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// Chapter 7: Salvation 
// Story: Celestial Origins 
// by Dark Vessel 
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The next morning, Luna woke to a strange squelching sound - groaning and opening her eyes as she looked over towards it, before blinking in confusion. Faust had gathered a number of berries together within natural grooves in the cave floor, and was grinding them up with a rock.

The lunar alicorn yawned, standing before walking over to her with a curious look "What... Are you doing?" she questioned in confusion, the red-maned Alicorn quickly gaining a smile as she glanced up to her "I... Really don't want to have to go through that again." she sighed, taking a glance at Celestia's sleeping form - which, perhaps surprisingly, appeared to already be healed - before she looked to the berries "So... I've decided to experiment. I can see the future, and I can change it... But what if I set up things to change the future without me even being there~?"

Faust gained a grin "These berries can all be used to create stains of different colours! I tested it out a while ago, and the stains actually make creatures slightly change their behaviour! Enough stains in the right pattern, and I can make them steer clear of the cave!"

Luna blinked in shock, replying "That's amazing! Do you need any help...?"

Faust blinked and frowned, pausing before she stated "I... Don't think you can help with laying down the stain, but you can help make it. Just mash up these berries with a rock" - pointing with a hoof to another set of berries she had prepared, as Luna smiled and nodded, quickly moving to help make more of the stain...





The next few days passed peacefully. Celestia was sore for the first day, but quickly recovered by the next morning - surprising both herself and Luna - as Faust frequently changed the stains and patterns she used, carefully coloring different parts of the nearby forest with a mixture of multi-colored polka-dots and lines. 

True to her word, the next few days were peaceful for the fillies, the trio resting and hiding when Faust commanded, otherwise trying to enjoy themselves in the area until help would arrive just a few days later, as Faust had predicted.

By night, Luna trained in the arts of dreamwalking, and was progressing faster than her newfound friends could have ever expected. Her magic seemed to 'take' to the spells more readily, needing much less complicated spell work for a much stronger effect.





At about 4PM on the third day, the sisters were each resting within the cave - each feeling somewhat excited, as Faust grinned and soon exclaimed "They're here~!", quickly standing as her wings flapped excitedly - Celestia and Luna blinking and grinning as they quickly stood, before the trio walked to the entrance of the cave.

Quickly, they saw two unicorn mares approaching the cavern, dressed in thick armor and carrying swords in their magic - both of them tensing and raising their weapons as the fillies moved out of the cave, before one blinked in shock and stated "Wait... Alicorn fillies!?", the other's eyes widening as she rushed over, stating "What are you three doing out here!? It isn't safe!"

"We... Fell." Celestia stated with a grimace, as both mares looked to her with shock and horror, one exclaiming "You poor things! How long have you been out here?", Luna giving a grimace as she stated "About four days? Ever since the explosion in the alicorn city..."

Both mares looked at her in shock, one stating "How did you survive!?" in disbelief, as the other blinked and stated "Some alicorn technology fell with you, maybe?", Luna sighing and shaking her head as Faust stated "It is... A long story. No technology fell here, despite what your employer thinks... We survived because we have a lot of magic. I can explain as we walk... Can you help us...? And before you ask... N-No." - the red maned filly suppressed a sob, before stating "The other alicorns... They will have left through a portal by now. We are the last alicorns on the planet..."

Both mares blinked, looking to Faust once again in horror, as one stated "Stars... You're sure?", as Faust grimaced and nodded, struggling to control her breathing as one mare paused before stating "...We'll bring you back to the nearby unicorn town. You'll be safe, warm and fed... And i'm sure many ponies will want to see you."

The fillies nodded, as one of the mares smiled sadly and slowly turned, stating "Just follow us. And stay close..."