//------------------------------// // Sowing the Seeds // Story: Ipomoea Alba // by The Vagabond //------------------------------// Sowing the Seeds Year 25 BB Luna, can you hear me? Yes Tia. I read you loud and clear. How is your end of the fortress holding up? Fine…for now. Are you still sure he’s in here? Without a doubt. Whatever you do, do not let the walls falter. We may have guards to assist our barrier, but I’m afraid we’re the only ones capable enough to stop him inside of it. Tia, I can only hold so much for so long. We must find him post-haste! Don’t worry. I think I have centered on his location. We should be upon him soon. The alicorns ended their transmission, fearing that the creature could decipher their thoughts. Celestia noticed that Discord seemed to bend their surroundings and hoped that the physical world was as far as he could reach. Magic its self was not lost on him, but hopefully, arcane alicorn magic was. The halls were dimly lit and frightening shadows danced as she moved through the halls. On the other side of the fort, Luna did her best to emulate Celestia’s bravery. This was a creature unknown to her, and it would take all the strength she could muster to help put this entity in its place. She traveled through the halls cautiously, knowing the range of power Celestia said he held. This would not be easy on the both of them, but Luna was determined to match her elder sister’s confidence and power; lest the draconequus win. Shadows moving against the light and sounds echoing down the halls made her tremble, yet she knew she had to carry on to the spot she and her sister would meet. This would not be an easy trek. ----- Celestia had spent plenty of time in this fort to memorize a blueprint of it, but even Discord's pitfalls managed to slow her down at times. Often, she could be heard cursing him and having to play his games to bypass an unseen obstacle. Even walls seemed to erupt where there had not been any before and it took all of her patience to scale them. No matter how much Celestia hurried along the paths though, he always seemed to be a step ahead of her. Luna, however, seemed to fly through the maze of tunnels with ease compared to her sibling. Having only seen their meeting point in past visits when they were mere fillies, her mental map of the interior was cloudy. Somehow their adversary did not seem to impede her progress. Now and then she would meet with the draconequus' games, but she contended them pretty easily. Other times she simply headed in the wrong direction, meeting dead ends. She would take the time to clear her mind and map out a new route. Soon enough, the garden was reached and the figure of chaos was in view. ----- Celestia raced as fast as she could, but Discord always seemed to be around every corner. Her attempts at escaping from the creature's foul play hampered her progress, but the teachings of her parents helped her proceed inch by confidence-diminishing inch. At long last, she reached the twilit garden, beholding a sight she feared would come to fruition. ----- Luna gazed upon the abnormal figure above her and delivered the ultimatum: “As soon as my sister arrives, we will not let your transgressions of our kingdom go unpunished. We forged a world where all pony-kind can peacefully coexist, and you have trespassed upon it and perverted it, draconequus. Stand down now and we promise…you’re punishment will be far more bearable.” “~Oh-no, save me, SAVE~ME!~ Her sister is going to punish me,” Discord replied mockingly. “Why wait? Do you not rely on yourself, Little-Luna, or - is every iota of power infused in your sister, and you just “play” princess?” “Do NOT test me creature, for I too carry the strength of our bloodline's magic. As she raises the sun, I raise the moon.” “Oh please, since when did any of your subjects care for that kind of power?” “-gasp- Why, I’ll have you know there is a newly formed ceremony in my honor. Ponies, as far as the sky extends, bow down to my ritual.” “Oh, I see. They've finally let you remove your training horn. How cute~!” “Do you dare try my patience?!” Luna replied through gritted teeth. Discord, with a snap of his claws, flashed from his throne just above the garden and right next to Luna, “Now, now! A princess must compose herself. After all, judging by the color of the sky, is it not time you raised your precious moon?” He produced a large pocket watch from nowhere and pushed it in front of the purple alicorn’s face. “Tick-tock, tick-tock, Luna. Or were you simply bluffing?” “I WILL SHOW YOU FOUL BEAST!” I WILL SHOW YOU FOUL BEAST! With eyes glowing white with power, Luna hovered above the ground and extended her limbs. With her tremendous exertion of magic, the moon shot up to its apex in the sky and filled the night with stars and their dust. Impressed with this spectacle, the draconequus leered at the young alicorn and focused his mind to hers. So that’s how you do it. Luna dropped to the ground panting, a look of pride spread across her face. “I must say that was quite an impressive attempt, Luna...but, that parlor trick will get you nowhere as an empress.” With a snap of his fingers, the sun rose in place of the moon, obscuring the stars that once littered the sky. Luna looked up in disbelief. “H-h-h-how-?" Chuckling, Discord responded, “Oh it’s quite simple really. Did you think you were the only ones with experience in the - pause for dramatic effect - Arcane Lore?” He couldn’t contain himself any longer. He rolled onto his back, laughing at the purple mare’s disbelief as she struggled to her hooves. “NO!” came the cry in the corner of the garden. The draconequus and Luna both glanced toward Celestia galloping towards them. “Oh looky, now the "other princess” has arrived!” Luna was about to embrace her sister when the white alicorn stopped her. “Luna, do you realize what you’ve done?” “Aw, did wittle Wuna, forget there was a barrier to uphold?” With a snap of his claw, Discord shattered the barrier as trees sprouted around the fortress. Outside the fort, the unicorn guards were looking around in shock and disbelief. “This looks like as good as place as any to set up my new region of chaos. Won’t you gals join me?” With another snap the trees emitted a dust that overtook the guards, sending them into a state of sleep. “Isn’t it lovely? Ponies sleeping, why- and in the middle of the day too,” He bent down face to face with Luna, eyes swirling, “Don’t you think that’s how it should be?” Luna started to waver, “B-b-but w-w-what about-“ “SISTER!” Celestia stamped her hoof, emitting a shock wave that sent the draconequus flying to the other side of the garden. She ran up to her sister and focused a bit of magic into the young alicorn. “Luna! Please, look at me.” “W-what? Tia? Tia!” “Don’t listen to Him. Quickly, refocus your magic! We need to put the barrier back.” In almost an instant Luna had reestablished the connection with her sister and rebuilt the barrier . With the guards incapacitated though, they were now alone with their adversary. Discord had risen but, Celestia was the first to speak. “Discord! You have imposed yourself onto our land. You have brought with you disarray into our time of peace. You have contorted the views of our subjects. You have tainted the land which we survive on. Yet, worst of all…YOU TRIED ALL OF THIS ON MY SISTER!” MY SISTER! A burst of magic emitted from Celestia’s horn forcing the draconequus to utilize his own. “HA! Do you think you can take me on your own?!” An equal burst of magic erupted from him. Luna stared in shock at the fierce battle of wills before her eyes, when a voice took form in her mind: LUNA! I NEED YOUR HELP I DON’T THINK I CAN DO THIS ON MY OWN! But Tia, I don’t know this- FOCUS LUNA! YOU CAN DO THIS! I BELIEVE IN YOU! REMEMBER WHAT MOM AND DAD HAD TAUGHT US! BRING YOUR POWER IN TUNE WITH MINE! Luna mustered up her power and, with her own eyes burning white, rose alongside her sister; the force of their combined power not lost on the draconequus. Discord’s form was numbing. Looking down he noticed his body turning to stone. Can’t-can’t read this one as-as easily. The counter- of this one must-must-take time and-compatibility-A-HA! "So that's what that is! ~Har-" The explosion erupted against the barrier encasing the fort, cracking it on all sides. When the light and dust had cleared, the form of a draconequus encased in stone lay on the ground. The alicorns lay in the garden panting. Luna was the first to stand, albeit with unease. “We-we did it...TIA WE DID IT!” “No, Luna! We stopped him, but can you feel it?” It took Luna a moment to center on the chaotic magic erupting beyond their original barrier. “Yes...his forest…it’s still expanding! I have to stop it!” Her horn glowed and, try as she might, the forest still continued to grow. “Oh no! Tia! HELP!” The white alicorn composed herself. As Celestia concentrated, she rose above the ground again, yet it was obvious she was weakening. Luna sensed this and summoned up whatever power she could. An explosion from the garden expanded the barrier about a few meters from the ever-growing forest. The enchanted sprouts tried as they could to bloom, but it was no match for the power of the sisters. While the new plants vying for life were drained, the already full grown ones stood strong. Both of the princesses stretched across the ground, panting from their overexertion of their powers. Please, Tia...tell me that was it. I believe so...I don't feel the expansion of Discord's magic anymore. Good... Sister? Yes, Luna? I think I'm gonna lie here for a bit...rest my eyes. Go ahead...you deserve it. I couldn't have done it...without you. Nor I. I love you...Tia. I love you too...Luna. One Week Later The Canterlot parade was well underway. Ponies from the distant lands came and paid tribute to the sisters who had reclaimed unity and order for their lands. The elder alicorn stayed indoors during the festivities as the younger became the new face for peace. Tia, you wouldn’t believe some of the displays these ponies have put together! I don’t know. I’ve seen some impressive ones with mother and father. One time... …Tia? Yes? …c-could we focus on something…happier for today? …Of course. Tell me, how is the parade? There’s unicorns moving whole, concrete statues, and the pegasi are forming impromptu storms and performing their aerial maneuvers. Some are skywriting our names. What of the earth ponies? Oh! You wouldn’t believe the stacks of carrots, celery stalks and cakes they’ve made in your honor! Don’t you mean OUR honor? Oh please, Tia. We both know I couldn’t have done it without your help. I’m sure they even regard me as a lesser princess than you. Then why don’t you go out there? Meet some of the locals? No, I'd rather stay by you. … You are alright, right Tia? You feel it don’t you? Yes…he’s not entirely gone, is he? No. Even the forest is still fighting our barrier. I wish Mother and Father were still here. They would instantly know what to do. I know, Luna. I do too. But now we have to be strong. That’s definitely what they would want. Yes! We will strive...for Equestria! Not only for Equestria, but for us! Yes sister. FOR US!...Huh? FOR US! What is it, Luna? Oh...nothing. I thought - I thought I heard somepony say something.