//------------------------------// // The Story Continues // Story: The Tale of Rose Eclipse: Royal Sorcerer // by NewWillinium //------------------------------//                 The Starless tundra was cold tonight just as it always had been but for one experiencing it for the first time Rose had become quite numb to the bitter winds and biting cold, his entire being focused on just putting one hoof in front of the other to just keep moving forward, his small heaving body heavy and tense from the many miles of snow he had trudged through, his broken horn emitting a flickering rosy light. “ . . . . . I need . . .to. . .. keep going,” the exhausted pony managed to pant out to himself,” For . . . their . . .sakes.” He thought of his dearest and truly only friends, the sight of them in his mind’s eye keeping the little unicorn moving forward, a bit of vigor returning to his limbs at the thoughts of his friends. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ It was evening when the two sisters returned to the village where upon Luna, headstrong alicorns that she was, rushed ahead of Celestia heading for the village’s scholar’s residence. She landed next to the village’s centerpiece, a statue of Discord where once stood a statue of the Founders of Equestria, and rushed on ahead barging into the residence of the village’s local scholar and Storyteller Papyrus Script. “Master Script we need your assistance NOW!” Luna demanded of the wizened old stallion in his bed startling him straight out of his bedding, “Discord has taken Rose!” Tiredly the elderly stallion rubbed his eyes with his hooves,” …I’m sorry my dear could you repeat that? My hearing is not what it used to be.” Papyrus Script slurred his words slightly still waking up from his rudely interrupted sleep. Slamming a hoof down, and inadvertently causing a scroll holder to fall apart, Luna repeats herself much louder than before,” Discord that villain has taken our Rose! We need your assistance to get him back!” “Rose? Why in Equestria would Lord Discord take that little orphan you hang around with?” The old pony blinked in confusion his face wrinkled with lines of worry. Celestia stepping in to the room saw the damage already caused and upon seeing her sister about to lose her temper upon the old Stallion placed a hoof upon Luna’s shoulder before stepping forward. “Discord has taken our dear friend as a part of one of his twisted “games” and we need your help to stop him and get our Rose back. Celestia said to the old earth pony. “. . . . . So long as Lord Discord does not find out ah’ suppose that ah can help you out,” kindly replied the now fully awake the wizened stallion stood up and gazed at the two alicorns with a nervous smile at Discord’s possible retribution,” What can ah do to help?”                 Hearing this Celestia smiled kindly at the earth pony, “Thank you Master Script we are indebted to you. Now then this ‘game’ of Discord’s involves us finding something to get our friend back, he said that. . . “ “That to defeat him and get Rose back we need to find the opposite of Discord himself. “Luna interrupted her Sister eager and impatient in wanting to get the information and get going, “Do you know what that villain meant?” She demanded of the old pony. “Luna! Celestia Rebuked her sister for her aggressiveness. “No no it is quite all right my dear I understand her frustration’s all too well I’m afraid,” the old pony losing himself in never forgotten memories before shaking himself from misery’s past,” but . . .. I may have an idea to what Lord Discord meant,” he paused once looking at his racks of scrolls,” although it will take me at least until morning to make sure. Growling Luna stepped forward to hurry the earth pony but Celestia put her hoof ahead of Luna where upon she looked at her frustrated sister and shook her head. “Thank you, Master Papyrus, for helping us in our hour of need. “Celestia slightly bowing her head to him before herding Luna to the door. “We shall return first thing upon the morrow Master Papyrus do not be tardy, “Luna restrained herself to saying before letting herself be herded away. Now outside the two sisters headed home to their abode on the outskirts of town where they and Rose often slept. Watching her sister Celestia sighed as she watched Luna pace a trough into the ground from her pacing. “We should have been able to stop him ‘Tia, it is what everypony is counting on us for, “Luna muttered aloud to her sister and herself,” We should have been able to save Rose.” Celestia snorts a bit at that, “We are not ready to face Discord Luna, and we will not be for years to come.” Hearing this Luna angrily rounds on her sister, “How can you say that? If you had just helped Rose attack Discord we might have ended his reign there and then!” “And if I had and we failed who knows what that madpony might have done to us? To the village? If I had helped Rose then his retaliation would have been worse than it was!” Celestia bitterly replied to her sister. “And what if it did work? You heard what he said to Rose. Only another immortal can hurt another immortal! If you had just helped Rose then. . . .at least I would still have my best friend.” Luna says furious with tears in her eyes at the last. Celestia leans down and sweeps Luna into her embrace saying softly into her ears,” We will get him back Luna. I swear to you that we will.” The two embraced for a few minutes longer before separating, still tearful but no longer angry or frustrated at the other. As they stand back up Celestia remembers how Rose’s beam destroyed several yards of forest and looks at Luna with a small smile and asks her,” Did you know that Rosy was so strong?” “No,” Luna denies with a small frown upon her face,” I know that Rose is strong but I never knew that he was to that extent.” “I did not realize it either,” Celestia comforted Luna seeing her frown of discontent. “He is my best friend, I should have known ‘Tia.” Placing her hoof on Luna’s mane and ruffling it Celestia smirks and reminds her of something important. “Maybe you can ask him about it tonight?” Eyes going wide in realization Luna gasps and quickly hugs her sister tightly. “That’s it! “Luna shrieked in glee,” I haven’t completely lost him after all!” Disengaging from the hug Luna quickly gallops off to bed though had she looked back she would have caught the slightly jealous look from her Elder Sister’s face. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ It had been several hours since Discord had tossed Rose through the portal into the Frozen Wastes and Rose has known naught but the blistering snowy wind and the flickering light of his horn for company and by this point Rose was exhausted to the point of limb failure. Hooves shuffling forward the colt kept his head held high with eyes forced open attempting to see through the blizzard, black and fuchsia mane whipping behind him, despite his tired state. Eventually blinded by the winds and snow the unicorn’s horn’s light dies out once more causing Rose to mutter and glare once more. “Come on. . .. Come on . . .. Come ON!” Rose began to yell frustrated in his attempts to cause his horn to flare and work as it did before. Distracted as he was Rose missed that as he shuffled forward the area around him turned from snow to rock and began to glow a pale red. So concentrated on his task of forcing his magic into his crippled horn Rose rammed into the object causing the glow. “Ow,” Rose grunts to himself the impact forcing him to open his eyes. Looking forward to his shock Rose saw a reflection of himself staring back at him in a red glaze. Turning his gaze upward however his eyes were greeted to a large Crystal Spire, idly noting that it seemed to be emitting heat. “ . . . . . Look for the gaudy red crystal spire and your immortality awaits.” Rose muttered Discord’s instructions to himself before looking again at the crystal spire. Realizing that he had finally made it Rose perked up in excitement and began to bounce around happily elated that his task was done. “Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes!” the elated colt cheered,” I’ll be back with you soon Luna and Cel’!” Stopping in his bouncing Rose stopped mid-air as he realized that now that he was here that he did not know what to do next. Staring up at the massive spire thoughts and worries began to race though his mind. ‘Do . . . What do I do? Do. . . Do I break it? Is it like something I’m meant to eat? Oh, by Platinum what if it was all a cruel trick and he lied to me! I don’t know where I am or how to get back to the village!’ Excitement giving way to panic allowed for the area’s temperature to return to the colt causing him to shiver. Tired and beyond cold at this point Rose shuffled to the spire laid down and put his back to the spire allowing the heat of it to warm him. “I’ll figure out. . . . . .something in the morning.” Rose muttered before closing his eyes unbeknownst that the the Spire began to pulse and of the presence watching him. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~  “Hehehohahaha. . .... I must say that I didn’t expect the pet to actually make it,” the strange mishmash of a chimera spoke to his literal other self,” Kind of expected him to collapse a few hours ago. . .. Yes! Point Original!” The two singular Draconequuses had been playing foosball to kill the last few hours. “You give the pet too little credit my beautifully chaotic clone, he almost gave us quite the thrashing back at out little tea and picnic. Woo! Point Clone!” the technically younger Discord reminded the elder. “Pish posh as if that pet could ever hurt us. Immortal embodiment of Chaos remember?” The elder Discord smirked as he scored the winning point,” Or has my clone turned senile already?” Pouting the clone flipped the table and turned to see the formerly bouncing colt, now lying against the base of the crystal spire jagged horn pressing directly upon the base, and grins in eager happiness.” Look! The pet didn’t even need dear Ol’ Uncle Discords to help him with the next stage!” Grinning the Discords wrapped their arms around each other’ neck and giggled with glee! “Either the pet becomes immortal or he gets him body stolen! Either way we get a new never-ending toy to break! “The two Discords laughed into the wind. “Hahahohahohoheheheha.  ... .” “Ohhoohohhahaheheheha. . .. “ Waiting a few minutes for something to happen the two beings of Chaos quickly began to grow bored. “Sooooooo. . . . “The Elder Draconequus trailed out. “Sooooooo. . . ..”The Younger Draconequus trailed out. The two looked at each other before the elder quickly grabbed his own nose and said, “Not It!” to the clone’s dismay. “But. . . But . . .,” the clone stumbled in disbelief at the turn of events. “Besides my lesser half, I still need to prepare for our alicorn’s quest. Would not do at all for their great quest to be easy now would it?” Grinning, the Draconequus’s snaggly fang quivering in amusement, the elder Discord snapped and went away leaving the clone behind. Gazing angrily at the spot where the other he once stood the younger kicked the snow in pouted anger before grinning in glee.” Ahahaha! I did not say that I had to pay attention and watch the whole time eh? Besides now I can do as much as I wish without my stopping myself.” He begins snapping in a fevered fury as he began to summon objects to distract him from his boredom summoning; a tuba, bookcase filled with books that didn’t exist yet, a game set of parcheesi, and a water gun began to appear sending forth a flare of Chaos magic. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ There stands an Empire to the far North and East of Equestria. Strong, hardy, and proud this empire has reigned unopposed in the frozen north for near all its reign. The masked soldiers of the Crystal Empire causing fear in those that faced the silent soldiers. For Centuries now they have been ruled by one not of their own, one they had outcast and belittled. He now sits upon the throne of the Crystal Empire and he alone has kept madness at bay from their borders. Now however Madness has infiltrated his kingdom once more and it shall know his wrath. Forest green hooves trotted down the corridor of the Crystal Empire’s capital towards the throne room carrying with them a glowing Wyrd Stone, a series of stones infused with Dark Magic, warning of an outside threat to the Empire. Coming to a halt in front of the throne room doors, the two tones grey mane flouncing about her, she narrows her magenta eyes at the two silent guards at the door beckoning them to open the doors with a slight flick of her head. Looking at the other the helmeted guards slam the butt of their lances on the ground twice before throwing open the throne room doors announcing her arrival to he who sat upon the Empire’s throne. “Announcing the Royal Apothecary Lady Poison Drops to the Royal Court!” The two guards announced in twain, the afore mentioned earth pony looking irritated at the two guards before trotting forward. Entering the throne room Poison Drops notes that as dreary as the room is the king himself never failed to make an intimidating presence. She shook off her amusement and walked to the stairs in front of the throne and knelt deeply towards the figure on the throne, the figure’s iron armor gleaming on the grey coat even hidden within the dark shadows that ensorcelled the room. The Red ermine trimmed coat ruffling as the King breathed each breathe in greatly enjoying seeing one of his willing subjects kneel before him, unnatural fangs shining in delight even as violet flames dance from his eyes. His circlet, the symbol of his power and fit as well as any armor, rested upon his brow supported by his single blood red horn. Standing from his throne the Umbra King descends from his throne and stops on the stair above the kneeling mare, his metal clad hooves level at her bowed head, the king’s wild mane shaking as the king chuckled in dark amusement he finally spoke to the kneeling earth pony. “Arise Poison Drops. You should know that by now I do not expect such subservience from one such as yourself,” The king said fondly to his loyal apothecary. Smirking in amusement at her king the mare rose to her hooves and spoke wirerly to her king, “Well my king, mayhaps if you did not persist on this silly ritual I might not find the need to kneel before your magnificence,” she spoke in a vain foppish accent before dropping into a wain grin at her sometimes friend and ruler.  The Dark Lord of the Crystal Empire grinned in amusement at his friend’s antics and demeanor, chuckles filling the throne room as the two of them laughed together before getting down to business. “So, then my friend, what brings you by my throne room today?” The King asked his friend and servant humor evident in his tone. Wincing Poison Drops opened her satchel revealing the Wryd Stone glowing and vibrating in a certain pattern the King recognized, his violet flames burning brighter as all sense of good humor died off in an instant. “I was on my to go gather up some guards for an expedition into the mountains for some rare ingredients when I passed by the Wyrd Wall,” Poison hesitated here knowing her King’s ire was stoked,” when I saw that no one was there I grabbed the stone and hurried to you.” The king’s fiery glare intensified as his anger became known, the shadows of the room beginning to quiver and shake, he leaned down and snarls an order at his servant,” I want you to grab Captain Garnet Lance and find me the guard who neglected his duty to his King, is that understood?” The king growled at his friend before a smirk crossed his visage. The King walked past his friend towards the Throne Room’s doors and announced to all the guards standing by in the room and corridor, “Until I return I leave the Royal Apothecary in charge of the city. I shall return shortly but I may be gone a for a few hours, I have a mad snake to expulse once more.” Grinning the King’s hooves began to turn to shadow his form turning less then solid and he turned to his friend one last time before he left,” Oh and Poison Drops? Due to this service to your King and his realm I shall leave the punishment of this wayward guard in your hooves to dish out whatever punishment you see fit. You have my FULL authority on this matter.” He grinned toothily before leaving in a shroud of shadows. The guards watched and shuddered when a macabre and all too pleased grin spread on the mare’s face. She turned to the guards at the entrance and ordered them to go and bring the Captain of the Guard to her. As they left Poison Drops fell to her haunches and cheered happily,” It is GOOD to serve King Sombra!” and began giggling, her laughter unnerving the remaining guards in the room.   ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~