of the compass and four for the spaces between, allowing in as much light as possible. There was another door directly across the first which lead out to a metallic stairway that curled around the outside of the chamber like a vine to its pinnacle, it was utilized for astronomical and meteorological purposes. The half of the chamber walls were lined with shelves packed with volumes of magical theories and spells, jars and bottles of ingredients, powerful relics and wards, and various other magical necessities. On the other side was Majere’s immense desk, scattered and overflowing with scrawled papers, tubes leading into bubbling pots and curious artifacts. Here Majere was bent over an open book, one hoof keeping his place and the other pinning the end of his hat back. "You're here remarkably early. I thought you would be watching Cadence again," he said without looking up from his book. "She asked for Celestia to watch her." Luna walked over to the desk and leaned over to see what Majere was reading. It was difficult to perceive upside down but it seemed to be a recipe for soup. "Why?" Majere asked. Luna's hesitation must have been long because Majere actually looked up from his book, promoting her to finally confess, "She said I scared her yesterday." Majere raised a thin eyebrow. "Scared her? How?" "I told her The Butterfly in the Tomb." "I suppose that is a tad intense for a filly. But why don't you go with them anyways. I'm sure Celestia will find activity enough to occupy your time." The memory of Celestia's words came back to Luna like a sour taste in her mouth. "I don't want to be with Celestia." "What did she do this time?" Majere said wearily. "Nothing to me." Technically true, but if felt enough like a lie that Luna had to hurriedly change the focus of the conversation: "Though she brought that new friend of hers into the house." "The new one? With all the--" He made a motion with his hoofs, like he was attempting to mishmash uncomplimentary puzzle pieces. Luna nodded. "That very one." "Oh Faust. Your mother--" "Knows." "Ahh well." Majere shook his head as if trying to rid it of a terrifying image. "That should be settled soon." "She was so mad she slapped her." Luna felt a twinge of regret saying that, it was a private matter after all. But then she remembered all the kitchen servants had to have heard it all, including Celestia's words about her, and the regret immediately melted away. It's not like Celestia ever attempted to keep other things private. Luna realized Majere was stared at her intently. "Your mother struck your sister?" he said, his voice low with disbelief. "Right across the face." Luna knew her voice sounded too satisfied to be appropriate, so she pushed herself off the desk and made her way towards the bookshelf holding the magical tomes. "So what will we be looking at today?" Thankfully, Majere went along with the conversational shift. "I was thinking on exploring some force field enhancements. Extremely useful if you ever are in need of defense." "Celestia is already onto learning to channel the sun rays through her body so she lights on fire without being burnt." "Celestia is learning quite a few things in many varied subject, some I imagine you wouldn't be up to," Majere said with no small amount of suggestiveness. Usually Luna would have laughed at that, but today this particular circumstance was grating her. "I only meant that magically. She's barely an entire year older but she's already at least seven years ahead of me!" "Only five, really." "When Papa comes tonight he will be looking over our scholastic marks and if he sees how far back I am in comparison--" "I will tell your father that all students are different and set their own pace." "--He'll be angry with me. He was already nearly graduating at my age!" "Your father spent much of his youth rushing into adulthood to be a support for his father. You thankfully have no need of such haste and should be grateful for the luxury of time for father's stability has provided you." "He'll think I'm ungrateful if it seems I'm wasting it!" Luna exclaimed, turning to face Majere in exasperation. "I've spent these past four years reading over the same basic material, force fields, levitation, pyrokinesis--all tricks any common unicorn could accomplish!" "You are far more powerful than nearly any unicorn." "But as an Alicorn, that is to be expected. As an Alicorn I am woefully below average. Sunset can already cause herself to fly without wings using her power. The last letter Papa sent us said that she raised some tailor pony's shop off the ground and held it so new supports could be added." "If only he sent us word that she could hold her temper, that would be real news." "Are you listening to me, Master?" Luna cried. Why did he seem to keep dancing around the subject? Majere did like to speak in riddles and nonsense at times, but those were usually employed to soften his abrupt and candid manner, not wheedle out of a confrontation. "I've heard every word and I knew all before you spoke it," Majere tolerantly. He came out from behind his desk and approached her, looking suddenly very serious. "I am the magic professor I know my students abilities. I also know the extent of their other abilities and in most other studies you are excelling past both your elder sisters." "In book-learning only," Luna interjected but Majere pointedly continued: "--History, science, the arts." "Papa won't care about any of those if it seems I'm magically stunted." "Oh please don't be so dramatic." Majere rolled his eyes dismissively. "Your magic isn't stunted, the potentials all there." "If it's all there then why don't you advance me so I can start implementing it?" "Because I can't perceive it yet." "You just said it was there!" Luna practically shouted but Majere held up a hoof to silence her. "I can sense that it's there," he said, his demeanor once again veering into atypical solemnity. "But I cannot tell it's nature or it's form." Luna's expression must have clearly spoken her bafflement because Majere went on, seeming to be simultaneously searching for more clarity in his words: "Your sisters their magic manifested clearly--Sunset's gravitational and Celestia's solar. But yours..." His front hooves, which had be moving in a circular manner as if to help propel his speech, now were dropped in defeat and he said simply, "I can't see it at all. The only reason I know it's there is because when I look at you there's something like a void, as if every magical sound or energy is abruptly silenced about you. "It's most obvious when you're around Celestia. Her magical aura makes all this racket, it shines and crackles. But set besides you, it dims. So, by it's distinct absence I know it's exists, like calculating the space and depth of a well by the echo of a stone thrown into it. But like the echo it's guesswork." His words, though spoken without a trace of ominousness, produced a sense of foreboding in Luna. "So it's like a blackhole?" she said slowly. "Perhaps, something like that," Majere said, not seeming to catch the apprehension in her voice. "By the absence of Celestia's light, you perceive my darkness." This time Majere noticed and frowned. "That sounds like you're referring to another matter." "So I cannot advance," Luna said frankly. "You can," Majere insisted. "It's just as of now I do not believe you should. Until I can tell more or less the nature of your ability I cannot safely introduce you to any higher or more potent magic. It might provoke your ability too sudden and too powerfully, and without understanding of it I don't know how well you could control it and if I can contain it without causing more harm." "So what do I do?" "I was thinking on going over some exercises to see if we can shine a light on your power or at least call it out. Unless you don't want to." Luna gave him an incredulous look. "Of course I want to! What makes you think I wouldn't?" Majere shrugged. "Well, it seems to me after some time of observing and considering the matter, that the problem might be an inward one." "You think I'm purposefully suppressing my magic? But that's impossible I spend all my time with you trying to expand it--" Majere shook his head, cutting her words off. "Trying to overcome your sisters. Luna, you are a soul given to silence and concealment and magical process is rooted in the soul. Your power will not respond to the same incentive as your sisters. The more you attempt to drag it out and expose it, the more your nature will repulse it and retreat only farther. Your magic requires a gentle, almost secret hoof to guide it." “So we have to take my magic by surprise?” Luna said skeptically. “No, just slowly and patiently.” The foreboding sensation was still floating in her mind but Luna pushed it back, saying determinedly, “We had better get started then.” “I still am gathering the best exercises to work with you," Majere said. He turned and went back to his desk, motioning for her to follow. Once there he levitated a pile of papers and set them in front of her, each listing various spells and spell-books in Majere's thin, precise writing. "That should take another week or so. We can start then.” Luna recognized most of them as magical puzzles meant to engage the subject's magic with concentration and eventually through this draw out hidden abilities. “Don’t you even have a couple we can start on?” “How did I say we should approach this?” Luna sighed. “Slowly and patiently.” “Exactly." Majere walked around to his side of the desk. "So go spend some time with your sisters and I’ll return to my work.” Luna knew anymore insistence would seem immature and insolent. Trying to distract from a startlingly potent feeling of defeat, she asked Majere: "Who is that soup for?” He smiled. "My wife. She’s been having some trouble sleeping.” Again, foreboding sprung into Luna's mind. “Bad dreams?” “No just restlessness. Why do you ask?” “No reason," she lied. "I’ll speak with you later.” Majere nodded. “Very well.” Luna quickly went out the door and shut it behind her without another word. Majere had usually been a relief to speak to compared to others but now she felt the same exhaustion she experienced when she was forced to converse with guests at parties. Which I’ll be expected to do tonight... She began feel the pangs of a headache beginning in her head. As she descended the stairway, the darkness that had been so soothing before now felt creeping and swallowing. She lit her horn and a soft gleam was cast ahead of her, but in response to the light the darkness grew only more pronounced. But set besides you, it dims. So keep them closed, darkling. I call out to you darkling! “I don’t want to be a darkling,” she whispered. Her voice was so soft even the narrow stairway couldn’t catch them to echo. “I want to be like…” Celestia’s face materialized in her mind, her inextinguishable beauty and joy that cultivated it further in everything she handled. Cadence wanted to spend her days with her, colts and stallions wanted to be besides her, Mama even when chastising her praised her brilliance and cleverness and kindness. Mama had offered no defense of Luna’s own virtues when Celestia had called her self-righteous, cowardly, morose and joyless. Mama had only rebuked her for exploiting the family’s weakness. Even when speaking of her power, Majere said he only knew of it in comparing it to Celestia’s. “I want to be like Celestia.” The shadows made no answer but loomed before her like an open tomb. It was going to be a long way down. *** The Butterfly in the Tomb I awoke to blackness and bones. I lay on my side, motionless. Like a foal trying to ignore the shapeless monsters in the shadows of its bedroom, I felt too terrified to move. Instead, my eyes darted to every nook and cranny of the dank chamber, analyzing my surroundings. The simple stone structure had no windows, and the only visible entrance was guarded by a massive stone. There were no torches, nor spots for torches to be mounted. Every corner was taken up by grime and spiders’ snares. And each wall was filled with holes. The holes held only bodies, smelling of rot and trapped in decaying yellowed plaster, the only source of color in the lightless box. With icy certainty the realization struck me: I was in my family tomb. The shadowy mounds about me where the bodies of my ancestors. I lay rooted to the spot, too overcome by this revelation to respond in any manner beyond staring at my surroundings. Then slowly like the dripping of water hysteria began to spread through my being, turning my limbs into liquid and my chest into a vice and my head into a hive of hornets. I couldn't see, I couldn't hear, I couldn't breathe--all air seemed to have transformed into plumes of fire that seared my lungs and the walls rushed towards me like they meant to crush me between them. I wanted to cry out but could not find my voice, I want to run but there was no feeling in my legs. The tension built within my frame. My frenzied mind raced through every possible option, too frozen in dread to actually enact any of them. Finally, as I lay there anticipating my death through drawn out starvation, all my tension and panic shot out in a piercing screech. I leapt off my aberrant bunk in a desperate plea for action and galloped over to the door staying me from freedom. I stamped my hoof against the stone, the sound ringing piercingly in the tomb so that I thought it would be enough to awaken my ancestors from their slumber. When the noise died down I pressed my ear to the stone and listened for any responding noise, a voice, tapping, anything, but none came. I drew back and struck the stone again and again listened, but still I was answered by silence. Now I was aware of my breath coming in fast, quick gasps that scrapped at my throat like thorns. The stone was indeed thick yes, but not so that my striking it could not be heard nor my screams completely silenced. What was this horror that was befalling me, was I in a dream? When would I wake from this dread and find myself once again in the comfort of my bed besides my wife? Every aspect of the circumstances was so acute and vivid unlike any dream I had ever experienced before. I attempted to reach back into the recess of my mind, to summon up any memory that could explain this to me. My last recollections were indeed feeling poorly coming in from overseeing in the field, but a mere weariness that I knew would dissipate with rest so I had lain myself down in my bed. Was it possible that my family could mistake me for dead for so long as to complete the funeral rites and inter me within? I could not have been lain within for more than a day since I still lived. This meant some pony must be coming back to the tomb to compete the mourning process. Some pony must hear me and send to rescue me. So I continued to slam against the stone again and cried out with a loud voice so that the tomb was full of my echos, bouncing back into my ears as if mocking by desperation. When once again I stopped to listen there was only stillness, no voice called out to me and the stone remained firmly in place. I lay my forehead against the stone in despair and though my body ached to weep no tears came to my eyes, as if the lack of air had dried up every drop of moisture. I remained in this position for some time, miserably resigned to my fate, until I began to feel a growing sense of being watching. At first my sorrow prevented me from taking notice but slowly the thought that I was being closely observed overwhelmed even my wretched state. It was not the feel of some pony finally heeding my cries and come to deliver me, rather it was the chilling, sinister feel of a predatory creature taking in the sight of its prey. I looked to my left and right, but saw nothing that seemed to possess the source of my unsettling. Then I turned to look behind me for the first time since I awoke and was greeted by the sight of a huge, gaping mouth of a tunnel carved into the back wall of the tomb. I was astonished and confused by this, as this cave had been the burial place for my family for many generations and there had never been any tunnel, certainly not one of this size and depth. As I gazed at the mouth of the tunnel, it seemed to me to be of a different kind of darkness than that around me; the shadows in the tomb were palpable shades, they filled the corners like smoke, but the blackness from the tunnel was a void, it didn't fill the tunnel rather it was like a hole cut into the page of reality, utter nothingness. The longer I stared, the hollower my body grew as if my spirit was being sucked within, yet I could not tear my eyes away. I know not how long I gazed into that abyss, but abruptly my eyes were drawn to the rim of the tunnel's entrance where I beheld a perched butterfly, glimmering like a star against the yawning darkness. My heart at once leapt within my breast for I realized if such a creature whose kind was given to open air had managed to find it's way into the catacomb there must be an available entrance. As I approached the butterfly it remained utterly still despite how my hoofsteps sounded like thunder in the confined space, so that for a brief panicked instant I thought it was merely an adornment set into the wall of the tomb. But when I had drawn near enough that I could have reached out and laid a hoof upon it, it spread its wings and flew directly into the throat of the tunnel. I dove into the darkness after it, any fear of what lay beyond demolished in the wake of the mere thought of salvation. As I ran, I fancied I could catch the faintest whisper of the butterfly's wings always as if it were only inches ahead of my face and at times I swear I felt the breeze created by their movement, but no matter how intensely I searched into the blackness I could not perceive its shape. I ran for what seemed to last for hours, yet I never grew more weary or even out of breath despite my previous fear of suffocation. The very moment the first sense of fading hope began to arise in my mind, a muted light materialized some way before me. A broken cry of relief burst from my lips and I surged ahead, now assured of my deliverance and already imagining the immeasurable joy of reuniting with my family. I could perfectly see the face of my beloved wife as I would run into her arms and embrace her and I swore I could even feel her warmth of her cheek against mine, when the tunnel abruptly opened and rose around me. I halted in astonishment as I found myself standing in the entrance of an immense cavern whose ceiling rose so lofty and whose walls were so widely spaced that I could barely perceive them in the dim light. My eyes sought out the source of the illumination and alighted on the only object in the entire cavern, a throne which seemed to have been formed by a pair of stalactites and stalagmites having clashed and fused together in their opposing paths. The throne glistened like precious stones that caught and refracted the vague light so it produced a luminescence that radiated the entire cavern. Seated upon the throne was an extraordinarily towering figure of a stallion. His visage was all at once resplendent and perspicacious, dreadful and beauteous almost beyond description and nearly too overwhelming to look upon. His coat had the appearance of refined silver with a mane and tail the color of onyx, and his features were sharply etched as if carved from flint. The exception were his eyes, beaming from beneath the shade of his jutting brows. One was completely white as if occluded and with an almost infinitesimal black pupil, the other utterly black like a glass with a minuscule white pupil. I stood suddenly paralyzed by an inexplicable fear as I perceived he was staring at me with those unnatural eyes. I was seized with the sensation like a knife were being taken to my whole being, severing my skin from my bones, my blood from my spirit, and setting them all apart like a butcher measuring the value of each part individually. When I thought I might shrivel up under the scrutiny the stallion spoke in a voice that resounded and rumbled like two plates of the earth clashing: "You are most welcomed, wandering one. I am the master of this place and your new lord." I suddenly found found my ability to speak returning and I said fearfully, "I thank you, my lord." "Do you remember how you arrived here?" “I followed a butterfly thinking it would guide me to the surface.” “Where do you think you are in?” “In the tombs of my ancestors. My family mistook me for dead and laid me within.” The stallion rose from his throne and strode across the room to stand before me, his massive head soaring above mine and his mane was so long it brushed the floor, making a soft hiss whenever he took a step. “When your family laid you in, would they not have left an offering for your passage over Styx?” “Of course.” “Then produce it.” I hesitated, aware that there had been no such offering on my body when I had awoken though if set in the proper place I should not have been capable of missing it. I considered the possibility that in their grief of my sudden apparent passing they had forgotten it, but instantly knew that to be impossible since they were conscious that souls without offering would be forced to wander the banks of Styx for one hundred years before being permitting to cross. “There was no offering,” the stallion said. “No,” I had to confess. “Tell me, wandering one, what do you see?” Hereupon he raised one of his hooves and directed it to one of the walls. I now saw the outline of a colossal stone doorway with a name engraved over it in a language I could not comprehend. None of this had I seen before though I had observed my surroundings. “A door,” I answered.” “What is the name over the door?” “I cannot tell.” The stallion lowered his hoof. “What is your first recollection upon waking in my kingdom?” “Only that I was in darkness and under the earth surrounded by the bones of my ancestors.” The stallion’s brows lowered and I felt his eyes raking me again. Abruptly, he stamped his hoof upon the ground, blue and white sparks spitting out from beneath and the sound echoed like the clang of a bell. Upon the fourth stamp a stallion of pitch black stallion wrapped in matching wings corporealized at his right side and bowed before him. “Fearful Cousin, did you not gather this one at his time?” the grey one asked the other. “Indeed I did, Dread Cousin,” the black stallion replied and his voice was soft and hollow like a deep well. “I put my chain around his neck and lead him to the shore as I have done since the creation of the dying ones.” The grey stallion nodded and with another bow the black stallion vanished in a rupture of black feathers. Then the grey stallion held out his hoof and two coins lay in it though there had been none before and he had not made any motion to reach for them in a hidden place. He tilted his hoof and allowed them to drop to the ground where they clinked so sharply it was like knives to my ears. Upon the sound another stallion appeared on the right side of the grey one, this one reddish-brown with keen, bluish-grey eyes that flashing like lightning. “Waitful Cousin, did you not guide this one when he appeared to you?” the grey one inquired. “Most certainly, Generous Cousin,” the reddish-brown one answered in a voice lilting and wandering like a gently flowing river. “I took the offering from him and brought him across. When I had sat him on the other side I gave him the other half of the offering to give unto you.” The grey stallion once again nodded and the other faded away in a cloud of soft mist. The grey stallion then pursed his lips and gave a long, low whistle that sounded like the noises that come up from the depths of caves and bottomless fissures in the earth. When the sound had ended, an immense beast stood at his right side. From its feet to its body it had the standard appearance of a dog but from its neck it sprout three separate heads, each in possession of a pair of fiery red eyes that leaked smoke like burning coals and panting maws lined with mountainous fangs. Its whole form was ladened with thick heaps of fur which was dappled in endless shades of black, white and grey. The grey stallion reached out and laid his hoof upon the beast’s neck, where the three heads intersected. The beast’s tail thrashed violently, kicking up gusts of wind that howled with the force of ten thousand hounds. “My Friend, did you know let this one pass by you into my gates?” the grey one spoke. The beast immediately turned to me and extended all three heads towards my body, each inhaling with his nostrils, producing a pull so strong I almost fell on my knees, and their mouths exhaling a heat like that of a furnace. Seemingly satisfied the beast turned back to the grey one and each jaw made a guttural sound, whereupon the grey one stroked each tenderly and nodded his dismissal. The beast winked out of sight like a shooting star. The grey one faced me once again and asked, “Did you remember any of those who just appeared before you?” “No,” I whispered, my voice smothered with horror at the sights I had seen. The grey one seemed unsurprised by my answer. He lifted his hoof again and made strange movements with it in the air. A goblet appeared in it, filled to the brim with what looked to my eyes like wine. He held it out to me and commanded in a voice like iron: “Drink.” I obeyed instantly, taking the goblet in my hooves and bringing it to my lips. I took but a small, single sip yet the wine flooded my whole mouth like an ocean and forced down my throat though I did not swallow. It tasted mixed, as if many different sorts and flavors had been stirred within, but all were harsh and bitter, like pained forgetfulness and wailing fire. Suddenly, my vision began to cloud and swim, shapes and shadows churned and blended before me and I had the sensation of being lifted, sinking and whirling. My body seemed to dissipate like chaff and my spirit now unchained floated like a butterfly. ...The butterfly… At the formation of the thought images began to congeal and scenes passed before me in dreamy tides. I saw myself lying on my bed, my eyes shut by a coin laid on each, surrounded on all sides by my family, all bowed over me and wailing. I saw the black winged stallion appear at the end of my bed, unseen by all, and fling a looped chain around my neck. But the chain fell through my flesh like air and instead fastened around my spirit, which he carefully pulled out of my body and nothing of my body came with me except the two coins. Then he lead out of my room into a plain of much fog and shadows, where we walked until we reached the edge of a vast river. There was a dock and a boat tied to it with the reddish-brown stallion standing within and leaning on a pole that was standing in the water. The black winged one lifted the chain from over my neck and pointed me to approached the boat, which I obediently did. The boat pony held out his hoof and I gave him the coins that had come with me. He then had me step into the boat, which did not rock or sway, and began to take us across the river with his pole. We arrived on the other side quickly despite how wide the river had seemed and he returned to me one coin before ushering me onto the bank. There I walked until I reached an open gateway, where the beast lay with each each stretched out on the ground. He rose as I approached and sniffed me intently, then lay back down and allowed me to enter. I found myself in a tunnel with a light glowing far off in the distance and I went towards it until I found myself in the cavern, standing before the grey stallion on his throne. “Welcome, servant, to my kingdom and your new residence,” he said. He held his hoof out and I placed my coin within it. “Follow me,” he said and brought me to the same door that before I could not read the name. But now, I saw the letters and understood them. And the word afflicted my spirit with a horror that strangled and staggered, and I fled down the tunnel once again and was lost in the blackness. The feel of the goblet’s weight falling from my grasp and the crash sound of it striking the ground dragging my spirit back and wiped the images out of my eyes, and I found myself once again standing in my place before the grey one. “Do you now remember your circumstance?” he asked me and I nodded. “And are you ready to accept them?” He swept his hoof again towards the door and the words, which now stood out before me in perfect clarity: Fields of Asphodel. I stared at the words, mouthing them with my lips and tongue, but could not move towards them. The grey one perceived my hesitance and went to the door, pushing it open with his hoof. “What do you see, servant?” “A black tunnel.” The grey once heaved a sigh that sounded like a whisper of the wind through the canyons. “Step within, servant. Your time has passed and your rest awaits.” “Have I done ill?” “No.” “Then why do you put me into darkness?” “There is no darkness, servant. Your soul still clings to the living world and has thusly deceived you of the state of my house. Once you enter there will be quietness and stillness where you will wait until those who loved you come to keep you company.” I looked to the grey one and then again at the tunnel. Before my sight it seemed to widen and spread like the mouth of a great serpent. I took a step back and the grey one saw and spoke firmly: “If you do not enter your soul will return you to the place where you woke, frightened and alone, until you once again find your way back to my throne to be reminded of your state once again. But it can happen only so many times, soon your soul will fuse to that place and you will only sit in the tomb, wailing for your kin in fear forever unless some good soul comes to loose you. Do not be afraid, servant, enter and know peace.” But though his voice was compelling almost beyond endurance, the darkness within the door reached out at me like a slithering tongue intending to draw me in and I felt its numbing, fastening grip wrap itself around my legs. The affliction struck me again and all my awareness was consumed and scattered like ash and I turned and fled back to the tunnel, back toward the tomb where my ancestors bones laid. As I ran, I stumbled and fell upon my face, where the darkness seized me and shut up my eyes like one asleep. And I awoke to blackness and bones. > When the Fox hears the Rabbit scream he comes > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- “Does the cheering sound closer?” Cadence asked. “I think so,” Celestia said, craning her neck to gaze down the path to the palace gate. All along the path stood the palace servants and guards, dressed in their finest clothing, awaiting the arrival of the All-Father and his heir. Even from their place on the threshold of the palace's front entrance, the princesses and Frigga could hear the cheers of the ponies who had gathered throughout the palace property to greet Odin and Sunset. Luna couldn't decide what to be anxious about, having to face her father after her conversation with Majere earlier that day, seeing Sunset again or attending the welcome feast in three hours. And after spending an hour dressing up, she thought. I'll have to change and do my mane again for the feast. Why, no pony has seen me but the servants and I'm only going to sit in my room until it starts so there's no risk of dirtying my outfit. Waste of time. Truthfully, Luna didn't even mind dressing up--well, she would mind it less if Celestia wasn't always overshadowing her with her fashion choices. Sometimes Luna thought if she showed up in a sack no pony would notice with Celestia in the room. But pretty clothes and pretty hair always meant hosting and that she couldn't abide. Speaking with strangers were too unpredictable, or at least the way Luna spoke never turned out well. She liked to discuss opinions and thoughts she had gathered from history or stories, but no pony wanted to hear dull old tales they'd been told one thousand times before or little bedtimes stories their children demanded of them. They wanted to speak about politics which Luna found only instigated vicious arguments, comment on fashion which Luna found was used as a covert way to criticize others, or subtly extract favors and promises from her as a princess of the blood. Luna never knew how to respond to any of them; she couldn't challenge or disagree with a pony's opinion to their face, so all her part in the conversations amounted to was yes, no and I'm not certain. It was so tedious and she couldn't change it for fear of offending any pony, after all it was her job as a princess to act as a representation of her family as much as an ambassador to a foreign realm. Also, what was she supposed to do if she insulted or contradicted a guest? Royal guests were powerful in their own right and could spread rumors or discontent amongst each other if displeased and they were never forthright if they were displeased so there was no knowing and therefore no rectifying the situation, it was all guesswork. "There they are!" Celestia and Cadence squealed, almost causing Luna to jump out of her skin. The gates had swung open and a massive golden chariot pulled by eight stocky black stallions donned in royal armor rolled onto the path. In it sat Papa and Sunset, both clothed in their royal colors, their manes and tails streaming behind them like banners. The servants flanking either side of the path all bowed low and Papa and Sunset in turn inclined their heads to them as they passed by. "Mama, it's Papa look it's Papa!" Cadence was shrieking, bouncing up and down with the largest grin Luna had ever seen on her face. "I see," Mama said calmly but she was smiling brightly as well. To Luna, her mother's smile was the loveliest thing in the whole universe and she felt, for the first time since they had come out to stand and greet Papa, actual happiness spread through her. If Mama was content with Papa's return then all would be well. As the chariot grew closer, Celestia leaned over and said in Luna's ear, "Sunset looks so different!" It was true, Sunset was vastly changed since the last they had seen her. She was taller now, growing close to Mama's height, and her stance was one of pristine elegance and confidence. But what truly was different was her smile. Luna had recalled Sunset's smile more like the baring of fangs than anything else but now it was replaced with a wide, almost cat-like grin, as if she were holding a canary behind her teeth and looking into the face of the bewildered owner. Luna wasn't sure if it was an improvement. I wonder what we look like to her. Luna was still rather short for her age and while Celestia was tall she still had a very youthful face, and of course Cadence was still very much a filly. Papa hadn't changed, at least there was no outward sign of transformation. He did look weary, but Luna attributed that to the long journey. The chariot had stopped before the steps of the palace entrance and Papa and Sunset stepped out of it. There were ten stone steps leading up to the door and before any pony could stop her, Cadence went rushing down them shouting, "Papa! Papa!" Luna tensed; she recalled that Celestia had done something similar when they were younger than Cadence. Papa had come back from some journey--she could not recall what the purpose was--and when he was coming up the steps Celestia had tried to run to greet him. But Grandpapa had caught sight of her and grabbed her by the tail, yanking her back. "When your father was your age," he had admonished her (halting the entire proceedings), "He stood and waited until ceremony allowed him greeting. He was separated from his mother for seven months when he was yet younger than you and he still did not go barreling like a fiend to her when she arrived." Luna had been so afraid of transgressing ceremony after that her mother had to tell her to go hug her father after they had re-entered the palace. But no pony stopped Cadence, in fact Papa waited at the bottom of the steps for her to come down and even lowered his neck for her to embrace, all the while she kept crying, "Papa, Papa, Papa!" Papa stroked Cadence's head with his wing and when she released him he smiled at her and kissed her forehead before starting up the steps with her at his side and Sunset following behind. When he reached the top Mama inclined her head and Celestia and Luna bowed, all three reciting the proper greeting: "Blessed are our hearts upon your return." "Blessed are we to once again behold your faces," Papa and Sunset gave the customary reply. Then Papa turned back towards the host of servants watching and spoke with a magically amplified voice: "The Master has returned to his house, may you all enter in and find peace." "May all your further journeys be fruitful and all your returns happy," the servants answered him in unison and bowed to him again. Papa inclined his head to them respectfully then turned and lead the way into the palace. When the double doors shut behind them all the family noticeably relaxed. Papa smiled and gave Mama a kiss. "Are you well?" "Yes," she said. "How was the journey?" His stance noticeably slumped and he shut his eyes. "Tiring." "Well, you'll have time enough to rest. Three years was enough time for me to set the household in order." "They've not given you trouble?" "I'm married to you. I was quite prepared." Papa raised his eyebrow but he was smiling. He then turned to Luna and Celestia, regarding them both for a moment before saying in a soft tone, "You both are quite grown-up." "Thank you, Papa," Celestia and Luna said together. "I always wondered if you were both meant to be twins," he said thoughtfully. "There's always been something harmonious about you." Luna had to actively resist the impulse to glance incredulously at her sister. "But Celestia shall be taller. You will be taller than Sunset." Celestia looked very pleased with herself, as if her height had been a concept of her own invention, and said brightly, "Thank you, Papa." "It certainly wasn't my idea, but you're welcome. Luna, you've grown quite lovely." Luna blushed and looked down at her hooves. "Thank you Papa." "You shouldn't look down like that, your eyes are your best feature. They're like my mother's." Grandmama's eyes had been fair if Luna remembered correctly but perhaps he meant the shape or perhaps the expression. Either way, Luna felt bubbly with happiness and lifted her face to smile gratefully at her father. "Papa, haven't I grown?" Cadence said, rearing up to make herself appear taller. "Yes, indeed!" Papa said fondly. "What am I to do? Soon you will be a mare, some stallion will take you from me and you will be too busy to give me anymore hugs. I will be destitute." "Oh Papa, I will always have time to hug you! And you are silly to say I will be too busy, you are All-Father and always busy yourself but you find time to hug me!" Papa laughed. "Sunset, you look very well," Mama said. Sunset smiled. "So do you, Mama," she said. Her voice had gotten deeper and smoother. "You've become quite a mare. Your father has told me how skilled you've become in diplomacy and mediation. I'm very proud of your progress." "I am glad to be of use to our family." "We can go into more detail later," Papa said. "Right now we have to prepare for the feast. Be ready at least half an hour before we must attend, understand?" "Yes Papa," all four daughters said together. Papa nodded and then started down the hall that lead to his and Mama's chambers. Sunset herself started down the hallway towards the princess' chambers almost the instant Papa started for his and her sisters followed behind. Luna thought it was awkward how she, Celestia and Cadence hung behind but she still had the strong sense that she did not want to be close to Sunset. Old habits I suppose. Celestia leaned close to Luna and whispered in her ear, “She’s different.” “Yes, you said so.” “No, all I said was she looked different. I mean now that she is different.” “She’s only been back a few moments.” Celestia pulled back, shaking her head. “You’ll see. I can tell.” *** Luna usually was the last to be ready for an event because she tended to slave over the smallest detail of her dress. But this time she was done with her gown and her hair and had also finished helping Cadence with hers when Celestia stuck her head through the door, saying: “Lulu, come help me with this infernal dress.” Luna left Cadence sitting on her bed playing with Richard, warning over her shoulder, “Be careful not to winkle it, Cadence.” “I won’t,” Cadence said. Luna came into Celestia's and Sunset’s shared room, shutting the door behind her. Celestia was wrestling with the lacing at the back of her dress, which was a brilliant and gossamer pink and blue gown that was very flattering to her shape. Well, at least it’s modest. Luna came up to her side and began untying the tangled lacing, which even with magic took her a moment. “What did you do to these?” “I keep trying to tie it magically,” Celestia said exasperatedly. “But it’s never tight enough, it’s going to fall off in the middle of dancing I just know it.” “Oh and would that be so bad?” came a mocking, chiming voice right in Luna’s ear. Luna felt every hair in her coat stand on end and her skin crawl like ten thousand spiders scuttling over her body. She jumped back so suddenly that she yanked Celestia’s laces so that her sister let out a shriek and nearly fell back on top of her. Luna whirled around and there was nothing there. “Luna! What was that for?” Celestia cried, now desperately trying to loosen her laces. “Did you hear that?” Luna said, her eyes darting around the room. Twin beds, two vanities, two glory chests, two desks, the closet, the bathroom door and the window. No pony could come in except through the door from my room or from the one in the hallway… “Hear what?” Celestia demanded. “That voice!” “What voice?” Luna turned back to her sister who was looking at her in bafflement. “You didn’t hear it? It was so loud, you couldn’t have missed it!” “I didn’t hear anything…” Celestia said. Oh Faust am I going mad? Didn’t Sha’ula hear voices before she went-- “That had better not be you whispering in my ear right now!” Celestia shouted suddenly and so loudly it almost propelled Luna’s heart out by way of her mouth. “What?” Luna gasped. “If you speak one more perverted word in my ear I’ll tear yours off you filthy dog!” Celestia stamped her foot violently. Well, at least we’re going mad together. “Tia, who are you talking to?” “Now see my sister is looking at me like I’m mad. Get out here right now or you’re never coming back in this room again!” There was a thunderous sucking noise, what Luna imaged a tornado must sound like, and then an almost comical pop! and a creature appeared floating in the space between the sisters. “Well if you’re going to be so impolite maybe I won’t come back,” the creature pouted. Luna gawked as a pair of bright red and luscious lips appeared on it’s long maw and it pressed them together until they turned blue, the color crawling up it’s snout to it’s head and down it’s long neck. Then it’s head and neck began to shrivel and shrink and Luna thought it would disappear completely before it came bobbing gelatinously into its proper (Does the word proper fit this creature? She thought) shape and its colors returned. “You were going to let me suffocate myself?” the creature said in a shrill and horrified voice. “Don’t you care about me at all?” “You faker,” Celestia said flatly. The creature slapped it’s left lion paw over the right side of his breast and it’s right bird leg over the left side. “I am desolated, Celestia, truly.” “What are you doing here?” “Do I need a reason to drop in and say salutations?” “I told you not to come in when my sisters were here! Look, you’ve scared Luna out of her senses!” The creature turned on Luna and stretched it’s neck like rubber so its face was shoved against hers. “I don’t know, there doesn’t seem to be much there to lose.” Celestia drove her horn into the creature’s middle and it yelped, shooting to the roof and clinging to it with all its extensions, including it’s long scaled tail. Luna wasn’t sure how this was achieved since the tip of the tail had a tuft of fur. “Mock my sister again and out you go!” The creature rolled it’s eyes literally out of it’s sockets, down it’s spine between it’s one blue bird wing and black bat wing, where each separated and spiraled down it’s hind legs, one clawed and the other cloven. Luna thought she should be nauseous but the sight was so caricature-like that she almost felt compelled to laugh. Almost. “Celestia, is this that Discord you’re always whispering to get out when I come into your room?” Luna said. The creature dropped from the ceiling and landed flat on the floor, its body flattened like paper. Then it inhaled deeply so its body swelled up like a balloon and then after snapping itself like a whip, the creature stood on it’s hind legs and held out its paw to Luna. “Discord, Spirit of Chaos and Disharmony, prepare for trouble and make double, double toil and trouble!” “What are you?" Luna said, staring up at his head where protruded two horns, one goat-like and knobby and the other a simple antler. “He just said--” Celestia began but Luna cut her off, saying to Discord, “You aren’t a true spirit. True spirits have no blood or flesh.” “Clever one, this,” Discord said and his lips curled back like a curtain to reveal a fanged grin. “The technical term for my sort is draconequus.” As if on cue, his body warped into an accordion shape which went bounding about the room, releasing a screechy but vaguely rhythmic tune. “The wonderful thing about draconequus Is draconequus are wonderful things! Their tops are made out of rubber Their bottoms are made out of springs! They're bouncy, trouncy, flouncy, pouncy Fun, fun, fun, fun, fun! But the most wonderful thing about draconequus is I'm the only one!” “Not this again,” Celestia groaned. “I’ve never heard of such a thing,” Luna said. Discord’s body popped back into its...preferred form and stalked over to Luna, flicking the index claw of it’s bird leg against her forehead. “Well perhaps you don’t know everything, hmmmmmm?” “Or perhaps you made it up.” Discord gasped, a literal mask of shock materializing over his face. “Insinuating I would lie to a proper young mare such as yourself!” He grabbed the mask and tossed it aside, where it vanished like smoke. “How astute of you. But you are not quite correct, my mother made it up.” “Who is your mother?” Discord abruptly pressed his forehead against Luna’s, his eyes widening until they took up his whole face. “Why are you so underwhelmed by my presence? Most folk run away screaming when I show myself.” He stroked the wisp of hair sprouting out of his chin. “And your sister assured me you were of a nervous disposition. I can’t tell you how many times I wanted to pop in to say salutations, but she expressly forbid me for fear of driving you madder than The Hatter.” Luna felt a suddenly sense of outrage and lifting her head proudly, declaring: “Celestia draws pictures of you in her schoolbooks.” “Luna!” Celestia shrieked. Discord’s whole body blushed a brilliant pink. “How nauseatingly romantic.” “So,” Luna continued pointedly. “Your form isn’t so foreign to me. Besides, I’ve read of more fearsome creatures than you.” “Discord,” Celestia interjected. “Oh? Like what?” Discord said to Luna, ignoring her sister. “Do not answer that,” Celestia commanded, pushing Luna aside so she was standing directly before Discord. “Listen to me--” Discord zagged his spine to the side and swung it around Celestia so he was facing Luna again. “I’m a creature of chaos and disharmony, I go against the laws of nature, who can you claim to know more terrifying than me, you pompous little mouse?” "DISCORD!" Celestia cried, taking hold of the cropped mane along his neck with her magic and dragging his head back to face her. "Oh what?" Discord’s lower jaw drooped down to the floor and his tongue rolled out like a carpet. Celestia stamped her hoof on it and his whole body jerked into a Z formation. “What are you doing here?” “When have I needed a reason to see you?” he said, his voice warped from his obstructed tongue. Celestia rolled her eyes but lifted her hoof and his tongue snapped back in his maw and his eyes slithered back into their sockets. “I have a banquet to attend, you can’t be here now.” “Ohhhh, you didn’t invite me?” Discord said with exaggerated woefulness. “My father will be there.” “At last I get to meet the whole family! How will you introduce me? An ambassador from Chaosville? Perhaps I can bring a gift of chocolate rain or do my Chilly Down dance--” Celestia magically grasped one of Discord’s ears and pulled him close so she could glare directly into his eyes. “Discord, I’m serious. I want you to leave.” His body suddenly vanished and appeared floating above her, twisted into an impossible tangle of knots hung with dozens upon dozens of locks of all shapes and sizes. “No.” Celestia turned her back on him. “Well, I suppose you don’t want your present later,” she said disdainfully. Discord’s ears shot up. “Present? What sort of present?” Celestia shrugged. “A sweet one.” The locks disappeared and Discord rushed up beside Celestia. “Why can’t I have it now?” He whined. Celestia pretended to inspect her manicured hoof and said flippantly,“No, you have to wait till later.” Discord huffed, turning his back on her and crossing his arms--all the way down his body to his hind legs. “I’m not leaving until I get my present.” “Then you won’t get it at all!” Celestia snapped. “She can just call our papa in here to banish you,” Luna said. Discord glared at her, his eyes emitting actually black smoke. “Your precious papa can’t make me do anything! I am a being of pure illogic, what can your All-Father do?” Luna was going to say cast out, the All had the magical authority to throw any living being out of the realm of Asgard; he or she could even strip them of certain abilities and powers, reduce lifespans, remove unicorn horns or pegasus wings, stunt magical power, and the like. But Celestia spoke first, saying darkly, “He can turn you to stone.” Discord’s whole body blanched, every drop of color in his whole being from his fur to his scales went snow-white. His form then melted like wax and became a puddle on the floor, leaving only his blinking eyeballs. “I’ll be back for my present later,” his voice emanated from the mouthless puddle in a squeak. Then the puddle shrank until only his eyeballs were left behind and they both bounced across the room towards the window where they phased through and fell out of sight. Celestia sighed heavily. “He can be impossible sometimes.” “You thought I’d be scared of him?” Luna said. “He’s like a jester.” "When he's in a pleasant mood. You don't want to see him in one of his bad ways." "Why? What happens?" "I said you don't want to know. Now finish lacing this up before Sunset comes out and asks why I'm not dressed yet." "How did Sunset not hear the commotion?" "Probably one of Discord's tricks. He can make sure only we heard and saw what happened here." That must be useful, Luna thought but didn't say anything as she returned to tying her sister's laces. *** The banquet was less troublesome than Luna had anticipated. Most of the guests were taken up with greeting the returning All-Father and his heir, so she was for the most part ignored. This was ironically one of Luna's favorite rooms in palace. She once read a story about a court that dwelt on the moon and she always imaged it as the ballroom. The floor was white marble, the walls and pillars were alabaster and the ceiling was hung with crystal chandeliers. Golden tables were laid out with heaps of the richest foods and musicians were positioned in each of the four corners so that melodies came wafting in from every side. The silver curtains had been folded back so that the sunset came streaming in and colored the room lush reds and oranges. Luna sometimes frequented the room at night when she couldn't sleep and would open a window to let the moonlight in. She usually just brought a book to read, but sometimes she would dance, though she had no music or partner. Waltzes mostly, those were her favorites. Celestia was waltzing right now with a very handsome young stallion, Luna thought it was an aristocrat's son. She was doing quite a job of looking happy considering she despised waltzes. Just before Celestia had gone out on the floor with the stallion, she had whispered to Luna, "Not one of Death's dances, I'm certain I'll perish from boredom this time." "You know there was a story where Death played a violin at a party and danced every pony to death," Luna had said and gave Celestia a wicked smile. "Perhaps that will happen here and spare you further distress." Celestia had given her a withering look and then ran off with the stallion. Luna was now standing by one of the window's curtains, drinking a glass of red wine. This was the first year she was permitted to drink any; she had only been given little sips at special occasions previously. So far the it was pleasant but Luna had promised herself not to have more than one since she did not want to risk getting either nauseous or tipsy. She couldn't fathom how Celestia could even stand, much less dance, she'd had at least seven glasses already. But Celestia had been drinking behind their parents' backs for years. She preferred stronger stuff, drinks that almost made Luna choke when she so much as sniffed it. "Appreciating the wine?" Luna almost dropped her glass from her magical hold at the sound of Sunset's voice. "Umm, yes," Luna said. She couldn't think of anything else to say so she pretended to look at Celestia. Sunset walked up and stood besides Luna, looking absolutely stunning in a smoldering orange gown with gold trim. "This is your first time drinking, am I right?" she asked, giving Luna a friendly smile. Luna had the sense that Sunset was trying to put her at ease, which only had the effect of unsettling her further. So she only nodded again and went back to her drink. "How many have you had?" Sunset asked. "This is my first." "You should try the white, it might suit you better." White was softer, Luna knew. "I quite like the red," she said, feeling somewhat offended. First that creature assumes I would be afraid of it, now my sister thinks I can't take a glass of red wine. "Good!" Sunset said brightly. "I've always prefered it myself. If you're going to drink, drink hearty in my opinion." "Celestia shares your opinion," Luna said. Sunset rolled her eyes. "Celestia drinks to excuse her antics. Nothing gets a colt's attention like a filly mincing, 'Oh I'm tipsy, allow me lean on you a moment.'" Luna almost choked on her wine--Sunset could mimic Celestia's voice exactly, the tone and the rhythm, and she even tilted her head to the side and batted her lashes just as Tia did. Luna had to cover her mouth with her hoof to muffle her laughter. Sunset bared her teeth in that new cat-like grin of hers. "It's the perfect excuse! Then later everything you said and did is claimed to be nothing more than drunken foolery." "Don't tell me you've tried it." Sunset had never seemed much interested in stallions in their youth, but neither had Luna truthfully. Sunset scoffed. "I never need to work so hard for a stallions attention. And I'd never need an excuse for any actions because no stallion would dare overstep his bounds with me." That was true, Luna couldn't think of a stallion who found so little value in life that he would act indiscreetly with Sunset. Celestia on the other hoof... That Discord creature was certainly forward, even for Tia's tastes. "Luna?" "What?" "I said your glass is almost empty would you like a refill? I need to get a fresh glass for myself." After a brief hesitation Luna said, "Very well," and Sunset flagged down one of the waiters and had him bring two glasses filled to the brim with fresh wine. For about an hour and a half the scene remained, Sunset and Luna standing in a corner and speaking in muffled, humorous exchanges with one another, interrupted only by waiters summoned to offer more wine. Luna hadn't realized how much she missed conversing. When she considered it, she had gone three years without much companionship; Mama was consumed with the household, Celestia with her affairs, and Cadence was still too young to be of much company. And time had worked quite a change in her sister. Three years ago, hardly a word came out of her mouth that wasn't steeped in venom; now a whole new spirit had taken hold of her. Her conversation was genial and attentive, she encouraged Luna to do most of the speaking, wanting to know how every pony had gotten on in the years she had missed. She laughed heartily at all of Luna's jokes, she sympathized when Luna described the changing of the old servants, and appeared concerned when Luna mentioned Celestia's worsening behavior. Admittedly, Celestia was quite a focus in the conversation, somehow it always linked back to her. As all things seemed to. Luna had forgotten how many glasses of wine she had drunk and was starting to feel unusually relaxed (Perhaps parties aren't so bad after all, she thought, I feel practically giddy now and I haven't even danced all night!) when she finally let slip about Celestia's argument with Mama earlier that day. Sunset was appropriately stunned. "Mama stuck her? Our Mama?" "And how!" Luna said, taking a gulp of her wine. "My, but it has such a wonderful influence this wine. It makes everything seem and sound so much sweeter!" "It's a very good year," Sunset assented. "But tell me, does Mama not take measure to keep this creature she complains of from entering the palace?" "Well you see, that's the thing, the whole palace is so guarded already what with all the, well, guards--" Here Luna giggled, she wasn't sure way, the redundancy just seemed amusing. "And all the spells dear Majere--goodness that rhymed!--puts about it. But this fellow just cuts through it all--zip!--like a hot knife through butter! I don't think zip is the correct sound for that, what sound would a hot knife through butter make? Squish? I don't recall it having a sound to be perfectly frank--" "Is Mama not disturbed having such a creature who can go in and out unchecked into the heirs' rooms?" "Oh, he never comes into mine and Cadenceses, I mean Cadanceses--why out of all of us has she no nickname? Wait, you have none either, that's strange your name was quite difficult for me to pronounce when I was little." "How can you be so sure he has not come in your room?" "Tia wouldn't let him, he is quite tame with her. Well, when he's bribed." "Bribed? With jewels?" "Goodness no! I don't think he'd know what to do with jewels if he were given any, he's something of a strange sort. No, she gives him..." Luna abruptly leaned into her sister, so suddenly she actually stumbled over her hooves and had to take a moment to steady herself, before whispering the word: "Presents." "Jewels can be presents," Sunset said. "Come now, this is Celestia we're speaking of! With a creature of the male persuasion! And she called it a sweet present." "She's told you all this?" "No, no, no, no! She's tried to keep him hidden from us. No, I found out quite by accident, when she called me in to help dress her for the party." "While I was bathing?" "Yes! And he just appeared out of nowhere, pop! And he wouldn't leave even when she offered him a present, not until she said Papa could turn him to stone. I suppose that means something to him, I'm not sure what. I mean, being turned to stone sounds unpleasant, but there are worse things that can happen to a body. Buried alive, eyes gouged out with sticks, having your innards eaten out by birds--do you see the waiter, I'd like a little more wine." "He was in my room?" "Yes, I just told you that!" "And he's been there before?" "Oh many times, I'm certain. He and Celestia are quite intimate, it seems to me. Good Borr, I can't get a colt to look at me much less sneak into my room while I'm dressing! Though it's not so scandalizing, I mean I'm not always technically dressed anyway so I don't see the illicitness--" "Would you excuse me, Luna?" "Certainly, but before you go can you call the waiter over? I'm almost dry." Sunset did call the waiter and was gone before he had filled Luna's cup. After he departed, Luna felt her corner was lonely and so started making her way towards the more crowded end of the room. The dancing had now switched to the reel, one of Celestia's more favored styles, and even Luna had to admit the dancing felt far more energized than before. Actually, everything seemed energized, the colors and movements and sounds all seemed to whirl and blur together in a dizzying wave that crashed and washed over her. Luna felt as if she were seeing everything but all was somehow obscured, like seeing the scene through a wall of water, yet she was joyful about it. She had approached the dancers and was smiling at how the mares' dresses frothed like sea foam of many colors, when she spotted Mama standing on the opposite end of the room, her neck craned as if searching for a face amongst the crowd. "Hi Mama!" Luna cried, waving her hoof above her head. Some heads turned but Mama didn't seem to hear her, the music was loud in this part of the room. Just then Mama herself lifted her hoof and beckoned to some pony, Luna thought it was herself and had just stepped forward, nearly spilling her wine when a dancing couple almost crashed into her. But she stopped when she saw Celestia walking up to Mama, looking baffled. Mama motioned for Celestia to follow her and they disappeared into the crowd together. Luna wandered away from the dancers, not wanting to spill her wine, and observing the ponies around her. They all looked very flushed, even those who hadn't been dancing, in fact everything had a rosy tint about it. Maybe it's like how the moon reflects the sun's light once the other has set. How clever that would be! Her thoughts were interrupted when she saw a familiar wizard's cap peeking above the sea of manes. "Majere!" She exclaimed and rushed through the tangle of bodies, while still carefully attempting to keep hold of her glass. She found the mage conversing with two other ponies she didn't recognize but he immediately turned to her when she cried his name again. "Highness?" He said, raising his eyebrows. They made Luna think of two quizzical caterpillars and she was seized by a fit of laughter that took a moment to subside. "I'm pleased to see you are enjoying yourself," Majere said and now his eyebrows were lowered. "You know I told you--I think I did, didn't I?--that this whole affair would be the death of my soul, with all the blathering of these witless flatterers--who are your friends, I don't believe I recognize them, are you mages as well? "Majere is the best you know, my Papa wouldn't have kept him on if he didn't think so, he fired our old accountant the week after my Grandpapa's funeral and he'd been serving since my great-grandpapa was All! Have you tried the wine, it is heavenly there isn't any finer in all the kingdom, Papa doesn't stand for anything less than the best! "Oh! But what I meant to say, Majere, was that you know how the moon reflects the sunlight, is there some sort of stone that does that? Because I was thinking I must get my whole room done up in it if there is, so at night everything would be warm and rosy like it is here now! "Speaking of rosy, have you spoken with Sunset? She is wholly changed, she's barely the same creature! We spent all this time conversing and she was the most charming companion I've had in ages, excluding yourself of course, no pony could ever replace you. But I'm so relieved she's decent now, she was such a beast before Tia used to say she'd leave Asgard when she ascended!" Luna paused to take a sip from her glass. Majere suddenly stepped forward, saying, "Would you walk with me, Highness?" Before Luna could respond he swept her away through the crowd to a less packed area in a corner. "Do be careful, Majere, I think I spilled my wine all over the floor. Some pony might slip." "Look at my eyes," Majere said in an usually commanding tone. Luna obeyed and he frowned. "How many glasses have you had?" "Only three--no, more than that...I'm not certain. It's very good, have you tried it yet?" "Did Sunset give you this wine?" "Yes I asked her to call the waiter for me because I was running--" "How many did you have before Sunset came to speak with you?" "One." "Where is Sunset now?" "She ran off, I don't know where. We has a nice talk, I told you, we spoke of you a bit and of Celestia's creature, oh! I didn't tell you I met him, Tia's new beau, you would find him fas--" "Luna, I think you should come sit outside with me. The fresh air will do you good." "But I'm having fun!" "Just for a little while, you need air." "No, I don't want to go." "Your Highness, please--" "What is it you all want from me? First Celestia called me a diffident doll and then you tell me my magic doesn't work because I am a black hole, but when I'm happy and outgoing you try to hide me away! I will not go outside I will stay in here, I am a princess and I will do as I please!" With that she spun on her heels, almost tipping over with the force of the movement, and stalked off. She felt heat building up in her eyes and quickly blinked the threat of tears back. The rosiness had gone out of everything and now the room and all its occupants had a dull, watery appearance. Her stomach felt strange as well, very sloshy and slightly queasy. And I was having such a fine evening too, the best I've ever had at one of these. Why is it when I'm enjoying myself it's wrong? She went to sip her wine but found her glass empty, so she called over the closest waiter. He had just departed and Luna was about to take a sip, when Celestia suddenly appeared before her, so suddenly and unexpectedly Luna actually shrieked in surprise. "You told Sunset about Discord?" She snapped. Her voice sounded like the clang of a cymbal in Luna's head and she winced. "Lower your voice," she hissed, touching her forehead daintly. They were standing directly beneath one of the chandeliers and Luna was suddenly acutely aware of the light beating down, as palpably as a hammer on her temples. "Why?" Celestia insisted. "How could you tell her, of all the ponies in all of Asgard, why would you tell her?" "Why shouldn't I, she's my sister!" "She's a treacherous serpent, and she just went and told Papa that I was having intimate relations with him!" "Well, aren't you?" "Of course not!" Celestia almost shrieked. "Do you think I'm mad, do you know what Papa would do if I risked our family's honor like that?" "You could have fooled me with all that talk of sweet presents," Luna said. "I was promising him sweets, actual sweets like from the kitchen! He has a terrible sweet tooth, it's that big one that sticks out of his lip! He'll do anything for a pastry!" “Well maybe if you didn’t keep him such a secret like you were ashamed of him and let him in your room only when you’re alone I wouldn’t assume you’ve been playing the harlot!” Celestia gaped at her in astonishment, Luna might have even laughed at her if she wasn't so angry. After an uncomfortable stretch of stunned silence, Celestia spoke: “Are you drunk?” “What? No! I tell you the truth and you say I’m drunk?” “You are drunk. That nag got you drunk.” Luna stepped forward so her face was only inches away from her sister's. “She is not a nag, you’re the nag! And if you think you’re fooling me with that 'risking our family’s honor' speech you’re the fool because every pony in the whole of Asgard knows you’re a hussy who doesn’t give a damn about her own honor, much less her family’s!” As the words left her mouth, Luna felt her whole body seize, like a gear within herself had suddenly been jammed and all her functions had ground to a halt. Except her stomach. Her stomach surged up through her throat and she felt it crawling out of her mouth. Before Luna even realized what was happening, her body seized again and she vomited. She hadn’t even drawn breath when she retched again. Her throat was burned and tears were dribbling down her eyes, but all Luna felt was panic. She couldn’t stop or even resist the sensation, her body simply went taut and then turned inside out. She couldn’t breath, she couldn’t move, she couldn’t think, she felt like all her organs were trying to force themselves out through her gullet. “Calm down,” Celestia’s voice came in her ear, strained but concerned. “Just relax and it’ll pass in a moment.” Celestia was now standing beside her, magically drawing Luna’s mane and the skirt of her dress back so they wouldn’t be soiled. Luna could also feel that she was casting soothing spells which relaxed her muscles and lowered her heartbeat. The panic subsided and this time when she retched her body seized less and only a cool watery substance came up instead of the acidic gruel from before. It almost felt...well not good but cleansing perhaps, her stomach wasn't bothering her anymore and she felt more stable on her hooves. "Can you stand up straight?" Celestia had just asked her when Majere suddenly appeared, leading Mama to their side. “Are you alright?” Mama asked Luna, her voice filled with concern. “She drank too much,” Celestia said. Majere had cleaned up the vomit with a quick flash and the smell of burning. He took a punch bowl from the table they were standing next to and levitated it beneath Luna’s face. “Celestia give her a glass of punch to rinse her mouth out. Luna, spit in the bowl.” Luna shook her head but Mama said firmly, “Do as Majere says.” Luna reluctantly took the glass of punch Celestia had swiped from the table and rinsed out her mouth, spitting it out into the punch bowl. Majere set the bowl down and waved his hoof over it, causing it to vanish. He then held the same hoof out in front of Luna. “Tell me do you see trails?” he said, waving it slowly back and forth in front of her face. “No,” she answered. "How does your head feel?" "Heavy and throbbing. The lights hurt and the noise too." "What about your stomach?" "I feels better than before." "Can you straighten up for me?" Luna did so and though it made her head pound and she had to lean a little on Celestia to steady herself she did manage. "Hmmmm, just a little tipsy," Majere said. "Your body seems to have ejected the offending substance." "How did you get so sick, beloved?" Mama asked, looking genuinely stunned. "How much did you drink?" Before Luna could answer, the worst possible thing that could happen (on top of drinking until she purged in the middle of a party) did. Papa came striding up to them. And he looked angry. The other three must not have noticed because when Luna said, "Oh Faust," they all looked around in unison just as he came up between Mama and Majere. "What is going in here?" he said in a tight voice. He was looking down at Luna and Celestia with a face so stiff with suppressed anger Luna thought it would start to splinter like flint. "Luna is ill," Mama said quickly, clearly attempting to stem whatever furious tide was incoming. "Ill? Is there something wrong in the food or drink?" "No no, nothing wrong." "Then why is she ill?" He demanded, in a much harsher voice than Luna had ever heard him use with Mama. "She drank a little too much," Mama admitted. Papa looked at Mama in astonishment. "Luna? Drinking?" "She's old enough now, this was the first celebration where she was allowed to take any wine." Papa's jaw flexed and he gave a loud snort. He muttered something under his breath that Luna couldn’t hear, but Mama replied to it, “Odin, that’s not-” Papa’s face suddenly whipped towards Celestia. “Did you do this?” “W-what?” Celestia stuttered. "No! I didn't I swear!" Papa looked unconvinced but all he said was, "Your sister isn't fit to be seen. I want you to take her to her room." "I'll go mix up something for the princess' stomach," Majere said but Papa stopped him sternly, "No. Celestis will get her whatever she needs. Not a servant--" Here Papa looked directly at Celestia and spoke in a slow, deliberate voice, "You. And when you're done serving your sister you will remain in your chambers until this banquet is over. Understood?" Celestia nodded slowly. "Take your sister out," Papa said and then walked away without another word. Luna thought the wine really hadn't left her system because only now did she realize that almost all the noise in the room had stopped. When she glanced around she saw every face in view was turned towards them. Luna felt like she was shriveling under their stares. How much had they all seen and heard? Did they hear me call Tia a hussy? Did they see me vomit? Oh Faust, I wish I was dead. "Let's go Lulu," Celestia whispered and nudged Luna forward. Luna couldn't move. She felt like the butterflies Majere had on display in his chambers, impaled with needles. She kept imagining the ground cracking open and the floor beneath her falling away into an endless chasm. How much better than this that would be, to have cool and quiet darkness envelop me. It is so much safer and easier to act when nothing can see you. "Luna come now," Mama said. She moved so she was on the opposite side of Luna as Celestia and using her wing gave her a little push. Luna would have leapt off a cliff for her mother and so found herself automatically moving, one hoof in front of the other. But it was like walking through water or through sand, it seemed to take so much effort. She felt as if every set of eyes were casting a needle into her form, trying to pin her in place, and she had to drag her bone and flesh through the impediment, leaving shreds of herself behind, torn and exposed for their greedy selves to gather up. When they finally reached the door Luna thought she might shatter into a thousand pieces. Majere opened the door and Celestia and Luna stepped out alone, the door swinging shut behind them. The relief was so palpable, to be free from those horrid eyes, that Luna's legs almost buckled. Only Celestia's support kept her from falling over. "Can you walk, Lulu?" Celestia said. "Can you walk at all? Because I'll go and ask Papa to permit me to get help from the servants--" Luna shook her head furiously. "No," she said. Her voice came out raspy and at first she thought it was from vomiting but now she realized it was from holding back tears. "Don't go back in there. I can walk," she insisted. Celestia nodded. "I think you're just a little tipsy," she said gently. "You should be alright soon." Luna nodded, she was afraid if she opened her mouth she would start crying. That would be a way to add to the glories of this night: get drunk, vomit and weep. "Come, let's get you to bed and I'll bring you something to settle your stomach," Celestia said. It took a long time to get to the bedroom, or at least it felt long to Luna. Perhaps the hidden passages had gotten her used to a quicker pace or perhaps it was because of the wine, but it seemed to take ages before they finally arrived at her door. Celestia magically unlocked it and pushed it open. "Can you walk in yourself?" She asked. Luna answered by slowly staggering inside her room. She had a bad throbbing in her temples and her head felt so heavy she wondered if that was why she felt so unbalanced. "You stay right here I'm going to run to the kitchen. Are you certain you're okay?" Celestia asked. Luna glanced over her shoulder and saw her sister's face was pale with concern. It automatically induced her to smile reassuringly. "I'm fine now." Celestia nodded and turned to leave, then hesitated. "Lulu," she said softly. Luna suddenly saw tears streaming down Celestia's cheeks. "I'm sorry I yelled at you." "It's alright," Luna said. "I'm sorry you got in trouble." Celestia shook her head. "That was my own fault. Don't be sorry." Celestia rubbed her eyes with the back of her hooves. "I'll be right back," she said and this time she walked away, shutting the door behind her. It was my fault. Luna stared at the door, feeling tears starting to slide down her own cheeks. It was all my fault. She turned and shuffled over to her bed. How could I be so foolish? To think Sunset had changed, to think she wanted to be my friend, to think it was safe to tell her anything. She winced and shut her eyes, the memory itself pained her. And then you got drunk. Damnit it, Luna, how could have so little self-control? And why tonight, on all nights, in front of Papa and the whole court did you have to make every mistake, say every wrong thing, make every wrong move? From a diffident and joyless doll to a drunken jester...how is it I can never stumble into the right role? Even once?! A sob finally burst from her lips and like a dam split asunder more came pouring out until her whole frame was wracked with them. All my sisters have their place--Sunset is the heir, Celestia is the host, and Cadence is beloved, but what is my place? There is no inheritance leftover for me! I cannot command like Sunset, cannot charm like Celestia, cannot love like Cadence, what will become of me now? Luna stamped her hoof, half in wrath and half in sorrow, but she was still a little unbalanced and ended up tilting to the side, so she ended up falling against the wall besides her bed. This caused one of her dolls, seated on the shelf, to tumble off and onto the bed. It was one with a golden mane, clothed in white and blue with a golden crown. Luna suddenly felt the most intense hatred seize her. That doll, even strewn on her bed, with it's perfect mane, it's perfect dress, and perfect smile, possessed every aspect she lacked. It only sat and stared in silence and still it had more akin to a true princess than herself. All her breeding, all her lessons, all her books, they couldn't make her like that damn doll. They couldn't make her a real princess. Before she even knew what she was about, Luna snatched up the doll with her magic and hurled it across the room. It hit the wall with a loud thump and fell to the floor, and there was something deeply satisfying about the way her body twisted limply on the floor. Good, that's where you belong. She didn't even know if she meant the doll or herself but either way it felt fitting. Luna took hold of the next doll, this one clothed in white and orange, and hurled it at the same wall. And she did the same for each of the eight others but it no longer had the same sating effect as the first. So then she went over to where they lay, sat down and proceeded to tear off their gaudy dresses and break their crowns and scepters in half before ripping their bodies open so their stuffing fell out. And the entire time tears streamed down her face and the pounding in her head drummed at her brain. For Sunset the mind, for Celestia the manners, for Cadence the heart, and for Luna none. For Sunset the mind, for Celestia the manners, for Cadence the heart, and for Luna none. When she had finished every doll had been stripped and gutted and she felt oddly numb, as if all their pieces scattered around her were her nerves, shredded and snapped. She stared down at her work and thought, Grandmama would be so sad, and she wondered why everything she did linked back to her grandparents or her parents or her sisters, why nothing was just of herself and for herself. At those thoughts, her eyes looked towards her desk where one of her burned tomes was laid out, as she had been trying to copy it's undamaged contents onto new parchment. She had hit a snag recently, that page had been about a very complex spell that she had no reference for. She had meant to ask Majere about it earlier that day, before they had that talk about her magic and how it only showed itself through its absence, and how its absence was only known in comparison to her sister's magic. Everything I have is only in my relation to others. Nothing is my own. I can only reflect others' glory and then only dimly. She suddenly felt very alone, not even that she was presently left alone, but if the whole court flooded into her room she would still be isolated, like a great trench had been cleaved between her and the whole world and every creature in it. She wanted now to hold something, a very primal and infantile impulse for comfort, and she regretted that she had destroyed her dolls. She levitated one, the very first she had thrown now nothing more than an empty fabric skin, and pressed it against her breast. She wasn't even angry anymore, she wasn't even sure if she was sorrowful, she felt hollow and weak. Just like her doll. ...I'll always just be a dull doll like Tia said... She barely registered standing up, still clutching her doll, walking over to the desk and tearing the paper in half. It didn't seem to mean much either way, it wasn't as if she could finish it. I should give it to the Royal Scribe, it really was his duty to begin with. I have enough duties of my own that I'm failing at. She turned away from her desk and dragged herself over to her bed, collapsing on the covers, still magically holding her doll close. I'll have to get up in the morning and face Papa, Mama and Majere and every pony in the palace. No matter what they actually saw all they'll be thinking is: "Here's that filly who couldn't hold her liquor and had to be all but carried out of the feast." That's all the history books will write about me: Luna Erika Odinmaden, made a spectale of herself at her father's return from establishing his kingdom. Nothing else is known about her life. My mad grandfather will have pages devoted to him. My father and sisters will too. I'll just be a footnote in this world. Then she fell into the embrace of sleep. *** Note from Luna Odinmaden: The Second War of Alicorns is also called the Years of Tribulation today; firstly to distinguish itself from the First War of Alicorns, which was between Faust and her brother Penumbrus, and secondly to impose on future generations the destruction such crises, more specifically those of succession. Because of the disaster such conflicts caused a law was passed in Asgard under All-Father Augustinian that only the eldest legitimate child may inherit the throne of Asgard, only in the event of their death may the right be passed onto the next legitimate child. Also for this reason talk of overthrowing or scheming against an heir is tantamount to treason and is punishable with death. The Fate of Jeshurun and Midian As stated before in this history, after Faust's death her wicked daughter Midian stirred up her siblings to war with one another for the throne. And the war lasted many years and Asgard was much afflicted, for all Faust's children held great power as their parents had, and it was in their ability to blight the land with all manner of magically tribulation. So the inhabitants of the land, the pegasuses, the unicorns and the earth ponies, hid themselves or fled all across the whole of Asgard to escape the conflict of Faust's children. Some, seeing there was no true reprieve from their abuse, sought to beg them to make peace with one another but to no avail. Therefore Asgard grew weak and ill with war and disaster, and its inhabitants cried out for deliverance. And after forty years it came and with great recompense, and here is the manner in which it happened: Throughout the warfare, Midian claimed to play the part of peacemaker and offer to mediate between her brothers and sisters. But rather than placate her family she used her words to provoke them to violence. She would claim to bring words of warning to each, that the other sibling had sent her with words of peace but in their hearts were planning betrayal, and therefore she out of the compassion in her heart revealed this to her poor brother or sister. Therefore the words of her mouth consumed and devoured more than the edge of the sword. After she had infected her brothers and sisters with her lies she would suggest that as reward they offer one of their sons or daughter to marry one of her own. Thus her power increased and stretched out like a spider’s web over the land so that all were strangled by her slightest whim. There was only one of her siblings who perceived her wickedness and who sought to undo her works, Jeshurun the Upright, as he is now called. He was from his youth devoted to holiness and righteousness out of all his brothers and sisters and had refused to engage in any battle for or against any of them, for the thought of shedding the blood of his family was repulsive to him. As Midian’s power grew, Jeshurun took it upon himself to attempt to expose her to his siblings, reasoning with each the falseness and exploitation of her words and encouraging them to resist her influence. Most did not heed him, for they were more concerned with the might Midian’s manipulation could offer them (never considering how, as it is said, the one who thinks he masters evil shall be the first to fall by it) but some heeded his warning and withdrew from Midian’s control. Though she still retained most of her siblings in her thrall, as the fire and the leech is never satisfied so it was with Midian. She could not endure the loss of her authority over a single one and her heart was inflamed with wrath for Jeshurun. She at first sought to cloak her hate in honey words, saying to her brother: “Why do you seek to undermine me, my most precious brother? I seek only as you do, to unite our family once again through the bonds of love and marriage, what harm have I brought unto you that you desire my destruction so?” And Jeshurun answered her simply saying, “When the rabbit cries out, the fox rushes but not to help. So it has always been with you since your youth and shall be until the moment you repent, the Four Ones are loosed, or the coming of the Kingdom that Stands.” Midian was wroth at his words but restrained herself and day after day she beset her brother with her lies, professing and swearing her innocence and pleading for him to make peace with her, even offering one of her own daughters to marry one of his sons. But Jeshurun would accept none of her overtures and continued to uncover her evil intentions to all, despite many dismissing him. Even his own wife pleaded with him, “Why stir up trouble for yourself and your children? Leave your sister to her ways, if the other children of your mother are so blind they cannot see the destruction in her, leave them to their foolishness.” But Jeshurun said, “What shall I say to my mother when I pass on to the next world and see her face again? 'All your children slew one another while I stood by?' May more so be done to me and mine if I do not end this bloodshed even by my own death.” By these words he prophesied his own end, for Midian’s anger had utterly devoured her heart and mind so she could not sleep nor eat for it, and she finally determined that unless her brother was dead she would know no peace nor victory. So she called two worthless and bloodthirsty stallions to her side and told them, “Go and slay my brother Jeshurun, do not be terrified but of good courage. For if you serve me well in this one thing I shall love you and honor you as my own children, you and yours will have a place at my table forever. I swear all this on the ascension of my mother’s soul.” The stallions answered her, “We are your servants, you are our queen, we shall fulfill your every word with our every deed.” Now Jeshurun had made a pilgrimage to the Temple of the Honey Stone, the temple Faust’s husband built around the stone that he struck and honey came pouring out to revive him and his wife when they were fleeing her brother Penumbras. Today this is the temple that the Holy Seer dwells in. The murderers sent by Midian came to the door of the temple, telling the priests they were travellers seeking blessing for their journey and were therefore allowed entrance. They went to the center of the temple where the stone is and upon finding Jeshurun standing before it in prayer, they struck him and killed him there before the monument set by his father. And his blood fell upon the stone and soaked into the floor, so that to this very day the ground directly before the stone is called the Blameless Threshold and none may tread upon it. The murderers then fled, intending to hide in the hills for a month as Midian had instructed them to do before returning to her castle. But before they were even in sight of the hills, they were slain by Midian’s own soldiers, so she would seem like the avenger of her innocent brother rather than his murderess. So Jeshurun was buried in the same tomb with his father and mother and the whole land mourned Jeshurun, for he was loved by all the common folk and all his siblings other than Midian had love for him, even those who had ignored his warnings. Now all knew who the true murderer was but half the kingdom was under her hoof and the other half had no proof, so Midian believed judgement had passed over her. But Jeshurun’s wife went to the temple where her husband had died and knelt down before the stone for three days and three nights and cried out to the Maker with a loud voice: “Will the shedding of my husband’s blood and the defilement of this holy ground be unavenged?” And the Voice came to her on the third night and said: "Take your sons and daughters and stand before the mountain where Midian dwells and set your face against it every day for fourteen days. "Then on the forteenth day turn away and you and all your children shake off the dust off from your hooves and depart to your house. "For I Myself shall besiege her and all she possesses and make her name and house less than the dust. For I have heard your prayer and I beheld the blood of your husband upon My dwelling place.” So Jeshurun’s wife did all that she was told. And Midian was told that her sister-in-law and her nephews and nieces stood at the base of her mountain where her palace stood. But Midian laughed and mocked her saying, “What do I care what she does, her own husband would not strike out against a fly while he lived, will he now that he is dead come against me?” On the fourteenth day Jeshurun’s wife and his children returned to their own house and on the very hour of their departure Midian’s eldest son, a stallion of great beauty and strength, and his entire household all fell down where they stood and died, as if Palest of the Four Ones had walked through. And so Midian’s house was beset from that very day forth with torment and tribulation; her sons and daughters and their children were overcome with sickness of the body and mind, their servants arose and struck them down in their own homes, the earth shook and swallowed up their houses and the rain, flood and fire razed their crops. There was no deliverance and no salvation, the Maker’s heart was turned away from their suffering, and they all died so there was none of Midian’s heirs left in the whole of Asgard. And when Midian’s husband saw the destruction of his children and grandchildren his mind was sundered. He tore the feathers from his wings and broke his horn off his head and then threw himself from the summit of their mountain so he was broken in pieces on the rocks and died. At last only Midian was left, alone in her castle, for all her servants had deserted her in fear of the judgment visited upon her. Her own body had been ravaged by sickness so she was gaut like a skeleton. The hair on her body had fallen off, her eyes leaked blood rather than tears, her mouth and lips were coated in lesions, and her flesh broken out in boils. When she slept the same dream came to her every night, she beheld the yawning mouth of a cave with rotten flesh and broken bones strewn before it and a voice came from within saying: “Step forth, child of strife, your reward and your children await you.” On her final day, Midian climbed down her mountain to seek water for there was none in her house and none to bring her some. When she had descended she walked towards the river that ran a mile from the mountain's base but she was weak in body and in soul, and the sun was high in the sky. The heat that day was so great that some claimed the sun itself did not move from the moment she started down the mountain to the moment she collapsed on the earth, only a meter from the riverbed. To this day it is called the Mocking River and it is said the wicked who attempt to drink there taste Midian’s own blood rather than water. And the mountain where Midian’s castle was is now called the Mount of Madness and has never been dwelt in since. It is believed by those who live within sight of it that standing in its shadow will drive you mad, and that at night Midian’s ghost descends from it’s peak, crying for water, but the sun always rises and dispels her before she can reach it. Thus was the manner in which Midian the daughter of Faust was destroyed on account of her evil and her bloodline cut off, and Jeshurun’s death and the defilement of the temple was avenged. Upon seeing this destruction of their sister, fear was put in the hearts of all of Faust’s children and drove them all to seek reconciliation with one another, giving the title of All-Father to Haroun, Faust’s firstborn. Therefore there was peace between Faust’s children for as long as they lived for they feared to share their sister’s fate. But a foundation of fear is like that of sand, it shifts with the rain and storms, and once Faust’s sons and daughters were dead their children forgot the fate of Midian and they returned to the sins of their fathers and mothers and there was war again in Asgard. > How we live is so different from how we ought to live > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Luna regretted waking up. She couldn’t even open her eyes at first because they were caked with sleep sand and dried tears. When she finally managed to pry them open they were seared by the sunlight streaming through her window and when she tried to turn her face away her neck screamed with soreness. She tried to move her limbs and though she could command them they dragged as if she were moving through water. Good Faust, what is happening to me-- Oh no… Luna groaned and then winced at how the sound reverberated in her head, now pulsing with pain. And Celestia does this for fun? What is wrong with her? I swear I’ll never touch wine again as long as I live. She reached out with her magic, which was difficult since her achiness made it hard to focus, and pulled a pillow over her face. With the sunlight blocked the pain in her skull dimmed slightly but it did nothing to help the rest of her body. Oh Bor, I wish I was dead. I never want to move again. “Luna?” Cadence’s voice wasn’t loud at all but it was still like a hammer to Luna’s head. “Are you awake now?” Luna simply moaned in reply. She thought she heard Cadence walking away but wasn’t sure and didn’t really care. It was only when she heard heavier hoof falls and felt the pillow being tugged from her face that she reacted. “Noooooooo,” she wailed. “Luna let me just look at you,” Mama’s voice came, very low and soft. Reluctantly and whimpering, Luna allowed her to remove the pillow. She flinched as the sunlight struck her face again, glowing through her eyelids. “Open your eyes, beloved.” Luna thought she might just start crying. “It hurts.” The sunlight vanished and she felt Mama’s breath fanning her face, she must have been leaning over Luna now. “What does, beloved?” “Everything.” “Can you move?” Luna lifted her right leg in response. “What hurts most?” Mama asked. “My head.” “Do you feel like you’re going to be sick?” “No.” Mama must have pulled away because the light lashed Luna’s face again. Luna grabbed the pillow with both hooves and pulled it back over her face. “You have a hangover,” Mama said. “I’ll have the cook prepare something to soothe your head.” Luna mumbled something and Mama said, “What?” “Ask Celestia.” Celestia had a slew of concoctions she ingested and acts she performed to dispel her hangovers. Luna had once found her soaking in a bathtub full of warm milk, her body smeared with mashed rowan fruit and a sack over her face. When Luna asked if it helped, she had sighed: “No.” “Alright,” Mama said but something in her tone told Luna she wasn’t going to consult her other daughter. Luna heard her walk out and shut the door behind her. “Can I get you anything?” Cadence asked. Luna hadn’t even remembered her coming back in. A swift death, she thought but just said, “No.” “If you do need anything just ask me, okay?” “I will.” She heard Cadence clambering onto her own bed and start talking softly to her stuffed toy, Richard. Stuffed toy... Suddenly, Luna shot up in bed, the pillow flying off her face. Her skull roared with pain and she almost fell over from a wave of dizziness but she forced her head to turn, first left then right, her eyes straining through the blurred double vision. “Luna?” Cadence said, sounding wary. “My dolls,” Luna said. “Where are my dolls?” “You mean those up there?” Cadence motioned to the shelf above Luna’s bed. Luna whirled around, almost tipping off her bed again from loss of balance, and saw her ten dolls lined up on the shelf. These dreams are getting far too vivid. I could have sworn on my soul that I-- She frowned and drew closer to the dolls. After a moment she said, “Who put them here?” “Didn’t you?” Cadence asked, now sounding genuinely concerned. “No. They’re out of order.” She pointed at each doll in turn. “First comes blue, then orange, then red--” “Maybe Mama put them back.” “But they…” Luna trailed off. She stepped off the bed, having to pause to let her head stop swimming, and then staggered over to the roped cord that hung by her door. She magically yanked it as Cadence asked, “Do you need my help?” “I need Mama,” Luna said. A young serving mare entered the room within a few minutes and was sent to fetch Mama. As soon as she was gone, Luna had to go and sit down at her desk because she was so lightheaded she thought she might collapse. When she sat down, she noticed the page she had torn last night was lying on her desk, whole and untorn, and the spell she had been unable to compete written out. “What the…” She levitated the paper before her face and kept rubbing her eyes with her hooves until her eyes began to ache. I did not do this. I couldn’t figure this spell out for the life of me. The door opened and Luna turned to see her mother entering the room. “What is it?” Mama said. “I was getting some tea for your head.” “Did you fix my dolls?” Luna asked. Mama stared at her for a moment, then shook her head. “What do you mean?” “They were broken, all of them. Now they’re fixed.” “They were fine when I came in to check on you last night,” Mama said. Luna then levitated the paper towards her mother. “Did you write this?” “No.” Luna dropped the page back on her desk and tried to stand up, falling back immediately into her seat as the room began to spiral. Mama trotted quickly to her side. “You need to lie down, Luna,” she said. Luna’s head felt like an anvil on her neck and she had to strain to force the words to come coherently out of her mouth, “Did Majere fix my dolls?” “He hasn’t been in here.” Luna pressed her hooves to her temples. “Then how…?” “Luna you need to lie down right now.” She had Luna stand to her hooves and helped her back to her bed. Luna crumpled onto her bed and Mama pulled the covers over her. “Just rest,” Mama crooned. “We’ll talk about your dolls later, beloved.” But they were broken. I broke them. *** “Why did you break me?” The doll with the golden hair and clothed in ruby, sapphire and pearl stood before her, grown to Luna’s size. Her black button eyes reflected Luna’s and the doll’s eyes mirrored in Luna’s own reflection, back and forth for infinity. “Why did you break me?” the doll asked again. “I was angry,” Luna answered but her voice sounded distant as if coming up from a deep well. “But why with me?” “Because you are beautiful and regal, and I am not.” The doll’s eyes glistened but Luna could not tell if the tears were in her eyes or from the doll’s, as their reflections blurred and fused into an indistinguishable pool. “Did you think taking what I had would give it unto you?” Luna had to drag her answer out, as if it it were weighed down by hooks and stones. “No.” “Then what did breaking me gain?” “Vengeance.” That answer came out quick as if it had been crouching behind her teeth waiting to spring. At her words, rips began to break out over the doll’s body, the seams unravelling and severing. The cloth that made up her skin peeled back and now before her stood Celestia, except her eyes were the same hollow black buttons. When she spoke it wasn’t Celestia’s voice, “All love a smiling doll, but a frowning one is thrown out.” Her black eyes widened and Luna saw herself or perhaps it was her reflection (but weren’t they one and the same?) being stretched out like a ribbon and drawn in, in, in, into the fathomlessness. *** Luna was grateful to wake this time. The dream was like a sour taste that lingered in her mind and made her feel as ill, if not more, than her hangover had. But when she sat up and didn’t feel dizzy or nauseous she thought, Alright, that’s a lie. This is preferable to a hangover. She glanced around her room and saw that the sunlight now was bronzed and muted, meaning the sun was now setting. Good Faust, I have been in bed all day. How much of that was spent in my dream? Did I wake because of my dream? How can you even tell how long a dream lasts or when it happens in your sleep? Luna shook her head; she actually didn’t care right now, she just needed to get out of the room. All of a sudden it felt bizarrely small, as if all the walls and the floor and ceiling had inched closer together while she slept. That reminded her of a story where an evil mage locked a lover who scorned him into a room with walls lined with spikes and caused it to slowly close until it skewered her. With that thought Luna almost leapt out of bed, nearly falling right on her face because she was still tangled in her covers. She glanced at the shelf of her dolls again; they were still out of order but also still in one piece. Think Luna, think. Your imagination is getting far too potent, there is an obvious explanation for this. Somepony simply came in and fixed your dolls. But what about the spell…? Majere, it had to be Majere. But he never would have come to the room without Mama knowing. Stop it. It doesn’t matter right now and you’re still too unwell to think clearly. She started for the door but hesitated and turned to the door that lead to Celestia’s room. She didn’t really want to recall last night, but when she did compel herself to she had to admit that it was Celestia who had garnered their father’s wrath. Her relationship with Discord had been exposed and then she had been banished from the festivities, even though she had been the one to assist Luna. Luna began to feel guilt twist in her stomach. She had told of Celestia’s private affairs to Sunset, the sister who had never treated her with any love or respect, yet only after a few mouthfuls of wine Luna had considered her a friend over Celestia, who had never done anything willful to harm her and had since their childhood defended her from Sunset’s tyranny. Luna’s face was beginning to burn with shame despite being utterly alone in her room. I’m such a fool. She immediately walked over to the door to Celestia room, determined to apologize to her sister. She was already fashioning her apology, full of pleas and tears, when she wrenched the door knob. The door stuck and Luna had to try again before she realized it was locked. Luna frowned. This door was never locked, the four sisters were forever rushing in and out of one another’s rooms to borrow clothes, hair brushes and hairpins, makeup and toys. Luna knocked on the door. “Celestia?” she said. There was no answer. She’s probably up and about, it’s so late. Just at that moment she heard hoofsteps from the other side of the door. She pressed her ear against the door. “Celestia?” she called again. Maybe she’s angry with me. After all I got Papa angry with her. The hoofsteps drew near to the door and then stopped, but the door was not unlocked. Oh good Faust, I hope it isn’t Sunset--I never want to look at her face again. Suddenly a piece of paper slipped from underneath the door. Luna levitated it to her face and read Celestia’s scrawled writing: Papa says I can’t speak to any of you for a week. I can’t leave the room either. Luna now was very glad for the door between them, her shame was so great now she didn’t know if she could have looked Celestia in the eye. She considered just walking away but felt that would be cowardly, she was here to apologize and she would. At least she wouldn’t have to face her sister as she spoke, that might make it easier. “Celestia, I’m so sorry for everything I did last night,” Luna began, already feeling a lump rising in her throat from embarrassment and regret. “I’m sorry I told Sunset about Discord, I’m sorry I called you a nag and a hussy and a harlot, I’m sorry Papa is angry with you when it’s all my fault.” She had imagined a far finer and more eloquent speech but she had forgotten the words when she started speaking. She had started to cry and had to stop for a moment to swallow. Now the silence on the other side of the door felt damning, condemning. Now she wished she could see Celestia’s face and know how she was taking this pathetic apology. “I’ll do anything if you’ll only forgive me,” she said. After a moment, she added quickly before she lost her nerve, “I’m going to tell Papa Sunset was the one who got me drunk. And I’ll tell him I knew about Discord for some time but didn’t tell Mama.” Just the thought of confessing the latter point to her father made her feel ill; she could already imagine his face growing dark and his voice coming out cold and demanding, how could one daughter be threatening her honor with some strange male and the other say nothing about it? Another piece of paper popped out from under the door. After Luna had levitated it and rubbed the dampness out of her eyes, she read: Don’t do that. There’s no point in you being punished for my mistakes. Just tell him about Sunset, after all it was you who was wronged by that. As if an afterthought, another paper came slipping out: You’d better go now, Papa said no one is to speak with me. Luna thought of Celestia, so sociable and talkative, who hated silence and isolation as much as Luna herself craved it, and she felt she couldn’t leave. If the situation had been reversed, Celestia would have stayed and spent hours entertaining her. Luna was always stuck by her sister’s paradox; she could be so astonishingly selfish and yet in the same instant selfless to the point of martyrdom, and never seemed capable of differentiating the actions. On the other hoof, Papa was not one to be defied. He actually rarely was the one to punish them, considering how consumed he had always been first with his father and now with the kingdom, but when he did his punishments were absolute and nonnegotiable. Luna chewed her bottom lip, and then slowly lifted her hoof, rapping it in a deliberate rhythm against the door. I wonder if Celestia even remembers this; we haven’t used this code since before Little Uncle died. Then a series of sharp knocks came in response through the door. I remember. Luna felt a sigh of relief escape her lips. And something else, nostalgia perhaps? She lifted her hoof and knocked. We’re not speaking, so Papa shouldn’t mind. Celestia replied: You’re so sneaky. I’m impressed. After a pause, she added: When this is over, I'll teach you to drink. So this won't happen again. Luna never wanted to touch liquor again but she knew Celestia was only trying to be kind. Thank you. A thought struck her and she knocked out the question: Did you fix my dolls? What? Did you fix my dolls? Your princesses? Did they break? Well there was her answer. Nevermind, Luna said. Luna and Celestia spent around a half hour conversing in this manner, until Celestia finally said she was tired and going to bed early. Luna wondered how tired she could be having been locked in a room all day, but then thought perhaps she had been crying most of it. When Celestia truly cried (as opposed to false tears she used to milk sympathy) she tended to cry for so long and so profusely she had to lie down to recover. Luna actually felt acutely disappointed; she couldn’t remember the last time she had a wholly enjoyable communication with Celestia. And the knocking code had brought back memories from their childhood, before Cadence was born and when Sunset was still the brazen bully who shunned their company unless she could control it. They had invented the code specifically to circumvent Sunset’s tyranny and to mock her without threat of reprisal, first just little sharp raps to signify words like nag and eventually longer, complex patterns to hold entire conversations. They had never given the code to anypony else, not even Mama, though Sunset after realizing what they were doing attempted to torment them into confessing. Luna recalled feeling closest to Celestia in those days, it had been so pronounced that they had been confused for twins by strangers. In fact, Luna’s birth had followed so quickly after Celestia's that Grandmama had called them Pleiades Daughters. Pleiades was a constellation wherein two stars in particular appeared like they were one great star unless examined with a telescope or very keen eyes. A long time ago, Luna had read, it was required by all military recruits to be able to see both stars, to ensure their sharp eyesight. What Luna remembered most about the stars is Majere telling her that despite how close they looked there were actually millions of miles between them and it was only their distance that made them look so closely pressed. Luna used to spend hours staring at them through her telescope, trying in her mind's eye to fit the millions of miles into the infinitesimal space between. Her and Celestia’s closeness seemed strange to Luna now, from the distance of years; despite their close birth, Celestia and Luna had always quite polarized in their personalities. For example, Celestia began speaking at the age of two but Luna did not speak even a word until she was almost four. She remembered their parents had been exceedingly concerned about this, and meant to consult the court physician or Majere, but Grandpapa had told them, "The little cheat doesn't speak for she has no need, she lets the bright one make all the demands for her. Separate them and this darkling will be forced to speak." Mama was against it but Papa saw reason in it and so Celestia and Luna were separated. It went very poorly. Celestia threw such a tantrum, Luna later heard, she did nothing but scream and throw herself on the ground until she was exhausted. Luna’s reaction was more subdued; she sat in the corner of their nursery and cried quietly. After two hours, Mama had enough. She brought Celestia back to the nursery. When she came through the door, Celestia sprawled out wearily on her back supported between her wings, Luna leapt up from her place and cried: "Tia!" And that was her first word. When Grandpapa was told, he said, "Don't be so happy, that darkling has years worth of thoughts stuffed in her head. Now you've opened the floodgates." Celestia’s name was my first word, Luna thought, finally walking away from the door dividing their rooms. She was my first friend. She walked first, talked first. She’ll come of age first, marry first, have children first. Sunset is the eldest, but somehow it’s Celestia who will always be first. For the first time, it didn’t seem to bother her so much. Perhaps it was the events of yesterday and today, but she felt if she had to choose she supposed better attentive and amiable Celestia, than wicked and cruel Sunset. Or morose and temperamental Luna. *** Luna stood before the double doors of her parents’ room, suddenly feeling very resistant to her mission. When she was little, her parents’ room had been across from the children's; but after her grandparents death they had moved to the royal bedroom. The wooden doors were massive, three times the height of her father, and carved with the images of Faust and her husband, Wotan, and Borr and his second wife, Frigg. Luna recalled she had been afraid of these carvings as a child because their eyes were precious gems driven into the wood so they gave the impression of staring into every corner and every face directly. This thought did little to calm her as she tentatively raised her hoof to knock. Remember poor Celestia and wicked Sunset. Think of them and knock. She gave the wood two quick raps and waited anxiously. The right door opened and Luna was relieved to see her mother standing there, looking surprised. “Are you well, best beloved? Does your stomach still hurt?” “I’m fine, Mama,” Luna said. “I...I’ve come to speak to Papa.” Mama seemed extraordinarily pleased by this and immediately hurried Luna in. The room was painted in varying hues of gold, which was the Borrson royal color, and hung with rich tapestries that depicted great feats and events of their family. Luna remembered that her mother had brought her here once to show how many of the tapestries’ events she could recognize and recount to Grandmama. Papa was seated at a large desk, leaning over a pile of papers, a quill pen suspended in the air before him. “Odin,” Mama said in a bright yet persuasive voice. “Luna’s here to speak to you.” Papa turned to look them, his face lined with exhaustion. The golden patch over his injured eye gleamed in the light of the candles set in the wall over his desk and the scar running from his temple to his cheekbone looked almost purely white in the waxy light. Mama nudged Luna right up to her father so she could see how red-rimmed and dull his eyes were. She was now wishing she had waited a little longer to come here. “How are you feeling Luna?” Papa asked, his voice slow as if he had to focus to speak. “Better, Papa,” she said. “Did you rest well?” “Yes, Papa.” There was a pause, Papa staring at her yet his eye didn’t seem to be seeing her and Luna wondering how he could look so aged, Papa was young by Alicorn standards but he looked haggard up close. “Did you have something in particular you wanted to tell your father?” Mama said, looking at Luna expectantly. Luna had no idea how to say this and she was beginning to rethink her decision. After all, Celestia was being punished for her inappropriate relations with Discord, not because Papa assumed she was behind Luna’s public humiliation. And Sunset had a history of exacting vengeance when her cruelties were exposed; one time Luna had told Mama how her older sister had called her names and Sunset took her favorite storybook and threw it into the fireplace. “Luna, I’m quite occupied at the moment so unless you have something immediate to speak with me about…” Papa said but Mama cut him off with a scathing glare. “It wasn’t Celestia’s fault.” The words burst out of Luna before she had time to check them. Well, damned if you do, damned if you don’t. Papa blinked slowly and touched his temple with the tip of his wing. “What?” “It wasn’t her fault I was drunk,” Luna said more slowly. Papa nodded. “So she said.” “It was Sunset. She got me drunk.” Now Papa’s eye seemed to focus and grow a little sharper. “Excuse me?” He said and now his voice had an edge to it. Luna swallowed. “Sunset, who must have known that it was my first permitted drink, kept having my glass refilled and encouraging me to drink. And then she questioned me about how things had gone about the house since she had been gone and when I told her of Celestia’s actions with Discord, which I assumed was in confidence, she immediately left to tell you.” Papa was silent for a moment then said deliberately, “So what you seem to be implying is that your sister purposely inebriated you with the intent of using any information she gathered against your sister?” Papa’s tone was reminding Luna of a judge presiding over an execution but she still answered, “Yes.” Papa’s expression grew very dark and Mama said from her place besides Luna, “Did I not tell you? I know my own daughters.” Papa stood up so suddenly Luna nearly jumped out of her skin and strode over to the servant’s chord which he yanked violently. When a serving stallion appeared he ordered, “Bring the heir to me.” Luna stood awkwardly in her place, glancing at her mother in hopes she might tell her to leave but Mama was watching Papa, who stood staring at the door and didn’t move until Sunset arrived. Upon entering the room Sunset greeted him with a confident, “You summoned me, Papa?” But her expression shifted when she saw his face and before she could say another word, he bore down on her and demanded with something almost akin to ferocity, “Did you get your sister drunk?” Sunset stared at him and Luna wasn’t sure if the astonishment on her face was from confusion or fear. “What?” Papa leaned down so his eyes were on level with Sunset’s; Luna noted for the first time that Sunset was actually rather short of stature for an Alicorn, Celestia was quite a few inches taller than her. “Maybe I spoke too quickly for your mind to grasp my meaning,” Papa said and now his voice was deathly cold. “Let me repeat my words again and slower so you might comprehend: did you purposely get Luna drunk last night? Answer only yes or no.” There was a terrible pause where Sunet stared at Papa with a look of almost terror, and Luna could see her eyes twitching as if her mind were tumbling over itself to find some kind of escape in those impossible narrow margins he had given her. But finally, she spoke, very quietly and slowly: “Yes.” For a split second Papa’s good eye seemed to flash with some kind of white, wild fire and Luna felt her breath catch in her throat. She thought of Grandpapa and his sceptre coming down across Papa’s face, and wondering if Sunset, the only one of them who had witnessed it, was recalling the scene herself. But instead the look passed and was replaced with an icness that seeped into his voice: “Did you ask her questions to gather unfavorable information about Celestia?” “Yes,” Sunset said, her own voice sounding as if it were struggling to maintain an even tone. “Did you then come and report the matter of the creature Discord to me with the express purpose of putting your sister out of grace with me?” “Yes.” “Why?” When Sunset didn’t reply right away he hissed: “Answer me, Sunset.” “Because Celestia is disrespectful towards me and would have done the same and done it first if given the chance.” Sunset spoke the words quickly, as if trying to rush them out as a blade was plummeting towards her neck. “That’s all?” Papa sounded scandalized. “You haven’t even seen your sister in three years, what could she have done in one evening to convince you of this?” “Celestia has always hated me and tried to usurp my place!” Sunset all but shouted, seeming to ascribed to the Damned if you do, damned if you don’t philosophy, as Luna recalled she had a few moments ago. Before Papa could respond Sunset went on, her voice became more heated and wild as if it were a torrent she had been suppressing for some time: “I am the eldest and yet all our tutors, servants, guests and even our relatives honor her above me, just because she knows how to please everyone with her mincing words and smiles. “I should have been first at last night’s affair, but all the young stallions asked her to dance before me and all the guests went to speak with her before me and our relatives only said hello and then went after her as well! “And did she once defer them to me, correct them or turn them away? No, rather she encouraged them! She pranced and simpered with all of them, eating up their attentions that should by all rights and traditions and decorum belong to me! “This is my court, my inheritance and yet she reaps all the esteem as if she were All-Mother already! What will happen when I gain my throne and yet she has the hearts of all my subjects? She is stealing my throne from me even now and yet nopony sees it or stops it, so I must fight for it myself!” The entire time Sunset had ranted Papa had stared at her with an expression that was something like incredulity. When she was finished he spoke in an amazed tone, as if he couldn’t believe he was having this conversation: “This is not a political opponent or a rebellious noble whom you must cut down before he strikes, this is your sister! Celestia doesn’t seek your throne, she hasn’t the mind or ambition to even know to desire it, all she will ever want in life in comfort and entertainment, as she has been since her birth! There is no creature whom your paranoia could have more deceived you as to their nature than her! “Sunset, you cannot treat your family like the enemy, they are the only ones who will always remain faithful to you. They are the only ones who do not cling to you for the sake of prestige or power or protection. All others you will know in this life will seek to exploit you and defeat you, that is the sad state of a ruler. But your family will always have your best interests at heart.” “Like Grandpapa had yours at heart?” The second Sunset spoke those words Luna saw her eyes widen as if she had not even realized what she said until she heard it. But it was far too late by then. There was a brief, unbearable moment of suspended silence; then all exploded into movement and hysteria as Papa’s right hoof drove right into Sunset’s face and she was sent reeling back. Luna stood rooted to the spot as Mama rushed to Sunset’s side, immediately putting herself between her husband and her daughter, using her wings to wipe the blood that was dribbling down Sunset’s muzzle. Papa strode forward but Mama wrapped her wings around Sunset and drew her close. “Get away, Frigga,” Papa snarled. Luna had never in her life heard him speak like that to her mother. “Odin,” Mama voice was stony, like she was using them to form a wall between herself and Sunset and her husband. “Enough. Enough. She understands. Nothing more is needed.” Papa actually glared at her. His one eye burned with such a wrath that Luna thought, in that strange detached way the mind does when in the midst of distress, like the eye at the center of the storm, how unlike Grandpapa’s it was. His had been sudden and explosive, quick to wither and die. This was deep and boiling like the heat that stoked in the roots of a volcano, waiting and simmering and never unquenched. But Mama didn’t flinch. Her expression remained utterly implacable and she held Sunset close to her breast, her feathers spread across the young Alicorn’s head as like a shelter and a shield. Luna had always seen her mother as something soft and tender but now she saw something like iron in here, a stone driven into the earth, battered and lashed at by the elements but untouched and intransient. Luna remembered there was an old wizard riddle: When the wind and the water go to war, who wins? Majere had told her there were many answers and the one he had given his master was: “None, but all else suffers.” Luna felt that if in this moment her parents clashed there would be no victory but it wasn’t her parents who would be the defeated ones. “Odin,” Mama said again, a low thrumming rising in her voice, a sound that suddenly made Luna feel strangely dulled. “Think. Think about what you are doing. Think about what you are about to do. Think, Odin.” Luna watched as the fire in her father’s face began to drain out of it, not like being doused or blown out, but rather as if it were being inhaled back into some furnace within him. The glare went out of his eye and was replaced with a deep, intense exhaustion; his entire countenance became haggard and for the second time that day Luna thought he looked terribly old. He stepped back and looked at Mama like he intended to speak. But instead he turned and went out the door. It was like breath returned to the room; Luna suddenly realized she had been holding hers and inhaled in a gasp. Mama let out a deep sigh like her spirit was departing her body and Sunset made a choking noise that Luna might have called a sob, except she had never heard her sister cry so she had no reference for such a sound. “Shhhh, shhhh…” Mama said, stroking Sunset’s mane with her wing. “It’s over.” Sunset was touching her muzzle daintily with her hoof, pulling it away and stared intently at the blood on it. Suddenly her face twisted hatefully and smashed her hoof against her bloody muzzle. Luna’s gasp was covered by Sunset’s snarling shriek. “Stupid, stupid, stupid,” Sunset snarled. Mama immediately cast a spell to pin Sunset’s offending hoof down and another to hold Sunset’s head still, as she had begun to trash it back and forth like she was attempting to smash it against something. “Enough,” Mama said firmly. “I said enough.” Sunset’s body loosened and Mama released her from the spell. She rubbed Sunset’s back with her hoof and said softly, “It wasn’t your fault.” “Yes it was,” Sunset said and her voice sounded as heavy as lead. “I was stupid. I shouldn’t have said anything. Next time, I’ll be more cautious, I won’t speak.” Mama cast a spell, a pain reliever Luna assumed, and she seemed about to say something but paused and suddenly turned to Luna. “You can leave now, beloved,” she said gently. Luna felt guilty at how she rushed to the doors, casting a quick glance at Sunset, who didn’t seem to notice her and simply stared ahead with eyes full of a terrible, suppressed burning. Like Papa’s. When Luna got back to her room Cadence was there, sitting at her little desk Papa had ordered to specially made for her, working on what seemed to be a mathematics lesson. As Luna walked past her and crawled into bed, Cadence said, “You’re going back to sleep again?” “Yes.” “Do you feel any better?” No. “Yes.” “I’m glad. Papa promised me we would all go picnicking this week, just like we used to before he became All-Father.” Luna shut her eyes tightly as the image of Sunset’s bloody muzzle flashed across them. Was that something brought out by being the All or had that always been in him? “Are you excited, Luna?” “I’m tired,” she said and pulled the covers over her head. “Do you want your dolls?” “No, I don’t.” *** Those Without A Maker On Morals in Warfare: I have heard many belaboring and accusing one another over the argument of transgressing morals in warfare. Whether it is right to raze a village where we know the enemy to dwell but know also to be an orphanage; to execute doctors assisting the enemy forces, providing them with enough care so they might rise and return to their ranks to attack us, for treason; or to kill an entire household, women and children and servants, to prevent a vengeful retaliation. To all these points I turn to the proverb: "All in love is fair to the eyes"; meaning firstly that to eyes of one smitten their lover is without fault or blemish, and secondly that in the affairs of love no act to gain, preserve or revenge it is deemed excessive or unjustified. So it is that in warfare every measure seems righteous and justified in the eyes of the perpetrators. A mother who has held her dead child, rent in pieces by an enemy attack, will see no wrong in a retaliation that kills their babes. So where is the sin in war? It goes the was of righteousness, buried deep with the bodies of the slain and under the debris of broken kingdoms. There is neither good nor evil only what seems best to achieve a victorious end. Once war has been declared there is only the living and the dead, who are called the victorious and the defeated, for those who live under the rule of those who have murdered their families are as good as dead. So I say strike! Strike first, strike hardest, and do not slow or stop until you are the victor. Note From Luna Odinmaden: "Those Without A Maker" was a book on the philosophy of war, written by Frigyes Kolos, a Pegasus stallion living during the Felling Times. In these days the warfare between the realms was so constant and savage that many thought the Great Tree would be uprooted or felled, hence the name. His greatest belief was with the absence of a supreme creator with the authority to establish eternal and unchanging morals and therefore execute justice and judgement for them, that there was no logical or naturalistic purpose to follow any ethical concepts. Survival was the only universal constant to serve and be adhered to, and given it's efficient process (due to the complete lack of concern towards collateral damage or injustice towards the innocent) it was utilized by many rulers and warmongers during this time, and in fact heralded the most brutal era of the Felling Times. The connection between the vast public acceptance of his philosophy and the increased savagery of the warfare has not been overlooked by later historians. Frigyes Kolos himself went mad shortly after the publishing of his book and died in destitution. His last words, overheard by a priest attending him in a poorhouse (ironic, given his stance on religion), were said to be: “I see we are all of us tangled in the grasp of a great nightmare, of which there is no waking.”