//------------------------------// // Chapter 14 - When the Past and Future Collide. // Story: SAE - Sword Art Equestria // by The Dark Brony //------------------------------// -Kirito POV- As we got back from Craig’s Universe, I looked to Asuna before I said “So… was it just me or did Craig seem like he hadn’t… lost someone yet?” “I thought I was the only one who noticed that… I thought I was going crazy.” Asuna replied calmly. “So… that version of him was before we last met?” “So he’s your brother… he is powerful… much more powerful than both of you.” Sombra replied calmly. “Yeah… he is… but you need to remember this The loneliest people are the kindest, the saddest people smile the brightest, the most damaged people are the wisest, all because they don’t wish to see anyone else suffer the way they did,” Asuna admitted sadly. “Are you saying his happiness is all a facade?” “Not when we saw him it wasn’t, that was genuine… but that will change soon… his happiness will not last… it never has.” “Yeah… he never seemed to have his hope up like he did with all of us together again.” “So… what do we need to do?” asked Sombra “Well… we need to help with the guards training, and then I want to get Celestia to do something for us.” Asuna admitted. “And what would that be?” “Do you remember what Craig was wearing?” “Yeah… a black Trench Coat like mine… what are you getting at?” “Where would he have got it, he said he had a note… with our initials… we must have gone back it’s unlikely a scrap of paper could have gotten to that room along with the coat.” “Are you saying that we placed them there for him to have?” “It would make sense… if the princess had your token…. I suppose she could call you when he appears,” Sombra suggested. “I guess you have a point, anyway we should get to the barracks and get ready for training,” Kirito replied calmly. “You're right… we really need to work out how to read time here… I can’t say the time on our inventories are right without something to check them by,” Asuna pointed out. “I guess… let's just focus on the tasks at hand.” “Okay, let's go,” Asuna replied before they made their way to the barracks. As they arrived at the Barracks they saw that there a large majority of the guard was just standing sitting near the walls talking to each other along with a few who were holding their spears and stabbing them into training dummies. Some of the guards that were sitting down then noticed us before they quickly stood up causing me to smirk before I looked up to see that it wasn’t us they reacted to but Celestia and Luna who had walked in behind us. I then looked to them before I said “It’s good to see you both,” with a bow. Celestia just smiled back, whilst Luna remained quiet before she walked past us as I saw what almost looked like a green light appear in her eyes before it disappeared, I then looked to Asuna who looked to have not seen it. I then closed my eyes before I heard Sombra say “I know that look… that light… something wrong with Luna… be careful, we need to figure out what’s going on with her.” I simply nodded before opening my eyes before Celestia who seemed oblivious to what was happening with Luna began to make her way towards the guards as they all began to pick you swords, spears and bows and began to practice with them. Celestia then turned to us before she said “So… what were you up to this time when you disappeared?” “Well… we met my son again… and a new one,” Asuna admitted which got a look from both Celestia and Luna. “She meant my brother has added someone else to our family that we have met.” I clarified as Celestia just smiled in understanding. “Well then, I guess you had a good time then,” Celestia replied. “Also… I’m sorry to request this of you but,” “Don’t worry, we’ll be glad to help,” Celestia said as she cut me off. “Well… could you use this to call us when my brother appears in the future… there’s something’s we need to give him.” I said as I held a copy of my amulet in my hand which was quickly picked up in Celestia's magic. “It would be our pleasure,” Celestia and Luna said in unison. “Thank you,” I replied with a smile before we all began to watch over the guards training. Once the guards had finished the princess’s looked at us before we heard Luna's voice say “Kirito, Asuna… it’s time,” however strangely her mouth did not move. I then looked to Celestia and Luna before I heard the voice added “And don’t bother asking the me in front of you, I’m calling in response to Craig’s arrival in the future… how did you say this thing worked.” I then smiled before I said, “looks like we need to go… Luna, in the future this information is important, to call us from our token you just need to ask.” Luna then looked at us questionably before a portal opened in front of us on the floor as we said “We’ll see you sooner… or later Princess.” Celestia then smiled before she said “Go, whoever called you may need you, just get back when you can… and have fun.” “We will,” I replied before we both jumped into the portal as it closed above us. As we exited the portal we saw Luna standing in front of us with an unconscious Celestia on the ground before Luna said “This wasn’t us, we swear.” “Why do you think we’d think you hurt your sister?” Asuna asked. “Well… the last time we met… I did seal get you both sealed in stone?” Luna admitted sadly. “Luna… that hasn’t happened so don’t worry,” I replied. “If this meeting is what sent you away all that time ago we fear it may soon be too late to stop us.” Luna said sadly before she continued to say “Anyway your son just left us?” “Wait us?” I asked before I saw a white unicorn that had dark blue mane and tail with some brighter streaks that were running through it. He was wearing what looked to be purple and gold armour and appeared to have what looked to have a six-pointed star on a shield shaped buckle resting near the front of his armour. The pony then looked at us before he said “Princess… who are these… things?” “Shining Armour these two are the captains of the guard one thousand years ago… when we were actually able to fight and train them alongside you.” Shining Armour then looked at us before he shouted “Wait… these things are the heroes that were sealed away!” “Umm… sorry, you are?” I asked. “My name is Shining Armour, I am the Captain of the guard,” he said with pride. “You mean the guard that are doing nothing to help stop Discord right now apart from cowering in fear?” I pointed out as I gestured to a pair of guards who were each curled up in a ball near the door, “If so… I think you're doing a poor job of training them.” Shining Armour then glared at us as Luna smirked before Shining said “Okay then you think you could do better show me what you can do?” “You aren’t worth the time or energy it would take,” I replied calmly ignoring Shining Armour before saying “Luna could you show us where Craig will rest after he deals with Discord.” “Of course,” Luna replied before she said, “Although you may want to.” She was then cut off as Shining Armour charged me before I spun around and used one hand to pin him to the ground before I shouted “I was talking to the Princess show some respect!” Which caused Asuna to smirk and Shining Armour to go quiet before I said “Sorry about that Luna… but he did ask me to prove it,” as I released him. “Well, Shining Armour… there’s your proof,” Luna said calmly. “Ugh… you really could have warned me about that Princess.” Shining Armour groaned. “Well… you did taunt someone who I’d say has more power than you… besides, they have taken Discord just as Craig is attempting to do right now.” “Wait… you took Discord on!” Shining shouted in surprise. “Well yeah, is that really surprising?” Asuna asked. “Anyway, Shining Armour, we wish to tell you that if Craig is unable to hold Discord off should the need arise his sword can be strengthened by the Elements.” “What do you mean Princess?” “The sword was forged normally… but before it cooled both me and my sister hit it with the elements as an extra defence if the elements didn’t stop the enemy… the power will dormant until the blade is once again struck with them, but this is to only be used as a last resort.” Luna explained. “I understand Princess,” Shining Armour replied. “Well then, you need to get Craig to Ponyville… and don’t tell him about Kirito or Asuna.” “I understand,” he replied as he bowed to us all before leaving. I then turned to Luna before I said “So shall we move Celestia first before we get sorted.” “Actually you may want to look through that window first,” Luna said gesturing to a window to the right of them before we I switched to my ALO form before we both flew to the window as we saw a black haired human standing below us looking towards a nearby labyrinth. Asuna then looked at me before she said “So this is what he was like when he arrived.” “Indeed… he was just like you described to us… although I was surprised when we met him, he was so calm… completely different to how you reacted… he also acted like he knew me… we understand why though now.” “I guess you're right,” I then stopped as I saw Craig look towards us before I said, “You don’t think he saw us do you?” “How could he… this glass is stained he shouldn’t see a clear image of us he should assume we are just two ponies that entered the room.” Shining Armour then walked up to him before Craig turned around and they walked out of our sights. I then turned back to Luna before I said “so… where are we gonna move your sister too?” “Her room… Craig said it may be best to carry her in magic… would you mind assisting us?” “Of course Princess, it would be our pleasure,” Asuna replied before Luna picked Celestia up in her magic before we made our way up to her room. Once we reached Celestia’s room Luna carefully placed her on the bed before she slowly pulled some covers over her, however, she was then quickly grabbed by Celestia before we heard her say “I’m so sorry… I can’t let it happen again… I failed you once, I can’t again… Asuna, I’ll protect him.” Asuna then looked at me before she said “Wow… that's actually a surprise.” “Umm… would you mind helping us,” Luna asked as she was held in place by Celestia. “No worries,” I replied as I saw a small plushie in the shape of some sort of bird which I went to grab before I felt it burn my hand as it moved before I realised it wasn’t a plushie but an actual bird. I then looked towards the other side of the room before I saw what looked like a plushie that looked like… Luna which I quickly grabbed not questioning the fact as Asuna slowly moved Celestia’s hooves out of the way so Luna could get out before I quickly placed the plushie in its place. I then looked at Luna as she nodded before we made our way out of the room closing the door behind us. As we made our way back through the halls Luna looked towards us before she asked “So, why did you want to come here when he appeared… why not wait?” “There are some things we needed to drop off, one here and another after he leaves Ponyville, we know where to leave the second one so don’t worry about that,” Asuna admitted with a smile. “Well… I guess we could give everyone a room for when they return… and I could send Twilight a letter telling them to inform us they are coming back so you can get clear of Canterlot so Craig doesn’t see you… we assume it’s not his time yet.” “Not yet… we both also wish that you keep us coming back a secret from him… same goes with us being the statues.” Luna then looked at us in shock before she said “How do you know about that?” “We… well, let's just say this isn’t the latest we’ve appeared up to date.” I admitted. Luna then looked at us questionably before she said “We guess we’ll learn what you mean sooner or later.” “You will, but could you not tell your sister that you’ve seen us yet.” “We will try,” Luna replied with a smile before she turned to a nearby room and said, “This is where we will put him, what are you dropping off?” I then looked to Asuna as she wrote out a small note that read, Craig, take this trench coat as a gift, we wish you the best you luck. We’ll both meet you eventually. K&A Once the note was finished she placed it on a nearby table before a Trench coat that was similar to mine appeared in my hands. I then walked to a nearby cupboard before placing the jacket on a hanger before shutting the door leaving it open enough that you could see the coat. I then looked to Asuna before I said “and now we wait for Discord to be dealt with.” Luna then stopped before she said “Actually we need to send Twilight’s friendship letters back to her for some reason… We better get that started,” Luna replied before she disappeared. I then looked to Asuna before we nodded to each other before we walked towards the statue garden. Once we reached the statue garden we began looking around as we saw our own statues before I said “So… we see ourselves like this right now… weird seeing myself in stone… I wonder what the circumstances were for this to have happened to us?” “I don’t know… but it seemed like Luna did something from how she reacted to seeing us… and what did she mean by it’s almost too late?” “Well, whatever she means… they know.” I admitted gesturing to our statues. “True, but I guess for them to know… we need to find out,” Asuna admitted. “Well… if that's the case we can do it as a team,” Sombra admitted as he appeared on my shoulder. “We suppose you're right,” A voice said from behind us. We then turned around to see both Celestia and Luna standing behind us before Asuna said “Princesses it’s good to see you… although we didn’t think you knew we’d be back this early Celestia.” “Well, it is pretty clear that you aren’t back completely… but… I'm sorry.” “What do you have to be sorry for?” “We are both sorry for our parts in getting you both stuck like that,” Luna admitted as she pointed one of her hooves to the statues. “Ugh… that hasn’t happened yet… we could change it.” I groaned “No… you won’t be able to… it’s most likely already too late to prevent what's going to happen,” Celestia admitted sadly. “Well… I’d never say it’s too late to change what happened.” “We wish that was true,” Luna muttered before a scroll appeared in front of her which she opened and read. She then looked to us both before she said “They’re done with Discord… well mostly.” “Yeah about that, don’t trust him… he’s gonna play Craig soon and make him suffer,” Asuna admitted. “What do you mean,” Celestia asked clearly worried. “He’s going to try and force Craig to do a lot of things he wouldn’t do normally… just make sure someone’s watching him in case.” “We promise you that we will keep him safe,” Luna replied with a smile. “Well then, I think it’s time we get moving,” I admitted before I switched to my ALO form and said, “Well princesses, we’ll need to go and get Craig’s second gift sorted, I hope we’ll see you both again soon in this timeline.” “As do we… good luck and… be careful.” Luna said calmly before we both bowed to them before flying off towards Ponyville hoping that Craig didn’t see us. -1 hour later- As we got closer to ponyville I asked Asuna “You got what we need to give him?” “Yeah, I'll get it out once we get there… and we need to be stealthy… not hard for you with Sombra… not so easy for me.” I then stopped and thought for a second before I said “Sombra could you help her… my black clothes should be fine as camo in the dark but her blue hair and clothes ain’t gonna cut it.” “Umm… as we slow down I’ll switch to her, keep her in the shadows… you know where we need to go?” Sombra asked. “Yeah, just keep near me and I'll lead us there,” Asuna said calmly. “Okay,” both me and Sombra replied. We then looked forwards as we began to see Ponyville in the distance before I smiled as I asked Asuna “you got the letter?” “Yes, I got it.” “Okay let's move,” I replied as we reached the outskirts of Ponyville and began to slow down as we landed on the ground near carousel Boutique to see that the area was strangely clear of any civilians before Sombra quickly switched to Asuna before she was covered in shadows as she kept close to the walls using Sombra to hide in the shadows. I then nodded to them before walking around the store until we saw where Asuna knew Craig would move in as we approached the house. Asuna then looked around before she said “can you get us in?” I then smirked as I looked to Sombra and nodded as a shadow went into the hole before a faint click was heard from the door I turned the handle as the door opened before I walked into the house followed by Asuna as she closed the door behind her. As soon as we got inside we noticed that the room was already filled with furniture spread around the room filling up the majority of the available space. I then looked to Asuna before I said “Right we’ll get the letter sorted then we’ll head home and deal with whatever Celestia and Luna were sorry about.” “I’m with you, let's get moving.” Asuna replied as she said “Sombra… keep an eye out for if someone comes in.” “Of course.” he replied before we made our way upstairs. As soon as we got up the stairs we walked into the rooms one by one until we found the only room in the house that seemed to have a bed before I looked to Asuna and said “Let's get this sorted.” “Yeah… you got the chain?” She asked. “Yep,” I replied as I opened my menu before clicking one of the buttons before a small silver chain necklace appeared in my hand as Asuna did the same as an envelope appeared in her hand. “May I?” She asked holding her hand out as I simply nodded and placed it in her hand before it was put inside of the envelope before it was closed and placed on a nearby table. We then nodded to each other as we walked out the room closing the door behind us before we made our way downstairs as Sombra nodded to us before he closed the door from our side and turned back into shadow and merged with my own. We then grabbed hold of our tokens before I said “How do we do this without Luna?” “I… hadn’t thought of that…” Asuna admitted before we heard Celestia's voice say through our tokens “Asuna, Kirito I need your help.” “Or that works,” I muttered before a portal opened in front of us before we both ran through it back to our universe. As we got back to our own world we looked around us to see an extremely different scene that of when we left, the castle was now falling apart at the seams, some of the pillars that held some of the rooms up had collapsed and the rooms above them turned to rubble. We then looked up before we saw Celestia and some sort of creature that held similarities to Luna however it’s coat was black instead of blue. I then looked to Asuna before she said “Umm… you think this is what they were referring to earlier?” “Could be… maybe we should stop…” I was then cut off as Celestia crashed into the ground in front of us. Asuna then looked at her before she said “You okay… you and Luna arguing about something again?” “That's not my sister… I refuse to believe it is.” “...No… it is her… you may deny the fact but it is her,” I admitted as I quickly drew my swords. “No… it can’t be her.” “It is… we are sure of the fact.” Asuna added. “What are you on about?” The voice asked above us before I looked up to her and said “Or maybe I am mistaken… she doesn’t sound like Luna.” “True… we could have been misinformed… Princess… think you can stand?” Asuna asked. “Just about… can you buy me some time… I need to get something.” “We’ll buy you as long as we can, just work…” I was then cut off as the mare above us fired a burst of dark blue magic towards us which caused me to quickly draw my blades as I blocked the blast as it pushed me back. I then sighed and “as quick as you can… you’ll have only a few minutes at most.” “...we’ll try… just hold out for as long as you can.” “We will… just get moving,” Asuna added as she drew her rapier as our wings appeared on our backs before we flew up to meet the mare above us. “You’re going to challenge me… don’t waste my time,” The mare said laughing. “What about… no…. Besides you barely look a threat daymare… whatever.” “It’s Nightmare Moon and I will bring forth eternal night and…” she was then cut off as four arrows made from ice raced by her head. “Next time they will not miss,” Asuna admitted the runes around her disappearing as she lowered her hand as she stared at Nightmare Moon. “You dare try and hit me!” “Try’s a very inaccurate word right now for what she did,” I said from behind her as I brought both my swords down towards her back before she quickly teleported away dodging the swords and reappearing behind a distance away from me. “Those tricks won’t work… you clearly don’t realise who I was do you?” “Yes… and we plan on getting Luna back and I know she can see what you're forcing her to do.” “And how do you know that?” “Fuck you that's how ” I smirked. “What did you say!” She shouted in anger as she flew towards me at high speeds. “Oh I'm sorry did I say that too fast for you… maybe I could tell you again.” I mocked as I readied my swords before I whispered “Su Grah Dun” as she approached as I swung my swords up catching her off guard before I slowly said “Fuck… You... That's...How.” She then began to back away as she said “her memories never said anything about you being this fast.” “Well here’s another surprise for you… Sombra let's do it.” “You got it!” Sombra shouted out as his shadows engulfed me before parts of my armour became covered by the shadows while others spread along my wings altering them as they began to glow in a dark green glow and a red horn appeared on my head. I then looked back to Nightmare Moon before I said “We will stand as one” before a flowing red cape appeared on my back whilst I opened my eyes turned slightly green as purple smoke pulsed around my head. Seconds later I placed one hand out in front of me as our horn began to glow green firing a beam towards us at the same time as Nightmare Moon as they began to push against each other. “Well looks like you didn’t tell little Luna everything about you,” Nightmare Moon mocked. “Funny I was just going to say the same thing,” I replied as I opened my hands before two crystal pillars appeared beside her. I then began to bring my hands together as the pillars began to move towards each other causing her to teleport away as I smirked as my body morphed into shadows. Asuna then looked at our health bars as they slowly began falling as she said “That’s the issue with them being like this... the form damages their bodies over time… I need to keep back as a support while they're like this so they can keep fighting for longer.” Nightmare Moon then noticed Asuna before she fired a beam of magic towards us which we dodged by turning into shadows as the blast phased through us before she smirked and we turned around to see the attack approaching Asuna. Sombra then quickly manipulated our shadow as we used Asuna’s shadow to teleport near her before bringing out swords up blocking the blow as it once again pushed us back before I asked her “you okay?” “Yeah… thanks.” she then looked at our stats and said “You’ll both need to get out of that state… your health’s depleting to quick as you are and it looks like your Magic is drained as well… we can’t keep using spells or fighting separately.” “Yeah… Sombra… we need to stop using this form… it’ll kill is if we don’t.” “Ugh… you're right,” He groaned back before we returned to normal before he said, “but we will need to just keep buying Celestia time for whatever she’s planning.” “Yeah, we can hold out… but you both need a heal if we are to stand a chance,” Asuna admitted as she brought her hands up before she said “Þeír fylla heilagr austr, brott svalr bani” before we were all surrounded by what looked to be water droplets as our health bars slowly improved. “Right then so… we attack together from here on out?” I asked as I blocked another blast of magic from Nightmare Moon using my swords. “You got it,” Asuna replied as she unsheathed her rapier as her wings appeared on her back. Nightmare Moon then looked at us before she said “You're kidding…. Your kidding right? She mocked “you're just a medic… go help some of those useless guards that you trained and let the real soldiers fight.” “Real soldiers eh… I know three of them right here… and you're not one of them… you're just a parasite that's attached yourself to Luna,” I mocked. “YOU DID NOT JUST CALL ME A PARASITE! YOU CALLED ME A PARASITE!” She shouted in anger. “Oh sorry did I hit a sore spot… what would you prefer I called you? A freeloader… A bloodsucker… or does the word disease fit you better?” At that last word her eyes went red before she screamed “I am not a disease!” as she charged us. At this, a smirk appeared on our faces before I muttered “Anger really does make you stupid.” As I nodded to Asuna. Nightmare Moon then landed on the ground before what looked to be hands made of bone grasped my leg from below me before I quickly kicked it away backing up as a human-like skeletal figure in full armour stood up in front of us in holding a sword and shield along with four others just like it before Nightmare Moon shouted “Deal with them… I have Luna’s dear sister to deal with.” “I don’t think so,” I replied as brought my screen up in front of me as my form switched into my GGO form before I said, “Maybe you should think me carefully before you speak or threaten the Princess.” “What the… since when did you have this power.” I then pulled out my pistol before taking a shot at each of the skeleton's before they each broke apart before I said “You obviously don’t have all Luna’s memories… although even she had no idea about the full extent of this form.” “Why would you tell me this?” “Easy… because I know you will never tell anybody, Nightmare Moon.” “But I hate you why would I…” She was then cut off short as a bullet pierced her wing and she plummeted towards the ground unable to upright herself. “Because you won’t be flying away from here with Luna’s body… or anybody to live off.” She then slowly stood back up before she said “You have some nerve attacking me… for that, I will deal with you personally,” as a black scythe appeared in her wings. I turned into my SAO form with a smirk as I said “So you're finally done running away?” as I drew my swords from my back before taking a stance holding both swords firmly in my grasp as Asuna stood next to me her rapier held in her grasp. Asuna then whispered, “You’re almost at full health, I would only need to heal you once and you could both fuse again and maybe take her down.” “Okay then you do that then we’ll stop her.” “On it,” she said before water droplets once again surrounded me before plumes of shadows blocked Nightmare Moon’s view of us. Once the smoke had dissipated we had once again visibly changed as we looked similar to how we did before but this time instead of having wings on our back, plumes of smoke-like shadows were flowing from my trench coat covering the area around us impeding the vision of those around us. “So what you’ve just used the same trick as last time I know how that work already the outcome will not change.” Nightmare Moon mocked. “Really,” I chuckled as the shadows engulfed me completely. “Deffin…” However, she was cut off before she could finish as the sound of something shattering was heard before she looked towards her scythe to see that the blade on the end was in tiny pieces and was falling to the ground before the handle she was holding exploded into splinters as I sheathed one of my two blades. “What did you…” “Ah ah ah… there's more,” I added as I sheathed my other swords before another sound came from Nightmare Moon’s armour as he eyes opened wide in shock before her chest plate broke apart in pieces on the ground before he body buckled as she began to fall to the floor as she attempted to turn into smoke. “Nope,” I replied as the shadows from my cloak once again engulfed me before I appeared above her and my sword began to move towards her head before a blood-curdling scream was heard as the sound of something striking the floor was heard before my shadows began to fade again. Seconds later it became visibly clear what had happened as in front of us was Nightmare Moon holding the remains of a black horn in her hooves her eyes wide in horror before she said “Why would you do this to us… do you know what you have done!” slowly getting louder as the pain she was feeling increased. “Stopped you that’s what…” I was then stopped as she began laughing before the horn in her hands turned into smoke before it reattached to the rest of her horn. “Very little, that's what.” she chuckled back her eyes and coat fluctuating between hers and Luna colours before she said, “What going on.” Her voice then changed before Luna’s voice said “We will not stand for this you will not have our body.” “You have no choice in the matter this is my body now and I will use it how I see fit.” Nightmare Moon argued back. “You shall not have our body, we refuse.” “And I said it’s mine.” They then turned to look at us before Luna’s voice said “Asuna, Kirito, Sombra we need you to hold us down… do let this Nightmare escape.” “We won’t,” we both said as we ran up to her pinning her to the ground before Sombra’s Crystals surrounded her horn before they impacted it leaving shards embedded into it causing her magic to fizzle out as she tried to cast a spell preventing her from escaping our grasp. This lasted for thirty seconds before Celestia’s voice shouted “Kirito, Asuna, Sombra get out the way!” “No… You need to fire the elements now sister before we become lost again… as soon as they release their hold on us, the Nightmare will try to escape….” Luna said painfully trying to repress Nightmare Moon. “Sister I can’t…” “Dammit Celestia, if you don’t you’ll lose Luna forever!” I shouted. That snapped her back before she said “But… what about you.” “It doesn’t matter… just stop her before…” I was then cut off as we began to be lifted off the ground before Nightmare Moon’s voice shouted “You will not stop me… I will bring forth eternal night!” “Celestia!” we all shouted before we were suddenly struck by a blast of rainbow light before we heard Nightmare Moon shout something we couldn’t make out as we were preoccupied with what was happening to us as our bodies were being encased in stone from our feet slowly creeping up our bodies. I then looked to Asuna as she smiled and nodded as we placed our left hands over our chests before they were frozen in place. Celestia then ran over to us just before our heads were frozen as I said “This wasn’t your fault,” before our heads were completely covered in stone leaving us immobile.