//------------------------------// // 21 The Carriage of Protection // Story: Blitz And Balance // by Ennelly Von Swortts //------------------------------// Author:  Ennelly Von Swortts Co-Author:  ElectroPHX228 (Blitz) Chapter Twenty-One:The Carriage of Protection Mark wiped the sweat off his brow as he looked over his work.  It was long in coming, but it was worth it.He smiled.  Turning, he wrote a simple letter, before leaving his forge and walking up the road. ...0...   Twilight was reading in her library when Nyx charged in.  “Twilight!  You have to come see it!  It’s beautiful!”  She charged out without another word.  Twilight followed at a slow walk, still recovering from the side affects of her fight a couple days earlier.She followedthe sounds of Nyx’s fading hoof-falls till she heard the main doors open.  It wasn’t long before she made it outside.   Nyx was standing next to a carriage.  A carriage that had her cutie mark on the door.  It was a soft golden color, like that of a ray of sunlight.  It was decorated with the many events Nyx had taken part in from the moment she had appeared in the woods, to the reconstruction of her castle.  There was the play she’d been in, there was her shielding Ponyville from Tirek, and a number of more recent events.  From all four corners hung those flameless lanterns only Mark could make.  Glancing inside showed a more silver interior.  The ceiling held a half sun, half moon.  The line between them curved to look like a symbol known as ‘YinYang’.   “Wow...  This looks pretty good.”  Twilight smiled.  “He really is going all out on these things, isn’t he.”   Nyx nodded.  “He said he was making yours first...  But do to some trouble he had with it, he finished mine first.  And I love it!”   “I can see that.”  Twilight said, smirking.  Nyx’s smile widened.The two Alicorns walked back inside, talking about the design. ...0... It was nearing late afternoon as Celestia watched the sun dip lower into the sky.  It had been near a day and a half since Chrysalis had disappeared, and she still didn’t know where she’d gone.  She was starting to suspect Chrysalis hadn’t known where she herself was going.   An iron gray Unicorn wearing the golden armor of the Solar Guard stepped through the doors to the throne room.  “We just got a letter from the reformed changelings, Princess.”  He quickly passed the simple envelope to her. Celestia smiled at him.  “Thank you, Iron Spear.  If you’re curious about how your brother is doing...  I just have to say I haven’t met a stallion quite like him.  Other then you, of course.  He’s done a fine job, just as you have.”  To most ponies, the royal guard had a reputation for not showing any signs of reacting to words spoken by their superiors.  But to a trained eye like Celestia’s, spotting the slight difference in bearing was easy.  She knew Iron had relaxed with her words because of this skill.   “I appreciate your words, Princess.”  He gave a slight bow as Celestia turned her attention to the letter in her magic.  She near dropped it before looking Iron in the eye.   “I shall be going to the Badlands.  Please have my carriage prepared.”  Iron bowed before swiftly passing through the large throne room doors.Celestia re-read the letter from Thorax, remembering a young butterscotch Unicorn mare she’d had the privilege to teach.  She’d been shy and nervous since they had met all those years ago...  Not surprising, really, considering the secret the Unicorn had held through the years of teaching.“Oh, Aurora…” ...0...   “She has done exactly as you expected, master.  It shall be fairly easy to capture her before she reaches her destination.”Nightmare Horn stated with a bow.Nightmare Wing was behind and to the left of Horn, While the third Nightmare was on the right.  All three faced a throne shrouded in shadow.  All three nodded.  “As you wish.”  As one, the Nightmares turned and left the shadowy throne room their master called home.