//------------------------------// // Old Students and Followers // Story: The Queen of Shadows // by megabyte97 //------------------------------// It is times like these, as I watch the sleeping filly, that make individuals think. Their minds wander from one topic to another, and sometimes… sometimes, they come across a question that simply does not have an answer yet… I am having one of those moments right now. “...” In a time long since past my arcane teacher once asked me what my goals were, I told him that I wanted to make the world a better place… I was so naive back then, thinking I could make a difference, but… at least back then I knew what I wanted to do, I had a purpose. ‘What do I want to do after taking revenge?’ I ask myself for what feels like the millionth time. I’m stalling, I don’t need allies, or an army to take down the alicorn sisters, I just need to sneak into the castle undetected and strike them down from the shadows! ‘...So why don’t I? Why did I create the star point calling for help?’ ... ‘...Because you are terrified.’ I snap out of my daze and realize that I am in a very familiar star filled space. Countless small shadowy figures surround me, but they all seem dazed… all except for one. The mare has a white coat and a pink mane, on her flanks are two scrolls with daggers hidden inside them, she is carrying a familiar looking staff, but the most eye-catching feature of hers is the chain coming out of her chest connecting her to me, a trait that every other shadow figure shares. “Platinum,” I greet the mare who barely clears my ethereal waist. “You are terrified, my lady,” the former unicorn ruler states once more, before slowly gesturing to the shadowy figures around us, “When the sisters locked you away, you could feel yourself fading away, but you couldn't bring yourself to care. Very few individuals even remember that you exist, and you crave to interact with others... You are scared of what might happen if they do it again, of being subjected to the silence that was nearly the end of you.” “...” “They know how to defeat you.” “They know nothing!” I tell the mare in an aggressive tone. “They know enough to put the voices in your head to sleep.” The mare continues gesturing to the figures again. “...” “The only reason you haven’t faded is because several of us refuse to be silenced.” “...Who?” “Starswirl is still among the living, the curse you placed upon him… or her, I guess, prolonging her life beyond any reasonable amount of time, Commander Hurricane is still among the living as well, and both know that you have returned.” “And yourself?” I ask with a raised ethereal brow. The mare shifts from one hoof to the other, “I am still around, yes… but I do not recommend searching for me as I am positioned right under the alicorn sisters’ noses.” “...If you have been living with them for over a thousand years now… then why are they still alive?” “Because I couldn’t kill them,” the mare states through gritted teeth. “I had to go into hiding, the ‘royal sisters’ banished me from my own land and when I returned, Luna was banished to the moon, and the country of Equestria relied so heavily on ‘Princess Celestia’ that killing her without someone just as powerful ready to take her place would be signing the unicorn tribe’s death warrant.” “What about the unicorn tribe’s military?” The mare laughs a bitter laugh, “The military, both the unicorn and the pegasus militaries were dissolved, the ‘Equestria military’ is a joke, and the only reason that the country hasn’t been invaded by its neighbors is that they still needed Celestia to raise the sun.” “And why does Hurricane still follow me?” Platinum snorts, “My lady, she’s a soldier. What use is a soldier when there are no enemies to engage?” “No use at all.” “Exactly, although… you do have one other significant supporter to your cause my lady.” “And that is?” “...Discord, my lady.” I stare at the mare for a few moments before chuckling to myself which devolved into full blown laughter. I clutch my ethereal sides as the gravity of the gesture falls on me. ‘He’s sweet on me, he is still sweet on me. The chimera couldn’t woo a mare to save his life, but he sure does give it his best.’ My laughter slows to a crawl before stopping completely. Looking at Platinum, I ask with a smile on my ethereal face, “Is there anything else I need to know about?” Platinum shifts from hoof to hoof once more. “Yes, actually, Starswirl is on her way, she should be arriving at your location sometime today.” I clasp my ethereal hands behind my back and straighten up. “Very well, you are dismissed.” “My lady,” the mare states before slowly backing away and disappearing among the crowd of shadow figures. I shake myself out of the trance, and look around. The home is how I left it with the filly sleeping the day away on the dusty bed. … I feel tired, exhausted really. The weight of the past several hours collapses on us like a pile of bricks, all at once. ‘Maybe just a quick nap…’ I think, walking over to the door. Gathering up my magic I write a glyph on the wood. The glowing symbol is sloppy, but faced with our exhaustion I find I couldn’t care less. The symbol would alert me if anyone touches the door and that is all that matters to me at the moment. Our eyelids feel heavy, and with one last glance at the filly, we walk over to the corner next to the stove and lean against the wall, before slowly sliding down to the floor and closing our eyes.