Heart of Light

by TheCrimsonDM

Chapter Ten: The Founder

A quick explanation, as well as giving the folder back to Twilight was followed by Valiant doing the one thing she most desired at that moment, she took a nap. Of course Valiant’s mind was not at rest, for in her dreams even worse demons were after her. A teal colored pony with a brown mane and eyes full of evil was there waiting for her. The comfort of Spike’s old room was stolen by a suddenly cold cement floor. Valiant was about to scream until a loud bang jolted her upright.

As the dream was again replaced by reality she found herself returned to the safety of Twilight’s castle. The door however was closed, and by the red aura surrounding it Valiant was sure that she knew who was responsible. She shook her head trying to clear the nightmare from her mind, and focused on the door. With a slow start she pushed herself off the floor, put her eye patch back on and made her way over to find out what was going on. The red glow vanished from the doorway before she got there, and all she could hear were two muffled voices hissing at one another.

Valiant pushed her head against the side of the door and listened. It wasn’t exactly a magic trick, learning to listen properly was one of the first things she had to pick up on the streets at an early age. Being able to tell what was being said from a distance and where from were very important skills, of course she was sometimes preoccupied as a filly and couldn’t keep the concentration needed to actually use the skill. Now that she was fifteen years old the skill was much easier to perform, though if she had to be honest, she didn’t feel fifteen, she felt old. Older than any of her classmates. She pushed that somewhat depressing thought aside to continue focusing on her task.

“Of course you would think so,” Twilight verbally jabbed.

“Oh so it’s my fault than is it?” A familiar voice replied, there was a certain music to her voice.

The door felt warm to the touch, odd considering it was made from stone. Then again it did just have Twilight’s aura leave it, and judging by the redness in it, Valiant assumed that Twilight was less than pleased.

“You, you… you could have warned me,” Twilight replied, though her anger was wilting.

“I am sorry that your friend was hurt, but she decided to fight an umbrum pony, what in Equestria was she thinking?”

“Maybe that the umbrum were all dead or locked away in an alternate universe? I don’t know, that’s what I thought.” Twilight’s anger was regaining some of its power.

“I am sorry, I just wanted him to grow up and have a chance at Equestrian life, he is not just the only child of the old king, but the last of his species. There are no other umbrum left, even his father has all but vanished from this world.”

For a moment there was not but silence at the other side of the door, and Valiant felt almost like sinking down to the floor. This conversation was nowhere near as fun as she thought it might be, it was actually kind of depressing. In fact Valiant had to wonder if they were talking about Shade, it only made sense. Though it also left Valiant wondering how long she’d been out for. She mentally kicked herself for going to sleep like that, even if she did require it. The muffled voices began speaking again and Valiant had to make a decent effort to focus again.

“…leive that you let him go the first time. Why not just adopt him yourself? Of course he was going to do something like this, he’s looking for revenge against me.” Twilight’s voice came out strong and sure of itself.

“I wanted to help him.” the other voice sounded profoundly sad.

“He attacked a filly,” Twilight snapped.

“I’m… not sure what to make of that. If I find him, I will ask him what he was thinking.”

“Oh and is that all? Just talk to him, it’ll be alright, we’ll make friends with the universe, including thieves and foal abusers.”

“Valiant is no foal,” the other voice came to Valiant’s defense. Which was odd. “She is older than you give her credit for.”

“I am supposed to be keeping her safe, if this got back to her parents I’d be a dead princess.”

There was silence again. “I will find him, and reprimand him for his crimes. Is that what wanted to hear?”

“No, but it’s the best I’m going to get from you, isn’t it?” Twilight asked bitterly.

“I’m afraid so,” the other voice said.

The sound of hooves hitting the concrete as somepony walked away from the door made Valiant realize this conversation was over. She slumped against the door. Who could have talked to Twilight like that? Valiant had watched as Twilight nearly disintegrated a librarian once for a late fee that was due only to the fact that Twilight got injured while saving said library. Over the past years Twilight had become less and less friendly to accusations and intimation by other ponies. Her reputation as the princess of friendship was waning.

The door swung open and Valiant fell through landing at Twilight’s hooves. She looked up sheepishly before offering the princess a silly smile. Twilight only stared down at her before blinking and narrowing her eye. “Were you listening to my conversation with Celestia?”

Celestia! Of course it was her, the only pony that can talk down to Twilight and not get zapped for the insult.

“I’m sorry, but I feel that I must ask that you not speak a word of what you heard about this to anypony else.”

Valiant smiled and nodded. Not speak a word eh? I think I can do that.

To her credit Twilight actually offered a genuine smile. “Great, now let’s get something to eat and clean you up. I can’t send you home both hungry and dirty now can I?”

That sounded like the best plan ever.

It was only after a spell use to clean Valiant’s fur and some food that Twilight decided to escort her home. Of course while they walked home Twilight noticed the fact that one of her folders was sticking out of Valiant’s bags and asked about it.

“It’s the thing that Shade was trying to steal,” Valiant answered. If only she had telekinesis she’d give it back while they walked. Thankfully Twilight was two steps ahead of her.

While Twilight pulled the folder free with her magic and opened it she frowned. “Oh, its just another file on yet another dead pony named Book Mark. I swear, I don’t know how many more of these I can dig through. Why do you still have this?”

“Because… I… I like doing research with you.”

“I like that too.”

Valiant smiled. “If you apologize to Maud again, maybe she’ll let you come in to do research with me at the castle?”

Twilight laughed. “I hope so. I could spend some time helping you with homework too. After all I did put several of my strongest wards over Spike’s room. I’d like to see that Shade pony even try to get near it.”

Valiant joined in the laugher. “That would be hilarious.”

“I had to lock Trixie out of my castle for two weeks once,” Twilight said.

“Yeah, that was funny,” Valiant noted as she remembered how hard Trixie had tried to get inside. At first to try and talk her way out of being in trouble, than to try and fight Twilight, finally she was simply trying to apologize. All of it over those dumb books Trixie had tricked Twilight into publishing.

“I’m surprised she doesn’t hold a grudge against me, I should have just talked to her,” Twilight said.

“She tricked you.”

“Yeah, but she didn’t mean to hurt my feelings. At least I don’t think she did.”

The little cottage appeared at the edge of town. Valiant smiled at the familiar sight. Maud’s flower bed was blooming just outside, along with the rock bed. Valiant still wasn’t sure what prodded Maud to grow a flowerbed, but it was probably something Trixie came up with. It sounded like something she’d do.

When they got close music began floating easily though the air. Enchanting acoustic guitar work that Valiant hadn’t heard in a good while. There was a bounce in her step as she quickened her pace. Once Valiant got to the door she paused and put her ear to the door. Once again putting her skills in listening in practice.

There was more than just guitar music. There was a soft voice, full of love and warmth that could only belong to Trixie. She was singing.

The music stopped as soon as it came. It was a little rough around the edges but it was good song. A smile found its way stuck to Valiant’s face, and judging by Twilight’s smile she was in the same boat. Still it was a little sad to see the music fade. Though Valiant pushed open the door and was greeted by the sight of Trixie sitting at the kitchen table with Amber Light sitting on Trixie’s lap.

Fluttershy sat across from her with her two foals taking over her lap. The tiny pink filly with a butter yellow mane stared on with large wide eyes at Trixie and the warmest smile this side of Equestria. The other one was a yellow colt with a mane with varying shades of green in it. Valiant walked in and nodded at her other aunt as well as her cousins.

“Oh, Val!” Trixie said joyfully. “Did you decide to take a study break at Twilight’s again? If Maud was here she’d be so upset, she’d… well, probably just stare at you and give you a hug.”

Val rolled her eye.

Trixie than noticed Twilight at the door. “Oh, Twilight, do come in. Don’t let it be said that I, the Great and Welcoming Trixie didn’t treat her house guests politely.”

Twilight walked in and smiled at Trixie. “Actually me and Valiant were wondering if we could do some of our research. It was getting a little late and I wanted to walk Valiant home before it got dark, but we weren’t exactly finished..”

Trixie nodded. “Okay, you two can use the living room, nopony is in there.”

It was about than that Valiant noticed that Amber Light was glaring at Twilight. Of course her little sister would glare at Twilight. There was no reason that Amber wouldn’t do so. Not after all those stories about how Twilight was the bane of Trixie’s existence, even if in reality the two of them were actually pretty good friends. Though, not without some hiccups.

Val walked toward the living room where she could find some space away from the others. Fluttershy’s quiet, soft voice halted her. “Valiant, don’t you want to spend some time with your family?”

Oh that manipulative mare, I just want to finish my research with Twilight, after all I didn’t get to help out at all.

Twilight came to her rescue like the hero she was. “I’m sure that Val is just looking forward to spending some time studying.”

Fluttershy gave her a look that could only be described as polite disbelief. “Oh, well, that’s okay. I wouldn’t want to get in your way.”

Twilight smiled. “Thanks.”

Then she followed Valiant into the living room where the two took a seat on the couch side by side and looked down at the folder. Twilight made sure that it was floating just low enough for Valiant too see as well. The file was all about a stallion that was named Book Mark, and according to Twilight that turned out to be one of the most common names for unicorns that she’d ever seen. This stallion point in fact was an earth pony, and had lived his life going on expiations looking for and recovering ancient knowledge, most of which could be found in Canterlot’s Library. He had no children, but seemed to have a lot of friends. Before he died he had hired out a lot of ponies to work on some construction down near southern Equestria. It turned out to be his tomb, an odd notion for ponies anymore, but he was probably eccentric. That being said he also had a burial plot built in Canterlot Castle’s graveyard. An astounding feat for anypony, a picture of his grave was actually shown. It was surprisingly modest with only the inscription of his name followed by the words, ‘Ever seeking, even in death.’

Valiant saw the all too familiar look of discovery in the way Twilight’s eye sparkled. Valiant took a moment to reread the section herself. Of course they moved on to the next bit soon, a picture of him when he was still alive, including but not limited to his cutie mark. If the inscription was a good clue about this stallion, his cutie mark was a bull’s eye target. For his cutie mark was a brown leather book with an eyeball on the cover, the pupil of the eye was that of the letter A. the very symbol of the Seekers Archive itself.

“Sweet Celestia,” Twilight cursed. “He wasn’t just a member of the Seekers, or one of the leaders, he was the founder and creator of the Archive itself.”

Valiant looked down at the book her eye widened in wonder. This was the stallion that had created the very place that she had longed to see all her life. This implied that the archive was not nearly as old as she’d thought, and created within his life time. Though how old he was when he died was unknown as for some reason the date of his birth was wiped out from the file. Even if he was an earth pony, he could be as old as Ink Pots was, if not older still.

“Trixie,” Twilight said quietly.

Trixie responded from the kitchen. “What was that? Did you need something? I’m all the way in the kitchen, at least speak louder. You might be a princess but I am not going to-“

“Can me and Valiant go on a little research trip?” Twilight asked louder.

Valiant’s eye was still plastered onto the picture of the stallion. His dirt colored fur coat, and his dark brown nearly black mane. He had glasses, thick and round like the perfect nerd and was offering a generous smile to the camera.

“Well,” Trixie replied. “I don’t know if-“

Maud’s voice came in clear, and snapped Valiant’s attention back up. “No, you cannot.”

Twilight frowned and stood up straight. “Maud, I promise I will-“

“I said no,” Maud stated firmly. Her eyes locked onto Twilight’s and her expression became as hard as a rock.

Twilight flinched. “I, but, we… okay. I promise I won’t go on any more long trips with Valiant. If it takes longer to get to the Everfree Forest from here, than I won’t do it.”

Maud’s hard stance somehow became more ridged. “Everfree Forest?”

“Yes, because from here it’s about a forty minute walk and…” Twilight blinked. “I wasn’t going to take her inside. Not unless we were visiting Zecora or-“

“Leave,” Maud stated.

Twilight blinked in surprise. “I’m sorry, did I-“

Maud took one step forward and Twilight’s ears folded back.

Twilight lowered her head as she walked to the door. “I’m sorry. I’ll go now. We can talk later, Valiant, but Maud doesn’t want us to go out adventuring again. I have to respect that.” She opened the front door and stepped out. “Thanks for having me over.”

The door didn’t just shut behind Twilight, it also shut Valiant’s heart. Maud wasn’t going to let her live out her dream. She was determined in fact to ruin Valiant’s chance at seeing the Archive in person, and finding out what she really was. All the knowledge, the secrets, the everything was going to just be gone. Valiant jumped off the couch and ran past Maud.

“Val, we need to talk-“ Maud tried to say as Valiant brushed past her.

Valiant got to her door, threw it open and jumped inside. “Why would I want to talk to the pony who’s ruining my life!” she slammed the door with all her might and locked it.