//------------------------------// // Biding Time // Story: Alistair the Hierophant // by LoosePartyCannon //------------------------------// "So now what Alistair, you expecting us all to simply wait out this storm while those cretins loiter about?" Chrysalis guessed, visibly livid as she followed her friend down the cracked hallway, stepping over the small piles of rubble lying about. "And what would you have me do? Fight an Alicorn and her friends in a crumbling building with my people inside?" He responded with a groan as he expected she'd be hesitant to simply drop the matter. Believing he was far enough away from the hall that Twilight or any other potential enemies stumbling upon them would be unlikely, he stopped marching ahead and leaned against a faded stone wall. "No, I'd have you slit her guard's throats in their sleep, kill her friends and take Twilight and Starlight hostage. Her friends are more than just meat shields to her, if you were to fight them as a group their collective magical powers would be daunting but without them Twilight is just an emotionally broken, comparatively weak Alicorn. We could easily overpower her." She strategized, seemingly prepared to act out on her plan in a heartbeat. "Yes, if we wanted to we could kill them all, but you're forgetting two things. For starters, I'm barely hanging on here." He reminded, showing his injuries as tears and entire parts of his body broke apart and gave way to magical hues. "I can keep up the illusion, but if we have to fight someone right now, after we just got back from a day of bloody fighting and a night of alcohol and troubled sleeping, I'm going to be as useful as a blunt sword." He continued, his voice hoarse and tired. "Then let me take point while you recover, we're both immortals here with our forces waiting at our beck and call." She suggested, equally worried and frustrated over his state. "And so is Celestia, and Luna, and Discord and whoever Cadence is. We're all immortals but we're heavily outnumbered. I'm a barely physically stable mage with a cult and you're a Queen in hiding, or were anyway, with a few battalions of loyalists. I agree, they're going to be a problem sooner or later, but If we put Twilight in chains Celestia won't wait for negotiations or diplomacy to get her back and when it gets bloody it'll be the Eastern Offensive all over again." He explained, covering up his seeping wounds once more, with a forlorn and exhausted sigh. "Then we just bide our time? Wait for them to leave so we can do, what exactly?" She asked, an audible pause as she looked at him with a skeptical look while rolling her hoof hoping he actually had a plan to deal with them. "We wait and grow stronger, look for people who'd be able to help us and rebuild. It's all we really can do in this situation, unless you have a death wish." He shrugged, trying to formulate a proper plan of action for the foreseeable future. "Lovely, doing nothing is sure to get us far." Chrysalis responded, sarcasm dripping from her fangs, as she rolled her eyes and began walking off. "I take it you have somewhere for us to all hold up? We can't all sleep on your couch." She asked as she gestured towards her guards who showed no signs of fatigue or suffering from a hangover. "Most of the West Wing is repaired so it shouldn't be too hard to find somewhere to rest, worst case scenario some people could sleep on the war room table or in the town." Faded Scroll interjected with a soft smile, causing the Queen to shift her gaze towards the old Pony. "I refuse to allow my Changelings to sleep on a table or among your people, they deserve better then such squalor." She demanded, disgusted at the idea of hunkering down in the disheveled village. "Wow, talk about ungrateful. They certainly didn't mind sleeping on the bloody stairs last night." Snow added with a hint of disdain before smirking to herself. "We'll find somewhere for your guards to sleep Chrys, just take my bed if need be; wouldn't be the first time I've slept on a table." Al assured before shrugging off the idea of another restless night. "I believe we have greater things to worry about aside from allocating bedrooms, such as the platoon of guards and the Alicorn in your Archive." Faded reminded, nervous at the presence of something rivaling a god. "Yes, yes I haven't forgotten about them...Keep them occupied and content, try to keep their movements around the Archive to a minimum and should an emergency arise or should they be demanding my presence then wake me up." He ordered with a straight face as he walked ahead done the barren, ruined hall. "Wake you up?" Snow repeated quizzically. "I'm only awake at the moment because the Equestrians showed up and I needed to look prepared. I am so, so gods damn tired...If I'm to be alert for tonight then I need some sleep." He stressed, rubbing his aching temples as he rounded the corner and began heading towards the grand entrance, the sound of questioning conversations and movement ahead. "And what are you planning?" Chrysalis inquired, raising a brow as she hoped he'd finally come around to her 'kill them all' suggestion. "The Archive is in ruins and I plan to do something about it; old magic still rests deep within the Archive Chrysalis." He announced with a knowing, twinkling smile that caused Chrysalis to almost double take. "The Archive's heart is still intact?" She asked, surprised and almost excited. "That it is. It's faint, but there's still something stirring inside this old place. Meet me in front of the Founder's statue at midnight. Till then, try and stay out of trouble please." He requested, genuinely concerned Chrysalis would simply kill the Ponies regardless. "No promises." She remarked with a teasing, almost intimidating tone as the thought of exacting revenge still ran through her mind. With little else to discuss for the time, Alistair bid farewell to the group and trusted that Faded Scroll could handle the situation and that Chrysalis wouldn't undermine his plan. Although Alistair was as calm as he could be the atmosphere within the hall was tense, as if a single incident could set the whole off like a powder keg. "And that's that Princess, he saved my hide and the privates' as well." Braeburn finished his report, his composure and tone were rock solid despite the questioning gaze from the Princess and his Commander. "And you never once suspected he was an Immortal? Or that Chrysalis was with you?" She questioned, finding the story suspect. "With no disrespect Princess, I never once thought he might be lying to me. Sure, he seemed more powerful than the average Unicorn, but I didn't know Humans were even a thing until today. On top of that, Chrysalis and this Al guy seem too smart and too powerful to let their disguises be seen through by someone who isn't even looking." He defended, speaking truthfully as he scanned his memories, trying to find something that could've been disconcerting or suspicious in his previous talks with Wonderlust, or Alistair as he now knew him. "I don't get it...Why'd he save an Equestrian guard captain if he hates Equestria so much?" Twilight pondered, rubbing her chin as she looked down to the ground thoughtfully. "Well...He's only mentioned how he hates Princess Celestia so much, maybe his hatred ends with Celestia and doesn't extend to all Ponykind?" Starlight reasoned, trying to figure out his motive. "If somepony were to attack Celestia, it'd be just as severe as attacking Equestria itself. I can't really see how you could separate the two." Rarity exclaimed, finding her logic lacking to say the least. From within the sizable tent they were granted they could hear the murmurs of the cultists outside, their questions and worries clearly audible through the colourful tarp. The guards standing at the ready by the entrance seemed cautious of a Changeling attack, even after Alistair's guarantee for safety. "I don't know, it seems like he just wants to be left alone...Maybe if we leave him be he'll stay away from Equestria?...Maybe?" Fluttershy countered from behind her mane, unsure how to feel about the predicament in which they found themselves. "As much as I want to think that he'd be so calm, I don't think he'll simply mind his own business sugarcube. I mean, he's friends with Chrysalis and seems to be pretty keen on seeing Princess Celestia dead...Fella like that ain't got good intentions." Applejack asserted with a stern look, not buying Fluttershy’s argument. "Well...If he's so evil, why'd he save us? He hates Princess Celestia with a passion, yet he saves her guards? Why?" Lancer questioned with a soft voice, his mind racing at the possible reasons. "He's right. Now look, I don't know squat about what the Princess told all of yous but I can't believe somepony evil would risk life and limb to save the Cap, and then go the extra mile to save us...It just don't add up." Brass added shaking his head, messing up his already frazzled mane, with a befuddled voice. "He's obviously smart, maybe he was hoping by saving you he'd seem like a hero and nopony would see it coming when he strikes." Rainbow hazarded a guess, trying to keep up with the conversation while she watched the entrance, ready to pounce. "Or he just felt like saving them like a normal Pony, uh, Human." Pinkie defended, hoping there wasn't some devious motive behind saving the three soldiers. "Normal Ponies don't associate themselves with Changeling Queens." Thunderclap retorted with a deadpan look that caused Pinkie to deflate somewhat. "I don't think we'll learn anything arguing with ourselves over our enigmatic host...I wish our meeting with him had gone better..." Twilight lamented with a sigh as she collapsed onto a soft, feather stuff bed resting on the floor. "Maybe it would've gone better if you hadn't shot him in the chest unprovoked." Starlight said with an uneasy tone, hoping not to agitate her mentor. "I mean, Princess Celestia may have been pretty clear about his actions but maybe we should've heard what he had to say before opening fire." She rationalized, causing Twilight to once more sigh. "You're right...I don't know what I was thinking...Celestia told me he was evil and that he'd be some kind of monster in Pony form...I guess I was just worried if we didn't strike first he'd get the upper hoof like all the other villains we've faced. Discord, Chrysalis, Sombra, Tirek, they've all had the upper hoof before we realised we were in trouble. I wanted to not get caught off guard for once...Guess it was pretty foolish, huh?" She explained, equal parts exhausted and crestfallen as she realised the severity of her actions. "Yup. Pretty foolish. I mean, we were surrounded by his supporters, Chrysalis was hiding with some guards and did you see some of that crazy magic they've got? If you had killed him, I bet they would've-" Spike shut up with a flush of embarrassment as he noticed the scowls from Twilight's friends and the sorrowful look on her face. Chuckling nervously, he started over. "You acted in the middle of a tense situation, you were confronted with what we all believed to be an Immortal as powerful as Celestia, maybe more, and you had to act. It wasn't the smartest move, yeah, but you thought it was the best way to avoid a catastrophe like in the past when Discord got out or when Chrysalis almost took over Equestria, twice! You thought acting as soon as possible would've been the best for your friends, Celestia, and Equestria. It takes guts to act in the heat of the moment...Maybe just use a bit more brains next time?" He explained with a grin and an attempt at a joke at the end, and he felt a sense of pride when he saw her face light up once more and chuckle at his little jab. "Yeah, gotta be a lot smarter than that if I'm gonna be a proper Princess huh?" She responded with a small smile as she looked around the room. Her friends were in various states of confusion, as were Braeburn and his surviving members, and the guards standing by seemed ready to act. They were all either lost or looking for action, and here was their leader, wallowing in self-doubt. Adorning a harder, more commanding expression, she stood tall. "Captain Braeburn, keep the guards alert and ready should Alistair's Ponies try something unexpected. If somepony wanders off from the area, they should keep a small contingent of guards with them for protection." She ordered, causing him to snap at attention. "You got it princess." He answered with a salute as his stallions likewise stood at attention. "Okay girls, we're a bit in over our heads here but for the foreseeable future we're stuck here. Unless necessary, you shouldn't split up, or go making trouble. If we need to get their attention Faded Scroll mentioned just asking one of their guards, apparently he'd know pretty quickly if we were looking for him or Alistair. We don't know where Chrysalis went but it goes without saying we should avoid her and her guards. If we hunker down, stay alert and stay together we should be fine." She assured her friends, her confident smile giving them the boost they needed to believe they weren't in grave danger. As the small group of Ponies began to bounce back to their normal state of minds, temporarily disregarding their doubts over the situation, the town around them likewise tried to function casually despite the interlopers among them. For the moment, it seemed peaceable. "So we're expected to play nice, huh? Try and forget how that bitch tried to kill our leader?" Snow heard one of her Minotaur soldiers ask, his raspy voice full of malice as he thought about leaving them be. Snow had already had this discussion several times with several other guards, healers, and even a few children, and it was steadily growing on her nerves. Cracking her knuckles, she placed her palms on a pile of stones shaped somewhat like a Pony. "I'll tell you what I've told everyone else, the Lord Hierophant himself commanded we leave them be. Unless you're claiming to know better then the Lord himself, I'd recommend just not thinking about them." She advised with a strained voice, trying to sound calm despite the insufferable situation in which she found herself. With a cry, she felt a flow of energy burst forth from her and cause the stones to crumble into rubble and ash. "N-No, I'd never claim to know better than Lord Alistair!" He sputtered, his red fur ruffled at the thought of disrespecting his leader. "It’s just, how can we trust these outsiders? These Equestrian royals will be nothing but trouble." He continued, less combative as he tried to come across as concerned and not insulted. "I know, I can't stand their presence either, but the Hierophant believes it's wiser to let them be. Besides, they're not all bad, Braeburn certainly seemed a lot more likable than the usual stuck up Royal Guard." She said, trying to convince the Minotaur that the Equestrians weren’t all monsters as she knelt before the ruins of her training dummy, the ash staining her white fur. "True, for starters he knows how to fight and he doesn't scare easily. Still, he works for Celestia and that other Princess, I doubt he's all that-" The warrior started, playing around with his stone mace while eyeing the large canvas tent the Ponies were resting in, only to be cut off by his superior. "If I recall, Blood Diamond, you're suppose to be on patrol by now, yeah?" She cut in, looking out the nearest window, she tried to spot the sun high in the sky but was impeded by the sand. "Yes, I was-' "Then maybe instead of worrying about our 'guests', you should be doing your damn job?" She reprimanded, sick of arguing with her men over decisions beyond her control. The crimson Minotaur seemed stunned at her sudden agitated tone, only to become embarrassed when he realised he was shirking his duties. With a final farewell, he departed in a hurry. "About time..." She muttered, relieved to see him go. Despite her words, she too was unsure what would happen in the coming days. For the time being, they were stuck together and Alistair had assured there'd be no violence between the two parties, but what would happen when the Equestrians left? What would stop Chrysalis simply ambushing them on the way back, what would stop Twilight from assembling a strike force the second she returns? What if those monsters attack them and Celestia believes it's Alistair's fault? All of these questions weighed on her mind, causing her to break concentration and disrupting her restoration spell. With a loud bang, the rubble exploded outward and became an even bigger mess. "Gods damn it all!" She cursed, slamming her fist into the ground. Her body crackled with intense power that caused her pain, the scripture wrapped around her palms and arms glowing faintly, as she let out a pent up, aggravated growl of annoyance and pain. "Let your hate and frustration go, Snow, lest you let your powers overwhelm you." She heard Faded advise softly, stepping up to her and offering a hoof to help her back to her feet. "Sorry, just got a bit...Angry there." She apologised, the light receding from her as she cast her eyes down to what remained of her practice dummy. "It's fair to be furious, we find ourselves at a crossroads and even I am unsure what lies ahead. That being said, don't overwhelm yourself. I'd hate to see my prized pupil squander her powers." He cautioned, a soft frown on his weathered face as he watched her palms twitch with pain. "I'm fine, just need to vent on something and I'll be good." She assured, putting on a cocky smile as she tried once more to rebuild her target only to see it crumble once more. "If that's the case, you'll need more than dust and stones." He said, smashing his staff into the floor. Slowly, a circle of Pony, Diamond Dog and Changeling-like statues burst from the ground surrounding the pair. "Would these do?" He asked with a grin, watching his student roll her shoulders and prepare for her second round. "Definitely. Thanks Fade." She thanked the ancient stallion as she prepared to go into a frenzy, her palms conducting energy once more. "No thanks necessary my dear, just make sure you don't send any debris into the village." He ordered, looking around the relatively barren side of the hall they were in and its proximity to the rest of the village. As he walked away from the sound of stone breaking and grunts of effort, he surveyed the minds of his people to try and find a problem he could solve. Many of their thoughts concerned the Equestrians and though the more murderous and violent thoughts were worrying, he knew the Gifted wouldn't disobey an order from their Lord and found little else that would warrant his immediate intervention. As he walked around the crowded village, his eyes closed yet sure of his direction, he approached the few thoughts that troubled him. After addressing the few malicious thoughts, he spent the afternoon helping a few children find their missing ball and aided some elderly Ponies in their duty repairing broken swords. Following the afternoon lunch for the soldiers, he was just about ready to relax. "Ah...But an Elder's duties never end." He exclaimed to himself, pride and joy eclipsing his exhaustion, before he began looking for something else to occupy his time. There was always something in need it doing. "For the last time Equestrian, I can't let you tamper with our rations, let alone wander into the kitchen tent, without authorization." He heard a mare announce somewhere near him, confusion evident in her voice. Curious, he wandered over to the source of strife and was baffled at what he saw. "Aw come on, pppllllleeeeeaaasssseeeee? I just wanted to give you guys a 'sorry we tried to kill your leader' apology cake!" He heard a shrill, high-pitched voice plead. Rounding the corner he saw the bubbly, pink Pony from before with a comically large, delicious looking chocolate cake on her back resting on a silver platter. "And I repeat, I can't let a possible threat into the-" "What's going on here?" Faded demanded to know, bewildered at the sight of the frustrated guard and the smiling, almost giddy Pony. "Greetings Scroll, this Pony here wanted to give us an apology cake and I've been telling her I can't let her proceed until someone's checked it for poison or something suspect." The guard explained, her expression telling him she'd been here for a long time arguing with the Pony. As he pondered the situation, he also noticed the four guards following the pink Pony, clearly they were worried she may get into trouble alone. "I Pinkie promise it's not poisoned! I just want to try and make up for all the stuff that happened." She continued, seemingly truthful. He couldn't find an ounce of maliciousness or deceit within her mind and she seemed like one of the more reasonable Ponies...Taking a risk, he cut himself a slice of the cake using his magic and levitated it towards himself. "What are you doing?" The guard sputtered, fearing his leader may be attempting suicide by cake. "Do not worry, the Hierophant's power protects." He explained as he examined it, using what magical means he could to weed out any hazardous materials. After surmising that the only harmful thing was the excessive amounts of frosting, he took a bit out of it. "Oh...Oh, by the Gods..." He whispered, pupils dilated and taste buds exploding. It was more than cake, it was ambrosia. The mountains of silver frosting complemented the moist, tasty cake and, much to his amazement, there was a creamy layer within. "How can a mortal make something so divine?" He gasped, examining his slice of cake with reverence. "Thanks! I guess I'm just good at baking?" She blushed under the heavy praise. "You're more than good, you're peerless." He announced, causing the guard to raise a brow. With little stopping him, he pulled out his dagger and procured a slice of his own. Similarly, he obtained a state of food nirvana. "Wow, I've gotten a lot of compliments before but that takes the cake! Heh, get it?" She joked with a beaming smile. Composing himself, he shook his head and adopted a more calm expression, a small dab of frosting on the corner of his lips. "Yes, quite funny...You may leave the cake with the cooks, but please hurry back to your people, your presence may upset some." He advised, stepping aside to let the mare and her guards pass with the colossal cake as well. "Okie dokie! Thanks and sorry for earlier!" She yelled as she hurried into the kitchen tent. "Hell of a mare huh? Most annoying voice I've ever heard but Gods can she bake...How in the name of Aurora did she bake something like this?" The guard questioned, wondering if she somehow hid an oven in her mane. "Only the Lord himself could know...Carry on." Faded Scroll bid farewell, slowly nibbling his piece of cake as he wandered off, wondering if the day could get any better. As the sun slowly fell from its peak, some late afternoon light was able to shine through the raging winds of the sandstorm and into the broken and exposed rooms of the Archive. One of the few rooms left with proper windows, the Hierophant's chambers, was granted an immaculate view of the swirling, chaotic storm. It raised ruined stone from the earth and pulverized all that stood in its way, even breaking the Equestrian machine left stranded out in the winds. Despite this, the Hierophant himself slept peacefully. He'd collapsed onto his old bed with a lack of grace and still clothed and had rested for several hours undisturbed. Aside from the occasional stone that tried vainly to smash through his windows, propelled by the winds, nothing attempted to stir him from his slumber. His dreams were for the most part pleasant, when he could actively overlook the hollow world he was within he could almost believe he was home once more. Just as he was nearly finished reading whatever book he was nose deep in, a frantic, loud knocking roused Alistair from his sleep. With a frown, he wandered over to his door and opened it, inadvertently causing the messenger to stumble into the doorway. "Yes? What is it?" Alistair asked somewhat harshly, hoping to have gotten a bit more rest for the coming night. The messenger was catching his breath from his position on the floor but managed to sputter out what he needed to tell him. "T-The mare you brought back, she's awake!" The colt announced, sweat pouring from his face. Before the colt could even react, Alistair teleported away in a flash. Reappearing in the center of the village, he immediately heard the healers trying to calm down Dawnstar. "Get away from me you cretins! I won't be fooled by your illusions!" An agitated, raspy and scared voice howled over several healers trying to calm her. Running through the crowd, thankful they got out of the way so he wouldn't have to push them aside, he bolted into the medical tent. "Please, calm down! You're safe now! Our Lord Hierophant Al-" "Don't you dare speak his name you foul aberrations! None of you are worthy!" She screamed, furious and distraught. The tent was a mess, several trays and medical tools were held in the air with deep red magic and healers were stumbling over themselves to either leave or restrain the confused mare. When the healers near the entrance noticed Alistair, they backed away and bowed before him, hoping his appearance would calm the necromancer. "What is going on?" Alistair asked the Elder Healer, her faded features tired from hours of rejuvenating and healing the mare currently trying to break out of her magical restraints. "She seems to believe that we're monsters or illusions or some such trick. She also seems to grow more and more livid whenever we mention you by name...Be careful my Lord, she may not even know what's going on." The healer advised, stepping aside to let him through. Walking passed the empty beds, destroyed medical equipment and scared healers, he neared the space at the back of the tent where Dawnstar resided, surrounded by healers trying to calm her. "Move." He ordered, causing the sacred healers to separate and allow him to approach his former assistant. "Get away from me! All of you, monsters! Savages!" She screamed, consumed with hatred and horror, only to halt and stare blankly when she spotted Alistair slowly approaching, his steps unsure and composure wavering. "Dawn...What happened to you?" He asked softly, standing by her side as she stared at him with a disbelieving look. "No...You're not real...You're just an illusion." She asserted, refusing to believe what she was seeing. Her fur was sickly grey and her ruby mane was wiry and uncleaned. Her eyes were a teary haze of red and purple, her horn was made of obsidian material that radiated power and her body was malnourished. She looked like a hollow shade of what she once was but Alistair knew it was still her. Behind her hazy, weeping eyes he saw the old spark of genius that he once knew. "I'm not an illusion Dawn, please, you have to believe it's me." He pleaded, kneeling next to her bed as she scanned his face trying to find something she found familiar. "Your eyes, your face, your very soul...What happened to you? Why would you try to trick me like this? Why..." She muttered, casting her eyes downward, refusing to look him in the eyes. "No, you're not him...You can't be...He's dead, dead and gone like all the rest...You can't be my master." She continued, shaking her head dismissively, lost in her thoughts. He didn't need to read her mind to realise she was in the midst of turmoil, her mind trying to rationalise what was happening around her. Alistair was dumbfounded, how could she not recognise him? After so many years, so many centuries...Had her madness taken such a heavy toll on her mind? As he watched her retract from him, sitting as far from him as she could, he knew he had to do something to comfort her. "It was the Spring when I came back anew. Ludex wept when he saw me come home after so long, fearing I'd died far from home" He began, closing his eyes as he reflected on horrors long past. "After an evening of rejoicing and receiving a hero's welcome, you confided in me, you told me that despite your hard-as-nails attitude, you waited with bated breath for my return. You didn't want to learn that the pale-skinned, cowardly apprentice you'd dedicated years to helping had died at the edge of the world in vain. And I told you something that caused you to smile, perhaps one of the few genuine smiles I can remember coming from you. I told you that you were one of the few true friends I had." He remembered, opening his eyes as he saw she continued to look away from him, repeatedly muttering to herself. "After I succeeded Ludex, you told me you feared you were no longer needed. You told me I had greater worries and a castle full of servants who would clean my underclothes or fetch me a book from some ancient corner of the Archive. You thought I no longer needed an assistant and that, without a horn, you'd be useless to the new Hierophant." He continued, finally getting a response from her as she raised her head to look at him, still avoiding his gaze. "I told you that if you feared your lack of magical prowess would hold you back, then I would simply take you in as my first apprentice." He put a hand on her quivering shoulder as she began to grow quiet, listening to his words. "I spent years going over the basics with you, repeating the same lectures which we had spent many late nights reading, when we were young. Even without your powers, you were one of the greatest students I ever had the privilege of teaching." He continued, misty-eyed as he swore he could hear their younger voices repeating old texts and tales. "And when you had learned all the theoretical knowledge I could teach you, I gave you what you'd been denied for so long. I gave you back your magic. I gave you a piece of my soul. You were ecstatic! You were overcome with joy and once more you smiled in my presence, even if it was only for a fleeting moment. You were no longer simply my assistant, or my apprentice, you were a fully fledged mage and you were my right-hand mare. "You were the Pony I could always rely on when the duties of being a Hierophant crushed, or when Ludex passed away, or when the nation crumbled around me and my friends, family, and Luna left me behind." She wept openly, her emotions breaking through the maddened, hardened facade. He felt hot tears flow down his cheeks, but that didn't matter to him right now. "The only time I can remember you abandoned me was when I ordered it. You were my first follower, my most determined Mage, my most powerful ally...You were my friend." He finished, embracing her as she openly wept. The tent was empty except for the pair, so they had no reservations when they succumbed to their emotions and cried while clutching each other tightly. "You...You left us behind...You promised you would come back..." She whispered, believing the man before her was truly the Hierophant she'd lost all those years ago. "I know...But I'm back, and I swear upon the Great Raven I'll never abandon you or anyone else again..." He promised, closing his eyes as he waited in silence for her to finish her wailing. The two sat on the old, musty bed for what felt like hours, consumed in thought and emotions as time passed by. Alistair didn't know if she was the same mare he once knew, and she still had doubts about the man claiming to be Alistair, but in that moment they wanted to think, even if it was just for that moment, that they'd finally found a shred of their former selves in another. Night had fallen across the desert and the sandstorm still raged on, though somewhat dampened and reduced in strength. The Archive was bathed in darkness, the only light coming from the torches and campfires the guards kept lit throughout the night. Though the Equestrians were uneasy, ever vigilant of a surprise ambush in the middle of the night, they eventually were able to catch some sleep and although the guards would grumble about the need for a rotating patrol they stood vigilant against the dark. On the far side of the hall, separated by several fallen pillars and debris, Queen Chrysalis, Snowfall, and Faded Scroll waited in relative silence. "He said midnight, yeah? It's gonna be at least one in the morning." Snow yawned, not used to a disrupted sleep schedule. "Don't be impatient mutt, he'll show up sooner or later." The Queen responded, sick of her constant whining, as she scanned the hall with her glowing eyes hoping to spot the man in question. "Hmph, and here he is now." She continued with a small grin, excited to see what would happen next. "Ah good to see we're all present. Fade, Snow, I'd like you to meet my confidante, Dawnstar." He introduced with a tired grin, moving aside as the mare stepped out from his shadow. She looked pale, exhausted and withdrawn, yet there was still a youthfulness about her and a spark of either genius and madness within her bored eyes. Her form was cloaked in a black and royal purple robe that trailed behind her. The embellishments woven into the fabric were strikingly similar to Alistair’s and the sound of metal plates shifting was faint but audible. Although damaged, the robe still held an impression of authority and skill few Mages could obtain. Her eyes slowly scanned every little detail of her surroundings, searching for a flaw in the possible illusion yet still, to all but her master, she seemed calm and collected. "Greetings, I've been told I have you two to thank for this…Quaint crew you've amassed. Although paltry compared to the Archive of old, it'll do." She greeted, a flat expression and disinterested drawl to her tone as she looked between the two. When she spotted the Queen, she seemed surprised before returning to her usual, borderline catatonic state. "Oh, you're still alive? Interesting, I imagined after you lost the support of your closest allies the other Queens would've assumed you weak enough to usurp." She marveled, getting a small growl from the Queen and an annoyed huff from Faded Scroll in response. "Ah Dawnstar, your dry sarcasm is as welcome as ever. I think I preferred you when you were a puppet for whatever Alistair fought." She responded in turn, causing Dawn to frown as she thought back to the creature. "Ah, we're all making friends? Lovely." Alistair remarked with sarcasm thick enough to cut. "As much as I'd love to watch you two go at it we have something more important to attend to." He reminded, stepping past the gathered crowd as he approached the remains of a towering statue built in the likeness of some unknown Hierophant. "You know what I loved most about my teacher Ludex? He was great at keeping secrets." He announced for seemingly no reason with a smile as he placed his palm against the only flat part of its base he could find. As if it had waited for him all those years, the surface light up at his touch. "So much so in fact, I used his memorial to hide our greatest tool from Celestia." He said as the statue slowly receded, showing a hidden stairway leading down into an unseen cavern. The stairway was massive, allowing possibly even a dragon to wander down to whatever awaited them. "When I was a student this passage was a lot more obvious, but still a well kept secret. I didn't even know there was a subterranean section till I'd become old enough to pledge myself fully to the Archive." He remembered fondly, the thought of his childhood bringing back countless pleasant memories. "But the Archive, much like magic itself, can adapt to its wielder and when war broke out, I thought it pertinent to move the entrance somewhere a bit harder to find should someone try to use my weapon against me. Don't worry, there's nothing down here still living." He assured as he cast a simple light spell, causing an orb to burst forth from his hand. As they continued down the stairs, the statue rolling back into its position behind them, darkness engulfed their surroundings and faded stone turned to neglected, vine-covered marble and wood. "My oh my, I wonder what other little secrets you're hiding from me Alistair..." Chrysalis mused with an air of interest, using the green light from her horn to illuminate her surroundings. "I've got a lot of skeletons in my closet Chrys, trust me on that one." The Hierophant claimed, his tone jovial but the meaning more serious than Faded or Snow knew. The wall to their left suddenly disappeared, giving way to a drop into darkness. The opposite wall was slowly being replaced with a spiraling bookshelf whose tomes were hidden behind layers of multicoloured vines and leaves. The ancient knowledge called out to Faded Scroll, who pulled one out the second the wall of nature parted. "By the Gods themselves...This is archaic! The language isn't even Valetorian...How old is this?" Faded exclaimed, his bafflement carrying out for possibly miles, as he flipped through fragile pages of yellow parchment and held the blue book with delicate care. "Everything down here is older than myself Scroll, after years of neglect I'm amazed they're even legible at all." He explained, proud of the Archive as he ran a hand against the bookshelf absently. The black wood of the bookshelf and the white stone steps were slowly becoming consumed by the vividly colourful nature surrounding them and although there was seemingly no bottom in sight, they could all assume the ground would be completely overgrown and submerged. After almost a half hour of walking down into the encroaching darkness and ensnaring nature, they could finally see the floor. "Heh, that's kind of unexpected." Snow remarked with a grin as she looked around the veritable forest growing beneath the scorching desert far above. The ground was littered with flowers, shrubs and vines that burst forth from the stonework, exposing the black dirt beneath. The statues lining the massive pathway had weathered considerably and the study areas between the shelves were nearly unrecognizable as such, either from entropy or from the all-consuming forest floor. Massive stone pillars and bookshelves stretched all the way to the ceiling, too high to be seen through the darkness. The only light that allowed them to see more than two feet ahead was the faint, beautiful blue glow on the far side of the chamber. "What is all this?" Faded inquired, gasping at the untouched stores of knowledge all around them. "This is the original Archive, built by the Golden Dragons and the first Human Mages back before Valetoria was truly unified and before there were any other such covens. Although the new Archive grew to become grander and much more sizable in comparison, the magic down here is cut from another cloth. It's raw, it's primal, it's beautiful. Some would have feared or coveted the knowledge down here, even the Emperor or Empress themselves, if they knew what the Archivists knew. So, after a great amount of debate, when the Archive became a lot more open to outsiders my predecessors locked away the more...Primordial tomes. If the Archive up top is the tip of the iceberg, this is the soul." He announced with grandeur, twirling slowly as he soaked in the forgotten halls of lore immemorial. "Pantheon’s grace...It feels like I'm home again..." Dawn sighed with a sense of nostalgia, an unseen smile escaping her lips as she tried to spot the tomes she used to read late into the night alongside her mentor. "I'd kill for some of this 'primal' magic, mind teaching me some when we get the Archive up and running?" Snow requested, almost salivating at the idea of accruing more power. "Of course. I'd hate to see you lose an arm attempting some of this stuff alone. Trust me, when I call it raw, I mean it." Alistair cautioned with a serious look, his wistful tone gone as he told her the possible risk. "Nice basement, but what are we doing down here?" Queen Chrysalis asked, snarling at the technicolor plants with disdain as she looked for something to do. "You're all here because I need to ask something of you, I need you all to lend me your power." He requested as he continued down the path, a faint hum growing along with the blue haze ahead of them. "Pardon?" Faded said, unsure what he meant. "You're all magically powerful and you all have some of my power within you. To this end, I need your aid to help me survive what I'll be attempting." Alistair informed, striding with purpose as he neared the source of the resonating sound. "What?! What are trying to do Alistair?" Chrysalis demanded to know, wary of lending her might but scared of the prospect of Alistair dying once more. "As I've said a few times, I'm going to try to reawaken the Archive's heart. Usually, something like this would've been a group effort with a few Elder Mages and the former Hierophant, but given there is no group to pitch in, you're all that I've got. That being said, a Changeling Queen, a Hierophant’s former apprentice, and two magically gifted individuals should be more than enough. I'm not planning to take anything away from you all, just...Fire some magic into me and cut my link if things get too intense." He surmised with a quizzical look, unsure about what'd come next. As they neared the end of the path, they finally found the source of the light and sound. "Wait, you mean to-" "Yes Star, I'm going to offer myself up to the heart once more." He informed, standing at the edge of the pool of water in front of them. Surrounded by statues of long dead Hierophants from all corners of the world sat a massive pool of shimmering, crystal-clear blue water. The water invited him, called out to him to go swimming in its shallow depths, the almost melodic drone adding to the mesmerizing nature of the enchanting pool. In the center of the pool, a strange, crystalline artifact rested on top of the undisturbed water. It was shaped like a heart made of gems, yet it was uncut and rough in design. Shards of various gems burst from its core and veins of valatite ran throughout the object, giving luster to the otherwise dull gem. It looked jagged and coarse, like a mineral straight out of a mine shaft and seemed to hold little light. If it weren’t for its unique shape and the fact that it seemed to float unimpeded, it would have seemed completely unnoteworthy. "If that's the case, then let me as well." She requested, seemingly spooked, as she walked beside him. "Sorry, but this is something I'm going to do alone. This thing's remained untouched for millennia and it's gonna need a lot of power to become active once more. If something goes wrong, I don't want a single one of you in that circle. I'm magic, if it backfires there's no risk of a permanent injury." He reasoned, removing his robe and armour and tossing it aside. "This is foolish. You'd risk it all so soon after returning?" Chrysalis chastised, grabbing his hand forcefully as he went to remove his trousers. "That just means I’m not losing much if this backfires. If I leave the Archive as it is and we come up against a real threat, it'll be like fighting a swordsman with a stick. If this succeeds, we'll be more than equals to these pitiful, mortal-ruled nations. We'll be a force to be reckoned with." He guaranteed with a look of steely determination that told her he couldn't be swayed from his decision. "You fool...Fine, but make sure you succeed or else you'll wish you’d perished." She threatened with a scowl, letting go of his arm and powering up her horn. Likewise, Faded Scroll and Dawnstar were prepared to fire as Snowfall feverishly began looking for the appropriate scroll to use, rummaging through her pockets and satchel while softly, nervously cursing. "Okay...When I say so, fire magic at me, not the heart, and hold onto something. Sorry in advance if this fails." He apologised nervously, dropping his trousers. Standing there in his briefs, muscles and scars on display, Snow couldn't help but snicker at seeing her leader nearly naked while the others stood around tentatively waiting for him to enter the waters. As he stepped into the pool, there was an immediate reaction. The water darkened, becoming opaque, and Alistair looked extremely uncomfortable as if he was wading through daggers and claws as scratches and cuts appeared on his body. The hum turned into a buzz and the light grew brighter and brighter until everyone but Alistair had to squint. "Yes, yes, I know...It's been far too long. I shouldn't have cut our link but I was desperate." He grunted out, almost pained as he finally reached the large gem. Clutching it with both his hands and pulling it out of the water, he held it above him and towards the statue before him. The stone dragon stared down, eyeing Alistair with a soft, caring grin. Letting out a pent up sigh, he placed his palm on upon the crystal and cast an ancient spell. A long, white shard shot out from the crystal. It was sharper than a razor and more glorious than an Empress' jewels. Clutching it with one hand while holding up the heart, be began to shout. "As the Black Dragon watches over us, like a mother to her child, we pledge our life to these halls of lore. We, who would dare to defy Kings and Queens in our endless pursuit of power and enlightenment, give our bodies to the unbroken heart. We, who refuse the ignorance of the masses and the deceit of false idols, dedicate our souls to the Archive. And I, the one who forsook you, will take my penance and reclaim my throne. In the name of the Great Raven, who knows all and sees all, I give you this soul!" He screamed with vigor before plunging the shard into his chest. The wispy magic within him began pouring out and flowing into the shard, causing it to glow vibrantly and shift in shape and colour, while Alistair seemed to groan in pain. Dropping the heart and falling to his knees, he turned to his allies. "Now!" He ordered, causing them to shoot their various forms of magic power into him. As he dropped the shard, his bloody essence still pouring into it, he fell onto his hands and knees and could barely keep himself above the water. "In the Raven's forest I watch...In the Raven's forest I wait...." He began repeating as he felt like his heart pound and the blood rush through him. As the shard floated softly on the disturbed water, it suddenly sank and became one with the water. The water stilled itself before exploding with light, causing Alistair to scream in pain. Light and magic burst forth from the water and as the statues watched him struggle, the crystal heart slowly floated high above him with his essence trailing behind it. With every meter higher into the air, his cries of anguish grew. "Gods forgive me!" He cried in pain, his skin dissolving as more and more of him seeped out. Horrified at what she was seeing, Snowfall began walking towards him, only to feel someone touch her and halt her movements. "Stop, if you intervene now it'll be all for naught." Dawn instructed, refusing to break her concentration as she watched for anything that might indicate he was in trouble. "He's dying out there! We should pull him out or something." Snow insisted with anger and fear in her voice as Alistair writhed in the water, his skin melting away like acid. "He'll pull through, don't worry." Chrysalis reassured, suppressing her concern as she oversaw Alistair's current state. As if on cue, his wails turned into groans and he managed to stand despite the overwhelming pain. His body seemed to have been partially consumed, turning back into its normal, shapeless state. His face was partially dissolved and his hair was matted yet he stood tall and stared up at the gem floating high above him. "I, Alistair Leonas the Lord Hierophant and Prince of the North, pledge my soul to the Archive!" He decreed, the words causing the gem to erupt with light. When the light finally receded the gem lowered back towards the pool before stopping several feet above the water. The gems were filled with a cacophony of colorful light, the metals embedded in it were shining like polished steel and it rotated as if it were caught in an unseen force. Alistair, despite looking on the verge of death, had a massive grin on what was left of his face and began laughing raucously. "I knew you'd welcome me back...Come on, we've got work...To...Do..." Alistair began as he approached the gem, only to falter and collapse into the now translucent water. "My Lord? Are you alright?" Faded yelled as he rushed to his side, hoping to heal some of his Lord’s wounds. "Just...Really tired...Don't worry about me. It's all up to the heart now..." He dismissed before closing his eyes, finding the lapping waves welcoming and gentle against what remained of his flesh. As the ground beneath him and far above him began to shake violently with new life flowing through the stones, Alistair felt the pool was a good enough place to get some sleep.