//------------------------------// // Chapter 13 // Story: Masks' of the Hunters // by Kamer //------------------------------// Chapter 13 Little Talks Bright Rune entered the door to the hidden room in the Archives. Radiant lying on the couch, looking over some of his and Mondancer’s notes, Ivory and Still were sitting at the table, their conversation interrupted by the incoming stallion, and Moondancer was recovering from her nap on one of the larger chairs. All of them looked expectantly at Bright Rune waiting for his response. “Princess Luna will be here after lunch today,” Bright Rune said. “Not sooner?” Radiant asked, “I thought I told you to tell her it’s important.” “I did,” Bright responded, “But I could only relay the message to her new aide. The guards wouldn’t let me tell her directly.” “Humph...” was all Radiant responded with. “Well,” Moondancer said, “We just have that much more time to think about what we want to ask.” “Right...” Bright sighed. It was silent for a moment before Radiant spoke up, “I’ve converted a fair number of spells, but they all still have the quick casting problem.” “Yes,” Moondancer agreed, “Without that, there aren’t many spells that would be terribly useful, assuming this is something for combat.” “Considering the arrow,” Ivory commented, “I think that is a fair assumption.” “I, might be able to solve that.” Bright looked at the arrow. “I think that a sufficient enchantment, or series of enchantments might make the spells quick enough to cast.” “A fully self-modifying spell matrix enchantment?” Moondancer glanced over, “That’s never been done before, even by the princesses.” “It wouldn’t have to be totally self-modifying,” Radiant perked her ears up, “Just enough to handle a couple spells at once.” “What about one per spell?” Ivory said, moving over to the chest of enchanting stones “It would be far easier.” “I don’t think that will work,” Bright said, shaking his head, “unless we want to go around looking like Sapphire Shores.” “Is that a bad thing?” Radiant stood up and strutted around the room like a showmare, “I’ve always wanted one of Rarity’s dresses.” “I’m sure half of us here want one of those.” Still said from her chair, “Those things are gorgeous.” “I really don’t care about clothes.” Moondancer was snuggling her trademark sweater while also wearing a smile. “Obviously,” Radiant sarcastically grinned an Moondancer, who dropped the smile and shot back a glare. “My choice of wardrobe is no concern of yours,” Moondancer made no attempt to hide the bit of annoyance in her voice. “Only if we are never seen in public together.” “Can we stay on topic please,” Still chimed in, glancing at both Moondancer and Radiant with her trademark guard ‘Stop Talking’ look. Both mares looked away from each other. “I think that I have an idea for that too...” Bright said, “But it would take a lot of work and testing from all of us.” “How much work are you thinking?” Ivory asked. “I’ve been working on something in my spare time, a way for non unicorns to cast some basic spells. “I’ve gotten it so I can channel magic into an enchanted item to cast a spell embedded in the gem, but I can’t get any other race to be able to use it.” Bright continued, “They are full spells though, not the stripped down enchantments that are normally on gems.” “A full spell enchantment?” Moonshine was a little taken aback, “Those are exceptionally rare, both to exist and to make!” Moondancer continued staring at Bright Rune. “How repeatable is the process?” Still and Radiant gave a small chuckle. “About ninety percent for a handful of spells. Simple ones though, like levitation and light. There are some that are just to complex for me to piece out myself. The matrices are just too entangled to unfold into its components and reassemble into the auto casting matrix that can be enchanted. But with your help, I should be able to make these modified spells into enchantments, which are quicker to cast. Assuming I can work around that little glitch.” “Right, that sounds cool and all,” Still commented, “But it still leaves us with a wardrobe that will make a dragon jealous.” “Well, maybe some of us would like that.” Radiant flipped her hair, “I think that I would look fabulous in armor made out of gems.” “If you could walk in it...” Still said quietly. “I am much stronger than I look, thank you.” Radiant retorted with another flip of her hair. This time towards Still. Moondancer yawned, “That’s not really feasible though, I doubt that Ivory could wear armor covered head to toe in gems. It may only be viable for the princesses.” “Do we need that many spells though?” Ivory asked everypony, “In a fight, don’t unicorns only use a handful? If we just enchant, say, ten or so, would that be enough for a fight?” “I’ve only seen guards use three or four during training.” Still added. “I guess that would work,” Bright admitted, though reluctantly, “But I just want to be prepared.” “You say this like we are going to fight whatever this thing might be.” Still said inquisitively. “I’m just worried about whatever this... thing, is.” Bright said, “If this thing is dangerous enough that the princesses want to keep this from the public, then I think it’s worth being prepared for. And I would rather not be responsible for hurting one of the princesses, indirectly or not.” “I concur” Ivory nodded toward Bright, “We should prepare as if we will be fighting, we will think of more options and problems that way.” “That’s... fair” Still said, “and I can already feel that this will be more exciting, if we’re actually talking about fighting something rather than reading books.” “I’m in the other boat,” Moondancer was busy trying to be as small as possible, and, failing that, hiding behind a book, “I don’t like fighting.” “Don’t worry, I’m right in that ship with you.” Bright was quick to add. “Hardly anypony does,” Still said, “its mainly a guard thing. And that’s only because we have trained for fighting and never really had the opportunity to.” “I could hold my own in a fight.” Ivory said stoically, “I used to wrestle with my siblings. And fend of bog bears.” “Bog bears?” “Hairy, ugly, angry and, Uhhh... Big...gy” “Those beasts sound horrid.” “They are.” Moondancer went back to hiding behind her book, trying not to be noticed. “It was difficult the first couple times I helped, but it got easier with more experience.” “I’ve wondered how I would actually do in a fight,” Radiant said, “I’ve studied combat spells, and I’ve used them in practice, but never practically.” “I could probably teach you in skirmishes,” Still looked around the room, “I’ve had them against unicorns, pegasi and earth ponies. I don’t think it would be too dangerous to do a few lessons here and there.” “That sounds good. I’ve got some time this week if your up for it.” “Sure, I’ll need to get my times right, but I’m good for it.” With Still and Radiant having made plans, the others simply waited for the conversation to continue. But nopony really had anything else to say on this subject, and silence reigned while they waited for the princess to arrive. Luna walked briskly into the library. Lunch was shorter than she wanted, but nobles needed to be met with. Even if they didn’t schedule anything, they still wanted to talk, eating up her precious free time. Dumb, idiotic, self-centered brats of nobles, but nobles non-the-less. “How my sister hath prevented Daybreaker from control is beyond us.” “Princess?” Penchant asked. “Nothing, aide.” She continued without a glance, “Thy need not concern thyself of what we spoke.” They walked down the corridor keeping their thoughts to themselves for a couple moments longer until reaching the splitting end. “Ohfff!” Penchant collided with Luna. Or more precisely, collided with her legs, sending him back a ways. “We’re sorry,” Luna said with a small glare, “Was their somewhere thou needed to be?” “S-sorry, princess. There was a meeting in the a-archives with Bright Rune...” “Ahh...” Luna softened. “Right.” Luna turned and started to walk down the hallway towards the archives with a stumbling Penchant close behind. “We think now is a good time to bring up the more fine aspects of thy position.” “Yes...?” “Firstly, We are not perfect, We can, at times, be forgetful. As thou hast just seen.” Luna kept her eyes forward, “Thou needs’t to remind Us of everything. Every meeting, every talk, every signing, every change. Even every court. This is why We have thou, our lives are complex enough to need somepony to keep track of everything. This is your job.” “Yes, princess.” “Secondly. Thou will’t see a different side of Us. Angrier, less personable, more irritable. Thou must not let this affect thee, as this job is very difficult and stressful, even for us alicorns.” “Yes, princess.” “Thirdly. Thou need’st to-” “Remind my sister that her dialect is archaic, any chance you get.” Celestia’s voice sounded from their left. Luna stopped and gave her sister an annoyed glance. Penchant flinched. “Sister, it is good to see thee.” “’You’.” Celestia said, grinning, “And it is as well.” Luna scoffed, a small grin playing at her lips. “How is our niece? Doing well I hope.” “She is fine, if only a little less in high spirits.” “We- I’m sure the foal does not help much either.” “No,” Celestia shook her head, grinning, “No I’m sure it doesn’t.” “And how was the trip? Uneventful W-I hope.” “The trip went well, the train is running smoothly. Though there is some disturbing news from the Crystal Empire.” “Ah?” Luna was intrigued. “Yes. It appears that our friend visited there.” “Oh...” Luna was now not so intrigued, “Any casualties?” “None, all natural causes. Save for one murder, but the offender has been captured.” “Murder? Sister, I thought that thou said that was a thing of my time.” “’You’, and I did. But remember, the Empire is a thing of your time. They are not as up to date as I would want them to be. But they are trying their best.” “That still makes only one death caused by them...” Luna was deep in thought. “I do wonder what they are up to.” Penchant was now staring intently at the ground, ears flat against his head and eyes wide. Celestia took notice, and motioned to Luna, who was amused. “Penchant, the third thing-” “Fourth.” “Third, There are things that we, you and I sister, NOT the royal ‘We’, need to be kept secret. You, by proximity, will overhear many things said by us. Again you and I. You must not repeat anything you hear, though you must remember it, and take it into account.” “That last part is very important, for both of us.” Celestia cut in, “We often do not keep track of our own well being as much as we should, and it is up to you to try and keep our sanity in check.” “Umm... I’m n-not sure I’ll be a good fit for this position...” “HA! Nonsense,” Luna said, “You’ve lasted longer than the last canidate.” Luna started moving towards the archives again. “Fair thee well, sister. I need to go talk to Moondancer and her team.” “Are you still available for dinner?” “Ask Penchant.” Luna was around the corner. Penchant stood beside Celestia staring after Luna. “Well, is she?” “I-I don’t think so, your majesty,” Penchant responded, “Though I wasn’t given a schedule for today.” “That means there is nothing on it.” Celestia said. “Also, I was serious about number three.” “No talking?” “That’s number four,” Celestia chuckled, “Please remind my sister to update her language. It is very archaic. Just gentle reminders here and there, and not in public. Only in private.” “Yes princess.” “Now, hurry along. You need to stay by Luna.” “Yes princess!” Penchant said, galloping down the hall after Luna. Celestia sighed when he was out of earshot. “I hope you aren’t biting off more than you can chew, Luna... Please ask for help if you need it.”