//------------------------------// // Chapter 25: Out of the Frying Pan // Story: A Tale of Something New // by skyshadow235 //------------------------------// “I wonder if there’s a way to control the volume of that spell. The princess made my head hurt with how loud she was,” She says. Apparently, a long-distance communications spell was the reason she ‘asked’ me to be quiet. I can tell that whatever scolding she got was well deserved. “Where is this, anyway?” She asks after recovering. As she looks around she seems to get engrossed at the statues of all the creatures. “Do all Archmagi have the same decorator?” He chuckles a bit before responding, “At this point I want to say yes, but I haven’t seen the home of the other two, and to answer your question: this castle belongs to the Arch Mage Prometheus, or as he’s known, Arch Mage of the Land’s Shadows.” I look at him curiously for the comment. “’Land’s Shadows’?” She looks around again. Though I don’t know at what seeing as how we’re in a hallway. “Can he get anymore evil sounding?” “He can. Just listen to him speak,” He replies dryly. He looks around when he notices that I just stare at him for that. “I suggest we go that way. The lab is in that direction, and more than likely, your parents.” He starts walking in the direction he pointed to with a hoof but stops when he notices I haven’t followed him. “Coming?” “Why are you helping me? I’m in love with you, but I know you don’t feel the same.” She states. He points to the opposite direction of where we were supposed to go, and then motions his hoof into a full circle around him. “I was raised here. For years upon years, this is all I’ve ever known. Prometheus taught me magic in the hopes that I would follow his examples.” He pauses and looks at me. “Then I saw you. The first time was only brief, but as you fell I saw the life in your eyes fading out. Yet, here you are.” He approached me until our muzzles were inches apart. “You survived. I don’t know how, but when we met back at the train station, and I defeated you, I felt like you would survive again. And by the looks of it, I was right.” He chuckles. “I don’t know what it is about you, but something fascinates me. No, at the moment, I don’t feel the same way about you, but something tells me that keeping you safe and alive is only going to benefit me in the long run.” With that he turns back and motions for me to follow him. “My turn to ask a question. Why do you trust me? For all intents and purposes, we’re enemies. So why are you following me so readily. I could be leading you to a trap.” “Are you?” She asks as she follows me to the lab. “No, but you didn’t answer my question.” He responds. “True, but you technically didn’t give me the full explanation. Isn’t this ‘Prometheus’ pony supposed to be your master or something? Why are you acting in a way that would betray him?” “Because, something just doesn’t feel right,” I reply. I can tell even without looking that she’s confused about my statement. “Prometheus has always been a careful individual,” I continue, “he isn’t one who just ignores things. Conflagration hasn’t been the most discreet about his plans. Before I arrived, he probably would have been caught within the month. So why hasn’t Prometheus done anything about his colleague’s absolutely insane plan to exterminate an entire empire of innocent ponies?” “Are you saying that they’re in working together?” “Those two?” He chuckles so hard he has to catch himself from laughing. “Those two hate each other. They would like nothing more than to know that the other is dead. No, I’m saying that he was aware of the plan the entire time and chose not to do anything about it.” His look turned to one of disgust and anger. Then it just was full of sadness. “I used to believe that he could do no wrong, and that we were truly trying to accomplish something grand for the future of Equestria. Now, I think he’s just as power hungry as Conflagration.” He turns towards me for a moment, then turns back. “So, are you going to answer my question?” “Yes, I will. And I’m sorry for pressing the issue. The answer is simple. You haven’t told enough lies for me to not trust you,” I look back at her with a raised eyebrow. “Or I guess I should say, that any interactions that I can register with you were all honest. You told Sugar Belle I had fallen, you admitted that you were the one who attacked me, you also admitted that I was right about how you feel towards me, and just now you told me that we weren’t heading to a trap. You’re an honest pony, Comet, and I trust you because of that.” I shrug and continues onward. “So why do you feel so strongly for me? None of our meetings have been very romantic.” “Mostly instinct I think, but the more I’m around you, the more I’m starting to like how serious and honest you are.” “Instinct?” “Sugar Belle explained it was common for unicorns to fall in love with other unicorns who display more power than themselves. In my case, you completely trounced me not once, but twice.” “So, it started superficial, and now it’s not?” “It’s becoming less superficial as I get to know you, but I can’t deny that a part of me likes the fact that my crush is a handsome and powerful colt,” she says in a softer voice. I keep staring straight while trying to mask how much that statement actually affected me. Soon I can see the entrance to the laboratory. I stop and turn to her only to notice our faces nearly meet. Naturally, I jump back, but notice she jumps back as well. We both stay silent for a moment as we stare at each other; her face showing a visible red blush. “Is there something you wanted to say?” She asks, clearly trying to break the silence. He turns back to the doors, his blush slowly fading off his face before he turns again to meet my eyes. “Earlier you said that you trusted me. How much?” I can’t help but stare at him for the question. “What?” “I asked, how much do you trust me?” I look down. How much do I trust him is what he asked? I look up and meet his gaze again. “How far do you need me to trust you?” She asks with the same determination I saw when she confessed to me. “If my plan fails to go exactly as I’m going to tell you, then, you, your parents, and myself will all be dead. So, how much do you trust me?” I slowly trot over to him until our muzzles are nearly touching again. “I entrust my life into your hoofs. I trust you without fail.” I take a step back and give her a small smirk that she reciprocates. “Then here’s the plan…”