//------------------------------// // 2 : Red Skies by Morning... // Story: The Elements of Creation // by NPC White Mage //------------------------------// The Elements of Creation 2 : Red Skies by Morning... "Long ago, there was nothing. The world was void and empty, even the word 'darkness' couldn't explain the emptiness. It is unknown and will forever be unknown how long that darkness lasted; however, all things, no matter how permanent something may seem, everything comes to an end. For the emptiness that end came in the form of six Great Cr eators. There names have been lost in the ebb and flow of time, but let it be remembered that these six were the bearers of the Elements of Creation. "The Elements of Creation? Why are we wasting time with pony tales when our sister is somewhere out-" "Do NOT interrupt me." Leather Bound glared at the Prince, the low light in the library gave Leather Bound's eyes a terrible and intese look. The three sat in the library, surrounded by stacks of book Leather Bound had pulled from the shelves to help with Low Tide's problem. The librarian knew there wasn't time to read all of the books, but she figured there was enough time to read the passages she found important. They had already spent quite some time talking about what happened, and most of the guards had recovered, although none of them could seem to remember what transpired in the Throne Room. Now, all the able guards were posted outside the library door and stood vigilant, in case the day got even stranger. "Anyway...as I was saying.... "-Element of Creation. The forces that worked together to banish the void of the world and begin the world we know. The first creator weilded the Element of Earth and Power, and with her element she shaped the land, creating the ground we walk on, and the towering mountains above; however the darkness prevailed, no longer empty, but still impossibly dark and consuming. Following her sister, the wielder of the Element of Light and Time stepped forward along side the wielder of the Darkness and Space, and together they seperated the darkness into day and night. Even though the rocky earth could be seen, it was still barren; so stepped forward the wielder of the Element of Water and Knowledge and she filled the world with beautiful oceans and rivers, adding much needed seperations between the expanses of land. The world was beautiful, but still not complete so the holder of the Element of Fire and Life created a great spark and infused it with the world, creating the wildfire that is life that populates the surface of the world. Finally a wind swept across the land, filling all the life with the courage to grow and begin to thrive on their new home, all coming from the Element of Wind and Courage. The Great Creators had exhausted all their power giving their ideas and creations a future. Knowing that their end would mean passing on the Elements of Creation, they became worried, thinking that one of the living things they created might try and assemble the elements in a grand display of power and destruction. So, in a effort to prevent this future from unfolding, the Great Creators seperated each Element of Creation into two pieces; The Element of Earth and Power became the Will of Stone and the Fist of the Mountains, The Element of Fire and Life became the Forge of Embers and the Pulse of Flame, The Element of Water and Knowledge became the Soul of the Sea and the Heart of the Ocean The Element of Wind and Courage became the Breath of Bravery and the Roar of the Sky, The Element of Light and Time became the Light of the Sun and the Throat of Time, The Element of Darkness and Space became the Glow of the Moon and the Bane of the Void. The elements were scattered and hidden away where they would be safe from those too greedy and power hungry for their own good. " Leather Bound stopped and closed the book. Low Tide and Rip Tide just stared at her, not understanding what anything the Librarian just said had anything to do with the current events. Leather Bound knew that would be their reaction; however she was disappointed that neither of them asked that most obvious questions. So she decided to take the initiative and answer it anyway. "The focus of that story was, obviously, the Element of Water and Knowledge. A while back I had been reading about the Soul of the Sea in a research journal published by a rather prestigious Professor at a Canterlot college. He claimed that the Soul of the Sea was possible real, and its location may have been discovered during a marine biologist's sweep of the ocen floor while looking for a shipwreck. He claimed that the results from the sonar sweep of the Mareiterranean Sea floor showed some strange results around a specifc area. Upon further study and research he was able to determine that the strange readings where the result of a series of underground tunnels and caves that were shapped abnormally. Using clues from later chapters of the Elements of Creation book, the one I just read, he was able to determine that this underground complex would be the most likely place for the Soul of the Sea to be located." Leather Bound paused once again, this time to pull out another book and some papers. "The Soul of the Sea," she continued, "as well as its twin, The Heart of the Ocean, are said to possess certain powers over the element of water. This is where things get interesting. It has been claimed that the tides originally began when the Element of Water was seperated. Each tide is controlled by half of the Element, for example low-tide is influenced the Soul of the Sea and high-tide by the Heart of the Ocean, or vice versa." "You mean you don't know which part controls what?" Low Tide intervened. This is what she had been looking for, anything pertaining to the tides and the waters of the world. Something that would be able to affect her control of the tide and her connection to the ocean. If anything in the world could do that, it was the Element of water, but with the Element seperated into two pieces, it was going to be even harder to determine what was happening. Furhtermore, if there was a problem with the Heart or Soul, how would they fix it? Were they even tangible things? Were they simply metaphores for something else? There were so many more questions the Princess had, and she felt that no answers even existed. "The only ones who would know that are the Great Creators, and even if they were real, they are long gone. I would say we should talk to Professor Marble Spire, but..." instead of finishing her sentence, Leather Bound slide an Equestrian newpaper over to the siblings. 'Canterlot Professor found dead by international cruise ship!' The picture was of a covered body of a pony on the deck of a ocean liner. A pair of broken glasses lay next to the body, and a detective was hunched over the sheet covering the dead pony. It was a pretty haunting image, at least to Low Tide, evident by her gasp at the sight of the headline. Rip Tide had seen enough death in his carrer as the captain of the Royal Guard to not be outwardly phased by it. "The authorities are claiming it was a diving accident, but if that were the case, then where is his diving gear? You can tell by the way the sheet falls over his body he isn't wearing one." Leather Bound pointed out, and upon closer examination, Rip Tide knew she was right. "So are you suggesting...murder?" Low Tide gulped, not liking the taste of the word. "The question is euqal amounts of whom, and why." The Prince quipped, his interest growing by the minute. However, this was short lived, as the gravity of his sister's disappearance pulled him away from the murder mystery and into reality, which was becoming more tense by the moment. "How does this help us find High Tide?" Leather Bound looked down. It was evident she didn't know, but the intensity of her eyes behind her glasses was proof she wasn't giving up. Looking around, her eyes fell upon Low Tide, who look confused, scared, sad, but yet somehow excited all at the same time. "Princess, tell me again what you were experiencing." The librarian's reqest gave Low Tide a sinking feeling in her stomach. She hadn't wanted her brother to find out about her issues, but if it was somehow connected to the fragments of the Element of Water, then she had no choice. Timidly, the princess recounted her experiences of pain and difficulties she experienced when she had tried to use magic, as well as he disconnection with the ocean, and most recently, the unexplained weight on her shoulders. This sparked something in Rip Tide and he regarded his sister with worry, and he also explained that he had the same sensation of heavy weight. Leather Bound listened and didn't say much at all. For the first time in her life, she didn't have a book to turn to for answers; however, she did have an idea. Although it was a leap of faith. "Do you remember the stories about the strange Zebra that lives behind the Jousting List Falls?" "Oh, you mean Old Iwai? The guard and I have been there a few times because of reports of dangerous magic and strange noises, but it hasn't ever been anything but the superstitious nature of the ponies of Roan Island." He shrugged, "a lot of the ponies here have a deep family history in sailing and there are even some pirate descendants, and that good ole' superstition has tricked down the blood line." He scoffed. "Why?" "Iwai the Shaman came from a strange land filled with mystery and wild magic, he has travelled all over the world, and he may know a thing or two about what you are experiencing and where to start your search for Princess High Tide." Once more Rip Tide scoffed, the thought that such a wily old man would be able to help them was an idea he couldn't accept; however, it was better than sitting around and waiting for something to happen. "Alright, off to Jousting List Falls then." Low Tide nodded, speaking on her brother's behalf. Together the three exchanged looks, stood, and retired to their respective rooms to prepare for a journey into the rather wilder parts of the Roan Islands. ---------- The water was cold as it crashed against Princess High Tide's face. She woke with a start, and was instantly greeted by a combination of blinding light and over whelming pain. She let out a cry of agony and tried to escape the discomfort. That was when she realized she was still bound. Calming down from her writhing, she waited for her vision to recover, panting from pain and mental fatigue. The grayish-white blur from the light faded from her eyes they adjusted to the brightness as much as possible. Squinting she looked towards a small source of pain in her flank and noticed an a small prick of blood welling up from where a syringe had been a moment before. They way her heart was pounding and how her breath was coming in pants, she decided she must have been hit with a shot of adrenaline. "Good morning your highness. I hope you slept well; however it is time to wake up, after all, you and I have some business to discuss." There it was again, that familiar voice...where had she heard it?! It was impossible to place. She knew it wasn't a voice she had heard alot, in fact, it was possible she had only heard it once before, but it was impossible to be sure. "Do you know what this is?" She desperatly tried to focus her gaze, but was met only with the silhouette of what she could only imagine was either a rock or piece of glass. The interrogator slide the object closer to the bound Alicorn and repeated his question. It wasn't any more clear to the Princess what the object was, but she could feel something from it, something familiar. Something she had felt so many times before, but once again it was something she couldn't place. Damn this drug induced haze, it made her nothing more than a little foal. All she could focus on was the adrenaline in her veins, and that greasy fog that clouded every facet of her mind. Tears began to well up in her eyes as her pain and frustration began to grow. "Hmph, maybe I was wrong...well, no matter, you don't need to know what it is in order to use it now do you? You don't have to answer, as I already know what the correct one is." Went on the silhouette, as he approached her. Gently he placed the strange fragment around her neck, Princess HIgh Tide realized for the first time it was on a string, or chain, or...something. What ever it was, it hung around her neck like a necklace. As the...whatever it was caressed her hide, her mind was filled with a beating, as though a giant heart was in the room, and the noise was so loud it's bass was vibrating her very skeleton. She didn't have to look around to understand there was no heart, whatever was going on was being focused around this little stone. The somehow familiar pony stepped back, the garish light still obscuring his features. "Fit for your royal neck, should I say so myself. Sadly we don't have both pieces...but that won't be the case for long. After all, we know the second fragment is on Roan Island, it is just a matter of time until it is found. For now though, my friends and I tire of hiding in this dreary place, and were interested in seeing the budding fruits of our labor, so princess, if you will be so kind as to accompany me to the shore." "I-ish Shat shome kindsh of jhoke?" She slurred, not realizing the extent to which the drug had effected her body. She was referring to the bonds that held her, making her unable to accompany anyone anywhere by her will. She would had continued to rant and belittle her captor, but in her current state she decided it would be a disservice to herself than a boon. She knew that her captor wanted her to go somewhere, and whether she liked it or not, she was going with him, although she was afraid to think about how. Suddenly the ground began to move, and she felt herself lifted off the ground. For a moment her hazy mind was afraid the floor had vanished. She winced at her own idiocy and realized she was being carried by, what appeared to be, a buffalo. "Take care not to harm the Princess, Buckshot, We need her well and ready to demonstrate the fragment's power when we reach the shore. Buckshot replied with his signature grunt and began towards one of the many tunnels that lined the cramped cave. As the buffalo walked, the Princess took the opportunity to look around. It was dark, but there was a faint enough light to tell High Tide all she needed to know. She was being held captive in the abandoned opal mines that snaked under the Roan Islands. The mine had been an engineering marvel. A series of tunnels and shafts connecting all the Roan Islands, and was eventually to become an active inter-island commute system for the ponies of the islands. Mother Nature had other ideas and there was a violent earthquake a few years after the final island was linked to the system of tunnels. The seismic activity collapsed a lot of the main tunnels, flooded several others, and made the mine as a whole unstable. The project was abandoned and an opal quarry was established on one of the uninhabited, smaller islands. Buckshot continued on, taking a lot of twists and turns, some of which still smelled of fresh dirt and sweat, it was eerie how well things were preserved in the cold underground. Upon entering a large chamber, High Tide noticed a large, metal machine in the center of the room. She wasn't too sure what it was, but a large, metal bit and grinder system on the front of the beast told her all she needed to know. This was left over mining equipment from the evacuation. The Royal family had been told all the tunnels had been cleared of all equipment, miners, and any opal reserves that were stored underground. It that was true then why was this thing here? She wasn't too worried about it, more peeved than anything. That equipment could have been recycled and sent to another island where it was needed, not sitting here rusting in a hole in the ground. As they walked past, she caught glimpse of a Griffon and a Rose colored pony. The feathered fiend was playing with wires and tools, while the pony sat back and watched, occasionally pointing at something or muttering something. So that must have been the irritating noise she heard before, that machine. But why? Ow... all the thinking was finally taking its toll, and her headache was returning, very quickly. Deciding not to fight her impeded condition, she let her neck relax, and hung like dead weight on the Buffalo's back, but the tank of a beast didn't even notice. A warm, yet refreshing breeze wafted across the tunnel, making High Tide open her eyes. They were at the opening to the tunnel and she could see outside and onto the beach. The smell of the salt, the taste of the sea, and sound of the surf, there was nothing sweeter than those things. Instinctively she reached for her magic, but was blocked by that same greasy fog. She tried again, harder this time, straining with everything she had against the nasty barrier but to no avail. Resiged, she let out a tortued sigh. "Litsten close Princess," A bite of pain stung her flank, but compared to her headache, the pain was nothing. "That was a two stage injection. First, it was an antidote and pain killer, to help you regain your magic. Secondly, it is also a slow acting toxin, which will take effect in about half an hour. Yes, the toxin is fatal. Don't think that in that short time you can get away, because any physical activity will speed up the venom. So, trying to run or fly away will kill you all the faster." He paused, letting his words fully sink in before continuing. "This is the plan, during your moment of clarity, you will use your magic to raise the tide. That's all. If you do that, then we will provide you an antidote that will remove the toxin. Simplicity in itself." Princess High Tide raised her head, the greasy fog that clouded her mind was fading and she was able to think clearly. She realized she was still bound, but from what her captor said, moving would be a bad idea anyway. She was loath to cooperate, but she didn't have much of a choice. Hmmm...the pony said she could use magic...she couldn't teleport, being bound and unable to move while teleporting could potentially be fatal, should she miscalculate. She could do the next best thing and magically contact her siblings, they must know she is gone, if she could just reach out to them and tell them where she was, they might have a chance in finding her. The Alicorn reached deep into her mind and felt the very familiar embrace of her magic, but that wasn't all. There was something else there, something bigger and more powerful, yet timid and fragile. With care, she proded the presence with her mind, trying to determine was it was, but it recoiled away. Utterly confused, she truned her attention to her magic, and storked it awake. It unfurled like a beautiful lotus, at least, that was how she always pictured her magic in her mind. Grasping the source of power, High Tide extended her magic towards the water. Suddenly, the presense in her mind welled up, as if motivatied by the connection to the ocean. Whatever was happening, it was affecting her magic, making it...stronger? How was that possible? There wasn't time to think about it, as the ocean waters began to swell before them, creating a huge spire of water. Startled, the Alicorn withdrew her mental connection to the ocean, and instantly the spire collapsed into the water's surface. Hesitantly she reached out to the water once more, caressing the shoreline with her magic. She felt the familiar push and pull of her tide, and she sighed. "It is my job to raise the tide, I've never lowered it..." She explained to the pony, trying to get him to understand why she wasn't doing what he asked. "I know Princess, but...try." With another sigh, she nudged the tide, like so many times before, but instead of using the mental image of pulling a blanket around the islands, which she typically used, she imagined draining a bath tub. It was a helpful image and her magic understood; however, it wasn't her magic that responded, it was the unknown presence. With a surge, it reached out to the water and gave it a massive shove, the tide receeding at a rate the Princess had never seen. Out of panic she withdrew her magic, and severed the connection with the water, causing the alien presence to lose it's control over the sea, and the waters came rushing back to the shore, turning into a mild wave that crashed agiainst their hooves. Fantastic...just....fantastic" She regarded her captor with a clear gaze for the first time since she had been imprisoned by him. He was a gray pony with a stunning silver mane. Everything came back to her in a sudden wave. The throne room. Her first appointment. This same pony waltzing in like he owned the place. His calming, silky voice. Then the chaos. A griffon and buffalo came rushing into the throne room, along with a rose colored unicorn. Taken by suprise, the guards were uprepared for a the charging beast and its winged counterpart. The unicorn used magic and sent a syringe into the Princess' flank...at least that's what she remembered. Everything got really hazy at that point, and the next thing she knew she was in the mines. "What do you want with me?" She asked, her voice cold and sharp. "All in due time, Princess." The pony smirked. He motioned to the sky and the griffon dropped down before the Alicorn. She thought he was back in the mine still, and didn't realize he was there, right above her. Cursing her negligence, she eyed the Griffon cautiously, not knowing what to expect. He approached her, his one good eye boring into her. Alot of ponies and beasts cowered before an Alicorn, or at least there was a hint of respect deteced in their eyes, but not this griffon. He regarded her as prey, and it worried High Tide. That was when she noticed the pair of syringes in his claws. The pricks came one after another, and it wasn't long before her head started to get woozy once more. Quickly she reached for her magic, feeling it begin to slip from her grasp. Using what she was able to muster, she sent a mental jab to her brother and sister, hoping that it would be enough. Then it was gone. The magic slipped away and was lost behind the same grimy veil, and even the massive presence receeded, still there, but useless to her. As her body began to succumb to the drug, she noticed that she felt exhausted once again and she tried to fight the urge to fall asleep, but to no avail, and she quickly slipped into another deep slumber. ---------- Standing at the gates to the palace, Prince-Captain Rip Tide turned to a black pony with golden mane. "Stewardess, the princesses and I are going to be away from the castle, although we shall remain on the island. I know it has been years since your lineage has been called upon, but I need you to take up your mantle and becoming acting ruler of Roan Island in our absence." In simple response, the Stewardess bowed. "We'll be back soon?" Low Tide's voice barely made it passed her lips, and it was more of a question than an assurance. "Indeed," Her brother responded, adjusting his saddle bags. The jab came without warning, and caused the siblings to flinch. They looked at each, both recognizing the familiar feel of their sister's magic. This meant several things. First, she was still alive, which brought a sigh of relief from Rip Tide. Second, she was close, while not on the main island, she was definatly still on the islands somewhere. Now all they had to do was find her. The urgency of the jab was alarming, but the entire situation was alarming. The sense of urgency renewed, and now with confidence HIgh Tide was still alive and - hopefully - safe, the trio started down towards the wilds of the islands. If they made haste, they would make it to Old Iwai's house before sunrise the next morning.