Octavia and the Alicorn's Peace
By. FoxofRarity
Chapter. 18
Disclaimer- My Little Pony Friendship is Magic belongs to Hasbro and Lauren Faust. Arthur's note at end.
In the Canterlot Palace, Princess Celestia standing on the highest tower looks down seeing if Gold Sky is coming. “Hmmmm where can he be?” She ponders like any worried mother will do then telepathically asks if Luna sees the stallion but no good news is provided. “Oh my son why do you do this to me!” Just then as if the dice has been rolled in her favor he beautiful eyes catch the stallion of the hour slowly trot inside. “OH!” Celestia breathes out a sigh of relief. “My son you’re finally back home.” Jumping off of the highest tower the elegant mare flies in through the window of her room. “Hold on.” Her horn glows levitating her trusty dandy brush and gives her coat a quick brushing. “Ah nice and shiny!!” With a quick giggle, the white mare takes on a speedy gait through the corridors to meet up with painted Alicorn.
“Your majesty.” The guards give her a quick nod of the head as she gracefully passes by.
In the gardens Gold Sky reaches into his cloak to gather up the runes that once belonged to the Philistine who hunted down the last of his tribe. “These little things led that stallion to every living last Chero on this Earth. Oh the Elders sitting around the Great Council fire will be weeping to the great shedding of our Tribe’s blood.” Gold Sky tosses the runes onto the ground seeing them land face-up & face-down. “Did the bone that was used to make these come from a mare, stallion, or child?” *sniff, sniff* “Mother.” His focus shifts from the runes to his approaching mother.
Meanwhile also watching Cadance enhances her hearing to catch ear of whatever the stallion has to say for himself for when she saw him just moments ago he presented a aura that didn’t seem like the aura he would normal due to being Love itself. “Something strange must have happened to him if he’s presents himself in a gloomy way. I better be careful though so he won’t notice me as I try to listen in and figure out this change in him.”
“Oh my son!” The loving touch in her voice confirms the stallion she has been worried for him. “You had me worried when you didn’t show up last night my son! I thought…”
“That I left again.” Gold Sky gently interrupts. “I will never do that to you ever again mother.” The stallion comes to stand before his mother so she can look into his teal eyes to see he means what he said and also make it easier for him to simply go up to her and hug her.
Princess Celestia sighs to be reminded again of that hurtful day yet somehow she automatically thought of that when he didn’t come home last night. “Oh my son come here.” Taking him into a loving embrace Celestia goes quiet and softly rubs her cheek against his head. “My son, I’m just happy to see you.”
Finally with everything at the level he wants, Gold Sky tells Celestia he has something to show her. “Mother do you know why my tribe is on the verge of extinction?”
Celestia shakes her head.
“Look.” His hoof points at the runes, prompting Celestia to magically pick them up and study them.
“Hmmm.” Celestia thinks loudly. “I remember seeing these runes, many years before you were born my son. These runes belong to the Philistine tribe and Starswirl the Bearded attempted studying them so he can understand what they said but he couldn’t. He came to the conclusion that the Philistine language cannot be spoken or read by outsiders. But tell me just how come about these runes? Did you meet a Philistine?”
“Yes and I killed him a few hours ago. His body should still be fresh unless the flies haven’t laid maggots in him or the vultures haven’t devoured him. You know what I’ll take you to him. Jump.” *poof*
“Huh!” Cadance gasps. “Oh no! I don’t know how to teleport what can I do, what can I do, what can I do, what can I do!!?” Just when all hope seemed lost a solution presents itself in a way that is closely associated with Pinkie Pie popping out from out of nowhere.
“Oh hey Cadance.” Luna cheerfully greets. “What are you doing here?”
Huh. A solution to this dilemma can another Alicorn who knows how to teleport. “LUNA!” Cadance grabs the Princess of the Moon. “Teleport me to wherever Celestia and Gold Sky are and here are the coordinates!”
“Uhh okay.” With the coordinates in place, Luna teleports the two of them to the site Gold Sky fought Lilith. “Here we are Cadance with some needed distance…why did you have me bring you here again??”
“Thank you, you can go now and grab Griffie.” Knowing ushering the word Griffie will make Luna listen to her inner filly and fly off to cuddle with Griffie.
“Ahh!” Luna rubs her hooves in anticipation. “I’m off!”
“Alright now that she’s gone time to hear about those runes.” With ears tilted forward and of course scent concealed, Cadance so wants to hear why Gold Sky killed somepony.
Gasping to the sight of the dead stallion with his abdominal area missing due to the vultures feasting on it a few minutes ago. “My son! You murdered that stallion!? No how can you do such a thing!!?”
“Murder mother?” Gold Sky shakes his head. “I don’t murder, mother, I kill but I never murder. He is the last Philistine mother he is whom I got the runes from and he is the reason why the Chero are near extinction.”
Tilting her head in confusion Celestia makes that face where in the ultra, ultra rare occasions she does know not what’s going on. “I don’t understand? Did you kill him out of self-defense?”
“More or less.” Gold Sky shrugs. “Mother everything I knew about the Chero was mostly a lie. This Philistine here whose name is Lilith.”
“Wait isn’t Lilith a feminine name?” Celestia interrupts.
“That’s what I told him too mother. Getting back to topic, he told me my tribe went to war with the Philistine tribe over mares…mother my father’s tribe the Chero went to war with the Philistine tribe over mares…mares do you understand what I-I-I sa-said m-m-mother…mares, mares, over mares, his tribe wanted to marry the mares of my tribe but my tribe said no, so war broke out.”
“Mares my son.” Celestia finally knows why she lost track of the Chero when she was keeping count of them but just like her son she believed them to be utterly peaceful. “I never knew a war can be started over mares.”
Gold Sky nods then punches a nearby tree causing it to fall over. “MARES MOTHER!! THE PHILISTINES DELIVERED THE ULIMATE BLOW BY BURNING THE CHRONICLES OF THE CHERO!!” Falling to his knees Gold Sky accepts the fact what his father knew was only passed down for that’s all the remaining Chero can deliver to their offspring. *sigh* “These runes helped this Philistine who like me is the last of his tribe hunted down the Chero who were scattered across the earth and it didn’t matter to him if the remaining Chero were children, stallions, or mares he killed them then took their left ears as trophies which he wore around his neck.”
Cadance quietly sighs to hear how the beliefs Gold Sky once held come tumbling down for what’s even worse than being the last of one’s tribe is not being a full blooded one. “Poor Gold Sky now did he kill that Philistine.”
“My son I’m sorry for what you had to learn from that Philistine now tell what did he do to you?”
Still on his knees Gold Sky continues. “Rainbow Dash was with me when Lilith made his presence known to us. He made the first move by attempting harm me and Rainbow Dash with some kind of explosive of course I shielded her with my body and fought him. Lilith relied heavily on his vast array of explosive and shocking gadgets that did him very little good. At first I didn’t want to kill him I wanted there to be peace between the last sons of the Chero and Philistine tribe bringing an end to a long war but I couldn’t…he tried to kill to Rainbow Dash and this is something I cannot let go unpunished for Rainbow is Innocent blood. I forgave him for killing my brother’s and sister’s and killed him for attempting to shed innocent blood.” Rising back up on all fours Gold Sky sighs.
“My son what happened to the trophies?” Celestia asks out of curiosity.
Gold Sky points to black spot in the grass. “I blasted the necklace of ears with a bolt of magic.”
“Oh…what about Rainbow Dash is she alright?”
*ting* Cadance senses something inside the stallion. “Gold Sky feels something for Rainbow Dash and it isn’t the feeling responsible for a mortal us Immortals will feel, he feels a deep loving concern for Rainbow Dash but can this can be connected to being the physical manifestation of love? Hmmm if so, then that means he loves all mortals around him and he must have loved that stallion who murdered many of his tribe.”
Gold Sky frowns to be asked about the cyan Pegasus because even when what he said is without any hint of backsliding he wonders if what he did to the mare is the right thing. “Mother, Rainbow Dash fell for me, she thought I was the stallion she should give her heart to and comment herself to. She wanted to be with me but why?”
Celestia tilts her head in confusion to the why part? Is Gold Sky asking why because Rainbow Dash is loyal and he picked up on it now he regrets rejecting her or he is still unknowing about the love shared between two partners? And if that isn’t enough Cadance is thinking the same thing too but unlike Celestia, Cadance figures Gold Sky just feels guilty for friend zoning the cyan Pegasus but does Gold Sky even know what friend zoning is? “I don’t think he knows what friend zoning is! Why did I use that word in the same sentence with his name ahem let me correct myself, I think he feels guilty for rejecting Rainbow’s feelings for him. So that must be a new feeling for him.”
“My son.” Celestia starts. “Rainbow Dash saw you who you are. Loving, protective, and a effective killer I mean a lot, some, a bunch, or I guess not all or I don’t know what word to use but there some qualities that are not normally accepted but are nevertheless admired especially by mares they like those kind of qualities why don’t ask my son. Was it hard rejecting her feelings?”
“Yes. I-I feel so guilty like I stabbed her in the heart but that didn’t kill her and is living in pain.” Just then. “If I didn’t reject her feelings do you think I’ll make her happy?”
Celestia steps in front of him displaying how displeased she is with such a question like that. “My son how are you so blind to your own happiness shouldn’t you be concerned about your own emotions first before being concerned about others. I’m more than sure you heard the saying a happy wife is a happy life but that phase is nothing more than vanity for it excludes the happiness of the husband. Don’t be unwise to think of her happiness without thinking of yours first. That’s how relationships work my son; both parties must have their share of happiness for if you only focus on hers then why will she focus on yours? The husband protects slash guides the wife and the wife takes care slash comforts the husband, deny the wife her part of the marital relationship then you will be unhappy and you will question your marriage. Thus the sanctity of marriage turns from gold to lead and you will lose faith in the mare you want to make happy.”
“But will I make her happy?” Gold Sky nonetheless asks.
*sigh* Celestia annoyingly sighs. “Yes you will make her happy my son, you will make any mare that wants to be with you happy BUT you have to pick the right one first my son.”
“Uh oh.” Cadance silently groans her discontent for after hearing the BUT from Celestia she knows the elegant white mare will attempt to influence the stallion into allowing her to choose the mare he should be with. “HEY! Yeah you HEY. HEY, HEEEEEEEEY!!!” Cadance telepathically screams at Celestia.
“What!?” Clearly Celestia hears Cadance but pays her no attention. “And I can help you pick the right mare if you want. Now at least I know you didn’t murder that Philistine my son, you instead brought the ultimate Victory to your tribe. They started the war you ended it, the Chero are victorious.”
“At what cost…you know what forget what I said it doesn’t matter it’s all meaningless.”
Cadance rolls her eyes for one thing then feels a chill run down her spine for another thing. “Crikey, Tia used the if you want contingency to keep me from interfering humph well played and Gold Sky telling the world he’s dancing with nihilistic ideals. Oh that is not good! Nihilism the greatest enemy for an Immortal.” Still Cadance continues pestering Celestia. “HEEEEEEEEY!!”
“My son you had a rough day come, I’ll help you get over everything.”
“How mother?” Gold Sky asks.
“Yeah just how?” Cadance asks too. “DON’T YOU TRY SOMETHING!”
Celestia first gets the stallion moving by nudging him with her wing. “A nice place of green, for if I truly know one thing about you my son is that you love green. You love beautiful green scenery, forests, country side, and snow covered mountains. I will take you to a place where you can find all of that and be put at ease my son. ” Placing a hoof on his shoulder Celestia pictures the location in her mind. “Oh don’t bother following us Cadance, where I’m going is a place Luna does not know about. Good bye my dear.”
Cadance sticks her tongue out at Celestia. “You may have won this battle Tia but I will win the war!”
Celestia laughs in her mind. “So it’s war now? You’re so cute Cadance.” With that all said. “Jump.” *poof*
“Well perhaps for now I can go get some ice cream with Shiny then catch a movie, I think he wants to see Crimson Danger so Crimson Danger is what we’ll see.” Flying back to the palace Cadance telepathically tells him to get ready and to please, please ask for more butter on the popcorn.
*Poof* “Here we my son. A place of green and tranquility.”
At a loss of words Gold Sky gasps to the lovely sight of green hills, a beautiful river weaving through, tree covered mountains nearby, and of course green as far as the eye can see. “Mother…this, this, th-this place is magnificent!!”
Smiling to hear her son sound happy Celestia holds her head high in contentment then rests her eyes on his ears twitching about like crazy. “This place is called Shiiba my son and huh??” She feels his cloak land on her back and sees him run with his wings spread out in beautiful green earth. “Oh my son.” Celestia murmurs to herself then plops down on her rump,
Falling down on his back Gold Sky rolls about in the grass feeling the heaviness from what he recently experienced disappear. “I feel so free…thank you mother.”
Nothing like a respite from one’s own troubles.
Something which Princess Mi Amore Cadenza will smile for.
***
In the Carousel Boutique.
“Rainbow Dash, tell me, have you done anything with that nice stallion?” Rarity asks while setting lunch for the cyan Pegasus.
As someone who saw death being delivered up close and got rejected by a stallion she thoughtlessly fell for also throw in almost being killed. Rainbow has the right to say she does not what to talk about anything related to the stallion however, this is Rarity, and despite any initial thoughts Rarity is very reliable when it comes to emotions minus the ice cream. “I decided to take pups as my student to make him a better flyer.”
“Pups?” Rarity repeats as she pours some iced tea for Rainbow. “Did he agree to this nickname or is just accepting it because you keep calling him that?”
Rainbow softly chuckles to Rarity’s innate questioning of her methods. “He agreed to the nickname, I think he knows I am the best flyer around here.”
“Oh Rainbow.” Rarity replies while nodding her head. “But still Rainbow there’s something in your voice that tells me something does not sit well with you regarding Gold Sky. Can you please tell me what’s wrong?”
Realizing Rarity’s eye to detail doesn’t just reside in just the eyes Rainbow decides to get up from her chair, moves over the chair across from her, and sits down next to the white mare. “He’s something else Rarity…” Uh-oh Gilda. “No! I will not tell anypony about Gold Sky and Gilda! I will keep that secret with me till the end of time!”
Now gaining some more information Rarity uses it to come with what she’ll say to Rainbow Dash. “Is he beyond your expectations or decided that he is too much of a reflection of yourself and decided to train him as if to see yourself grow once again through his progress?”
Well Rainbow gains a opportunity to throw out what she has in mind and go with the second point Rarity presented for it seems to fit better but what’s the point of coming here and not telling Rarity of what transpired with the stallion. “Look uhm strange things happened, it shook me up real good, I saw things that I will never be able to forget about ever again, he protected me from what should’ve killed ten times over, and he’s a damn good cook.”
Hmm Rainbow is uncharacteristically not getting straight to the point. “Where’s this all leading to darling?”
“Rarity, he met up me while I was flying around, so I began training him on the spot seeing he has pretty neat flight patterns then from out of nowhere some strange Unicorn appears calling Gold Sky a half-breed or something.”
“Oh my, that’s disgusting!” Rarity exclaims.
Continuing. “The Unicorn declared he’s from a Philly something tribe that went to war with Gold Sky’s tribe many years ago fast forward to now that Unicorn hunted down the remaining ponies of Gold Sky’s tribe. They fought, that Unicorn had a bunch of gadgets, Gold Sky took a explosive for me TWICE! TWICE I say, he took two explosives for me…he protected from such a tremendous thing that’ll kill anypony. He disarmed that Unicorn but Gold Sky told him he wanted to forgive him.”
Imagining how Gold Sky protected her thanks for what she was able to gather from him by just observing him. “Did he forgive that stallion?”
Rainbow nods. “Then he killed him because the Unicorn tried to hurt me. Afterwards Gold Sky took me home where I asked him to stay with me for the whole night heh I got comfortable in his arms, I never felt so safe.”
Softly smiling to Rainbow feeling secure Rarity places an arm on Rainbow’s shoulders. “Oh Rainbow you felt so close and secure to him. He protected you when others won’t…wait did you tell him how you felt about him?”
“Yes, I-I was ready to be with him right there on the spot thanks to everything I’ve seen. He is the perfect definition of husband material…he friend zoned me Rarity, he felt bad doing so but”
“He didn’t want you living a lie.” Rarity interrupts.
“Wha…?” Impressed by Rarity’s near exact ushering of those words she couldn’t but rest her head on the lovely Unicorn’s shoulder. “Yes. In his voice I can tell he felt so guilty telling me I shouldn’t have feelings for him, I think he feels he’s not ready for a relationship but he also felt bad denying somebody like me a chance for love.”
“Oh my darling.” Rarity wraps her arms around the cyan Pegasus. “Please don’t be sad, but do you now understand the consequence of falling for someone without going into much thought first.”
Rainbow softly snorts. “You warned me of my actions Rarity and I didn’t heed them. You tried to save me from the pain I experienced for you know me better than I know myself and I’m sorry for not doing so. But as you may say we learn from our mistakes, I learned from mine still can you blame me?”
Reaching down and nuzzling Rainbow’s head Rarity will as always be gentle. “You have learned where others will not and I can’t blame you for falling for somebody like him. For a stallion who took two explosives for you, made you feel safe, cooked up something good, and simply is well an Alicorn is more than enough for any mare including me to fall for.”
Just then. “Will you? Will you fall for him?” Rainbow asks.
“I could Rainbow Dash but I won’t, for I saw in his eyes the moment he laid them on me that I am out of his league and he will never make an attempt for a relationship with me nor would I after what I saw. All I know you did nothing wrong falling for falling him it’s just natural. Now let live give you a super tight hug darling.” So giving the cyan Pegasus a tight Rarity feels sorry for Rainbow Dash.
“Thank you Rarity.” Now time for a question. “Rarity should I continue training him?”
“Yes darling you should. After all I think between you and him, he was hurt the most out of all of this. Any who, I don’t think what I made for you will be enough to make you happy.”
Rainbow Dash tilts her head in confusion. “Hey I like what you make Rares, cause you give it the homey touch which I enjoy a lot and thank you for being somepony I can lean on.”
“You’re welcome Rainbow Dash.”
Both mares resume eating and Rainbow Dash is glad to have a friend like Rarity.
***
“So Cadance what’s the special occasion?” Shining Armor asks while taking in a spoonful of cookie dough ice cream then passes his wife a napkin so she can wipe her mouth clean of chocolate ice cream.
“What special occasion?” She asks.
“Well uhh.” Shining Armor starts. “I mean we’re here having ourselves some yummy ice cream when this is something we don’t do often and you’re kind of quiet soooooooo what are you and Luna planning!?”
“Planning??”
“Yeah!” Shining Armor responds but suddenly. “Ooooooh brain freeze! Oh not good but, but, but you and Luna are planning prank me again! I bet!!”
Hearing this the lovely cerise mare couldn’t help but laugh are her husband’s baseless accusations. “Oh Shiny, me and Luna are not conspiring anything against you, I just want to treat you to something nice is there anything wrong with that?”
Overall Shining Armor shakes his head. “Well in that case thank you for thinking of me my dear love.”
Telling him, you’re welcome by stroking his chin Cadance takes a spoonful of her husband’s ice cream. “Hmm tasty.”
“So what about that Gold Sky you’re spying on? Did you pick up anything new about him?”
Swallowing her morsel Cadance shrugs here & there. “All I was able to pick up was that he fought and killed a stallion that murdered the ponies that are I mean were a part of Gold Sky’s tribe leaving him to be the last of his tribe.”
Shining Armor’s jaw drops to the killing part. “You’re saying he killed somepony!”
“Yes but in self-defense Shining Armor, the stallion Gold Sky killed murdered innocent ponies of Gold Sky’s tribe and the stallion attempted to add Gold Sky to his list of kills.”
“Ah, thanks for clarifying everything for me Cadance. Does Celestia know?”
Cadance nods.
Shining Armor now sees nothing wrong and just wonders what tribe is this Gold Sky from but decides to cast it aside and leave it to his wife to find out for him after all she’s doing the investigating. “So once you’re done with your spying just what do you intend to know?”
Opening her mouth Cadance points at it prompting Shining Armor to deliver a spoonful of his ice cream. “Thank you. What I will find out in the end of all this is whether he is of the same blood as me.”
Shining Armor nearly chokes on ice cream. “Wha-what!!?”
Realizing what she’s going to diverge in the coming minutes is very, very important and well it should not be heard by the ears of mortals, the Princess of Love taps her forehead indicating she will communicate telepathically. “Lauren the Archangel came down at my humble request and I asked her if he is the physical manifestation, she said yes so since I spread Love he is Love. Think of it as a way to keep me in check I think, given how Celestia had to do what she did with Luna. However, my second question to the Archangel was is he related to me and she answered it’s up for me to find out.”
“Oh boy.” Shining Armor replies before pounding his chest just in case he has some ice cream stuck somewhere. “Is heeeeeeeeeee…uhhhhhhhhhhhh…bloody hell…” The word the stallion is trying to come up with is rather hard for his mind to conceive for this word isn’t thrown out as a luxury instead this word is only spoken when seen, not heard. “A…Alicorn like you??”
In response Cadance nods.
“Wow…th-this is quite weird…uhmm a Alicorn but a stallion appearing from out of nowhere, well if he is related to you in any way I will be supportive of you to make uh amends no uhm not amends uhh I mean to uhm I will be supportive of you so you can establish a relationship with him. Heh you’ll never know maybe he’s your long lost brother or something.” Shining Armor laughs at himself.
Cadance joins in as well for c’mon if she had a long lost brother then by now she would have sensed him from half the world away. “Heh you’re good at making me laugh when I need to laugh.” Reaching out, Cadance strokes her husband’s cheek telling him she’s happy thanks to him.
“My turn.” Shining Armor points at his open mouth prompting Cadance to deliver a spoonful of her chocolate ice cream. *sigh* “Eh this homemade chocolate ice cream tastes the same as store bought chocolate ice cream.”
Thanks to that comparison, Cadance’s ears drop to now see how right he’s is. “Oh how right you are Shining Armor, I should have ordered the ice cream you got. Please??”
Shining Armor giggles and delivers the last spoonful of his ice cream into her mouth. “What time does the movie start??”
“In half an hour so let’s get moving.” Thus both ponies leave their tips then get moving to the theater and as they trotted along both couldn’t but nuzzle each other.
So just like Gold Sky, Cadance has respite from her worries and boy will it be wonderful with her dearest husband.
***
In the second hour of her daily practice Octavia suddenly stops when the sound of her music has slight change in tune. “Hmm got to wax my bow.” Taking a pause the gray sits down to carefully pass the strings over the wax and while doing so her mind continues playing the music. “Ah perfect.” Resuming her practice Octavia closes her eyes midway through the second act in order to see if she’s memorized it completely. “Hmm hey I remember it! HAHA!” She laughs for joy. Now steaming on Octavia flies through the third hour like it was just mere minutes passing by in the air. “That’s my main practice for today and tonight I’ll just do one hour before heading to bed.”
Packing away her cello Octavia heads out to town to see if maybe she’s in the mood for a massage then relax in the outer hills for she plans to write a piece of music and will test it out at playing in a music school in Manehattan. Where to Octavia’s point of view she knows her success from her hard earned skill allowed her to make a living off of music while many of these students in this music school perhaps sixty percent give or take will end up with a degree of unemployment. “Many of those students are great but not the best and many are only in that school because their parents couldn’t say no. Humph, if I had my own music school I’ll filter out the great students from the BEST students who have a future in making a living in music. Nevertheless, they at least have amazing ears so they will make the perfect critics I need to critique the music I’ll write so I can perfect it.”
Feeling the wind flow through her hair Octavia worries if the wind becomes stronger then her hair will get all messy and last thing she wants is to go out of her spa budget by having to get her hair done thanks to the strong wind. “Oh thank goodness I’m here!” And good thing too for just as she stepped in a big gust wind emerges causing the hair of a nearby mare get slicked back to mare’s utter dismay. “Right, lucky for me but not so lucky for her.” Once telling the twin what she wants and paying, Octavia sighs in delight when the hooves on her back relax her. “Nothing like a good massage no?”
“Ja.” Replies one of the twins.
Completely relaxed Octavia’s mind shifts to the creations of staffs where she starts putting in the notes. “Oh can’t forget the bass clef, also good do fine always and all cows eat grass.” Now fully orientated the gray decides to use the tempo her massage Lotus Blossom provides. “One, two, three, one, two, three, one, two, three okay, okay tempo set andante will be good in the first movement so first I’ll start there.” Moving her right hoof in synchronization to the notes she placing to ensure correct harmonious flow. “Repeat right there.” So far the first movement is coming along smoothly but yet Octavia questions if the tempo she’s using really fits this composition but then decides this tempo if used to its maximum extent which will be bordering moderato will be much proper and well better for the younger ears that catch things going in a trotting pace. “Oh boy, I’m getting it mixed up with the music I practiced…bloody I see I need my blank sheets to do this properly but at least I have half memorized and it isn’t getting mixed up with the music I practiced.”
Once the massage comes to its end, Octavia feels like a million bits ready to shine as such and can get going to write the first movement of the music which she decided to be Baroque with hints of classical for such display…audio wise, it presents the sheer ability of her creativity. Allowing the world to see she is worthy of being not only an amazing Cellist but also a sublime composer which could be nearly on par of her legendary inspiration, Bach.
“Well I had in mind to go to the outer hills to lie down…you know what I well.” She has all time in the world so why go back home after a nice massage? R&R does good so much for a musician.
“Thank you for your visit Miss. Octavia.” Lotus Blossom waves goodbye as the gray mare departs.
Trotting down the street the wind being nicer this time greets the gray mare with a breeze that’s presents itself as the soft morning light from the rising sun. “Yes, my favorite hill!” Eager Octavia sprits to her hill and lies down looking up at the nice clouds sailing up above in the sky. “Oh what day I’ve had so far.” *yawn* Under the warmth of the sun Octavia’s eyes close drifting away to a nice sleep.
Until from out of nowhere, a beautiful Alicorn flies over the mare creating a gust of wind snatching Octavia from her nice sleep.
“Huh??” Octavia’s eyes are wide open to see where that sudden gust of wind came from. “What?”
“Well hello Octavia, I see you were you about to nap away.” Luna greets as she lands right next to the gray mare. “But why will such a talented mare like you be lying down on this hill instead of being on your comfy bed?”
Getting helped up by the Princess Octavia fixes her hair before saying anything else for this is the Princess she’ll be speaking to. “This is my favorite hill your majesty I mean Luna, I love coming here to relax and get my mind off of music for a short while.”
“Heh.” Luna nods affirmatively. “I see a mare like you has more to life than just your cello. So what exactly have you been doing today?”
“Well I’ve finished my daily three hours of practice, got a nice massage, and was about to drift asleep so I can be fully prepared to craft my own music when I get back home. And you?”
Luna thinks very quick. “I ate a big breakfast, got bugged by Cadance for bit, played with Griffie, and now I’m talking to the most talented musician in the world. Making me wonder. Whenever you are in an ensemble why is it you don’t stand out but instead blend in with the others?”
“The best stand out on their own that’s how I see it Luna, besides I believe if my band mates see me on their level. We all function like a well oiled machine if not then they all will try to outdo each other in attempt to reach me therefore butchering our professional relationship.” Octavia explains.
Luna concedes to Octavia’s point. “I see now. How very considerate of you Octavia. Say have you ever been to the inspiration of the Pastoral Symphony? I’m pretty sure you love that symphony. Don’t you.”
Octavia’s eyes widen to the sheer delight this will bring her when she sees Symphony No.6. “I took the tempo from the second movement as the tempo for the first movement of music I’m creating. I love that symphony it brings out the ability to lose myself in green that I always picture in my mind. Heh, it’s always green hilly earth I imagine with a pantheon nearby.”
Luna slyly smiles. “Well it’s time for you to find out, let’s go. Jump.” *poof* Both mares teleport to the land of Inspiration.
***
In Shiiba.
Gold Sky enjoying the taste of some satonishiki cherries picks some so mother can also enjoy their unique blend of taste. “In all the time I spent walking upon the earth how is it I never came upon this place??”
“Because my son.” Celestia levitates him with her magic in order for him to get a better grasp of things as she explain everything. “This place is surrounded by beautiful mountains almost creating a lost paradise so to speak, look around you. The mountains shield this hidden paradise from outsiders or mortals in general creating a safe haven for me to retreat to whenever I wish also Luna does not know this place so I guess it makes it better for me and now you too my son. From now on whenever you feel like being free of your troubles you can teleport here and relax.”
Seeing the mountains surround this paradise Gold Sky comes to appreciate mother’s ability to deduce what can put his mind to ease. “Shiiba reminds me a lot of the meadows.” Even when he thinks of something that’s closely connected to Gilda his dearest daughter, Shiiba testifies to him the power it has to make him forget his troubles. “Thank you mother for bringing me here I appreciate your thoughtfulness and your love.”
In response Celestia embraces her son and smiles happily to herself to know she has done something to benefit her son’s wellbeing. “My love for you is strong my son.” While her mind. “But your love for me is infinitely stronger than mine.”
***
In Cloudsdale, Meadow Flower looking at herself in the mirror studies every inch of her hair to make sure it is it’s natural blonde for during the seven hundred years she spent alive her hair has changed many colors from red to blue to brunette and truth be told brunette is her least favorite color. Adding to that her coat color a lovely pink also changed to different colors for she feared that one who isn’t born with Immortality such has Princess Celestia for example, Princess Celestia will imprison her and conduct some kind experiment on her to know how a mortal gained Immortality. But now she can be her real self, she can be the Meadow Flower that was before she ate from the Tree of Life. “Seven hundred years, I waited for the Immortal stallion for over seven hundred years. He is handsome, taller than the mortal stallions, an amazing mixture of muscle and aerodynamics, nice looking cutie mark, and okay looking hair…why brown but I can look past that! Yeah, I can look pass his brown hair for the purpose I’ve been waiting for is here!”
Meadow Flower tries to smile but sees she can’t. “Everything rests on me getting his heart from that Cobra so I can be happy and be…I guess let go of the pain of seeing my family die before my very eyes and I had to be very far in order to keep my Immortality a secret from Celestia. At least from all the labor and trades I learned I amassed a great wealth allowing me to establish Cherry Hill ranch then sell it at the ripe price of two million bits. Hmm I did something right yet I have to keep myself busy now I must dedicate everything to get that Immortal stallion’s heart.” However, her strange connection to somebody who slithers, is very beautiful plus employs the flickering of the tongue makes itself know. “Gilda that Toltecian Cobra is much older than me, much, much, much older than me and she is well seasoned in the aspects of life especially companionship. Both of us want…no want is an elective that is chosen out of choice, we need him for we’ve been alone for far more time than any mortal can withstand. I thought I can live in solitude, I thought I can run away from the Archangel’s prophecy and just keep going. But the more I thought I can the more I felt the urge for companionship…to be loved, cherished, protected, and happy. Gilda is my obstacle! She won’t get in my way and I will have the heart of the Immortal Stallion!”
*
In a forest near Canterlot, Gilda and her giant salamander sit by a small campfire eating what they picked and hunted. “Here you Salamango enjoy.” Gilda pets her giant salamander on the nose. Then in looking into the flames Gilda the Toltecian Cobra takes a moment to reflect. “One thousand three hundred forty four years, I waited for the Immortal Stallion. I had to live all that time without my twin brother…” Gilda sniffles to know her twin brother is in the heavenly paradise and what’s worse than living without her twin brother is knowing he has a clean slate…meaning he has no memory of her for when he ascended his mind was wiped of every memory he collected when he was alive on earth. “I am nothing to him, oh dear why did you have to ascend?? Why did you leave me alone on this earth just so you can join father and uncle in paradise??” The Lady Cobra and her twin brother came about her existence five thousand eight hundred twenty four years when her father and uncle defeated the Vucub Caquix a mighty and near unstoppable Komodo who threatened the homeland of the Toltecian Cobras. Once defeating the mighty Komodo the Hero Twins called for two pure hearted Lady Cobras to which both spit in the palms of the Lady Cobras causing fully developed eggs to appear afterwards the Hero Twins ascended to paradise.
Gilda and her Twin brother hatched the next day and because they’re descendents of the Hero Twins, the Great Spirit rewarded Gilda and her brother Immortality but over the years her brother became disillusioned with life, he just asked what is the point of living forever if anyone he fell in love dies, his wife, his children, their children and so on. The brother gave his dearest sister her last hug, last kiss on the cheek, and assures her to remain strong. For even if he isn’t here he will always be in her beating heart and to remember, for her there can always be the chance of finding happiness he on the other hand gave up. So with an enormous hole in her heart Gilda begged the Great Spirit to give her a new beginning but allow her to retain every memory of her twin brother. Hearing her request the Great Spirit carries it out by providing Rebirth…hatching once again, Gilda is adopted by Skink & Sonia who have full knowledge of Gilda’s Rebirth but they decide not to tell Gilda about it so she can have a normal childhood.
“Lauren the Archangel, told me I have the chance to be happy! The happiness Brother said I have the chance of obtaining is finally within my grasp! Though I don’t know how he looks likes, I only know his scent because Lauren provided it to me, is he brave or cowardly, is he honorable or dishonorable, will I recognize him as the Immortal Stallion even after I trace his scent, will he look at me as a mare he should be with, will I scare him because I’m a Toltecian Cobra, will he give him the time of day, how old is he, and will I be happy in the end??” Gilda picks up her right hand seeing it shake uncontrollably proving she has the ability to feel fear. “This is how fear feels like. It feels like a whisper that comes from one who is cold as ice but when I hear the whisper it feels like the warmth provided by a fire before I realize the warmth becomes a raging fire and consumes me.” Nevertheless, Gilda calms down to the point she can take a deep breath and flicker her tongue. “Funny thing is…I am not in love with him yet but I want to meet him as soon as possible.”
Gilda pets her giant Salamander once more on the nose.
Perhaps there is hope after all.
Any who, crashing the hope coming over the Lady Cobra a Quetzal bird arrives and delivers a rolled up scroll to the Lady Cobra then flies away. “Hmmmm a message from home already? Eh I’ll read it later.” And through the Quetzal bird is how the Toltecian Cobras send messages to one another either close or far away.
***
*poof*
Back in the Palace, Princess Celestia indulges herself on the cherries from Shiiba and is reminded by their unique taste. “It must have been seven years since I ate these cherries.” Suddenly she feels a jolt run down her spine. “Huh??” Celestia being the oldest and with that she has deep connections to those she cares dearly for. So with the jolt that slithers down her spine, oh yes that slither indicates who is close. “Gilda!! Oh Gilda is here!!” *TING,TING!!!!* An idea is born thus…
*ting* From afar Cadance senses what Celestia has just concocted and this gives Cadance something to else to be displeased about. “However, this is different. Something about this tells me Celestia will be using her full power to make it happen. This isn’t about Twilight Sparkle! It’s someone way more important, someone Celestia holds a bit higher than Twilight Sparkle. Someone…who I should worry about.” But with Shining Armor next to her Cadance stays patient and just enjoy feeling Shining Armor nuzzle her behind the ear.
Back to Celestia. “Gilda, a mare I’ve known for a long, long time and if I remember right she is single also she is very lovely. The best of the best when I think about wife material and faithfulness for the Toltecian Cobras are known for their fierce loyalty to their spouses. Thus why Celestia considers Gilda the Toltecian Cobra, the best when it comes to wife material. Now the hard thing is introducing Gold Sky without having Cadance getting in the way or just plain do something if Gold Sky or Gilda are within proximity of each other. “For right now Gold Sky is cooking his stag causing some of the guards to vomit the moment they picked up the scent of meat being cooked and he looks to be in good spirits thanks to my actions.” Celestia smiles to herself before tilting her head at seeing her son sprinkle some seasoning over his stag. “I want him to be happy and while I’m sure the thought of going his own way and not committing himself to any mare crossed his mind given his subtle expression of his nihilistic ideals. I think it’s safe to say he does desire companionship but he has not come to terms with that or just hasn’t thought about it. But I will let him have this moment, it’s his, no one plus me will take that away from him.” Celestia looks to direction she knows Gilda is residing for the moment. “Lady Cobra and Pony Stallion…I don’t care, all that matters is that she is the best mare for him.”
Celestia the oldest and most open minded of the Pure Alicorns is more than willing to have her son marry a Toltecian Cobra.
“Mother.” Gold Sky telepathically communicates. “Please join me I do not wish to eat alone also I’ve prepared you something which doesn’t contain meat.”
“Why not. Jump.” Celestia teleports to the gardens and joins Gold Sky. “Oh you made me a nice salad…” She sniffs the scent of the grilled stag meat. “I must say my son I’m quite surprised I am not feeling weird at smelling your food unlike the guards nearby and I don’t mind if you eat it in front I just ask you don’t butcher the stag in front of me.”
“Yes mother.” Gold Sky replies while smiling to be eating with mother. “Just me and mother.”
***
In Ponyville, Meadow Flower wants to rid of her stress or to the very least reduce it to a acceptable level where a drop of sweat running down her brow is at minimum best. So the only surefire way Meadow Flower can think of right now at the moment is go to the spa and get the longest massage she can get. Now once inside and laying face down on the massaging table Meadow Flower can’t believe she forgot about the indescribable euphoria a good massage gives. “Oh yeah, I so needed this…”
Just then in the massage table next to her she catches ear of some mare who during her little trip of picking some berries she spotted a giant saddled up lizard and a big Cobra looking creature that has upper limbs with five fingers.
“WHAT!!” The pink Pegasus gasps in her mind. “Gilda is here! She’s finally here for real and not out there in the bloody distance like I sensed awhile ago after I spotted the Immortal stallion.” So while still enjoying the occurring massage Meadow Flower flicks her to catch the other mare’s attention. “Hey you.
“Huh what??” Answers the mare.
“Where did you see that big Cobra looking creature?”
The mare thinks very quick. “Oh! In a the forest northwest of the palace, uh why do you ask??”
“Ehh just curious.”
After the glorious massage Meadow Flower feels like a whole new mare and can face the Cobra without any hint of nervousness. So clarifying by ‘facing the Cobra’ Meadow Flower and Gilda the Toltecian Cobra have what can be compared to a chivalrous relationship that’s shared between two battling generals. Both mares respect other but both know what they want and they both want it problem is both don’t want to degrade themselves to the nature commonly held by Mortal mares. They’re Immortal and thus they are psychologically at a higher level for the minds of Immortal Mares develop for much longer allowing for a degree Supreme Maturity. And for Gilda, her mind matured twice signifying her maturity is at Princess Celestia’s level who is the oldest being upon this Earth. “I haven’t seen her for thirty three years. Humph, I wonder if she still has her shiny bronze hue and if she wants me to pass a cloth down the white stripe on her back??” Then with a thought bubble forming she remembers how Gilda once complained that she cannot wear necklaces because of the white ring on her neck. “Weird, I feel like we’re close hmmm I guess we are close for she filled in the hole in her heart left behind by her departed twin brother with me.” Meadow Flower admits to herself that she and Gilda share some kind of a sisterly relationship. “She helped me live during the seven hundred years…”
Meanwhile.
“Say.” Gilda starts scratching Salamango's back after removing the saddle. “The last time I’ve met Meadow Flower was thirty three years ago when she asked me to join her on a trip to the majestic waterfalls of Cataracta. She looked weird with red hair but she had to hide her immortality from Celestia fearing experiments which I know Celestia will never do that but I can’t blame her for thinking what she thought. After all a Mortal gaining Immortality can be quite a feat to absorb and she came to me to figure out how to live with it after seeing her father die before her very eyes. I sort of don’t want to see her but I don’t mind if I do.” Gilda flickers her tongue. “She helped me close the hole Brother left behind and I enjoyed going on trips with her. Humph, Lauren will have me work for my happiness and I guess she’s right in doing so for something gained without labor has no value and what is worked for has value beyond comprehension.” Gilda waves her hand at Salamango making the giant lizard roll over to its back. “I care for Meadow Flower she’s somebody I’ve come to trust…almost like a sister to a certain degree. Huh?”
From above a shadow from her past, present, and coming future descends upon her.
“Meadow Flower.” The Toltecian Cobra greets.
“Gilda.” The pink Pegasus responds.
“It’s been so long hasn’t it?” Gilda speaks while showing signs she intends to rub Salamango’s belly.
“It has.” Meadow Flower reaches down for a cloth to wipe the white stripe on Gilda’s back.
Yet neither one do what they intended to do. “I missed you!!” Both mares cry out at the same time causing them to rush into a hearty embrace while disappointing Salamango for she really, really wants her belly rubbed.
As both mares embraced they came to senses for starting at this very moment they will be vying for the Immortal Stallion.
“In the end of this we will no longer be sisters would we?” Meadow Flower asks.
“No in the end of all of this we shall be enemies.” Gilda painfully replies.
“It is inevitable…since the moment you told me of the prophecy back in the Sun Pyramid.” Meadow Flower buries her face on the side of Gilda’s arm and weeps.
***
In the gardens, Celestia with the concept of Gilda the Toltecian Cobra meeting her son floating about in her mind, she as the Immortal Mother feels she has to think of a back up if her son does not end up with the amazing Lady Cobra. However, before the backup plans can be developed she first needs to explain to her son the explicit nature of mares. “He is the most honorable stallion but with no knowledge of discerning good mares from the devious, he the Ultimate battle hardened Sly Fox will fall prey to an unworthy and devious through her femininity Omega wolf. She will ruin his life…”
Clearing her throat Celestia follows up with a deep breath. “My son, I think I have the upmost responsibility as your Mother to tell you about the true nature of mares and the instinct that resides in the core of many. Not all obviously but many.”
Perplexed Gold Sky puts down his fork. “What instinct mother?”
“Survival.”
---
My Dearest Readers I thank you for your Infinite Patience and I think it's safe to say, now that I have way more time in my hands I will be able to write more chapters at a Faster pace and I will be going back to the previous chapters so I can revise the MANY or some but I say MANY grammatical mistakes I've committed.
As always I thank you for your Infinite Patience my Dearest Readers, I appreciate your patience and for taking the time out of your day to read each chapter.
Thank you my Dearest Readers.