~~~ ⚕ ~~~
[...]"No, not quite dead yet."[...]
I woke up from the dream, trying to grasp at something nonexistent with a hand I didn’t have. I found the pony doll She was using as a shell was still in my grasp, her forehooves and head hanging over my own forehoof. Under my other forehoof was a book, one using a system called 'Braylle'(*), which I’ve become accustomed to.
‘No,’ I thought. ‘Not a dream, but a memory.’
I got up and worked the kinks in my neck. I was still getting used to needing sleep, so I might’ve fallen asleep somewhere strange again.
A gentle voice rang out, “Had a nice nap, Sir?”
It was a servant girl which Luna had hired to be my chaperone. Since I behaved the way I did with Cross Heart, the princess had me give my word that I’d behave myself. I gave it, of course, but not without stressing in my own turn that I would never lay a finger on the demure servant. Or hoof, if one were to be pedantic.
After a few moments to put together the foreign words in my head, I answered, “It was rest-full, thank you… ergh… Por-see-lain?”
She giggled at my broken Equish, “It’s Porcelain, Sir. Though I have to admit you’re speaking quite fluently considering you’ve only been learning our language for three days.”
I had a child’s receptive mind. I also had Luna’s mental seal to keep my more disruptive memories in their place. And while I no longer had soul seals to keep my mental chemistry in check, it was more than made up for with a modicum use of the type of meditation and mental training you would expect from a user of volatile magics.
While making a list of translated words didn’t hurt, there was still the fact that I was learning an alien language from the ground up. Syntax, morphology, even pronunciation with a new mouth.
Also, they do not even use the decimal system since they do not have fingers, they only have two hooves. And not having fingers as learning tools, ponies instead use a wooden tool devised in ‘the Bast Dynasty’, something called an abacus. A frame around twelve thin strips, each strip having twelve beads that could slide along them.
They use the duodecimal (or dozenal) system, which was something else I needed to learn from the ground up.
I had a lot of knowledge to digest, which contributed to my already drowsy state these past few days.
“So,” I said, “do we have any-thing schedule for today?”
“It’s ‘scheduled’, Sir. And yes, actually. You do remember that your welcoming party will be this evening, don’t you?”
After a few moments of realization, I nodded, “I may have forgotten.”
I focused a small amount of magic into the flames I had for eyes. Will-o-Eyes. Eye-mbers… I could make out Porcelain’s vague outline which was supposed to be of a white pelt and blue mane. My range was only of a couple of feet around me, although it was of the entire circular area surrounding me.
With what I assumed was a smile on her face, the young servant picked me up on her back, “Come on then, Sir Acheron. Let’s go get ready. I’m certain you’d like to make a good impression.”
I sighed at being called Sir, as well as at my lack of agency. ‘So much for taking action.’
We didn’t have much preparation to make, just a bit of combing and then suiting up.
A few compliments regarding my appearance which I didn't listen to later, Porcelain asked, "Is something bothering you, Sir?"
"Nothing wrong," I managed. "Maybe, a little nervous. About speaking to a big group."
"There's nothing to worry about, Sir. Look-oh." Porcelain stopped in consideration for a moment. "How about I look below at the reception area and you can ask me what I see?"
She asked so earnestly, I decided to not snark about how the Royal Dressing Room (obligatory capital letters) was conveniently overlooking the party’s reception area.
"Okay," was my answer, unfortunately I did not try too hard to match her earnestness lest I fail spectacularly.
The young maid was surprised at what she saw, "There seem to be a lot of reporters outside, they must want to get a picture of you. It's a good thing the guards are keeping them out, there must be over two dozen of them."
"Could any of them... Sneak in, some-where else?" I asked
"Well, I wouldn't be surprised if they did. While the guards have gotten used to catching them trying to sneak into the castle, well, where there's a will there's a way, Sir."
"Mm-hmm... What's a reporter?"
"Ergh, well you see sir..."
Porcelain also described hearing mention of a couple of dignitaries already being present elsewhere at the castle, one of the Zebra Alliance and one of Gryphonia. Which I surmised were a zebra and a gryphon respectively, which were apparently similarly sapient as ponies were.
Among the early-comers were both nobles and those of more common social standing, of course it was clear that the latter were less than a third of the former in number.
While she was describing the busy atmosphere below, as the preparations weren't finished yet, my mind wandered off. I later didn’t have the faintest idea as to where my mind went off to.
“Prince Acheron?” Porcelain woke me out of my stupor. “Are you alright?”
I blinked, gathering my bearings.
“I am fine. Just… distracted.”
A short pause, then she replied, “Perhaps you would like some tea to help blow away the cobwebs?”
“I assume that means to help me wake up?”
“Yes, sir,” I perceived motion through my spirit sight, I assumed she nodded.
“I would like that, thank you.”
She bowed her head and left, “Right away, sir.”
After she left, I finally let my grimace show. “I wish she didn’t call me ‘sir’.”
“Then why don’t you tell her?”
The sudden voice and presence right next to me had me jumping in surprise. I hadn’t heard anyone coming, perhaps I really was out of it.
After a moment to register what had happened, I took in the voice’s owner’s features in the spirit world. It was a certain turbulent concentration of energy and joy which I recognized from a few days prior.
“Pink Pie, was it?” I managed out.
“It’s Pin-kie Pie, Ronnie!” she rectified joyfully, loudly, while sticking her cheek to mine. “Still, your Equish is getting really good! You’ve been working hard, haven’t you?”
“...Yes.” I didn’t really have much time to say anything else before Pinkie started again.
“How about we take a break and have some fun? Oh! I know! How about we play hide and go seek? Or Pin the Tail on the Pony? Or-”
“That sounds suspicious.”
My retort seemed to put her tirade to a halt. “Huh?”
I shook my head. “Nothing.” Perhaps here it was not as commonplace as in Vertigus to be weary of strangers, regardless of whether the stranger might be a seemingly innocent young woman. But the fact remained that I did not sense the faintest grain of ill-will from her spirit. So, going against my paranoia, I let my guard down. Just a little. “I ap-preci-ate, but no thank you. Also, I be-leave you should ask Porce-lain, not me.”
“Oh. Okay then.” The mare, which I imagined to be extremely pink, didn’t seem to lose stride at all, and went right back into her ranting. “So if Porcelain is okay with it, then you’d like to come and see how the party preparations are coming along? I mean sure, I know what I’m doing, and you did say you were okay with me and my friends using ‘our best judgement’, but I’m sure the others would really like it if you came along and gave some input. This is your party after all. Plus, while you’re down, maybe you could try making some friends too! Wouldn’t that be great?”
It took me a while to realize she finished talking. “Not great at Equish yet. Slow down.”
With a slight, microscopic hint of frustration, she tried again, “Please come and check the party preparations? My friends and I would really like it if you did!”
'I could use a break anyway.' I nodded, "Wait for Porcelain, then we may go."
~~~ 🌙 ~~~
Worgs, giant spiders, mountain-sized manticores, these were only a few creatures on the first page of a single category of the list of dangerous monsters from Vertigus which I had asked Acheron to compile. There were six other similar categories, making a total of seven. There was also an eighth shorter category listed separately, filled with descriptions of entities of Catastrophe-class or higher.
Strange creatures could be heard from Everfree Forest. Since the forest was more wild instead of more silent, one can assume that whatever Incursion had appeared, it did not kill everything in the forest.
Soldiers were dispatched to Ponyville, however I wasn’t very reassured of how useful they might prove.
‘About as useful as they’ve been during Cadance’s wedding,’ I groused internally.
I dropped the papers back on Captain Gleam's desk and asked, "How goes the Guard's new training regiment?"
The soldier straightened again as she answered, "About as to be expected, Ma'am. The mares are skittish and the stallions are unruly. The problem is that it would appear that they don't like needing to stick their necks out for the young Prince, especially after the stunt he pulled. I hope he makes a darned good impression tonight."
‘He better.’ I already discussed the matter with him. Acheron made a good point in that we needed to keep to a middle ground. Apologize too eagerly and the guards would eagerly believe themselves victims, however not acknowledging their grievances at all would break their trust. They needed to rationalize that things were going to be more dangerous from here on, without starting a revolt over the pretext that 'it's all his fault'.
"He will assume his responsibility for the situation, not any kind of error. I won't have him becoming guilty for something he couldn't help. If anyone has anything to object, I will hear them out. What takes priority is that the guards are ready for anything that may come. To that end, I ask that you make certain they fully understand the situation by the end of the afternoon."
Gleam nodded, "I will make sure they do."
I am not Celestia, I act according to my station. However, this instance required a slight exception.
I shed my posture and tone, "Thank you."
The captain broke out of her soldierly guise upon hearing my frank response. "Your Highness?"
I shook my head, "The guards only think they understand, Captain. They're biased. They believe that there's nothing worse than what they've faced in a changeling hive. They think that just because they've seen something dark, then they're qualified to face anything. But not you.
"I've read your reports, Captain. Every time a threat arose, you didn't face it head-on, you smoldered it. Even before you rose in rank, you followed your orders uncompromisingly. Tell me, why is that?"
"Because no matter what you do, there's always a chance for failure, Your Highness. It's not a matter of if, but of when."
She was likely saying the same words she did to anyone else who ever asked. "Does this have anything to do with the mission you had with Shining Armor two years ago?"
She tensed at the question, and her soldierly guise went back on. "I will make sure the Guard are ready, Your Highness. Now, if you don’t need anything else, I would like to get back to work."
I nodded in understanding. “I thank you again. And, if you would like someone to talk to, just know that I’ve seen my fair share of horrors as well.”
I left the office, resuming my inspection of the guards in the halls.
They were not ready. They’ve defeated dragons by talking them down, they were never truly burned.
My sister and I already discussed our options. Either we kept Acheron away from civilization, or we revised the Guard’s training. Since the latter was something we truly needed regardless, we decided to at least wait a while for our soldiers to rise up to the challenge. However, when I looked them in the eyes as I passed, I did not find the needed survivor's resolve.
I stopped in the halls, deep in thought.
‘If telling them won’t suffice, then perhaps showing them will.’
I approached one of the guards. “I want everyone in the training hall, now.”
Not waiting for the guard to answer, I teleported ahead.
Fifteen minutes later, the hall started to fill up. By then I had prepared the spell Lady Death had left for us, only set to summon instead of banish.
Once I decided enough had arrived, I addressed them.
“I have called you here in order to discuss a particular recent development you all should be familiar with. Raise of hooves, how many of you have received a copy of the instructions regarding what to do when faced with one of the Incursions?”
‘Everyone rose a hoof. So far so good.’
I pointed at one of them. “Would you please offer your input?”
The guard took a moment to formulate an answer, “Standard defense against magical beasts, Ma’am. We do it all the time.”
I forced down a growl. “Does anyone else agree?”
More than three quarters rose their hooves. I nodded.
“I require three volunteers among the ones who share the sentiment.”
An earth pony, a pegasus and a unicorn stepped forward. Lieutenants, going by their uniform. They appeared sufficiently confident, so the others would not assume I picked weaklings.
“I am going to summon one of the weaker beasts from the lists Prince Acheron had written for us to prepare. I believe a worg will prove a good challenge for three experienced soldiers such as yourselves, yes?” They nodded without a hint of worry. I channeled the spell, “I suggest you draw your weapons.”
After a blinding flash of the spell, a shifting vortex appeared between myself and the volunteers. After moments, the vortex subsided, but it did not disappear. Instead, it appeared to reshape into the form of a massive wolf-like beast, half again larger than myself.
Its fur was a shifting black, like a blood moon’s light being reflected off a pool of dark water. Its face was fiendish, the energy it was formed from appeared to focus around its intensely glowing eyes. Its breath carried the scent of blood.
Acheron had divided his list into categories pertaining to which Endless sphere they belonged to. A large number of the creatures listed in the sphere of Destruction were energy-related entities. Archons, animunculi, Dullahan. Apparently the circle of Evocation had an... interesting visible effect on beasts. Then again, the Snallighast was presumably a common carrion bird before linking to the sphere of Death.
“Remember what the list said. They are intelligent.”
My familiar ignored me, instead growling and barking at the three lieutenants, staring at them with enough malice to still a lesser pony’s heart in fright.
The three held their ground, only barely. The other guards in the chamber also nervously brought out their weapons.
“I will let the beast go now. Try and last for ten seconds, will you?”
The volunteers did not have time to answer. The moment I let go, the worg was on top of the unicorn, its fangs held away from the pony’s jugular by her spear.
The other two only blinked stupidly at the scene, their colleague’s screaming in horror turned into gurgling as the fangs found their mark.
I banished the beast, and took my time preparing a healing spell. The remaining seven and a half seconds should’ve been enough for the image of the fallen unicorn to be burned into the other guards’ minds.
Once I was certain the mare was safe - she lost her helmet, the Uniform enchantment gone with it - I addressed her sternly, “Get up.”
Apparently it was not stern enough, since she was still bawling uncontrollably. By this point the other lieutenants had backed away, joining their peers in a building uproar, one of them leaving behind a yellow puddle on the floor.
I let out a sigh, then ignited my Aspect.
“CALM.”
Everything became muted. The air was heavy, sound ceased, minds remained still. It was the peace I offer them every night, with the exception of leaving their faculties unaffected now. They were fully aware of what had happened, they just weren’t panicking anymore. Whether the now fully healed mare minded or not, it could wait. Right now, I expected them to listen.
“I apologize, but this is your cold shower,” I declared, ceasing my channeling.
I had their attention now. I picked the mare up in my magic and levitated her over to stand with the rest.
“That, my subjects, was a denizen from another world. A world that hadn’t been tamed through millennia of magical influence by a benevolent pantheon. One that was left to its own devices. Wild. Uncompromising. Free. And no, before you assume Vertigus to be some kind of vile hellscape, it is actually our world that is the exception.”
They were transfixed. In that moment, I was the only thing that mattered in the world.
“Since according to Multiversal average, it’s more likely to find a world without gods altogether, followed by a world with gods that do not hold empathy for the mortals whom they perceive as lesser. Less than a thousandth of worlds with gods have a benevolent pantheon.”
I gave them the best disappointed look I could muster, “Vertigus isn’t hell, you’re just privileged.”
Studying their faces, I noted a theme of shame tinting their cumulative demeanour. A few disbelieving ones here, a few uncomprehending ones there, but the final result was satisfactory. If even an eighth of those humbled had learned something, then perhaps even one among said eighth would go on to inspire her colleagues. Of course in tandem with future lectures of this sort, though hopefully not this severe.
To move forward, one needs to start with but a single step. And even if they weren’t ready in time for the next Incursion to save one life, at least they would know which way to correct themselves to save the next life. Assuming that losing one life would have that minimal lesson to it, for it to have such minimal meaning.
“I asked you if you were ready for the danger we’re faced with. I have received my answer. I will give you three days to prepare to face that same beast a second time. If you cannot fend it off for an entire minute, then I will take my colt and leave. No use having innocent ponies die meaninglessly.”
“And where would you go?”
My gaze traced over to one of the chamber’s entrances. Celestia was the one who asked, a troubled Ardent Gleam at her side.
I shrugged. “Somewhere far removed from civilization. Perhaps the ruins of our former home. You’re welcome to visit, of course. Just make sure you’re ready in case you come upon an Incursion.”
Celestia took a while of consideration before answering. “Well then,” she looked upon our subjects critically, “let us hope they will do better next time.”
With that, she walked out. Their attention went back to me.
I cast one final diagnosis spell on the now healed mare. "What is your name, soldier?"
Still holding her neck, she managed out, "Swan Song, Ma'am..."
I nodded. "I apologize the test went as badly as it did. You may take the day off if you wi-"
"No!"
I was taken aback by her sudden outburst. She went on, a burning determination in her eyes, "That is, I think I could use some more training, Ma'am."
After a few more moments, others of her colleagues joined her in solidarity. Captain Ardent glided over to the front of the group, facing me off evenly. "While I don't agree with your little stunt, Princess, I can't argue with your reasoning. Still, next time you want to do something as brash as your son, consider trying talking things out first."
I shook my head. "I now realize what my son wanted was to show our guards something, when words did not suffice. Rather than to let live in ignorance, would it not be better to live a little longer under hardship?"
Ardent's mouth opened to respond, then closed. After a few moments of consideration, she straightened herself again, though this time her soldierly guise seemed less forced. "We won't let you down, Ma'am."
I smiled and bowed. With a lighter heart, I teleported to my chambers. A sigh, then I headed for my study. There would be paperwork needed to be prepared in case I would leave, though hopefully I would not need to use them in the end.