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// The Desert Sands 
// Story: Path of Sunlight 
// by Wind of the Skies 
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The Desert Sands

It had started off as an ordinary patrol, nothing out of place nor anything wrong or dangerous. We had thought ourselves safe under the gaze of the sun, though that roved to be our downfall, pillars of fire had rained down from the sky, striking us dead left and right. I to my shame survived by hiding underneath a larger colleague, a friend, his name was Swiftrot and he had a wife and two foals. To my eternal shame I did not face death like I should have the day the sky rained fire. Soon the howling winds ceased and I peeked out from my hiding spot, wrinkling my nose at the stench of burning fur and flesh and what I beheld was horrifying. All around me lay death and fire, the first grains of sand already swirling through the air. I heaved the body of Swiftrot off of me with a whine of effort and sparked my horn though nothing happened but a painful feedback that punted me through the air, a sure sign powerful magic had been employed here.

I shuddered and puked, emptying my stomach repeatedly before panting for breath and stumbling away, towards the Canterhorn, towards safety and sanity. I had to report a rogue mage of some kind. A hitch in my step made me yelp in pain, for a plate of my armor had grown almost red hot and had burned my flank when I rubbed against it though I dared not use my magic to cool it down nor use my hooves to remove it at the moment. Instead I layed down, sobbing pathetically for a few moments before grabbing Lacewing’s dead hooves and gripping  the plate as if they were potholders, pulling it off with a mumbled apology to her. With that horrible business out of the way I unbuckle the rest of my armor, looking back at my patrol with sorrow. I heaved a sigh and started cantering towards the Canterhorn, ready for the long road back. I dared not test the my magic again, not when you could feel the pressure in the air, like a pony sitting atop your head. Everything was strangely silent around me, as if nature itself were mourning with me. The wind slowly picked up, oddly arid and filled with the scent of death. With a great cry of disgust I turned my head and ran, as swiftly as I could to get away from that reminder. It took days to get back though I remain glad I met some kind folk along the way who had fed me and let me ride on their wagon.

I slept most of the ride there, waking only for water and food. The wonderful ponies made sure to wake me for food every time, and their foal had giggled delightfully at seeing me eat like a ravenous minotaur. It was a peaceful and lovely week. Though once I got back to Canterhorn and the city residing on it I was greeted by stern royal guards, and a twitchy paranoid unicorn draped hoof to horn in protective garb. He flares his horn and scans me horn to hooves, muttering and swiping a lock of my mane. After a moment of consideration he nods and the guards wrap their wings around me, guiding me to the spire.

“Welcome back. We need to discuss something.” The unicorn I now recognize as my friend Shining Horn mutters again as he starts walking ahead of us, bearing the badge of the Celestial Guards boredly, causing the ponies around us to part with a curious muttering as they watch a group of royal guards drag somebody off without chains nor coercion. The atmosphere in the city was as lively as ever, colts chasing fillies, fillies chasing colt, all laughing happily. Why, some even tagged along for a brief bit, tittering and running circles around the small group. Shining Horn graced them with a smile and a bag of change, easily enough for a months worth of sweets.

“Run along now little ones, we can’t play right now” He spoke gently, ruffling one’s mane as they scampered off toting their prize with jubilation. When he noticed my fond grin he had grown embarrassed, shaking his head briefly. One of the guards wrapping his wing around me chuckled good naturedly though it elicited a rustle of cloth as the mage rewrapped his face, hiding it from all. Though I’d say his posture looked sheepish. We continued on though I started hearing rumours of dragons on our borders. My face paled imperceptibly, for if dragons were massing on the border it might mean war.

Perhaps I should have struggled. Would it have changed anything? Now dear commandant, I trust you know full well what happened next. How I was sat down at a table and interrogated. Sure it started pleasantly enough. But as the questioning wore on and on, as it became clear I wasn’t giving the answer they wanted to hear they decided to bring you in. slamming the door open as you swept in, powerful and dark. I had gasped and withdrawn when I saw who was interrogating me.

It seemed the whole castle had gone quiet when you locked the door. Quieter than a temple. To your credit you never struck me. You once pulled an angry guard off me, grieving at the loss of his brother. You asked again and again from what angle did the attack take place and I continued to answer that I did not know. The ground seemed to have exploded with fire from all directions, causing me to slip underneath my partner for protection. Though that is a rehash of the beginning of our story as you well know. I place my forehooves together and regard the inquisitor, closing my eyes as I frown.

“Why must you insist there’s more to my story than I’m telling? Wild magic attacked us, as it is wont to do at times. I’m of no more use.” The shadows shifted as she came close, lighting her horn to display an angry, yet pitying face.

“You tell the same tale over and over. Though you stumble in places, twisting your tongue just so. What aren’t you telling us?” She frowns once again, the dark blue fur fading back into the darkness.

I gulp and frown back. “What aren’t you telling me?! I omitted some hallucinations alright? What do those have to do with anything?!” She managed to creep behind me, a wing caressing my side as she whispers.

“Because you alone saw what happened and survived. You survived the might of a Sun Goddess raining upon your head… Celestia disappeared that same day, at that same hour I might add. Something happened to her and we’re struggling to make do.” I freeze and my eyes widen.

“That night I had horrible dreams, I had tossed and turned for hours, by the time I finally awoke we were moving through the plains, though I heard something just before the attack, a laugh, long and bitter. One I had heard in my dreams.” She pulls away thoughtfully.

“There are no more plains and the sun lies weakened in her chambers. Somepony had stolen her power and abused it most thoroughly. A desert swells with each day, the land dry and dessicated.” Her horn sparks once again and I look down shamefully from Princess Luna’s gaze. “Somepony has broken the Day and stolen her magic. Twisted it into a vile thing.” I start breathing quicker, my horn hurting as she utters the last words. I collapse on the floor like a bag of flour, writhing.

“W-we are NOT VILE!” My horn flares for the first time in days, the usual russet twisted about with brightly glowing bands of Celestial magic, the gold hue bringing hope to any in its light. Luna gasps in shock and backs up as I stagger upright, more shocked than her as my injuries flake away in the heat of the sun. A flaming rag pops into existence, reeking of tainted cruelty and a unicorn’s magical signature, though not mine nor anyone’s that I recognise.

“Y-you bonded with the magic… pure and uncorrupted as it is I can not believe you perpetrated this evil. The rag burns with a stench I’m familiar with though… brimstone and darkness. Signs of a unicorn truly lost to harmony.” She summons a book and a jar, trapping the cursed rag and paging quickly. “You will never lose what has touched you. The erm magic at any rate. I wish we could return it to my dearest Sister but unbound as it was it bound to you instead. At the least having you nearby will help her recover her magic sooner.”She sweeps away, leaving a fresh cup of coffee on the table with a little pop, black as Her night and as bitter as a Nightmare. “Please enjoy the coffee and relax, and uhh, keep the magic to a minimum for now. The Celestial Order is rather zealous of late.”

The door gently swings shut, a vast difference from her actions earlier, leaving me alone in the dark with naught but my thoughts. I sip the coffee and cough in surprise, it’s hotter than I expected. The taste withering my tastebuds with the bitter power. I squee and grin, somehow she made me the perfect cup of coffee. I sip again and sigh in satisfaction. The wait for her to return for me pleasant.